Microsoft busy blogger and all-round man of the people, Major Nelson, has spoke of a "faster" guide coming up in the next proper Xbox 360 dashboard update. Don't they always say that?
Speaking in his latest podcast, the Major confirmed: "We are making the guide faster," and that he's been "intimately involved" in it development, being such an active user and all.
"The team has done some really good stuff around making performance enhancements," he said, adding: "'Performance enhancements' doesn't sound right because it sounds like we're going to give the guide a little blue pill, and we're not doing that.
"Whatever we call it (and it's not going to be called the NNXE), but whatever the next version of the dashboard is called, it's better with a lot of very cool new features. That update will be out later this year," he said.
Zune HD video streaming, Avatar Marketplace and Games on Demand (a download service for full 360 games) are among some of the biggest new features expected.
The avatars are generally awful and look nothing like me or my friends despite our efforts. I can't believe anyone would be willing to pay money to add clothes to them.
Games On Demand may well be the future sadly but I (like many others on here) don't like the idea of a real tangible product disappearing from store shelves and the collapse of the second hand market for games. MS will control the pricing policy making it more expense for us, you can't sell the game once you've finished it and you can't take it round to someone's house to play. It will suck big time. The only advantage is a green one on manufacturing and packaging resources.
However as an 360 owner I welcome the HD instant-on 1080p streaming thing and look forward to a smoother menu system.
The avatars are generally awful and look nothing like me or my friends despite our efforts. I can't believe anyone would be willing to pay money to add clothes to them.
Games On Demand may well be the future sadly but I (like many others on here) don't like the idea of a real tangible product disappearing from store shelves and the collapse of the second hand market for games. MS will control the pricing policy making it more expense for us, you can't sell the game once you've finished it and you can't take it round to someone's house to play. It will suck big time. The only advantage is a green one on manufacturing and packaging resources.
However as an 360 owner I welcome the HD instant-on 1080p streaming thing and look forward to a smoother menu system.
Whilst I don't mind having downloadable games, I have to agree with you on this one.
It seems that we will have to be very selective with the games that we buy if this is the case.
Will we be able to rent games from Blockbusters and such in the future?
hopefully he means that the bloody thing loads up the download pages faster, i'm not joking when i say if i start down loading a video and go to start another the first ones sometimes downloaded by the time the option to start the next ones even came up. oh and sorting out the 5 second freezing issue when using the guide would be a help as well.
I think they redesign the dashboard using far less large graphics. Its not a speed thing I find, but I think it looks a bit messy. When it was the blade system I thought the dashboard was good, but the online content was a little buried. I know the XNE is just the XMB on its side but I think it doesnt work as well as Sonys system. Xbox Live has some really great content but I think the PSN is far easier to find what you want. I would like to see the dashboard and XBL displayed much more like the XMB and PSN, that would work a lot nicer then just speeding it up.
This is why we pay for LIVE cos MS all ways add to it and improve the service, where as with PSN you get what you pay for, wait its free ahh that clears up that then.
The avatars are generally awful and look nothing like me or my friends despite our efforts. I can't believe anyone would be willing to pay money to add clothes to them.
Games On Demand may well be the future sadly but I (like many others on here) don't like the idea of a real tangible product disappearing from store shelves and the collapse of the second hand market for games. MS will control the pricing policy making it more expense for us, you can't sell the game once you've finished it and you can't take it round to someone's house to play. It will suck big time. The only advantage is a green one on manufacturing and packaging resources.
However as an 360 owner I welcome the HD instant-on 1080p streaming thing and look forward to a smoother menu system.
Whilst I don't mind having downloadable games, I have to agree with you on this one.
It seems that we will have to be very selective with the games that we buy if this is the case.
Will we be able to rent games from Blockbusters and such in the future?
If Blockbusters fortunes continue as they are now, they won't be around in two years from now.
Got to say I'm concerned about Games On Demand. They've already announced that prices will be 'in line with store prices.'
Why that much Microsoft? You've saved money in packaging and distribution and we have nothing to sell on, as far as I'm concerned games should be at least a tenner less.
The games that are launching are all around the twenty quid mark now too brand new so are the prices online going to reflect this?
I welcome the service in theory the pricing sounds like it will be a joke.
Premium Avatar clothes were always coming and although I know I'm going to initially resist, I know full well that the odd 100 points I have spare is going on a Halo helmet or Gears Lancer.
Couldn't give a s**t about Facebook and Twitter though, deleted myself on Facebook a couple of days ago as I realised just how pointless the whole thing was.
The avatars are generally awful and look nothing like me or my friends despite our efforts. I can't believe anyone would be willing to pay money to add clothes to them.
Games On Demand may well be the future sadly but I (like many others on here) don't like the idea of a real tangible product disappearing from store shelves and the collapse of the second hand market for games. MS will control the pricing policy making it more expense for us, you can't sell the game once you've finished it and you can't take it round to someone's house to play. It will suck big time. The only advantage is a green one on manufacturing and packaging resources.
However as an 360 owner I welcome the HD instant-on 1080p streaming thing and look forward to a smoother menu system.
so what just cos you dont like the idea of it i cant? all what you said is your opinion, i only buy games i no il like, i like my avatar, boo hoo it dont look like you so what? its still a cool little feature, i dont play my games round my friends house either and neither do alot of people so it dont appeal to them, difference of opinion but i see thats not allowed on here
Anything to speed up the page loads on the nxe I'm happy with. Not too fussed about the Avatar marketplace, but I'm sure I'll spend something to get something.
I doubt I'll use the games on demand service, heck I hardly ever buy games new anyway (usually ebay/pre-owned for me) so I may have to be a bit more selective if they start to push this further.
I disagree, I find it a hell of alot easier to find DLC for the game you want. put in the game, highlight it in the dashboard, and then press Y for more info. shows you all the download content, themes and pics and all, and describes the game, screenshots, trailers, and describes what the game can do like custom soundtracks, live co-op, camera support etc all at the touch of ONE button. You can also view all download gear and arrange it by populatiry, release date, and alphabetically so It is a hell of alot better than the PSN. I own over 30 consoles, including the current big 3 so dont say I'm biased. I'm a ninty lover myself but their online is slow and not very accessible. I applaud MS this generation as is a very good console. aside from its physical faults, its one hell of a console.
One thing I hate about the NWE though is the fact I cannot view my lovely themes fully. I wish I could press a button to hide the dashboard just so I can see the theme. and get rid of that grey bar covering most of the pic!!!
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@Miss_Wacy - didn't mean any offence, of course you're entitled to your opinion. Just wanted to know why you were looking forward to them or what you thought was cool about them really? The fact that you felt like I was attacking you says more about you than my comment ever could.
@ledickolas - Good point about unhooking the hard drive. Didn't think of that.
Couple of good points there. The pricing structure is a joke as they're taking the retailer's cut as well as their own, I'd be very suprised if someone could offer me a legitimate business reason for this decision that didn't come down to maximising profits. It's not like they need the extra to support the infrastructure- we already pay for XBL.
I despise the idea of paying for something as trivial and inmaterial as avatar clothing, but that is a good point, I do often end up with "change" from larger purchases, something Microsoft fully intended when they came up with the points and pricing structure for XBL. f**kers.
Couple of good points there. The pricing structure is a joke as they're taking the retailer's cut as well as their own, I'd be very suprised if someone could offer me a legitimate business reason for this decision that didn't come down to maximising profits. It's not like they need the extra to support the infrastructure- we already pay for XBL.
I despise the idea of paying for something as trivial and inmaterial as avatar clothing, but that is a good point, I do often end up with "change" from larger purchases, something Microsoft fully intended when they came up with the points and pricing structure for XBL. f**kers.
Essentially they are now retaillers, and as such they will have to pay some kind of transaction fees etc. which is why the price goes up.
And if they did undercut the retailers the monopoly commission would come down on them like a tonne of bricks.
You might call them "f**kers", but they are only adhering to legitimate business legislation.
Well each to there own I guess. I agree that there are some nice shortcuts like the ones you mentioned which do make it easier to find related DLC to games. But I still belive that the look of PSN & XMB are far more streamlined and look far less messy on the screen. But then again I prefer the old blade system to NXE, and MS lied they said that you would be able to choose either blade or NXE and you can't!
Also to other people here, you can't really get angry at MS for selling avatar clothes. Some mug is going to hand over real money for virtual goods. And yes they are silly, and they are as crap as Sony Home virtual goods, but if you were MS or Sony and could sell nothing for something I bet you would too!
Well each to there own I guess. I agree that there are some nice shortcuts like the ones you mentioned which do make it easier to find related DLC to games. But I still belive that the look of PSN & XMB are far more streamlined and look far less messy on the screen. But then again I prefer the old blade system to NXE, and MS lied they said that you would be able to choose either blade or NXE and you can't!
Also to other people here, you can't really get angry at MS for selling avatar clothes. Some mug is going to hand over real money for virtual goods. And yes they are silly, and they are as crap as Sony Home virtual goods, but if you were MS or Sony and could sell nothing for something I bet you would too!
It was quite obvious this was going to come really, Too many updates to support the current build of the dashboard, It will obviously be the same thing, just a little more dynamic and faster than it already is.
It is most likely needed for it to support SkyPlayer, Facebook, LastFM, Twitter Games on Demand, and all that jazz.
Most games you download of psn have got to be download again i dont see the point maybe just doom for now and thell be about 60 euros and i can buy new realese for 40
Most games you download of psn have got to be download again i dont see the point maybe just doom for now and thell be about 60 euros and i can buy new realese for 40
Will this fix the freezes on the dashboard? I bloody hope so, cos ever since XNE there are occasional and bloody irriating freezes - especially when looking at your friends tab.
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