Avatars Discovered: Is This Microsoft's Response to Miis? Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Avatars Discovered: Is This Microsoft's Response to Miis? Posted by XanTium | June 15 23:19 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From teamxbox.com: [QUOTE] Since Nintendo announced the Miis, the digital avatars gamers can create for the Wii's Mii Channel, there have been rumors that Microsoft will offer a similar feature for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. Today, we may be looking at the very first piece of evidence that back up those claims. Apparently, strategic marketing and research company Intellisponse is conducting a study for Microsoft in regards to digital personas for Xbox Live. According to this study: "Avatars will be used in place of the gamer picture you have today and give you a much more lifelike, animated, and fully customizable persona for you to reflect who you are online." In addition to that description, there was an image attached, which you can see here. The presentation also claims that avatars will be available this holiday for all Xbox Live members and this spring for all new console members. [/QUOTE] From kotaku.com: [QUOTE] Some of the marketing material mentions that, like Miis are in stuff like Wii Sports, the Avatars will be implemented into "various arcade and retail games" as playable characters. Also mentioned are "hundreds of clothing options". [/QUOTE] Full Story: teamxbox.com | kotaku.com

[Shonk]

yawn

[LegendDJ]

Can Microsoft not doing anything “original”.......................................

[g8crapachino]

Can Microsoft not doing anything “original”.......................................

Nintendo wasn't the inventor of the Avatar concept either so let's not start some stupid rhetorical argument about who's being "original" or first.

This is not a track-n-field event where being first is all that matters. In the business world it's not about who does what first or who originated something, it's who can figure out how to make the most from it and maybe do it better.

This post has been edited by g8crapachino: Jun 16 2008, 06:00 AM

[21cwSpanky]

Nintendo wasn't the inventor of the Avatar concept either so let's not start some stupid rhetorical argument about who's being "original" or first.

This is not a track-n-field event where being first is all that matters. In the business world it's not about who does what first or who originated something, it's who can figure out how to make the most from it and maybe do it better.

The issue at hand here is nintendo nailed it straight on the head making a little cartoon avatar for their "casual console". I can't tell you how many hours my girlfriend sat there making her little Mii whereas I spent about 25 seconds, most of which was spent inputting my name. People like xbox live because it's straight to the point, for the most part. You can get where you need to be by following a max of 3 pages or so.

In the end nobody is going to give a flying shit about their avatar on the 360. It's not a casual console, it never will be, and microsoft just needs to give up on trying to compete with nintendo because it will never happen.

[PerfectGun]

I say who cares. It's not going to effect the core gaming experience. You will still be able to jump right into a game and not mess with it. It is just one more option and I don't see how that can be a bad thing?

Could this be one of the first projects that MS's XBLA focused first party dev studio will be working on? Games that will let you use your Avatar in them? Maybe some games for the Newton as well.

I really hope this add's more appeal to the system for the casual gamer. You can fault MS for trying to tap that market. Just as long as they don't sacrafice making games and features that appeal to the hardcore crowd.

The whole copying thing is just a bunch of poo when all 3 of them do it.

[Arch0n]

PROTIP for M$: If we wanted that shit we'd just buy a Wii.

Seriously, the large number of successful shooters and other gritty titles vs family games on the 360 should indicate the market.

Maybe if these avatars visit other 360s and call the owners nubz, bitch-slap then and tell them all the nasty things they've just done with said owner's mother, then your average halo MP fan will be interested.

Otherwise fix the fucked DRM (we'll see how fixed it is in the next update, btw) ... and video playback. Being able to play shit off USB but not from MCE is pissing me off Surely the few million from this excercise could have been spent making the 360 'best of breed' for what it does.

[BlindMaphisto]

It says used in place of gamerpics. Does that mean it's going to replace them? If so that's going to piss off everybody who bought a picture pack. Personally I think the big headed cartoon freaks should be left on the Wii.

[MaulerX]

While most hardcore gamers might not care for this, I can certainly understand M$ trying to
appeal to a wider audience.

My wife and kids used to hijack my 360 to play the arcade games that they love. I eventually got
them a 360 arcade. This is something that they will love. I'm sure other family guys out there
will agree that this is actually a good thing.

[sunami88]

Hey if it ties into gamerscore it might work well enough. Imagine getting an achievement and unlocking a little Spartan Mii. I dunno, for free it'd be cool.

But knowing MS they'll probably charge for this crap, meaning nobody will use it, and those that do will be the first target in multiplayer games.

This post has been edited by sunami88: Jun 16 2008, 02:37 PM

[1nsan3]

OK ... so m$ said no to a spring update this year since they wanted to piss around with trying to do something about the rrod. Now all this time they STEAL an idea from nintendo and are going to try this out on xbox 360...
but yet there will only be maybe a few customizations.. before ya know it we will all look the same. m$ needs to just let us upload our OWN images to the xbox 360! even attach video and pictures to our messages.

this is a stupid idea m$ remember over 50% of the gamers out there are not 14 years old.

[[TR]]

Also mentioned are "hundreds of clothing options".

Add a poll for how much we think MS will charge for each piece of clothing!!

I actually don't think this is a bad idea. An animated little character in place of the gamer picture can be a nice thing in a few game types, like XBLA board games, party games and such (Uno comes to mind).
With a few canned animations per action you can give your avatar somewhat of a "personality", like more or less aggressive and such.
It's right out of Nintendo's book, but so what?

[Reaper527]

It says used in place of gamerpics. Does that mean it's going to replace them? If so that's going to piss off everybody who bought a picture pack. Personally I think the big headed cartoon freaks should be left on the Wii.

i thought that too, but i don't think they can completely replace the gamer pics. it might mean it replaces it in certain scenario's, but look to the left, how are they going to replace the gamer pic on my gamer card with a full blown avatar?

that being said, i do think the mii's would be a lot better if they were on a true online environment like xbl. i just hope there is more then 1 generic cartoony look if this ends up being real, as the mii's are some of the ugliest things i've ever seen. (doa4 didn't have such a terrible avatar system, it had actual people avatars (the ninja etc.), as well as animals (penguin, dog, etc.). if the avatar system allowed human and non human stuff so every avatar wasn't exactly the same (as others have mentioned will probably happen), i'd love it.



This post has been edited by Reaper527: Jun 16 2008, 03:18 PM

[AcidPenguiN]

I think it could be a decent idea. Now if only they'd let my avatar anally rape the avatars of griefers. . .

[pingrr]

I am happy with the ability to use my camer to take my own gamer pic.