Don Mattrick: 'I'm claiming to have invented avatars!' Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Don Mattrick: 'I'm claiming to have invented avatars!' Posted by XanTium | July 17 19:03 EST | News Category: Xbox360

John Schappert, the head of Microsoft Live's entertainment and devices division, and Don Mattrick, the head of all things Xbox, were interviewed by canada.com: [QUOTE] "We're not claiming to have invented avatars," Schappert said at some point, "but at the same time, it's a logical extension of our gamer card, of our gamer tag..." Suddenly Schappert was interrupted. "I'm claiming to have invented avatars!" Mattrick shouted. Oh God, that Mp3 player had better be recording. Did we get that? No matter, he wasn't done, and continued talking as his co-workers chuckled with something between nervousness and outright terror. "I did 4D Boxing! Do you know what 4D Boxing was?" he asked. "Hey, you should be writing this! That was me. Write that down: 'Don invented avatars for the industry.'" When it was suggested by my colleague that he might have been stretching the truth, Mattrick protested. "It's human, it's in 3D, it has a face," he said of his 4D Boxing characters. "It was a starting point. Come on, we were the first guys to do it! Then we did this other thing called the Sims (when Mattrick was with Electronic Arts), you ever hear about that? That had a few kind of 3D characters in it!" [/QUOTE] Full Story: canada.com

[schweitzer]

Don Mattrick should be fired, Avatars are horrible and look like shit.

[DMAddict]

"I'm claiming to have invented avatars!" Mattrick shouted.

Isn't that like shouting, "I'm a douche"

[rooter75]

Remember that avatars are customizable!, and I can see everyone flip floppin the moment there is a master chief helmet or recon armour for their avatar lmao. I'd give this guy as much credit for the genesis of avatars as anybody else I mean really the sims, 4d boxing those are close to parents of avatars lmao

This post has been edited by rooter75: Jul 18 2008, 01:40 AM

[JuniorFan]

Lmao it sounds like he's be sarcastic to me, I find it funny.

[flashfreak]

This is obviously a joke, you can just tell hes being funny.

[erexx]

I thought the idea of an avatar, a 3D representation of yourself in a computer generated world, was first used by Neil Stephenson in the book Snow Crash. (1992)

If so Don Mattrick and Al Gore have something in common.
Yep... funny.

[AcidPenguiN]

also, 4D boxing was an awesome game. . . they need to get it on XBLA pronto.

[bucko]

although I think MS could have been a bit more original than trying to turn the 360 into a Wii with avatars...maybe they should have let the community design something and have a vote.

[tutu]

So Don Mattrick is the guy that ruined the 360. Nice one.

Where can I address some hate mail?

[DeMoN_DARREN]

This is obviously a joke, you can just tell hes being funny.

I agree. If you read it you probably think it's him being serious, but I bet he was just joking around

If not, DAMN MAN, Quiet down

[clogicgmather]

I thought the idea of an avatar, a 3D representation of yourself in a computer generated world, was first used by Neil Stephenson in the book Snow Crash. (1992)

If so Don Mattrick and Al Gore have something in common.
Yep... funny.

Yes, but 4d Boxing was released the year before in 1991! Not that im trying to defend him but if you want to steal wikipedia information maybe do the research properly? You might have wanted to check the entry for "4d boxing" also

[BSDeez16]

also, 4D boxing was an awesome game. . . they need to get it on XBLA pronto.

Hell yeah! That used to be one of my favorite games on the PC back in the day...on the old 486dx2 50MHz beast.

[Devedander]

also, 4D boxing was an awesome game. . . they need to get it on XBLA pronto.

Absoultely... 4D boxing was great. We played that no end in my computer class! Also loved the 4D Driving... but sadly only had a 286 which it didn't run really well on...

[erexx]

Yes, but 4d Boxing was released the year before in 1991! Not that im trying to defend him but if you want to steal wikipedia information maybe do the research properly? You might have wanted to check the entry for "4d boxing" also

I didn't "steal" the information. (wha?)
Its printed in the book I own and read.

I really thought that Snow Crash predated anything that 4D boxing offered in terms of definition.
Even though I doubt Snow Crash borrows (Steals?) anything from the game, 4D boxing looks like one hell of cyperpunk thriller!

I guess I could have made something up but that would have been a lie and most likely inaccurate.

However, you have a Good point on researching 4D boxing before comparing it to Snow Crash.

Perhaps, I should have used Wikipedia like you did (I assume) to do my research before making such an ignorant comment.

(Edit: I haven't even read the Wikipedia entry on Snow Crash. Guess I should soes I can gets more edjumikated on what yur talkin' bout)

This post has been edited by erexx: Jul 19 2008, 09:37 AM