@DavidinMN: I'll probably spend hours without end only making my avarars burp. That's the real NEXT GEN!

Al Bino

So if Nintendo have Mii on their next console, they're gonna look alot better (then on the Wii) maybe even look similar to this. What are the odds Microsoft bitch about Nintendo copying them?

Dogmansp

@NoBullet: Seriously. These things look way more like Sims than Miis do.

In fact, Sims game using avatars? That could be fairly awesome, especially if you could do something like take your clothes from the game into the "real world".

Erwos

@NecronomiconUK: In America, the phrase "could care less" has replaced "couldn't care less." We also use the word literally way too much. That's just the way it is.

Lovestationzero

I don't understand why all of you are arguing about who stole what from who, when we all SHOULD be talking about how fucking stupid these things are.

ReconToaster

@AnEternalEnigma: How much less could you care?

UnholyAvenger

It's not the only question.
Second, how much will they take for this? ó_Ò

Dragzonox

@Chillblain: ... or is that EA letting them use Sims on the 360? I am sure even some Nintendo gamers here may have heard about those games.

@MasterYong: I dont know, I did not try that "customize avatar" option in my current dashboard. In fact, I dont remember having such option...

uzivatel

@JustJake: Do they have to pay Nintendo royalties?

You...think Nintendo invented avatars? Do Nintendo fans really believe this?

NoBullet

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: *didn't originally create..."sigh"

edit

button

plz

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Hey! It's just like having a Wii, only it plays more than 4 fun games! Yes!!

ahmybrain

@JP05: wait...let's get a bit more specific. MS went on and on about how Wii was going to be a failure, motion control was old hat and they already did it (unsuccessfully) and PS3 was their only true concern. Fast forward to almost two years later is and lo and behold, MS is not only trying to develop more games to cater to the Wii's fanbase, we now have avatars that are a straight rip off of an idea that Nintendo did originally create but they sure as hell punted it into the stratosphere on the back of Wii sales.

What happened to Nintendo, not being a concern? What happened to 360 being the market leader and not the follower? What happened?

From a business perspective, yeah, MS is smart to try and capitalize on something that Nintendo did that they simply couldn't do initially. But from a gamer's perspective, I call weaksauce on this one. If MS wants to gain more through expanding their fanbase, they have to be a bit more proactive instead of reactive. By creating something different than what the competition is doing or take something the competition has attempted and failed (like MS's motion control attempt from yesteryear) and making it work (like the Wiimote more or less).

This avatar system is just a shameless rip that makes MS look desperate. Nelson called the options "channels" in the new update. WTF? What's next? XboxLive Cabin to compete with Home?

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

...And just wait until they start trying to make microtransactions for stuff like hats, just like they try to sell gamerpics now...

I am ashamed to own a 360 right now. Those "Mii-Too"s look totally (insert your favorite insult here) too, compared to how Nintendo does it. I hope this becomes Microsoft's next Zune. They deserve it.

RonJeremy4Pres

Recipe for Xbox 360 avatar:
1. Take a Mii.
2. Add limbs and consumerism.
3. Boil until it makes sounds humorous to adolescents.
4. Release into the wild.

braagh

As much as these avatars remind you of Miis, who cares? You guys act as if they stole the idea from you directly. In any case, it's about the games, always has been. Miis might've been out first, but that doesn't matter because Nintendo Wii has yet to show us THE GAMES.

Ajey

Nintendo should have updated the Wii system over time, but they didn't and decided to hand the ball over to Microsoft. I like these better because you customize them more... and day one of the Wii release I said I wanted more options.

theuglyteradon

Didn't Maxis already make this? That mirror/pose thing looks an awful lot like the character creator in Sims 2. Did both Nintendo and EA have a hand in this?

nvision79

@Jezner: Erm, Nintendo is the racer very much in front of them.

NecronomiconUK

@NecronomiconUK: ouch, typo fail

NecronomiconUK

Wow, when they copy/pasted from Nintendo, I didn't expect them to copy the music as well.

I guess this makes my stomach turn because it is such a shameless reproduction, but at the same time, this is classic Microsoft. Once this hits production, expect a "premium" price on custom domino pizza shirts or some other crap.

The boys in redmond need some vision. They will never take the lead in the console race if their eyes are fixed on the racers besides them.

Jezner

@JP05: Can I resist? No, I can't: Everyone borrows. I have no problem with it. It just seems as if everyone's "borrowing" from Nintenod, when it comes to consoles. ^^

Really, I don't care. Just credit where credit is due.

lumpi

@AnEternalEnigma: *couldn't care less

'Could care less' is really bad English and makes very littler sense if you think about it

NecronomiconUK

Looks awesome! I can't wait!

adminssuck

...at least the burp-feature is new ... *sigh*...

Bedlam

meh. I really dont want one. can I just not have one?

chaos_isnt_here

@JesseLacey: Yeah, we have the 1st, it's alright for a punt every so often. Hopefully the follow-up can be bought without the buzzers. Anything that I can play with her is always good. I've finally got her to be interested in LBP as well, I just need to buy another bloody PS3 controller.

NecronomiconUK

@homernoy: I guess that show was 'Davey and Goliath'. Rare must have seen that show and saw something they liked ;)

homernoy

....I like these better than Miis lol

belo

Geez those avitars look creepy. I'm not trying to put the them down, but they look like those big-headed claymation characters they used to play on Sunday mornings.

homernoy

Microsoft is just a motion controller away from shipping 360 SKUs in Wii boxes.

Tenchuu

I could care less about this on the Wii and could care less about this here.

AnEternalEnigma

@JP05:
Well said. Now everyone can hush.

Masters PPD

Is it me, or did it seem like it took a LOOOONG time for the page to load after he clicked on "customize"? Seemed like a WAY bigger lag than what's current, and I coulda sworn I read somewhere that they were speeding things up.

/Then again... I really shouldn't be listening to a word M$ says. Only company to ever have one of their CS reps cuss me out and hang up the phone. Though I might have deserved it... :)

MasterYong

With the popularity of Mii's, sure they're capitalizing on it and making their own version. Really though Mii Avatars aren't that original to begin with, Wii was just the first to incorporate them into a home console to make it a bit more personal. Everyone barrows from everyone else, it's what keeps things from becoming stale and improves all systems.

JP05

Are not impressed for some reason.

I mean, Rare designed these guys? Seriously?

Thorax

I can't help but think I've seen this before somewhere. Somewhere.

InsipidWays

@NecronomiconUK: Ha my girlfriend saw that on gamefly recently...we have the first and its not a bad game but I always can seem to find something better to do when she wants to play.

JesseLacey

Its mii's in HD

Ieatbears

I was fine with them doing the avatars. Actually I was psyched, but not until I watched the video. Dood, it was just wayyy to close to Wii.

I mean everything, from the sound effects, they eyes, the way they move. They certainly capable of doing something more than a wii-clone I believe, but why they didn't I have no idea. Maybe it's the lack of confidence, perhaps.

I have Wii, I don't want another wii. I want to see something different from them. But they begin to fail me.

The only good news is that I heard from a friend of mine who worked for Microsoft (they had this huge company meeting in Seattle a while back) and they demoed how awesome the avatar's face expression is which really depends on your mood. But we'll see I hope they still have cool stuff to back this up

Playstation

Where can we turn this crap off on the menu.

nitromic

seriously guys cry more.

DarkTravesty

They've stooped to an all-time low.

YHWHMystic

Hey, I like it. Nice and cute. My girlfriend will love it as well for sure. She's already pre-ordered the new Scene It

NecronomiconUK

Kinda makes me wish Wii was a bit more powerful..

JesseLacey

I like it, who cares if they're ripping off Nintendo?

ghostadv

@Ajey: Nintendo does it first, and Microsoft copies. Yeah, we get it. Not funny thou.

SinisterSpade

I love the hobo style avatar he made.

Emiat

I'm not a fan of the new sound effects.

Crawl to China

Just show me where to hide them

kidko

I wasn't too excited about avatars until I learned about the burping.

DavidinMN

BUT GUYS, THESE HAVE HANDS!!!!

Aaron-173

The first guy to post here is like Nintendo. The rest of you are like Microsoft. Do you guys get what I'm trying to get at?

Ajey

Awful...simply awful.

Bones_Jackson

Do they have to pay Nintendo royalties?

JustJake

Can you make more than one or save settings of them? I'd like to make a set of dictators (Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jung Il, etc) and switch them out as I please.

Harrison20

@SuperStingray: ...But either way, I like the burp feature.

SuperStingray

Even if the idea weren't Mii-ish enough, the appearance, ambiance, and sounds of the whole features sounds fresh off of the Wii.

SuperStingray

Microsoft where you GETTING these ideas??

Korey

Far too similar to the Mii's. I wouldn't mind if they looked a little more detailed and had less characture look to them. They look really stupid.

Winterbringer

damn, they even took the sound effects. Are you kidding me? Come on MS, you could have come up with something better than Miis v 2.0

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

"My Xbox Channel"

Too far.

Poo_and_Weeeee

Even the sound effect are reminiscent of Nintendo's frontend.

Barbara

Oh, cool. Nintendo is letting Microsoft use Mii's on the 360? Wait a minute...

Chillblain

@NecronomiconUK: Are avatars mandatory too? I know you can have them once the mandatory update is given but do we have to make an avatar?

Llost

@DigitalHero: You heard wrong. The new xbox experience is a mandatory update. The old dash will not come back.

If you prefer you can essentially only use the new pop up guide which essentially is the old style blades layout and the same functionality. But the NXE will always be there if you boot to dash or exit a game.

NecronomiconUK

I honestly can't wait to get my avatar out there on my 360. I think it's going to be really cool when connecting with friends for like a little digital me to wave at them. "Hey, wanna wear headsets and watch a movie together?"

Bandicoot

I wish one console would just give us Chibi instead, I'd love to have anime styled stuff on my computer rather than poor graphics avatars.

Llost

The burping feature won me over...

dokterfill

@TheRealLameDuck:

Well said, I agree 100%.

Vitalz

Haha... I really hope I can dress myself up... as a panda... with a gun.

Kaizuden

peAr nectAr Stamp of Approval

peAr nectAr

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: I agree, I think the Wii is proof of Nintendo's level of innovation and uniqueness in the industry. I believe we can't have every company like that though or I'd not have the core gaming experience which I love so in the end I'm happy MS and Sony are doing what they're doing. Well they're both copying stuff so it usually depends on how relevant these things are. I doubt the 360 fanbase is very into avatars so they'll must likely go unused and I can't really complain at MS copying one feature (which if we trust Rare they already had in mind anyway) when Sony has copied much more.

Llost

Waits for Hitler, other racists avatars....

Crowbot

If only Nintendo would steal the idea of "having good games worth playing" from Microsoft.

gnugeek

@scotty: Completely agree with you.

To be honest, When I saw Home on the PS3, I was somewhat impressed, but I never thought this would top that in my eyes. But i'm beginning to get really excited about the whole fall update/avatar thingie with the xbox - it looks cool!

Ursus-Veritas

Am I the only human on earth that remembers Cyber Town? Or the first grapic muds? Hell, what about SecondLife?

Nintendo makes Miis, everyone bitches. Sony puts avatars in home, everyone wets themselves. Microsoft releases an update with avatars that are better than Miis and will see the light of day before Home and you guys bawwwwwwwwwww until the Kotaku servers are wet with your greasy tears...

Do you people have anything better to do than set around and find things to bitch about? I could understand if Nintendo came up with a way to turn your brain into a gaming system, ala PS9, and MS copied it but... dang... They didn't. The ideal of the virtual avatar goes back even before we had windows! There were text muds with the damn things! Don't like them, fine. Do like them, great. Just don't act like this is something that Nintendo, in all their greatness, created and the evil Micro$oft (See the $? That means I'm cool and I'm bring down the corporate machine!) stole from Nintendo HQ while they were all on a sake binge.

TL;DR: Grow up.

TheRealLameDuck

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: Well then can't the same be said about Wii avatars and Motion controls, already existing ideas just slapped onto a home console?

I don't understand why people get so worked up over companies taking something successful and incorporating it into their own product. Everyone benefits, unless it effects you negatively why do you care?

JP05

@Al Bino: @Llost: but that's my whole point. nintendo was the only company that went out of their way to try something different. Of course Wii is still an underpowered console delivering last gen experiences at the worst of times but why is it Sony gets ripped for Trophies and other Live-like functions but when MS rips off Nintendo the mentality is "everybody copies, what's the big deal?"

Give me a break. If any company is in a position to one up Nintendo it's MS. They didn't. They decided to go with the road already traveled. It's the irony I speak of.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Wow, some of you guys are acting as if this is the first time a game company blatantly copied off of another one.

MasterNinja

It was difficult for me to get through that video. I suppose it's nice for people who like avatars and stuff, but man do I ever hate shit like this. It doesn't help that it's a blatant (even the sound effects!) of Mii's. Good job on the Mii-too's Msoft.

LittleBigPlaneteer

I was kinda hoping Microsoft were doing Mii's, but doing them right, you know? From that video I gather that they're much better looking Mii's, but with still nowhere near enough options. I don't even have a 360 yet and I'm disappointed

CockneyKaiser

@Chillblain: woah, it cut out my stuff inside of brackets. Didn't know that they> were interpreted differently than other characters here.

Read as: "insert company" letting them use "insert avatar"

Chillblain

Not bad, I may keep the old dashboard since I heard that will be an option.

DigitalHero

@uzivatel: ...or is that letting them use on the 360?

Everyone copies everyone else- the point here being that the 360 avatars look and sound most like the Mii avatars- not the Sims avatars.

Chillblain

Hmmm.....it seems they didn't even try to make this look different from the Mii's.

Hell, it looks like they just stole all the features from the Mii's and tacked on some limbs :/

Erode

Looking great there Microsoft. I honeslty don't give a rat's ass if everyone shouts copycat, I for one love the idea of every console having more and more in common with eachother. Every console needs a reperesentation of you, no matter how simple. PS3, you're up next, Home better not let down.

scotty

@JP05: Live? Take PC online functionality, add it to a console and charge for it when it was free on the PC? Uh....yeah....right...okay. If you say so.

But the idea that "lots of things are said blah blah blah" isn't about general specs or capabilities. Wii was totally written off. I mention it because the irony is amazing.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

God I hate those emotes. I hope you can get along with Xbox360 without ever creating an avatar for yourself, I just couldn't stand seeing one of those hooting, hollering and prancing around.

ara

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the vast similarities to The Sims. I mean c'mon, the mirror, the 'wave-hands-in-air-every-5-seconds' animation, etc. Still, it looks like Hi Def Miis, and I like it.

AlienGuy

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: I doubt you can say MS is following the Wii based on just adding avatars (which are a very small part of the experience) and they are clearly focusing mostly on the core market alot more with RPG's, FPS etc. It's not like companies don't copy eachother. Sony who said they'd tell us when next gen started has done in game XMB, trophies, controller tilt etc. to copy Wii, the news thing, online focus unlike last time (xbox live), a button in the middle. Nintendo is the only one that hasn't been copying and you'll see Sony and MS try and capitalize on the new market Nintendo has found so they'll both be copying Nintendo a little.

Llost

@JesseLacey: Jesse Lacey is awesome.

Anyway, who cares if this is original or not. Its not like Nintendo were entirely original either or they wouldn't have been sued at one point in time because Miis are basically just WeeMees.

This doesn't look as bad as it did when we first saw them. Besides, I will definitely be sporting a Handlebar Moustache to look like a German Porns- uhhh.. Captain Price.

Refused

Some of you people are just fucking retarded. Kotaku stole the idea of having an avatar from xbox live.

Plus, Mii's have no fucking arms while playing tennis :/

QuickPick

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: Two years ago the Wii was nothing more than Nintendo's last try to put a foot in the rapidly closing hardware door. Every succesful idea will be copied by someone, that's why there are so many people brewing beer, building cars and copying ideas made popular movies.
Face it, as soon as something's getting big and makes the cash register go ka-ching it'll be copied and ripped off. It's just a bit more apparent on consoles because of only three companies sharing the cake. ;)

Al Bino

@Harrison20: Hitler has the high score in bowling on my Wii.

braagh

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: They were obviously wrong? A lot of things are said when new consoles are being released, that doesn't mean it'll all play out that way.

Also, to their credit they did create something different, Xbox Live. It's basically Xbox's biggest selling point, not to mention the competition is now trying to compete with their own versions.

JP05

@Erwos: Sims using avatars has already been done, it was called My Sims.
The sim even got dizzy if you spun them around long enough, it was a cute feature then and still one now.

Emiat

Looks far better than what I was expecting it to be.

yashichi8bit

this is just as bad as a rip-off as how trophies ripped off achievements

But overall, i am liking it, can't wait for all the cool features coming, and the new guide

FlagshipFighter

@Llost: or better yet, make it so that you can unlock a Ryu avatar in conjunction with a Ninja Gaiden II achievement. Like, finish the game without dying.

Or, something like get 1st place in 300 Halo3 team deathmatches for a Master Chief avatar as well as a achievement. then let you use those avatar's in game.

If sony really wanted to be fierce, they would let PSN users unlock Eye of Judgment creatures as avatars in Home. I swear, sometimes, I think some of the most unimaginative people are working in games.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

I think the aestethtic is well done. It's a cross between Wii avatars and PS3 Home avatars. I imagine that extra accessories/outfits will be available via DLC. What I want to know, is how will these avatars be used. You know, besides playing dress-up doll. Miis show up in various Wii games. The Home avatars are used for traversing the Home environments. What will the 360 avatars do? Or are they simply an elaborate portrait? I can understand the desire to put avatars out there, but they should have some form of functionality.
I may just be out of touch with news. But, aside from Uno, and games like that, what functionality will there be?
As for other complaints abut the aesthetics, I can understand the issue. Back in the day, people were really excited for Final Fantasy VIII because for the first time, you had realistically proportioned characters. Now we take it for granted, but it gave the series a taller, more grown up feel, as stupidly subjective as that may sound. Some people prefer realistic proportions to cartoon-styled encephalitis. Me, I don't care.

AllegraStreit

I wish MS would invest in a useful feature.

McPaper

OK, I make my avatar. It's nice and it may be funny and all. But... what's next? Once I do this avatar what can I do with it?

Nexus-6

WOW! I guess this is probably going to make everyone jump on board the 360 train.

/end sarcasm

sascha23

@TheRealLameDuck:

Agreed. Some people live to complain about nothing a bit too much.

billnabors65

You can make them burp? Oh man 1 vs 100 is going to be really fun with everyone burping.

Killa_Charlie

@VladMalice: I'm dissapointed then. I wouldn't mind if they were optional or I could have something cool like an avatar of Kaim, Ryu hayabusa or master chief but this is just a regular nobody on my console. I don't play games about normal guys going bowling or whatever so that even breaks the feel of my console. Damn these suck to me (as long as there kept mandatory).

Llost

I don't even know how to react to this.

Orionsaint

People need to understand that doing something a competitor is doing becuase players like it is not "bad" in any way. If players like it and it is not part of the current feature set, I'd say they are doing gamers a favor by adding the feature.

Besides, these is free, additional content for a system you already own - they are not 'obligated' to give you all this content so in my opinion, it's not a question of "it's bad or good" - you simple care or not care about it.

I think it's great that they are giving us fun updates - something the PS3 has not been doing in my opinion.

aevanko

These Xiis just make me smile...not because they're adorable (they're not), but in remembrance of the first Xbox era, in which MS spent millions trying to convince the gaming world that they were "TeH hARdkoRz"

I expect next we'll see Seinfeld and his grandma making their Xiis together, before playing a nice round of virtual Horseshoes.

gaijira

bah although i'm not impressed by unoriginality, i put up with it all the time in video games. from FPS' to RPGs, they always rip off the guy before them.... But it's that extra bit of originality that they add that is important.

Ahmunnaeetchoo

@Llost:

Re-watch the first 15-20 seconds of the video again and you will get your answer

VladMalice

@Llost: no, every company can't be like Nintendo. But I'll give you a great example of how MS took the initiative and came up aces with the exception of the cost of goods...the original Xbox. THAT was some serious hardware, well built and offered so much more than the competition. If MS was going to offer avatars, give me something far beyond the competition...like the ability to make robots,or use RPG themes or war themes or racing themes in designing an avatar.

I'd love it if I could make some kind of wizard or a frost giant or a dragon with armor or some kind of swordsman or whatever. Avatars that don't look like great space coaster rejects. 360's avatars really are nothing more than Miis v 2 right down to the sound effects. Not cool.

As far as copying in general. i have mixed feelings about it because it doesn't always lend to taking the copied idea beyond what the originator has already done. Trophies for example ARE achievements. Nothing more. Sure it's great for PS3 fans. Hell, I have over 100 myself but Sony did nothing beyond what MS has already done.

What sony did do beyond MS that I give them full credit for are the games on PSN. Warhawk for example is a great multiplayer experience and as robust as any other you'll find in that particular genre and it's a downloadable game. You won't find a similar experience anywhere on Live. Not because 360 can't produce it but because MS's own size restriction for Live games. Sony opened it up so there's not much you can't do on PSN.

Anyways, I give credit where it's due but come on. Me-too-itis really doesn't help in the long run unless the new idea surpasses the original. I don't see how 360 avatars offer anything beyond Miis on Wii. I guess we'll have to see them in-game because Nintendo Miis are fucking awesome in Mario Kart.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Are you guys seriously STILL complaining that they look like Mii's?

Miis are not this customizeable. Hell, they dont even have hands!

So did Sony copy MS with digital downloads?
Did Sony copy Ninty with motion controllers?
Did Sony copy Ninty with rumble pack?

Did every video game in the known universe copy the first every video game ever made?

Look, MS wants to be more family oriented and not just "That console that has Halo" which is an adult / young adult game.

They want to get their name out there... to everybody!

If that means they have to do BUSINESS then yeah, they copied nintendo.

Just like Toyota copied Ford.
And HP copied IBM
and....

Get the picture?

Its business.

VladMalice

All this just to play Gears 2 online? Um, no. I'll just stick to using my ALF Mii in Wii Sports Tennis.

Dick.Blake

Oh good, now that they've shown us how to make an avatar, maybe they'll make another video showing us how to give a shit about it.

denki

This is probably going to be a regular feature in consoles from now on. And it technically isn't "ripping off". No one cried foul when everyone starting using d-pads and rumble features, it was just the industry moving forward. This is the same thing (along with the motion sensitivity).

Also, logic (in theory):

A. Second Life is popular (in theory)
B. Second Life has avatars
C. Wii is popular
D. Wii has avatars
E. Avatars are popular (cum hoc ergo propter hoc, I know, but still)
F. Xbox 360 with avatars will be popular
G. Popular things make money
G. Popular things make money
H. Bill gates likes money

I could go on, but yeah. It is all about money.

Dr. Nooooooooo

HD Miis! But really the Miis were loved for it's simplicity. Oh but it may be a bit stealing, but who cares? It is only helping you! I think it's a sweet feature, but then again I'm not your average kotakuer...

Shockadin

Squall Leonhart... yay?

alf717

Its insane this avatar thingy, its absolutely ridiculous. To the defenders, I dont think people have a problem with copying in the industry, it happens everywhere and it isnt new. But its MS constant copying and failing to make any improvement. We all love it when companies take an established idea and enhance the user experience. This isnt one of those enhancements, its a sad and frankly quite lame copy and paste job of the mii system. Hell my 6 year old nephew thought it was a wii implementation. Add some limbs and some more customization options that Nintendo could easily add (if they could ever be bothered after counting the cash) and voila.

I have a strong feeling this is gonna fall flat on its face just as all blatant rips do. Take the sixaxis for instance, yeah Sony says the patent was filed years ago but we all know it was a last minute implementation after looking at Wii's potential. What happened? It was a failure, users hated it and when given the chance they reverted back to dualshock. I dont understand who the hell this is gonna entice, those looking for Wii attributes will buy a Wii and certainly not a 360 and those who want the Xbox experience, probably wont cite this feature as particularly compelling.

TotaleeAwesome

I...feel...sick...to...my...BLAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!

kagai

@Laser_iCE: Thank you for being a voice of reason.

The only people I can think of who would be upset by this are PS3/Wii owners who were already uncertain about their decision to buy a PS3/Wii over a 360, and are now even more so questioning that decision. If that's not the case, you're upset over Microsoft forcing Nintendo's hand to try and improve their product because one of Nintendo's big features is no longer exclusive. This happens all of the time, and it forces the console companies to think of the next big thing to improve their product.

Carl Everett's Fossil Collection

From the avatars, to the icons, right down to the sound effects and music. This is just too close to being a complete clone of the Mii Channel.

BlkMagik07

This looks like "Mii's 2.0" or "Mii-The Next Generation". Really, it does. I love my Xbox but this avatar dress up thing is just lame. If they found a way to make them useful, like the PS3 is doing with Home, then it would be pretty freaking awesome. But they aren't. So it's lame. I'm sure my little sister will enjoy it though. She always did want more clothing options for her Mii... :P

DannKnee

Yeah, because having a customizable character representing you in a virtual world was pioneered with the Wii... (sarcasm off)

Yes Nintendo was first to market with it in consoles, but stop giving them credit for creating something brand new and innovative.

Avatars were in use WAY before the Wii came out... (any MMO will serve as proof)

MHatter73

Man avatars are so lame IMO. I hope there is an option to hide them, they make the dashboard look way too kiddy.

BC4T

lmao anyone would think that people don't understand what competition means. You know, when a handful of competitors all do the same thing, but try to do it better than the next? Yeah, it's healthy, and it gives us, the consumers, choice.

Laser_iCE

Its funny how the general population can't handle change, or tend to follow what they presume to be the general consensus. people want every excuse to complain about something and seem never to be happy with anything.

Meanwhile ill be enjoying the sleek new user interface with mii rip offs. While playing games like COD WAW by treyarch who no one gives a chance because they made one average game that they only had 9 months to make the latter 2years. Half the people that complain about being tired of WWII games probably haven't even played one.

And lastly i will be enjoying Dead Space from the game studio that everyone loves to hate EA.... of course most people have already most people have already decided every game from EA sucks. Truth is I've had worse luck with the like of ubi and even activision.

Nipz

I never really got into avatars of any kind. My only major concern is how this will make the games I play better? I ask this because it really hasn't helped the Wii. Think about it. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone about a Wii game and at some point the topic of how Miis made the game "that much cooler" came up?

Nedge

At this point, we all know they're ripping off Nintendo. It's old news. It's an old argument. You shouldn't care anymore, and if you do, there is no reason to go on and on about it...because we ALL already know.

You can turn it off. You don't have to look at it. You either like it or you don't. Personally, I'll just be sticking with my gamer picture...but eventually, who knows, I might give it a try.

In my opinion, I think think these actually look a bit nicer than the Miis. They have more depth, they seem a little more life-like and less like they were cut out of paper. It's sort of like a jump from cartoon to claymation. As I see it, if you're gonna rip someone off, at least make it just as good or better than what they've done. Looks like they've made it at least as good, so there you go.

Apparatus Ex Somnium Design

Why is he standing like that!?

PhilESkyline

haha i just noticed that it looks like you can make him burp as long as you want...which means on 1vs100 there will be 100 prolonged burps in the background while you're trying to figure out the answer to Bob Saget's riddles.

danjlove

Hmm, I bagsies the first Itagaki lookalike! And how long until Microsoft comes up with some DIY platformer/social gaming thing like LBP for the 360 that uses these avatars?

Pudgey

Blah blah blah, close to Mii this close to Wii that. Unlike the Miis, you can actually change the colour of the pants. And really, that's all that matters.

Xander

Why do so many people act like Mii's were the first avatars ever?

chronubis

Looks alright. I agree, hopefully we can unlock new outfits/shapes based on what games we play. IE: finish COD4 on expert, get some cool military outfits. It would be a bit like on PGR4 where you can 'buy an achievment' which gives you an exclusive gamerpic.

danjlove

@TheRealLameDuck: Totally agree with you there. All people do here is complain.

Refused

wannabe frikkin mii's, man I wish they made a more grown up interface like PS3 has, not a kids geek world

Zeuxis

And people will complain about ANYTHING. Even something free like this that comes with the fall update. Jesus. And especially considering it's optional.

Babies, all of you.

ArmyofJuan

PSN+Wii...=
The "new" "Xbox" "Experience"

Thirok

What's the point? Am I missing something? I can't believe M$ have reduced Rare to making this, I want a sequel to Knight Lore!

Grassy_Knoll

I guess im one of the few who like them..

O well a month after they come everyone will stop QQ ing over how they don't like them and everyone will use them. Every time something new like this is introduced the onslaught of hatred comes toward it and then vanishes.

lifeinthefridge

My Xbox Channel? Really?

Hyperfludd

Oh man, did you guys see that? He can burp and be frightened! This is gonna rock!

MlstChlFF

Fairly impressed seeing as Nintendo has done nothing with the Mii(s). I await the Fall update in hopes I can put my avatar in a ninja outfit. I wonder if they are going to charge to buy clothes....

ThatsMrOffDutyNinja

Sweet, he made a "Street Gear" version of Jecht.

GlibGamer

@DannKnee: um you must not know much about the upcoming update. You will be able to play real online game shows with real prizes...all online with your avatar....Please do some Google-ing before you talk...

JorgieX

You know what people relax and enjoy....sheeeesh, just have fun and stop being such complaining gamers. What is wronge with just having fun and being happy for new stuff for your favorite console. I hated making Mii's and the graphics were horrid on the Wii. I for one will love using this on my Elite and just plain having fun with it. I am getting to old for this whole internet thing. Everytime , everyday, every post there is always people bashing this and that. I can't wait to see what people say when Sony and HOME come out aren't those avatars too? OMG, I will love it on XBL and I will love it on PSN but I will hate anything on the weak and no power Wii.

JorgieX

Meh, Microsoft tossed this idea around way before the Wii...get over it.

Shandy706

@lordargent: Mainly cause these three companies are all stupid and want to put each other out of business so they can be the top moron...I mean dog.

Ashkihyena

So, microsoft is stealing Miis from nintendo and calling them 'avatars'

Sony is stealing achievements from microsoft and calling them 'trophies'

Nintendo is stole xbox live arcade from microsoft and callied it 'virtual console'.

/Why do we need three "different" consoles again?

lordargent

I don't care that they ripped off nintendo.I never played wii. Never will. I think it looks pretty cool and looks like it will grab my attention for atleast a day or two. I can't wait for this update already. So sick of seeing previews and not having it.

wtf007

xbox's mii's > wii's mii's

chewychomp

@ThatsMrOffDutyNinja: You even have to ask that question? Its Microsoft, of course they're going to charge for the clothes.

Ashkihyena

Yeah, they look nice, but they'll cost a fortune for the DLC.

Ashkihyena

I like it.

Lukems

Hey look, Microsoft copied someone other than Apple for once! Yay! The photocopiers are alive and strong in Redmond still. I do like these better than the Mii's. I know Nintendo was going for the KISS principle though. Unfortunately, Microsoft is probably going to milk this thing as far as possible by selling all sorts of little things to change your appearance at an additional fee.

BigDragon

I love my Mii.

I'm glad Microsoft is adding this to the 360. It does feel like they're copying Nintendo, but as I own and love both consoles, I'm happy they are bringing this very personal aspect to their system. Lookin' good!

ironhive

(sorry for the double post...Sugoi posted this while I was typing my other post)
@Sugoi: Don't say that, then people will complain about Microsoft stealing the idea of displaying achievements from Home's trophy case.

Guerrilla Mason

@lordargent: THANK YOU! I've been wondering why, since pretty much the second they were announce, everyone has gone bonkers about how Microsoft stole the Mii idea from Nintendo, but hardly a negative word was spoken about how Sony stole achievements. I don't see a problem with either one. If it works for them, why not try it out for yourself. I know Microsoft isn't the most consumer friendly company out there, but I've never had them make me buy a product. Done it pretty much of my own free will.

Guerrilla Mason

I feel pretty neutral on this... at least until they start charging for all of the "really cool" outfits. Then I'll hate it just as much as I hate my inability to upload my own gamerpics.

Somehow the idea of spending money to make yourself unique and cool does not appeal to me. Now, if they want to award outfits for achievements, that's entirely different (and awesome). Wearable Achievements could be... THE FUTURE!

Sugoi

hey PS3 ripped off MS with their rendition of achievements called "trophies" let them use Avatars. gawd. besides i think the MS "Mii's" are better and refined.

given the limits of the Wii its a safe assumtion its like comparing Windows Vista to Windows 95. moving along... now

DoomLight

And they still look so generic >_<

I do wish Nintendo would learn from this and give us more hair/color/eyes options though. It really wouldn't be that hard for them to do.

feder

This looks very nice. I'm looking forward to see how deep it goes. I was hoping to have a system as intricate as Oblivion but I knew it would be to prohibitive. I think they struck a pretty good balance :)

It would also be nice if they'd let you modify your emotions or select for a choice of animations so this way you'd at least have some sort of control over what you "might" do. I'll looking forward to seeing how things continue to develop with the NXE.

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

I don't own a Wii, so to me, this is...reminiscent to the new Xbox 360 Dashboard update! Wow, that was hard to think of it like that! Not!

Seriously QQ about the similari-Wii's.

Dovien

So you have no choice, you have to pick one of these fucking things upon installing the so-called 'new experience'? And then their ugly little mugs stand in the corner of your goddamn system all the time, with no option to tell them to fuck off?

Guess it's time to start buying multiplatform games for my PS3 instead, so that I can avoid having this shit plastered all over my screen every time I go to play a game.

atomicstrawberry

@alf717: i was thinking the same exact thing, lmao...

phrequency

if the Sony stole mii's you'd all be shitting blood.

instead, Sony stole second life...or, are stealing second life. eventually. jeez, can't Microsoft steal something original?

aykay

@Dogmansp: MS hasn't complained about modern console gaming (online service, achievements, etc.)being copied from them. Seems there's no room left for anyone to complain about ideas being ripped off.

giovonti

Is there a way to make your head smaller?

DARTH_TIGRIS

When my wife saw me watching the video, she thought it was for the Wii. But then I showed her how these guys can burp.

*TOTALLY DIFFERENT.*

endekks

@Thirok:
What is that suppose to mean? Let me give you one. ass+hat=you :O

@Guerrilla Mason:
Please tell me you are joking... PLEASE tell me you are joking... Did some SDF drone see that there is a blade section that compares achevments and they went, "ZOMG! TEH COPAYs!"

This makes me weep for humanity. It's sad how Sony gets a free pass when they "steal" ideals (Trophies anyone? How about some SecondHome... er... Life... I mean.. HomeLife? ..... HOME! Thats it... Home.) and Nintendo is some innovation god. You know, Sony nor Nintendo shipped with a complete online component. (The Wii STILL doesn't have one. Anyone else sick of anti-pedo codes? Lets call it what it is. Friends codes my ass..) Yet some of you people feel the need to defend them with your life. Personally, there needs to be more critisisem of them both so things will get fixed or, when the next-gen comes out, we don't have to wait a year for half functioning messaging/voice or have to enter 32, 12 digit codes.

TheRealLameDuck

oh and as regard to the ps3 copying achievements thing..

yeah i can kinda see that.. but i think copying a high level concept (e.g achievements) and implementing it in a different way isnt the same as this.

If they had simply created 'avatars' then it wouldnt have been copying.

BUT the fact that they arent just avatars, but MII avatars (they LOOK AND SOUND almost identical in visual style, and the fact they now have a 'my xbox channel'!) is the point. Its one thing to take a concept and apply it in a different way, but its another to completely copy every unique point of somebody elses implementation of a high level concept.

I mean take an FPS. ON a high level,ALL FPS games are copying each other. but its what happens that defines wether it is 'copying'. For example COD4 and HAlO3 arent copies..

If i said im making a new FPS with aliens, a giant weapon called 'the ring' and a lead char called 'master King', with lovely vehicles such as the 'wild boar' jeep, and weapons like 'sticky energy grenades', then that would be a COPY of halo.

NovaBlack

Whathe! Is it just me or are they using the exact same animations as The Sims 2 when you give the (Miis) Avatars new clothes? O.õ

RageW

@ giovonti
''MS hasn't complained about modern console gaming (online service, achievements, etc.)being copied from them. Seems there's no room left for anyone to complain about ideas being ripped off.''

um.. you do realise they havent complained because online gaming, and online gaming community And achievements, were a a massive part of pc gaming for YEARS before consoles started it?

NovaBlack

well at least AAron greenberg now looks even more like a tool.

He slagged off wii for MONTHS, saying 360 'wasn't competing' wii 'wasnt a competitor' and the audiences were 'completely different', and they could appreciate wii but it was aimed completely for a 'different type of gamer'...

and then this..

OMFG.. if it LOOKS like a Mii, Sounds like a Mii, WORKS like a Mii, TASTES like a m... oh ok.. scrap that one.

But you get the idea.

Aaron greenberg, you are a tool. A lying tool .

NovaBlack

Lame. I want to use the same avatar I use in Marble Blast Ultra (the world). This looks like a less-crappy version of the Mii concept.

Akin

I known people think it copies miis, but I think its only the idea that is the same, the way they work and are used are completely different...

infestedDemon

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: PS3 owners asked for achievements and Sony gave it to them. I don't know any 360 owner who said "you know what my 360 needs? avatars!!".

Shinryoma

what is MS doing to the Xbox 360? if I wanted this crap I would have bought a Wii or A barbie.

liann

god, what cornball shit. this is NOT what MS should be doing with their system during the middle of its service life.

Cell9song

I'm starting to warm to the look of the new dashboard, and the avatars will probably be good for a laugh, but I just can't get past how much of a shameless rip off they are. It's like having the wii on the same network as my xbox has infected it or something. I would prefer it if they were more like the home avatars, maybe with vision camera support or something..
People might say that the wii didn't come up with avatars first, but having a cartoony avatar linked to your profile on your console is definetly a rip off. Do MS think that this is going to sell more xboxes? I don't.

anNIALLator

Microsoft have turned their back on everyone who put their trust in them by investing in the Xbox 360.

What the Xbox 360 platform originally represented is way different to the gimped Girly-Box that is is now. For shame.

Andronix

is there a fart button too?

joeloliol

@NoBullet:
Yes, yes they do believe it.

XbhaskarX

This is the sort of thing where there should be a web-based version of it now to get people thinking about it.

TheNthDegree

I didn't see any possibility to scale, rotate or mirror features...

Garo

I honestly don't understand the reason for these...

WHERE will they be used? What's the point?

TezzRexx

I can sum up everyone's bitching about the 360 Fall Update in one Wayne's World quote:

"We fear change...."

MaxSteele

The only question is: can we NOT do it? And say we did? Like is this optional?

GOLD5

Oh gimme break people. Stop bitching about MS copying off Nintendo. So what if they did? There's not a damn thing you can do about it. Avatars will be here, and they'll be here to stay. so STFU! ...
...
...

Well anyway, the vid looked interesting. Can't wait to make my character.

Ezekiel06

It resembles so much like the Mii's

zerokoolpsx

"Oh my god you guys. You are going to love this. Did you see that? Wait, watch that again. Seriously check it out, it's so cool. [burp] He just burped."

Next gen burping is so next gen.

RaepGoblin

It's like a mix of Sims and Miis. I know I'm not going to be able to resist making one though, damn you Microsoft.

MPSai

So can you earn new clothing/accessories through playing games? Play Halo 3 to earn your avatar hayabusa armor? :P

akruble

I would have dismissed them for the lack of originality, but Rare's Avatars are a genuine improvement over Nintendo's Mii's. Also, Nintendo had been working on Mii's for "over ten years," and Rare pumped out a superior version in much less time. Either Nintendo is lying or they just got owned.

jmaster14656

mmm mmm mmm I can just taste the sony fanboy tears.

Jeff

So much emotional crying going on here, and over a fucking avatar creator. And give Nintendo credit? When did anything that comes from Japan counts as "first and original". They took the idea from somewhere just like MS did. Looks like people need to hop of either Steve Jobb's or Miyamoto's wang. All this 360 hate is just rearing near hilarious.

I think they look pretty good. The clothing seems to have some detail to it. And I'm sure we'll start to see clothing set themes set to games like they do with gamerpics. If they release a proton pack for the avatars when Ghostbusters finally releases I'll orgasm a sea of nerd glee. :o

Comeback209

I bet the very idea that we even CARE about these just makes you hard, doesn't it?

Enigma_20XX

Good, I hate it.

King Seafoam

@akruble:
Holy crap... Master Chief avatar... That would kind of rock, even if the prepubesent crowd has turned Halo 3 online into a joke. OH! A map with all the weapons hidden and a thousand active-camo out? BRILLIANT! Sooooo not one sided.

TheRealLameDuck

You know it's funny because I didn't hear you suckers say "Hey Sony is totally ripping off the 360 by adding in game xmb".

Double standandars at their best eh?

It's called competition guys. Give me a break.

ysleiro

@NovaBlack: I said modern CONSOLE gaming mr observant.

giovonti