@dowingba: why? so you can giggle at his cutely animated dance of course! OH HEE HEE. They're adorable!... yeah. Hopefully they aren't an overbearing presence.

ExistentialEgg

@shadow763: I've read the UI is actually smoother now, so that should be a plus.

DTownsu

I think it looks great and I can't wait to get my first LIVE party going;

"PARTY OVER HEREEE!"

And to anyone who doesn't like it, good thing you didn't purchase the console to stare at a dashboard huh?

Great thing the 360 has almost every great game on the market for us to enjoy over complaining about a little character living on our console's start up screen.

The Chicken Kicker

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

I am in total agreement with you. Bring on Netflix!

DTownsu

what I am wondering is will this UI be even slower? The xbox interface as it is is kind of laggy and that is just with the whole blade system.

Adding all this extra stuff on there seems like it would make it even worse.

shadow763

@NoBullet: Nevermind, just read the whole thing.

NoBullet

@Clarke: Miis maybe, but not the PS3 themes. I dont like how the little "scene" looks with my retard virtual self standing next to it. Boring. I would rather have high res pictures and svelte icons.

shadow763

Why on Earth are avatars always associated with 5 year olds? Why can't we design our own avatars, avatars that aren't in super deformed glory?

The 360's UI is clunky as is. This looks to replace the current poor design choices with... giant heads. No thanks, MS. I think I'll be done with you for a while once I'm done molesting Fable 2.

Razgriz1

Hey, maybe next week they'll announce that the guide menu will actually load faster in a game, be it multiplayer or singleplayer!

I open my guide menu to check a message quick while respawning in a game and... I end up waiting nearly a minute just to have the first menu pop up. By the time I'm done, I've already died two more times. Ugh.

SuperTongue

Gemma Atkinson please (Y)

DanteIX

Are those 3D items animated or interactive?

NoBullet

As long as the "info architecture" of the dash is less convolted than it is now, I won't mind the softer, more 'casual' look.

Lemon Goo

Can't wait to see how SLOW this is going to make my 360! As is, it takes a damn year to load up my Arcade games' list and Themes list.

Screw all this fancy Wii-inspired crap and give me a damn defragger FIRST! Then, let's talk about something else.

J

FranksnBeans

@ShadowFFVI:
I agree, I do hope the entire interface is optional, I don't particularly care about the Avatars, just like I don't really care for the Mii's or Home.

But maybe, with time, the new interface will grow on me, I'm willing to give it a shot, let's see how it rolls out!

Strife56

I'm starting to get worried about this new dashboard. At first I thought it looked all right, but more and more I'm getting bad vibes about it. It just seems like there's gonna be too much uselessly animated stuff going on and it's gonna be hard and frustrating to navigate because of it. For instance, I've noticed avatars going in front of text before. Why the hell would I want that to happen when I'm trying to read the text?!

dowingba

hmm, now im a little more interested (except fot the avatars, ugh). I wonder what kind of themes they can pull off

SupaPhly

This beats the crap out of Playstation 3 Themes and Wii Mii's.

Clarke

@Lazlo: It seems that a lot has been revealed about NXE (carried on major blogs and all) that just doesn't seem to be retained in peoples memories. He really is right. Look it up... Kotaku makes it easy with search and tags.

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

@boringjob2:

Sounds a lot like HOME.

____

@DrowningInMercy: wow, someone's totally cool & popular. :|

johnjohnbmx

@WEGGLES90: Excellent point! However please read his statement again.

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

@Gigaheart: Let's step into the bazaaro universe where those two products were the same; I'd still have one question though which is going to actually make it to market in a reasonable amount of time with the promised features... or to put it another way... which one seems more real?

I don't think of this as some kind of penis measuring contest or anything. I think MS is working on something really cool here that brings a metric ass-ton of functionality to live and that makes me excited. If it seems like a ripoff to others then what-evs!

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

What resources? Are there magical TechBricks that you have to use to build all digital projects? Or are you referring to technicians/programmers, living human beings with varied skill sets, as do-all resources?

Ghede

@boringjob2: You really think this is just a new skin? And that they are doing nothing to improve Xbox live? Really? So the big downtime starting this monday for Xbox live and Xbox.com isn't for Xbox live at all? I think you need to read more about it.

WatershipDown

I don't have a lot more interest in Home, but this just seems a bit goofy...Is that actually true that you cannot 'opt out' of this look? Liking or disliking the avatars and such is a matter of taste, but forcing folks to take on this aesthetic is loopy for a system that used to be pretty free in terms of themes (admittedly you couldn't do much with them, but they weren't enslaved by the new miis)

phloog

@Crash McCloud:
What are you talking about? Where did you get this information, because as of right now the only avatar-supported game announced is that "Put Yourself in the Movies" thingy that was really awkward and such. I didn't think avatar implementation a-la Wii was even considered.

Lazlo

@Demonbird: Avatars will only be used for E rated games like Viva Pinata.

Crash McCloud

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

The NXE isn't though.

WEGGLES90

Such a waste of resources that could be shifted into new IPs, making sure Live is more reliable, Quality Assurance, etc.

boringjob2

@brainwav: Gamerpics aren't going away, as you can see in the top right corner of the pic.

The Miivatars will be supplemental.

TRT-X

@ShadowFFVI: What is with you people and the NXE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE AVATARS. SHAZAM!

WatershipDown

@okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under): Avatars, yes. The new "Experience", however, appears to be mandatory.

brainwav

So uh... can we still have a normal friends list? I don't want to sift through avatars to see who I can drive a bus over in GTA.

Demonbird

Even with optional avatars, I think it sucks that themes you pay for now have the lower half obscured by a big grey sphere "ground". Why mot be opaque? Or non-existent with old themes, just the new image tiles a-la windows media center?

peacefuloutrage

@MCWHAMMER: It's free. Avatars and such are available for XBL silver members as well.

heretrix

Xbox Home?!!

*~*

Gigaheart

@MCWHAMMER: What's that, another tired dig at the cost of Xbox Live?

Lemon Goo

@ShadowFFVI: I'm sure it sounds like a broken record now but avatars ARE optional. OPTIONAL. O . P . T . I . O . N . A . L .

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

@ShadowFFVI: True....true...its not really necessary for life...i mean...this are for the "ones with no lives"

rbee90

So it even shows people that are offline on the friends channel? Mine is going to be pretty crowded...I constantly have to trim down my friends list to keep it away from 100 because I get so many requests, speaking of which, I'm at 97 now. Time for some spring cleaning!

DrowningInMercy

Looks awesome. Can't wait!

cjcamilla

I still don't like the kiddy visual design of the Avatars, but look of the overall dashboard is starting to win me over. The themes make it look much better.

Vaegrin

I wish this was optional, why can't I just have a dashboard instead of a virtual myspace with Mii knock offs. Next up is the Facebook app for Xbox Live so I can take all all the crotch shots from my game of DOA Volleyball and share them with my friends and it all gets to be associated with my avatar.

ShadowFFVI

@MCWHAMMER: Aren't Avatars supposed to function as a replacement for Gamerpics? If that's the case, I don't think you'll need to pay for others to see them.

brainwav

Finally! the opportunity to inhabit a strange nega-space out of time bandits where, it seems, some kind of drug bust was taking place before a mysterious force destroyed all the people, and replaced them with a handful of seemingly unconcerned bystanders staring at the 4th wall.

Do their eyes seem to hunger, somehow? Or is it me?

deathbunny

Interesting. It's just a shame that you have to pay Microsoft for the ability to show your friends your avatar guy and such.

MCWHAMMER

@Blah8: I liked the XMB better back when it was the interface for Windows Media Center. I much prefer the up and down THEN left to right of the Windows Media Center interface to the left to right and THEN up and down of the XMB.

robinandtami

This update continues to get even worse.

BONERJAM

@shahmastert: Every time you get the feeling that Kotaku is flooded with fanboys, just take a gander over to Gizmodo. The blatant Apple fanboyism will make you wonder whether or not some of the Gawker crew is on Apple's payroll.

Razgriz1

@shahmastert:
If you can't attack the message, attack the man, right?

Aprotosis

@shahmastert: "shahmastert has no friends."

Now THERE'S a shocker!

robinandtami

I am tired of hearing about all this "copy" stuff. I swear, people need to get out of their bubbles. This isn't Wii inspired any more than PS Home is Wii inspired. The interface itself is Web 2.0 if anything. I am surprised not more people say it is Apple inspired since they were the first to make the look popularized, but this is just the direction digital marketing has been going the past couple years. Try to pay attention.

As for Avatars, Miis and whatever Sony are calling their digital citizens, this stuff has been around since before the Internet. Not that many kids here know of the Before Times. Maybe not in 3D form, but the concept of the "avatar" is not new. It is just that now these machines have the power to create a 3D interactive environment in a dashboard-like interface to present these avatars in and not strain the system or permanently steal resources. This isn't copying any more than Honda is copying Ford. It is just an idea whose time has come.

All digital media is going to go in this direction. The naysayers today are the same type of person who in the 50's refused to believe that TV was a better medium than radio or refused to get a CD player in exchange of their turn table.

Aprotosis

anyways, If the avatars where better designed, it would be win win. Follow Mii's and Nintendo...well....

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

@shahmastert: There's plenty of fanboys of all types on Kotaku, you must not have been here long.

Gray665

@Clarke:
Eh, I'd say it's about equal with the Mii's in that you're probably not going to use your Avatars much outside of these menus and the occasional supportive game. Comparing Avatars to themes is a bit random, though. I can see where the 3D themes here might be interesting, but like Fahey said, it'll make it hard for custom themes to work. Functionality-wise, though, I still like the XMB better than any of the other menu systems in the other consoles.

Blah8

@ExistentialEgg: And when Sony eventually copies this dashboard they better use Sackboys as avatars, dammit. Then I wouldn't mind.

dowingba

@The Chicken Kicker: I may not have gotten a 360 to stare at the dashboard, but you're going to be seeing it a whole lot if you use the console. Personally, the visual direction of this "New" Xbox experience is a huge turnoff to me.

I don't want to look at it every time I have to go to the dash. I'd definitely stick with the blades if it is going to be an option.

Telecinision

I'd take gamerpics over avatars. I hope there is an option to turn them off. It would look so much better if you take the cars , pretty much everything in the foreground out.

I like simple stuff and this seems insanely cluttered. Anything is better then Blades though.

휘성

I just noticed the number of 360 fanboys in Kotaku.

shahmastert

A simple list of names, icons and status was fine. No thank you.

OoBaSNoRk

So, is the theme in the screenshot "mean streets of Detroit" or "Left 4 Dead urban gothic"?

Bakeroo

@The Chicken Kicker: well said and so stupid I laughed until I cried

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

@Erignamatic: I think you meant 8 Player Chat, right?

Anyway, there will be lots of haters out there, but as long as you have everything in perspective, this isn't going to hurt anybody.

I'm perfectly fine and content with this update. I already enjoyed the regular dashboard over what PSN/Wii offers, and now it's 20x better.

The Chicken Kicker

@deathbunny: That is the single most awesome comment I've read on Kotaku all week!

DarkWolf7

@Lemon Goo: No, not really, just kind of useless to make an avatar. No one cares what yours looks like, as evidenced by the Nintendo Mii system. The only thing people make on it are Obama and Michael Jackson Mii's. Everyone who thinks they'll like the experience will make one custom dude and then go back to just a gamerpicture when they realize that it's kind of silly.

Believe me, you'd know if I was "digging" at Microsoft. It should be free though, like PSN. I'd use it more.

MCWHAMMER

@Gigaheart: They completely different! I hope...

infestedDemon

@Erignamatic: Blah. I should really proofread my posts first.

Erignamatic

@Demonbird: I totally agree, I'd rather not have to travel to Avatar Village every time I want to check my friends list.

superbagman

Really? Really? (At all the haters)

So yes, there are avatars which are basically Miis. Yes, that one underground theme looks really bad. But I've seen far more good that will come with this update (such as 4 player Private chat, which should have been something the 360 should have had from the BEGINNING.

I've also seen in person - it's far more efficient and quick to load through the menus than the current dashboard. You can choose to not see the avatars - you can choose to use your old theme (which looks much better now when in conjunction with an HDTV), and it provides much more room for future features within the firmware.

As for those that will miss the blades. There's no accounting for personal taste - but I would suggest taking it for what it's worth unless you don't plan on playing on Xbox live ever again to avoid the update.

Erignamatic

"Inner City life,
Inner City pressure,
The concrete world,
is starting to get-choo."

osteofight

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: I make chickens cry.

@Telecinision: There will not be an option to not use the NXE. Your best bet would be to have the games boot up right when you put it in and just never go to the dashboard. While you're playing games you can hit the Guide and it will be a mini version of the blades which can help you chat with friends or whatever you care to do.

The Chicken Kicker

@DTownsu: I wonder why the blades were so slow. Must be some poor coding, its not like they are graphics intensive.

shadow763

Layme, blades were fine for me. If it 'aint broke...

RaepGoblin

This looks like crap.
It's a total rip off of of the nintendo Mii's which should be a turn of to anyone who's age is in double digits.

Sam_Lowry

Still looks like space-wasting bullshit. Thanks, NXE!

justhesh

@SAB-CA: I wouldn't say Mature and Macho were correct wordings, but you have the right idea. Give us variety. Let people represent themselves as they see fit. Don't force us to make -more- Mii's. We have plenty of those already.

What we don't have is the ability to roam our Dashboards as Ninjas, Dragoons, Gunslingers, Space Marines, and Super Heroes. And from what I've read, this is the one thing that would put this update into near perfect acceptance with the 360 community.

Razgriz1

Looks nice. I'm just worried that I'm not going to be able to find stuff as quickly as I can now.

MasterNinja

Man, why are modern day gamers so threatened by "big head characters"? We played RPGs for YEARS with SD characters, and had no problem with it. We play Mario, with his huge head and round body, and don't complain. We remember the best of games like the Alexkidd series, or Adventure Island, all with characters more childishly proportioned than this, and yet, we can't take these avatars?

However, I still must say, if you can make your avatar more "mature" and more "macho", I think that would REALLY raise the acceptance of the new changes. Or forget mature, just make it so your avatars could also be things like Slimes, Robots,Gundam-like Mecha, Animals, etc. And pay Behemoth to make some Dan Paladin style full 3D models for EACH and EVERY Castle Crashers chara! XD (Or at least the 4 knights...)

SAB-CA

@The Chicken Kicker: Oh, is it 8 players? Heck, that's even better!

I'm sure peoples' opinions will gradually change once they have some experience with it.

Erignamatic

I´m actually excited for this cause I think the blades are fugly. I Think it will be a good experience. But they shouldn´t make it mandatory, they have to make it optional.

lucasreis

@MCWHAMMER:
Seriously man, dont be a jackass, you get ahat you pay for. And PSN is free and still no home..... wonder why..
anyhoo the avatars are cool, i like the idea, the reason mii's fail is because wii fails in general online. im excited about this update.

spookythemayor

@ShadowFFVI: okay, next dashboard update im calling it. so then ill have crotch shots for everyone, but in madden. sigh. :(

btw...im kinda iffy on these new themes, on how theyll look. because when you look at them, there is completely alto of gray space, on the bottom, and such.

but the above pic works out great, not so much so the gears of war pic, and also are they only using one picture, since they dont have the so called blades, or are they going to change the background pic, when you move from friends, to games or something.

d4rlp3nc1l

@MCWHAMMER:

You dont have to pay anything. Maybe you should actually own a 360 before trying to degrade it or the company it stands for.

sigh...gamers these days

Logic1

@johnjohnbmx: yep, but fortunately its not me. sigh. :(

i only have like 30 tops, and i can still delete 5 more, but just dont want too. (friends with no live, brother, second accounts, etc)

and im sad too, i only have like 4 friends tops on live on any given day, so basically im bored. but nhl 09 is kinda helping, only when the servers are playable.

d4rlp3nc1l

I still wish they'd give the user the choice of using the old interface and the new one. I can't stand this childish look to it.

kylo4

@MCWHAMMER: Since it's NOT free, and you're paying for it, wouldn't you want to use it MORE? To get your money's worth?

Seinosuke

@Razgriz1: 1. The avatars are optional.

2. If it bothers you so much, do like someone else suggested and make it so that your 360 boots straight to the game disc.

josh924

@MasterNinja: I'm pretty sure that's the reason for a new dashboard; to make things easier to find and make the dashboard easier to navigate. That's really the only reason for any interface change, actually, like the new Kotaku inteface.

josh924

@Bakeroo: 21 Jump Street. ;)

Fuzi Lojak

I just want to know if we can use the same themes we currently have or be forced to purchase new ones that are "compatible" with this new update.

acez2087

@Seinosuke: Besides Gears of War 2, and the opportunity to get beaten by 10 year olds in the multiplayer arenas of that game, I would have no other use for Xbox Live Gold. Plus, when you sign up with the intention of quitting your subscription later, it's binding. You have to call them to cancel, as there is no way to get them to stop auto-drafting the money from your card if you set up your 360 with one. You can imagine what talking to their customer service is like.

MCWHAMMER

@Logic1: I do own it. Why defend them, do you own stock or something?

MCWHAMMER

So....... dumb.

Ouren

@acez2087: Didn't you click on the Gamerscoreblog link? They're saying that old themes will work fine. They even show what the Gears of War 2 "Hope Runs Deep" theme will look like on the new dashboard.

josh924

I still would much rather keep using the logo for the Texas Rangers than have some dude running around, hanging out with baseball bats. One is cool, one is decidedly gay.

FuturePants

@SAB-CA: Master Chief avatar costume confirmed.

sherIock

Now that is customization, far more than expected. One thing that bugs me though, the images on their flicker account are 1080p versions, upscaled from 720p, meaning blurry. Why on earth to publish deliberately fucked up promotional material?

ara

Wow- that's really freaking cool! I was very curious how they were going to put all the theme's in there from what we've already purchases- but this new 3D version makes me think 'who the hell needs to old themes?!'

Very cool.

d20Dark1

@phloog: Pressing the guide button gives you a mini version of the current dashboard. Meaning if you really hate the NXE then you're one button press away from happiness.

sherIock

@peacefuloutrage: Because you can see them so clearly behind all the shit on the current dashboard...

sherIock

I dont understand why theres so much hate in the enthusiast community, Does everything you see have to have a gun or a flaming sword that turns into water or some wicked badass jump suit? c'mon people, its free, and the old system was pretty bad. All i know is it better be a zippier system, because the current is just painful. I barely have a chance to send a message inbetween periods in hockey because it so slow...... Good job microsoft, stepping up the game

xJOZx

@peacefuloutrage: opaque means solid bud, get it right. and stop hating. Its a good idea and its free.

xJOZx

The gray blob that is blocking half of the background theme needs to go.
At the very least it needs to be shifted down so it's not taking up half the screen.

XbhaskarX

@deathbunny:
Awesome comment.

XbhaskarX

Did they hire Rankin Bass to do the avatars?

[www.rankinbass.com]

Barbara

@spookythemayor:
BTW, xbox customer support is the best in the industry, anyone who has actually called "1800 4 MY XBOX" can attest to that.

spookythemayor

@MCWHAMMER: You have no idea what you are talking about. If you own a 360 and have a free silver account you still get Avatars. Not sure where you got your information.

DMZilla

Interesting... Hopefully the new themes won't cost more. I'll have to see it first before I make any logical opinion about this new stuff.

SirFenwick

@MCWHAMMER:
your right, YOU can imagine, because if you had an xbox, YOU would know. I have never heard of anyone having problems quitting xbox gold. but w/e its your un-informed opinion. Additionally its not defending, its correcting you. Also dont be mad at us because our system actually releases things the discuss releasing... enjoy home, because by that time ill be enjoying the next microsoft system.

spookythemayor

@MCWHAMMER: Buy a card then, in store. There's other options. Don't whine about it.

theblur3419

@Strider7:

Winter begins on December 21st this year unless you live in California where it begins and ends on the 2nd week of April.

Barbara

wouldn't this be called the Winter Update then?

Strider7

Can't really say I'm a fan of the whole "avatar" thing... It's too much like the Mii concept. Too childish. It'd look ridiculous to be welcomed to this every time I turn my console on, If my game library is stocked full of guns, guts, and glory. I'm quite content with what we have right now!

ANT0NSS0N

interesting. i swear PS3 & the WII had this first. i wish 360 could be more original

taeka22

I don't know I could have sworn Nelson said something when it was first announced that its optional. Least I think the avatars are but don't take my word for it I cant find anything...so yeah

HalRabulous

@MCWHAMMER: yeah, i dont they have said that you need a gold account for the avatars.

stiltskin

really? have the announced that a silver account will not have an avatar?

stiltskin

Seems kind of pointless. Just play a sims game.

GlItCh017

don't want it feels like to may knock offs rolled into one

_Ted_

Looks sweet... Id love a batman theme in Gotham that you can walk your avatar around in...

JamPearl

@Gigaheart: I doubt they are bringing back Microsoft Bob

Shin-san

@spookythemayor: gotta call you out on that one...It's actually pretty annoying whenever I call. Canceling the monthly fees is quite easy, but getting the CC off was a really bad experience.

Red

@Red:
thats wierd ive never heard of or had any problems of my own.usually get right on the line, and can usually solve my problem in a couple of mins. btw, whats "CC"?

spookythemayor

Let the haters hate. This is going to be awesome.

DreamDivision

You know what bothers me the most about these avatars? It's they way they all seem to stand with their pelvises cocked to one side. In that picture above, I see three avatars (one who's grayed out) that are all standing in that exact same awkward pose. And the same pose was also visible when they discussed avatar customization.

I don't care that they're pseudo-Mii ripoffs, but is it really necessary for them to all stand around looking like runway models all the time?

Number41

@Lazlo: I said Viva Pinata as an example because it's Rated E

Crash McCloud

I think the word you're looking for here is "contrapposto." It's supposed to make them look cool, I guess.

Kappuru

@Razgriz1: Oh, but the rough art from so long ago shows avatars dressed up as Ninjas, Samurai, some guy with an Incredibles logo(super hero!)on his shirt, and some other weird stuff! XD

But I don't know if a "childish" avatar will appeal as widely as if they also had some character models that where, say, more rugged and masculine. Muscular, hairy guys, somethings along the lines of heroes like Solid Snake, or even like Wrestlers. Heck, being 360, I'm surprised they didn't instantly go for a simple version of Commander Shepard/Baldur of Too Human type style.

I just wish in the end that the Avatars, style wise, where as diverse as the games we play. But I guess they have a decent "base" style here. I don't think it is the best look to appeal immediately to the more adult fanbase, but if the items and accessories carry variety, then I suppose "chibi" versions of characters Marcus Fenix, Goku, Chun Li, or Laura Croft could still interest a wide variety. Though I doubt we'd get anything as impressive as Team Fortress 2 style designs... THAT would have been awesome.

SAB-CA

@okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under): gah....dont get me wrong, i love kotaku, but the search engine on this site is fucking awful. especially for contests....i just use google to search the site.

@superbagman: im pretty sure there will still be a friends tab in the guide, it would be really really stupid if there wasnt one, you know there has to be one.

as far as from the main dash, it looks like the avatars are all thats there on the friends tab, but it does say details in the corner, but i think that would be to see one persons details.

as long as there is a good and easily readable friends list from the guide, thats fine with me...

karl_hungus

@spookythemayor: im guessing credit card.

karl_hungus

@Number41: Hopefully, they'll either shift their weight dynamically, or Microsoft will realize that we'd want to be able to make these characters reflect the "casual" side of our personality as well.

Some of us like to stand with our hands in our pockets, some of us cross our arms, some would squat. If they realize this, it would be cool.

SAB-CA

This actually begins to look better and better. I like the look of the avatar's and the customisability, and I'm really glad we get to keep the themes we've paid money for. The nice little 'dynamic' thing with each of the themes looks fun as well.

Ursus-Veritas

Right, I'm into this, was from the start. What I do need to know and I need to know it fast, have they changed the options for how you select your music through the ingame dash. Because right now those options are TERRIBLE AND SLOW.

elmarko

@MCWHAMMER: You can get Gold accounts by the month.

Seinosuke

@josh924: Oh crap, I totally missed that. It blended in so much I couldn't even tell what it was. lol

acez2087

Has anyone noticed how the gamertag in the upper right hand corner of the screen is named 'notwen'. This is very similar to 'newton', the fabled Xbox 360 motion controller.

GiulioIno

@Aprotosis:

Sorry for being late to reply to your reply. Got tied up.

I think to say the look and timing of the new dashboard with the avatars is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of the Wii and it's success is quite possibly the dumbest thing I've heard in some time. I'm not trying to trash talk you, brother; but that's just nonsense. Let's see, Wii is spanking the competition and said competition would like to cash in on some of Wii's sales. Perhaps, just perhaps, one way to do that is to use their "look".

I did not say that MS had copied Nintendo. I said it was INSPIRED by Nintendo. So, your argument with regard to Honda and Ford is moot. Are you saying that Honda's automobile concept was not inspired by Ford's? That they got the idea of mass-produced automobiles completely independent of Ford's? I hope not, because that would make as much sense as the claim that the Wii and it's success has nothing to do with the complete overhaul of the 360's interface into a more Wii-like interface.

For the record: I'm a rabid 360 fan. I have about 30 games and about 75 Live Arcade games and a gamerscore of almost 50k. I loves me some 360. But, said love will not blind my common sense.

Peace.

J

FranksnBeans