What's In The New Xbox LIVE Update?
Well, I signed up for the preview along with a whole bunch of you, I imagine, but although I haven't heard whether I'm part of the preview update, details are leaking out as to what is actually going to be included when the full update goes LIVE on August 11.
Enhancing the Party features by offering an automatic reconnect if you're cut off unexpectedly is okay, but I'm more interested in the Netflix update that will let you link up to eight of your friends to all watch a movie together. That could be a whole lot of fun. I'm also looking forward to being able to manage my Netflix queue from my 360 instead of having to go over to my computer to add movies. And I'm not sure how I feel about more detailed friend info... I kind of like that people can just tell that I'm watching a movie or TV show. What if I'm watching something super-embarrassing like Krull? Maybe you can toggle that off...
The other big new feature is the Avatar Marketplace. Microsoft warned you guys this was coming, and I'm surprised it took them this long. Sure, it might be fun to outfit your Avatar in a Monkey Island or Fable costume, but do I really want to pay five or six bucks to do it? No, I do not. I'm also not going to pay money for designer labels. I've never been a label whore. I'm all for more variety in the Avatar looks (seriously — playing 1 vs 100 you can see just how limited the options currently are), but I'd rather they just give you the option to change the colors of the existing clothes. Seriously, how come they didn't just offer that? At least there may be unlockable Avatar goodies in future games so those will be free. And I also suspect that at some point, branded items will be offered for free like the Profile Pics. I'd probably wear a Dr. Pepper T-shirt. If it was free. (And especially if I could tweak the color so it didn't look like everybody else's!)
There are a host of lesser features included, like being able to rate the games in the Games Marketplace, the abililty to override the HDMI signal to force it up to 1080i when it's really only 720p, and more streamlined Achievement browsing, among others. But don't go looking for any of that Facebook or Twitter stuff Microsoft touted at E3. That's still a ways off, apparently.
Hands On: MIcrosoft's Next Big Xbox LIVE Update [PC World]
Wootini
Posted to Video Games on 24 July 2009
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: features, microsoft, update, xbox live
From the video I saw, it did say when he entered Netflix that people could see what he was watching, and that there was an option to turn it off.
What's wrong with Krull??
You should never feel embarrassed to be watching Krull! If I saw that in your info I'd friend you on the spot!