[E3 08] - More On the Revamped 360 Dashboard

[Dr.Finger]

Major Nelson has a letter (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/14/some-of-the-features-in-the-new-xbox-experience-8-person-chat-vga-plus-more.aspx) from XBL GM Marc Whitten expounding upon some of the features of the new Xbox Experience coming this fall.
· Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

· Access Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web. Browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it downloads automatically to your console. Purchase that new map, television episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a movie to watch when you get home from work.

· Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide. For everyone who loves the blades interface, it’s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times. No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.

· LIVE Party system. Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix movie together, or share a slideshow of your personal photos. It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games. LIVE Party allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.

· Xbox LIVE Primetime. This whole new category of games is going to give you more reasons to get online with your friends. Games will support everything you’d expect, like Achievements and leader boards, but many of these games will include real prizes. You can invite your friends, and even set a reminder for an upcoming show. Each game is broadcast simultaneously, so everyone is answering the same questions. Many events will have a live host, calling the shots as they happen.

· Avatars. Your online identity started as a Gamertag - it then grew into a personalized Gamercard. Now, it has evolved even further into avatars. You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community. Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.

· New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.
Whitten also says that there will be more elements to the update which will be announced in the coming months.

[Mdot23]

Playing from the HDD is awesome. And I'm glad they finally added 1680x1050 support. Very niiiice.

[Murtaug]

1680 x 1050! Yay!

[divinechaos]

Microsoft is just making me its bitch today.

[ResistanceAddict]

That's badass.

[Bingley Joe]

WOW -- that play from HD option (emphasis on OPTION before some jackass comes along and tries to rag on people for complaining about PS3 installs) is just a great thing.

I know my GF is definitely going to appreciate it for those times when I'm still playing and she's trying to sleep.

[bean19]

I'd be a lot more excited about the playing from hard-drive feature if they didn't make us buy Microsoft HDDs that cost way too much for far too little space. For $100, I want a 500 GB HDD.

[Exodus]

Ummmm, this play from the hard drive thing...

INSANITY!

[Trickyicky]

· LIVE Party system. Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix movie together, or share a slideshow of your personal photos. It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games. LIVE Party allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.

· Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

I like this. I like it a lot. Now I'm tempted to buy that overpriced 120Gig HDD.

[Exodus]

p.s. the hdd option sounds like something that can be totally abused... or is that just me?

[Darkbase]

Goddamn it, I am really regretting spending my graduation money on a PS3 now.

[Rogue_hunter]

For some reason, seeing the new dashboard reminded me of iTunes in album view mode combined with Miis.

[IndependentGMR]

p.s. the hdd option sounds like something that can be totally abused... or is that just me?

No, I thought the same thing. Just let me know how to do it when they figure it out. ;)

[GrinR]

Awesomesauce. If we can install MULTIPLE discs to the HD, that's just effing perfect.

[Exodus]

No, I thought the same thing. Just let me know how to do it when they figure it out. ;)

bwahahahaha ;D
i use my old xbox as a media centre/hub.. looks like the 360 just might be replacing that prit-t soon :eek:

[wyeast]

Wait, Party? What the fook? Did MS just let us get to second base by giving us clan support? :D

[carnage11]

rip games to the hdd? sweet. now i can actually play games and not get DREs and hangs, and that stupid white screen that thinks it's a dvd player.:confused:

[Expugnare]

Wait, Party? What the fook? Did MS just let us get to second base by giving us clan support? :D

No, not clans, just joinable, roving warbands.

[Varsity]

Ummmm, this play from the hard drive thing...

INSANITY!

Must...resist...PCs...comment...

[Schnoogs]

I'd be a lot more excited about the playing from hard-drive feature if they didn't make us buy Microsoft HDDs that cost way too much for far too little space. For $100, I want a 500 GB HDD.

Do they even make notebook sized HD's that are 500 gigs?

[UnderHero5]

Very cool stuff. The only problem with the HDD thing is... why bother if I still need the disc in? A couple seconds off the load times? Don't care that much.

Not swapping discs is the big advantage of having something fully installed on the HDD, imo (see downloadable games, or Steam).
Good thing it's an option. One I won't use, and couldn't even if I wanted to, since I have ~5gb free at any time on my 360, and I'm not about to get raped on the price of a 120gb HDD.

[Exodus]

Must...resist...PCs...comment...

What's that you say Varsity?
Xbox360 just got its own version of daemon tools?

hyuck hyuck hyuck hyuck...

[Steve_Erhardt]

· Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

That idea seems... familiar, somehow... can't quite put my finger on it, though...

Seriously, though. That will be a real good thing. Just tickles me how the more things change, the more they stay the same. (consoles becoming PCs despite all the chest-beating otherwise)

[wyeast]

No, not clans, just joinable, roving warbands.

Well, sure. Full clan support would've been going all the way. But still, getting to second base would be nice. :D

[chirz]

Fucking finally! I was frustrated as shit the 360 didn't support 16x10 screen.s

[UnderHero5]

Do they even make notebook sized HD's that are 500 gigs?

I don't think so, but his point still stands (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136197).

[Schnoogs]

why bother if I still need the disc in? .

It's quieter for starters.

[Epix]

Can't wait for 1680x1050 output. I just wish I had an xbox with HDMI out now.

[JediSanf]

All good features.
All stolen from competitors.
Yet, no hate?

[Rogue_hunter]

I don't think so, but his point still stands (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136197).

I have that drive, and I got it even cheaper, $89.99. Promptly plugged it straight into my ps3 quite nicely.
And I believe 500 GB notebook drives are either just coming out, or will be available fairly soon, like in the fall. However, they're probably gonna cost $200+.

[Xerxes]

MS is just doing things right. I can't wait to see what PS3 has in store. Live just go even better. I mean only the words "Free Online Play" would bring total domination but would we get all these lovely add ons still?

[Hemalin]

I don't think so, but his point still stands (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136197).

I believe companies showed off 500 gigers at the last CES. They were really expensive though.

[NeoSuplex]

Party system AND 16:10? And a bunch of shit I didn't even realize I wanted (HDD plus Guide-board)?

Well, damn...
I can't even think of anything to not say...

[Entropy Effect]

I can't complain about a new feature I guess, but the play-from-HDD is slightly underwhelming. The coolest thing about playing games off the HDD of a modded original Xbox was being able to switch games without having to switch discs. I only have a 20 GB HDD, and eliminating the noise from the disc drive is the only real advantage I can think of.

It'd be great if they could come up with a way to allow you to play without the disc, but I can't think of any way to do that unless you download the entire game from XBLM (which is no doubt coming at some point).

[shunoshi]

Very cool stuff. The only problem with the HDD thing is... why bother if I still need the disc in? A couple seconds off the load times? Don't care that much.

Your 360 obviously doesn't sound like a Harrier Jump Jet landing in your living room. Consider yourself lucky.

[Maskatron]

I can't complain about a new feature I guess, but the play-from-HDD is slightly underwhelming. The coolest thing about playing games off the HDD of a modded original Xbox was being able to switch games without having to switch discs. I only have a 20 GB HDD, and eliminating the noise from the disc drive is the only real advantage I can think of.


Yeah, I can't get too excited about the feature without being able to add a much larger HD cheaply. If I could add my own off the shelf HD then it would be different.

[Hexxagonal]

For some reason, seeing the new dashboard reminded me of iTunes in album view mode combined with Miis.It reminded me of the Alt-Tab functionality of Windows Vista combined with the Zune "dashboard" (or whatever you call it).

[atariv8]

It's quieter for starters.

There are some games I can tell when there is something around the corner by the slight hitch in the gameplay when new elements load. I wonder if this will get rid that issue as well.

[CaptStu]

It reminded me of the Alt-Tab functionality of Windows Vista combined with the Zune "dashboard" (or whatever you call it).

It does have a Zune-like appeal. Maybe, I HOPE, they will have a Zune blade or whatever they will be calling them now.

[Bingley Joe]

Your 360 obviously doesn't sound like a Harrier Jump Jet landing in your living room. Consider yourself lucky.

Exactly.

Anything that will silence that stupid thing is just great in my books. But people love to complain about shit no matter what.

EDIT: I wonder if they'll limit the installs strictly to the bolt-on drive, or if USB drives will be allowed.. I kinda doubt it, but that would be pretty sweet if they did..

[UnderHero5]

Your 360 obviously doesn't sound like a Harrier Jump Jet landing in your living room. Consider yourself lucky.

No, it does. It's just counter balanced by the two PC's and AC I have running at the moment, so I didn't think about that.

Even so, that's not worth the $180 price for a larger HDD.

[Dr.Finger]

All good features.
All stolen from competitors.
Yet, no hate?Trust me, there were guffaws aplenty in both the chat room and the livethread when we saw the Miis Avatars. As to the rest, if it's a good idea why not steal it? When Sony went to a single-username/login for PSN some people remarked on the similarities to XBL, but no one faulted Sony for using it.

Streaming games from the HDD is something from the old days of computing, not exactly a direct swipe (and PC gaming is not the 360's competition, not the same way the Wii and PS3 are)

[Franjo]

what a great lot of features. makes the price of live above and beyond worth it. Before these updates it was already, but this is just icing on the cake.

my ps3 will keep collecting dust. lol.

[Schnoogs]

But people love to complain about shit no matter what.

someone on this forum had a great quote once...something to the effect of "that's like giving someone a great steak, a blowjob and a cigarette and they complain that the don't smoke"

People will fucking complain about ANYTHING.

[Hemalin]

(and PC gaming is not the 360's competition, not the same way the Wii and PS3 are)

If they aren't worried about competition, you'd think they could be a little quicker with some of their ports.

[Xerxes]

All good features.
All stolen from competitors.
Yet, no hate?

Who else has 1680x1050 output?

[UnderHero5]

someone on this forum had a great quote once...something to the effect of "that's like giving someone a great steak, a blowjob and a cigarette and they complain that the don't smoke"

People will fucking complain about ANYTHING.

And if people didn't complain, then you bastards wouldn't be getting 16:10 support!

Constantly jerking a company off for only the good things they do is no better.

[Schnoogs]

And if people didn't complain, then you bastards wouldn't be getting 16:10 support!

Constantly jerking a company off for only the good things they do is no better.

I didn't see support for 2560x1600!!! ;)

[IndependentGMR]

bwahahahaha ;D
i use my old xbox as a media centre/hub.. looks like the 360 just might be replacing that prit-t soon :eek:

I was storing games on my PS2 Hard Drive, until I switched a flip-top for copied games.

It's a great way to back-up your game collection. ;)

[Hexxagonal]

It would be nice if the installing is done similiar to Halo 2 on PC where it installs while you play. That would be great. If I have to sit through an install screen... I think I'll pass.

[snubber]

The "plays off the HDD" thing is awesome for me, since I get "dirty disc" errors all the time. :(

[Morratut]

New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.

Microsoft you are great.

Sounds like big big improvements on Xbox live.

*NOTE* i've just posted in the other thread that i didn't like the look of the new dashboard. However these features sound great. I'm glad they are keeping the blades.

[Disgustipated]

FUCK YES! 16x10 support for all of us 20-22" monitor users is AWESOME!

Thank you Microsoft!

Also, copying the games directly to the hard drive is going to kick ASS. Except we'll all have to buy new hard drives. :\

[Orz]

The best kind of awesome sometimes is unexpected awesome.

[Hexxagonal]

Who else has 1680x1050 output?Or 8 person chat?

[Texas Speed]

You know, I actually don't hate the Avatars. But I never really hated the Miis, either. And with Home and Nintendo's whateverthehell they're doing, I guess MS had to have some type of answer (they do make it seem a little more personal than some random Gamerpic). Now, will backgrounds still work on the mini-dash? And will we still have Gamercards with Gamerpics? I also saw no place for ads on the dash mock-up they showed (though I kind of wonder of ot was really a dash or a video of what it should look like). Still, good stuff.

[Dingobloo]

Who else has 1680x1050 output?

PC's?

Even the ripping games to hard-drive thing comes with the huge caveat of having to have the DVD in the drive. Seems like a ploy to drive up demand for the hard-drive if you ask me.

Oh well, you're funeral, parties and other such things are a welcome editions, hell I laughed when they unveiled them but I'll even take Avatars, beats an overpriced gamerpics.

Anyone else think it's funny that when they cut to the Avatar footage they showed it was produced at Rare?

[Xerxes]

PC's?


Look at this guy. :rolleyes:

[Vandenh]

No, not clans, just joinable, roving warbands.

ROFL :)

I said a long time ago that the Halo 2 matchmaking system would end up in SDK :)

[Mausinator]

So is the screen support for 16:10 resolutions for games or just for the dashboard?

[EL CABONG]

Sweet alot of good stuff coming in the fall.

[shadow763]

so avatars are Miis except you can buy them clothes. Sweet....money on virtual products.

Loading games on my HD is the coolest feature of the whole thing, except my 20 gig could hold about two, and I am not going to buy an overpriced hard drive to do it. How about allowing external HDs like a cool company would.

New interface. Looks terrible. I dont know if its better then the other one they currently have. I do hate the hideous blades, but a generic gray background is terrible, but at least they threw a Vista graphical feature in there. We all know the world needs more Vista in it.

[Schnoogs]

So is the screen support for 16:10 resolutions for games or just for the dashboard?

It's for both

[fozy]

I think Microsoft is going to make a good chunk of change with people buying larger HDs at the expense of gaming without the damn drive sounding like a chainsaw under the TV.

[Franjo]

So the question is, does the disc still have to be in the tray? What's to stop people from renting games, installing them and playing them on live and owning them forever? There has to be some sort of measure there to prevent that.

[Hemalin]

So the question is, does the disc still have to be in the tray? What's to stop people from renting games, installing them and playing them on live and owning them forever? There has to be some sort of measure there to prevent that.

The disc has to still be in the tray

[PsychoticVile]

The disc has to still be in the tray

The real questions is say can you install all 4 discs of a game like Lost Odyessy onto your hard drive and play the entire game without having to get up and still change discs leaving just the 1st disc in the player the whole time?

[Hemalin]

The real questions is say can you install all 4 discs of a game like Lost Odyessy onto your hard drive and play the entire game without having to get up and still change discs leaving just the 1st disc in the player the whole time?

That is a good question. Will you still need to switch discs or can you loan out your game to 3 friends at the same time?

[Isamura]

This will solve my occasional disc unreadable issues while playing cod4 i imagine.

Also, can't wait for the netflix update, so I won't have to stream from my laptop first.

[shunoshi]

That is a good question. Will you still need to switch discs or can you loan out your game to 3 friends at the same time?

My assumption is they'll take a page from PC gaming and require disc 1 to be in the drive.

[fitbabits]

Look at this guy. :rolleyes:

I swear, I'm about to introduce apostrophe abuse as a Ban Hammerable offense.

[f1sh3r]

· New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.

sexy sexy sexy sexy sexy.

[mkelehan]

Unclear: if a friend has Netflix and I don't, can we party up and watch a movie together?

[PrivateJohn]

Good show Microsoft...I think more people are more than willingly to pay for gold subscription because it will still be the best online service.

Avatar looks attractive enough (casual gamer-wise) while maintaining its practical use unlike the competitor.
eg. walking in a virtual place just to watch a trailer

[Ondo]

I find the differences in how Nintendo and Microsoft use Miis and Avatars interesting. Nintendo hasn't updated Miis yet, while Avatars plan to have new customization options frequently. Also, Nintendo treats Miis like their other characters, like Mario, rarely allow third-parties to use them, while Microsoft is making it very easy for titles to include Avatars.

I'm really hoping that they announce Avatar support in XNA Game Studio 3.0 next week at Gamefest.

[Hemalin]

Nintendo hasn't updated Miis yet, while Avatars plan to have new customization options frequently.

If you think the price of gamerpics is bad...

[PrivateJohn]

lol i wonder how everyone who bought the gamerpic feel now, by the time Avatar is out, all the gamerpic would have been obsolete.

[Meatgortex]

All good features.
All stolen from competitors.
Yet, no hate?

Because all those competitors stole them from previous competitors... Because getting something new for free is cool even if someone else had it too...

Although I'm having a hard time placing what other system (other then PCs) has integrated Netflix, optional hard drive installs for all titles, and an integrated party system to lets groups of users hop between games and sharing movies/photos.

[Texas Speed]

Unclear: if a friend has Netflix and I don't, can we party up and watch a movie together?

No. Everyone in your party must be a Netflix subscriber to watch. Takes a little wind out of the sails on that anouncement, but oh well.

Little more info here. (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/07/14/e308-more-details-about-netflix-on-the-xbox-360/)

[Magnanimous Gnome]

It will be interesting to see how much the Avatar crap costs, and how many people actually pay for it.

The optional HD installs are cool I guess. I'll have to see how that works in practice. Looks like I didn't buy an Elite for nothing. ;)

[cp#]

I didn't see support for 2560x1600!!! ;)

That's because 1024x640 wouldn't look so hot scaled to 2560x1600 ;)

[mister_slim]

Requiring Gold for the Netflix streaming is kind of annoying.

[Codicier]

Whee! this very nice indeed.

Edit: To be precise I'm most excited about:

Installing games to the HDD
16:10 Support
Revamped Dashboard

[stmfuller]

pics or it didn't happen

[CptTripps]

Oh my... this is great news. We have some things that have been requested far too long, and some other nice features ta boot.

Also,

Yay for all the 20-22" screen owners!! Too bad mine is 24", interpolation here I come :(

[PrivateJohn]

Because all those competitors stole them from previous competitors... Because getting something new for free is cool even if someone else had it too...

Although I'm having a hard time placing what other system (other then PCs) has integrated Netflix, optional hard drive installs for all titles, and an integrated party system to lets groups of users hop between games and sharing movies/photos.
At this generation....everyone is copying from each other.
No doubt the Avatar idea came from Nintendo Mii but by incorporating Mii with Halo 3 party system on every single game = Winrar in my book.

Compare to Mii, Avatar is way more practical.

[trip1eX]

You'd think with the prices they charge for hard drives MS would have put "play the game from the hd" option in there long ago.

Still it's sweet if it means the console quiets down quite a bit.

[DeejayKnight]

Awesome. Sauce.

If E3 is this big again as far as announcements go, I need to see Sony's announcement like NOW. Tomorrow is too long to wait! :(

[PrivateJohn]

You'd think with the prices they charge for hard drives MS would have put "play the game from the hd" option in there long ago.

Still it's sweet if it means the console quiets down quite a bit.
Just hope there is online activation so I do not need the disc then i can install few games then have another one in the disc tray. Hassle-free.

[DeathtollWRX]

the 1050 res is gonna be awesome!
This is great news.

[Kamalot]

Who else has 1680x1050 output?

Or streaming netFlix?

[Yeti2005]

Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide....Every feature and option is available right from the guide.

LIVE Party system....It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games.


That has to be a dig at Sony considering how limited their latest firmware release turned out to be. Although I am a fan of the clock now in 2.41.

[Talon-]

So it turns out you won't actually be able to use the blades. Instead, you'll be able to bring up a very compact version of the old dashboard by using the Guide button.

I have to say that I hope the screens of that aren't the final version. It's literally all text.

[Deadend]

So, MS just announced they are doing a version of Home that doesn't seem like a pointless "Magical World of Our Company's products" and adds in Miis and a better online rental. Just let me synch my Zune via my 360 and put movies from Netflix on it...

I want to know if the 8 person parties could then launch into games. As that would be awesome.

[jeffbax]

So it turns out you won't actually be able to use the blades. Instead, you'll be able to bring up a very compact version of the old dashboard by using the Guide button.

I have to say that I hope the screens of that aren't the final version. It's literally all text.

I gotta disagree, the new dashboard pics are head and shoulders cleaner and faster looking than the mess that its been using lately.

[Xerxes]

Or streaming netFlix?

Probably the PC. :rolleyes:

See that's what I'm talking about. Not all of these features are stolen, from other consoles atleast and that's what's important to them. Avatars are a total rip off though. :rolleyes:

Also, I think I'll be getting me a Netflix account shortly now.

[Talon-]

I gotta disagree, the new dashboard pics are head and shoulders cleaner and faster looking than the mess that its been using lately.

Could you send me a link to the pictures you've seen? I really hope the ones I've seen are wrong.

[Kamalot]

That has to be a dig at Sony considering how limited their latest firmware release turned out to be. Although I am a fan of the clock now in 2.41.

I gotta say, I'm a HUGE fan of the clock as well. Probably my favorite firmware update feature, as I use the clock on the 360 all the time.

[Tel Prydain]

I saw them somewhere - but I can't remember where.

[baz]

The HDD loading and the 16x10 are for me awesome. I was pretty pissed that they didn't have 16x10 support as I play through my 22" PC monitor.

[Xerxes]

Some picture here. Yeah yeah... Kotaku. Booo

http://kotaku.com/5025143/the-new-xbox-experience-just-the-facts-and-maybe-some-conjecture

[Ondo]

There are a few more tidbits about the new dashboard on the Multiplayer blog here (http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-dashboard-update-removes-zero-functionality-and-other-new-xbox-experience-tidbits/).

Most notably, the wait for the dashboard to load your XBLA game icons should be gone.

[Primus]

It looks great.

[appel]

I think the new dashboard looks a lot better, the gray uncluttered background makes me want to have it now. Hard to say if usability will go up though, but it would be hard to make it worse than the current one.

Speed improvements to XBLA game enumeration is something that is sorely needed. Don't know how long it takes, but I very much hate waiting for the 360 to find "last game played".

[Flatpicker]

I think the new dashboard looks a lot better, the gray uncluttered background makes me want to have it now.

This what has me concerned.
With the advertisements on live as they are now, I'm hoping that they won't use the background to rotate ads.

[Flatpicker]

Actually, in some way, to me this looks like the Sony Xcross menuing system.

[Flatpicker]

Just hope there is online activation so I do not need the disc then i can install few games then have another one in the disc tray. Hassle-free.
Major Nelson mentions that you will need the disc in the tray.

[Codicier]

Some picture here. Yeah yeah... Kotaku. Booo

http://kotaku.com/5025143/the-new-xbox-experience-just-the-facts-and-maybe-some-conjecture

Don't read the comments on that one. Just trust me on this.

[Kamalot]

There's a video up on the marketplace showing off the new interface.

[Xerxes]

There's a video up on the marketplace showing off the new interface.

If the actually made it better, they wouldn't have to delist games. :rolleyes:

[Tel Prydain]

Okay... now I've seen the mini-blades I'm pumped for the update.

[f1sh3r]

If the actually made it better, they wouldn't have to delist games. :rolleyes:

wasn't it stated they won't have to now? i thought i read that somewhere yesterday in the keynote coverage. some game addons have been delisted tho. i still play ncaa football 07, and the extra uniforms and themes are gone (altho the 09 themes are up now, maybe that's why). of course, EA isn't exactly known for supporting games long term.

[Xerxes]

wasn't it stated they won't have to now? i thought i read that somewhere yesterday in the keynote coverage. some game addons have been delisted tho. i still play ncaa football 07, and the extra uniforms and themes are gone (altho the 09 themes are up now, maybe that's why). of course, EA isn't exactly known for supporting games long term.

Now that would be good news.

[appel]

This what has me concerned.
With the advertisements on live as they are now, I'm hoping that they won't use the background to rotate ads.

Gah, that'd really suck. But so far I haven't seen anything that suggest that they'd do something like that.