360 Avatars to be Used Only in Games Rated E10+ and Lower

[modeps]

[Xbox 360 Avatars will be immortal]

Immortal as in, you can't kill them. Shacknews (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54032) is reporting that in-game Avatars will be limited to titles rated E10+ and lower.

The Xbox 360 avatars aimed to debut in the upcoming fall dashboard update will be restricted for use only in titles rated E10+ and lower by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, Microsoft has revealed.

Speaking at Microsoft's GameFest event in Seattle, Xbox Live general manager Eric Kilgore explained that while the Avatars—Microsoft's answer to Nintendo's Miis—are currently planned only to be allowed for use in titles rated E10+ and lower, that restriction may change in the future.

"We are still developing the final policies," Kilgore stated, as reported by Develop. "The final guide we have this year is to think of them in an 'E10' context. That doesn't mean it won't change—but this Fall they won't be able to blow each other's heads off."

Kilgore further noted that the company is currently exploring various implementations of the avatar data, and noted that the avatars can be incorporated as full 3D models or simple 2D images in realms beyond the Xbox dashboard such as websites, forum profiles and Facebook.

"We think it's really important that these things can scale between in game and out of game, and how we can use them on the web," Kilgore stated.

The avatars will launch alongside an entirely revised Xbox 360 interface as part of a downloadable system update this fall.

[Kem0sabe]

I'm not sure these Mii's are what MS needs to capture the demographic they are obviously aiming for. At this point in the 360's life, its already saddled a label clearly stating "core players only".

[Vandenh]

At least when MS do something.. they do it properly ;)

[modeps]

At least when MS do something.. they do it properly ;)

But they're not doing it prop.... OH I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE

[Andruil]

It'll just take them a few years and 5-6 revisions before they make something decent ;).

[protocol_image]

whatever......i'm still interested, and i look forward to fuzion frenzy style party games where i can pit the cartoon version of myself against cartoon versions of all my friends

still sounds like it is full of win to me

[TrackZero]

Ugh, these Avatars are going to crash and burn. Colossal waste of time/resources MS, just let it go.

[bean19]

I'm not sure these Mii's are what MS needs to capture the demographic they are obviously aiming for. At this point in the 360's life, its already saddled a label clearly stating "core players only".
So they should be content with the "core player" label? The whole point of getting people to start playing the Wii is that hopefully at least a portion of those players will enjoy their gameplay experiences enough to try "meatier" games. If parents start seeing that the Xbox 360 has a lot to offer to families, they may pick them up, and it's a lot more likely that someone will graduate from party and kid games to meatier experiences on the Xbox 360 than on the Wii.

[bean19]

Ugh, these Avatars are going to crash and burn. Colossal waste of time/resources MS, just let it go.
I think you are overestimating the amount of time this feature takes to implement.

[Vader582]

I'm just not sure the hardware can handle yet another process. My 360 lags for 10 - 15seconds going from in-game and bringing up the dashboard. I predict massive system lockups (not permanent) in the first few hours of the update's release.

[TrackZero]

I think you are overestimating the amount of time this feature takes to implement.

You're thinking from a technical perspective. I'm thinking from a UI/Marketing side, which would take a bunch if time. Then again, maybe they just decided to do this to keep those folks busy since there's no big new Halo FPS in the pipe of them to scream about. ;)

[TrackZero]

I'm just not sure the hardware can handle yet another process. My 360 lags for 10 - 15seconds going from in-game and bringing up the dashboard. I predict massive system lockups (not permanent) in the first few hours of the update's release.

Pfft. You can patch UNO and people will complain of system lockups.

That said, I've found most of that delay with the blades are more dependent on the connectivity to XBL (as it's loading data) than with the systems horsepower itself. So the "new" experience of hitting the home button in a game has a smaller footprint on the screen with less immediate data being pulled by default, so it'll probably be a bit quicker I'd wager. But we'll have to wait and see, could go either way.

[Variable Gear]

Unsurprisingly, I'm with Tracky on this one. It makes no sense for Microsoft to try to attract this consumers with Avatars, and the time investment can be better spent elsewhere.

[Kem0sabe]

So they should be content with the "core player" label? The whole point of getting people to start playing the Wii is that hopefully at least a portion of those players will enjoy their gameplay experiences enough to try "meatier" games. If parents start seeing that the Xbox 360 has a lot to offer to families, they may pick them up, and it's a lot more likely that someone will graduate from party and kid games to meatier experiences on the Xbox 360 than on the Wii.

I have no opinion on this being a good or a bad move, in terms of capturing that demographic. What i meant is that the console already is labeled as a core gamer console, for better or worse, i think thats a label that the 360 is going to have until MS comes out with its next one.

[Talon-]

Like others have said, there's already a mental barrier of entry with the 360 (and the PS3 for that matter), which is great for the 360s attach rate. The 360 isn't going to get mass appeal at least not until that price drops to the magical $199 mark. Doesn't matter if you have gameshows with crappy CG characters.

Lips, though, I'll buy. :p

[bean19]

You're thinking from a technical perspective. I'm thinking from a UI/Marketing side, which would take a bunch if time. Then again, maybe they just decided to do this to keep those folks busy since there's no big new Halo FPS in the pipe of them to scream about. ;)
Well, there is Gears of War 2 and Fable 2 as far as "big name" games this Fall, but they also have twice as many exclusives as the other consoles. . . with a ton of them being aimed at trying to get Wii audiences (Viva Pinata, Lips, In the Movies, etc.)

[bean19]

I have no opinion on this being a good or a bad move, in terms of capturing that demographic. What i meant is that the console already is labeled as a core gamer console, for better or worse, i think thats a label that the 360 is going to have until MS comes out with its next one.

And I'm saying that labels are a way to say audience misconceptions. It is possible to change audience perceptions by changing your product.

Look at Nintendo. Last generation, they were the last place console that survived by insisting on always making a profit even though their hardware was substandard by having good first party family-oriented software. This generation, they've kept the good and bad parts of their reputation (weak hardware, good first-party family software) but are now seen as innovators.

[Talon-]

Well, there is Gears of War 2 and Fable 2 as far as "big name" games this Fall, but they also have twice as many exclusives as the other consoles. . . with a ton of them being aimed at trying to get Wii audiences (Viva Pinata, Lips, In the Movies, etc.)

You really think the casual crowd is looking at the games? The Wii is more than a game system, it's about the experience. It's the cultural buzz word that has mothers standing in line at Best Buy Sunday morning at 8 AM. It's about the easy control.

These people don't give a crap about Viva Pinata 2 or Lips. The 600,000+ in the US that are buying this thing every month are getting it because it's the Wii. No amount of money that Microsoft throws into grabbing the casual audience is going to put a chink into Nintendo's armor.

Also, Nintendo is safe for the kid's. Microsoft and Sony are what those jobless 25-year-olds play all day at home. I'm not convinced that either company can reach across the (figurative) pond and interest the "casual" crowd. A low price point, however, will probably fix that.

[Kem0sabe]

And I'm saying that labels are a way to say audience misconceptions. It is possible to change audience perceptions by changing your product.

Look at Nintendo. Last generation, they were the last place console that survived by insisting on always making a profit even though their hardware was substandard by having good first party family-oriented software. This generation, they've kept the good and bad parts of their reputation (weak hardware, good first-party family software) but are now seen as innovators.

changing the image and target market of your product so late after its launch is not very feasible. MS probably has a 100 focus groups, marketing experts that all point to this being a great idea and a way to attract more people to the "xbox experience", but i just dont see that happening.

As for Nintendo and public perception, well, they have 20 years of marketing directed at kids. Thats not something MS can rely on, especially considering the type of ads that the Xbox has had since the first version of the console hit the market.

[DaXIthR]

This is awesome.

This is exactly what I was hoping would happen the day I bought my 360.

[Flatpicker]

You're thinking from a technical perspective. I'm thinking from a UI/Marketing side, which would take a bunch if time. Then again, maybe they just decided to do this to keep those folks busy since there's no big new Halo FPS in the pipe of them to scream about. ;)

Yeah, but even from a marketing side, this has been cheap.
Beyond e3 and possibly a print ad, they are not spending much on this.

[Micasa]

Like others have said, there's already a mental barrier of entry with the 360 (and the PS3 for that matter), which is great for the 360s attach rate. The 360 isn't going to get mass appeal at least not until that price drops to the magical $199 mark. Doesn't matter if you have gameshows with crappy CG characters.

Lips, though, I'll buy. :p

It does that in September though, at least according to some substantial rumours. That would make this Avatar thing, however dumb it appears to the hardcore guys, pretty well timed.

I'd consider Lips, if it turns out like Xbox Music Mixer was.

[Talon-]

It does that in September though, at least according to some substantial rumours. That would make this Avatar thing, however dumb it appears to the hardcore guys, pretty well timed.

I'd consider Lips, if it turns out like Xbox Music Mixer was.

Is no hard drive going to be a problem, though? Is 512 MB enough for the gameshows and Avatars?

[Food Nipple]

They showed avatars in the new Scene It? game, yet the first one was rated 'T'. Is this MS breaking their own rules before they're even done writing them?

[Variable Gear]

Is no hard drive going to be a problem, though? Is 512 MB enough for the gameshows and Avatars?
I don't think it will bw an issue. The Wii hasn't had a problem storing Miis and playing gameshow games with its limited 512 MB of flash memory. ;)

[Disgustipated]

They showed avatars in the new Scene It? game, yet the first one was rated 'T'. Is this MS breaking their own rules before they're even done writing them?

Oh snap. Nice catch.

Maybe in M-rated games they'll let my avatar teabag my enemy's avatar as I teabag them in the game! META-TEABAG!

[Phanto]

At least when MS do something.. they do it properly ;)

Yeah just like Windows Vista ;).

[Sl1pstream]

Can we at least run them over in the next Cars game?

[Talon-]

I don't think it will bw an issue. The Wii hasn't had a problem storing Miis and playing gameshow games with its limited 512 MB of flash memory. ;)

I tend to agree with you.

We'll see how the 360 does this Holiday season. The Wii is such a strong brand right now that it'll probably still lead the way. Microsoft can certainly make up for the last couple of months in a huge way in terms of the 360-Sony battle, though.

[Variable Gear]

Yeah, if anything, this announcement will contribute to Microsoft's battle with Sony for second place. Combined with the decrease in price, and the wide variety of interesting game releases, Microsoft should have a good product at market for the ever-important fall season.

[31 Flavas]

I have no opinion on this being a good or a bad move, in terms of capturing that demographic. What i meant is that the console already is labeled as a core gamer console, for better or worse, i think thats a label that the 360 is going to have until MS comes out with its next one.Oh don't you dare insinuate that Microsoft is or might be changing its direction. Things will be PERSONAL if Microsoft fucks over, Evil Avatar, the man, and "goes casual" or drops out of the "Graphics War". You don't come between Evil and his pride and joy.

I mean where or who would "Gamers" turn to in the event of a Microsoft defection? Sony? Don't make me laugh :cool: