Xbox LIVE Update

[Dark_Lord]

Microsoft just announced the details of the next Xbox Live dashboard update, which should start rolling out in waves later this summer. Highlight features include support for Games on Demand (coming in August), a slew of Netflix updates including the ability to browse the library and manage your queue, the long-awaited Movie Party system that allows Gold members to share a flick in a virtual theater, and a ton of other little tweaks like user ratings, avatar enhancements, friends list sorting, and a streamlined Party invite system. Yeah, we think we'll take it.

What does this Xbox LIVE Update include?

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

• Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.
• Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.
• Enhanced Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.
• Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.

Avatar Marketplace

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises. Please note that only limited content is currently available in the preview.

Clothing

Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."

• Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
• Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

Games on Demand -- Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

• Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
• Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
• It's Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

User Ratings

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

• Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
• Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone's been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.

Xbox LIVE Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

• Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
• Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

Video Display Options

We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

• Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.

Other Improvements

We're always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

• Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you've been a Gold member.
• Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
• Achievement Browser – We've revamped the Achievements browser so it's now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
• Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
• Streamlined Navigation - Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.
• Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
• Friends List Sorting – It's now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
• Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.

Account Management

We've made some changes to make your life easier.

• Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
• Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
• Account recovery – We've enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?

The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we'll be sure to let you know about.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Zune video and 1080p Instant On
• Last.fm

Engadget.com

I didn't know if this needed a new thread, but maybe we could use it for general Xbox LIVE updates since the other thread is about XBLA updates.

 

[StrainedEyes]

They are adding a lot of great things. The Netflix, Avatar rewards, and Games on Demand updates are the most interesting to me.

 

[Flash Facts]

Hopefully this update makes the dashboard faster.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Looking forward to the Netflix updates and the Games on Demand service.

 

[Brainiac 8]

I wish they would let you organize your downloaded games into any order you like instead of just whatever order you play them, or however it does it now.

Also I am not looking forward to Games on Demand...like I need more insta games to feed my bad habit of impulse buying.

 

[Raiden]

I'm very excited about the Avatar Marketplace. Even though their avatar idea was inspired by Wii's Mii, at least Microsoft is committed on improving this idea whereas Nintendo has not done much with Mii in terms of expanding customization. I hope I'll be able to dress up my avatar as Ryu from Street Fighter IV.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm curious to see what sort of avatar stuff we'll get from achievements. I don't foresee myself paying for anything for my avatar via the marketplace, though.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Me neither, I couldn't imagine why anyone would actually pay money for stuff like that

 

[TheCorpulent1]

If their free selection were as barren as, say, Home's clothing selection, I could see it. But they've already given us a pretty solid selection of clothes for our avatars, so unless you're a fashionista who simply must have Nike shoes or shirts or whatever, I doubt many people will buy too much stuff. Then again, people spend money on all kinds of crazy s***, so who knows?

 

[Brainiac 8]

I'm with you guys...I would welcome unlocking outfits or whatever through achievements, but I wouldn't pay money for them at all.

 

[Raiden]

I'm with you guys...I would welcome unlocking outfits or whatever through achievements, but I wouldn't pay money for them at all.

I think if they have things that are extremely awesome, like offering avatar clothing to dress up as Darth Vader or Master Chief, I'm sure people would be willing to shell out money for it. But I hope most of them will be available through unlocking with achievements instead.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, I could see Master Chief armor or Gears armor getting some purchases. I wouldn't buy them, but if they're not like $10 or something exorbitant like that, those games have fans who'd think it's too cool to pass up.

 

[Hoban]

I'd pay no more than two bucks for a Ghostbusters outfit.

 

[StrainedEyes]

I'd want Niko's lame outfit.

 

[Nightmare]

Sounds kewl.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Me neither, I couldn't imagine why anyone would actually pay money for stuff like that

I dont get it either. Same with Playstations terrible Home. Im like why the hell do i want to pay a damn dollar for a virtual couch???

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I'd pay no more than two bucks for a Ghostbusters outfit.

Haha, on second thought, i could see myself paying for that.

 

[Dark_Lord]

Microsoft Dates Next Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

Tucked into a Comic-Con announcement from Microsoft is news that the Xbox 360's next dashboard update is coming in 21 days.

The 360 dash will get an update on August 11.

In it, Microsoft confirmed today, will be the launch of the new Xbox Live Games On Demand service, which will launch with more than 30 games. Examples listed in Microsoft's press release include Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Mass Effect, and Sonic The Hedgehog.

Also on the 11th will be the introduction of Netflix party support, allowing multiple people to watch Netflix movies together. The Avatar marketplace will launch, offering virtual knicknacks like an RC Warthog from Halo.

Matching the schedule Microsoft gave Kotaku after E3, Xbox 360 integrations with Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM as well as the ability to instantly stream movies in 1080p for users with fast enough connections will go live in the fall.

Microsoft plans to provide limited access to the next dashboard update to press and a lucky bunch of fans in the next couple of weeks.

Kotaku.com

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Awesome. Ready to see some of this stuff in the new update.

 

[Erzengel]

I wish we could do weapons and what not. I'd love for my avatar to have a lightsaber.

 

[William_C]

That's pretty dope. Having games on demand like that sounds really cool. I'm surprised that those titles are on though, I was expecting more user-created games and things like that. But having Bioshock on hand like that, I really like.

 

[StrainedEyes]

That's pretty dope. Having games on demand like that sounds really cool. I'm surprised that those titles are on though, I was expecting more user-created games and things like that. But having Bioshock on hand like that, I really like.

XBLA and Community/Indie Games are where MS houses smaller games. Why would they put user-created games in their Games On Demand section?

 

[William_C]

I dont know. Just me making a dumb reading mistake.

 

[Raiden]

I wish we could do weapons and what not. I'd love for my avatar to have a lightsaber.

Same here. I also hope that there will be more avatar-related games so we can show everyone off our new costumes.

 

[Brainiac 8]

I could only see myself buying an outfit if I could dress up my avatar to look like Samus in the Vario Suit...but for obvious reasons that won't be happening.