Xbox 360 Update
Perhaps the biggest news revealed during the Microsoft E3 press conference was the redesign of the Xbox 360 interface. The Xbox 360 dashboard will recieve a complete overhaul and have a totally new, stylish look this Fall. This will include new features, new ways to communicate, and new channels. The brand new My Xbox channel lets you access everything that you have on your Xbox 360 (music, photos, games etc) and puts it all in one place. A new deal with Netflix also means that users can now use their Netflix account to download media on their 360.
One major part of the update is the introduction of 3D avatars on the Xbox 360. What was shown at the E3 conference looks similar to the Wii’s Mii system. Users will create their avatars by choosing clothes, hairstyles, facial features etc and then use them in game, or use them in several ways over Xbox Live. The brand new community channel and Xbox Live Party features allow users (and their respective avatars) to group together and chat, share photos using the new photoshare feature, watch TV shows, play games, and interact in other various ways with ease.
Another curious addition to Xbox Live is what is being called Xbox Live Primetime, which was explained to be a channel wherein people can star in their own gameshow and win real life prizes. More details are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
Microsoft announced that they have secured new partner ships with NBC, and Universal studies in order to bring more downloadable media to the Xbox Live Marketplace, in the form of TV shows and films. Also mentioned was the new partnerships with MGM and Constantin Film coming to Xbox Live Video Library to supply HD content.
Xbox Arcade
First to be annonced for the Xbox 360 Arcade were 2 new games, Geometry Wars 2: Retro Evolved, and Galaga Legions, both coming this August. Both games were previewed with short trailers in which the graphical aspect of the games was impressive for Xbox Arcade titles. Geometry Wars 2 is a sequal to the best selling Geometry Wars, and Galaga Legions is the sequal to the classic retro game Galaga. Other Xbox Arcade games annouced include South Park, and Uno Rush.
Also coming to Xbox Live is the classic Banjo-Kazooie in the form of a remake that will be able to interact with the new Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. By finding specific items in the classic, users can unlock things in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts.
A new version of Portal, called Portal: Still Alive will be released on the arcade later this year, which will feature brand new content.
Community-made games
Coming to the Xbox Arcade are community made games. These games were created using Microsoft’s downloadable tools that were designed to help the community develop arcade games. The first wave of these games was confirmed to be coming this Fall.
