The New Xbox 360 Experience In-depth Review
Introduction and Avatars
The new Xbox Experience promises a lot but does it truly deliver in both increased usability and speed? Let’s take a look at some of the features that have been revamped and added, and then we'll have a chat about what we think is still missing.
Avatars
WIth the new Xbox experience, users can now choose a custom avatar. The avatars, which are very reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii’s Mii portfolio, provide each user with a highly customizable character. There are quite a few initial options, however, there is a degree of rigidity in how you can individually tailor each choice. The avatar system also hints towards future clothing and customizable apparel micro transactions. Making an Avatar was very easy, starting with a choice of basic body types:
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After choosing a body type you are presented with options to change features, clothes, take a picture, start from scratch, or accessorize.
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After you’re done, you can snap a shot of your virtual self and upload it online to copy to your hard drive or anywhere else you please. The avatar is also presented next to your gamer tag in your profile, and anywhere your virtual self could interact with others, such as in the friends list.
The incorporation of avatars is clearly an effort by Microsoft to gain entrance into the casual and younger gamer circles. With the wealth of options for customization, it will surely appeal to many and give the Xbox another layer of interactivity all together.
