I like it so far. If only for the fact that it finally lets us delete XBLA demos from the Games List. But it’s so much faster than the old dashboard, I really like that.
The menus are a little clunky at times and the NXE broke pretty much every extra theme I downloaded, but I think this move is for the best. And was anybody else expecting a few more customization options with Avatars?
Meh…
I couldn’t give a shit about the avatars. I played around with the streaming Netflix last night, that’s about the best thing.
Well, the intro movie was very pretty…
Avatars are neat, I guess, but so far there doesn’t seem to be much to actually do with 'em, apart from playing dress-up.
I’m wondering about the themes; are they gonna patch the ones we’ve already paid for and downloaded? I’ve been using a Bioshock theme for a while that I’ve grown quite fond of…
Overall, I like it, but I’ll like it better once I’ve re-learned where everything is.
I like it a lot. Not really a fan of the avatars - I have no idea why Microsoft is trying to compete with the Wii (and that’s clearly what they’re doing, even down to the music that plays while you create yours), but it is kind of neat to blow down the list and see my online friends waving at me if they’re on or sleeping if they’re not. And the fact that their little background changes depending on your theme is kind of cool.
I just like how slick and smooth the interface is in general. I actually bought a gold membership for the first time last night to check out Netflix streaming, and it works wonderfully. Then I installed Fallout 3 to my HD, which definitely sped up loading a little bit but mostly just allowed my drive to not spin like a jet engine while playing. I was shocked at how quiet the system is now!
My only complaint is that it did something horrible to my custom wallpaper - it stretched it all out so it looks like shit, and I can’t find an option to fix the way it treats the wallpaper. Anyone know a fix?
Freejooky, do I know your Gamertag?
It’s fun. The avatars are cute, but once you’ve made one… that’s pretty much it.
Nope, but I’ll PM it.
I installed it this morning and haven’t played around too much yet. I loaded Rock Band 2 onto the Hard Drive to eliminate the need for jet engine noise while playing. How is the Netflix stuff working out? what kind of internet speeds do you have? I’m curious because, living in Alaska, I’m severely limited and want to know what to expect…can you pause and buffer before watching (like youtube) or not (like Hulu)?
Call me an old fart, but I liked the old one. Very much, too. The new doesn’t appeal to me at all, but I guess the kids like the avatars etc, and I can see how its design drags people into subscription. I don’t hang around the dashboard much, so it really doesn’t matter that much to me.
But I already miss the older one.
I just rushed to get it when I heard about the Netflix thing - I’ve been using an old computer hooked up with component cables, and it’s kind of hard to navigate Netflix that way.
…then, I learned you need a gold membership. Why would I pay Microsoft and Netflix for the same thing? Ugh.
eh? Maybe I’m not understanding you but I haven’t had any trouble deleting XBLA demos from anywhere with the old version.
In the old dashboard, XBLA demos would show up in your “Played Games” list even though they were just demos and you couldn’t earn Achievements on them. They’d just be appended to the end of the list, all showing a 0 next to the game list. Before you couldn’t delete them from the list, now you can.
I always found that annoying because I’d usually play an XBLA demo for 2 minutes, decide it wasn’t for me, and then never touch it again. It didn’t like it cluttering my Played Games list with stuff I didn’t really play.
Ah right, I don’t think I’ve paid much attention to that list. I’m a very minimalist Xbox player, I tend to play single player games and pretty much ignore all features such as achievements, chat, online multiplayer etc.
You’re paying Netflix for access to the movies; you’re paying Microsoft so you don’t have to use an old computer hooked up with component cables.
I’m a fan of the new design, but after being invited to more than one “party” of folks, I’m suddenly wishing the Friends display didn’t encourage it as much as it does. Internet anonymity makes ordinary folks into raging assholes, and this happens even when I’m partied with people who all have a Live Friend in common and who happened to jump in the party. My first NXExperience consisted of 5-7 people insulting each other more and more loudly.
I can see it being a real boon to people with smart friends, tho. I’ve never been a huge fan of social Ventrillo, but someone who is would find a lot to love about being able to Party with like-minded folks and chat while you’re playing different games.
You’re ignoring most of the games then as well, sir.
Huh? There are very few (if any) games I know of that don’t have a single-player component. And I’m like “Death Ray” - I am a single-player person only.
As for the NXE - I really like it - it is much easier to navigate than the old interface.
On the subject of multi-player games for the 360, is there a MMORPG available for it? I could get into that kind of multi-player but just don’t have the time to get good enough to get any enjoyment out of playing multi-player FPS games.
There is a certain contingent of game players who thinks that anyone that doesn’t play games online is a weirdo and that the singleplayer experience is the bonus to go along with the multiplayer part.
I don’t understand it either (viva The Force Unleashed!), but it’s an attitude that’s out there.
As someone who uses the 360 mostly for streaming tv and music from my PC, I think it’s ultimately just window dressing, and in some respects a backward step.