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How to improve Xbox 360 Avatars photo

When Microsoft revealed the New Xbox Experience, an unwitting world found itself stunned by the revelation of Avatars. This unique and original phenomenon turned the world of gaming on its head, introducing a new social element to home console games that has revolutionized the industry and ensured that rivals will be meekly following in the Xbox 360's massive footprints for many years to come.

Of course, nothing is perfect, not even Microsoft products, and that's why we've put our thinking caps on and come up with a number of suggestions that might improve or enhance the already amazing experience of Avatars. Microsoft doesn't even need to pay me if it decides to do these ideas, thanks. Simply knowing that the world of Xbox Live has been made a better place shall be my just reward. 

Read on to see how Microsoft can improve Xbox 360 Avatars.

1. More Complex Moral Choice:

Videogames are all about deep and complicated moral dilemmas these days. We intellectual, high-brow gaming types always want a videogame that makes us think, makes us feel and makes us agonize over the consequences of our actions. Unfortunately, Avatars have been a big let-down in this area. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that there are no consequences over whether I want to wear the baseball cap or the cowboy hat. Decisions seem arbitrary and pointless, therefore having no impact on me as a New Xbox Experiencer. 

We need something that lets us become morally invested in Avatars. Perhaps make it so that if I wear the pastel blue tuxedo, a kitten's front legs are broken in front of its horrified six-year-old owner. Maybe choosing to put white gloves on will result in terrorists doing some Nine Elevenings again. I think we'd all really get behind Avatars if there was that kind of risk and reward. 

2. Allow Us To Kill Them:

People love to murder other people if they can get away with it, which is why Grand Theft Auto is so popular. Something also tells me that Avatars would just be particularly satisfying to torture and kill and make bleed and have their heads all crushed up and that. They should scream while it's happening, and say things like "Stop it, stop doing this to me" and "It hurts so much, I am choking on my own blood."

There could be a variety of fun deaths, from being hung, drawn and quartered to the old pirate method of execution, where Avatars would get strung up by their testicles and then skewered through the heart by a cutlass. The female ones can obviously have smoking hot tar splashed all over their groins until they die of shock. 

Player satisfaction will be guaranteed. 

3. Maybe Put Them On The Wii:

The Avatars have already brought a fantastic sense of player identity to Xbox Live, but imagine how amazing the Wii experience would be if Nintendo brought something similar to the table. Obviously there would be less customization options because the Wii cannot handle the hi-def Avatar action of the New Xbox Experience, but I think Wii fans would enjoy having a similar, albeit less interactive, feature on their little white waggle boxes. 

Titles such as Wii Sports and Wii Play could really benefit from allowing users to put Avatars into them. You could also have a little Avatar parade and even send them to other players on your friends list. Wii owners love all that stupid shit. It's just a shame MS came up with the idea of Avatars first, so we'll probably never see Nintendo make the bold move and port them over.

4. Pay Us $10,000 To Like Them:

Despite their brilliance, Avatars are yet to truly resonate with a considerable amount of Xbox 360 owners. I've noticed nothing but cynicism and even sarcasm when people talk about Avatars, and that sort of nonsense just won't do. People need to be glad of possessing their very own Avatars, and I think the best way to get fans excited is for Microsoft to offer $10,000 to everybody who is genuinely thrilled by them.

It's not like Microsoft can't afford it, either. If it can spend $682,000,000,000,000,000,000 on Grand Theft Auto IV DLC, it can toss ten grand to anybody who truly gets excited about Avatars. Surely it can stand to lose $50,000.

5. Make Them GoldenEye 007 On XBLA:

People don't love Avatars. People do love GoldenEye 007. What better way to make people transfer the love from one thing to another by simply turning Avatars into GoldenEye for Xbox Live Arcade? Quite why Microsoft hasn't done this already is beyond me. So many people are crying out for this classic FPS game, even though most of them would probably play it these days and think it was a bit shit. 

It would be simply enchanting if Avatars were just ... something better. I think if they became something completely different, they'd be a lot more popular. Pay close attention, Microsoft, because these ideas are dynamite!

6. Don't Have Them:

Another terrific option to enhance the Avatar experience is to just scrap them altogether. Some would argue that something is better than nothing, but I would argue that if it was breakfast time and there was just a big lump of poo in the Corn Flakes box, I'm not going to eat the poo. I could probably just go out and buy some fresh Corn Flakes actually. Unfortunately Avatars are not Corn Flakes. They are Avatars, which makes them closer to poo than any corn-based cereal product. 

The popularity of Avatars would soar through the roof if they were dismantled, packed away and never spoke of again. Don't believe me? Do it, Microsoft, and we shall see who is right. 

7. They Can Fly:

Things become infinitely better if they fly. The power of flight is one of mankind's greatest accomplishments, and it would be criminal for Microsoft to not harness this power to enhance the Avatar experience. The very idea of Avatars should be that they represent our wildest dreams, which is something I've just decided, and since everybody wants to fly, we should be allowed to do it. 

Flying improves everything. Without the power of flight, Falkor the Luckdragon out of Neverending Story would just be a big weird giraffe dog. In fact, if Avatars were Luckdragons, that would be pretty awesome. 

8. Turn Them Into Luckdragons:

"If Avatars were Luckdragons," I have been quoted as once saying, "that would be pretty awesome." I make a very fair point and must say that I completely agree with my views on the subject. Luckdragons are the luckiest creatures alive, able to accomplish seemingly impossible feats through their charmed existences. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a Luckdragon of your very own? Unfortunately, they only live in parts of South America these days, so you can't keep one as a pet. Plus they're really big. The next best thing would be to have a virtual Luckdragon on your Xbox 360. 

Did you know that Luckdragons are made of air and fire, allowing them to fly somehow? They constantly take air in through their bodies so they don't need to eat, but it does mean they'll drown if they get stuck in water for a few minutes, like a baby left unattended in the bath. Still, they're proper lucky and stuff so it probably won't happen. Anyway, I want Avatars to be Luckdragons, please thank you. 

9. Give Them Some Sort Of Home:

One problem with Avatars is that they don't have some sort of "Home" to walk around in, where they can go bowling, play rubbish arcade games and look at loads of inFAMOUS posters that are plastered on the walls. Hardcore gamers love steering their twee little cherubs around a poor man's MMO in which the main objective is to sit through five loading screens in a row. Microsoft needs to have something like this. 

The best part about Xbox Home would be that Microsoft could charge money for imaginary T-shirts that Avatars could wear. Since the rudderless masses enjoy shelling out vast quantities of cash for things that don't exist, The 'Soft would rake it in. Just look at how rich evangelists can get. Imagine spending a dollar on a pair of underpants with Master Chief's face on it. Now pick your jaw up off the floor. I know it's the most amazing thing you've ever considered, but pull yourself together and make sure you inundated Major Nelson with letters until he personally makes it happen.

Let those executives know that we expect, nay DEMAND to be able to pay for pretend clothes that our pretend people can pretend to wear. 

10: Make Them Fuck:

C'mon.


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





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next 50 comments

74 comments | showing # 1 to 50

TheNakedAnt's Avatar
TheNakedAnt at 05/16/2009 12:04
Avatar sex is hot!
randombullseye's Avatar
randombullseye at 05/16/2009 12:10
Another top ten list! Yes please!
BlaspheMerius's Avatar
BlaspheMerius at 05/16/2009 12:10
I'd kill some of the avatars I've seen!

But seriously.. can't they at least come up with some better clothing? And yes, I whole-heatedly believe that buying and beating a game, or buying a premium theme, should entitle me to a little more personalized avatar options.

Otherwise, if they're not even gonna try to make them good, I go with option #6.
Brian Keljore's Avatar
Brian Keljore at 05/16/2009 12:11
If you wear a cowboy had, you validate country music!
HiddenAHB's Avatar
HiddenAHB at 05/16/2009 12:11
Again, thank's for shining us with you shining brilliance Mr. Sterling.
I don't agree with the whole luckdragon(Luckdragon are wusses, seriously), the killing thing(MS would be sued to death) e moral dillemas(Why do i have to stop wearing blue leopard speedo's just because every time i put it on 6 innocent children in Africa are raped?).
But i could'n agree more about bringin another avatar to you crib and gettin laid.
HiddenAHB's Avatar
HiddenAHB at 05/16/2009 12:11
Again, thank's for shining us with you shining brilliance Mr. Sterling.
I don't agree with the whole luckdragon(Luckdragon are wusses, seriously), the killing thing(MS would be sued to death) e moral dillemas(Why do i have to stop wearing blue leopard speedo's just because every time i put it on 6 innocent children in Africa are raped?).
But i could'n agree more about bringin another avatar to you crib and gettin laid.
Slique's Avatar
Slique at 05/16/2009 12:18
I wonder how many people are going to read the first two paragraphs alone and then come and bitch about how much of a fanboy Jim is.

Anwyho, I agree. Some kind of Xbox Home would surely be fantastic. Maybe they could even turn XBLA into a real virtual arcade!
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 05/16/2009 12:21
He takes a swing at all three of the big consoles in one article. Which probably means three times the fanboys bursting in and throwing a hissy-fit.
Rabite's Avatar
Rabite at 05/16/2009 12:23
I agree with the idea of making avatars into Goldeneye. That's the best idea ever. I'd be all over avatars if they were Goldeneye. Thanks again Jim, you've made yet another thing in the world better through the power of lists.
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 05/16/2009 12:24
I would settle for allow me to opt out of leaning on my hips. Its cute, but its emasculating! Instead, I'd like to change my default stand to something befitting of an angry gorilla or serial rapist.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 05/16/2009 12:24
How I improve avatars:

craigbezzle's Avatar
craigbezzle at 05/16/2009 12:27
Oh Em Gee like teh Jim hates teh Microcock and is teh PSthree fanboyz.
CallMeRotten's Avatar
CallMeRotten at 05/16/2009 12:27
10 totally caught me by surprise..you magnificent bastard.
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 05/16/2009 12:28
Wooho , LUCKDRAGONS ! How about making flying Luckdragons killing people on the Wii with complex moral choices on GoldenEye while they are at home fucking and paying 50.000 dollars to us?
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 05/16/2009 12:28
Oh , and also delete the Avatars ... FROM LIFE .
randombullseye's Avatar
randombullseye at 05/16/2009 12:29
Oh yeah, they have homes. On playstation 3.
Zippyduda's Avatar
Zippyduda at 05/16/2009 12:37
The cornflake/poo metaphor is the funniest thing I've seen all week, thanks again Jim for your wonderful comedy gold.
grasslunatic's Avatar
grasslunatic at 05/16/2009 12:37
How about no more home, miis, or avatars and instead, more games.
Discarded Couch Sandwich's Avatar
Discarded Couch Sandwich at 05/16/2009 12:39
Avatards ruined my life and called me a homo..
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 05/16/2009 12:46
I loled at number 6
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 05/16/2009 12:55
Oh fuck yeah I want Falkor flying around inside my 360.
Phantom Spaceman's Avatar
Phantom Spaceman at 05/16/2009 13:01
I lol'd.
Dyna Geek's Avatar
Dyna Geek at 05/16/2009 13:20
Needs more lesbian avatar sex.
Corican's Avatar
Corican at 05/16/2009 13:29
Come on!
blehman's Avatar
blehman at 05/16/2009 13:34
I believe the plural would be Nine Eleveneses.
Danmartigan's Avatar
Danmartigan at 05/16/2009 13:35
puppet sex!
Mikular's Avatar
Mikular at 05/16/2009 13:37
YES.
StMcDuck's Avatar
StMcDuck at 05/16/2009 13:47
If I flipped over to my friend's list and saw half of the avatars hanging limp by a noose, I would drop a deuce in a Corn Flakes box.
Need to get some interactive QTE guillotine action in there too.
wastedyears's Avatar
wastedyears at 05/16/2009 14:37
make them optional
Jack Maverick's Avatar
Jack Maverick at 05/16/2009 14:46
Award these things to users whose names are blatant references to drugs and anime characters, as well as if their name consists of a mess of X's and numbers. As they obviously know more intelligent than you as their names is some form of code, so they are obviously deserving of these complex virtual beings.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 05/16/2009 14:47
HP, I demand that your Sterlingface shoops be included in the comments of all Destructoid postings from here on out.
nailerr's Avatar
nailerr at 05/16/2009 14:55
Give the users a fucking option to total disable them. That would be a great start.

I am so, so thankful Playstation Home came so late in the cycle, it means it can never become an always on, forced thing. I do not want some little doll thing associated with my gaming!
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 05/16/2009 16:30
I like #10. But I think we should expand on that.

They should give you the option to control the "size" of your "limbs" because, y'kno, all dudes are paranoid about stuff and what better way to alleviate that than to have a roll of pepperoni dragging on the ground between your legs?
---

We could turn all avatars into NINJAS who go out and assassinate other people's avatars when they first turn on their consoles! That way they see it and are like


and we can combine that with the interesting death number. So maybe when people turn their xbox on they find their avatar hanging from the image of whatever game they were going to play with it's intestines hanging out and "I love Mommy" written on it's face.
Tarvu's Avatar
Tarvu at 05/16/2009 16:45
Yes, or they could just be disabled along with that fucking globe which is blatantly there so that we can't have decent pictures in the background, making us buy their filthy premium themes so our eyes do not self harm.

Home is so much damn better. I was on my friends PS3, and I was so damn jealous of the little 'delete' option.

Do they even know the kind of people who mainly buy consoles? Most gamers would rather be represented online by giant flaming phallus's than happy people in dull clothing.
Stereocast's Avatar
Stereocast at 05/16/2009 16:54
Hilarious and brilliant top 10!
...I think I would be willing to put up with a home-type environment on xbox ONLY IF I could fly around on my luckdragon! With turrets.
Johnny Justice's Avatar
Johnny Justice at 05/16/2009 17:06
Brill. The Luckdragon segue was lovely.
Kpax's Avatar
Kpax at 05/16/2009 17:25
AMMA PUT MAH DICK
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 05/16/2009 17:25
Avatar sex!!!
Kpax's Avatar
Kpax at 05/16/2009 17:36
Digg pl0x: http://digg.com/xbox/How_to_Improve_Xbox_360_Avatars
Kpax's Avatar
Kpax at 05/16/2009 17:39
Tarvu's Avatar
Tarvu at 05/16/2009 17:46
Why the hell would people reading the article want a link to a link to the article?
manasteel88's Avatar
manasteel88 at 05/16/2009 18:10
only two things to improve...give them something to do and let clothing come from achievements in games.
Kalmah's Avatar
Kalmah at 05/16/2009 18:26
Your best Top 10 list yet, Mr. Sterling! The sheer amount of slander and sarcasm is amazing and entertaining. Dugg!
ogo2k's Avatar
ogo2k at 05/16/2009 18:50
Sterling is king troll!
Bodb's Avatar
Bodb at 05/16/2009 22:40
I was gonna say make them do something, but whatever.
garison's Avatar
garison at 05/16/2009 23:16
007 and Luckdragon part was hilarious.
dirtyd89's Avatar
dirtyd89 at 05/17/2009 00:04
I want to be able to wear video game character outfits on my Xbox Avatar like I can in Home.
ex.)
-Gears of War (Any of the COG characters. Marcus Fenix looking avatar with him holding a Lancer or something.)
-Halo 3 (Master Chief Costume Helmet and all.)
-Fable 2 (Elf costume.)
-Ninja Gaiden 2 (Ryu Hayabusa costume)
-Dead or Alive 4 (Kasumi, Ayene, Lee, etc.)
3rd Party:
-Resident Evil 5 (Sheva or Reinfield.)
-Street Fighter 4 (Ken, Ryu, Bison, Chun Li, etc.)
-Call of Duty (Army outfits.)
etc.

Hell Home has way cooler stuff then that.
The customization is Home is way more robust then Xbox Live.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 05/17/2009 00:06
I fully endorse every one of these. Especially the Luckdragon part.
Jawmuncher's Avatar
Jawmuncher at 05/17/2009 00:51
I agree as well.

Avatars Suck
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar
The Amazing Shenazin at 05/17/2009 03:25
never ending storyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyyy!!!
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