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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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74 comments | showing # 51 to 74

nebones's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 04:02
nebones
GoldenEye would be fucking win.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 04:19
TheToiletDuck
I want to be able to attach penis' to them like in Second Life.
maxbraff's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 04:43
maxbraff
Oh look, another sacastic article from Jim Sterling. We get it Jim you have opinions that people should not blame video games for violence and that you also have the skill to write a sarcastic article about different gaming ideas that haven't worked so well. I'm just wondering if you have any talents.
Noah's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 04:57
Noah
Ha ha LUCKDRAGONS!

This is my favorite list on DToid thus far
Johnny Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 05:11
Johnny Justice
"Oh look, another sacastic article from Jim Sterling. We get it Jim you have opinions that people should not blame video games for violence and that you also have the skill to write a sarcastic article about different gaming ideas that haven't worked so well. I'm just wondering if you have any talents."

Do you?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 08:12
Jim Sterling
"Oh look, another sacastic article from Jim Sterling. We get it Jim you have opinions that people should not blame video games for violence and that you also have the skill to write a sarcastic article about different gaming ideas that haven't worked so well. I'm just wondering if you have any talents."

I'm better than you.

Not too sure that it required talent though.
Kpax's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 10:35
Kpax
@Tarvu
So people reading the article can digg it if they enjoyed reading it, hopefully attracting more readers. I wish Destructoid had one of those Digg buttons on all its articles.
maxbraff's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 12:14
maxbraff
I actually take that back. I really do think Jim is a talented writer. However, every time I see an article it's just sarcastic. I want to know what he would really do to improve avatars if he had to. I started reading this article thinking it was going to be interesting but instead its another joke article that are popping a lot recently on Destructoid. I first started using Destructoid as my gaming website of choice because it was updated frequently and the writers were a little more laid back about video games. That doesn't seem to be the case recently. It seems like the jokes are constant with the writers here. I usually find more interesting articles in the blog section on this website from users in the monthly writing. Yet, I come to the main page and it's joke central. I guess I really don't care over all because I'm only just another poster on the internet, but if it's a community that's built for the hardcore gamer (or whatever the old slogan used to be) you would expect a little perspective. Oh I almost forgot. Hardy har har.
vicpc's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 16:55
vicpc
it's a shame Luckdragons don't live in the part of South America I live
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 16:57
elsteveo
I love people comparing avatars to home because they both have so much to do with one another.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 17:54
Jim Sterling
maxbraff:

Thank you for the proper criticism, now I feel I can have a discussion with you.

First of all, the obvious answer is that you don't have to read it. We try and provide a range of content on Dtoid and we update every twenty minutes on a weekday and every hour on a weekend so there should always be something different from you.

I think you overestimate how many joke articles there. I personally do a lot, and of course people should come to expect that because that's one of my principal roles on Destructoid, to try and entertain. Even then, I try and do different stuff. The last two articles I wrote prior to this one were quite sincere and serious. I did one on Trophies and one on the role of gaming bloggers. Check out our Dtoid Originals tab on the frontpage. It has a list of our original features, where there is a healthy range.

I'm sure you'll find plenty of variety.
CitizenErased's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2009 19:42
CitizenErased
MMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNCHIIIIIIIIILLLLLD!!!
nebones's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 02:02
nebones
I thought you said, able to play as them in Goldeneye, that would be awesome.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 03:27
Sexualchocolate
They should come up with their own ideas for one.

Not the avatars, Microshaft.

Cartoon avatars - Nintendo did it.
Realistic HD avatars, with a Home, which is quickly filling up with interesting stuff - sorry fellas, Sony beat you to it.

Home could do with linking your avatar to your gaming a bit more, and i totally agree on the whole, getting stuff for avatars by beating games thing.

I actually went back into home for a little while at the weekend, played some Chess, checked out the new houses that i'm not spending £4 on and watched some Star Trek trailers. Meh. It's vaguely interesting though, the EA space is sweet, I'm liking the Poker. They say far more spaces comeing over the next 3-5 weeks too - WINNER.

Apart from that, suck my balls Jim, you're teh Ghey. ;) Seriously, this was vaguely entertaining. Makes a nice change.
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 06:28
elsteveo
sexualchocolate- nothing you say really matters because you are going to declare sony the winner no matter what the contest.
Trevor McGee's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 09:45
Trevor McGee
The ability to change the color of each article of clothing would be a nice enough addition. It's kind of sad that you have to hope for something that should have been fucking obvious.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 13:11
wanderingpixel
How about every console comes with Second Life? That way there would no reason for avatars, Miis, or Homies.
RiotMonster's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/18/2009 18:13
RiotMonster
Lmao, great stuff..
maxbraff's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 01:52
maxbraff
What it really comes down to is this:

Sony has made a point to their avatars. They appear in Home and that is there virtual world. The gamer doesn't have to participate in this "world," but if they do then they have options for their avatar that should keep them entertained for a while. Whether it's building your home or visiting others, there are options and things to do none the less. Nintendo has done the same. Having an avatar isn't required but perks come with this. The avatars show up in games and you can make unlimited amounts of them. Once again, if you make your avatar, it has its perks. Then there is Microsoft which has its avatars. It seems like the extreme here. As you have to make an avatar, and their are perks like they will appear in games and they can become your gamer picture, there is no place to show off your avatar or send them to friends to visit other avatars "places." Xbox avatars are the weakest because they live in their own worlds. Just your Xbox. That is the hinderance I guess with all online game. It's just your console. Perhaps one day we can pop a disc in our consoles and have a friend join us, reguardless if he has the game or not, but that dream is years away (all though they can do it on the DS locally). But I digress. What Xbox needs to do with their avatars is to make those teaser pictures (which are no doubtly coming as updates to the dashboard) reality. Where I can visit my gamerspace and make an avatar for my gamerspace if I want. Other people can visit my gamerspace if they want and I can deck-out my space as much as I want. Expansion is what Xbox needs and I am sure they know already and are already working on that idea. Soon people will have the idea in the past. It's like giving Nintendo credit for including a joystick on their controllers. People say:

"Nintendo did it first."

Well yes they did, but that's not entirely true. Gaming concepts have been done first some where one place or the other, but people will learn to have to not brag about a console. Literally who cares. Go outside and mow your lawn (weird ending I know, but what else should those f*cking idiots do? We all know they live with their mom).
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 15:29
atastysammich
Jim, you card!
Benson's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 19:36
Benson
@ Syn, then we are agreed.
Misstawnii's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/22/2009 10:52
Misstawnii
I think that a wider variety of hairstyles, face, and clothes would be a major improvement, but Avatars having sex with each other? :P
nickthehat's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/22/2009 15:40
nickthehat
I thought you'd be able to incorporate them into arcade games and such, like with the Wii, bu they don't do shit but wave their upper torso around. Useless. I think they should make an interactive mini-spore like world that looks like the opening cinematic from the NXA or was that the NXE thingy when you get the upgrade from the blades, a weird morphing world that each area would be an emphasis on different senses, well, at least with the likes of sounds, visual, textural, and have the avatar evolve through the process. Sorry, I've said too much already.
superporkeater3d's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2009 15:59
superporkeater3d
hahaha great article
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