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MS believes Avatars are more popular than Gears of War 2? photo

According to Xbox Australia, NXE Avatars are ranking amongst the country's most popular wastes of time. Being "played" more than likes of Gears of War 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV, the Avatar Editor would rank at number four on the Xbox Live retail chart if it were a retail game. 

Perhaps it's because Australia has spent so long with neutered or banned games that it's forgotten what quality software is, but I'm struggling to rationalize the idea of Xbox Avatars getting so much "play" time in any country. I think this has more to do with Microsoft forcing you into the Editor when you create a new Xbox profile, which isn't really worth boasting about.

What do you think? Are Avatars seriously that popular, or is Microsoft beaming for no reason? Also, why are Avatars so rubbish and pointless?


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23 comments | showing # 1 to 23

StickFlick's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:25
StickFlick
More popular that Gears 2?

I keep on forgetting there are avatars since I don't even pay attention to them and just jump straight into any game I want to play.

--Made the avatar once after update, never touched it since.
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:27
Havoc Fang
...What? How? HOW?!

This implies people are SERIOUSLY spending more time making their digital counterpart wear different clothes that actually play their games?

MICROSOFT, WHY ARE YOU NOT PATCHING THIS.
glandseck's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:27
glandseck
Yeah, I don't see them as being especially popular; they're actually pretty lame and always have a dumb grin in their face. If they could do more than just stand around with that stupid smile and occasionally point in the air so that they can barely say that they are animated, maybe they would be more interesting.
Until then, the forced menu 'play time' is the truth; If they're going to play the numbers like that, the dashboard must be the best software ever.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:28
Chronic Logic
How does Microsoft know that Avatars is more popular than Gears of War 2? In fact, how can they count the number of people "playing" Avatars?
Zeta Crossfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:28
Zeta Crossfire
I like the avatars. I keep updating mine every few weeks. I want to make a ODST and have him wear pom poms and a cheer leader outfit. Fking win
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:34
eternalplayer2345
I hear the power button the xbox would be number one if it was a retail game, same with the dashboard and hitting buttons on the controller
hoppo254's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:38
hoppo254
My avatar looks nothing like me , its a bald red-neck looking cowboy.

Excellent work Microsoft thats really the future
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:46
Holyetheline
Lies. MS isn't in with the kids, what do they know?
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:48
AgentMOO
Well, you have to go out and buy Gears of War 2, but avatars are mandated if your system is online so this is no surprise. This is an apples and oranges comparison, like all those charts that count Wii Sports as having sold a copy everytime someone picks up a Wii.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:50
Monodi
Remember those days were the consoles were designed for games? Yeah.
Blasto's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:53
Blasto
Are we talking Gears 2 versus, or campaign/horde? Because I enjoy making my avatar look retarded way more than Gears 2 versus for sure. And it gives me fewer aneurysms as well.

Seriously though, number 4? Definitely sounds like suspect data interpretation. No way is this accounting for total play time, duh.

@ Chronic: I suspect you don't have a 360, eh? It shows when you're in the avatar editor in a little box by your av on the dashboard, same as a game. And like a game, they monitor all of that data.
Mikebot 3000's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 10:55
Mikebot 3000
I prefer avatars to Gears 2 solely for the reason that Gears 2 was a heaping pile of garbage. Besides that, avatars really need their overhaul fast. The limitation of wardrobe and activity makes them dull fast.

I want the fabled "win the costume for beating the game" type of thing. Give my avatar a Big Daddy suit.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 11:09
GoldenGamerXero
WTF!? It's Wii Sports ALL over again.
Discarded Couch Sandwich's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 11:24
Discarded Couch Sandwich
I put a trilby hat on my avatar when the update came out. That is all.
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 12:14
Professor Pew
It's because the 360 doesn't have any games!!!
covah's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 12:18
covah
Hey microsoft, want to know why more live users use avatars more than Gears 2?

BECAUSE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN AVATAR

all you need to do is make it mandatory to play gears of war 2 once you sign up for Xbox live.
Zeno's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 12:54
Zeno
I don't think the fact that it's required has anything to do with it. It doesn't require you to do it more than once or for any real length of time - it takes maybe ten seconds to pick a default avatar and be done with the whole mess forever, if you're so inclined.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 13:37
brainderailment
Food! It's what all the cool kids are cramming into their throats! Food is more popular than driving.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 14:55
Dexter345
So a free application that you are forced to play at least once has been played a bunch? Whoa!
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 15:02
Usedtabe
Not surprising considering Gears 2 is a giant piece of shit.
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 18:41
Black Nexus
avatars more popular than chainsaw guns, yeah that'll be the day.
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2009 22:10
Naim Master
Dammit , people are stupid .
hood_954's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2009 02:47
hood_954
If you took a look at our dashboard and our [joke of a] marketplace and what it has to offer, you'd play dress up with your virtual dolls too
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