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Xbox 360 Dashboard update allows for eight way party chat and hard drive installs of every single game

July 14, 2008 in News comments 32

Microsoft today revealed a newly designed Dashboard menu system for the Xbox 360. Aside from a fresh 3D look that incorporates the upcoming Avatar additions, gamers will also be treated to a host of new social and convenience features. The most notable of these are eight way party chat over Xbox Live and hard drive installs to speed up in-game load times. The party system will allow for sharing of pictures and will include functionality to move the entire group directly into a multiplayer games. Hard drive installs will be made available for every Xbox 360 title past and future. Other new features include a far more capable in-game Xbox Guide, the queuing of remote downloads from a computer, Netflix integration and the "Primetime" network channel.

Microsoft today confirmed that the Xbox 360 will gain an entirely new 3D interface and dashboard via a downloadable system update available this fall.

The system is set up like a 3D photo album, with large channel icons that include your Gamerscore, the disc tray, etc. A column of options including My Xbox, Community, Primetime, Games, and Video sit to the left.

"For everyone who loves the blades interface, it's not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide," explained Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten.

"Every feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times. No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game."
Xenctuary via shacknews.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Jul 25, 2008

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  • 1
    Silent Storm Jul 15, 08
    Nice. MS is really going all out here.
  • 1
    Xenctuary Jul 15, 08
    The more I look at the new Dashboard the more I like it. The current blade interface will now sit within the Xbox Guide, which assures that it will be a lot more powerful!
  • 2
    TurMoiL911* Jul 15, 08
    Holy shit, eight people voice chat ? I remember when people just wanted four, but eight !?!?!?

    Are the installs going to be mandatory or optional for some ?
    • 1
      Xenctuary Jul 15, 08
      Based upon the comments in the article and the fact that there haven't been any mandatory installs in the past, it's safe to assume that it'll be optional at all times.
    • 1
      Silent Storm Jul 15, 08
      Optional I'm sure. Basically it's only if you don't want to use the disc drive.

      I hope it doesn't take up too much hard drive space though...
  • 1
    1831 Jul 15, 08
    Damn, looks much nicer than the old one. Hopefully it will be as functional.
  • 3
    DragoniteBallZ Jul 15, 08
    Dude the fact that you can share downloaded movies is the best thing added to that. That is brilliant.
    • 1
      Reason Jul 15, 08
      Holy shit, that and 8-way chat?
  • 2
    Zeon I Jul 15, 08
    DAMN, am I glad I'm getting a 360. The new Dashboard looks like pure win.
  • 1
    Bunnyburn Jul 15, 08
    I'm not too excited about the new dashboard. It doesn't seem that interesting to me. But a lot of the features that come with the update are cool. 8 way chat baby.
  • 2
    BradSK Jul 15, 08
    Not sure on the new look, but hopefully it'll grow on me.

    8 way chat though
  • 1
    Garkaz Jul 15, 08
    YUUUR AVATARS AWESOME.
    No seriously they're not that bad._.
  • 1
    TurMoiL911* Jul 15, 08
    Wait, if that's what the Dashboard is going to look like for now on, what's going to happen with all the themes we have ?
    • 0
      Xenctuary Jul 15, 08
      I believe they'll be used for the Xbox Guide now, since it'll have a bladed system.
  • 1
    Fishlock Jul 15, 08
    Man I hope I can install Oblivion so I dont have to wait forever to start the game.
    • 0
      Xenctuary Jul 15, 08
      You will be able to. The feature is retroactive.
  • 1
    Drogo Baggins Jul 15, 08
    Holy Shit, that's awesome
  • 0
    Red 9* Jul 15, 08
    So the faster loading times of the PS3 are no longer an advantage.

    'Nother punch in Sony's stomach; they can't take much more o' that.
    • 0
      Drogo Baggins Jul 15, 08
      Yeah, and it's going to be an even more severe blow to Sony if all installs for 360 games are optional.

      lol, I got thumbed down for saying this is awesome, and for saying that this will be a severe blow to sony(which is true)?

      That's funny.
      • 1
        Deadman Rules Jul 16, 08
        You can't say anything negative about Sony on gamegrep. It's rule #1 and #2. Look it up.
  • 1
    cheatcodeman11 Jul 16, 08
    Soon Sony will end up like the Dreamcast, old and obsolete.
    • 0
      Red 9* Jul 16, 08
      Forget Dreamcast, it's like the Phantom console. Never heard of it?

      Exactly.
  • 0
    joshthegreat Jul 16, 08
    Wow. This new dashboard just looks... grey. How boring.
    • 0
      Fishlock Jul 16, 08
      Yeah, Its depressing that they tried to copy the PS3s dull look...but who cares? GAME INSTALLATION!!!!
    • 0
      Drogo Baggins Jul 16, 08
      [Sarcasm]Yeah, that Dashboard looks boring. I'm sure we won't be able to change it and add different backgrounds like we can with the old dashboard.[/sarcasm]

      lol, and another thing. I think it's funny how, when the PS3 started getting into the whole game installation business, a lot of people were pissed about it taking up so much space, being too long to wait, etc.. But now that the 360's doing it, 360 owners are excited about it.

      Maybe it has to do with it possibly being optional? Even so, I find this kind of funny.
      • 1
        Fishlock Jul 17, 08
        Because its optional. Im only going to install games like Oblivion and the Orange Box becauce they both take FOREVER to load.
      • 0
        Xenctuary Jul 18, 08
        Everyone always thought optional game installs were cool.
        • 1
          Fishlock Jul 18, 08
          It would be annoying to install every game you got, so of coarse its better.
      • 1
        Red 9* Jul 19, 08
        The thing is, with PS3, we don't have a choice. It's either install, or be forced to wait two minutes for every load screen. Its the design of the Blu-Ray that makes it that way; data is read off the disc much slower than DVD9. It's just the storage space that makes Blu-Ray better.

        With 360, whether or not you install, you still get acceptable load times. Now that they are doing this, we could be looking at near instant load times, in comparison to PS3 that even with installs it takes some time to load.
        • 1
          Drogo Baggins Jul 20, 08
          quote
          The thing is, with PS3, we don't have a choice. It's either install, or be forced to wait two minutes for every load screen.
          Actually, with the PS3, it's either install, or don't play the game. If a game on the PS3 needs an install, it's mandatory. You can't play the game without it.
  • 0
    JRYDER101 Jul 25, 08
    When you upgrade your 360 2 this you have a choice if u want to change the dashboard personally i think it looks to much like the wii's dashboard and those avatars look gay i would be happier if xbox did a simpler upgrade EG a new Internet explorer

    but i am happy with 8 way chat but 8 people in one chat know-body would be able to get their words out.
  • 0
    cheatcodeman11 Jul 25, 08
    wat the *bleep*!?!?!? are those Mii's this thing is gonna be awesome

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