Microsoft finally reveals Xbox 360 avatars

Microsoft finally revealed their range of Wii-like avatars, a month after they were leaked onto the Internet.

As we told you last month they’ll be fully customizable and controllable in retail games and those on Xbox Live. But there were some other juicy tidbits too.

Microsoft demoed them along with the brand new Xbox 360 interface, showing how the avatars will appear on a player’s gamercard.

When you go online you’ll no longer see a long list of your buddies. You’ll actually see them in the form of their avatar, sitting at the top of the screen, just itching to be invited into games. It’s a nice personal touch, and helps with the Xbox’s sense of community.
As we guessed, you’ll be able to purchase downloadable clothing and win new items in games be played online with your avatar on friends on Xbox Live.

Microsoft also announced a partnership with Endemol giving gamers the chance to play real-life game shows such as One Against One Hundred with your avatar competing against 100 others around the world. You can see a glimpse of it in action in our video here.

Part of the presentation included a video where one of the avatar creators said Xbox 360 was the only place where a community exists on a games console.

We’re sure Sony will have something to say about that today when it’s assumed they’ll show off PlayStation Home.

We’ll be sure to bring you more when it happens at E3, so stay tuned.

Out Fall 2008 | £Free | Xbox 360

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