New Xbox Experience coming Nov 19th

Yeah, that's sort of what I think will happen.

 

Not really. For those that don't have a memory card, they're probably just playing simple disc games, DVDs, MP3s, or photos. They probably never heard of NXE or even want it.

How can the parts of the UI be downloaded if they don't have a connection to the Internet? If you don't have access to the Internet the only methods to get the update is via an update stored on a newer game disc or you burn your own from Xbox.com. I've done the latter with success when I didn't have Live or broadband.

My idea behind online storage is only for those that want to take advantage of the avatar customization but don't have enough storage to download it but do have a connection to Live(have at least a 64mb memory card). However, the UI should be able to fit into the 16MB NAND flash for use offline. So they'll get to use the new UI, but won't get to use the avatar customization(or other special features) without a 256mb or larger memory card or online storage account.

Giving away free memory cards doesn't make much business sense. Microsoft will want people to buy their high margin peripherals like memory cards or hard drives. Also, a memory card is required to access Live. Microsoft have sold only 64mb or 512mb memory cards at retail. 256mb memory cards were only shipped with Arcade SKUs(not Core). So the storage solutions they are talking about are really only for those don't have a memory card or just have a 64mb memory card. I seriously doubt Microsoft is going to offer owners of Core SKUs(or 64mb memory cards) a free 256mb or 512mb memory card. It would be really cool if they did, but they would take a massive loss by offering that to the millions without a memory card.

It would make more sense to just offer people with a 64mb memory card an online storage solution to store their avatar data. This way, the can just take their Live account with them on a 64mb memory card to any Xbox 360 console and it will get the avatar data from Live.

Most likely people not online will be forced to download the update from Xbox.com to a burned CD. Hopefully they will be able to install it without a memory card. However, if a memory card is required, hopefully it's only a temporary requirement for caching. Would suck to always need a memory card installed and still require 128mb dedicated to the dashboard.

Tommy McClain

 

They only sold very few core systems, the large majority of people bought the Premium. I doubt there are even a million of them around. Second, the cost to MS for a 256MB memory card is also very small. Moreover, the 128MB of effective storage it provides still wont be enough for people that actively want to use Live, so eventually they will still want a HD.

 

I am under the impression that the NXE is making better uses of widescreen formats. You used to see wide spaces empty in the past, now they are filling with sub menus. Nice.

 

Hmm so basicly you can get yourself a $220 xbox 360 premium unit. Buy the arcade , fill up the memory card and then get the 20 gig hardrive for $20 . not a bad deal really .

 

That's pretty cool, in fact. I actually thought MS would try to monetize on this, but $20 is probably close enough to cost. (And I still think that online storage makes no sense.)

 

Seems those offers doesn't work for Pros or Elites.

 

Interesting. Not the first time I was wrong and most likely won't be the last. I'm still confused why Microsoft went this route. Doesn't this undermine their whole philosophy behind the Core/Arcade which is that a hard drive is not required? They have always said that a hard drive gives the best experience, but they never gone to such lengths to suggest it' as the only solution. Will be interesting to see how they position the Arcade SKU going forward. And BTW, we still don't know why the dashboard requires the 128mb of free space. If it's not because of an one-time installation issue, then I think an online storage would have been a cheaper alternative considering there are ways to cheat the system.

Tommy McClain

 

Perhaps they want to get people to move to the 20 gig hardrives. $20 bucks is a pretty good deal for anyone .

 

I find it more likely that they have a surplus of 20GB drives to clear. Afterall, the main SKU is 60GB now...

 

hey... well wadda you know.

we're going to take advantage of this $20 for our Arcade unit.

 

You can't store an extensively customized avatar online - you need to have it with you even when you are not connected, especially with games that require one.

Not requiring a HDD was, and still is, a very wise decision, the one that got them to $199 and the one that will get them to $149, $99 and free-with-1yr-contract Netflix/Comcast/cableTV deals later on. I expect to see a SKU with 2-4 GB of inbuilt flash next year.

 

First I missed the 60GB unit, then the price drop, and now this (free upgrade). It pays to be a straggler, even by a few weeks.

 

http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/10/14/nxe-euros-to-get-memory-upgrades-as-well-all-details-and-pricing/

 

by the way, you can go here to enter your serial number to see if your console qualifies for the free memory card or $20 HDD.... obviously cores will qualify, I just don't know if the Arcades will. If you do not have enough free memory, I think you get it even with an arcade unit.

 

Both Cores and Arcades are eligible. But before you enter your console info log into Live with a full memory card first. Then go to the website. Since Arcades came with 256mb memory cards, you'll be eligible for a $30 package that includes a refurbished 20gb hard drive and 3 months of Live Gold.


BTW, anybody find it interesting that Microsoft hasn't mentioned anything about this program on the Xbox.com front page, Gamerscore Blog or Major Nelson? Something tells me they weren't really ready to announce it.

Tommy McClain

 

Internet news travels at ludicrous speed, so it could be their way of spreading out the 'orders' or preventing e-mail flooding.