Microsoft answers if Xbox 360 Avatars is a case of Mii-too
By Mike Ferro
John Schappert VP of Microsoft gaming division in a recent interview answers the hard hitting questions such as if Avatars were inspired by the Nintendo Wii’s Mii avatars. Also Schappert reiterates Microsoft’s stance on Blu-ray and the future of media.
During the interview with VentureBeat, Schappert indicates the avatars are a natural extension of the gamertag giving players the capability to customize the avatars as well as view their stats. He also feels the Microsoft avatars are just right, not too cutesy or too realistic, enough to satisfy the hardcore gamers and the casual gamers.
It dresses up the core first-person shooter, who can be edgy. And the more casual player can dress up to look friendly.
I can definitely see hardcore gamers such as myself dressing up these avatars to look like Marcus Fenix, Yea! err…
You know what would have been even better? If Microsoft got rid of these Mr. Potato Head looking avatars and go the guys doing Code Monkeys to do the 8-bit version avatars, how awesome would that be?
Come on, somebody has to see the appeal with that idea, right? Ok, never mind. I don’t know about you guys I’m just not feeling avatars in general whether on the Wii or PS3. Do I really want to play dress-up with a virtual doll while I could be playing games?
Okay, granted I’m a “realist” so I need to see avatar or Home in action before I can even give it the benefit of the doubt.
Schappert was asked what felt about the Wii avatars and this is what he had to say:
VB: When you compare this to the Mii avatars on the Nintendo Wii, what is your reaction?
JS: What do you think?
I take that as admittance that yes, it is blatantly obvious Xbox Avatars do indeed look like rips from Nintendo’s Mii avatars.
Schappert does give a modest nod to Nintendo for giving the inspiration for the avatars on Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
I have to make a shout out to the Miis and say that Nintendo did a phenomenal job integrating them into the Wii games. There was a lot of inspiration from them. At the same time, it’s a logical evolution of our gamertags on Xbox Live. It was a question of when to introduce it.
It’s nice to finally have a humble executive that will admit they did copy Nintendo’s avatars and actually gives them props as well, it looks like some other Microsoft exec could learn a thing or two from Schappert *cough cough Don Mattrick*cough.
Schappert also reiterated Microsoft’s desire to continue down the path of digital distribution when asked about any interest in integrating Blu-ray players into Xbox 360s. Digital distribution is the way of the future I agree, but that won’t happen for another couple of decades when we will be on hologram discs and bio-molecular media formats.
Till then I will buy movies so I can cram my wall full of them like accessories while not watching any of them because just like Gollum from Lord of the Rings they are all mine! My precious babies!
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July 31st, 2008
great article man. I agree with you about how it will take a very long time for digital distribution to be the future. Anyways, by then, microsoft will not be the only company offering digital distribution (every company will, so watch out M$).
I know that Live is superior to PSN, but in some ways… it seems M$ is playing catch-up, especialy when it comes to long-term aspects.
July 31st, 2008
hehe… Mike FERRRRRRRRRRRRO has a sense of humor…
nice article…
I guess when broadband start becoming cheaper than $47 for 10 Mbps… digital distribution will shine…
August 1st, 2008
One word to describe Microsoft COPYCAT.
August 1st, 2008
So what’s Sony then, IVAN?
August 1st, 2008
from wiki,
Sony Corporation (ソニー株式会社, Sonī Kabushiki kaisha?) is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world’s largest media conglomerates with revenue of US$88.7 billion (as of 2008) based in Minato, Tokyo.[1] Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of electronics, video, communications, video game consoles and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
THATS what Sony is
glad to help
August 1st, 2008
That was lame Robb.
August 1st, 2008
I believe you just got “pwned” hairy
August 1st, 2008
CAD: maybe so, but it had to be done
August 1st, 2008
No, it didnt have to be done.
August 1st, 2008
MS copied Nintendo.
Its the truth, but at the same time its not really THAT big of a deal. I also agree with MS when they say its the next step in the evolution of gamer tags.
Nintendo usually always gets there first
and then everyone else follows suit.
August 1st, 2008
robb. i can’t believe you did that. respect for bravery though, at least one person here probably laughed. Wasn’t me though.
August 1st, 2008
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
August 2nd, 2008
That was really dumb and lame robb. How the hell Bourne thought that your dribble ‘pwned’ me is a mystery.
August 2nd, 2008
Hairy you get pwned on a regular basis, and by Wikipedia.
August 2nd, 2008
bravery? cause everyone is afraid of harry?
i’ve said it once and i’ll say it again
who has two thumbs and doesnt give a crap?
August 2nd, 2008
Bob Kelso