So for any of you wondering what happened to Lunchtime Discussions now you know the truth! Every week we’ll be running a discussion, giving you more time to have your say on the topic presented. I know I can trust TSA’s community to bring up some fantastic points we never would have thought to cover in the original article.
Anyway the inaugural discussion comes from our new American writer, Matt. Enjoy!
Ever since the launch of the New Xbox Experience roughly 2 years ago I’ve been hearing complaints about the avatars you now see on your Xbox 360. It wasn’t at all a surprise back in the day, as hating on the digital representation of yourself was the cool thing to do. What is a surprise is that people are still doing it – a lot. If you’re one of those folks that aren’t so fond of the electronic populous on the Microsoft side of things, then I’ve got some bad news for you… avatars aren’t going anywhere.
Admittedly, I was one of the first gamers to pick up my flaming stick and pitchfork when I initially laid eyes on them. Since then – and it took many months – I’ve come around to the little guys (and girls). Yes, I understand how ridiculous it is to be a grown man and spend my hard earned money on dressing up a doll that doesn’t even really exist, but even still, I enjoy representing my excitement for upcoming games with my cartoon-self.
Unfortunately, for every core gamer like me that has jumped on the avatar bandwagon, there are about 10 others that are still rioting in the streets. I’m truly stunned by the number of gamers that still go out of their way to speak ill of them. It makes me wonder if those folks understand the probable truth about them and their budding existence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for vocal criticism if you feel something you’re passionate about is being tarnished, but how long must the verbal animosity last before gamers give it up?
I have no clue how much revenue Microsoft generates on avatars, but it has to be pretty substantial. I look up and down my friends list of regular gamers, and roughly half of them are adorned with multiple purchased items. Some of them even still claim to hate avatars, yet they’ll purchase over-the-top props to make theirs stand out. Something tells me Microsoft doesn’t care what your opinion is of avatars, so long as you continue to garb them with marketplace content.
The continuing lifespan of avatars is even more evident when you think about the trending age of new gamers these days. As games become more and more accessible to extremely young audiences, kids are starting to play earlier and earlier. Those young kids are likely the market that Microsoft was aiming for, and that demographic is only going to ascend from here; Kinect (and other motion control devices) will make sure of it.
It always sucks to see something you hate so much dwell for such a long time, especially when it’s dangerously close to your comfort space. That said, rest assured, avatars are here to stay, announcements like Avatar Kinect confirm that. Like them or hate them, you’re probably going to have to put up with their existence for quite some time. Your only hope is that Microsoft keeps them at a safe distance from the essentials so you’re not consistently forced to interact with them. For your sake, I’ll cross my fingers.
dpb135
I like them but don’t spend points on them (well maybe once or twice if I have a few odd points laying around ;) )
Don’t see what the issue is for not liking them tho & like it that they can be in games
cc_star
I’m someone who just hammers X to get in game as quick as I can, I have less than zero interest in customising anything much less something on an XMB I use solely to access a movie or a game & spend as little time as possible on it.
My daughter however, spends hours customising stuff & dressing it and its sad the PS3 doesn’t offer anything like Mii’s or Dashboard Avatars which you can then take into games with you (Don’t mention Home, it is the only thing in the world of less interest to me than avatars themselves)
The ability to take them into games is great and adds to appeal enormously. Sony are missing a trick
DrNate86
I agree, I think Sony made a poor choice not integrating the Home avatars into the XMB and further into games like the Wii and 360. It seemed like such an obvious move as well!
Grey_Ghost13
Make that three agreeable PSN users :)
There’s should deffinetly be more integration of avatars on the PSN, home and in game. Sony should do more.
JesseDeya
Well chalk me up as one against.
I spent about 5 minutes customising my Xbox avatar, and slightly longer with my Playstation Home ava/guy/thingy. Since that initial setup I’ve barely felt compelled to give a toss. They don’t actually say anything about me, I know no one looks at them, so logically I’m not compelled to spend a cent on them.
What BOTH companies have missed is “gameface”. EA got it right with the ability to scan in your head (ala Tiger Woods). That is serious fun, and putting myself and my buddies into Fight Night 4 was well worth the hour we spend doing it. If my avatar actually looked – EXACTLY – like me, then I would be encouraged to by extra items/clothing/bling and would love to use ‘me’ in games.
Serebii.Net
Sony should make Sackboy their avatar.. Or at least I would be happy about that :D
Dan Lee
Where avatars really come into their own is on the mobile platform. On the Xbox I just start up a game straight away, but on my Windows Phone I can access LIVE and the avatars, and messing about with them is a fun way of passing the time on a train, or waiting for someone etc.
Tuffcub
Isn’t that why god invented Angry Birds?
JesseDeya
And Cut The Rope.
And Bejeweled. Oh great bejeweled god of time sink.
Sigmadead
My whole family has avatars on the xbox. Too bad we don’t play the xbox. :( Since home was brought up, I agree its an enormous waste of time, however if I could trick out my Xbox Avatar (and had reason to do so) with a Dead Space suit, I’d probably do so in a heartbeat just to have Mini Isac Clark jumping about in all my games.
moshi
They just never have my hair style.
kjkg
Please say this is you -> http://www.allweirdthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/weird-hairstyles-4.jpg
moshi
I have had something similar about 10 years ago.
shields_t
I never realised people were so upset about them, as far as I’m concerned I have no intention of spending money on clothes for my XBox avatar but that doesn’t make me hate it. The only time I’ve ever been tempted to splash cash on my Home avatar was to buy an Arsenal shirt for the TSA photoshoot, which I missed anyway!
I do think Sony could do a better job of integrating their Home avatars into games though, like cc_star says they are missing a trick given the opportunities given to Wii and XBox avatars in games, if I could pull my Home avatar into EA Active, I’d definitely but that gooner shirt!
Foxhound_Solid
I think Home is pretty cool, me n my bros and buddies tend to hook up for games of pool and stuff sometimes. I have a friend who lives in America and we catch up using Home now and then. It does have its +’S peeps.
Avatars in general are pretty cool, you should have the opt in, opt out option as you do with Home though. So everyone can tailor make the gaming experiences.
DJ Judas
I think personalised avatars exist for a few reasons:
The trick of individuality, people like things that are custom to them, and people find this sort of thing addictive, it’s why games such as Sims do so well. In addition, people care about their appearance to differing degrees, always have, always will, and avatars are used to extend this compulsion onto your console, facebook page, myspace design etc etc.
Time. The more you care about your avatar, the more likely you are to spend time customising and socialising with others who care about theirs just as much as you about yours. This time adds up and as far as some instances of avatar creation are involved: Time = more advert impressions, and more ads = more money made.
Speaking of money….those few MS points you have left, or that 99p in your wallet will be used in many cases as an impulse buy to get rid of it because it’s such an insignificant amount of dosh. Add up these insignificant amounts as far as the publisher of said items is concerned and they’re making quite a pretty penny from them I bet. Just take a look at things like Second Life, micro-transactions reign supreme for seemingly useless items.
Avatars have no real use for me, but they’re brilliant as far as the publisher is concerned.
Jim H [Teabags]
I’m pro Avatar, though the dashboard changes which came in tow with that particular update have made the interface a mess as opposed to the classic blades.
I prefer having a static avatar, such as the ones used on PSN or the gamerpics. I really like them, and in the past I have gone out of my way to unlock/buy them.
JesseDeya
Static avatars (icons) are cool, you can change them to reflect what you are doing at the time without them being chintzy and awkward. For the world cup I totally spent a buck on a sackboy waving an Aussie flag.
It didn’t help.
I still have it ;)
TSBonyman
I prefer static avatars like on PSN but i just wish there was a lot more choice available. Buying accessories to kit out my avatar doesn’t appeal to me , i would rather just switch to a different one from a selection when the mood occurs.