On Wednesday, Microsoft launched the New Xbox Experience, a complete graphical user interface overhaul for Xbox 360 that jettisons the console's tried-and-true Blade presentation for a sleek new configuration intended to be much more intuitive. Included in the NXE are the well-publicized Avatars, cartoony, virtual representations of gamers' real-world personalities. In other words, Miis, now with the coveted Bill Gates stamp of approval.
Although Microsoft revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2008 that second-party studio Rare had been working on 360's Avatar component for some time, it seems clear, based on the final product, that Nintendo's own user interface provided at least some influence. The big question is, now that IGN has had a chance to tool around with both options, which one is ultimately better? The answer is not quite so black and white.
