Xbox head: 'I invented avatars!'

Xbox head Don Mattrick claims that Microsoft isn't ripping off Nintendo's avatars. In fact, he claims to have invented avatars in 1991.

[smokeymicpot]

And i invented controllers first

[abcdog1000]

N4G IS A SONY FANBOY. WHERE THE HELL DID U GET THAT FROM. IS THAT WHY PS3 IS WAY BETTER THE THE 360, IF SONY COPIED OF OF MICROSOFT WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO HOLD 16 PLAYERS ONLINE AT ONCE INSTEAD OF 256 AND STILL BE ON STANDARD DVDS. AND WHAT DO 360 AND WII HAVE IN COMMON BESIDES MII'AND XII'S, OPPS I MENT AVITARS.

[Laexerias]

what the f*ck

[Pain]

BOW TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!! MWA-HA_HA_HA_HA_HA!!

i take credit card .. Master-card and Visa..NO Discovery..

M$ Mii/2d Home rip-off is just another Way M$ Excels at Sucking.

fact; Apple had at a Convention once in big huge banners just for M$ to see and it said..
"Get Your Photocopiers Ready!!!" and yet the failed at Copying hello Vista....

[Genesis5]

And he's just thinking of using them now?? Maybe him and the inventor of the internet Al Gore should get together and work on something.

[truth for gamers]

he was trying to be funny thats all, he failed

[JasonXE]

http://www.gametrailers.com... 0:32

[lsujester]

Hey, hey, Al Gore did invent the internet. And now he's in the process of single-handedly getting rid of global warming.

[Genesis5]

Well can't we send this Mattrick guy to help him.

[Andronix]

I heard Don Mattrick is preparing to sue Sony for patent infringement of its 'Lips' Karoke game which he also invented.

[ThanatosDMC]

Hey, dont make fun of him... he's really cereal guys! (southpark al gore)

[Adamalicious]

Actually I think Al Gore is single-handedly resurrecting global warming - which is something considering that we're in a period of global cooling. I guess a lot of folks forgot about the media freaking out about global warming over a decade ago and then stopping when it kept getting cooler year over year.

[KS1985]

forget stopping global warming, did Al Gore find Man-Bear-Pig?

[Bubble Buddy]

Everyone copies but lying isn't the way to go for anybody :/.

[whoknew]

Shut up, we love the mii's, even if the sony fanboys don't. Only because sony was owned at E3. Was so funny BTW. PS3, dead by Xmas!

[SlaughterMeister]

Actually, global cooling was proven wrong back in the early eighties by NASA. Ironically, by the same method that they proved global warming wrong earlier this year.

@ everybody

The world goes through cycles, always has, always will. Al Gore is the new millenium's version of the crazy homeless guy with a sign on his chest.

"REPENT, SINNERS! THE END IS NIGH!"

[BattleAxe]

Ya, sure he invented Avatars. And guess what, I invented the XBOX 360 back in 1991 and I purposely designed it to overheat causing RRoD.

[Lew_Ijgee]

I think it was a Pig-Man-Bear.

[SaiyanFury]

Yeah, Don Mattrick invented avatars. Sure. This is also the same very outspoken person who, at MS's E3 event, told the world, "The Xbox 360 WILL outsell the PlayStation 3 around the world this generation.". Yeah, the guy's a huge blowhard who should blow off. Just as Al Gore invented the internet, and resurrected globull warming, this guy should just blow off. Hard.

[spectyre]

Actually I don't think Al is crazy whatsoever. First he heavily invests in companies that provide "carbon credits". Then he puts out a movie to try to get everyone to believe that an increase in carbon, even though it is the tiniest contributor to the greenhouse effect, is responsible for the doom of the planet. People watch Al fly around in his private jet and ride in the back of his limo telling us not to use gas or coal (coal, by the way, is what made the Gores stinking rich) and people fall all over themselves to give him more money.
I think the guy is the reincarnation of P.T. Barnum...."No one ever got rich by over-estimating the intelligence of the general public"

As for the topic: *puts pinky up to the corner of my mouth*(Dr. Evil voice) Riiiiigggghhhhht.

[SaiyanFury]

I agree completely, Spectyre. I never called Al Gore an idiot or crazy. I simply maintain that he's an egomaniacal greasebag. :)

[Wildarmsjecht]

Of course you did.

[Panthers]

And Al Gore invited the internet

[Angelitos]

And these Poor Xbots support M$ that bribes games.

[facepalm]

Yeah...and I'm Spartacus...

EDIT ADDED: But seriously...please, why can't these guys just admit to having a little "inspiration"?? ::wink, wink::

[GVON]

"Yeah...and I'm Spartacus..."

No, I'm Spartacus!!

[gamerosity]

...can fight over who's Spartacus. I Am Tiger Woods! ;)

[BLuKhaos]

.....well I'm a Mac

[uckitsayitchbay]

I am Spartacus

[Chad Warden]

Microsoft copied the Wii and Home. That's all there is to it.

[Dolemite]

MS is copying Home and Miis.

Does that mean HOME is copying LIVE's acheivements?

RIIIIIIGHT.

[DrRage77]

yes, and sony never ever copied anything, right? copied microsoft placing a harddrive inside a gaming console, most of xbox live features, achievements, rumble inside a controller, blah, blah, blah

sony and microsoft BOTH have taken ideas from other companies...THAT'S all there is to it.....

[Topshelfcheese]

Well Achievements aren't a Microsoft idea. They were in games back as far as the first ratchet and clank game as skill points, i believe they were in the old PS1 spyro games as well. Rumble in a controller was first in N64 as an addon pack. And the hard drive inside a console was done or was decided to be done before the original xbox ever released, as the PS2 had a docking bay for the later release hard drive when it first released.

Bottom line, there are zero original idea's anymore, just deal with people taking things and adding there own twist.

[Elimin8]

Well for one the ps2 did come with hard drive space just not installed regardless of it not being used as much "Final Fantasy being an exception" and the xbox came out later so who would copy/inspire who? I could care less who copies who, the fact remains you guys as gamers ask for it, it then gets delivers then you still fight... I don't get it...

[BigBoy2000]

Wait wait wait.... I can agree with your last statement that the two major companies have used other companies' good ideas, but Sony's original DualShock (you know... that "rumble inside the controller") came out before microsoft even thought about making a console. Just to set the record straight.

[danarc]

@4.1

That's unrelated. He's on-topic, its related to the article of avatars. Your post however, was not.

[lsujester]

The fact is that in this business, few companies do things truly original. At most they do something that eventually becomes console standard.

Control sticks... believed to be invented in 1944, then migrated to gaming back in the 70's. "Force feedback"... they worked on that stuff in the 50's. Hard drives... invented in 1956.

My point is, that neither Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo come up with a bunch of new technology. They all just take other people's ideas and use them to make money.

EDIT: To remain a little more focused, the whole Mii thing isn't new either. Been avatars on the internet for years now. And before then, authors wrote about avatars. Notable examples are "Snow Crash" and "Neuromancer".

[N4G-IS-PS3-FANBOY]

WITHOUT MICRSOFT THERE WOULD BE NO PS3 NOR WOULD THERE BE A NINTENDO WII!

MICRSOFT ARE TECHNOLOGIC PIONEARS! DO NOT GET JEALOUS NOW!

[Merritt]

@Chad Warden

Microsoft actually invented "Home" years ago on the PC and is the great-great grandfather of it. They had a 3D based AVATAR chat program you could install and use it as a chat server, very cool for the time, nowadays not so much.

Secondlife would be the thing Home is more closely based which is a complete snore fest, hopefully Home will be more enthralling.

[Megatron08]

@chad how in the hell do you get they copied home. There is nothing in the new bashboard that is reportly like home. Plus home is just a rip off sims anyways so they kind of stoled that from MS to as the guy form ms actually worked on the game before he join ms.

Anyways this was meant as a joke nothing more

[Tarasque]

Well chad you are a real douchebag.

@Topshelfcheese
MS did invent achievement point's first ever to to award a person with a score for a online profile on a console. Skill point's and achievement's my friend are totally way 2 different thing's.

In all seriousness sony bring's the worst out of people. I am a big sony fan but i find myself defending the 360 and it's fan's cause of sony douchebag's and their attitude's.

[ChickeyCantor]

Didn't Nintendo had this concept on the NES? But they could not find a way to use it...so that it could be used?

Wasn't that said last E3?

[Mc187]

I invented avatars,
and pixie sticks,
and post-its,
and the color magenta,
and bacon (oooh I love bacon),
and blow up dolls,
and astroglide (just for POG and Jason 360)
lol

[Dark General]

This is for you, this is my thanks for you inventing pixie stix.

[ThanatosDMC]

Thank you for BACON!!!

[zPlayer]

man i love bacon too!! thank you so much i think i'll get some.

[hi-tower]

just want to be involved!

...LOUD NOISES...

[ThanatosDMC]

Just to join in? That poor soul...

[eagle21]

XBAND was a online gaming service available in 1994 for the SNES and Sega Genesis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

http://www.gamersgraveyard....

Check out the XBAND logo

http://www.gamersgraveyard....

[Mc187]

Nice find there eagle.

[juuken]

...Damn eagle, that's a good find.

[TheColbertinator]

That guy sounds annoying

[juuken]

...And I invented light!
And Dead Metal you silly child! *tries to put out fire*

[TheDeadMetalhead]

<<I INVENTED MARIO. EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T BORN IN 1981. HA HA HA. HA HA HA.>>

*shoots himself with Wii Zapper*

<<...OUCH.>>

EDIT: <<WAIT. DON'T PUT OUT THE FIRE, JUUKEN. IT ONLY MAKES ME STRONGER>>

[Deadman64]

Good One Juuken!

[Mc187]

You are a bit of sunshine around here:)

[juuken]

o-0 Okey!
*puts away fire extinguisher*
*looks at Negative's accomplishments* W-W-WELL I INVENTED THE CAR!

But you're right. Microsoft are really, really arrogant indeed.

[NegativeCreep427]

BUT I INVENTED THE WHEEL. AND I INVENTED WATER. AND I INVENTED THE COOCH AND BOOBIES SO EVERY STRAIGHT GUY ON THIS PLANET OWES ME A DEBT OF GRATITUDE!!!

Seriously though, That stereotypical arrogant Xbox lackey is eventually going to say that he invented the Eyetoy and Singstar first, and he invented the whole concept of Exclusivity so Microsoft isn't taking the exclusivity of FFXIII from Sony because he invented that concept so it was theirs from the beginning.

LOL!

[TheDeadMetalhead]

I thank you for all of those inventions (especially the last 2, lol).

[Laexerias]

you may have invented those things.. but without me you couldt even invent those things.. cause i invented invention.

[BigKev45]

Yeah sure. And Don has been to Mars also.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Oh, come on, people! Nintendo had everything first! Sony got some original stuff, and ms doesn't have s#$t!

[gambare]

>_>

[NegativeCreep427]

And my boss invented the concept of not USING toilet paper (seriously he always smells like Sh!t)

[Mc187]

My butt thanks you.
lol

[CViper]

Im suing everyone here.

[Obama]

It's very shameful..very shameful. Even bots can't deny that avatar is a mii rip off.

[juuken]

Aaaah, but they will. =)

[GMR_PR]

It's very shameful..very shameful. Even droids can't deny that Trophies are a Achievements rip off.

[KBDuB]

I'm not an "xbot" but, I do agree that it is a Wii ripoff, but why don't you PS3fanboys agree that Trophies are ripoffs of achievements?

Yes, they are different, but so are avatars and Mii's...

[darkside]

and medals are a rip off trophies....so what's your point?

[Omega4]

Since 1991? If he wants to lie at least make it believable

[Megatron08]

and if you want to post comment you should as least try to make it believe that you have a high enough IQ to be able to read the articles

[Old Snake]

Ya ok pal, and I invented the internet

[lsujester]

No, Al Gore did.

[InMyOpinion]

That's 4D Boxing in the pic =)

That game was way ahead of it's time. 3D graphics, character creation, career mode etc. I played it like crazy when I was younger. Awesome!

[jay2]

Erm right fine, Just like GTA, Bioshock and 2 other games are 360 exclusive (that actually aren't

[Rhezin]

You dipsh!ts do this all the time, you just find something THAT ISN'T EVEN TRUE and make it look like 360 is copying ps3. Please ps3 fanboys DO YOURSELF A FAVOR JUST STOP POSTING

[DeckUKold]

They riped of the Miis on the Wii.

[Hawkeyes315]

Don Mattrick = A 12 year old kid.

No it was my idea! No it wasn't it was mine!

Anyway, I doubt it was his...Since when has Microsoft ever had anything original?

Don't try to even say Halo, because Microsoft bought Bungie out in 1999, after the fact that they announced the game at Macworld Expo in 1999.

"In 1999, Bungie announced its next product, Halo, as a third-person action game for Windows and Macintosh.[14] Halo's public unveiling occurred at the Macworld Expo 1999 keynote address by Apple's then-interim-CEO Steve Jobs (after a closed-door screening at E3 in 1999)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

However, Microsoft is good at buying other's ideas and then turning around and making those ideas proprietary.

[DrRage77]

""Since when has Microsoft ever had anything original?""

how about placing a harddrive inside a gaming console?

and you say halo is not original to microsoft because they bought bungie? um, aren't the biggest games on the playstation from 3rd party studio developers?? final fantasy was made by square enix, NOT sony, metal gear solid was made by konami, NOT sony.... think before you speak next time...better yet, don't speak at all....

[lsujester]

In console gaming, Microsoft hasn't done a terrible lot new, simply because they came into the game so late. But overall, Microsoft has came up with a ton of good programs, languages, etc.

And I'm not talking about Windows. LOL

[Hawkeyes315]

I don't think I claimed that anyone is original. But then again, Sony wasn't the one's claiming that they invented avatars now were they. For someone to counter with such an argument is stupid, and you my friend have only agreed with what I was saying. Just not directly. I would laugh if you were one of those who disagreed with my post.

[SlaughterMeister]

The PS2 had a hard drive slot.

All Microsoft did was include it out of the box.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I wonder how many people are going to go off on their tyraid without even reading the article.

"We're not sure how serious he was. In fact we're positive he was just having a good time."

He was joking around so put away your torches and pitchforks.

[user858621]

i invented breathing 18 years ago :P

[GMR_PR]

I invented man kind and earth.

[why do droids cry]

with a little help from somebody else i invented you. jokes lol

these petty little arguments are sh1t. does it matter?

[air1]

it doesnt matter who made it first, it's who makes it better. yea nintendo put it in play first but what did they do with it? i mean realy. what micro should do is make the avaters comunicate with the selaction. you know like walk him up to net flix to choose that option. they also better offer more than just human avaters.

[pp]

Microsoft is great i could never have imagined someone at Microsoft could have come out with a great idea as avatars

[Ali_The_Brit]

thats because your a moronic shít

[darkside]

@pp i totally agree with you!!! just like how some at M$ invented medals, oh wait they didn't.....

[theusedfake]

I invented tampons...

it's a messy job, but somebody's gotta do it. ;)

[sean-nirvana]

what a prick

[zapass]

at EA he was often called:

Tron Madick

lol

most arrogant, self lickin coxucka in the industry.
me thinks he sometimes sleeps with Peter Moore ;)

[power of Green]

Funny he's saying that sarcastically poking fun at the haters and the companies trying to make a big deal out of the issue like crying little girls. The media and companies and the POS PS3 fanboys don't even have the same attatude when PS3 uses others *SUPPOSED* ideas.

Dosn't matter what PS3 fanboys say; Sony's PS3 offers nothing Nintendo and MSFT must offer that Sony does to compete lol.

[Hawkeyes315]

You sound like and xbox fanboy yourself. Everything this guy says is right, and everything everyone else says about the topic is considered to be, oh what's the adjective you used..."crying little girls". Wow dude...Major bias there.

Furthermore, everyone else who claims they have an idea, is in fact a "*SUPPOSED*" idea in your opinion.

I know what Nintendo and MSFT have to compete with, the PS3.

[power of Green]

Why does the media and the bulk of PS3 fanboys praise Sony when they offer something that is successful on ther platforms?.

Why does the media and fanboys sya sh8t like:

*Sony is doing great offering this and that catching up to MSFT(yah right).

*Companies are offering the gamers great value it is only good for the gamers when talking about what Sony is doing to catch up to MSFT?.

Why does the media and POS3 fanboys attack MSFT when they do it?, I know why it happens it's due to hat and envy when MSFT is perceived to be pulling away or leaving the competition in the dust.
There is a deep rooted hate that is almost Far Left loon-like or even Far Right conservative/nut-like towards MSFT by default from rabid Gothic/anime loven agnry losers.

[Hawkeyes315]

I really do think you are paranoid.

You seem to be suffering from the following symptom:

Everyone is out to get Microsoft.

[jcgamer]

lol...yeah...and I invented SOUL GLO...lmao...

[JustinSaneV2]

Oh look! He's trying to pull a Sony Sixaxis!

[Hawkeyes315]

He invented that 15 years ago...

[SacT0wnF1n3st]

I invented lies and I'll deal with this guy.

[Ghoul]

i invinted the wiimote

i threw my NES Controller at my tv and it broke apart. damn i thought i should have patented it ;)

[power of Green]

PS3 fanboys have low comprehension skills they are most likely made up of angry Antisocial kids letting their angry cloud logic/reason/truth and adult Gothic people that are so angry(hateful/malice) they use anything as an excuse to bash missunderstanding what they see or not it doesn't matter.

[InMyOpinion]

Btw, he was clearly being sarcastic about the situation. If you are able to read between the lines he's saying that everyone copies & borrows ideas from each other. That's why he mentions 4D Boxing and The Sims. One could easily say that Mii's are a ripoff from The Sims, or Home is a ripoff from The Sims and Second Life. You could probably find more games that share the same elements and likenesses. It's a pointless discussion to say "X copied Y because...".

The one who does it best will be remembered for it.

[CViper]

Because it is.

[InMyOpinion]

If they can top Mii's it doesn't matter if they steal or not.

Everyone copies. Sony copied achievements in the same manner and that was well received.

Look at the music industry for instance. Most pop music are recycled versions of old hits. It's ok as long as you add a unique twist to it(although most record labels steal to earn a quick buck).

[Topshelfcheese]

@Jenzo

Would you people stop using the achievement excuse, Sony games had achievement type features in games as far back as PS1 with Spyro and later Ratchet and Clank, if anything you can say Microsoft ripped off Insomniac, and than Sony ripped off the Microsoft rip off.

[CViper]

Just don't try to pretend you invented it. Which is what MS is best at.

[The Lazy One]

first, Jenzo, some of us could see that he was in fact being sarcastic.

second, have none of you been involved with the technology cycle consciously ever?

Invention is very rarely the part of the process that is adapted as standard, Innovations are what make the best products. You take a good idea, you make it better. The Ipod (mp3 players), every new cell phone (texting, media sharing, video capturing device), every new HDTV, every game console, facebook/myspace(e-communities ); all of those are products of innovation not invention.

I don't necessarily think avatars are worth while, but I can't knock microsoft for developing it into something more enjoyable and personal.

[tako2000]

Isn't that the reason why nearly everyone felt its a copy of Mii?

[power of Green]

All he's doing is poking fun of the competition when they claim MSFT is copying something that none of them invented either.

What is so hard to grasp?.

[gambare]

because it's not funny

[Delt4]

i thought it was. By the way POG i think you need more bubbles.........(bubbles)

[kingme71]

You better be careful what you say or you will have headlines that belie the whole conext of the conversation... oops too late.

[Topshelfcheese]

I invented individually wrapped slices of cheese.

[beavis4play]

guess i was wrong.

[Avto]

I invented breathing!

[InMyOpinion]

Satoru Iwata invented Viagra.

[psnCAShville_615]

microsoft just forces bullSH*T on there wack fanboys. this total nonsence i think he was been serious too. Mii+home avatars= 36oiis.epic failure, im glad sony doesn't do what others do.

SONY " i can do anything you can do i can do 7878544548578 times better "
nintendo " wiicreate create your house with new wiipaint" put your favorite color on it "

microsoft " hey lets copy others " lets go steal mgs4 from sony " KOJIMA " GO eff YOURSELF LAZY YANK

[LoVeRSaMa]

I also invited the wheel years ago, and others are using it, so what?

[air1]

why do you ppl hate micro so much? yall act like they banged you're mom had you and never sent child support.

hawkeyes, you know it works the same way with the ps3 camp, everything the ps3 camp sais has to be true.

it's funny though how you ppl say micro copies everyone else. last i checked sony has been trying to catch up with features micro had last gen. i don't remember a psn last gen do you? why didn't sony try to invent something else instead of following live. didn't sony announce you can watch movies now too? man, the irony i swear.

[Drekken]

This site is infected with a bunch of BS. Who cares, Game on!

[dkgshiz]

But you don't, every company down the line copies another company time to time. Its just a matter of life.

[A-ROD]

Microcopy ftw

[DeckUKold]

Good one.

[kewlkat007]

I'm sure hes trying to be funny but that's like saying Sony invented "3D interactive virtual world!" we know as, HOME.

Well gimme a break XBOX heads..

[The Lazy One]

the idea was that everybody takes everybody's ideas and develops them. To say they ripped off nintendo's mii system ignores the things that nintendo ripped off to make the mii system.

He's getting at the issue that people forget nintendo didn't invent the concept of a virtual representation of you in an e-space.

[outlawlife]

its clear he was making a joke

wii wasn't the first thing to have little 3d characters, it just happened to be the first to incorporate them into a game console a certain way

ms took the idea and is now running with it, while nintendo sits on their prehistoric version refusing to add anything new to it, and sony is remaking second life that we are still waiting for

[Mr BlueScreen]

So pay up! I charge $500,000 per breath!

[darkdoom3000]

Lol.

thats a joke right?

they copied the Miis(and to a lesser extent HOME)
just like sony copied the achivements.

[eagles1990]

I invented video games

[59fifty8]

sex

[Dzpool]

it was a bad joke but not as bad as the Jack Palance joke which sony pr boys better get on before the Palance family owns sony forget about open mouth insert foot momemts that was an open a$$ insert head moment but to try and stay on topic everybody steals from everybody

[mcgrawgamer]

it was a lame joke but it was a joke nonetheless. He was basically saying that every idea in the industry started somewhere. Let the guy let his hair down. I'm sure if that had been Jack T. or Peter Dile everything would be all good, but because good ole D-Mite as I like to call him says something and he's part of the big bad MSFT people carry on like he got WMD's.....

I for one like the fact that these guys know how to have a little fun and it's not all blazers, Ties, and NPD numbers.

[The Lazy One]

I wish some people flat out and obviously lied to reporters to see how gullible the internets is.

Instead of saying "we do not respond to rumors and speculation" they should say something along the lines of "I can guarantee that microsoft is rereleasing 'Jesus' this september. It's the epic journey 2008 years in the making!"

[absolutecarnage]

wow you sony guys are just trying to find anything, AND I MEAN anything to complain about the 360. Seriously i thought i was told that MGS4 was the best game ever, why are you guys not playing that, then sitting on here and making a big deal, over some guys crappy joke. wow some people

[darkside]

i know what you mean it's the new medal update for the Xbox360....opps srry i didn't mean to go there, ok well i did!

[zPlayer]

man even if he is joking doesn't hide the fact that he's a follower and not a leader. there is NO innovation in M$ except for the games, maybe

[Zulwarn]

Kaz Harai invented droids the pic in my avatar was taken right in action

[lastboss]

As for me : I HAVE INVENTED BEER ! It was in 1949, in Boston...

[xg-ei8ht]

Global warming is BS.

There is infact more ice sheets then there were this time last year.

HAHAHHAAAHHA

US Military invented the internet as means to contact eachother. And the internet you know today was born from it.

[inStereo]

Am I the only one that can tell from the interview that these guys are clearly drunk?

[DFresh]

How in the hell could of Microsoft invented avatars when they just started in the video game business?
Maybe they invented 2D Avatars on a PC like decades ago but as of now Sony is the inventor of creating 3D avatars for Home.
Nuff said.
Get out of the past and look towards the future.
Stop claiming products that aren't yours Microsoft and just move on to making newer stuff.

[Fototherapist]

I invented avatars!

[Fototherapist]

I invented the invention.

[Fototherapist]

I invented jock itch!

[VirusE]

I am just in disbelief over BS like this. Keep in mind sony said the same thing with home, avatars and intergrated online.... Its called PR and every big business has a PR debt.

[djroberts]

Sad