Online Survey Hints at Xbox 360 version of Home - with Avatars

A survey has been sent to Xbox 360 owners that provides some interesting insights to Microsoft's ventures into the casual gaming space.

The first part of the survey is the most standard, asking people about their favorite game shows and board games, including Balderdash and Taboo, as well as what they like best about 1 Vs. 100. One interesting aspect of that section is that there may be a paid version of 1 Vs. 100 that will offer better prizes.

The latter part of the survey, however, is extremely intriguing, and an indication that Microsoft may be venturing into a PlayStation Home-like space in which Avatars can congregate and play retro games on classic coin-op cabinets. They queried applicants what name would fit the space best – "Game Room", "RetroCade", "AvatArcade", "RetroGame", "Classics LIVE", and so forth.

[GWAVE]

Buuuuut I thought everything Microsoft did was original and intended for the hardcore gamer?

Certainly a Home clone will appeal to the hardcore crowd, just like Mii-too Avatars really got the hardcore gamers excited, and just like Netflix and Twitter integration really got the hardcore gamers excited, and just like (let's be honest here) waving your arms around in front of a Natal camera or talking to little Milo really got the hardcore gamers excited....

The really sad thing is that die-hard Microsoft supporters will still hype this up and claim it is so fun and original.

[Jamie Foxx]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsS...

[mrv321]

LOL at Greenburg.

'"It feels like 2005 tech in 2008. I'm not sure that's what people want." '

Hmmm... which is different from an '06 game releasing in '09?

Home is advanced it isn't hardcore but it's advanced, and seirously... Twitter and facebook aren't that advanced now... and Mii's?

Let me guess all are advanced space tech...

Home is more advanced than Mii's/Twitter. FULL STOP.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

So 360 fans how are you going to spin this if its true member this quote "It feels like 2005 tech in 2008. I'm not sure that's what people want."

[Montrealien]

Nah Gwave, the really sad thing here is that you and your friends here take those people seriously. I mean really?

And like Second life, if an avatar home thing does come it will feel dated, like Home. However it does not mean it cant be enjoyable, like Home.

btw, do you guys even know how to approve?

[GWAVE]

@ Montrealien

It's sad that I take "those people" seriously? By "those people" are you referring to the top Microsoft execs who bashed Home and claimed that Miis actually came AFTER Microsoft's concept for Avatars?

Yeah...it is pretty sad that I take them seriously.

[Montrealien]

I am glad to see you agree with me Gwave.

[Pain]

ever since 1 vs 100 screens with the small city and Shain talking its more of a MMO then and all the cloths and bl bla bla ...MS Home clone next year.

http://worthplaying.com/art...
http://worthplaying.com/art...
http://worthplaying.com/art...
http://worthplaying.com/art...

http://worthplaying.com/art...

[JokesOnYou]

"Of course, with all the Atari festooning, maybe its a classic Atari compilation game that allows online parties."

lol, they have no idea what it is....bu, bu, it must be a Home clone.

micro is constantly evolving with Live, with meaningful updates that add to the community experience, I have no doubt they will continue to do so down the road, if future plans for a virtual space are in the cards then personally I could care less about a Second life rip off that manages to be even more boring than Second Life, just like theres stuff on Live I use and stuff I on Live don't use but that doesn't mean micro shouldn't put out it there for those who would use it, either way whatever it is, it will be 100x's better than Home, lol lets face it sony really drag their feet when it comes to online, I still remember all the massive promises from sony touting Home, now after all this time nobody even cares about Home, its mostly ignored by owners and the media. The only good thing I ever hear anybody write about it is "its free". Why copy that?...thats like copying wii with your own dildo, errr just another motion controller. lmfao, [looks for good news about Home]

JOY

[Shadow Flare]

Yet another feature psn trumps live on. And its all completely free

[Syronicus]

They see something that is very successful and something that brings in money and they want it. Much like everything else they copy, they will copy Home but it will be expensive. They will charge for everything, even admission. It's the way MS does things and the way MS fans are. MS rips them off at every turn and MS fanboys defend their actions.

MS is full of hypocrisy.

[Kushan]

I love it when people quote other random people from the internet and use that as part of their argument as to why that entire demographic is stupid.
There's enough fanboys on every side of the pitch that you can call on to make idiots out of, but it doesn't really make you look any better. (I'm not referring to what Greenberg said, I'm referring to people who start sentences with things like "but all the 360 fanboys said..." or "didn't the ps3 fanboys say...").

Who cares if Microsoft copies Sony, we all know deep down that they all copy each other all the time. Originality is great, but if one company comes up with a really good idea, other competing companies would be stupid NOT to copy it.

[Shadow Flare]

2 things:

- 256 players
- Dedicated servers for all first party games

Have fun editing your one bubble

[Godmars290]

Might be true that nothing is original, but MS has a bad habit of being "unoriginal" right behind someone else.

[solidjun5]

Right, and you know this because in your warped mind, you just happened to know the future. Geez, you're more deluded than Omega. Also, I find it really hard to believe you even own a PS3. I mean i'm sure you were one of the first to bash HOME but now that there's a possibility that MS could be doing it, you assume it's going to be good because based on your clairvoyance, MS will make it better. What an enthusiast you are.

Anyway, HOME isn't so bad. I've enjoyed it quite a bit. I don't really use that much but for what I get from it, I ain't complaining. It's not geared towards to Hardcore. it's a social interface. You socialize. So if everyone wants to do it, let them. I'm sure people will enjoy it regardless. But for those who was bashing it but now on board with it (JOY), all i have to say is pffftttt!!!

[Tinted Eyes]

Haha why am I not surprised.

[Kushan]

"Might be true that nothing is original, but MS has a bad habit of being "unoriginal" right behind someone else. "

So its bad that they're quick to copy good ideas? Do you think anyone would have slammed sony for implimenting Trophies, cross-game chat, ingame XMB, ingame soundtracks a few weeks after the PS3 launched?
Likewise, if Microsoft dragged their heels "copying" someone, people would slam them for that as well. These companies can't win, there'll always be someone out there spinning everything to make them look bad, when really the only thing that should matter is how much YOU, the consumer, benefits. I could not care less if Microsoft practically cloned Sony as a company, if it means I get more and better games, I'm all for it. If it means I get a cool feature that other people have been enjoying, I'm all for it. If it means that, on the whole, the entire industry benefits, I'm all for it.

[ultimolu]

...*blinks*

Oh no they didn't...

[kewlkat007]

Your on point with that one....

That's all that takes place on here.

On a personal note haven't been on HOME since that first week it debut.

I'm sure some love it and some don't. I have no time for it. I'm not big on Avatars either but whatever some are...

[Sitdown]

to see the post where somebody said, without sarcasm, that "everything Microsoft did was original and intended for the hardcore gamer".

[pixelsword]

...and Avatars.

/sarcasm.

Okay, being serious here:

How is it that home sucks so bad (everyone seems to be saying) but yet Microsoft in a poll is suggesting that they want to add that same suckiness on the 360?

Because it doesn't suck so bad to a lot of people, that's why. Hey, I'm glad that the 360 is getting it so 360-only fans can see that it doesn't suck like the media would have you believe.

And if you do love it; ask for more... a LOT more: because in fact, PS Home has an arcade like that in their bowling alley; not to mention that you can download arcade games into your own personal space.

[Godmars290]

Well, considering that MS patented ingame music, their method of cross chat, I'm sure there'd be a lot of happy lawyers if that had happened.

Honestly, has everyone forgotten Bill Gates open letter that effectively closed open-sourced PC development? That MS is the company it is today because a bunch of geeks were given the basis for Windows from IBM or that it now seeks the proprietary rights to smilies?

[Kushan]

"Well, considering that MS patented ingame music, their method of cross chat, I'm sure there'd be a lot of happy lawyers if that had happened."

Lets have some proof to back up this claim, please. Last I heard, it was EA's fault the PS3 couldn't do any of that.

[randomwiz]

"Well, considering that MS patented ingame music, their method of cross chat, I'm sure there'd be a lot of happy lawyers if that had happened."

Finding ways to go around patents is a part of everyday life. Microsoft patented one method of ingame music. Theres more than one way of getting ingame music.

GT5 is supposed to feature ingame soundtracks, and gt psp already features them.

[ThanatosDMC]

I wonder how much it'll cost...

[NoBias]

Home is barren and pervish. Cool in concept but I mean... What am I supposed to do in it? All the male avatars are huddled around the female avatars, at all times (Besides the occasionaly random lonely dancing or sitting avatar).

Home is funny.

[Roper316]

That would just be MS doing what MS does best, copying from the competitor instead of innovating. The last time MS was innovative was when the original Windows 95 launched other then that they have done nothing except buy out the competition who was innovative or copy the competition when they couldn't be bought.

[Oner]

I agree with everything you said except for the Windows 95 comment...they copied/stole that too as well.

[themyk]

too=as well

[ubiquitious]

A Microsoft Home would probably be a better Home than Sony's Home...considering Sony's version really has no where to go but up at this point.

I think it is lame...but I thought that with avatars at first too...but I am definitely enjoying my Obama avatar:D

Keep it free and I would definitely give it a shot.

[Godmars290]

Like Online is free on XBL in the first place? Chances are it'll be made another incentive to get a Gold account, not just be a general reward.

[Shadow Flare]

You think microsoft might make their possible version of home free?? 360 owners can't even play online for free

[Aquarius]

I'll take realistic-looking people in a realistic-looking setting anyday than a buffed up fancy looking life-sized cartoon character thank you very much.

Just imagine replacing HOME avatars with Mii-ripoffs and dropping a bit of paint on the world and walking around...

It seems that M$ are going after the Wiis market with HYPTAL and this...sad bums. M$ what a joke.

EDIT: @Godmars, if you want surreal play linger in shadows.

@catguykyou HOME was never meant to be a menu in the first place but I do agree they need to find a better way to implement it as of now I never click on it, I just click on the PSstore which I NEED.

P.s. Still waiting for my TROPHY ROOM SONY!!!!!

[Godmars290]

I could actually do with Home avatars looking more cartoonish. Home itself more surreal.

Edit:
But Home isn't about gaming, its about presentation and community.

[dabri5]

Actually it is. Everything but playing online in games. Yeah that's a major part of what you are referring to but for this article, which is talking about a home clone, a feature such as that would be free and available to silver account users.

Now here's hoping it isn't true because I hate home, signed in once, was a bunch of guys dressed as girls trying to pretend give other guys who were away from their system virtual head......Not my cup of tea.

While it is still improving, it still isnt the virtual menu system they made it out to be in the first place. I want to turn my PS3 on, find myself sitting on a couch, activate the tv, watch my movies either full screen or just leave it running, turn on my music, or even walk up to my virtual ps3 and choose what ps3 game to play, which would then send me to the game screen. At any point, I can choose to hop back into the home world (maybe even with the game paused on the tv in my virtual living room).

Many things could be done to make home cooler, more convient, and more useful. All it is right now is a glorified chat room, something I hope Microsoft is smart enough not to copy.

PS any company that is willing to copy a good idea and improve on it (cough Naughty dog cough) is A-OK in my book.

[Godmars290]

You're ignoring the little detail that one thing Home offers is chat. Text chat in the general areas, voice chat in apartments and clubhouses. Don't know if they all Silvers that, but don't you think MS would have to give it to them?

If they did, they'd only be throwing the openness Gold subscriptions offer in Silver accounts faces. Seeing how they couldn't chat into a game, or meeting people who then "freely" went into games.

And please explain to me exactly the value of "free" when the only thing you're free to do on XBL is go to XBL to buy games and movies. You can't say Netflix because you need a Gold account besides a Netfilx subscription. By contrast along with PSN PS3 owners have Home and a web browser besides.

[Redempteur]

"considering Sony's version really has no where to go but up at this point. "

Well you're wrong ..the simple 1.3 update is the next step in Home ( with the inclusion of personal items )
Not to mention that more spaces and more partnerships ( audi ) are on the way ...

Sure exclusives singstar events are a "dead end " ?
Or is the universal game launching that show that home is a stand still ?
i nearly forgot about the huge increase in speed and loading times .

Clearly Home can't go anywhere .... (sarcasm]

[dabri5]

Silver members can do everything a gold member can do except play games online and watch netflix. They can chat and send text messages. They can download movies and demos. It is obviously missing the major part of having Gold (play Online) but you can't say that it offers nothing. A service like home would be part of the silver package I would think. I'm not saying it would be any good. I'm not saying it would even happen. All I'm saying is, if MS did do a home ripoff, I would hope they would improve on it where Home right now (not what will be coming to it) has gotten wrong.

[thebudgetgamer]

house? cribs? home?

:)

[gumgum99]

probably, "spaces".

[devilhunterx]

shelter? project?

[xoxideu]

get used to it cause the price is gonna leave you sore

[The Wood]

please deposit 12000MS points into the avatar guards hand standing by the door....thank you. Non gold members can download the 'slum' section for free in 1 weeks time:)

[facelike]

...after modifying Ninja Gaiden II's marketing to mirror sigma's release, then they are looking at this. I call this.................Sony envy.

[rhood022]

You forgot introducing a black console with HDMI

[PandemicPrawn0]

Got to do something with your avatar I suppose.

[-Mezzo-]

Cain't they come up with something original.

[ReviewsArePolitics]

Even though they say Home sucks. I mean it'll be the same, but because it's on Xbox, it will be awesome. Xtards are that predictable.

[Aquarius]

Mii-ripoffs are not realistic-looking people, they look gay.( especially the men with their pose)

[kevinx1000]

achievements, vibrating controllers, PS motion controll, etc, etc.

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

;-D

[Etseix]

if i remember good, Didnt MS said that Home was old¨?¨?

now the new name
FailboxThreepocrecry.

Xbox, it only does more nicknames.

[AliTheBrit]

Wow, what a stupid thing to say..given..

Trophys & PSN are both a direct result of what Xbox 360 and PS3 "stole" :)

[Saaking]

Sega had the first console with online capabilities, not MS.

[Montrealien]

actually saaking, in japan the famicon had some online banking service available for it. This was in the 80's. And lets not forget The Legend of Zelda BS.

but out of the box multiplayer console, was the Dreamcast.

[AngryTypingGuy]

2good4u2, don't forget analog trigger buttons. Sony added that in order to spice up their outdated controller, but what's the point, most Sony games use the shoulder buttons to fire. What's the point in having trigger buttons if you don't use them to shoot?

On the subject of an MS version of Home, if MS wants to add it, that's fine but I could take it or leave it. Neither Home nor the Sims has ever appealed to me. Something like that would hold my attention for about 5-10 minutes if that, and then I'd be ready for a real game.

[kevinx1000]

you can fill that under etc. :)
also marketplace, dedicated servers (bungie), matchmaking (bungie) and pretty much everything firmware 3 brought to the PS.

[Trevorthenerd]

wii remote rip offs are really original sony

[Pennywise]

Do these guys do anything original?

[creeping judas]

What is these days??

[glennc]

do you say anything original

[PimpHandHappy]

lol

[PoisonedTea]

Of course not! Only a XBOX Live Gold Subscription will suffice. ;)

[dalibor]

We shall find out but in my opinion I doubt it. Wouldn't MS want to draw more people to purchase a gold membership? They can generate more subscribers by implementing this new asset on Live. My hand is damn pimp happy.

[Rowsdower]

would be as worthless on my 360 as it already is on my PS3

also for all the 360 hate on here...

if you dont like fanboys who make sh*t up and just come along to troll and start fights, then be an adult and dont do the things you are speaking out against.

My PS3 does everything except make fanboys grow up

[NoBias]

It should be in the next firmware update.

[Halo_Reach]

i hope this doesnt happen..

Home is for NO LIFE dudes , i cant think anyone else using that unless No life hopless nerds...

Second Life ... Rightttt ...

Lulz.

[BabyStomper5000]

Not entirely, I play chess on there. But other than that you're right.

[tudors]

all I see is an extention of Xbox-live arcade, it does not mention having your own online space or appartments, or furniture or anything like that, so having a online arcade or online Xbox-live arcade somhow means it is copying home? seriously where do these assumptions come from.

[doG_beLIEfs]

Maybe its because in Home there is an (stay with me now...it gets really complicated for those of you with MS glasses on) ARCADE where you can play retro games in a room that has other PSN users on it. Sound familiar now?

[MetalGearRising]

Home is run by Nerds in the Highest Category known to human.

[JackBNimble]

So then you would agree that this idea for the xbox is LAME right?

[3sq]

This message is for you.

"Too bad for Bots this will not be Free like Home, Bots enjoy to be ripped off and pay for everything"

P.S. It's from 54percent below me.

[ZombieAutopsy]

please no, i dont use home on my ps3 so please MS dont do this especially since some of the top guys from MS said Home feels dated.

[54percent]

Too bad for Bots this will not be Free like Home, Bots enjoy to be ripped off and pay for everything

[JackBNimble]

but if you pay for it then it must be better.

[3sq]

How is losing your money better?

[JackBNimble]

I don't know ask a bot, that seems to be their motto.

[Tr10wn]

"Too bad for Bots this will not be Free like Home, Bots enjoy to be ripped off and pay for everything"

ahh low life people, how is paying 49.99$ a year a ripoff? basically normal peoples make that in 2 days at work. Maybe you guys should stop trolling and get a job to afford more things and leave the fanboyism apart.

[xaviertooth]

@sanad

i have a job

but i'm smart not to waste 50bucks.

[Bereaver]

@Subaru Why don't you buy yourself a new air filter or something!

THEN DRIVE IT OFF A CLIFF!

[mriono]

I can really do without this, I have visited HOME on my ps3 a total of 1 time, and it wasn't for me so I doubt this will be either, Ill just stick to playing games.

What I do find funny is all the M$ bashing for copying, when HOME is nothing more than Sony's version of the Sims or even a 2nd life rip so whats the big deal regardless of what you guys want to admit all the companies do it, if it works on another system lets give it a try. So if PSN was to get cross game chat I guarantee the only thing half you guys would claim is " one more feature that equals psn to live" there would be no mention of this rip off talk. If your going to gripe and moan at least be consistant

[creeping judas]

Things like HOME, NXE, or what ever this article is trying say, are marketted at non hard core gamers. And guess what hardcore gamers make up a small portion of the game console ownership group. They are marketting these at the casual crowd. It's the casual crowd that sells consoles. The hardcore buy the 1st year, and the casuals from there on.

So why not market stuff like this at the bread and butter of your business. Just don't forget your dardcore crowd though!!

[Isaahc]

Ignorance is not a excuse, it's a sign of defeat. too many ignorant comment in here, I won't quote any of them, but this is just sad.Too many people still refer home like as if it still the same since the day it opened, significant updates have been done and there's a lot of improvement that I think are worth login in. Take your MS tinted glass and ignorance away because its not 2006 anymore.

[mriono]

your comment is just as ignorant, as the people you complain about, just because people think tat HOME is lame Or not for them doesn’t mean they haven’t seen the updates. Hell I have only used HOME once correct, but I can also tell you about all the updates, and have friends who I have gamed with and they went in to try and convince me of the beauty of HOME, but it’s just not my cup of tea. Does that make me ignorant no, does it mean I am wearing these so called M$ tinted glasses? NO, it simply means unlike the blind fanboy I am still an individual who has his own opinions.

[Isaahc]

Edit:Where in my comment have I said you are one of those people? I can't find so why did you even bother replying if you're not one of those people. Did I say everyone Should be on HOME: NO, Did I say it's everyones cup of tea:NO. All I stated was before ranting about it grow some brains because if you're gonna use the same excuses, you'll end up sounding like a fool.

[mriono]

I never said you said everyone, matter of fact I used the word everyone a total of 0 times in my original reply, what I did say is you were classifying peoples comments, and unless you know for a fact they are just bashing home without seeing the updates, or just for the heck of it, then your comment was as ignorant and unfounded as the blind fanboyism you were accusing people of.

[Captain Tuttle]

It's alright. I guess I'd use it as long as I wouldn't have to wait in virtual lines to play.

[spektical]

lets be a little more original M$. The last thing you introduced was the new, and innovative "bing" which is just a search engine like google and yahoo...
Lets bring something new to the table M$.

[dkgshiz]

M$ slogan "Copy and Paste, then Rename"

[eagle21]

Desperation at it's finest. Sony ALWAYS wins. :)

[scott182]

Hey I downloaded the new home firmmware and now my system crashes when I try to get on home. Is this a known issue? I want to get on cause the new features sounded cool.

[matarchy]

Ever since i downloaded the last home update i can't even get on home it just freezes. And the 360 version just looks like an arcade you can play at with friends a little different then homo

[Darkseider]

IF MS comes out with a PS Homealike all I can say is EPIC FAIL for MS. I mean EPIC beyond EPIC proportions. FAIL to the nTH degree. Why? Quite simply Aaron Greenberg's comments about Home. Not that I have much respect at all for Microsoft but if they do this they will lose any and all credibility they have left with me.

[ndibu]

this was X360 centric news...but with the number of PS3 fanboys here, I suppose not. Honestly though, don't you people have an awesome console you should be playing right about now?

[mriono]

....

[foreverflame]

Well expect the superior version of home to arrive on the 360,While the ps3 are beat testing HOME for us.

[dkgshiz]

Now that you see this you seem to be getting a hard on over it.

[winlonghorn]

I have a feeling that Microsoft's version will at least be updated with things that the community wants. Sony takes forever to implement even one feature that is highly desired! Before you ask, no I am not a fanboy. I enjoy both systems a lot, but it baffles me how Sony can take so long to do something and Microsoft can pull it off far faster.

[chrisulloa]

Lol, you guys are so sensitive. You guys act like Sony never copied anyone. Wii-mote = PS3 Wand, Vibration in controllers came from Xbox 360, and you guys even tried to beat Halo with your own "original" fps.

[Tinted Eyes]

"Vibration in controllers came from Xbox 360"

Speechless, but hey, your an xbox fanboy, you are forgiven.

[dkgshiz]

You don't have a brain. Seriously, the 360 controller invented rumble? Rumble was on the PS1 you fuking idiot!

[chrisulloa]

They didn't originate from the 360 you PS3tards, Sony didn't have vibration support on their first PS3 controllers, but Xbox 360 did and they got flamed for not having vibration. But of course you guys wouldn't know that.

[insomnium]

It's hard being 14 yo.
So they brought it back because on the flaming huh? There there. I believe you.

[cheameup]

surely no PS3 owner would disagree home sucks . Theres nothing to do expect dance . It takes forever to load , everytime you go somewhere it has to load or download the section .Items are expensive .

I own a ps3 but come on HOME is CRAP

[PHIL1017]

m$ copying everything! ms is evil!

[Father Murder X]

Its not like home has been super successful or something. I am a Ps3 owner and Home really isn't that great. I mean it was hyped up like crazy.