It's the start of E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and already things have kicked off with Microsoft making big announcements with their upcoming blockbuster games, but perhaps the biggest thing coming out will be their big plans for Xbox Live.

Xbox Live set the bar for online gaming when the 360 first became available with over 6 million registered users, now over two years later that number has doubled to over 12 million registered users. Now Microsoft plans to set the bar even higher by taking the online gaming experience and turning it into something even more.

First on the list was the introduction of the avatar system, with a likeness to the Mii's from the Nintendo Wii. However the avatars can do more than just play games with each other, with the avatar system comes a new form of online community where now up to 8 players will be able to chat simultaneously and can join parties for various things from playing mini-games, to streaming photos and watching movies and television shows. Along with that, players will be able to take their avatars into the Live community and play TV show style games such as the announced 1 Vs. 100 for real prizes.

To make the movie and television experience grander, Microsoft has joined up in a partner ship with Universal Entertainment, MGM studios and NBC television so fans of shows like Heroes, The Office, Monk, etc will be able to enjoy them along with their favorite movies with their online friends. Furthermore Microsoft announced a joint partnership with Netflix, the online DVD rental service that has dominated the market so that players who have a subscription to either Xbox Live or Netflix will be able to download and watch movies on their systems.

With big announcements along with new blockbuster game releases on just the first day of E3, consider my jaw dropped and am eagerly awaiting for more of E3 and what Microsoft has in store.

Tags : Avatars : e3 : E3 2008 : Electronic Entertainment Expo : Los Angelus : microsoft : Overhaul : Xbox 360 : xbox live

Comments

By: boa On: 12:47 Jul 14th, 2008 Offline	I came in half way through this announcment, it looks pretty cool. Not that they needed it though, PSN SUCKS.

By: Wilhelm On: 12:59 Jul 14th, 2008 Offline	Looks like the avatar rumor was true after all. ;)

By: Dragonfly On: 03:44 Jul 14th, 2008 Offline	I knew they had some plans, but I was never expecting something of this large a scale. It'll definately be interesting to see how this pans out...