Avatar awards, marketplace glimpsed in leaked screens?

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo last month, Microsoft revealed that Xbox 360 Avatars would soon be getting their very own marketplace in August. The marketplace will offer up a variety of items, including game-themed shirts for MSP80 ($1) and interactive props for MSP320 ($4). Halo 3, Fable...

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo last month, Microsoft revealed that Xbox 360 Avatars would soon be getting their very own marketplace in August. The marketplace will offer up a variety of items, including game-themed shirts for MSP80 ($1) and interactive props for MSP320 ($4). Halo 3, Fable II, Gears of War 2, and Splinter Cell Avatar add-ons are reportedly already planned.

At a bloggers lunch and later meetings, Xbox Live reps also confirmed that along with the Avatar Marketplace, "Avatar Awards" will be doled out alongside achievements for feats of in-game prowess. Whether achievements and awards would be tied together has not yet been confirmed.

However, if several screens leaked on (and since pulled from) GameCinemaHD are authentic, both the awards and marketplace will be front and center (literally) in the 360 Avatar submenu. The screens, which Microsoft had not authenticated as of press time, show both awards and marketplace tabs in the existing avatar menu. Another screen shows an empty avatar awards gallery with a simple placard saying "unlock avatar awards by playing games."

94 Comments

  • kazini

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 2:41 am GMT

    @ punkdsk8erdude, As far as scanning your clothing goes i think the ps3 is closer to this anyway, only because the playstation home avatars are ,ore lifelike than the 360 avatars and on a second note people are right you dont have to buy the items if you dont wanna spend your money that way

  • SR71halo

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 2:13 pm GMT

    It's not like you HAVE to buy them.

  • conroybrink

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:58 pm GMT

    Doesn't anyone else feel ripped of that on a system that we are already paying to play online with that we have to pay for something as stupid as dressing up your avatar,you can't even do anything with them.At least on ps3's home you have something to do with them so buying clothes at the mall in home makes sense..

  • Gnasher77

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 3:23 am GMT

    @monkey sandwich....i would definately start to use his company that gives free s**t away.lol.do you have his phone number?i have been looking for a free veyron but cant seem to find one??cant understand why!hehe

  • Gnasher77

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 3:19 am GMT

    are people really argueing about $1 items??jesus, buying the console and even the 12 month subscription must have had you going mental??if you dont like it GET A PS3!the grass ain't always greener!i have probably spent over $2000 on my xbox and will keep supporting the company that i enjoy using!MS!

  • yuhdednow

    Posted Aug 11, 2009 5:35 pm GMT

    Does anybody have any ideas on what you can unlock and how?

  • Zombrex

    Posted Aug 7, 2009 10:36 pm GMT

    I doubt it will be an award for Gears 2, more likely a marketplace item. But at the top of this page on the link below is an avatar wearing a gears suit. I know some people have been freaking out about it...

    http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/avatars/

  • biggy887766

    Posted Aug 7, 2009 12:03 am GMT

    avatar awards aka unlockable clothing and such will be available once the update is officially released, Halo ODST armor will be one of the first unlockable suits, what you have to do to get the suit is anyones guess but unlockable suits will definitely be part of the new update.

  • Zombrex

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 5:22 pm GMT

    It's good to finally see some comments supporting the new update. I too have the preview of it and I have to say, I'm impressed. I never thought watching Netflix in a part would be as cool as it is. And I'm officially an avatar clothes horse.

  • misterhola

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 8:28 am GMT

    Well I do have confirmation on both avatar awards and marketplace. However, I'm not sure if you can even use the props in XBL avatar compatible games. Although, having a preview of the update, I can tell you there is far more to it than that. Try Xbox 360 Games on Demand?

  • rub3n1014

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 4:31 pm GMT

    i got the new update today. its pretty cool.

  • Applepie7

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 10:56 am GMT

    I got the update and im planning to get the Halo RC Car

  • JoJoStarFire

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 9:46 pm GMT

    I just updated and it is awesome, my new marketplace

  • HollowDarkstar

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    Neat Idea In My Opinion. Free Would Be Nice, But No Money Means No More Items.

    :l

    Besides, If They Are A Little Costy, They Just Might Be Worth It.

    For Example:

    The COG Armor Would Be Great For Spending Points On. Unlike Some Of The Previewed Halo Clothing.

  • zacl

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 5:52 pm GMT

    Okay swamptick.... Microsoft cant afford to give me a free map pack once in a while? Or make them all free or discounted after they have been out for a year. They are still charging 800 points for 6 characters for marvel ultimate alliance, a game that came out 3 years ago! All I'm saying is that it is getting pretty bad and no one seems to mind. I still think the Achievements for MS points is an amazing idea. It will get more people playing more xbox 360 games. Guess what that makes Microsoft more money, which was your point right?

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:42 am GMT

    unlocking avatar awards in the form of costumes would be great, but i would only pay for clothes i could design myself.

  • DPhunkT

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 6:19 am GMT

    Hell will freeze over the day I pay for virtual clothing.
    I like the idea of using gamerscore for achievements, keep that.

  • wei_wu_wei

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:27 am GMT

    Pay for virtual clothing? Madness.
    Maybe the awards are avatar clothes tied into games, another acheivement system would be pretty pointless.

  • Spider-Jim

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 5:32 pm GMT

    I like playing games so that works out for me!

  • KA12NAG3

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 4:56 pm GMT

    I like the idea of avatar awards. And buying clothes might not be all that bad. I just hope that they keep making free clothes to go along with the clothes you have to pay for like they have been. Also, does anyone have any idea if achievements you have already unlocked (if they're tied to awards) will give you awards (even though they were unlocked before the Avatar Marketplace has come out), or will you just have to wait for future achievements that you unlock after the new Avatar Marketplace has come out? And I agree with Beastcake about the color palette idea.

  • Beastcake

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 3:20 pm GMT

    I really wish they would add a color palette to the avatar clothes. It would make it a lot more customizable. But this idea seems pretty neat, though they did say they were not going to give the avatars 'weapons', I'm looking forward to what they have in mind.

  • Aurey

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 12:41 pm GMT

    When Sony announced Home I thought it was a pointless feature, but as more companies try to do something similar I'm beginning to wonder if this kind of interfaces are really the next mandatory function for video game consoles... I don't like it by the way, the avatars are the worst NXE feature in my opinion, everything else is just great.

    But this is business. If the suits at MS think they can make money with it, they will try for sure. I mean, there's already some PC games that sell things like clothes and furniture and whatever to the players, right? Can't remember the name, though... Second life?

  • josiah4972

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:58 am GMT

    LOL, why would people pay money for virtual clothing?

  • xRownan

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:12 am GMT

    They can't make it free or else they would lose money and although we would like it to be free, we don't want to see Microsoft losing money and not being able to put out new ideas like this.

  • Menzuit

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 10:08 pm GMT

    Zacl: I must admit he has a small point, sometimes promoting FREE things is all apart of the marketing buisness as well. BUT you cant go to far cause you'll just go broke.

  • supersaiyanjayr

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 9:59 pm GMT

    Yeah I agree with Monkey Sandwich and SwampTick. The Idea is awesome, I change my Avatars cloths just about every week. You guys need to grow up, get a education, and get a real job, if you cant afford the little prices on Xbox Live. Its not our fault your so cheap and lazy. Better yet, just dont buy anything off xbox live. No matter how hard you cry its never gonna be free! So shut up!!

  • THESonicBrain

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 5:40 pm GMT

    For me make any diference, i'll not spend money with avatar , if i buy itens i buy to use in real life ! I do love to see Microsoft do somethinhg like PS3 Home , i try it cause i have both consoles and is prety fun !! check out ..... XBOX live have more potential if follow Sony home idea , before judge check out PS3 first , i do prefer XBOX live because are World wide conection , Sony PS3 is Local , here in Japan it is , and socks !!

  • Brain_Fillets

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 3:24 pm GMT

    @Hvac0120 - I didn't really think about there not being a use for this stuff. My friends that come to the house and play have probably seen my avatar more than the online community.

    I'm mostly just annoyed with all the kids on here complaining about it not being free. To all those kids....imagine working at a pizza place. You work all week, running your butt off and then at the end of the week, you don't get a paycheck because people think that pizza costs too much and they should get it for free because everyone needs to live to eat and it isn't fair they should have to pay to live. How fair is that? Exactly.

  • monkey_sandwich

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:37 pm GMT

    zacl, you are a complete and utter moron. seriously you should try starting a company it would be hilarious. everything that swamptick said is pretty much bang on so i wont repeat it.

    dont like it, DONT BUY IT. theyre not forcing you. i bet you pay over the top prices for designer clothes in real life though, dont you?? funny that....

  • swamptick

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:05 pm GMT

    Y'all do realize Microsoft is a company right? As a company, you do realize that they exist (as all companies do) to make money. You kids are acting as if making money is somehow wrong. If Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo do not make money, we do not have video games.

    It is time to grow up and stop complaining about the things that companies do in order to ensure you have video games to play.

  • swamptick

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:02 pm GMT

    Looks pretty cool to me.

  • pete_merlin

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 11:06 am GMT

    well people pay for themes and gamer pics so i guess they will pay for this too

  • zacl posted Jul 11, 2009 9:14 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    zacl

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 9:14 am GMT (hide)

    Wow, soon they will probably start charging money for watching trailers too. They are charging money for everything else. You know why? It's because people keep buying this garbage. 250 points for a theme? 150 points for picture packs? Come on microsoft, how about giving your customers some things for free once in a while? Or an even better idea... How about letting gamers exchange gamerscore for MS points? It is a win win situation! Gamers are happy because they feel like they are getting things for free. Plus more games are being played (sold) so people can get the achievements, increase their score and get MS points for free. More people will play multiplatform games on the 360 instead of the PS3, because they are getting rewards for playing on the 360! Instead they give us rewards for our lame Wii avatar rip offs! "Awesome guys I played 1000 rounds of Halo Reach and got a cool moustache for my avatar". Sounds pretty lame to me.

  • BiggEdd32 posted Jul 11, 2009 9:00 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BiggEdd32

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 9:00 am GMT (hide)

    I HATE 360 AVATARS!!!!!!!! I bought a new 360 and it didn't have the avatar update so it still had the old menu's and i was like man this is a million times better. i think more people should show they're displeasure with the avatars so Microsoft doesn't make it mandatory but just optional. the thought of buying something for my avatar that looks gay no matter what u do to it will never be considered as long as i live.

  • Phmall_Phill

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:10 am GMT

    xbox_psp: Too late dude.

  • dexter_safe

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 5:26 am GMT

    People will buy these things OFCOURSE

  • xbox_psp

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 5:19 am GMT

    No way in hell I'm buying pixels.

  • flint101_7

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 2:05 am GMT

    MS already has enough money of mine, i dont see the point in paying for them at least they should unlock the game props only if you have played that game

  • punkdsk8erdude

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:01 pm GMT

    idont see the point in paying for virtual clothes. however, the achievement/awards system would be a very cool idea. just a way for players to flaunt their stuff.
    However, i have a cool idea. In the Natal video they showed a video convo between 2 girls, one showing a virtual shirt, which natal scanned and then projected it onscreen onto the other girls body....people who saw the natal video from e3 know what im talking about.
    now, what if everyday when you start up your xbox, natal scans you and does the opposite of what it did in the trailer...converts a real image into a virtual one...so when you walk in front of natal it scans whatever you're wearing and puts it on your avatar. also, it could make avatars look a lot more like the person its supposed to represent. it could scan accessories, hair styles, facial features, etc.
    but...avatar should still be able to give you the freedom to scan yourself, then mess with yourself afterwards too if you want, the same you mess w. ur avatar now.
    idk...it could be cool.

  • alexkn64

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:56 pm GMT

    The Achievement Avatar Awards is a pretty cool idea. I have no problems with that. But whoever actually spends MONEY to buy a stupid little shirt or prop for your digital avatar deserves a swift kick in the pants. That's just as retarded as someone buying stuff to put in their room on Playstation HOME.

  • JAIBOT

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:00 pm GMT

    Look like ill be giving more cash to Microsoft now. AWW WELL
    I just been put onto Ubuntu, so i wont be giving ANY money to Microsoft there. Thanks god

  • larellano214

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 6:46 pm GMT

    yeah..... more money milking from Micro$oft.... I'm getting sick of it



    isnt that the point? make money? what do u expect???? free everything????????????? LMAO!!!

  • d-high29

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 5:38 pm GMT

    that sounds cool if they tie acheivements and avatar awards together

  • Markie75

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 3:36 pm GMT

    GADEOS-
    You do have a choice on what you buy .............

  • Gadeos posted Jul 10, 2009 2:50 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Gadeos

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 2:50 pm GMT (hide)

    yeah..... more money milking from Micro$oft.... I'm getting sick of it

  • InfectX

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    if the awards are free and only for those who get the achievements (ie - you can't buy them if you don't get the achievements), then that's cool.

  • darknferno12

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 2:26 pm GMT

    Achievements Avatar Awards is a good idea because thats the only way my Avatar is getting new stuff as for paying for virtual shirts, props just like (I said for) HOME no thanks

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:59 pm GMT

    My intial reaction is that buying cloths and gear for your avatar seems a bit frivilous and a bit lame. But now that I am thinking of the possiblities, there could be some cool stuff (I like Cowmaster2k3's idea of Fallout 3 power armor!). And its not like they are gonna force you to buy stuff. I like the idea of winning gear through achievements though... I could see myself using an item that annouced the fact that I got 100,000 kills in GOW2 (I havnt btw, but I would use the item if I did, ya know). My avatar would rock the "Mile High Club" tee shirt for sure!!

  • ISuPrEmAcY32I

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:57 pm GMT

    Ya know, I'm not going to be spending money on clothes and such. But I don't think it's a bad idea. There's already a few avatar games out (kingdom for keflings is a fun arcade one, or worms 2 you see your avatar between every turn) and i know microsoft is planning on integrating it even more. It would be cool to have a decked out avatar in those games. I personally wont' spend the money, but I can't knock the idea.

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