Xbox 360 New Interface Design

So apparently the Xbox 360 user interface is getting a total overhaul.  I’m impressed at how aggressive they are about innovating the product experience with this move.  It’s very daring, and certainly a first among game consoles, to completely change the UI from what people have become familiar with over the past years.  

We’ve entered a new era of in-life OS upgrades for online consumer products (thinking of the major game consoles, Tivo, the iPhone and iPods).    Although the benefits are evident with each valuable feature added, I’m perturbed by the overall experience:

• The products are a work in progress – I’m not entirely OK with buying at full price an unfinished product
• Updates are not always for the better – for example, the Tivo interface has been on a downward slide with each new addition 
• The upgrade processes are mostly laborious and time-consuming – can’t they update themselves without any work on my part?

Back to the Xbox’s new interface.  Although I’m pleased to see that they’re giving it a clean-up, I’m somewhat underwhelmed on first impression:

• Looks a lot like coverflow - positive points for looking good but negative points for being derivative
• Bright white and new avatars – seem inappropriate for the established gaming user base and reminiscent of the Wii
• Fit for purpose – coverflow seems overly simplistic given the inherent tasks of managing messages, game lists, etc.

We may be seeing phase 2 of the Master Plan here – Xbox was originally developed as a trojan horse for Microsoft to get into the living room. With this UI change and the growing video rental capabilities of the console it appears they are finally making good on that strategy.  However I am skeptical that this device, which has established itself as the choice of the hardcore gamer, and which sits firmly in the ‘Games’ aisle of major stores, will transition to a general entertainment device. If they pull that off it will be a stroke of genius.

Filed under: 3D, folly, presentation, revolutions, style, user interface, user-centred , announcement, engadget, in-life, strategy, trojan horse, user interface, xbox 360