Due for release before Christmas, the new Xbox 360 dashboard will feature a brand new, easy to navigate menu set-up featuring Twist Control.
During a demonstration at Gamescom this week, Robin Burrowes, Xbox Live product marketing manager for EMEA [Europe, Middle East and Africa], outlined Microsoft's vision for bringing together voice control and content in the upcoming refresh.
You can use the Xbox 360 controller to flick between channels that display at the top of the screen. The names of these channels are yet to be finalised, but you can check a few of them out in the video below.
You can also use your voice and hands to navigate and search, through motion-sensing add-on Kinect.
The new dash launches alongside other new features prompted by core user feedback. Under the Social channel you'll find Beacons, which allow gamers to signpost what they're doing across XBL and Facebook.
"That's been a little bit of a barrier," Burrowes explained. "The core community have been saying to us, 'I'm doing this one activity but I really want to play Call of Duty with my mates when I've got four or five of them online at the same time.' People are still text messaging each other and sending messages on other platforms. This is an easier way to do it."
Facebook posting is also added, which means you'll be able to "like" a game, sending Achievements to the social network. And then there's cloud storage, announced at E3 in June.
Twist Control and its additional features form part of a strategy Microsoft calls internally "games plus more than games". Burrowes said the "sweet spots" were music, movies and live TV.
"Twist Control" is a generic name for the panel-scrolling UI elements which appear in various Microsoft products.
Rock of Ages, the newest title from Atlus Software, will become available first on Xbox LIVE Arcade August 31, with PC and PlayStation 3 releases to follow.
"Rock of Ages" will offer different terrains and challenges your boulder to crash through different periods of classical art, while also introducing the player to a variety of authentic art styles and music from throughout much of human history.
Signal Studios' Toy Soldiers: Cold War is now available for 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE. The digital download weighs in at 945.15 MB, and a FREE playable demo is also available.
Content:Toy Soldiers: Cold War Price: 1200 Microsoft Points Availability: Check availability in your Xbox LIVE region Dash Text: The Cold War is decided when ‘80s era action toys come alive and wage war! Toy Soldiers: Cold War blends intense first person combat with addictive action strategy, whether you’re scrapping solo or jumping into the fray with friends. Battle in campaign, competitive, co-op modes or fight for the highest score in mini-games!
Earlier today at the Gamescom 2011 event in Cologne Germany, Microsoft busted out a whole bunch of gaming news.
Announcements include details for Xbox LIVE Arcade Games, Xbox LIVE Games on Windows Phone, Forza MotoSport 4, Gears of War 3, Kinect Star Wars and much more.
Developer: Turn 10 | Publisher: Microsoft Games Studios
The biggest racing game of the year launches in North America on Oct. 11, Europe Oct. 14, and globally Oct. 20. Turn 10 Studios revealed the legendary Hockenheim Ring as one of the new tracks featured in “Forza Motorsport 4.” A revealing behind-the-scenes video is available detailing the lengths Turn 10 Studios took in bringing the track to life in the game – mapping every turn, capturing every detail, and replicating how the track drives for the most realistic experience ever in “Forza Motorsport 4.”
In celebration of its partnership with Turn 10 Studios and “Forza Motorsport 4,” BMW unveiled the 2012 BMW M5 for the first time at the Xbox booth. Fans will be able to virtually explore, race, and tune the 2012 BMW M5 in “Forza Motorsport 4” before it’s available anywhere else, whether it’s in game or on the road
Launching in Germany for the first time in the franchise’s history, “Gears of War 3” is the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in video games.
Gamescom attendees will have a chance to experience the genre-defining Horde 2.0 mode at the Xbox booth and get an early taste of this year’s most highly anticipated blockbuster.
“Gears of War 3” begins hitting store shelves on Sept. 20.
For the first time in Star Wars history, players can become a Rancor, the monster Luke Skywalker battles beneath Jabba the Hutt’s throne room in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Through the power of Kinect for Xbox 360, players will control the Rancor with intuitive body movements like stomping, charging, roaring, and jumping. As the Rancor, players can grab, toss, and eat Jawas, stormtroopers, droids and other enemies, plus pull TIE fighters out of the sky, fight AT-STs, and destroy everything in sight.
Previously shown content for Kinect Star Wars included the Jedi and Podracing modes. First revealed at Comic-Con 2011, the Podracing game mode challenges players to race alongside the surviving participants of the Boonta Eve Classic in memorable Pods and other unlockable vehicles from the Star Wars universe.
Developer: Big Park | Publisher: Microsoft Games Studios
Launching in North America on Oct. 25, in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand on Oct. 27, and in Europe on Oct. 28, “Kinect Sports: Season Two” lets YOU be the champion with six of the world’s most popular sports, taking the most popular Kinect franchise to the next level with new in-game voice commands, enhanced full-body gameplay, and the ability to compete with friends and family any time through the new Challenge Play mode.
The roster of action-packed experiences in “Season Two” expands with two new sports from the line-up debuting at gamescom for the first time: Darts and Tennis!
BONUS OFFER: Pre-order your copy today and receive exclusive unlockable avatar gear for a limited time only! – details at www.xbox.com/kinectsportsseasontwo.
A demo for Codemasters' first-person shooter Bodycount is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo weighs in at 1.45 GB and should be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.
Content:Bodycount Price: Free Availability: Check availability in your Xbox LIVE region Dash Text: Fall in love with firepower as Bodycount blasts intense arcade firefights from both barrels, in a full mission from the single player campaign. Shred enemies and cover, perform skill kills and chain combos as you hunt the mysterious ‘Target’ who operate under the cover of civil warzones. With co-op modes and competitive online modes available in the full game, carve your own wave of destruction through open-ended levels.
The developers at Treyarch give us a behind-the-scenes look at Rezurrection, the fourth downloadable content pack for Call of Duty Black Ops. Get five all new maps first on Xbox LIVE August 23rd!
Lift off into the latest Zombies epic with "Rezurrection," the new downloadable content pack for "Call of Duty: Black Ops," and the first to launch players into space for a new dimension of undead action!
Rezurrection features:
The all new Moon level
Four re-mastered levels of Zombie lore: Nacht der Untoten, Verruckt, Shi No Numa and Der Riese, the Zombie factory that started it all
An enhanced Zombies Soundtrack including three tracks never before available for purchase
A new Zombies Moon theme
For those of you who purchased the Black Ops Hardened or Prestige Editions and already own the four re-mastered maps, the other contents in the Rezurrection pack will be included at no cost, including Moon, the soundtrack and the theme.
If you did not purchase Black Ops Hardened or Prestige Editions, Rezurrection will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points.
"Rezurrection" will be available first on Xbox 360 August 23rd.
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