Avatar (Xbox Live)

Avatar (Xbox Live)

Xbox 360 Avatars are avatars that represent users of Xbox Live service on Xbox 360 video game console. Avatars debuted on the Xbox 360 as part of the "New Xbox Experience" system update released on November 19, 2008.

Users are able to customize body shape, gender, facial features, hair style, and clothing. They can then display a 2D head shot of their avatar on their Gamercard (although they are still free to use their previous picture should they so choose).

Microsoft has indicated that earning Achievements in future Xbox 360 games can reward players with new clothing for their Avatar. An example of which is Left 4 Dead 2, allowing people to earn T-shirts and a First Aid Kit trophy that is held by Avatar.

Xbox Live GM Ben Kilgore stated in 2008 that the avatars will only be available for games that have an E10+ rating or lower only (featuring content that is considered suitable for children under 10 years of age). This may change sometime in the future, though presumably in Microsoft's own games if it ever happens, to monitor their usage in mature games. It was announced at Game Developers Conference on March 24, 2009 that the XNA framework 3.1 would have API to support Avatars in Indie Games.

Users can edit their avatar online on Xbox.com with full control of the avatar. This allows Live users without access to the physical Xbox 360 console (i.e. Games for Windows – Live or Windows Phone 7 users) to edit their avatar. Users can edit every feature that they can from a real Xbox 360, and even equip awards that they have earned. The editor is Microsoft Silverlight based.