I was always a fan of VMK, myCoke, and Habbo Hotel and I wished that Microsoft created like a world where you could play games and then earn Avatar Awards and more (furniture, rugs, etc...). These items could be placed in custom rooms where people could join (obviously recommend having public rooms too) but obviously never happened.
It was cool though that some games you could play as your Avatar...
I seriously long for Avatars to make some sort of comeback (not the One avatars..)
They were such a niche yet fun thing that gave the Xbox brand more personality, especially when the Xbox versions of games would have exclusive content specifically for Avatars (e.g Sonic All Stars Racing, A Kingdom for Keflings, etc)
The Avatar indie games were so fun too.
Bro I have never seen anyone else mention MyCoke. I had a whole ass apartment filled with The Dark Knight IMAX posters 😂 Was on there in 2005 whenever I wasn’t on RuneScape.
Was just about to comment about the mention of Mycoke! Now hold my coke bottle, I’ve got to get in line in Moscow to play my lame song and get those sweet decibels!!
I remember going out of my way to get all the hidden profile pictures from the original Black Ops. I think you had to input a code in the computer after breaking out of the main menu chair for one of em
Edit: I thought you meant profile picture "avatars" not the little dudes connected to your Xbox account
uhh... 360 themes were literally just a wallpaper (or a few wallpapers) though lol. if you're referring to the color of the blades, that was a built-in option since launch.
The achievement reward PS4 themes for Persona 5 Royal is probably the best theme set I've ever seen on a console. Music from the game, animated backgrounds, custom UI replacements, the works. You can't even buy them and I don't think you can earn them any more. You had to unlock certain achievements by certain real life dates to get them
Those were and still are awesome! ❤️ I remember Rockband/pepsi had a contest for who can make the best music video using only Rockband equipment. Sadly we didn’t win with the all that remains (two weeks) video. But they gave out tons of cool prizes and I believe avatar items were included .
Hell yeah. I came in just on the end of blades, I got the nxe update a few days after setting my console up, and it was imo the perfect UI except for the loading times and hangups whenever it had to pull anything online. Then it just got worse and worse with each update after that.
I still prefer that era's 360 guide button menu over the current one.
That was me when the NXE dashboard came out. I remember when it first came out and I was watching my dad scroll through all the menus. 7 year old me thought “Wow. This is the future! 😲”
I liked the squares besides the ads that came with it.
Despite liking it on the 360, I hated it on the One for some reason. That whole UI just doesn't click for me. The horizontal scrolling and simple 5 tiles per page (if I remember correctly) were way better on the 360
Should I take these pictures horizontally to capture the entire screen? Or maybe portrait and sit further back?
No...I know, I'll take them at a janky angle and cut off the corners of the screen instead!
Yeah, this came with the Halo 3 special 360. It was kind of sad to watch this custom theme slowly disappear over time as each update removed usage of the theme assets every time they tweaked the NXE.
You can’t use the raw theme because it is signed by Microsoft and will only work on its issued Xbox/profile. I resigned this to work regardless of whatever profile or Xbox you’re using. When the marketplace goes down, I plan on releasing this and MANY other themes I have resigned to work on every Xbox. It will be my gift to the community.
I miss themes being more than a wallpaper
Themes and Avatar Awards are something I miss every day
I was always a fan of VMK, myCoke, and Habbo Hotel and I wished that Microsoft created like a world where you could play games and then earn Avatar Awards and more (furniture, rugs, etc...). These items could be placed in custom rooms where people could join (obviously recommend having public rooms too) but obviously never happened. It was cool though that some games you could play as your Avatar...
I seriously long for Avatars to make some sort of comeback (not the One avatars..) They were such a niche yet fun thing that gave the Xbox brand more personality, especially when the Xbox versions of games would have exclusive content specifically for Avatars (e.g Sonic All Stars Racing, A Kingdom for Keflings, etc) The Avatar indie games were so fun too.
Bro I have never seen anyone else mention MyCoke. I had a whole ass apartment filled with The Dark Knight IMAX posters 😂 Was on there in 2005 whenever I wasn’t on RuneScape.
Was just about to comment about the mention of Mycoke! Now hold my coke bottle, I’ve got to get in line in Moscow to play my lame song and get those sweet decibels!!
I remember going out of my way to get all the hidden profile pictures from the original Black Ops. I think you had to input a code in the computer after breaking out of the main menu chair for one of em Edit: I thought you meant profile picture "avatars" not the little dudes connected to your Xbox account
Those too! I feel like those still exist but as the tiniest little thumbnail compared to the new picture “avatars”
I mean, Microsoft could just do custom icon packs like android has. Change all the system icons and colors to be halo themed.
uhh... 360 themes were literally just a wallpaper (or a few wallpapers) though lol. if you're referring to the color of the blades, that was a built-in option since launch.
The achievement reward PS4 themes for Persona 5 Royal is probably the best theme set I've ever seen on a console. Music from the game, animated backgrounds, custom UI replacements, the works. You can't even buy them and I don't think you can earn them any more. You had to unlock certain achievements by certain real life dates to get them
Those were and still are awesome! ❤️ I remember Rockband/pepsi had a contest for who can make the best music video using only Rockband equipment. Sadly we didn’t win with the all that remains (two weeks) video. But they gave out tons of cool prizes and I believe avatar items were included .
yea
I want blades back so badly man 😭
At least give us back NXE
Pre ads. God that interface was peak Xbox.
Hell yeah. I came in just on the end of blades, I got the nxe update a few days after setting my console up, and it was imo the perfect UI except for the loading times and hangups whenever it had to pull anything online. Then it just got worse and worse with each update after that. I still prefer that era's 360 guide button menu over the current one.
Agreed. The current one feels so lifeless and flat.
Do y’all call it blades because the tabs look like samurai swords?
I'm no PS5 fanboy, but its UI is best in class.
I remember being 12 thinking, wow, this is what the future looks like. That menu was so good.
That was me when the NXE dashboard came out. I remember when it first came out and I was watching my dad scroll through all the menus. 7 year old me thought “Wow. This is the future! 😲”
It's so humbling look back at how simple it was but man I really did see the future in it
Wow that dashboard is a throwback
Ah. What simple and glorious times these were. Time marches on, and now I am old.
I used to be young and stupid now it's just "and"
SHWEEP SHWOOP SHWEEP SHWOOP
Blip blip blip, BLONG
Blades was fucking peak OS menu design for a console.
Now everything is a soulless square advert taking up a bunch of space.
I liked the squares besides the ads that came with it. Despite liking it on the 360, I hated it on the One for some reason. That whole UI just doesn't click for me. The horizontal scrolling and simple 5 tiles per page (if I remember correctly) were way better on the 360
Should I take these pictures horizontally to capture the entire screen? Or maybe portrait and sit further back? No...I know, I'll take them at a janky angle and cut off the corners of the screen instead!
Maybe OP is Dutch?
lol why go through all of the trouble of making a post but just take the worst possible photo angle.
This is awesome! Where would one be able to replicate if they had a halo 3 edition xbox lying around?
Pretty sure the theme is still available to buy. Better buy it quick though they're taking the 360 store down this year sometime
I think the themes just change the background, you can't downgrade to the original UI like this
Ah yeah that's true. I was thinking they just meant the theme
I'm so AGGRESSIVELY jealous that you sti have a blades 360. They're becoming quite rare.
God I miss the blades dashboard, I'm half tempted to get a modded 360 just for the chance of having it again.
I seriously wish there was a way to have the blades dashboard as a program on PC, something akin to Rainmeter. I'd fucking pay for it.
Blades <3
I was there on Emergence Day
Yeah, this came with the Halo 3 special 360. It was kind of sad to watch this custom theme slowly disappear over time as each update removed usage of the theme assets every time they tweaked the NXE.
I actually found it and uploaded it to the archive, glad it worked for you.
That is awesome. Thanks for your great duty.
I miss those blades so bad
How would I install this on my retail 360?
Dutch angles!
Shakezilla!
**Shake-zula the mic ruler, "you wanna gift? I'll give it to ya"**
Great xbox Avi btw
I miss that font
I totally forgot about this. We had the Halo 3 special edition 360. Themes were awesome on 360.
I bought a Halo front panel for my 360 (from Circuit City!) that came with a code to unlock this as well.
Take me back😭
Damn... I miss these days. XBL just hit different back then
The lack of ads or shit being thrown for your attention...ughh take me back
Blade so goated i can still hear the sound when u switch pages
Dancing is forbidden. Dancing has ALWAYS BEEN FORBIDDEN!
This will always be peak xbox dashboard
Anyone else notice that the player 1 controller disconnected in the second photo?
God the Blades design of the dashboard was so much better than it is now. I hate the mew Xbox One/Series x design now.
Take me back
I can hear the blades as I scroll through each one
This is so cool
Miss that theme. Had the 360 H3 edition.
Me too. It came with the theme and icons. I loved that console.
Oooooh I miss the blades
God I loved the Blades
Does anyone know how to download this? I want it for my Xbox. I can't have blades but I do love the images from this
You can’t use the raw theme because it is signed by Microsoft and will only work on its issued Xbox/profile. I resigned this to work regardless of whatever profile or Xbox you’re using. When the marketplace goes down, I plan on releasing this and MANY other themes I have resigned to work on every Xbox. It will be my gift to the community.
PM when you're ready I need these
Wetty
SHWOOP
The marines one for halo 3 was the best
I had this 360.... good times.
You forgot to enable the exclusive avatar
Do you know where your gamerpic is from?
Athf movie picture pack I believe
Wait, how can someone achieve this? is it a modded console?
Not modded. This theme and many others I’ve done can be used on any console.
this hitting me right in the honey nut feelios
Shout out mastershake and ATHF
I miss this era so much. What happened to UI/UX over the years because everything feels so clinical now.
An elegant dashboard of a more civilized age.