Microsoft: 'Miis didn't influence Avatars. Honest. No, really.'

by Chris Greenhough { Jul 31st 2008 at 8:08PM }

What's that you say? Microsoft's new Avatars system for the Xbox 360 is just a rip-off of Nintendo's Miis? Poppycock and slander! Microsoft man John Schappert has explained to MCV that Avatars are merely a natural development of Microsoft's online strategy. Like, obviously.

"It'd be remiss to say that we don't enjoy playing on the other systems and we have a lot of respect for the work that Miyamoto-san and Nintendo do," remarked Schappert, warming up for a "but," "but I think it's a logical extension of our Gamercard, Gamertag and Achievements." Commence reverse peristalsis!

Schappert's denial is kind of predictable, as nobody will ever be able to absolutely prove just how much Miis influenced Avatars. With Schappert's beloved Miyamoto admitting to being "quite flattered" by Avatars, we have a hunch about what Nintendo might think.

Tags: avatars, john-schappert, microsoft, mii, miyamoto, rip-off, ripoff

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tann @ Jul 31st 2008 8:22PM

well tbh with you ms seems to be doing way more with them.

so they like, take the idea, and expand upon it.

SoshiKitai @ Jul 31st 2008 9:35PM

Bazing.

Score one for Microsoft.

chalito @ Jul 31st 2008 10:33PM

Ever heard of Embrace, Extend, Extinguish?

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:47AM

On PCs, in forums, such things existed for quite some time.

Actually, "avatar" name point in direction of Yahoo! Avatars service (which predates Miis by several years). And Yahoo! Avatars was a response to... can't recalls. (*)

But idea isn't new. And as Wii goes, Miis are very limited - to Wii and to few N games which utilize them.

Xbox Live can really put something like that into good use.

(*) Skype also has thing called Klonies for some time.

Monodi @ Jul 31st 2008 8:28PM

Not to be very one-eyed but that sounds very politic to deny it.

MyAnonBox @ Jul 31st 2008 8:32PM

It's not like Mii's were invented by Ninty in a vacuum - Yahoo has had a version of them for years and so have a lot of other chat programs. I think it's a stretch to say that MS didn't get a *bit* of inspiration from Nintendo - but Nintendo shouldn't be patting themselves on the back too much here.

zchry @ Aug 1st 2008 12:36AM

Don't forget "Meez," whose names are almost the exact same. I read about them once.

igorponweed @ Jul 31st 2008 8:54PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXPCqPOe-bw Hee hee!

Michael @ Jul 31st 2008 9:21PM

"Reverse peristalsis"! You kill me!

At any rate, Nintendo doesn't have a patent on this idea, and it seems to work for a great number of people (who love it), so why wouldn't the competition try to copy it?

Michael
michaelandchrissy.com

puhssy liquors @ Jul 31st 2008 9:24PM

Trust me guys, I don't know ANY Xbox 360 owner who actually LIKES these Avatars. I hate them.

Microsoft needs to realize copying Nintendo with everything doesn't mean big bucks, it's pleasing the Xbox users.

1. Xbox Originals - They brag about it being "unmodified game code" because Nintendo did the exact same thing first. What we want: Achievements, updated graphics, etc.

2. Avatars - They could be useful for the things like 1 vs 100 and other things, but if you're like me and don't have any friends, and hate the general population (assholes) of Xbox Live , then it's pointless.

3. Motion Control - I heard they put it in the Lips thing, but I'm not sure. As far as I know though, they aren't copying Nintendo's motion sensing for use for video games, which is one time where copying Nintendo exactly WOULD work.

I have a Wii and an Xbox 360, and love them both. I'm just speaking for the Xbox users, not all of us like the avatars. So don't flame us -_-

the pl4gue @ Jul 31st 2008 9:26PM

Mattchewie @ Jul 31st 2008 10:01PM

Sure it isn't (rolls eyes). Granted its not like the N invented avatars but you can as hell say they copied it in application and in use (tba).

Once can look at it like PSN Trophy system. Achivments have been around for a while, just named differently throughout games, however MS is the ones that push practicality behind it and made it defacto. Therefore people "expect it".

So you have the N's Mii's, PS with their home avatars (when ever that is released)....so MS had to counter.....

Sonic_13 @ Jul 31st 2008 10:25PM

No, of course Nintendo didn't invent avatars in video games but they were the first to heavily use them in video games.

While they are probably a natural evolution of video games, I don't feel that Microsoft would have created the avatars now if it wasn't for the massive success of Mii's.

zchry @ Aug 1st 2008 12:33AM

So, since I don't check any Xbox websites or anything (as I don't have one), is there anyone that likes these things?

I mean, Miis were cool for the novelty. Seeing myself in a game was really cool. Then I realized that they looked nothing like me, actually, and the novelty wore off.

I think these Avatars would be cooler if Miis weren't around first. I'm not saying they're a total ripoff--I'm trying to keep an open mind--and they certainly have more options/better graphics, but I don't think I would like them at all, especially if I'd already made myself a Mii.