Microsoft is banking heavily on their "New Xbox Experience," and a major part of the new interface will be the avatars.  Once implemented, we'll start seeing the Mii-ish little fellows everywhere, from gamer profiles to XBLA titles to...actually, that's probably the only places you'll see them.  Still, the idea of free, customizable virtual representations of ourselves almost can't be seen as a bad thing.  I mean come on; they're free! 

And then this happens:

 VB: Will you have micro transactions with the avatars?

JS: That may be in the future. In the near term, we want to launch these with great customization and a great library of accessories this fall. I think there is a lot more we can do with them. You will see us continue to add experiences that make use of the avatar. Our goal is not to create a sterile environment where you move furniture around. It’s about how can we make our gaming experiences better.

Yeah, it seems that the avatars won't be free for long.  In a few months, if you want that fancy porkpie hat or that atrocious new pair of Crocs, you may well have to pay for them.  Honestly, this shouldn't come as a huge surprise, even though Nintendo's almost identical Mii system has been a huge success at a price point of $0.  This is M$ we're talking about, safter all.  

Okay, benefit of the doubt; he did say that microtransactions "MAY" be happening, not that they WILL be happening.  But you just know they're coming.  You just KNOW it.

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