Top Story: 'Unleash' your Xbox LIVE Avatar, News from GamePro

This morning's Top Story is Microsoft's launch of its"Unleash your Avatar"site, catering to narcissists everywhere.

Microsoft has launched a selection of new options for those Xbox LIVE players who like their Avatar a bit more than most. You can now order a custom Fathead wall graphic in one of ten poses, a FigurePrints 3D model or a custom-engraved Zune HD media player.

Self-professed"hardcore"gamers expressed a considerable amount of resistance towards the Avatars when they were introduced with the NXE in 2008. Many believed it was evidence that the Xbox experience was being dumbed down -- becoming more childish and Wii-like. But the very existence of these new services can be seen as a sign that the Avatars have gained mainstream acceptance -- or at least that there's enough call for them from among the more casual gamers. The continued success of the Avatar Items Marketplace would lend further credence to this theory.

You'd better really, really love your Avatar if you want to order one of these products, though, because they're not exactly cheap.Fathead wall printsstart from $79.99 for a 2x3 ft"medium"and go up to $149.99 for a 4x6.5 ft"jumbo."It's worth noting that certain Avatar items (seemingly mostly game unlocks) aren't licensed for print -- my Avatar's Blur T-shirt is replaced by a standard Xbox T-shirt, for example. Props don't show up, either.

TheFigurePrints3D models are the cheapest of the products at $60. Like the Fathead prints, certain Avatar items won't show up due to licensing restrictions and there's no sign of props again, but you can pose your avatar from a wide selection of choices.

Finally, a custom-engraved Zune featuring one of ten poses will set you back about $170 for the 16GB model, alongside a special offer saving you up to $70 and offering a free AC adapter.

Find out more about the"Unleashed"products at theofficial site.

STAT CHECK -- 7:30AM PST, Mar. 4, 2011

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