Indiana Jones returns on PS3, 360 (Release date: TBD)

Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 title written under the direction of George Lucas and collaborating with Industrial Light & Magic.

LucasArts has announced that Indiana Jones 2007 will head its E3 line-up this year. The name is provisional at this stage, but it will launch on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and features an original story written under the direction of George Lucas. The game is also a technological collaboration with Industrial Light & Magic, which is based under the same roof as LucasArts.
The new adventure will feature locations from around the globe, and Indy will be able to use his fists, whip, and revolver against enemies. Other new technology to be included in the game includes NaturalMotion, which LucasArts promises will deliver lifelike action and awareness to every character, in real time. Indy will stumble, then attempt to maintain his balance, brace himself for falls, then get back up and reach for nearby ledges when falling.
Pixelux Entertainment's Digital Molecular Matter has also been employed, which is a technical way of saying that walls will crumble, glass will shatter, and organic plant life will sway in the game. LucasArts promises that the power of these two consoles has been utilized to offer open-ended and completely destructible environments.
Indiana Jones 2007 will also feature vehicle-based sections that will be remeniscent of those from the film, such as the mine-cart scene in The Temple of Doom, and the free-for-all aboard the tank in The Last Crusade. The game promises a longtime rival, old friends, and trusted allies, although no specifics have been announced yet.

Article courtesy gamespot.com

Nascar 2008: Chase for the Cup Screenshots

Take the wheel and drive your way to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship in the most realistic NASCAR racing game yet. As the new rookie driver on the circuit, develop your racing skills to gain licenses and contracts from hungry owners and unlock legendary top performing cars from NASCAR's biggest stars. Gain new experiences during every race then modify your car's handling with over 40 tuning options to truly master every track. Share your setups with NASCAR's gaming community, then challenge the field in live races with up to 16 players online. Experience tomorrow's racing today in Nascar 2008: Chase for the Cup.

Article/photo courtesy planetxbox360.com

In remembrance....

Memorial Day 2007

Xbox 360 game add-ons charge ahead

"Gears of War has sold more than 3.7 million copies worldwide since its November release. The price of add-on maps for the game caused some controvery."

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — New charges for online extras are sharply raising the price serious video gamers pay for Xbox 360 games, a profitable move by Microsoft, but one that could alienate some fans. With more than 6 million users, Microsoft's Xbox Live online network has become the key feature distinguishing the Xbox 360 from rival Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. More than 3 million Xbox Live subscribers pay a $50 annual fee that allows them to play games online against one another. About 3 million more use the service without an annual subscription, taking the total to more than half Xbox users. Through Xbox Live, players can buy maps for fighting terrains and other add-ons that are indispensable to serious gamers, usually at a cost of $10 each. Such add-ons used to be free most of the time and the additions can raise a game's cost to $80 or even $100 over its lifespan. "The (downloadable maps) are very profitable for us," said Tony Key, vice president of marketing for UbiSoft Entertainment SA, whose Tom Clancy-themed shooters such as Rainbow Six and GRAW 2 are among the most popular games on Xbox Live.

Article/photo courtesy usatoday.com

For complete article, click HERE

Need for Speed 11 Teaser Trailer in High Definition

The next Need for Speed is coming and we have the first teaser trailer of the game. Simply known as NFS XI, the next installment in the series will be unveiled to the world on May 31, 2007.

Click here to view the trailer

Article/photo courtesy teamxbox.com

Splinter Cell Conviction: The Rules are Changing

Sam Fisher emerges from the shadows for a new style of game.

Sam Fisher can no longer rely on his trusted bag of tools and iconic goggles. He's gone beyond being a double agent. Now he's a fully fledged fugitive without the intel of 3rd Echelon or the support of his friends. Those custom gadgets can't be found at your local hardware store. This time around, Fisher is going to need more than just a dark corner to survive. It's a whole new game and we'll be taking an in-depth look at five ways it has changed over the next few days. If you thought you knew what Splinter Cell was, get ready to see how UbiSoft is changing all of the rules.In time for the holiday season this year, the Splinter Cell franchise is going to receive its fifth installment on Xbox 360 and PC. To say that things are going to be different this time around for Sam Fisher is the understatement of the year. Conviction is taking the idea that the Splinter Cell franchise is just a series of stealth games and tossing it right out of the window. The gameplay mechanic of hiding in the shadows while patiently waiting for the perfect moment to get the drop on a terrorist has been scrapped in favor of a more active style of play. The famous night vision goggles and gadget bag are gone. Fisher's immediate surroundings will become his inventory. Sam Fisher is the new Jason Bourne, constantly hunted and forced to improvise around every corner.

For rest of article, click HERE

Article/photo courtesy xbox360.ign.com

The next FPS on your list; Call of Juarez, coming June 5

Call of Juarez is a First Person Shooter for PC, inspired from the greatest movies of the Western genre. It is the first 'serious' and the most realistic adaptation of the genre. Developed by Techland Studio, the game draws on the major themes of the American Wild West through confrontation between the two principal emblematic characters.While the game focuses on a high level of realism with its incredible graphics, environments and overall look, the gameplay has not been neglected, and players will enjoy a great gaming experience with duels and shoot-outs, wild horseback antics and a great Western atmosphere.
The original scenario is loosely based on a number of Western movie hits from the seventies and eighties. Players will choose to play as either one of two different characters: Billy, a young fugitive accused of murder, or the merciless vigilante hunting him down, the Reverend Ray, an ex-outlaw who turned to religion, believing that God Himself has chosen Ray to be the instrument of His wrath.Call of Juarez offers a wide variety of gameplay and features many exciting and innovative uses of objects and decor as well as liquids, gas, fire and smoke. Players will also appreciate the radically different ways the gameplay differs for both the main protagonists.Call of Juarez is particularly fine-tuned and its non-stop action and originality make it a unique gaming experience which is sure to thrill both Western and FPS fans!

Halo 3 release date made public

Connect360 shares H.264, iTunes podcasts on Xbox 360

Nullriver Software has released Connect360 v3.0, an update to its communication software that enables Mac users to share media with their Microsoft Xbox 360 video game consoles. A free update for registered users, Connect360 v3.0 costs $20 to register.
Connect360 enables you to play back music and view digital photos on your Xbox 360. It will automatically index your iTunes and iPhoto libraries and share them on the Xbox 360; you then use the Xbox 360 Dashboard to browse and play your Mac-based media.
The update, which is dependent on a new Spring ‘07 Dashboard update from Microsoft for the Xbox 360 itself, enables you to stream H.264 and MPEG-4 video from the Mac to the Xbox 360. It also lets you share iTunes podcasts. A Universal binary, Connect360 works with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later.

Article courtesy macworld.com

The Darkness

On the eve of his 21st birthday, fearless mafia hitman Jackie Estacado is suddenly possessed by the terrifying and spectacular powers of The Darkness. Though his supernatural entity lets him wreak terrible havoc on his enemies, the Darkness also has a strong will of its own and now Jackie must learn how to control it. Gameplay features include a seamless and unique blend of modern crime drama and supernatural horror with both first and third person non-linear progression, ad well as highly destructible environments that enable players to stalk the gritty New York slums, harbors, subway tunnels and rooftops, then defeat the terrifying creatures of The Otherworld-a parallel reality where the Darkness dwells.

* Video sneak preview to the right

Microsoft lifts shroud off Halo 3

Gamers invited to preview give mixed reviews of popular title

NEW YORK - Microsoft gave a sneak peak at its “Halo 3” game on Friday, presumably the final chapter of the fast-paced shooter trilogy that the software giant is banking on to help it fend off competition from Sony and Nintendo. Gamers at the invitation-only preview gave mixed reviews.
“The graphics can use some work ... They’re not much different than the previous Halo,” said Nicholas Puleo, editor of gaming news Web site Evilavatar.com. “They’ve got five, six months until release, so they’ll add some polish ... When I compare it to other things in the platform, it’s not standout.” Microsoft staged previews in New York and San Francisco on Friday in advance of the public test, or “beta,” of the game, which goes live next Wednesday.
A public beta is unusual for a console game, and the “Halo 3” one for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is being closely watched by gamers eager to know how the title looks and plays, and whether it will live up to the buzz. The game once again puts players in control of “Master Chief,” a futuristic soldier trying to save humanity from an alien coalition known as the Covenant.
To make things more realistic, game maker Bungie Studios made the movements in “Halo 3” more closely follow the laws of real-world physics. “When you’re playing with physics, you want to draw a balance between fantasy and reality,” Halo franchise writer Frank O’Connor told Reuters.
Dead bodies float. Grenades tossed in snow stay in place, while those thrown on harder surfaces skip and roll. Bullets ricochet off walls. And gamers’ characters straying too close to grenades will be maimed by their shrapnel effect. “To get me as a player — to be vested in real-time game-play — the realism is critical,” said Christopher Peragine. “Once it gets past the Beta, it’s going to be a fantastic game.” The first “Halo” helped the original Microsoft Xbox gain a foothold in the highly competitive video-game market, while its successor became one of the most successful games ever, with sales of $125 million — roughly 2.5 million copies — in its first 24 hours of availability.
The games have also driven adoption of the Xbox Live online gaming service, which offers some basic features for free but charges users about $50 a year for being able to play against other gamers. In addition to being one of the year’s hottest-selling games, the publicity surrounding “Halo 3” should also spur some consumers to run out and buy an Xbox 360, said Craig Davison, Microsoft’s director of marketing. “There’s a significant number of people just waiting for that one game,” he said, “and this is the game.”

Article/photo courtesy msnbc.msn.com & Reuters 2007

Next Up on Xbox Live Arcade: Soltrio Solitaire

It's kind of surprising that it took this long, but the Xbox Live Arcade is finally getting a solitaire game. Soltrio Solitaire will be added to the lineup next Wednesday, and will offer 18 different kinds of solo card playing. It will also, ironically enough, offer multiplayer options.
In two-player mode, two games go on at the same time, with players sharing foundation piles, so you'll have to scramble to finish first. If you don't like going head-to-head, you can play co-operatively, working with your partner to finish the game with the highest score possible. (Score? In Solitaire? Not quite sure how that works, honestly.)
Completing different solitaire games in Voyage Adventure mode unlocks custom card designs; seems likely that just like UNO, Soltrio will have downloadable cards and game types in the future.

Article/photo courtesy blog.wired.com

D'oh! Microsoft Unveils 'Simpsons'-Themed Xbox

Fox movie studios will give away 100 limited edition 'Simpsons' Xboxes through a series of special events and promotions. Fans of the TV cartoon "The Simpsons" will have a chance, albeit slight, this summer to get their hands on a Homer-inspired Xbox 360, as Microsoft gets ready to promote the video game console through deals with Hollywood studios. Microsoft on Thursday said Fox movie studios, makers of this summer's "The Simpsons" movie, will give away 100 limited edition "Simpsons" Xboxes through a series of special events and promotions. In addition, Microsoft announced four new Xbox games inspired by movies scheduled for release this summer: "Shrek The Third," "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End," "Ratatouille," and "Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix."
Prices range from $50 to $60. The Shrek game is available next week, Pirates a week later, Harry Potter June 25, and Ratatouille June 26. Most of the games are released within a few days of the movies. Moviemakers include DreamWorks, Disney, and Warner Bros. "The Simpsons" movie is set for release July 27. Microsoft has long positioned the Xbox as an "all-in-one entertainment center" that offers more than just playing games. The console can play movies through a TV and can also manage music and movie downloads from the Web. There's also an Xbox Live online gaming service.
Sony's competing PlayStation 3 is also billed as an entertainment center. Released last November, The PS3 includes a high-definition DVD player for movies in the Blu-ray disc format. The Xbox supports the competing HD DVD format through a separate video player that plugs into the console.

Article courtesy informationweek.com

Xbox 360 Spring Update Released

Microsoft has released the Xbox 360 Spring Update, which includes Windows Live Messenger along with several other new features. Under the update, Windows Live Messenger will be available on Xbox 360 to text chat with up to six people using the virtual keyboard, while playing games, listening to music, or watching movies. According to Jerry Johnson, Product Unit Manager of Xbox Live at Microsoft, said, "Bringing the largest IM community in the world, Windows Live Messenger, to Xbox 360 makes sense, as Xbox Live has really become the largest social network on television. With this announcement, we are simultaneously expanding access of Xbox Live users to existing friends and family, while introducing Windows Live Messenger users to the benefits of Xbox 360." In addition, this summer, Microsoft will launch a Qwerty text-input device that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging. The Spring Update includes a gamut of new features, including a richer achievement notification pop-up for showcasing the name of the unlocked Achievement, gamerscore value eliminating the need to leave the game for checking the list, enhanced family settings features, etc. The updates to Xbox Live Arcade allow players to have a quick look at what their friends are playing, and join in. Besides, a new option has been introduced in the auto downloads, providing faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox Live Arcade games. Meanwhile, new progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause, and resume as their video is downloaded from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Further, using the extended background download functionality, users get to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete. Apart from these, there are several other minor feature upgrades that have been made. The Spring Update is available for free, beginning this week, and will be easily accessible through Xbox Live or on Xbox.com.

Article and photo courtesy techtree.com

Microsoft Addresses 'Abusive' Xbox Live Accounts

Microsoft plans to control the use of foreign Xbox Live accounts by domestic 360 owners. Part 1 of a special five-part series.

In response to mounting problems with what Microsoft defines as user-abuse, the company is planning to put its foot down with regards to the usage of foreign Xbox Live accounts by domestic 360 owners. According to Microsoft, this is a frequent occurrence commonly employed by people who wish to download content from the service not commonly available in their region.

For rest of article, click HERE
Article courtesy pcworld.com

Review: 'Spider-Man 3' video game a blockbuster

With the video game version of "Spider-Man 3" and its theatrical counterpart hitting the United States on Friday, we're not just seeing the continuation of a hugely successful movie franchise.
We're seeing the continuation of a video game franchise that's hugely successful in its own right.
"As popular as 'Spider-Man' is in the movie world, he's as popular in the video game world," says Bryan Intihar, Previews Editor for the video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.
Activision's video game versions of the last two "Spider-Man" movies have grossed a staggering $462 million in the United States, according to market research firm NPD.
That's almost $100 million more than what the "Spider-Man 2" movie took in at the box office.
Usually, Intihar points out, you only see video game legends like "Grand Theft Auto" or "Halo" pulling those kinds of numbers.
The "Spider-Man" games have won commercial and critical kudos for their mostly faithful re-creations of the movies, and for a unique "open environment" that allows players to fight bad guys and swing through a dizzyingly accurate virtual recreation of Manhattan.
Activision's Neven Dravinski also credits the cooperation his "Spider-Man 3" team received from the movie's director, studio and stars (most of the film's cast, including, Tobey McGuire, do voice work for the game).
Dravinski says early in the film's production the gamemakers were able to see storyboards and initial special effects shots from some of the "Spider-Man 3" film's more memorable action sequences, including Peter Parker's nighttime aerial battle with the Green Goblin and Spider-Man's subway confrontation with Sandman. (Watch "Spider-Man 3: The Game" merge movie, video game )
Both sequences are featured in the game.
"Thankfully," Dravinski says, "we were able to see a lot of these sequences early and get a sense of what [the filmmakers] were doing."
The new "Spider-Man 3" game includes enhanced powers and new combat moves for Spidey; a bigger and more lifelike rendering of Manhattan; and storylines that diverge from the movie, including Spidey's battles against three elaborate street gangs that threaten to take over parts of New York (think "Spider-Man" meets "The Warriors").
Sure, the "Spider-Man" games can never match the popular action shooters for edge-of-your seat, pulse-pounding thrills (Spidey's gaming appeal has always been more "Wee!" than "Wow!").
But their re-creations of some well-loved movies, and of one well-loved character, may be what set them apart.
Still bleary-eyed after having unveiled the game at "Spider-Man 3" movie premieres in London, England, and Japan, Activision's Dravinski brightens at the memory of the reception the game got from fans. "At every premiere, I was the most popular guy because every kid, and every 40-year-old kid, would be like: 'Oh, my God -- Spider-Man!' "
It's that kind of international enthusiasm that makes for successful video game franchises.

Article/photo courtesy CNN.com

Puzzle Quest Coming to Xbox Live Arcade

Puzzle Quest, the game that's so addictive it has its own wing in the Betty Ford Clinic, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade. D3Publisher of America has decided to bring three games to the Arcade, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warloards being but one, albeit the one most likely to keep me from going to sleep at night. Just five more minute...I can quit anytime I want to!
The other two games are Mad Tracks, inspired by pull-back-and-go toy cars (those are great for freaking out the cat), and RocketBowl, a bowling game. Bowling on Live? Oh, yes, and thank you.

Yoji Takenaka, executive VP and CEO of D3 said: What ties all of D3PA’s titles together are not genre or size of game or developer, but an unsurpassable element of fun.We look forward to capitalizing on Xbox Live Arcade’s wide reach and ease of use to bring gamers unique titles that fit the bill of delivering the highest enjoyment factors.

Article and photo courtesy blog.wired.com

The day after...CNET's review of the XBOX 360 Elite

The good: Excellent selection of games, including many 360-only exclusives; all games are in native high-definition; user-friendly Dashboard interface; supports wireless controllers and accessories; Xbox Live service offers online multiplayer (with matchmaking and voice chat) and content downloads for most games; backward compatible with many--but not all--original Xbox titles; doubles as a superior digital media hub and Windows Media extender; online Marketplace allows easy purchases of minigames, add-on gaming content, high-def movies, and TV shows.

The bad: The Elite fails to correct most of the annoyances of the original 360 version: the noisy DVD drive and cooling fan; a gigantic, oversize power supply; no built-in wireless networking; only three USB ports; a substandard DVD player; support for next-gen HD DVD movies requires a bulky external accessory; online gaming requires a paid subscription to Xbox Live; proprietary wireless format limits third-party accessories.

The bottom line: While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice.

CNET's rating: 8.5 out of 10 (Excellent)

Article/photo courtesy CNET.com

Complete CNET.com article HERE