Mass Effect Launching Nov. 20 for Xbox 360

According to Microsoft and Bioware, the highly anticipated RPG will launch on November 20 exclusively for Xbox 360.

Microsoft announced on Thursday jointly with game developer BioWare that the highly anticipated RPG Mass Effect will exclusively launch on November 20 for Xbox 360.
Mass Effect is being developed by the creators of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and promises to bundle both RPG and tactical action elements into one.
So far, the game has been the recipient of more than 50 awards according to Microsoft, including the 2007 Game Critics Awards for "Best Console Game" and "Best RPG" at last month's Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Mass Effect will retail for US$59.99 and carry an "M" rating.

Gears of War Map Pack for Xbox 360 free this Sept.

Microsoft Corp. on Fri. announced that the Gears of War Hidden Fronts Map Pack will be available at no cost beginning on Mon., Sept. 3.
The Hidden Fronts Map Pack is the No. 1 piece of premium download content on the Xbox Live Marketplace, wiht nearly 500,000 downloads to date.
In the Map Pack, players can compete in four areas, including Bullet Marsh, Garden, Process, and Subway.

Xbox 360 Chat Pad, Halo Controllers Out Next Week

Next Tuesday is all about accessorizing your 360, with the release of the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit and a trio of Halo 3 goodies.
The Messenger Kit features a 360 headset and the Chatpad, which is backlit (good for gaming in the wee hours) and attaches easily to your controller. It'll cost you $30, which seems about right.
If you're all about the Halo, you can opt to pick up the limited edition Spartan green and gold wireless headset for $60, or go for one of the two limited edition wireless controllers instead. Designed by Todd McFarlane, one sports a Covenant Brute theme, and the other...go on, guess. If you said "Master Chief," you deserve a cookie. The controllers are $60 each, and come with a Master Chief figurine, also designed by McFarlane.

Best Buy offers pre-orders for HDMI Xbox 360

Best Buy this month began offering pre-orders for Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 Premium SKU with built-in HDMI to online customers.
The HDMI-equipped SKU is the latest hardware revision for the Xbox 360 Premium, which was price cut this month by $50 U.S.
The HDMI output was previously available only in Xbox 360 Elite models.
The Xbox 360 Pro HDMI carries a release date of Sept. 1 at Bestbuy.com. No additional product information is provided on the product page.
Microsoft this month price cut all Xbox 360 models from $20 to $50 to spur sales. The discount coincides with the release of key titles, including EA's Madden NFL 08 and 2K's Bioshock.
The Mercury News last week reported that new Xbox 360 models that employ a 65-nanometer CPU will be released to retail this fall.

Microsoft: Racing-Wheel Xbox Controller Overheats

SEATTLE — Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), facing its second Xbox 360 headache of the summer, will replace parts of its Wireless Racing Wheel video game controllers after 50 reports that they overheated and released smoke.

The $130 steering wheel-shaped controllers mimic the physical sensations of race car driving for games such as "Forza Motorsport 2." About 230,000 have been sold to consumers worldwide, the company said Thursday. When the unit is plugged into an electrical outlet, its AC/DC adapter can overheat, Microsoft said, adding that it's safe to continue using the gadgets with battery power.
In July, the software maker said it would spend more than $1 billion to repair hardware problems in the Xbox 360 console itself. At the same time, monthly U.S. sales of the console have lagged behind its top competitor, Nintendo Co.'s Wii. Microsoft Corp. declined to say how much it would cost to fix the controller problem. Gamers can register online to receive a "retrofit," which Microsoft said it would send with instructions "if necessary." The company would not say what replacement parts it plans to ship.There have been no reports of fire, injury or property damage, Microsoft said. It also is working with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The CPSC is monitoring the situation, said commission spokeswoman Julie Vallese.
In July, Microsoft extended warranties on the Xbox 360 to three years after gamers complained about their consoles locking up and displaying three flashing red lights — the "the red ring of death."

Xbox 360 Owners Report Many Problems With Wireless Gaming Receiver

Some users reported connection problems with the gaming receiver, others said they couldn't get the receiver to work at all, and still others reported conflicts with third-party peripherals.

Xbox 360 owners have reported on discussion forums and review sites widespread problems with the wireless gaming receiver, an accessory that enables the use of the videogame's controller with PC games.
The receiver is the second Xbox 360 accessory reported this week to be giving Microsoft(MSFT) customers problems. The software maker on Tuesday recalled a part on the wireless racing steering wheel, saying it had been informed about a "very small number" of incidents when components in the accessory overheated and emitted smoke when the unit was plugged into an AC outlet.
In the latest set of problems, users reported connection problems with the gaming receiver on review sites of online retailers Newegg.com and Amazon.com, and on Xbox and NeoWin discussion forums. Some buyers said they couldn't get the receiver to work, and others reported conflicts with other computer peripherals built by third-parties that also sell computer control devices, such as Logitech and Wacom.
Microsoft was not immediately available for comment.

Mad Catz Xbox 360 Game Pad Pro

Be ready to maximize what the most powerful next generation console will offer! Powered by state of the art Mad Catz engineering, Mad Catz Xbox 360 GamePad lets you upgrade your next generation gaming experience to a higher level. Officially licensed by Microsoft, the ultra slim and sleek design naturally complements your Xbox 360 console. The responsive trigger geometry, next generation vibration feedback technology, 11 degree angled shoulder buttons, razor-sharp precision 8-way-D pad and low-riding analog sticks have been ergonomically designed to satisfy the discriminating taste of elite gamers with the utmost comfort and control. Mad Catz promises you innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs.

Main Features

• Official licensed Mad Catz product
• Analog triggers & joysticks
• Features vibration feedback technology
• Injected rubber grips for improved handling
• Analog joystick invert switch
• PC USB compatible

The Mad Catz game pad pro has an MSRP of $34.99

New Halo 3 Screenshots

Some new screenshots from Halo 3 were leaked earlier in the week, and Bungie has now released them officially for public consumption. Here's what they had to say about the new shots in the lastest Weekly Update:In addition to a new image from Tsavo Highway, there’s a handful of screenshots from a never before multiplayer map, Narrows.Previously referred to as both NewMap001 and Long and Lean, Narrows takes place on a large, chilly Forerunner bridge. While symmetrical in nature, that symmetry is slightly interrupted by varied power-ups on either side of the map. A Rocket Launcher rests atop the central bridge, while a Shotgun sits below it on the low bridge. Battle Rifles and an assortment of dual wieldables decorate the bases at either end of the bridge. For fast travel from base to base there are Man Cannons that allow for in-air collision and general hilarity if two people take flight at the same time.

Click HERE for more of the screenshots, courtesy PLANETXBOX360.com

Microsoft Embraces TSMC 90nm Embedded DRAM Process for Xbox 360

Production of 90nm Microsoft Graphics-Memory Subsystem Underway

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. today announced that Microsoft has started production of the Microsoft Xbox 360 graphics-memory subsystem using the TSMC 90nm embedded DRAM process. Designed to meet the needs of volume consumer electronics devices, the TSMC 90nm eDRAM process features a high-density macro design (80Mb) and fast performance to 500MHz.
"Microsoft's selection of the TSMC 90nm eDRAM process for the graphics-rich Xbox 360 is an important validation of the capability and maturity of the technology," said John Wei, senior director of Platform Marketing, Advanced Technology Division of TSMC. "Furthermore, the production marks the successful continuation to an ongoing collaboration between Microsoft and TSMC."
"TSMC provides the proven manufacturing and chip implementation services required to build a competitive silicon component in volume," said Bill Adamec, senior director of Semiconductor Technology of Microsoft. "The TSMC 90nm eDRAM process is exactly what we need to further strengthen our position in console gaming and entertainment."

For rest of article, click HERE

PS3 vs Xbox 360 Spec Wars: will they never end?

Lots of fun from the world of next-gen consoles this week. It all started on Monday when US news sources started picking up on a preview of Splinter Cell: Conviction featured on Aussie site, Gameplayer. In it, the game's producer Dany Lepage seems to trash PS3's AI capabilities. from the preview:
"So, Conviction is confirmed for PC and Xbox 360. But what about the other consoles? Double Agent was a 360 exclusive for a whole week. On this issue, Danny could give us a firm answer. "It's NEVER gonna come out on the PS3 or the Wii." It's a logical decision. Nintendo's console simply doesn't have the graphical horsepower, and he candidly told us how the PS3 can't handle AI nearly as well as the 360."
Naturally, Xbox fanboys leapt on this delicious titbit like banned attack dogs.
Today, though, Sony struck back. The company's US mouthpiece Dave Karraker struck back, snarling, "PS3 can more than handle AI... as you will see with Heavenly Sword, which has hundreds of on-screen enemies with different AI routines at one time thanks to the power of CELL."

For complete article, click HERE

Microsoft readies hard drive only Xbox 360 games

An estimated 20% of 360 owners don't own a hard drive
Microsoft announced yesterday that it would soon allow developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games to require hard drive space when playing games on Xbox 360 despite the console maker's previous denial of such claims."Feel free to require 30GB for your game -- [but] that's just going to make your potential audience a lot smaller," a Microsoft representative told a group of developers while speaking at GameFest in Seattle this week.
Effective immediately, Microsoft will not restrict the amount of hard drive space MMO game developers can use. It is unclear if non-MMO games will be allowed to require hard drives for future games on 360.An estimated 20% of 360 owners don't own a hard drive, which is optional for those only wanting to purchase the Core model.Developers will be able to create a single "Master Storage File" on user machines as long as the server-based games explicitly state the amount of hard drive space required on the front of the game's box.Microsoft also said the that it will not increase the allowable size of Xbox Live Arcade games, currently set at 150MB.
Just last week, Microsoft denied reports in an e-mail to GamePro that Xbox 360 Core owners would be unable to play certain games labeled with the "hard drive required" sticker.
"Every game will work with every Xbox 360 system," a Microsoft spokesman told us. That no longer appears to be the case, at least with MMO games.

Mountain Dew Game Fuel, arrives in stores today!

Inspired by the most anticipated game release of the year, Halo® 3, Mountain Dew has created a limited-time only beverage called Mountain Dew Game Fuel.
It's Dew with an invigorating blast of citrus cherry flavor and more caffeine for maximum intensity. Game Fuel will give you an edge on the competition because it's cranked up to keep you going. Game Fuel is available in stores nationwide for only 12 weeks, starting August 13. Visit www.mountaindew.com/gamefuel to find out more.

BioShock Has Gone Gold For Xbox 360 And PC

The one game that everyone seems to be looking forward to has finally gone gold. With all the news, previews and articles surrounding BioShock I don’t think there’s anyone out there who doesn’t know what this game is about. Heck, even we seem to have BioShock news on this site once a week. But going gold is a big deal. If a game goes gold it means that there’s nothing else left to program and nothing else left to touch up; the game is finished. It also means that the time is drawing nigh-and-high for gamers to get well acquainted with the likes of Big Daddy, plasmids and a bevy selection of customizable and upgradable weapons. That’s not to mention that BioShock is one of the few games out there that focuses heavily on a plot that unfolds through player exploration and adventuring.

For the rest of the article, click HERE

Article courtesy cinemablend.com

Opinion: PS3 Madden 08 Inferior to Xbox 360 Version

Madden NFL 2008 is just days away as gamers await what many consider to be a holiday when Madden releases. This year though it appears the PS3 version is inferior to the Xbox 360 version.
Many have been putting down EA Sports for not giving the PS3 the golden treatment when it comes to the Madden NFL 2008 franchise which performed best on the PS2 last generation.
This year though teh game has all changed as NCAA Football 2008 did not run as smoothly as the Xbox 360 version did compared to the PS3 version either.
Madden NFL 2008 will be running at 30fps on the PS3 making the gameplay not as smooth as the Xbox 360 version.
A review over at 1UP even stated that there are stutters in the framerate on the PS3 even though it runs at half the speed of the PS3.
This is not good news for PS3 owners at all as this could be a scary trend if the more powerful console continues to get the inferior version of games such as Madden.

To check out the 1UP reviews, click HERE

Opinion courtesy of ps3center.net

GameFace 360: Customizable Faceplate and Skin Kit for Xbox 360

Get your Game Face on! Personalize your Xbox 360 with the GameFace customizable faceplate and skin kit. This two piece faceplate houses personalized templates placed between a high-grade clear polycarbonate front plate and a stylized base plate. Download the easy to use design software at www.nyko.com and instantly create faceplates using your favorite game characters, images, photos, patterns and more. Print the final creations on the 15 blank templates using any home printer or try one of the 6 pre-printed designs also included in the kit. The templates fit snugly between the faceplate pieces and snap into place on the front of the Xbox 360. With the GameFace 360, you get everything you need to make up to 16 custom faceplates right away all from the comfort of home. To find out more, click HERE

Limited Edition Homer Simpson XBOX 360 console...

Only 100 of these Homer Simpson XBOX 360 consoles will be produced, and the jury is still out on how you can get your hands on one...."The Simpsons" game is expected in the Fall of '07...

Microsoft Confirms HDMI Port Addition to Xbox 360

Port previously only available on the company's Xbox Elite models

Microsoft confirmed late Wednesday the existence of newly updated Xbox 360 units that include HDMI support. The news comes amid reports that new machines are now available in stores coinciding with today's price drops.
"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience," a Microsoft rep told Shacknews in an statement. "Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."
The company denied comment on the port addition to cheaper Core models not to mention the rumored cooler running processors. "We have not announced any plans to add HDMI to the Xbox 360 Core System," the rep said. "We are constantly updating the console's more than 1700 internal components and therefore will not comment on details of specific components or manufacturing processes."
HDMI allows for higher audio and visual fidelity when connected to HD-enabled TVs, and was first made available on Xbox 360 Elite models.

RELATED ARTICLE: Only 30% Of Xbox Owners Know It Does High-Def

Microsoft To Sell Halo 3 Xbox For $400

Halo 3 fans had better get out their wallets. Microsoft said Monday evening that it will sell the limited-edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 console for $400.
Microsoft also came clean and admitted that all the rumors were true: the company will lower the price of the current three Xbox 360 SKUs, but by uneven amounts.
The price drops will take effect on August 8. The $300 Core will drop by $20, the $480 Elite by $30, and the $400 Premium by $50.
The limited-edition Halo 3 version of the Xbox 360 combines elements of the other versions: it has a 20 GB hard drive like the Premium unit, but features HDMI output like the Elite. The design is a muted military green, and it will also include a wireless wired* headset microphone and a Play and Charge Kit. It will appear in stores this September alongside the anticipated game.

Microsoft: 'Every Game Will Work with Every 360 System'

Microsoft denies reports that select Xbox 360 titles will require a hard drive to play games.
Microsoft denied reports that select Xbox 360 titles will require a hard drive to play games amid growing concerns among Xbox 360 Core owners (those without hard drives).
"Every game will work with every Xbox 360 system," a Microsoft spokesman told GamePro when asked about the "Hard Drive Required" sticker. "But just like some games will require you to have a Memory Unit to save games, some games will require you to have a Hard Drive to experience them."
For example, gamers can't fully experience the critically acclaimed Oblivion without at least a memory card to save one's progress the representative explained. It is still unclear how a lack of hard drive might affect the gameplay experience outside of game saves, however. An estimated 20 percent of the total Xbox 360 install base own the Core model without hard drive.

Microsoft Discloses Price Cuts On Xbox 360

The 20-Gbyte version of the Xbox 360 will carry a $349.99 price tag, and the high-end, 120-Gbyte Xbox 360 Elite system will retail for $449.99.

In a widely anticipated move, Microsoft has reduced the retail price for its Xbox 360 video-game consoles by up to $50 in an effort to keep pace with similar moves by rival Sony.
As of Wednesday, the 20-Gbyte version of the Xbox 360 will carry a $349.99 price tag, and the basic Core system will sell for $279.99, representing $50 price cuts for both models. The high-end, 120-Gbyte Xbox 360 Elite system will retail for $449.99 -- a $30 reduction.
Microsoft also said it will debut in September a special Halo 3 edition of Xbox 360 priced at $399.99 and featuring a Spartan green-and-gold finish with matching wireless controller.
Sony last month cut the price of its 60-Gbyte PlayStation 3 by $100, to $499. The Japanese electronics maker also introduced an 80-Gbyte version priced at $599. To date, Nintendo has held firm on pricing for its new Wii video game system, but could now be forced to make a move.
Microsoft said it timed the price cuts to roughly coincide with next week's launch of EA Sports' Madden NFL '08 video football game.
The company is counting on the release of new games to help reverse the fortunes of its troubled Xbox franchise. Microsoft said it shipped 700,000 Xbox 360 units during its most recent quarter, compared to 1.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2006 -- a fall off of 61%.
Microsoft's Xbox operations are housed within the company's entertainment and devices division. The group saw fourth-quarter revenue drop 10% year-over-year to $1.16 billion on an operating loss of $1.2 billion. The group lost $423 million the previous year.
Microsoft blamed the 183% increase in the EDD operating loss on a $1.06 billion charge against earnings that the company incurred to cover the cost of extending the warranty period for the Xbox 360 to three years.
The move came following Microsoft's recent admission that the gaming system was suffering from an "unacceptable" number of general hardware failures.
Microsoft has also been hit with a handful of class-action suits in recent weeks claiming that a design flaw in the Xbox 360 causes the system to irreparably scratch game discs. Microsoft has denied the claim.

Out of town

I'll be out of town until the middle of next week, so the site updates will be lacking somewhat until then. Unfortunately, I won't be at the beach (pictured above) but its still a vacation nevertheless.

Talk to you all next week.

Good gaming!

IcemanXBTR

World Series of Video Games makes a stop in Toronto

Our neighbors to the North will be host to one of the stops on this years World Series of Video Games, presented by Intel.

The preliminary schedule shows the WSVG stop in Toronto will be at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, August 24-26, 2007, as part of Fan Expo Canada 2007 and the Canadian National Gaming Expo 2007.

Can you say ROAD TRIP!

Xbox 360 Cleans House in Game Critics Awards

The Xbox 360 took top honors in this year's Game Critics Awards, following the E3 Media and Business Summit in Santa Monica, California.Part 1 of a special five-part series.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 took top honors as the console with the most award-winning games at E3 this year according to the Game Critics Awards. Xbox 360 games took home 11 awards, followed by PS3 with eight, and Wii with just one. EA's Rock Band won Best In Show ousting Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect and Fallout 3 for the honor. Sony's Little Big Planet won Best Original Game, while Microsoft's Mass Effect took home the Best Console Game prize and Sony's Killzone 2 earned a congeniality award for outstanding visuals. The Game Critics Awards is judged by a panel of 36 journalists who submit nominees in over a dozen categories for games that were playable at E3, the industry's most notable yearly conference. Special attention by the judging body is given to so called "hardcore" games says the panel's co-founder Jeff Keighley. As a result, the industries two best selling systems, the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, only went home with one award a piece.
The full list of awards can be found on the Game Critics Awards' home page.

Courtesy PCWorld.com

Xbox 360 to Get a 45nm Processor?

Contract chip maker Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is working on a 45-nanometer CPU designed for video-game consoles--Microsoft is likely client.Part 1 of a special five-part series.

Singaporean contract chip maker Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. will produce a 45-nanometer (nm) processor designed for video-game consoles, probably an upcoming version of the processor used in Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.
"We have customers' activity for products in the CPU space that goes into a video-game device," Chia Song Hwee, Chartered's president and CEO, said when discussing the company's 45nm manufacturing plans with analysts during a recent conference call.
Chia didn't name the CPU customer but was likely referring to Microsoft, which uses Chartered to manufacture its Xbox 360 processor.
The 64-bit Xbox 360 processor is a custom chip based on three 3.2GHz Power PC cores. Chartered has so far produced 90nm and 65nm versions of the Xbox 360 processor for Microsoft using a SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) process licensed from IBM Corp.
The numbers that describe each chip version refer to the process technology used to make them, and describe -- in billionths of a meter -- the average size of the smallest features that can be created on a piece of silicon. Smaller is better when it comes to chips and moving to a more advanced process technology offers several benefits.
In the case of the Xbox 360 processor, the most important benefits may be size and power. A more advanced process allows chip makers to shrink the size of a chip, thereby increasing the number that can be produced on a single silicon wafer and reducing unit production costs. When the smaller chip is run at the same clock speed as the larger version, it generally consumes less power and therefore generates less heat.
Since the Xbox 360 is sold for less than its manufacturing cost, cutting the cost of the processor -- typically the most expensive component inside a computer -- is good for Microsoft, allowing the company to reduce the console's price or cut its losses on each console sold.
Chia said the design of the 45nm video-game processor is not yet complete, and hinted that production of the CPU -- as well as other products designed for the 45nm process --- is not likely to begin until late 2008 or early 2009.
"As 65nm just started production in the last two quarters, you would expect 45nm to come on stream about 18 months from that timeframe," said Chia, referring to when Chartered expects to begin production with the 45nm processor.

Courtesy PCWorld.com