XBOX Team Rochester

Microsoft opens up E3 with loud, energetic press conference

2008-07-14T19:16:00.002-04:00

LOS ANGELES--Once again it's that time: big hype for giant press conferences by the video game industry's biggest names.
In this case, we're talking Microsoft, and its annual Xbox 360 bacchanalia.
Here at E3, which kicks off unofficially Monday morning, it's craziness, excitement and anticipation rolled into one, even though this event is scaled down considerably from the last time it was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center two years ago.
The doors opened at 9:30 a.m., but because everyone coming into the press conference had to have a special "passport" with a bar code, the line to get in snaked oddly back from the doors to the exhibit hall, somewhat akin to the queues at Disneyland. It felt inefficient and unnecessary. But I suppose Microsoft wants to be sure that no one who's not supposed to be in the hall gets in. The upshot is that the scanning of the bar codes on people's passports was very slow.
And while this is the new-style E3, which is no longer the huge, massive, chaotic free-for-all it was through 2006, there are still some elements of the old event.
For example, while E3 in 2006 officially banned "booth babes," the scantily clad women who stand around looking pretty and attracting all the male gamers, Microsoft had greeters throughout the hall who were clearly meant to play something of that same role. To be sure, they weren't dressed in skin-tight, skimpy outfits, but they were universally thin and pretty and it was hard to see that they were there for any other reason than eye-candy to keep the geeks in line happy while they waited for seemingly ever to get in.

For rest of article, click HERE

Article courtesy news.cnet.com

Microsoft cuts Xbox price by $50

2008-07-13T18:09:00.000-04:00

The software maker said it also plans 60GB model!

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. is trimming the price of its Xbox 360 video game console to make way for a new model with a bigger hard drive.
Starting Sunday, Microsoft's mid-range Xbox 360 console with a 20-gigabyte hard drive will cost $299 in the U.S., down from $350. Blogs have carried rumors of the decision since June, when photos depicting the $299 price tag were posted to the Internet.
An updated Xbox 360 is set to arrive in stores in early August. The $350 replacement will sport a 60GB hard drive, significantly more space for storing the games, TV shows and movies Microsoft sells on its Xbox Live Marketplace Web site.
Microsoft also is expected to give the Xbox a little extra appeal by streaming movies and TV episodes through a high-speed Internet service offering by Netflix Inc. The long-rumored deal could be announced as early as Monday at a video game conference in Los Angeles.
Microsoft did not adjust prices for its more basic Xbox 360 Arcade version, which has just 256 megabytes of storage and costs $280, or for the Xbox 360 Elite, a $450 model with a 120GB hard drive.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company released its next-generation game console in 2005, a year ahead of competing machines from Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp.
As of the end of May, Microsoft had sold 10.3 million Xboxes in the U.S., according to data from market researchers NPD Group. By comparison, Nintendo had sold 10.2 million Wii consoles, and Sony had sold 4.5 million PlayStation 3 machines.
Nintendo has kept the Wii's price at $250 since its U.S. launch in November 2006, while Microsoft and Sony have made several cuts to console prices in different regions. Currently, PS3 models cost $400 to $500 in the U.S.

Article courtesy the Associated Press

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy

2008-06-05T10:02:00.005-04:00

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy, will give players the experience of becoming a 30 million dollar elite agent, fusing an experience that delves deep into Jason Bourne’s character with gameplay and game presentation inspired by the aggressive filmmaking and frenetic action found in the films. Only by playing Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy will players discover Bourne’s true identity and experience the very moment he became a malfunctioning weapon, first hunting targets around the world as a deadly government assassin then marking himself as his agency’s most wanted.

Available now

Article courtesy teamxbox.com

Xbox 360 First Gaming System to Reach 10 Million in U.S. Console Sales

2008-05-19T21:50:00.002-04:00

Microsoft recently announced that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other current-generation console.
"This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad," said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry."
This announcement comes on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, "Grand Theft Auto IV," on April 29, 2008. Gamers eager to experience "Grand Theft Auto IV" online helped boost Xbox LIVE global membership to over 12 million this month. Fueled by an unparalleled combination of access to friends and family, the best online gaming features, and the best entertainment content, the Xbox LIVE service has doubled in membership in only one year's time.

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

XBTR founder falls victim to the elusive Nintendo Wii

2008-05-12T00:18:00.003-04:00

So the wife is having one of those "Pampered Chef" parties at our home this weekend, (for those of you who don't know, Pampered Chef is like Tupperware, only its the stuff you actually eat, not the containers you put the food in) and I decide that rather than staying in a house full of "ready to spend" women, I'll take my 11 year old son to see "Ironman" at the Regal Cinema in Irondequoit. I didn't check the movie times prior to my arrival, and the next showing was at 1230, which was about an hour and a half from the current time at that time. So we grabbed a bite to eat, then decided to kill some time at the GameStop location next to the theatre. I went in to see if they had a used copy of "Command & Conquer III" which they did, so I grabbed the empty game box off the shelf and walked up to the register to cash out. As I approached the counter, I saw a small stack of Nintendo Wii boxes (empty of course) set up in display fashion, which spurred me to ask the question, "do you guys have any Wii's in stock?". Waiting for the cries of laughter from behind the counter, I was surprised to hear the clerk say, "yes, I have one left, actually two, a used one, and a new one.". Wow, wasn't ready for that. So I called the boss at home and posed the question, as the wife and I had been looking for one of these for a while, and conveniently enough, our "Economic Stimulus Payment" arrived the day before from the government, so the timing was perfect. Sooooo, I walked out of the store almost $400.00 later with a new Wii, extra remote and nunchuk, along with the "Wii play" game, and headed home after the movie with our new game system. After a relatively pain free setup process, I was Wii gaming with my wife and kids, and having a great time. The Wii experience is much different from that of its XBOX360 and PSIII counterparts in that it truly is a physical process. I found the Wii remotes to be very responsive and accurate, and had a great time playing Wii Golf, while my kids enjoyed the bowling and boxing, and my wife loved the cow racing game on the "Wii Play" disc. I'll be picking up some new titles soon, as I am anxious to see what this machine really can do. If anyone has any suggestions of titles that are a must have, please drop me a line and let me know.

While I have enjoyed the Wii thus far, I don't see it taking the place of my 360 anytime soon. I'll keep you posted if I change my mind.... :-)

Iceman

Why a Hard Drive Costs More for 360 Than PS3

2008-05-07T12:52:00.002-04:00

All hard drives are not created equal, at least when it comes to adding one to your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. The reason a 120GB hard drive for the 360 costs $180 compared to just $45 for one you could put in your PS3 is that the 360's drive has been tweaked to specifically suit the Microsoft console, reports MTV.
The drive comes pre-loaded with Xbox Arcade trials as well as "specific Gaming Instructions and some levels of the OS," says Krishna Chander of iSuppli. The 360 drives have also been color tuned and packaged for the addition to your console, as opposed to a generic hard drive that you could add to your PS3.
iSuppli guesses that the prepped 360 drives are then sent along to a Value Added Retailer, which applies casing and packaging before tacking it its own fee and sending the drives along to Microsoft. Estimating the markup, iSuppli figures that Microsoft might be paying as much as $100 for a 360 hard drive.
Microsoft then suggests a price for retail, which in this case is $180. Is that a fair price for the ability to simply plug it in and have it work?

Article/Image courtesy blog.wired.com

I am a WoW addict...

2008-05-06T15:53:00.003-04:00

Hello XBOX Team Rochester,
I write to you from sunny downtown Phoenix, AZ. As many of you have been spending quality time with your XBOX 360 in a little title called Grand Theft Auto IV I have found myself sucked into the world of Azeroth playing World of Warcraft. I know many of you who know me are puzzling over why I would leave my beloved 360 for a PC game? Well the simple truth is that Blizzard has created something really fantastic and it is so much fun to play. First of all it shares something with XBOX Live and that is a robust community.
I play on a server called Daggerspine and from my first day of play up until the present I have met so many great players. These are people who want to share in a fun experience in a shared game space. The server I play on is a PvP (Player vs Player) but all that means is that when you venture into areas of the world that are not owned by one of the two factions you risk attack. You can also venture into the opposing faction's area but you risk certain attack on yourself. Most of the time however when playing in territory controlled by the faction to which you are a member, you are safe to quest and dungeon crawl.
Also like XBOX Live, there is a fee to play this game. Unlike XBOX Live, the fee is not a nominal $50/yr. but rather it runs about $16.00/mos. Many gamers cannot stomach the monthly fee but once you spend some time in the world of Azeroth you quickly see the quality and depth of the game and the fact that developers work feverishly to continuously improve and add content. The membership fee is easy to justify once you start playing. This is a great game!
Another aspect of the game that is often criticized is its art style. The style is bright, colorful and somewhat cartoony. Compared to many games in the XBOX world, WoW looks a bit more like Viva Piñata than a gritty RPG. The style of graphics is steeped in the long heritage of Warcraft. This game is part of a long series of games that have shared this art style. Not only does WoW share in the art style but it also shares a rich story history in the game that dates back to the original Warcraft. Developers are so very attentive to detail and it is obvious as the story unveils before your eyes through the various quests and adventures in the game.
XBOX games might last 10 or more hours to play and that is good for some people but after a while they either end or get boring. WoW is not this way. Besides the fact that it takes months to get to the highest level, once a player achieves the heroic stages Blizzard adds more content in the form of patches and special events.
Well anyway, I am not writing this to disparage the XBOX 360; I am writing this to point out that I think there is a dry spell going on with regard to XBOX 360 software. I am not a fan of the GTA series so even though that game is on par to break sales records I must say that all else doesn't impress me. As we make the long roll into summer and towards fall there are a number of titles on the horizon that I am excited about. Halo Wars, Gears of War II, and Age of Conan for the 360 are a few. Until that time my wife will continue her quest to get the all-time best score in Viva Piñata (she made a Dragon a few days ago) and I will continue as Jaredoln the Orc of the Horde in the land of Azeroth.
If you are interested in playing with me and my Guild (Khaos) please let me know via a comment and I will share info with you directly.

DaddyBurrito

Ninja Gaiden II: Coming June 3, 2008

2008-05-04T14:42:00.003-04:00

The sequel to the blockbuster action game by Tecmo's heralded Team Ninja. Gamers must guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, players must help Ryu skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. Running on an entirely new gameplay engine, Ninja Gaiden 2 evolves the action in the sequel with an auto-generation health system, new enemies and locales, and thrilling combat built upon an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry.

Due to be released on June 3, 2008

Courtesy IGN.com

Grand Theft Auto countdown

2008-04-26T08:53:00.002-04:00

Hookers. Carjackings. Cop killings. That can only mean the return of Grand Theft Auto

It is one of the most anticipated entertainment events of 2008. No, we're not talking about the upcoming Indiana Jones flick or the long-awaited Guns N' Roses CD Chinese Democracy.
On Tuesday, the latest in the 70 million-unit-selling video game series Grand Theft Auto will race into retail, anxiously greeted by gamers determined to climb back behind the wheel of this pop-culture phenomenon. Like its predecessors, it's also sure to enrage parents and conservative groups concerned about its violent and sexual content.
Many retailers anticipating feverous demand for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV ($59.99, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) will be opening their doors at 12:01 a.m. on April 29.
"We expect Grand Theft Auto IV to be the biggest game of the year," says Mary Ann McKenzie, Future Shop's entertainment marketing manager.

For rest of article, click HERE

Article courtesy thestar.com

Get Ready for a Legendary Experience

2008-04-13T14:10:00.003-04:00

Bungie's much anticipated Halo® 3 Legendary Map Pack is set for release April 15, and after a full day's session of fierce fragging at Bungie's headquarters, we've got the full skinny on what you can expect. With two recreations of classic maps, one from Halo: Combat Evolved, another from Halo 2, and a brand-spanking new addition to the Halo universe, the Legendary Map Pack offers a little something for everyone.

For more information, click HERE

Rainbox Six Vegas 2 - Hits store shelves today!

2008-03-19T08:39:00.003-04:00

A world-exclusive first-look of the game appeared in the January edition of the Official Xbox Magazine. One of the biggest announcements is that Logan Keller, the lead character from the previous game, has been removed in favor of having the player create his own character to play through the campaign. The player will assume the role of Bishop, a member of the Rainbow squad with a great deal more experience who is more deeply involved in the story. The game is billed as "part sequel, part prequel", as the events of the campaign run both before and concurrently to the story of Logan Keller and continue after where the first game concluded.

In single-player, the developers claim to have vastly improved teammate AI, so that now teammates cover each other as they advance. There are also several new commands, including the ability to suppress an area or throw a grenade at a specific point.

The highly acclaimed multiplayer in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas has been expanded to include more than 10 new close-quarters maps perfect for dramatic face-offs, two new adversarial modes, a deeper rewards system, and improved online matchmaking.

Article courtesy wikipedia.com

Army of Two trailer

2008-03-12T22:26:00.000-04:00

Here is some gameplay footage from the recently released Frontlines: Fuel of War

2008-02-28T11:21:00.000-05:00

Review of "Frontline: Fuel of War" for Xbox 360

2008-02-27T10:38:00.003-05:00

Saw the trailer for this on television, looks incredible!

The first project for Kaos Studios (a division of THQ founded by veterans of Trauma Studios, creators of Desert Combat and Battlefield 2 R&D projects), Frontlines: Fuel of War uses the advanced Unreal 3 engine for futuristic, intense fights in an open-world battlefield. In this all-too-bleak future of constant wars over natural resources, two sides compete for global supremacy: the Western Coalition (the United States and the European Union) and the Red Star Alliance (Russian/People's Republic of China). The game's nonlinear single-player campaign has players advancing their side's frontline into enemy territory.

"Frontline features roughly 60 futuristic weapons and vehicles to use, from airplanes to jeeps and everything in between. So many vehicles certainly add to the fun, making the missions fresh and vibrant as new vehicles come about in new maps. My personal favorite is the armored bus, which is a regular bus fitted with menacing barbed-wire and a huge gun bolted to the top. It truly is hell on wheels when it's under the control of the other team, but it's a lot of fun being inside it when it's on your team."

Article and comments courtesy of IGN.com and associatedcontent.com. The title went on the shelves two days ago.

Gears of War 2 Announced! Coming in November '08

2008-02-21T09:54:00.001-05:00

Warranty Report Pegs Xbox 360 Failure Rates at 16 Percent

2008-02-18T21:14:00.002-05:00

Majority of all Xbox 360 failures are from Red Ring of Death

The vulnerability of the Xbox 360 to a hardware failure known as the Red Ring of Death is a well publicized matter. Last summer, amidst a flurry of reports from Xbox 360 owners, DailyTech exposed retailers’ estimates that up to 33 percent of Xbox 360 consoles experience hardware failures within the first year of ownership.
Electronics and appliances warranty company SquareTrade now claims that it found a 16.4 percent normal-use failure rate on the Xbox 360. The figure, if true, shows that Microsoft has steadily improved the reliability of its console considerably – though still not up to the level of general acceptability.
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates expressed earlier this year his aim for the Xbox 360 to be the most reliable console on the market. “We've got incredible reliability on the new work we've done,” he said. “Our commitment is that it will be the most reliable video game box out there. People really love the Xbox because of the content, but we've got to make sure that the hardware never stands in the way of that.”

Article courtesy dailytech.com

For rest of article, click HERE

Rumor: Xbox 360 Blu-ray Peripheral Within 3 Months

2008-02-18T20:56:00.002-05:00

With the expected announcement from Toshiba that the company is going to stop making new HD-DVD players, the whispers that an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player is on the way have become quite loud.
The latest rumor comes by way of the Australian website Smarthouse, which is reporting that Microsoft has already been secretly working on the peripheral which could be released in an astonishingly quick period of time.
"Insiders at Microsoft in the USA have told SmartHouse that Microsoft has already configured a standalone Blu-ray player that can be connected into an Xbox 360 and that subject to internal marketing and sales approvals the model could be on sale within 3 months," reports the website.
The last time the company talked about the subject was when Microsoft Vice President of Global Marketing Jeff Bell was asked about the possibility of going Blu.
"You never say never. I think we'd like to see how things evolve. Our commitment, however, to HD-DVD is profound and consistent, and we have done very, very well in term of our accessory sales," he told 1UP.

Article courtesy s-times.net

Halo Wars - Pre-rendered and in game footage of the upcoming release

2008-01-21T21:01:00.000-05:00

Microsoft to offer Undertow free on Xbox 360

2008-01-21T20:13:00.000-05:00

Microsoft Corp. on Mon. announced that the title Undertow will be available at no cost on the Xbox Live Arcade division of the Xbox 360 this week.
Between Wed., Jan 23 and Sun., Jan. 27, Xbox Live members can download the title free of charge.
Undertow is an aquatic based shooter that includes high-definition graphics, single-player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for 2-16 players on Xbox Live.
Microsoft in Jan. said that it would offer a free Xbox Live Arcade title to members following holiday outages that caused the gaming service to be intermittently inaccessible.
Xbox Live this month reached a milestone of 10 million members across 26 countries.
Microsoft this month said that sales for the Xbox 360 have reached 17.7 million worldwide to date.

Article courtesy of news.punchjump.com

Microsoft makes good after Xbox hiccup

2008-01-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

Microsoft has said it will offer Xbox 360 owners a free video game to make up for poor performance over the holidays by the system's online hub.

Gamers log on to the Xbox Live service to download games and videos onto their consoles, and to go head-to-head with other players. But a record-breaking number of players logging onto the service over the holiday season caused some users to have trouble signing in, downloading media and being matched with online opponents.

'INTERMITTENT ISSUES'

"With that many people online, we just experienced some intermittent issues," said Craig Flannagan, Xbox Live product manager for Canada.

Microsoft will offer a free Xbox Live Arcade game -- downloadable titles that sell for roughly $5 to $15 -- to all Xbox Live members worldwide, even if they weren't affected by the service hiccups.

Details on when the game will be made available, and which title will be offered, are still being determined, Flannagan said.

Even though Microsoft bulked up the service's capacity before the holidays, brisk sales of the Xbox 360 console, along with games such as the 8.1 million-selling Halo 3, saw an unprecedented number of people logging onto Xbox Live at once, with the numbers peaking on Jan. 2.

"It didn't affect everyone, but enough people were affected that we were a little disappointed," Flannagan said. "That's why we're doing it."

Article courtesy winnipegsun.com

Well planned Halo 3 demise....

2008-01-03T23:11:00.000-05:00

This is "mildly" entertaining....someone who obviously has too much time on their hands...watch carefully....

DaddyBurrito is Online!

2008-01-03T14:25:00.000-05:00

Hello XBTR gamers and greetings from the valley of the Sun, otherwise known as Phoenix, AZ! Now that IcemanXBTR has graciously granted me collaboration rights to the Xbox Team Rochester site I plan to be a regular contributor. I know many of you are excited about the forthcoming XBTR Lan Event. Will it be as exciting as WinterWonderLAN07? Well since I won't be there in person, all of you will have to make up for the lack of my presence. IcemanXBTR, Thundar06 and myself will be meeting over the next few weeks to iron out the details of this year's event and we have high hopes that it will include Live support so that far flung members will be able to participate.

Speaking of far flung members, you can't get much further away than Arizona. Of course I miss all of you and the great gaming sessions we have had, fortunately Xbox Live has been a great way that I can still keep in touch. IcemanXBTR, DaneroTGAC, Metatstat, GoddfreyTGAC, Sabrerat, BrunTech and many of the other XBTR members have cought up with me via the service and with the Live Communicator it's just like we are in the very same room! I have been working to develop a new LAN gaming group out here in Arizona which will be able to participate in challenges with XBTR. I don't know if something will materialize by the time that the WinterWonderLAN comes around but you can be sure something will be coming soon!

While we wait for more details to come together about WinterWonderLAN08 and also a new Phoenix based XBOX Team, I thought it would be fun to discuss what cool video game stuff we all got for the holidays. Whether it be XBOX related or just plain cool, what did you get to unwrap this year?

Screenshots from XBTR member "crashr186"

2008-01-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

XBTR member "crashr186" sent in these two screenshots recently. We're still looking for more team members to submit their action shots to be posted for all to see. Be sure to tell your friends who picked up XBOX's about XBTR also; and if they'd like to be added to our e-mail list please have them drop us a line.

Happy 2008 from XBTR!

2008-01-01T11:45:00.000-05:00

Fireworks over downtown Rochester this morning....
Photo courtesy RNEWS

Send XBTR your Hi-Res Screenshots....

2007-12-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

Have a cool screenshot you'd like to send in to XBTR? Feel free to forward your gaming pic's to our team e-mail address and we'll post your image for all to see.....we look forward to seeing some "interesting" shots...

Here's a shot of me (IcemanXBTR) working "The Narrows" a few days ago, in a Social Slayer match on XBOX LIVE!

Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack - AVL 12/11/07

2007-11-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

SCREENSHOT OF NEW MULTIPLAYER MAP "STANDOFF"

Halo® 3 players will be able to enjoy three all new multiplayer maps on December 11 as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE®. Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. The symmetrical valley of Standoff, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types. The vast, labyrinthine passages of the Rat's Nest bring something completely new to the multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise. Strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, this map is ideal for big team battles.
Foundry is the ultimate Forge map. Players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, placing stairways, walls, bridges, and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map imaginable.
All three maps will become available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of new Halo 3 multiplayer maps.
We'll have more information on the Heroic Map Pack, including how to get the pack for those who haven't downloaded content before, as the release date nears.

Article courtesy XBOX.com

Xbox 360 Fall dashboard update to add original Xbox downloads

2007-11-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

Microsoft has announced that the next dashboard update for the Xbox 360 will add the ability to download original Xbox games to your hard drive. Sounds like owners of the 20GB may want to consider upgrading. Starting December 4, Xbox 360 owners will have the option of shelling out 1,200 MS points (that's $15) for each game they'd like to download to their hard drive. As of right now, there's no word on the average size of these games so we're left wondering exactly how much space we're going to need to free up and whether or not buying these older games used is a better option (you can still find most of these games for under $15 used).
While there's no word yet of other enhancements the fall update will feature, you can see a list of the first round of games appearing on Microsoft's new service after the jump. The first batch of games slated for download December 4 include Halo: Combat Evolved, Fable, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Indigo Prophecy, Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex, Psychonauts, and Burnout 3: Takedown.

Article courtesy crave.cnet.com

XBOX Team Rochester now on MySpace

2007-11-12T11:44:00.001-05:00

XBOX Team Rochester is now on MySpace. We'd love to add any of our team members who have MySpace pages, and we'll be posting alot of different information on the page for all to see. Check it out! You can find the team MySpace HERE

Welcome back...

2007-11-12T09:58:00.000-05:00

XBTR welcomes back "DaddyBurrito" (formerly GhostRiderTGAC) to the XBTR crew. DaddyBurrito left our team some time ago to pursue a different venture in the gaming arena. Even more recently, he moved out of the Rochester area for occupational reasons, however his passion for gaming remains and we expect to utilize his abilities and ideas in the planning of future events and in XBTR site development. You can reach DaddyBurrito through the team e-mail address at xbtr@rochester.rr.com

Pumped up for Call of Duty 4

2007-11-08T09:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween from XBTR everyone!!!

2007-10-27T20:56:00.000-04:00

A little of IcemanXBTR's pumpkin carving creativity for your review...

XBTR WinterWonderLAN???

2007-10-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

Okay, okay, we've heard you calling, and we've read all of your e-mails!!!
XBTR is indeed working on our next WinterWonderLAN event, and as is the case with our other events, this one promises to be even bigger than the last....
Not much in the way of details right now, so keep checking back for more information...we know you'll want to attend....

XBTR

Microsoft Adds Free Games To Xbox 360 Consoles

2007-10-11T18:28:00.000-04:00

The bonus titles follow two months of price cuts for the video-game console.

With an eye on the upcoming holiday shopping season, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) on Monday said it would bundle two video games with the Xbox 360, a move that followed by two months price cuts for the video-game console.
By the end of the month, Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 Elite are expected to ship with Forza Motorsport 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. The games have a combined retail price of $90, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft in August lowered the price of the consoles by $50 in an effort to keep pace with similar moves by rival Sony, which sells the PlayStation 3. The 20-Gbyte Xbox 360 now sells for $350. The 120-Gbyte Elite system retails for $450.
The U.S. price cuts followed Sony's decision in July to lower the 60-Gbyte version of the PlayStation 3 to $499 from $599.
While hardware pricing is important, games are the driving force behind consumers' choice of video-game console. Among the most popular games on the Xbox is Microsoft's sci-fi game Halo 3, which posted sales of more than $300 million in its first week on the market. Released Sept. 25, first day sales of Halo reached $170 million, and retailers took more than 1.7 million pre-orders -- both industry records.
Nevertheless, Nintendo's Wii has outpaced sales of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Nintendo in June sold 381,800 Wii consoles, compared with Sony's 98,500 PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's 198,400 Xbox 360 machines.
The holiday shopping season, which officially begins the Friday after Thanksgiving and runs to Christmas, is the biggest retail season of the year, and a time when Microsoft and its rivals make major marketing pushes for their consoles.

'Halo' creators leave Microsoft

2007-10-05T12:52:00.000-04:00

Software company retains equity interest in Bungie

SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft Corp said on Friday that Bungie, the crown jewel of its video game unit that was behind its hit "Halo" franchise, will become an independent company. Microsoft said it will retain a stake in the new company and will continue to publish future "Halo" games and other titles, although Bungie indicated it could also make titles for gaming devices other than Microsoft's Xbox 360.
"We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft platforms," Bungie head Harold Ryan said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing that affiliation through 'Halo' and beyond." Microsoft bought Bungie in 2000 as it beefed up its game development efforts in preparation to launch its Xbox gaming console the following year. "While we are supporting Bungie's desire to return to its independent roots, we will continue to invest in our 'Halo' entertainment property with Bungie and other partners," Shane Kim, head of Microsoft Game Studios, said in a statement. Microsoft's Xbox 360 competes against Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. "Halo 3," which launched on September 25, has already racked up more than $300 million in worldwide sales, making it one of the fastest-selling games of all time and putting Microsoft's money-losing entertainment division on track to turn a profit. The announcement follows days of speculation triggered by a reader blog on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Web site that Bungie was set to split from Microsoft.

Article courtesy MSNBC.com

2007-10-01T18:17:00.001-04:00

Rock Band has now officially got dates and prices for all you gamers, If you want it for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 versions it will be available on 23rd November for $169.99 of which the Rock Band will be bundled with the game, drum kit, mic and a single guitar.
If you want Rock Band for the Playstation 2 which everyone thought it would be a 2008 release will in fact get it now on 10th December for $159.99.
The Sony PS2 and Sony PS3 version packages will include wireless guitars with an optional extra cordless axe for the Xbox 360.
This means that the PS2 and PS3 Rock Band guitars will be wireless and the Xbox 360 guitar will be wired.

Play Halo 3 All Night Long

2007-09-28T18:20:00.000-04:00

The big day has come and gone, and now it's time for some serious Halo® 3 action! Join us as we stay up all night long from Saturday night to Sunday morning. Hook up with your buddies and complete a marathon session. Jump into co-op or versus games over Xbox LIVE® and enjoy all the new features.
Join us online at sundown on Saturday, September 29 until daybreak on Sunday, September 30 for all the action you can handle. Unite to Fight Play & WinThis is also the perfect opportunity to qualify for the Unite to Fight Play & Win Sweepstakes. Just register your gamertag before September 30 and then compete in an online match to enter. We've got some great prizes to give away, including an Xbox 360™ Halo 3 Special Edition console!
Of course, we want to hear all about your Halo 3 All-Nighter! Take some pictures of the action and let us know what happened, how long you played, and how many new friends you made. Send us a recap at mailto:xlmail@microsoft.com?subject=Halo3%20All-Nighter for the chance to be featured on Xbox.com.

Biggest game release of all time, and well worth the wait

2007-09-25T16:21:00.000-04:00

Yes, after leaving work at midnight last night I motored over to the GameStop in Panorama Plaza to secure my Collector's Edition copy of Halo 3. Like many of you, I was greeted at the door by a line of people waiting to take their copy of the title home as well. Kudos to GameStop for handling the situation so well, as I arrived right around midnight and I was out the door at 10 minutes after. I would definitely pre-pay for a title from them again.

Now, for those of you who didn't pick up a copy, I have to say you're really missing out. Halo 3 is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! The graphics, the transitions, the music, sound effects, new weapons set, even the customization. This is a no holds barred all inclusive title that will keep the Halo fan (and even those who dont like Halo) busy for a long time.

XBTR members GoddfreyTGAC and Danero made the trek to New York City for the release party at BestBuy, and it looks like they had a great time. We've attached a quick pic of GoddfreyTGAC courtesy of our two members camera phones and DeadlyTECH.com.

Full coverage of our XBTR members visit to NYC are available at DeadlyTECH.com.

IcemanXBTR

Call of Duty 4 is Best of Show

2007-09-24T20:10:00.000-04:00

The good news for developers of the soon to be released Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, having won the coveted Best of Show Award at this year's big E3 video game convention, there's virtually no way it'll stay hidden among the tall grass that is the extremely crowded field of the first-person-shooter genre.

The bad news though, Best of Show means the game has to be near flawless to match the expectation that's been building and will continue to do so until its November 7 launch. But developers of the game, that has you trying to stop a Russian ultra-nationalist who wants to return the Soviet Union to its pre-democratic glory days, insist it will live up to the flood of positive press.

"Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare brings a level of realism, a level of authenticity that's unmatched in gaming right now,” said Vince Zampella, Infinity Ward. “We put a lot of effort into making the world believable, realistic, and immersive. It's the details that make all the difference between it being a game and an immersive experience that just sucks a player in."

Article courtesy RNEWS.com, for complete article, click HERE

Newest Halo 3 TV commercial...getting pumped for Tuesday....

2007-09-22T16:11:00.000-04:00

Microsoft Delivers Xbox 360 Progress Report

2007-09-21T21:18:00.000-04:00

According to Microsoft, more than 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold
As Sony soaks up the Tokyo Game Show spotlight, Microsoft was quick to boast its gaming accomplishments thus far including the most played games over Xbox Live.
According to Microsoft, more than 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold (either to retail or to consumers), this despite multiple reports suggesting that Wii has overtaken total Xbox 360 sales with fewer than 11 million units sold.Regardless, gamers buy more software for the Xbox 360 than for PS3 and Wii combined according to NPD, and Microsoft said Xbox 360 owners buy an average of 6.3 games per console, more than either PS3 or Wii. Additionally, Microsoft reports 7 million Xbox Live members (including free silver accounts) and expects that number to reach 10 million by the end of June 2008. The average Xbox Live Gold subscriber has 23 contacts in their friends roster, according to the company, and there are more than 250 games available for Xbox 360, 86 of which are Live Arcade titles.

Microsoft also released the following most popular games on Xbox Live.

Article courtesy of pcworld.com, click HERE for continuation of complete article

Nextel Cup series Halo 3 car

2007-09-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

Found this little blurb while surfing, looks like there is going to be a Nextel Cup series car all gussied up in Halo 3 graphics...just one more way to promote the release....

"Halo 3...The Biggest Video Game Debut of All-Time: Team Target driver Reed Sorenson and CGRFS teammate David Stremme, along with a couple of other select NEXTEL Cup Series drivers, will get a chance to Finish the Fight before anyone else during the "Halo 3" sneak peek weekend at Dover. Additionally, Stremme will be piloting a special No. 40 "Halo 3" paint scheme during the Dover 400, highlighting the much anticipated Xbox 360 game release, which is set to shatter day-one sales records when it is released worldwide on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Release and artwork available upon request."

The time is drawing near...

2007-09-19T22:32:00.000-04:00

Microsoft has officially unveiled the cavalcade of festivities it has planned for the launch week of Halo 3. Officially dubbed "Unite to Fight," the launch week of Halo 3 is set to feature a ton of special activities and promotions including 3 days of free Xbox Live Gold for everyone, a chance to win a custom Pontiac G6 GXP Street Edition, Play & Win contests, special Marketplace goodies, and gaming sessions with Bungie and celebrities. Halo 3 will even be getting its own car in NASCAR. On top of all this, special midnight sales events will be happening all over the U.S., with events planned in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and Miami (Florida, not Oklahoma). The special events will play host to Halo 3 Game with Fame sessions and chances to win free swag. The events take place at the following locations:

New York City – Best Buy, 529 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10017
Seattle – Best Buy, 457 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
Los Angeles – Gamestop, 1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Universal City, CA 91608
Miami – Circuit City, 8575 Northwest 13th Terrace, Miami, FL 33126

Head over to the official Unite to Fight website for details on all the launch week events, and start marking your calendars.

Burnout Paradise...shipping for XBOX 360 on Jan. 21...

2007-09-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

Halo 3 spoiler video: shows multiplayer and customization menu

2007-09-18T08:21:00.000-04:00

Halloween fanatics in Rochester....UNITE!

2007-09-13T18:24:00.000-04:00

Those of you that know me know I am a Halloween fanatic. Always have been, always will be.

For those of you who dont know me, consider yourself informed.

With the exception of the release of Halo 3 (just a short 12 days away, but who's counting..), nothing is more top of mind for me right now than enjoying the activities of my favorite time of year (yes, you guessed it , Fall) and setting up the house for Halloween.

A close friend of mine, who many of you already know, packed up his family and moved down South (or actually, more West) to enjoy the fruits of a better job market and higher pay. Yes, Western NY is well known for losing its residents to Southern states whose companies pay you more for doing the same job. Imagine that, getting paid more to do the same job. Go figure. Anyway, he, like myself, is a Halloween freak, so much infact that he worked at Fear at Frontier last year and had a great time doing it. He was disappointed that he missed out on the opportunity this year, but I'm certain he'll be happier where he is, making more money, and enjoying the warmer weather.

Now I'm getting off topic.

He and I had planned to put together some kind of a haunted event (hayride, haunted house, haunted attraction) but never got around to doing it. So me, with nothing better to do with my time (yeah right) put together a neat new website/blog, also on blogger.com, where you can go to find the latest and greatest things to do in the Rochester area during the Halloween season. Haunted hayrides, haunted house, costume shops, haunted attractions, pumpkin patches, you name it, its in there.

Enough from me though, check out my other website here, and be sure to tell your friends all about it.

ROCHESTERHALLOWEEN.BLOGSPOT.COM

IcemanXBTR

P.S. Hey Ghostrider/DaddyBurrito, how's the Arizona sun today?

Top 5 worst ways to die in a video game

2007-09-13T18:12:00.000-04:00

Caught this on MSNBC.com today....

"Top 5 worst ways to die in a video game
If you play as many video games as we do, it's inevitable that you'll see characters die on screen. Death happens a lot in the gaming world, Thankfully, it's easily cured by pressing the reset button.
Still, we can't help but notice that while some characters meet their demise in relatively simple and painless manners, the vast majority of them kick the bucket in horrendous ways that we would never want to endure ourselves here in the real world.

These are our Top 5 worst ways to die in a video game."

Monday Xbox Live will close: how do 360 owners feel?

2007-09-06T11:07:00.000-04:00

Microsoft’s Xbox live service is to close Monday for around 4 hours (apparently from 9am to 1pm).
Many users of its Xbox Live service have been getting messages from the Console manufacturer, although this is just a little bit of downtime I wonder what the Xbox 360 users will feel about this.
If people are at work or not around then I guess they will not care, but for the gamers that want to go to Xbox live in the downtime, they will be very unhappy.
Microsoft has apparently refused to comment on what the maintenance is for, it could be an annual autumn update but knowone really knows but Microsoft.
One other rumor that I found very interesting is that there could be a new feature as a parental timer that allows adults pre-program a set amount of time their children can play on the Xbox 360.

Mass Effect Launching Nov. 20 for Xbox 360

2007-08-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-08-31T20:57:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-31T20:53:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-29T01:05:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-25T10:31:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-25T00:15:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-23T08:38:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-20T18:57:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

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?

2007-08-15T20:38:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-15T01:26:00.000-04:00

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!

2007-08-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-11T10:09:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-11T10:01:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-10T18:14:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-08-09T18:17:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-08T17:54:00.000-04:00

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'

2007-08-07T20:47:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-07T20:42:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-05T12:31:00.001-04:00

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

2007-08-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-02T20:29:00.000-04:00

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?

2007-08-02T20:23:00.000-04:00

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

Microsoft Says No To Xbox 360 Core Discontinuation Rumors

2007-07-31T08:22:00.000-04:00

In the wake of credible rumors of a $50 price drop for the $400 Xbox 360 Premium package, there are some slightly sketchier rumblings about the $300 Core system. Namely, that it has been discontinued in the US.
An anonymous tipster wrote to Wired News this morning saying that he had photos from Best Buy's inventory system showing that the Core had been discontinued. Attempts to contact him failed, but Joystiq has what are apparently the pics in question.
Microsoft's response was succinct: "No. Xbox 360 Core remains an important member of the Xbox 360 family." Maybe it's just Best Buy that's giving up? Maybe it's fake.

Courtesy blog.wired.com

HD DVD for Xbox 360 On the Cheap

2007-07-29T21:26:00.000-04:00

From $200 to $180, now those of you sitting impatiently on underutilized high definition TVs can slap an HD DVD player on an Xbox 360 for $20 less. Stepping in at Comic-Con 2007, Microsoft announced the price trim to its already price-stealy Xbox 360 HD DVD effective August 1, 2007.
That's $500 for a Playstation 3 with Blu-ray (while supplies of the 60 GB model last) versus $400 + $179 ($579) or if we take into account the theoretically imminent $50 price drop on the 360, $350 + $179 ($529) making the 360 a still slightly pricier game/movie solution than the PS3. Almost apples to apples, which would have to include the Xbox 360 wireless adapter ($100), the 360 bumps to $629, making it considerably more expensive. If you want to get really technical, the PS3 comes with HDMI and a 60 GB hard drive, whereas you'd need the Xbox 360 Elite (120 GB, HDMI) at $479 to achieve near-parity. Add $100 (802.11b/g) + $179 (HD DVD) and you're up to $758.
$758 (Microsoft) vs. $500 (Sony)? Given Microsoft's decent (if not stellar) sales numbers, it says a lot about un-bundling discrete media technology when consumer demand for HD DVD and Blu-ray is currently just so-so.
But back to Microsoft's HD DVD price drop. If you're waffling, here's something that just might tip you over: Buy an Xbox 360 HD DVD player between August 1 and September 30 and courtesy Toshiba's "Perfect Offer" program for Toshiba-branded HD DVD players, you can get five free HD DVD movies by mail-in from a catalog of 15 pre-selected films (links to PDF). But...hmm...Constantine? Dukes of Hazzard? Tomb Raider? Sky Captain? Okay, I'll take Apollo 13, Blazing Saddles, and Casablanca anyway.

Courtesy pcworld.com

Microsoft to cut price of the XBOX 360 by $50.00 in August

2007-07-25T16:18:00.000-04:00

Reduction in price to be timed to release of major titles

In an effort to regain momentum in the video game console market, Microsoft Corp. will cut the price of the Xbox 360 by $50 early next month, sources said.The reduction will be made Aug. 8, according to one source in the retail world, noting that the cut will come during what traditionally has been one of the slower times of the year for game hardware sales.Asked to comment, a Microsoft spokesman said: "We have no announcements to make on pricing at this time. While price matters, content is king. And no other system is offering all the games people want to play this holiday at a better price than Xbox 360."Still unclear is whether the cut will be made to all three versions of the Xbox 360 on the market. The Core model, which accounts for about 20% of Xbox 360 sales, retails for $299; the best-selling Pro model sells for $399, and the Elite model is about $479.Although an Xbox price drop has been widely anticipated in the industry, just how much and when has been the subject of debate. One leading industry analyst, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan, had forecast a similar reduction, which Microsoft denied. As for the Aug. 8 date, there is significance to the timing. Not only will Electronic Arts' "Madden NFL 08" be reaching stores shelves just a few days after the drop, but Microsoft also has several other highly touted games, including "BioShock" by publisher Irrational Games and "John Woo Presents Stranglehold" from Tiger Hill Entertainment, coming for the Xbox 360 in August.Speculation about an Xbox price cut grew after Sony Computer Entertainment America announced several weeks ago that it was dropping the price of its 60GB PlayStation 3 from $599 to $499. SCEA said this week that sales have been up 135% at its top five retail accounts since the move.Those claims have yet to be reflected in the latest sales figures. According to the NPD Group, the Xbox 360 and PS3 continue to trail Nintendo's Wii in terms of U.S. sales. In June, Wii outsold the Xbox 360 by nearly 2-to-1, 381,800 units to 198,400 units. But with the PS3 selling only 98,500 units in June, the good news for Microsoft is that it seems to be winning the battle for the hard-core gamer.Michael Goodman, director of digital entertainment at Yankee Group, suggested that a $50 drop would boost Xbox 360 sales but not dent the market leader. "I think the price points are still high enough that they won't stop Nintendo from maintaining their momentum," he said.Microsoft should get a huge boost in September with the launch of the exclusive "Halo 3." At the E3 Media & Business Summit this month, Microsoft announced a special limited-edition "Halo" version of the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite Model that will go on sale shortly before "Halo" launches. Although it won't come bundled with the game, the "Halo" Xbox 360 will have special game-related content preloaded into the hard drive.Microsoft also has an advantage in that, unlike rivals Sony and Nintendo, the Xbox 360 has been out for more than 18 months and production is running strong, meaning that there is little danger of hardware shortages on store shelves come the holidays. Nintendo, on the other hand, recently said that it will be scrambling to meet demand all the way through year's end. Somewhat lost amid the battle for market share among the three hardware makers is the fact that the video game industry seems to be heading for a record year in the U.S. Combined hardware and software sales in June for consoles and hand-held systems reached $1.1 billion, up 31% year-over-year, while year-to-date total sales for first-half 2007 are at $6.1 billion, up 42% year-over-year.

Article courtesy HollywoodReporter.com

NCAA Football '08

2007-07-23T23:04:00.000-04:00

NCAA Football 07 was a great game but it suffered from many of the same problems that other series experienced in their transition from one generation of consoles to the next, most notably a lack of game modes and features. That's not a problem in NCAA Football 08. Even if the presentation is largely unchanged, there's no shortage of ways to stay occupied. The new campus legend mode and super sim are also nice additions to an already great-playing game.

Last year's relatively light list of game modes is a thing of the past. You can play a quick game, hop online for an unranked or ranked game, play a few minigames, take over a college program in dynasty mode, or try to become an all-time great player in campus legend mode. NCAA 08's minigames are the same as 07's minigames. Tug-of-war, bowling, and option dash are a lot of fun if you didn't play them to death last year, but it would have been nice to have something new.

For the rest of the article click HERE

Article courtesy gamespot.com

Xbox chief defects to Electronic Arts

2007-07-17T20:37:00.000-04:00

Peter Moore will oversee the software company's lucrative sports division

The executive who had been overseeing the Xbox video game division for Microsoft Corp. is defecting to Electronic Arts Inc., where he will oversee EA’s lucrative sports division.

Peter Moore, 52, had been vice president of interactive entertainment for Microsoft, responsible for Xbox and the software company’s Games for Windows businesses. Moore will switch to EA in September and report to EA CEO John Riccitiello.

“He’s the exact right guy to do the job,” Riccitiello said in a phone interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. Riccitiello, formerly an executive at Wilson Sporting Goods Co. who knew Moore when he was at Reebok International Ltd., said he’s wanted to recruit Moore for a decade.
“He was the toughest competitor we’ve ever seen,” Riccitiello said.
Another gaming executive is going in the other direction: Microsoft said Tuesday it hired EA veteran Don Mattrick to replace Moore. Mattrick will start at the end of July. Mattrick left his role as president of EA’s studios last year, after 15 years with the company.
Mattrick has worked as an adviser to Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft’s entertainment division, for the last several months. He’s helped Microsoft refine its strategy to connect music, video, video games and communications, Bach said.
EA’s newest hire comes as Riccitiello orchestrates a sweeping reorganization of the No. 1 video game publisher, which has struggled in recent quarters to deal with the industrywide disruptions caused by new gaming consoles. EA’s losses widened last quarter by 56 percent to $25 million, and revenue slid 4 percent to $613 million.
In February, CEO Larry Probst resigned and was replaced by Riccitiello, who first joined Redwood City-based EA in 1997, then rose to president and chief operating officer before leaving in 2004 to co-found a venture capital fund.
Riccitiello is rebuilding EA around four distinct business units, including sports, which will be headed by Moore. About one-third of EA revenue comes from sports titles; the company owns such lucrative franchises such as “Madden NFL,” “NBA Live,” “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” and “FIFA Soccer.”

While at Microsoft for the past four years, Moore helped launch the next-generation Xbox 360 console and sell 11.6 million units. He also helped develop Xbox Live, which connects 7 million gamers over the Internet. In an interview Tuesday, Bach called Moore the “marketing brains” behind the launch of the wildly popular “Halo 2” game.
EA’s stock rose $1.38, or 3 percent, to close at $49.47. Microsoft shares gained 75 cents to close at $30.78.

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

2007-05-31T21:32:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-30T12:27:00.000-04:00

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....

2007-05-28T09:07:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day 2007

Xbox 360 game add-ons charge ahead

2007-05-22T21:24:00.000-04:00

"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

2007-05-21T23:57:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-20T22:32:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-18T13:55:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-16T00:43:00.000-04:00

Connect360 shares H.264, iTunes podcasts on Xbox 360

2007-05-15T08:27:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-14T14:18:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-12T16:31:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-12T09:43:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-09T09:57:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-07T08:10:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-05T18:54:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-02T13:26:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-01T10:30:00.000-04:00

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

Xbox 360 Elite premiers Sunday

2007-04-27T10:26:00.000-04:00

Retailers on Sunday will start selling Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite, a new version of the popular video game console with a slightly different look, more storage capabilities and built-in HDTV support. It costs $479.99. The Xbox 360 Elite, clad in black with metallic detail, comes with a 120GB hard disk and a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). Also included are HDMI and component video cables, XBox Live headset, used to communicate with other players in multiplayer games through Microsoft’s Xbox Live online gaming service, and a wireless game controller.
By comparison, the Xbox 360 Premium bundle — the white Xbox 360 in its most commonly available configuration — sports a scant 20GB of storage, no built-in HDMI and component video cable only. the 120GB hard drive is also available as a $179.99 accessory for existing Xbox 360 owners who want to upgrade their console’s storage capacity.

Article courtesy macworld.com

For rest of article, click HERE

Command & Conquer 3 Demo on XBOX LIVE!

2007-04-26T08:40:00.000-04:00

I downloaded the Command & Conquer 3 demo last evening and had a chance to play the first two GDI tours available as part of the download. As a former C & C player from the PC realm, I was very impressed with how the game held on to many of its old attributes while still offering plenty in the way of new gaming enhancements and capabilities. The demo version even gives you the opportunity to deploy and fire the ION Cannon, a space-based WMD that virtually annihilates your opponent with one pull of the trigger.

Needless to say , I was impressed, and C & C 3 will be one of the next titles on my "to buy" list as a result. Can't wait to play the rest of the game. I bet the LIVE! action will be intense.

IcemanXBTR

Guitar Hero II 360: Impossible To Find

2007-04-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

Seems as if demand has vastly outstripped supply for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero. An analyst with A.G. Edwards has found that of 100 stores surveyed on Monday, April 23, only one (1) had the game in stock. Stores surveyed expect more shipments of the game to come in next week, but many said that units are snatched up within hours of arriving on shelves. No second controllers were available at any of the stores surveyed. The analyst said the supply issues could be laid on the production of the guitar controller, and that Activision is looking for ways to get those numbers up. The analyst also said that none of the stores surveyed had Wii in stock, but you knew that.

Article courtesy blog.wired.com

Microsoft Links PC, Xbox Gaming

2007-04-24T12:43:00.000-04:00

Microsoft Games for Windows Live lets PC, Xbox gamers chat; high-end version allows cross-platform gaming.

Microsoft Corp. hopes the launch in May of a gaming platform that ties together Windows PCs and the Xbox 360 console will give PC gaming a boost in Japan and in turn mean better business for its console.

Article courtesy pcworld.com/Martyn Williams - IDG News Service
For complete article, click HERE

Halo 3 fans, pick your version!

2007-04-24T08:59:00.000-04:00

The Master Chief is returning to Earth to finish the fight. The Master Chief's AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Graveminda and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. This is how the world ends. Check out all the Halo 3 Versions!

Forza Motorsport 2 contest!

2007-04-20T17:15:00.000-04:00

XBTR Member and "The GhostRider's Zone" staff member RTEGOnline is giving away a copy of FM2 on release day to one lucky winner...

Click HERE or visit our sister site "The GhostRider's Zone" for more information