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More Fable 2 DLC on the Way

Zach Lott — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:40:43 -0500

Even the folks at Lionhead are "tweeting" these days, and CVG has discovered that the developer has announced via their Twitter page that more DLC for Fable 2 is on its way:

"Will there be any more DLC for Fable 2? The answer is quite simple: Yes. The team here in Guildford is working on some new content right now! More information will be shared in the coming weeks."

This comes after Wednesday's accidental announcement of Fable 3, which came via voice actor Jonathan Ross' Twitter page. Perhaps companies like Valve and Nintendo should start practicing the art of Twitter leaks.

Halo Wars Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:23:58 -0600

The Xbox Live demo for Halo Wars, the RTS title from the recently-disbanded Ensemble Studios, was released back on Thursday, giving fans a chance to check out how Halo holds up as a strategy title.

The download contains a tutorial, along with a skirmish map and couple of scenarios from the campaign. There's no online or single-player co-op, but there's still plenty to check out.

The game will hit store shelves on March 3, so download the demo and let us know what you think.

Xbox 360 Dashboard Update: HDMI Audio Fix

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:29:14 -0600

If you've signed into Xbox Live this morning, then you're probably already aware of this, but Microsoft has released a mandatory dashboard update for the Xbox 360.

Major Nelson has the story over at his blog, saying that the update fixes an audio problem some users were experiencing with their HDMI connection.

If you're one of the many 360 owners who have tried to deal with this problem ever since the "New Xbox Experience" was rolled out back in November, then get signed in and download the update.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:16:41 -0600

Although Microsoft is rather busy these days with firing their employees, it seems that they haven't forgotten that they still have an online service to maintain, as Major Nelson has announced via his official blog that a demo for Resident Evil 5 has arrived on Xbox Live.

The demo, which is the same one released in Japan last month, allows you to play "by yourself or play with a partner in co-op mode, either online or offline with a split screen," according to Nelson.

Capcom has yet to reveal a date for the PSN demo, but it shouldn't be long before it'll be available. We'll let you know once it's announced.

New Gears of War 2 Update Goes Live

Solomon Lee — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:03:12 -0600

Epic has released a new patch for Gears of War 2 that fixes various multiplayer glitches and gameplay bugs. Included with the update is a list of new achievements involving the Combustible and Flashback map packs. They are listed below as follows:

Skeletons in your Closet (20G) - Complete waves 1 through 10 on all Flashback Map Pack maps in Horde (any difficulty)
More Mystery, Less History (15G) - Win a multiplayer match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps (any mode except Wingman)
Bound by a Shared Past (15G) - Win a Wingman match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps
Trial by, and on, Fire (20G) - Survive first 10 Horde waves on Combustible Map Pack maps as a team
The Roof! The Roof! The Roof... (15G) - Win a multiplayer match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps (any mode except Wingman)
Forged in the Fire (15G) - Win a Wingman match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps
Annex: Now With Execution Rules (75G) - Win an Annex match on each Flashback and Combustible Map Pack map (public only)

NeoGAF strikes awesome again. Prototype Thread.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:09:44 -0600

In the interest of not ripping off other people's work please visit the link. In the interest of getting people interested in clicking the link: You'll find prototypes of Microsoft's 360 (pictured above), several Nintendo systems throughout the years including the quashed fruits of their abandoned collaboration with Sony, lots of Sega stuff, some NEC stuff, many Sony prototypes, and well... since it's a thread, assumedly much more in the future. Many of the things are garish, gaudy, or naked, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying a glimpse of what may have been. Think of it like a box of Christmas presents that you'll never get to enjoy.

GB Review: Gears of War 2 (360)

Solomon Lee — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:43:07 -0600

Gears of War 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to Gears; the title that gathered quite a following with its impressive visuals, intuitive run-and-cover gameplay, and engaging characters. The game doesn't mess with its own formula of success but rather, it focuses on what it does best -- delivering an intense, visceral, adrenaline-pumping experience. The sinister violence and gore is a trademark of this game that has been well received by fans and one that Epic doesn't shy away from. Although it fails to revolutionize the genre, Gears 2 delivers on all fronts and surpasses the original with more weapons, deadlier monsters, larger campaigns, more multiplayer maps and an incredibly addictive Horde mode. Gears of War 2 is this year's game to own on the Xbox 360.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Gears of War was quite the blockbuster when it first arrived on Xbox 360. The game offered solid controls, great visuals, intuitive third person camera and chainsaws. Though the plot wasn't the main focus, Gears effectively brought us the memorable, wisecracking Delta squad members: Marcus, Dom, Cole and Baird. Fast forward to Gears 2 -- the game takes everything that made the original Gears a solid shooter and takes it a step further on the epic scale. To quote Epic Lead Designer, Cliff Bleszinski, Gears of War 2 is definitely "bigger, better and more badass."

Gears 2 continue right after the original shooter; following General RAAM's defeat and the light mass bombing. Marcus and Dom fight with fellow COG soldiers fatally wounded defending the city after subsequent Locust attacks. It is there on the hospital grounds we meet the rook, Benjamin, brother to his sibling Carmine who died from an infamous sniper shot and Tai, a militaristic but calm leader. They quickly learn that the Locusts have quietly regrouped underground and have launched attacks in endless numbers. Entire cities have been sunk underground as the Horde employs powerful forces and tactical equipment and that's not all; they've brought grotesque and far deadlier creatures this time around. Epic has placed a strong emphasis on the story behind the war that sheds light on Marcus Fenix's history and Dom's continued search for his missing wife, Maria.

As expected, the returning weapons are the Lancer, Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, Torque Bow, Pistol and the Hammer of Dawn. New weapons added to your arsenal include the Hammerburst Rifle (enemy weapon), Gorgon Pistol, Ink Grenade (emits poison), Mortar (distance artillery weapon), Mulcher (turret gun) and the fan-favorite, the Scorcher Flamethrower. Grenades can be stuck to walls and used as proximity mines to destroy enemies lurking around. If you are pinned in battle, you can crawl while bleeding to try to reach your teammates to be revived. The new weapons are available in the latter half of the game and can be found by looting Locust corpses. Each weapon is distinct and allows you to perform unique executions on fallen enemies crawling away. You can also grab a dying Locust for use as a meat shield to flank your enemies. Be warned that using the corpse for cover lasts for a very short time -- limiting you to the use of a pistol. The shield will either explode into bits under heavy gunfire or be disposed of after breaking the Locust's neck.

The original Gears saw players destroying their opponents with a chainsaw attack; granting them temporary invulnerability to gunfire or melee attacks. Pulling the attack off was often based on luck between two players with the one who revved up his chainsaw just a split second earlier winning the fight; which was infuriating. Epic has addressed the Chainsaw attack complaints with a new Chainsaw duel feature. Two players that rush one another with the Lancer will be thrown into a mini-game; quickly mashing the B button ensures victory. If a third player approaches two people engaged in a Chainsaw duel, the poor guy or gal on the receiving end will instantly be overpowered.

Both single player and coop campaigns allow you to finish the game by yourself or with a friend. The option to play at your own pace is simplified as campaigns can be played with two separate difficulty settings. An extra difficulty setting Normal can be selected with the Insane difficulty unlocked after the game has been completed. You can invite your friends with the "What's Up" feature that lets you see the status and progress of your Gears' friends online. Personally, I found the friendly menu list to be useful in keeping tabs with other online players.

The all new Horde mode is one of the highlights of Gears 2. In Horde mode, you join a team of five players collaborating to destroy Locusts waves on various maps. Eventually, your enemies grow stronger with more health, better weapons and increased numbers. A total of 50 waves are featured in Horde mode for which the difficulty level rises considerably after the tenth wave. Fighting together in groups, reviving teammates, giving cover fire and using key vantage points is crucial for your survival. Linked achievements play a big role in the Horde and multiplayer modes. Gears fans will be happy to hear that specific achievements (completed from the original) unlock new playable characters such as Anthony Carmine, Minh Young Kim (former Delta squad leader) and General RAAM. Your progress ultimately dictates your rank; which is used for matchmaking purposes. Horde mode is tough as nails but is easily the most satisfying and rewarding to play with everyone.

A War Journal is a handy tool that tracks your listed achievements, unlocked characters, and collectables. Rather than using COG tags, Epic has placed hidden files, newspapers, memos and personal letters throughout the game. They comprise a total of 41 collectables that provides a side story to the events surrounding the war. A magnifying glass signifies the item is found and is easily picked up by pressing the X button. You don't need to guess how close you are to an achievement as the journal displays your progress towards obtaining it. This is a welcome change for fans wishing to complete the game in its entirety.

Multiplayer modes feature seven maps: Warzone, Execution, Annex, King of the Hill, Guardian, Submission and Wingman. Epic's gift to its fans is a code for the Flashback Map Pack for those with preorders and for those buying Gears 2 at launch. This map pack includes five maps: Subway, Canals, Tyro Station, Gridlock and Mansion. While it doesn't sound like much, each map is considerably different from the original Gears. The Subway is less dreary, Canals have been hit by a frozen icy spell, Tyro Station is more industrialized, Gridlock is filled with foliage and the Mansion has better lighting. A new Training Ground mode gives casual, novice and veteran players a brief tutorial on the basics of multiplayer controls and combat.

Gears 2 is a graphically intense game. Buildings, air-borne dust, the underground caverns and the city landscapes are very polished. Special effects ranging from hailing fire on your enemies with the Mortar to poisoning the enemy with Ink grenades are visually gratifying. The frame rate takes a severe hit at numerous checkpoint locations that could have used some tweaking. There is also a tendency for Locust corpses and weapon spoils to fall and to defy natural physics in its environment. Otherwise, Gears 2 is a game detailed to the core that manages to exceed the best visuals of the original Gears. With respect to audio, the soundtrack is top-notch and a great accompaniment.

Many of the flaws from the original Gears have sadly crept into Gears 2. The A.I. teammates tend to block your shots, run straight into enemy territory without cover, and get hopelessly pinned in a far corner amongst a group of Locusts. Regrettably, the vehicle stages are the most irritating part of many campaigns; especially on the higher difficulty settings. Despite its shortcomings, Gears 2 is an exciting game full of blood, action and suspense for anyone that enjoys a solid third person shooter.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts Text Difficult to Read on SDTVs

Zach Lott — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:28:34 -0600

If you've yet to make the jump to a high-definition television, then you might be a bit disappointed with this news: Joystiq is reporting that the text for the upcoming 360 title Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is muddled when viewed on standard-definition televisions.

Worse yet, Rare has announced that they aren't planning to take action in order to fix it, stating that it would require too much "time, resources and money to alter."

While there are certainly many gamers who already own HDTVs, this should be a huge annoyance to those still relying on standard ones. It shall be interesting to note how this affects the November NPDs.

No Gears of War 2 For PC

Solomon Lee — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:35:31 -0500

With Gears of War 2 coming in November, fans hoping for a PC version are out of luck. Cliff Bleszinski, Epic Lead Designer, has reiterated the company's focus on the Xbox 360 by declaring the issue of piracy to be a deterrent for a PC version.

"The person who is savvy enough to want to have a good PC to upgrade their video card, is a person who is savvy enough to know bittorent to know all the elements so they can pirate software. Therefore, high-end videogames are suffering very much on the PC." states Cliff Bleszinski.

Gears of War 2 is set for release on November 7 on the Xbox 360.

New Xbox Experience: What's Bumpin' with Themes?

Ryan Fulton — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:03:16 -0500

We all know that the New Xbox Experience is a fancy way of re-skinning the Xbox's current "blade" interface and adding Mii Avatar support. While a new look is nice, many of us paid hard earned Imperial Credits for our current themes and they suit us quite well, thank you very much. Not to fear! The fine folks at Gamerscore Blog have descended from their perch upon high to allay your doubts and worries.

Not only will your old themes still be viable in the new format, they'll look even better, theoretically. In addition to old themes being supported, some of the new themes will be slightly animated. Avatars will also take an active role on the background representing what your friends are doing and even grouping together when partied. All in all, it seems pretty exciting. Well, as exciting as a glorified menu system can be, which is sort of exciting.

Rumor: 360 To Get Massive Price Cuts

Zach Lott — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:40:00 -0500

Been waiting for the price on the Xbox 360 to drop? Well, it's almost time to get one, as Kotaku has reported that fifty-dollar price cuts for all three SKUs (Arcade, Pro, Elite) are in the works for September. That'll bring the Arcade down to $199, the Pro down to $299, and the Elite down to $399.

This now makes the Arcade cheaper than the Wii, which will make September's NPD numbers that much more interesting when they hit in October. It's hard to say if this development can slow down the Wii juggernaut, but it could help the 360 break away from the PS3 this holiday season. It'll be fun to watch.

GFW Live Multiplayer Features Now Free, Marketplace Coming

Zach Lott — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:49:44 -0500

Microsoft's Games For Windows initiative has caught a lot of anger from the gaming community for a variety of reasons, but some of those are about to erased, as 1up is reporting that a couple of big announcements regarding GFW Live have been made at Gamefest 2008.

First up is the news that multiplayer features such as matchmaking and cross-platform play with the Xbox 360 no longer require a paid GFW Live Gold account. Many gamers have been hostile towards Microsoft in the past for charging for these features, most of which are free on services such as Steam.

Next was the announcement that the long-overdue GFW Live Marketplace is coming, from which you will be able to pick up demos, trailers, and more. Microsoft plans to make it as functional and content-rich as the Xbox Live Marketplace.

In addition, it was announced that a change to the GFW interface making it easier for developers to make their games compatible with the service is coming. A pair of upcoming GFW games were also revealed in the form of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II and Battlestations: Pacific.

Microsoft looks like they're finally ready to take their PC gaming service seriously, but with Steam ruling the market it may be hard or impossible to overcome the disastrous launch and convince gamers that GFW Live is the future of PC gaming. It'll be interesting to see how these announcements go over with the PC gaming community.

E3 2008: 5 New Gears of War 2 Screenshots

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:45:26 -0500

Launch Gallery: Gears of War 2 E308

(5 images)

E3 2008: Halo Wars Screenshots

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:17:35 -0500

Launch Gallery: Halo Wars

(11 images)

E3 2008: First Screens from Fable II

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:18:54 -0500

Will Molyneux's followup to the legendarily disappointing Fable be a sure-fire hit? It's hard to tell by looking at screenshots, but this is a gaming site afterall... how else are we going to speculate?

Microsoft has just released these sceens in their E3 2008 asset dump. Check out the gallery below.

Launch Gallery: Fable 2

(9 images)

E3 2008: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Images

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:57:38 -0500

Microsoft has released these first images of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts for the Xbox 360. The game is developed by Rare and is said to be available this November.

Launch Gallery: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

(8 images)

E3 2008: Halo Wars Coming In 2009

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:46:38 -0500

1up is reporting via their E3 coverage that Halo Wars, the upcoming RTS set in the Halo universe, is definately locked into a 2009 release date. They received the news from Dave Pottinger, the game's lead designer, with whom they have a huge interview on their site which can be found here. Be sure to check it out if you're looking forward to the game, which will be available for the Xbox 360 and PC and is being developed by Ensemble Studios, the minds behind games like Age of Empires.

E3 2008: Final Fantasy XIII Trailer

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:36:23 -0500

In case you missed the big reveal at Microsoft's E3 conference, here's the trailer shown for Final Fantasy XIII, which is no longer exclusive to the PS3:

E3 2008: Microsoft Reveals XBLA Lineup

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:29:35 -0500

Microsoft made quite a few announcements at their press conference today, not the least of which is that they've got several titles slated for Xbox Live Arcade this year.

Leading the way is Portal: Still Alive, an expansion of Valve's wildly popular puzzle game from last year that will contain fresh levels and achievements. It should hit XBLA this fall.

Also announced were Geometry Wars 2 and Galaga Legions, which should satisfy those of you craving more retro-style shooters. The latter will be released next month.

Other announcements include Rare's N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie, Uno Rush, and an unnamed South Park title.

E3 2008: Rock Band 2 Setlist Revealed

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:03:19 -0500

Harmonix has just issued a press release containing the full list of songs for Rock Band 2 that was first shown at Microsoft's E3 conference.

The biggest news besides the contents of the list is that you'll be able to export all your tracks from Rock Band into Rock Band 2, which, combined with the latter's setlist and planned DLC, will give you over 500 songs to jam out to by year's end.

As for the list itself, there's a ton of different artists ranging from Bob Dylan to AC/DC to Blondie and more. There's a total of 84 songs that will be on the game disc.

Hit the jump for the full list of songs.

Main Setlist

1. AC/DC - Let There Be Rock 1970s
2. AFI - Girls Gone Grey 2000s
3. Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know 1990s
4. Alice in Chains - Man in the Box 1990s
5. Allman Brothers - Ramblin Man 1970s
6. Avenged Sevenfold - Almost Easy 2000s
7. Bad Company - Shooting Star 1970s
8. Beastie Boys - So Whatcha Want 1990s
9. Beck - E-Pro 2000s
10. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl 1990s
11. Billy Idol - White Wedding Pt. I 1980s
12. Blondie - One Way or Another 1970s
13. Bob Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue 1970s
14. Bon Jovi - Livin on a Prayer 1980s
15. Cheap Trick - Hello There 1970s
16. Devo - Uncontrollable Urge 1980s
17. Dinosaur Jr. - Feel the Pain 1990s
18. Disturbed - Down with the Sickness 2000s
19. Dream Theater - Panic Attack 2000s
20. Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf 1980s
21. Elvis Costello - Pump It Up 1970s
22. Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way 1970s
23. Foo Fighters - Everlong 1990s
24. Guns N Roses - Shacklers Revenge 2000s
25. Interpol - PDA 2000s
26. Janes Addiction - Mountain Song 1980s
27. Jethro Tull - Aqualung 1970s
28. Jimmy Eat World - The Middle 2000s
29. Joan Jett - Bad Reputation 1980s
30. Journey - Anyway You Want It 1970s
31. Judas Priest - Painkiller 1990s
32. Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son 1970s
33. L7 - Pretend Were Dead 1990s
34. Lacuna Coil - Our Truth 2000s
35. Linkin Park - One Step Closer 2000s
36. Lit - My Own Worst Enemy 1990s
37. Lush - De-Luxe 1990s
38. Mastodon - Colony of Birchmen 2000s
39. Megadeth - Peace Sells 1980s
40. Metallica - Battery 1980s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Whered You Go 1990s
42. Modest Mouse - Float On 2000s
43. Motorhead - Ace of Spades 1980s
44. Nirvana - Drain You 1990s
45. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky 1960s
46. Panic at the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon 2000s
47. Paramore - Thats What You Get 2000s
48. Pearl Jam - Alive 1990s
49. Presidents of the USA - Lump 1990s
50. Rage Against the Machine - Testify 1990s
51. Ratt - Round & Round 1980s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give it Away 1990s
53. Rise Against - Give it All 2000s
54. Rush - The Trees 1970s
55. Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye 2000s
56. Smashing Pumpkins - Today 1990s
57. Social Distortion - I Was Wrong 1990s
58. Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot 1980s
59. Soundgarden - Spoonman 1990s
60. Squeeze - Cool for Cats 1970s
61. Steely Dan - Bodhitsattva 1970s
62. Steve Miller Band - Rockn Me 1970s
63. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger 1980s
64. System of a Down - Chop Suey 2000s
65. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer 1970s
66. Tenacious D - Master Exploder 2000s
67. Testament - Souls of Black 1990s
68. The Donnas - New Kid in School 2000s
69. The Go-Gos - We Got the Beat 1980s
70. The Grateful Dead - Alabama Getaway 1980s
71. The Guess Who - American Woman 1970s
72. The Muffs - Kids in America 1990s
73. The Offspring - Come Out & Play (Keep em Separated) 1990s
74. The Replacements - Alex Chilton 1980s
75. The Who - Pinball Wizard 1960s

Bonus Songs

76. Abnormality - Visions 2000s
77. Anarchy Club - Get Clean 2000s
78. Bang Camaro - Night Lies 2000s
79. Breaking Wheel - Shoulder to the Plow 2000s
80. The Libyans - Neighborhood 2000s
81. The Main Drag - A Jagged Gorgeous Winter 2000s
82. Speck - Conventional Lover 2000s
83. The Sterns - Supreme Girl 2000s
84. That Handsome Devil - Rob the Prez-O-Dent 2000s

E3 2008: Final Fantasy XIII To Hit Xbox 360

Zach Lott — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:44:31 -0500

Sqaure Enix President Yoichi Wada dropped a bombshell at the end of Microsoft's press conference today, as he revealed that Final Fantasy XIII is no long exclusive to the PS3 and will be available for the Xbox 360 on release day.

This is huge news for Sony, as one could now argue that they have to show at least one huge game at their conference tommorow to show that they have quality exclusives in the pipeline for the PS3. There's no doubt that they'll be facing pressure to show that the PS3 can compete with the 360's lineup of exclusives, which includes Fable 2 and Gears of War 2.

Stay tuned, we'll keep you updated with all the big announcements.

E3 2008: Gears 2 November 7 Release Date Confirmed

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:38 -0500

Today at the Microsoft E3 2008 Press Conference it was confirmed that Gears of War 2 will release on the Xbox 360 November 7th, 2008.

Launch Gallery: Gears of War 2

(10 images)

E3 2008: RE5 March 13 Release Date Confirmed

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:54:54 -0500

Today at the Microsoft E3 2008 Press Conference it was confirmed that the release date for Resident Evil 5 on the Xbox 360 will be March 13, 2009 worldwide.

Wall Street Journal Confirms Xbox 360 Price Drop

Zach Lott — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:15:27 -0500

It's been rumored for a while now, but a $50 price cut for the Xbox 360's Pro SKU is indeed in the works, according to The Wall Street Journal. They report that "people familiar with the matter" have confirmed to them that the price cut is coming and may take effect as early as Sunday, July 13.

It is currently unknown whether or not the Arcade and Elite SKUs will also be receiving a price cut, but we'll let you know if those details surface. They may come as soon as Microsoft's E3 press conference, which will likely address the Pro SKU's price cut.

Fable 2 Pub Games Coming in August

Zach Lott — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:41:58 -0500

Tired of waiting for Fable 2? Well, you're about to get a little taste of it, as Microsoft has reported via the Gamerscore Blog that Pub Games, a collection of three minigames in which you can earn gold that can be transfered to Fable 2 upon its release, will be available on XBLA in August.

You'll be able to gamble away your virtual capital in the following games:

Spinnerbox, an updated take on slot machines.
Keystone, a combination of Craps and Roulette.
Fortune's Tower, a "press your luck" style of game.

Pub Games will cost you 800 Microsoft points unless you preorder, in which case the collection is free.

New Gears of War 2 Imagery

Solomon Lee — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:56:19 -0500

Microsoft has published new screens for the highly anticipated Gears of War 2. The game features an enhanced multiplayer mode and a chainsaw duelling mini-game. Gears of War 2 is set for a November release for Xbox 360.

Hit the link to view more images.

Rumor: Original Metal Gear Solid To Hit XBLA

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:51:43 -0500

In news unrelated to the E3 leak, Wired's Game|Life blog has heard a rumor that the original Metal Gear Solid was recently spotted on Microsoft's developer-only PartnerNet service, which is used to test upcoming Xbox Live games. If true, this rumor means the game will likely be released on XBLA sometime in the near future.

However, members of the NeoGAF forums quickly pointed out that the huge amount of audio in the game would make it nearly impossible to shrink the game down to the 350 megabyte limit on the size of XBLA games, meaning that Microsoft may once again increase the allowed file size to accommodate the game provided that the rumor is true.

E3 Leak: Microsoft to Announce Their Alternative to Miis?

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:26:07 -0500

First up in the series of posts regarding the Intellisponse leak is news that Microsoft may be planning to finally announce a long-awaited alternative to Nintendo's Miis: "Xbox Avatars."

Joystiq is reporting that "Avatars" were mentioned in a Microsoft survey and may take the place of gamer pictures, giving Live users "an animated, customizable online persona." Intellisponse's website stated that they will be available at holiday time for those connected to Xbox Live and during the spring for everyone else. This, coupled with information from Joystiq's "trusted source" that the 360's fall update would consist of a service that sounds much like "Xbox Avatars," gives a certain credence to this rumor.

As always, we'll keep you updated.

Gears of War To Be Re-Released

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:40:00 -0500

Microsoft has made the announcement over at the Gamerscore Blog that they will release a deluxe edition of Gears of War on June 24. This version of the game will retail for $39.99 and will contain a second disc packed with content like map packs in addition to trailers for the game's upcoming sequel.

Hit the jump for a full list of content and additional details.

Disc One

Gears of War (game disc)

Disc Two

Gears of War - Map Packs 1 & 2
Gears of War - Theme - 'Emergence Day'
Gears of War - Gamer Pics - 'Gears of War,' 'Emergence Day'
Gears of War 2 - Trailers - 'Duel,' 'Assault'
Gears of War 2 - Theme - 'Bare Your Teeth'
Gears of War 2 - Gamer Pics - 'Crimson Omen'

Microsoft also announced that this version will include the Annex mode as well as 250 new achievement points. The PC-exclusive content will not be present on the disc.

New Banjo Kazooie Imagery

Solomon Lee — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:35:09 -0500

Previously known as Banjo Kazooie 3, Microsoft has officially announced that Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360 is set for a November release. The game is a radical departure from the series' platforming roots as the gameplay ventures into vehicle building and customization modes.

Hit the jump to view more images.

HD DVD Production Stops For Xbox 360

Tim Grube — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:04:35 -0600

It was only a matter of time until the bug guys over at Microsoft decided to go along with Toshiba and every other company out there to stop production of HD DVD items. Microsoft just issued this statement today.

As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market. As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace.

HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.

Blu-Ray wins. Horray! Now give me The Kingdom on Blu-Ray please. Thank you...

Banjo Kazooie 3 Coming In 2008?

Solomon Lee — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:43:22 -0600

According to CVG, Banjo Kazooie 3 is rumored to be scheduled for a 2008 release following an earlier discussion between Microsoft Game Studios head, Shane Kim and MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo at this year's DICE summit.

Quoth directly from the news story, a Microsoft spokesperson issued this comment:

"As announced at E3 last year, the next installment in the popular Banjo franchise is still on target for 2008."

Those that wish to read the full interview can do so here.

Microsoft Adds Three Xbox Originals Games

Shiva Stella — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:20:00 -0600

Microsoft has updated its Xbox Originals program offerings to include Black, Ninja Gaiden Black, and Sid Meier's Pirates.

If you're into the whole "downloading what you should already own in hardcopy" thing, head over to Live now to check them out.

The Club Demo Now Available in North America

Shiva Stella — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:20:01 -0600

Some good news for Xbox 360 gamers in the US today, as The Club demo that was previously made available to Australia, Europe, and New Zealand is now up for download via the Xbox Live service.

Not a lot of perky bits of information have been filtered from the Microsoft camp since its little holiday hiccup, aside from a free download of Undertow that no one cares about anyway (why not arrange a price point and let me download one XBLA game I actually want), but at least the demos continue. And everyone loves the demos.

Microsoft Announces Free XBLA Game

Solomon Lee — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:05:47 -0600

Following the recent news of the Xbox Live lawsuit, Microsoft has officially confirmed the free Xbox Live Arcade game being offered to Xbox Live users.

The side-scrolling title, Undertow, will be available on January 23 at 2 am (PST) until January 27, 11:59 pm (PST) as Microsoft's compensation for their Live service downtime over the holiday season.

Xbox Live's Major Nelson has issued this comment on the forums:

"If you have already purchased the game, you can contact support and they will take care of you."

Those that wish to visit the site can do so here.

Can Bioshock Save Japan?

Shiva Stella — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:48:42 -0600

According to Takashi Sensui, Microsoft's Xbox-related go-to guy in Japan at a recent Spike, Xbox 360 New Year's party, more and more (Xbox 360) western titles will be making their way over to the gaming capital of the world, and those being third-party titles at that. The first three games include Battlestations: Midway, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, and 2K's ever-popular Bioshock.

It's an interesting move, with Xbox 360 sales lagging behind... everything else (hard to top those Nintendo DS's). It's possible that offering western-style games to Japanese gamers via the 360 might boost unit sales, but it's equally possible that the audience doesn't give a damn. But if Bioshock, one of 2007's premier titles in the west, can't move 360s over there, then what can?

Japanese Gamers Care About Content, Not the Money

Shiva Stella — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:21:09 -0600

According to a report on the Dow Jones Newswire, a recent survey has "discovered" that Japanese gamers "care more about the games they want to play than price," as a poll of 3,422 gamers on kakaku.com claims that 49.2% say their primary concern in choosing a new console is that it be "compatible with the games they absolutely want to play."

Here are some figures for those who like numbers.

43% wish to buy the most popular console
6.1% are mostly concerned about price
25% own a Wii
25% own a DS
10% own a PlayStation 3
10% own a PSP
3% own an Xbox 360
28% hope to buy a Wii next
27% hope to buy a PS3 next

I can only assume that 0% are interested in buying an Xbox 360 as their next console, as a figure wasn't given for Microsoft's unit. Maybe they're saving up for a DS or PSP in a new color?

Anybody surprised by this at all?

Lawyer Addresses Xbox Live Class-Action Lawsuit

Solomon Lee — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:46:55 -0600

Regarding the news of the Xbox Live lawsuit, the plaintiffs' lawyer, Jason Gibson, has recently spoken with MTV to defend the lawsuit against heavy criticism by the media and consumers.

Gibson has denied allegiations that the Texas residents are seeking excessive financial benefits from the lawsuit by stating that his clients are "college-educated" individuals who treat the Live service downtime as a "real issue." Furthermore, he explains that they are seeking to be compensated for the Xbox Live services they failed to receive.

MTV has reported that others have pledged their support with over 50 plaintiffs joining the lawsuit. Despite Microsoft's apology and their publicized promise to compensate Gold members with a free yet unconfirmed Xbox Live Arcade game, Gibson has declared that the class action lawsuit will proceed.

Microsoft has not issued a comment in response at this time.

Microsoft to 'Consider' Blu-ray Support if 'Consumers Want It'

Shiva Stella — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:41:44 -0600

In more Blu-ray news, Reuters is claiming that Microsoft would "consider" switching to the Blu-ray camp if "consumers want it".

Said Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware, "It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider."

As far as the rumor of Paramount switching sides in the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war, Penello stated that he didn't think that Paramount's decision (to abandon HD DVD) would have a "significant impact" on the Xbox 360 as it continues to go up against Sony's PlayStation 3.

I find this humorous because the PlayStation 3's 40GB model looks a hell of a lot more attractive as the most affordable Blu-ray player on the market. Plus it plays games, too (surprise!) and the PlayStation brand is still powerful despite the PS3's lackluster first year.

Microsoft Developing Xbox 3 Already?

Shiva Stella — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:15:50 -0600

Though this tidbit of information feels undoubtedly incorrect, rumors are surfacing that Microsoft is already working on its next Xbox unit, having scrapped a big, unannounced project for the Xbox 360 while simultaneously repositioning it for the company's next console.

Seems crazy considering that all three companies have expressed desires to expand the life-span for this console generation, but you never know.

Games For Windows Still Alive

Akshay Masand — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:50:01 -0600

Microsoft has made another CES announcement recently that many PC / Xbox 360 gamers will find interesting. In order to "revive" PC gaming, more Games for Windows titles are being announced. Amongst the titles addressed were:

Alone in the Dark by Atari
Bionic Commando by Capcom
Conflict: Denied Ops by Eidos Interactive
Empire: TOtal War by SEGA
LEGO Indiana Jones by LucasArts
Microsoft Train Sumulator 2 by Microsoft Game Studios
Sins of a Solar Empire by Stardock
Space Siege by SEGA
Tomb Raider: Underworld by Eidos Interactive

Microsoft also wishes to remind the public that these aren't the only titles being released for Games for Windows this year, as the anticipated Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and Fallout 3 are also expected to ship soon.

Microsoft Getting Sued for Poor Live Service Over Holidays

Shiva Stella — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:32:40 -0600

In more bad (but stupid) news regarding Microsoft's Xbox Live service, a class action lawsuit has been filed in Texas that seeks $5 million dollars in damages for Live's poor service over the holiday season.

The three individuals bringing suit against Microsoft claim that the company breached its contract because it knew that "an increase in subscriptions would increase gameplay on its servers" and yet "failed to provide adequate access and service to subscribers."

Though I join many others in scoffing at Microsoft's "failure" to foresee the increased server demand and really don't care for the unannounced free Xbox Live Arcade game being offered as compensation, how the hell could anyone have suffered damages due to poor Live service? And damages that amount to $5 million? Who are these crazies and why are you still breathing in our valuable oxygen?

Top Xbox 360 Titles Played for 2007

Shiva Stella — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:35:07 -0600

Everyone's favorite Major Nelson has updated his personal blog with the top Xbox Live games for 2007 based on connectivity. Data was collected from 1/1/07 - 12/31/07.

2007 Top Xbox 360 Titles (based on unique users, that is the number of gamertags that have played the game):

Halo 3
Gears of War
Call of Duty 4
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Call of Duty 3
Crackdown
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Guitar Hero II
Forza Motorsport 2
Lost Planet

2007 Top Xbox Live Arcade Titles (based on sales/downloads)

TMNT 1989 Arcade
Worms
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
UNO
Bomberman Live
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
Sonic the Hedgehog
Pinball FX
Geometry Wars Evolved
Texas Hold 'em

2007 Top Xbox Original Titles (based on unique users, ie gamertags)

Halo 2
Star Wars: Battlefront 2
Counter-Strike
Battlefield 2: MC
Doom 3
Forza Motorsport
Madden NFL 2007
Conker: Live Reloaded
Call of Duty 3
Rainbow Six 3

Considering that Call of Duty 4 released on Nov. 20, I'd say an earlier release of a month or two would have put it above Halo 3 (launched Sept. 25).

Thanks, Larry.

CES 2008: Microsoft Keynote Xbox 360 Announcements

Tim Grube — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:30:18 -0600

During the CES Microsoft Keynote in Las Vegas just now, Microsoft unveiled that Xbox Live has reached the 10 million member mark and is continually growing. More people are using the console as an entertainment device as a "whole" rather then just a gaming device.

To go along with the announcement, ABC and Disney will be bringing video content to the Xbox Live Marketplace later this month. That includes your oh-so-favorite Hannah Montana shows, High School Musical, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and much more. MGM will also be jumping on-board, providing film content.

"Xbox Live will provide twice as much on-demand content than any cable or sat provider," according to Microsoft.

Look for more on CES 2008 this week as it starts up tomorrow.

Xbox 360 Kills Candles, Tops Charts at 17.7 Million Units Sold

Shiva Stella — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:56:16 -0600

While I have no idea why you'd want to stick a candle next to your Xbox 360, MyGEN has discovered that the unit has surpassed its baby-killing predecessor and moved into the realm of candle devastation. See above.

As if to bask in its latest evil accomplishment, Microsoft has confirmed that it has sold 17.7 million Xbox 360 units since launch; Halo 3 has sold more than 8.1 million copies, followed by BioWare's Mass Effect at 1.6 million units.

Keep your candles away from you videogame consoles, kiddies.

Microsoft to Offer Free Live Arcade Game to Those Affected by Service Hiccups

Shiva Stella — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:18:19 -0600

Just in case you missed this posting over at Larry Hyrb's blog or at Xbox.com, Microsoft has confirmed that Live's poor holiday service was indeed due to a record-setting number of gamers online simultaneously and that the company will be offering compensation for all Live members (that be silver and gold) in the form of a free Live arcade game.

While it's not a couple hundred Marketplace points or a free week of service, at least it's proper acknowledgment of the issue that includes some kind of compensation. Here's the full message from Microsoft's Marc Whitten, General Manager of Live:

Dear Xbox Live Members:

During this past holiday season you helped us break a number of Xbox LIVE records. This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday (January 2) you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service.

As a result of this massive increase in usage we know that some of you experienced intermittent Xbox LIVE issues over the holiday break. While the service was not completely offline at any given time, we are disappointed in our performance. I would like to take this moment to thank you each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as our team has worked around the clock to return the service to a stable state.

At the same time we would like to offer a token of our appreciation to all of you in celebration of record success for the service. And as a thank you for your loyalty during this holiday period, we will be offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge. In the coming weeks we will be sharing the specific details of this offer with you.

Thank you again for helping make Xbox LIVE everything that it is today!

Microsoft to Compensate Gold Members for Live Downtime?

Shiva Stella — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:13:09 -0600

Regarding those nasty Xbox Live issues that gold members have been experiencing since Christmas,Torrent Davis over at The Bitbag recently confirmed that he'd been in contact with a source at Microsoft who stated that "we [Microsoft] will definitely be doing something for our Gold memebers that weren't able to get online over the last week."

This is interesting in that it would mark the first time Microsoft has compensated members for Live "issues".

Sounds spiffy considering that 360 owners have been complaining that they have basically been paying Microsoft in order to beta test their Xbox Live service. Of course, gamers who were frustrated in their attempts to play Call of Duty 4 or Halo 3 online could have just played other games, but why pay for a service if you don't even get to use it for the games you want?

The good news is that Live seems to have stabilized some.

Experiencing Call of Duty 4, Halo 3 Connection Issues Since Christmas?

Shiva Stella — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:33:00 -0600

Just on the off-chance that any of you are Xbox 360 gamers eager to relax over the holiday break with a nice match on Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4, better be prepared for some "intermittent issues." According to Microsoft's support page as of 7:30p.m. CST:

Status:
Up and running

Users may experience issues performing transactions dependent on Windows Live ID availability including but not limited to Xbox 360 and Zune account creation, renewal, recovery, all DMP transactions, and logging into or creating Windows Live ID accounts. Users will experience intermittent issues including but not limited to: Tournaments, Storage Downloads, Gamer Tile, Statistics through Arbitration, Match Making, and Messaging. Additionally, Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 users may experience issues joining matches or posting statistics. Customer Support may also experience issues referencing customer data. We are aware of the issue and are currently working to resolve it. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In other words, players are reporting issues with forming parties, hosting/finding matches, gamertag recovery, and just about any feature that a person paying $50 a year for would want - though the chat function is still operating superbly.

You can check on the status of the "issue" at Microsoft's support page or check on some forum posts (1; 2) if you're in the mood for some quality entertainment provided by Xbox fanboys who seem to share the opinion that we should all get down on our knees and thank Microsoft for allowing us to give them money.

We'll keep you updated on Live's status as Microsoft addresses the issue; current word has it that the problems should be resolved by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

As an aside, I imagine that Xbox 360's Live issues combined with Nintendo's Wii shortage have made Sony very happy recently...

Update: As of 9:30p.m. CST the Live status now reads:

Users may experience issues logging into Xbox Live. We are aware of the issue and are currently working to resolve it. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Read: everything is still screwy and players are still having problems with Live, finding/joining games, staying connected, and so on. However some gamers are able to play other online titles, like Gears of War, while they wait on Microsoft to fix the issue, so if you're bored out of your mind during your break it's a possible option.

Update Update: It seems that things have stabilized at least a smidgen on Live since yesterday, but don't be shocked when you encounter various Live problems. As of 2:40p.m. CST , 12/30, the status now reads:

Users may experience intermittent issues logging onto Xbox Live. Our engineers are continuing to investigate and are working to resolve this issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Apparently Microsoft is still searching for whatever is causing the problem so they can fix the issue. Normally this is when I'd head over to Larry Hyrb's blog for an insider view on the chaos, but unfortunately Major Nelson's site is down...

Microsoft Designing Motion-sensor Controller for 360?

Shiva Stella — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:39:55 -0600

Here's an interesting tid-bit for Xbox 360 owners: rumor has it that Microsoft is currently looking into implementing motion-sensor technology in a new controller either for the Xbox 360 or the next console in Microsoft's hardware family. The word is that Microsoft is working with Gyration, the same company behind the Wii's motion-sensor technology, in designing this new Xbox controller.

Of course Microsoft remains silent on the issue, although fans are left to wonder when - or even if - Microsoft will join the motion-sensor bandwagon as both Sony and Nintendo have already implemented the technology into their controllers, though admittedly the PlayStation 3's sixaxis feature is rarely used (or even if it is used it's a bit hit or miss).

I've always found the feature to be a tad gimmicky and much prefer my precision controls provided by buttons that you actually push to do the job, but if Microsoft can do it better then they've got my attention.

Quick show of posts: how many of you think this motion-sensor business is the future of gaming?

Microsoft Wants You to Vote for its Best of 2007... but you're a rebel, right?

Shiva Stella — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:18:48 -0600

Just in case you haven't yet, here's a friendly reminder that Microsoft wants you to cast your vote for best "whatever" game of 2007 in its Xbox 2007 Community Choice Awards. All you need is a gamertag and the ability to click a mouse for your preferred selection and you're all set. Here's the list of categories:

Best Game
Best Game Add-on
Best New IP
Best Role-Playing Game
Best Racing Game
Best Family Game
Best Arcade Game
Best Sports Game
Best Co-op Game
Best Weapon
Best Vehicle
Best Xbox LIVE Event
Toughest Achievement
Coolest Xbox 360 Accessory
Best Sequel
Best Movie Download
Best TV Download
Best Game You May Have Missed

That last category throws me - how can you determine what is the best game out of a bunch of games you've never played?

Cast your vote at the link.