Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood (Preview)
Gaming Heaven :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Call Of Juarez was released a few years ago and was quite the success in the gaming community. As a wild west style FPS with an impressive engine it was used in many cases as a benchmarking utility for new graphics cards at the time. The follow up Bound In Blood is due for release this year and again has the same two character mechanic. We recently spent some time with a few of the levels which we found out is actually a prequel to the first title.
Release This: Too Human, Sims 2: Apartment Life Head U.S. Lineup
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” explores a week that brings the debut of Too Human and The Sims 2: Apartment Life in the United States, as Japan prepares for J-League Winning Eleven 2008 Club Championship and Inazuma Eleven.
Saling The World: Madden NFL 09 Leads U.S. Sales on 360 and PS3
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts see Madden NFL 09 outselling all Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 competition in its first week of release in North America, as Tales of Vesperia meets with an enthusiastic reception in Japan.
Critical Reception: D3/Treasure’s Bangai-O Spirits
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Bangai-O Spirits, a Treasure-developed sequel that reviewers describe as “a shooter that celebrates shooters.”
Release This: Madden NFL 09 Kicks Off in North America and UK
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” explores a week that finds Madden NFL 09 debuting in the U.S. alongside Line Rider 2: Unbound and Bangai-O Spirits, as Summer Athletics and Table Football premiere in the UK.
Critical Reception: Bizarre Creations’ Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, an Xbox Live Arcade shooter sequel that critics say is a “superb sequel” that “bests the original in every respect.”
Release This: Tales of Vesperia, Fire Emblem DS Launch in Japan
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” explores a week that finds Tales of Vesperia and a Wii port of Imabikisou debuting alongside awaited portable offerings like Fire Emblem: Shin Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Ken and Summon Night 2 in Japan.
Saling The World: Soulcalibur IV Debuts High in Worldwide Charts
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts see Soulcalibur IV top weekly Xbox 360 and PS3 software sales in the U.S. and Japan, while Phantasy Star Portable leads overall Japanese cross-platform results.
Critical Reception: Namco Bandai’s Soulcalibur IV
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to this week’s debuting fighter sequel Soulcalibur IV, which initial reviews claim is “unquestionably [Namco Bandai’s] best fighting game to date.”
Release This: Soulcalibur IV, Rhythm Tengoku Gold Debut Worldwide
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” explores a week that brings the worldwide debut of Namco Bandai fighter Soulcalibur IV and the Japanese portable premieres of DS music game Rhythm Tengoku Gold and Sega’s PSP action/RPG Phantasy Star Portable.
Saling The World: Final Fantasy IV Heads DS Charts In Debut Week
Gamasutra Columns :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts see the just-released Final Fantasy IV surpassing long-time chart leader Guitar Hero: On Tour on the Nintendo DS in North America, as KORG DS-10 leads DS sales in Japan.
360 Modification Disc v1.6
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
FrostyTheSnowman released a new version of his 360 Modification Disc(info ). What’s new/fixed in v1.6: * Updated all firmware to iXtreme v1.6 * 0800 Mode for Samsung/BenQ/Lite-On (thanks to iXtreme v1.6) * Added ‘Donations’ screen, to show my appreciation :) Official Site: n/a, by FrostyTheSnowman Download: n/a (contains modified FWs) News-Source/Full Readme: xbins.org
iXtreme v1.6 – Team HyperX -THX- *update*
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
>>A new release of the iXtreme firmware for BenQ, Samsung and LiteOn drives. Hitachi will follow at a later date (ETA unknown) as usual. Team HyperX Presents IXtreme 1.6 firmware for Benq, Samsung and Liteon drives Features: -Strict Wave 3 compliance! hybrid (modified disks) will not boot! -Strict drive speed compliance – 12x only for game discs! -Support for SS V2! -Integrated 0800 for game dumping including SS v2! -Full support for all known game exceptions! eg ddr etc! -One shot boot mode! – allows a one off boot of gamedisc without -stealth/partition checks (will still use stealth), use activate.iso disk to activate each time! -Support for easy drive key/version info cmd, same as liteon! -Strict stealth/wave checking, one shot boot mode will boot wave(x)! More Info Strict Wave 3 compliance means wave 3 games will only boot if they have correct PFI/DMI/SS and timestamp for wave 3 Strict drive speed compliance means games will only boot if drive is set for the initial speed of 12x, any modification of this make games fail to boot SS v2 suports multiple timing samples for challenges type 5 and 7 , stroing them in the SS. This is a pre-requiste for SS v3 which has support for the so called AP2.5 check. Since this has never been used or may never be used by MS we will adopt a wait and see approach and continue to monitor for its usage. With drive in Windows mode (Tray half open on powerup) 0800 mode is activated allowing easy dumping of game disc including SS v2. In this mode the drive is also able to output drive key, fw version and drive type by using a simple custom inquiry command. Game exceptions are integrated in the fw for games that do not comply with the strict wave checks but are legitimate. These are Dance Dance Revolution Universe, Stoked, Ping 17 disk, afro samurai One shot boot mode allows you to boot a Wave X or non stealth game by using the activate.iso disk as a flag. Just insert the activate disc and the next disc inserted will boot without any strict checks. This will still utilise full stealth if available. As soon as that disc is booted the flag is cleared, and you will have to re-insert the activate disk again to enable one shot boot. As always use with caution. We apologize for the short delay, but we found some last minute bugs very late and wanted to make sure you guys are safe! As usual, modifying your firmware comes with NO guarantee for safety on xbox live. Why the name change? No reason, we just felt like it. -THX- -*UPDATE*- A repack was release for the LiteOn version. This repack was just a slight fix to the original release. The repack .bin has ‘repack’ as the file name, and the new upcoming JungleFlasher(info ) will automatically recognize the new version, and discard any beta/old versions. Official Site: n/a (By Team HyperX) Download: n/a (May Be illegal under EULA/DMCA) News-Source: xbins.org
NPD April 2009: Xbox360 175k, PS3 127k, Wii 340k
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Here are the US NPD April 2009 numbers: * DS – 1,040,000 * Wii – 340,000 * Xbox 360 – 175,000 * PS2 – 172,000 * PS3 – 127,000 * PSP – 116,000 And Microsoft’s reply via gamasutra.com : <BR><I> Responding to Thursday’s NPD U.S. game sales numbers for April 2009, Microsoft highlighted third-party game sales of $98 million for the month, “a key measure of platform health” and beating the Wii and PlayStation 3. Overall, the company conceded that Xbox 360 U.S. retail sales were 175,000 units, a dip of 7 percent compared with a year earlier. However, it argued that “April 2008 saw the release of the blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV, significantly boosting Xbox 360 sales this time last year.” The company noted that Xbox 360 sales were up 28 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2009, “the highest growth of any console this year”, as Xbox 360 games claimed four of the top 10 console titles, including The Godfather II, Resident Evil 5, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Guitar Hero: Metallica. </I><BR><BR>
Xecuter RROD Pro Repair Kit Tutorial
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From team-xecuter.com : <BR><I> Here is our official tutorial for the RROD Pro Kit. We’ve made its as simple and noob-friendly as possible. We have also fixed the downloads page and updated the Dissasemble Xbox 360 Instructions to include info on how to remove the motherboard. </I><BR><BR> Official Site: Buy Now: mrmodchips / ck3.co.uk
More Details on Xbox360 Error Codes
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From a user on XBH forums on xboxhacker.net : <BR><I> I noticed nobody has posted the reasons for visual error codes so I figured I’d put out what I know. A lot of these errors can be the results of any number of problems, especially with something like E74. So take these with a grain of salt. The explanation “general hardware failure” is an acceptable description for most of these because you would have to specifically look at each board to see what went wrong, but this might help with a few trivial errors, or help people pinpoint problem areas. E64 – Dvd drive timed out during reset E65 – Dvd drive is not DMA configured E66 – Dvd drive pairing failure E67 – Hard drive timed out during reset E68 – Hard drive not DMA configured E69 – Reading the HD Security sector failed E70 – Hard drive not found E71 – Error within Xam E72 – Error within Xam E73 – Couldn’t calibrate HSIO Bus from edram E74 – HSIO related, could be crc error, or many things. E75 – Ethernet – Couldn’t read ethernet phy vendor E75 – Ethernet – wrong ethernet vendor E76 – Ethernet – Couldn’t complete ethernet reset E77 – Ethernet – phy request is already processing E77 – Ethernet – reading reg failed E77 – Ethernet – Failed to write reg E78 – AsicId check failed E79 – Couldn’t start xam.xex E80 – Wrong LDV version The secondary error codes work as follows. Each blinking field represents 2 bits of an 8 bit hex value, or 1 byte. This byte being the “E” error code. 1 blinking field = 01 2 blinking fields = 10 3 blinking fields = 11 4 blinking fields = 00 For example, an led field sequence of 1031(crappy naming method) that some people have posted. It should really be be 1431 (that other method of naming is annoying). This means our 8 bit error code is 01001101 which when converted to hexadecimal becomes 0x4D and then to decimal as 77. so, 1031 is E77. So do the same method as before holding sync and pressing eject to get your secondary code, convert each to the proper bits, and then convert those to decimal, and you’ll have your “E” error code. Hopefully this will help some people stuck with 3rods out of warranty and nothing displaying on screen to see what’s wrong. Thanks to Tmbinc and redline99 for their help. </I><BR><BR> News-Source: xboxhacker.net
Datel Hacks Xbox360 Memory Card Protection – 2/4GB Memcards
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Datel launched a 2GB (40 USD) and 4GB (50 USD) Memory Card compatible with the Xbox360. It even includes a Micro SD slot for more memory (up to 16GB). Afaik this is the first unofficial memory card for the Xbox360 (unlike normal USB memory sticks/hdds these can be used as real memory card to store gamesaves and XBL content). Looks like Datel managed to bypass/hack the protection Microsoft uses on their memcards. From codejunkies.com : <BR><I> MAX Memory 4GB is a 100% compatible memory card for the Xbox 360 that includes an incredible 4GB of high speed flash memory – that’s 64x the size of a standard 360 memory card! If you don’t have a hard drive you’re going to need a memory card if you want to use Xbox L!ve, save your progress in games or make use of new content like themes or expansions; MAX Memory is the perfect choice for storing and transporting all this content. By including a massive 4GB of storage capacity, MAX Memory is a fantastic value alternative to a hard drive. What makes MAX Memory even better value is the fact that it can be expanded using any Micro SD memory card, including SDHC (High Capacity) up to an incredible 16GB. Since Micro SD is one of the best value memory formats available, MAX Memory can be expanded to provide all the save capacity you’ll ever need at a minimum cost. MAX Memory is the only Xbox 360 memory card to offer all of these features: * 100% compatible with Xbox 360 * Huge 4GB of storage capacity – 64x the size of a standard memory card * Expandable up to 16GB with snap-in Micro SD cards * Backup, restore and access files from your PC * Plug-and-Play </I><BR><BR> Official Site:
Picture for the new Xecuter RROD Pro Kit
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Here’s a picture of the content of the new Xecuter RROD Pro Kit . Official Site: Buy Now: mrmodchips / ck3.co.uk
Xbox Tester: Secret Xbox Suicide Command and MGS4
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From 8bitjoystick.com : <BR><I> Yesterday I had a very long interesting conversation with a recently laid off Xbox 360 hardware/software tester who had some very interesting things to say to me. 1st. Interesting Thing: There is a super secret kill-switch remote suicide self-destruct command that if Microsoft really wanted to they can remotely trigger and tell an Xbox 360 to fry itself and die. This was intended to be a last resort option if a fight against Xbox Live cheaters or major league professional game piracy ever got big. To their knowledge it has only been done in test situation in the lab but if they wanted to they could have the regular system security sweeps over Xbox Live activate a kill command when it found a compromised hacked Xbox 360 system. It works by having the Xbox overload a fuse and “pop” the fuse. The Xbox 360 will then crash and then will get an “Red Ring of Death Core Digital” error when the boot-up test comes back with a major component hardware failure. This is not the same as bricking or crashing a system since this will actually do physical damage to the motherboard. 2nd. Interesting Thing: Microsoft is currently software testing Metal Gear Solid 4 for Xbox 360. They might announce it at E3 but Konami likes to make money and Metal Gear Solid 4 was very expensive for them to make. Microsoft and Konami will not admit it before they are ready to but secretly builds of Metal Gear Solid 4 for Xbox 360 started being tested late last year. Konami want to make back their software development costs and they need to get it on the Xbox 360 to do it. 3rd. Interesting Thing: Microsoft makes a lot of hardware prototypes and very few hardware projects actually make it to market. They probably did start to build a Blu-Ray player and a motion sensitive wand controller but they never got close enough to making it to market. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: 8bitjoystick.com
Limited Edition Xbox 360 Shoes
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From gear.ign.com : <BR><I> We’ve seen a lot of ridiculous console merchandise come across our desks here at IGN Gear, and while there are an infinite number of excessive products, thankfully they retail at prices that aren’t going to make you feel like you were left unguarded in a prison shower for five minutes. Today, unfortunately, that trend ends as we’ve been made aware of Xbox-themed shoes that cost more than six Xbox 360 Elite consoles. Do they interact with your games? Nope. Do you get free DLC by purchasing them? Nah. Will they result in you getting into a fight with the kid wearing the PS3 leather jacket? Winner winner chicken dinner! The Xbox 360 Controller Shoe is designed to compliment the look of Microsoft’s premiere gaming system, all for the low low price of $2,500. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: gear.ign.com
WSJ ‘Confirms’ Xbox 360 Full Body Motion Sensing Controls
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From wsj.com : <BR><I> Microsoft Corp. is developing a new videocamera for its Xbox 360 videogame console that will allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies, according to people familiar with the matter. Unlike the Wii, the Microsoft camera won’t require users to hold any hardware in their hands to control in-game action, people familiar with the matter say. The device could be shown as early as the E3 game industry conference in Los Angeles in early June, though it likely will not be released until next year, these people say. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: wsj.com
No Japanese Voices on Western FF XIII Xbox360 Version?
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From kotaku.com : <BR><I> Hey, did you hear? In the West, FFXIII is coming to the PS3 and the Xbox 360. The PS3 has Blu-ray. The Xbox 360 does not. So when it comes to things like adding extra voice tracks, that might be difficult for the Xbox 360 version. According to Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase, “Obviously, when we talk about XIII it’s for PS3 and Xbox – with PS3 being on Blu ray there would be enough memory, but on Xbox probably not. At the moment we’re thinking of releasing the voice in English only. Are there many people who would like to play with Japanese voices?” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: kotaku.com
Pachter: 360 demolished PS3 in April, US trade down 17pct
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From vg247.com : <BR><I> Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter just put out his US console sales estimate for April, putting Wii at 480,000 units, 360 at 275,000, and PS3 at 175,000 consoles. The analyst predicted another tough comp for the month, saying he expects sales of $550 million, down 17% compared to last year’s $660 million. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: vg247.com
New Xecuter RROD PRO Repair Kit with X-Clamps
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From team-xecuter.com : <BR><I> We released our original Xbox 360 RROD repair kit during Christmas 2008 – and after over 100,000 sales it has proved to be a superb success. Of course there were still many consoles that it could not fix, and 360 modders were using an X-Clamp kit along with the Xecuter RROD kit to do a more robust repair. Naturally we wanted to make sure that our customers had the very best solution possible so we took the time to investigate the many many X-Clamp kits available and found that no two were the same, with many giving varying opinions and methods. So we spent a week or so testing the ass out of many many different fix designs and after finding what we think is the absolute perfect solution we can now launch the Xecuter RROD PRO Repair Kit for the Xbox 360. Not only have we included our specially formulated K-Pads for the memory chips, we have custom designed our own X-Clamp and have manufactured the bolts so that the length is the absolute precise length and thickness to offer the very very best solution. We also include perfect sized washers and the best quality silicon paste to enable you to repair both the GPU & CPU all in one kit. All other tools are of course included. As a test, we purchased exactley 100 RROD consoles from a games store and applied the fix to all of these. After bench testing for 7 days we have 87 consoles working perfectly with just the RROD Pro Fix, 6 others needed a DVD drive replacement and 7 could not be repaired at all – so were returned to M$ for replacements We are very pleased with the results and believe this kit will be the definative repair kit available anywhere for the XBOX 360. </I><BR><BR> Official Site:
Microsoft to Buy Game Maker BigPark
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From pcmag.com : <BR><I> Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it will buy computer game designer BigPark Inc for an undisclosed amount, as it pushes its strategy of producing exclusive games for its Xbox entertainment system. More information is expected at the video game industry’s annual E3 Expo in June. BigPark, founded in 2007 by former executives of Electronic Arts Inc and Distinctive Software Inc, will become part of Microsoft Game Studios. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: pcmag.com
Arkanoid XBLA wants extra money
Xbox Scene :: Saturday, May 16, 2009
From eurogamer.net : <BR><I> This week’s Xbox Live Arcade offering Arkanoid Live! may include a hidden charge that users must pay in order to finish the game. Microsoft asks for 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60) for Arkanoid Live!, but Xbox.com forum members (as well as Eurogamer readers and posters on the Major Nelson blog ) claim this only covers episodes one and two, and that a further 400 MSP (GBP 3.40 / EUR 4.80) is needed to unlock episodes three and four. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: eurogamer.net
Jungle Flasher v1.59beta
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
A new beta version of JungleFlasher(info ) has been released: <BR><I> JungleFlasher 0.1.59 – cleanup to 0.1.55 DVDKey32(info ) Support Updated Added Support for USB Extractor Switch, for remote launch of DVDkey32 from probe Added optional delay on dvdkey32… allow time for probe…. delay32 in reg, default is 0, max 20 sec Hitachi Support Updated Added Stop-Disk to Hitachi commands, People were still putting in a disk, a habit from FWTB days, commands would fail and the drive would crash. Improvements to Ram upload dump, should dump in 1 – 1.5 sec… added timer for the fun of it… Introducing USmodeB with JungleUSB drivers, for Hitachi 1. JungleUSB drivers allow Hitachi on USB to be seen in Mode-A, mode-B command can be issued 2. at power up, you may need to open/close the drive to allow windows to PnP fully 3. Send USmodeB – JF will enumerate all windows drive letters and find any Hitachi, JF will send mode-b General items Updated * Added, test for port IO…. JF will scan device tree for PortIO, 4 outcomes are possible i. port io running aok ii. port removed iii. port not installed iv. port io has an error * Fixed, Ctrl f7 for Drive pororties on PortIO, drives were not being detected * Added donate icon, users complained they conuldn’t see…. ;-) </I><BR><BR> Official Site: Download: here
Pachter: Next-gen consoles not before 2013, if at all
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From vg247.com : <BR><I> In a recent industry newsletter he sent to our in-boxes, Pachter reiterated what he told us at GDC that this current console generation is that last, and if not – it’s going to be a while. “We do not expect a “new” console in 2010 (other than the long-rumored high definition Wii, which is likely to upgrade the Wii to current console technology),” he wrote. “We do not expect the ‘next’ generation to begin before 2013, if at all.” “We remain convinced that the publishers will resist the introduction of any video game hardware technology that requires a refresh of software, as the publishers have as yet to capitalize on the immense investments made in being competitive in the current cycle.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: vg247.com
Xorloser Explains List of Revoked Xbox 360 Consoles
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From xorloser’s blog : <BR><I> Everyone has heard about the Xbox360 bans that stop a console from connecting to Xbox Live, however not many people realise that Xbox360 consoles can also be revoked. Below you can find a list of all the currently revoked consoles at the time of the Fall’08 system update release. Read on to find out why and how an Xbox360 gets revoked and what effect it has. Fall’08 Console Revocation List Contents This is a list of the Console IDs of the 433 Xbox360 consoles that had been revoked when the Fall’08 update was released. WHY? There are many reasons why your Xbox360 could get revoked, but generally it means you have done something to piss off MS. So the best way to keep from being revoked? Don’t do anything liable to piss off MS. An example of a cause for revocation is the public sharing of your gamesaves or other similar files from your Xbox360 hard drive. This includes making publicly available “resigned” versions of these kinds of files. In order to be revoked you have to have done something that involves your Console ID so that MS has the ID required for revocation. HOW? Revocation is done through the use of Console Revocation Lists (CRLs) such as the list posted above. If your console’s ID is present in the revocation list, then your console has been revoked. There are two types of CRLs, static and dynamic. A static list refers to a list that is saved onto the flash inside your Xbox360. This list is updated when system updates are performed on your console. The Fall’08 update contains an encrypted version of this list in the file “$SystemUpdate\su20076000_00000000\data.bin”. When the list is installed onto your console another layer of encryption is added using your Xbox360’s unique fusekey and the result is saved to a crl.bin file on the internal flash. A dynamic list refers to a list that is sent to your console when you connect to Xbox Live. This way an updated revocation list can be employed without requiring a system update. SO WHAT? So what does it mean to be revoked? Will I even notice or care? From what I can see so far being revoked means that your console loses its “license to sign”. Data that is generated locally on your Xbox360 gets signed by a key unique to your Xbox360. This data includes Gamer Profiles and Saved Games. Being revoked does not mean that you can no longer sign this data, just that other Xbox360s will no longer recognise anything that your Xbox360 signs. </I><BR><BR> Read the Full Story: xorloser.com
Rumor: Xbox 360 to get motion-sensing add-on with full body game control?
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From engadget.com : <BR><I> Here’s a wild one. We just got a tip from someone who purports to be in the know on Microsoft’s efforts to beat the Wii at its own motion-sensing game, with some of the details lining up with what we were hearing last year along these lines. The word is that Microsoft is building a “sensor bar” of sorts, but instead of detecting the waggles of Wiimote-like controllers, it detects full body movement and sound, sans controllers. There are two sensors on the bar, along with a mic and a camera, and while our tipster has “no idea” how it actually works, it sounds pretty impressive. Here’s a quick rundown of capabilities mentioned: * Full body and hand gesture control of games / characters. * In fighting games you kick, punch, duck, dive, jump and so forth with your body. * It also picks up small hand gestures like pinching, grabbing and scrolling. * There will also be video conferencing and games with video. * Trivia game over the internet with live images of each person playing. When a question pops up, they can clap to buzz in. * You can “move objects on your screen” and the other party can see what you’re doing in real time. * Sensor detects only the person playing, not folks observing on the couch. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: engadget.com
Xbox Strategy Boss quits Microsoft for Apple
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From mcvuk.com : <BR><I> MICROSOFT’s Xbox strategy boss Richard Teversham has quit the firm to join arch rival Apple, MCV can reveal. The popular exec leaves his role as senior director of business, insights and strategy for Xbox, where he reported in to European VP of the firm’s interactive entertainment, Chris Lewis. MCV understands that Teversham has accepted an education-related role at the iPod creator’s European office. A Microsoft spokesperson told MCV this week: “We can confirm that Richard Teversham, director of business, insights and strategy, has taken a new opportunity outside of Microsoft. A process is underway for recruiting his replacement.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: mcvuk.com
Canada gets exclusive Xbox 360 Elite ‘Anniversary Bundle,’ GTA IV pack-in
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From joystiq.com : <BR><I> Microsoft Canada has told Joystiq that a new console bundle is headed exclusively to the Great White North. Included in bundle are the standard Elite offerings (black console, controller and wired headset) along with 400, one month of Xbox Live and two promotional stickers: One for Grand Theft Auto IV itself and one for the Liberty City Swingers baseball team. That’s it. The downloadable, Xbox 360 exclusive GTA IV: The Lost and Damned is not included. The bundle is set to hit stores on May 4 and is priced at $399 — the standard price for Canadian Xbox 360 Elite bundles. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: joystiq.com
Forensics: Don’t Hide Your Dirty Secrets on Your Xbox
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From esciencenews.com : <BR><I> A forensics toolkit for the Xbox gaming console is described by US researchers in the latest issue of the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics. The toolkit could allow law enforcement agencies to scour the inbuilt hard disk of such devices and find illicit hidden materials easily. Computer scientist David Collins has probably spent more time messing around with the Microsoft XBox, other gaming consoles, and PDAs in the name of forensic science than anyone else. He is a digital forensics expert at Sam Houston State University, and is working hard to replicate “mods” – both hardware and software for the Xbox and other devices. Criminals often hide illicit data on the XBox in the hope that a gaming console will not be seen as a likely evidence target especially when conventional personal computers are present in the same premises, for instance. The toolkit developed by Collins will allow police and other investigators the chance to lay bare the contents of XBox hard disks. Collins’ XFT utility can mount an image of the FATX file system used by the XBox, allowing the user to explore in detail the directory structure. Collins points out that unlike the standard FAT32, NTFS, and similar systems used by the hard disks in personal computers, there is little documentation on the proprietary FATX system. However, it is possible nevertheless to acquire an image of a FATX hard disk and to mount it on another device. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: esciencenews.com (via teamxbox.com )
Xbox Exec: ‘The Game Industry Deserves Respect’
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From mcvuk.com : <BR><I> As David Gosen, Xbox’s head of European marketing, celebrates a year back in the industry, he tells MCV that video games firms need to work harder to attain the prestige and credibility they deserve… “It frustrates me that from a public standpoint, the industry still hasn’t got the stature, credibility and cut through that we all deserve. I still get the sense we’re sandwiched somewhere between corporate bankers and taxmen in terms of society’s general perception.” There’s been improvement, but not the quantum leap there should have been. We should be as loved as Hollywood is or the music industry is. Yet we are not. That’s not because people aren’t trying. But there seems to be a barrier of acceptance. When we’re saving the High Street and bringing families back together again, we should be recognised for that. More specifically, we should be rewarded by Government organisations giving us incentives to drive development within the region. It’s that creativity that will continue to drive the success of the business. We’re not taken as seriously as we should be. Tens of thousands of people work in this industry across Europe. Around 40,000 outlets around the region sell the product. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: mcvuk.com
Gears of War 2 Achievement Hacking: Banning has begun…
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From majornelson.com : <BR><I> As you know, we are committed to keeping Xbox LIVE a safe and fair place to play for the more than 17 million active members. As part of our regular safety monitoring we have pinpointed a group of players who have unlocked specific Gears of War 2 Achievements through an unauthorized hack. Deliberate cheats like these are in direct violation of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and will not be tolerated. As I post this, we’ve begun taking steps to reset the Gamerscores of the offending players. As I have mentioned in the past , this is something we do occasionally to keep the service free of cheating in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for everyone. If you play fair and earn your achievements without glitching or cheating, you have nothing to worry about. Read my original post that shows what a cheater looks like and head over to Xbox.com to read the Gamerscore correction FAQ that may answer some of your questions. </I><BR><BR>
Team Blackbolt Ellipsis XBMC Skin Teaser Video
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Team Blackbolt released a teaser video of ‘Ellipsis’, their new upcoming XBMC skin. Official Site:
Free Live Gold membership this weekend
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From eurogamer.net : <BR><I> Microsoft is offering Xbox Live Silver users the chance to try out Gold membership for free this weekend. From 1st – 4th May, everyone gets an automatic upgrade so they can enjoy a bit of multiplayer gaming. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: eurogamer.net
New Xbox 360 Achievement Rules Revealed?
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From 1up.com : <BR><I> According to a “very credible source,” there have been two important changes to the Achievements rules since that Gamerscore blog post in 2007 : First, the new maximum points allowed for any retail game (including subsequent DLC) is 1,750 points, spread across no more than 80 Achievements. That puts those aforementioned titles that broke the 1,250 rule in the clear, although it still leaves Valve’s The Orange Box unaccounted for with its 99 Achievements. We’re assuming The Orange Box received special ex-post facto clemency, because it’s awesome. The second rule is that every game can add a maximum of 250 new points and 10 Achievements through DLC every yearly quarter (but only until reaching the 1,750 point cap). And evidently this rule is also cumulative, so that theoretically, a developer could release a new game with 1,000 points, not add any new achievements for the next three quarters, and then release a massive 750-point DLC pack in the fourth quarter. The anonymous source explained this rule is meant to discourage developers from releasing a ton of content and all 750 points immediately after a game’s release, and instead doll it out slowly over time. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: 1up.com
iXtreme 1.6 to be released on 3 Year anniversary for ixtreme 1.0
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Just a little update to announce the official release date of the new ixtreme firmware! Here is the original xboxhacker thread where commodore4eva first made himself a very well known public figure. It was the initial 1.0 release for iXtreme xbox360 firmwares. To celebrate the 3 year anniversary of the first release, we will be releasing Liteon, BenQ, and Samsung versions of xbox360 iXtreme firmware replacement. As usual, Hitachi always comes last. Incase you are all wondering why Hitachi comes last, it is because that drive takes roughly 10 times longer to create the firmware for, due to so many different versions of the drive. For those who wont or did not read the xboxhacker thread above, the official release date is set for May 14th, 2009. Features will include: -Strict Wave 3 compliance! hybrid (modified disks) will not boot! -Strict drive speed compliance – 12x only for game discs! -Support for SS V2! -Integrated 0800 for game dumping including SS v2! -Full support for all known game exceptions! eg ddr etc! -One shot boot mode! – allows a one off boot of gamedisc without -stealth/partition checks (will still use stealth), use activate.iso disk -to activate each time! -Support for easy drive key/version info cmd, same as liteon! -Strict stealth/wave checking, one shot boot mode will boot wave(x)! For those of you who wish to contribute to the project, there is a donate button on the first section of the utility used to flash your xbox360, JungleFlasher(info ). iXtreme has taken quite literally thousands, if not in the tens of thousands of hours to produce, maintain and support, not to mention over 50 thousand dollars worth of professional equipment to break the technologies behind the LiteOn security. So for those of you out there who think this is all free, think not! Just free to you :) We appreciate all the forms of support out there, to the people who create software to aid the modification process, and each and every person out there who has spent his or her personal free time to help another user on the forums, IRC, or real life, to modify their console. -Iriez
XBMC for Xbox SVN rev19585 9.04-beta1 build – T3CH
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
T3CH released a new SVN compile (rev19585 9.04-beta1) of XBMC for Xbox(info ). This T3CH-compile is a complete snapshot of what is in SVN at the time the build was compiled, with just a few small additions. Special Notes and Noteworthy/XML/Script changes: * The beta1 release of XBMC 9.04, codenamed “Babylon”. I’ve again extensively tested this build and it seems really stable. * The network buffering problems causing ie. stuttering audio playback should all be fixed. * Check out the full changelog since the April 04th 2009 Svn Rev19213 build here Keep in mind this is a SVN snapshot of the current development tree. It’s not an official (stable) point release. Use only if you know what you are doing. Official XBMC Site: (manual and FAQ ) Official T3CH Site: (release RSS feed ) Downloads: Xbox Bins (n/a – built with XDK ) | other platforms | sourcecode
Rumor: GTA IV Getting Xbox 360 Elite Bundle Treatment?
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From kotaku.com : <BR><I> Microsoft looks like it may be prepping yet another Xbox 360 Elite bundle for later this year, according to retail sources, bundling its higher-end console with Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV. Listings for the Xbox 360 Elite GTA IV Limited Edition bundle were sent to Kotaku earlier this week showing a $399.99 price tag, but offering little in the way of concrete details. No release date, no expanded information on what, beyond GTA IV, will be included in the package. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: kotaku.com
Microsoft Slumps In Third Quarter As Xbox 360 Sales Swell
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From gamasutra.com : <BR><I> Increased Xbox 360 and PC revenue couldn’t keep Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division from reporting operating losses of $31 million during fiscal Q3, a year-on-year decrease from $106 million in operating income. Microsoft attributed the decline to increased R&D. However, the company’s game-related revenue was up 16 percent year on year, largely thanks to more Xbox 360 console sales — 1.7 million in the quarter ending March 31st, 2009, to be exact. In slides shown alongside Microsoft’s earnings call, the company revealed that, according to its own calculations, game and accessory attach rates for the Xbox 360 have increased to 8.3 and 3.9, respectively. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: gamasutra.com
Finally: The Xbox Live Community Game Index
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
From xbox.joystiq.com : <BR><I> File this one under “Absolutely Fantastic Idea.” An enterprising netizen by the name of Nick Gravelyn has created the Xbox Live Community Game Index (or XBLCG if you prefer). Seemingly answering our prayers, the site organizes Xbox Live Community Games, details important information for each one and, more importantly, allows users to rate each game. That’s right, it took a community developer to implement functionality that Microsoft should have had on day one. </I><BR><BR> Official Site: News-Source: xbox.joystiq.com
Maximus USBXtractor, 360 Power Unit and Xtractor Reader v2.9
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Maximus released new HW for the Lite-on drives: <BR><I> The USB Xtractor function is to read the UNIQUE-PER-DRIVE Key of the Liteon Drives, its functionality mimic the original 360 Xtractor Pro version but this model does not incorporate RS232 (AKA DB9) connector, only incorporate USB port, it also combines the origninal 360 Xtractor Pro Spear functionality all in one simple and portable device. Due to the fact that most modern PC’s do not include a DB9 port, this is fully USB compatible! USBXtractor Feature List: * Portable with Full Case Design * USB Support inside Windows (Liteon Key dumping) * OnBoard Read Button fully Compatible with Maximus Xtractor Reader Software * USB Cable Included! * High Quality and Heavy Duty Parts * Safe and Tested Design 360 Power Unit (Dongle) Feature List: * Supports all 360 DVD Drive Models (Hitachi, Samsung, Benq, Liteon) * Minimalistic approach eliminates the need for Power+Eject cable. It plugs directly on the DVD Drive * Support Manual Mode-B (for Hitachi drives) and Manual Eject * Power on Led Indicator * Croc clip cable included * High Quality and Heavy Duty Parts * Electronically Safe and Tested Design with its onboard PPTC (resetable) fuses Maximus Xtractor Reader Software 2.9 has also been updated to support the USBXtractor </I><BR><BR> Official Website: Download Manual: here Download Xtractor Reader v2.9: here
AP25: FIFA 09 LIVE Log, No New Checks for Now
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
C4EVA analyzed the Xbox LIVE checks on FIFA09 today after the news of the possible activation of AP2.5 . Right now there are no new checks, but AP25 will be monitored for any activity in the future! A bit earlier in #FW/EFnet: <BR><I> AP25 threat is real, but only MS knows if it will ever be enabled, since it has been in drive fw since hitachi! action against ap25 will be taken when it is used, until then we can only monitor! ap25 involves host supplied LBA checks, encrypted with AES, LBA’s are submitted by the host (360)! not all drives support it, and they will have to make sure all drives that do support give back reliable results! not as easy as it sounds! <rift> c4eva so just to make sure i got this correct, you said the 360 makes the AES’d lba request correct? not the drive? rift: transmitted to drive to do the checks! fifa is fine </I><BR><BR> You can find a dump on the LIVE log on xbins.org
Some iXtreme v1.6 Details
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
C4E gave some details about the upcoming iXtreme v1.6 some time ago on #fw/EFNET. C4E wrote this prior the news of the possible new security (see our previous news item), so I guess things might still change. There’s no set release date – they’ll release it when it’s ready. <BR><I> ix1.6 for benq is complete and in testing, samsung/liteon soon to follow, then there’s hitachi last! ix1.6 – Strict Wave 3 compliance! hybrid (modified disks) will not boot! ix1.6 – Strict drive speed compliance – 12x only for game discs! ix1.6 – Support for SS V2! ix1.6 – Integrated 0800 for game dumping including SS v2! ix1.6 – Full support for all known game exceptions! eg ddr etc! ix1.6 – One shot boot mode! – allows a one off boot of gamedisc without stealth/partition checks (will still use stealth), use activate.iso disk to activate each time! ix1.6 – Support for easy drive key/version info cmd, same as liteon! ix1.6 has strict stealth/wave checking, one shot boot mode will boot wave(x)! </I><BR><BR>