2008 Video Game Awards Review
Gamepyre :: Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Some of the worst video games that I reviewed this year were some of the top winners (or at least nominees) and I am absolutely shocked. For starters, the game that won best multi-player game and also the best PC game, Valve’s Left 4 Dead is a complete dud. I do not see how anyone in their right mind could nominate this game for anything except the worst game of 2008. The game was filled with graphic bugs, the multi-player was very limited, extremely redundant and boring and no real gamer will tell you otherwise. As mentioned earlier I absolutely believe that some of the awards given were completely rigged. I stand behind that statement, and unless Spike TV is willing to completely disclose their funding over the last year I don’t think that they have any merit whatsoever to challenge my statement.
Review – Prince of Persia
YouGamers :: Monday, December 29, 2008
The Persian Prince is back. After the incredible Sands of Time Ubisoft has tried to match the sheer genius of the first re-boot of the long running series and has so far failed twice. Prince of Persia reinvents the visual style and tries to bring the story closer to the original theme. Preview videos already proved that it looks amazing but how does it play?”
The Spike 2008 Video Game Awards in Pictures
Primo Technology :: Monday, December 15, 2008
Didn’t manage to catch the Spike 2008 Video Game Awards show on TV or the internets? Thankfully, we were on-hand with our trusty ‘Prt Scr’ button to capture the whole event for you! Over 50 captioned pictures from the event. Many are accidentally hilarious.
The Games of Christmas ’08: GPU Performance Part 1
Hardware Canucks :: Thursday, December 11, 2008
Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our The Games of Christmas ’08: GPU Performance Part 1 article. Part 1 covers high end GPU performance in some of this holiday season’s most popular games while Part 2 will focus on the performance from more budget-minded cards.
Left 4 Dead and A Vampyre Story reviewed
Game Connect :: Thursday, December 11, 2008
Zombies. Left4Dead has a lot of zombies. There’s weapons, and ammo, and enough shell casings to build a life-size replica of the Taj Mahal, but mostly, Valve’s lastest shooter is filled with zombies. Do you enjoy teamwork? Are you into atmospheric locales that would give Dario Argento and George Romero the creeps? Are you enthrealled by cooperative gameplay? Do you often find yourself cursing your cowardly team mates for leaving you behind in dire straits to save their own skin? Left4Dead delivers all of the above, and then some, provided you don’t object to zombies.”
Prince Of Persia (Xbox 360 and PS3) Review
Gaming Heven :: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The new Prince of Persia is a departure from the previous games in the series, the design philosophy has changed and he shares the story with a rather attractive female companion. Is this enough to freshen up this platform hopping franchise however?
Legend Of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon Review
Gaming Heaven :: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Dawn Of The Dragon is the third title in the Spyro series and the first to be developed by relative unknown Etranges Libellules. Today even though the game ships on the Wii, Playstation 2, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 we are going to focus on the 360 & PS3 versions because there are numerous improvements, such as more advanced particle effects and higher resolution textures.
Top Ten Video Games for Parties
Futurelooks :: Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Now that you’ve had the opportunity to deck the halls with boughs of holly, you can relax and enjoy this season where it’s apt to be jolly. Whether you are suffering through some holiday travel to get to grandma’s house for dinner or you’re just staying at home and hosting some of your friends for a Christmas party, you will want to have some entertainment on hand. Why be passive and watch some TV specials when you can get engage in some great video game action?
NVIDIA provides early look at PhysX with Mirror’s Edge
Tweak Town :: Monday, December 08, 2008
“Mirror’s Edge is a game that is getting a lot of attention behind the scenes and internally as the next big game to really take advantage of the latest PC technology. It is a first person action-adventure video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE (D.I.C.E.) – it has already been released last month on PS3 and Xbox 360, but the PC version is still getting its final touches.
Today we get an early look one of the next biggest games to take advantage of GPU PhysX and we even have a video to show you which demonstrates the difference with the physics technology enabled and disabled, side by side. First off, though, let’s go over several slides that NVIDIA sent over to us promoting the new game and its technology.”
EncodeHD v0.71 Beta
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 08, 2008
Dan released the first ‘technology preview’ release of EncodeHD to replace the Encode360(info ) tool. EncodeHD is a an application to re-encode all types of video files for use on your home media player or on-the-go device. It aims to provide a simple interface with no fuss. From dcunningham.net : <BR><I> So firstly, let’s talk EncodeHD. Look at the current beta release (0.71) as a ‘technology preview’ of sorts. The idea here is to verify that we’ve got the primary encoding mechanisms up to scratch. So what I’m looking for here is to make sure that video converts for all devices as expected and that the quality is good (or great). The key things to note for EncodeHD are: * Outputted video is MPEG4 and H.264 with AAC (or AC3) audio, NOT WMV (this is not strictly for X-Box 360 anymore) * This means that 5.1 audio for the X-Box 360 is not yet supported in these formats * Subtitles are also not yet possible, although I’m looking into it As of now, there’s still a lot of unimplemented functionality that will be added later. If you want to see something in particular, please let me know. However, if it’s going to cludge up the interface and start making things complex, I may not implement requests. We’ll have to see. One of the nice things about EncodeHD is that it has built-in bug reporting. If you hit a problem, it will ask you if you want to submit a bug report – including all the details I need to help solve the issue. If however, the problem is with video output, it may not detect any problems. In this case, could I ask you to email my bug-tracking system: cases@dcunningham.fogbugz.com, and attach the EncodeHD.Log file which you can find in your Temp folder (Click Start > Run and type %TEMP% to access it). </I><BR><BR> Official Site: Download: here
NetFlix Streaming Performance Statement
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 08, 2008
From netflix.com : <BR><I> Recently some Netflix members using Roku or Xbox movie players noticed lower quality streaming than they had experienced earlier. This was a temporary issue that we believe we have resolved. Working with our content distribution partners and key carriers, we made some specific changes that should restore everyone’s experience to where it was before – high quality streaming. </I><BR><BR>
Microsoft Launches ‘Deal of the Week’ and ‘Friendship is Free’ Promos
Xbox Scene :: Thursday, December 04, 2008
From the press release: <BR><I> Deck your Marketplace with loads of content: This week Xbox 360 is kicking off two global 30-day specials to bring great deals on select Xbox LIVE content and even free multiplayer for a list of great games. Each week one piece of content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace will get a limited-time only discount in the Deal of the Week. Every Monday this month check out Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the featured piece of content. It could be a movie rental, a map pack or even an Xbox LIVE Arcade game. The Deal of the Week is only available for Xbox LIVE Gold members, so if you aren’t a Gold member, upgrade today to the service that brings you online multiplayer, access to Netflix in the U.S. and much more. For only about $4 a month*, Xbox LIVE Gold gives you incredible entertainment for an incredible value. Are you a Silver member wanting to get a taste of the multiplayer experience before upgrading? This month, we are also offering “Friendship is Free,” a free multiplayer trial for Silver members. Over the course of this month, multiplayer will be available for all Xbox LIVE members for eight Xbox LIVE Arcade games. The Xbox LIVE Arcade team will open up the multiplayer functionality for “A Kingdom for Keflings,” “Aegis Wing,” “Bomberman Live,” “Hardwood Hearts,” “Hardwood Spades,” “UNO,” “Small Arms” and “Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix” (regional restrictions may apply). So what are you waiting for? Both the Deal of the Week and Friendship is Free are going on now and will only last the month of December. Xbox.com will have all of the details and will let you know what the new discounted content is each week. If you are not an Xbox LIVE member, December is the month to join. For only a few dollars a month you and your family can experience all the best gaming and entertainment available. </I><BR><BR>
XCM Cross Battle Adapter – use Wired 360 Controller on PS3
Xbox Scene :: Thursday, December 04, 2008
XCM announced a new product for the Xbox 360: <BR><I> Dream comes true! Finally an adapter to connect your wired Xbox 360 controller to your PS3 console! Product description : for xbox 360 controllers’ fans, now you can use your 360 wired controller on PS 3 console, plug and play, also built in rapid fire function. 　 For many reasons people really like the Xbox 360 controller. The look and feel are second to none. Now those same controllers can be used on your Playstation 3 console! For the first time you’ll have the use of real triggers on your Playstation 3 console! </I><BR><BR> Official Site:
Xbox 360 Has Biggest Sales Month Ever in Europe
Xbox Scene :: Thursday, December 04, 2008
From the Microsoft press release <BR><I> Xbox today reveals November was its biggest sales month in its six-year European history, with sales up 124% over last November. This strong momentum shows that European consumers are responding to the Xbox 360 mix of value, great games, entertainment, and the recently-launched New Xbox Experience, despite challenging economic conditions. November 2008 saw the largest Xbox sales ever in the six-year history of the brand in Europe. GfK-ChartTrack data shows that the console outsold PlayStation 3 across the entire region and in particular has seen significant gains in markets like France, Spain and Italy, where it has been outselling PlayStation 3 week after week. Xbox 360 has sold more than seven million consoles in Europe since its launch in November 2005 and was the fastest-growing console in Europe for the month of November, with sales up year-over-year 124% versus 43% for Wii and 3% for PlayStation 3. Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA, said: “November was a very significant milestone for Xbox – we sold the most consoles ever in our history in Europe, and are outselling PlayStation 3 week-on-week across Europe. Since the reduction in the Xbox 360 ERP in September, bringing the entry-level price point for Xbox 360 down to ?129.99, consumers have responded enthusiastically to the Xbox 360 offering. Our strong partnerships with retail and with publishers have played a big role in this success – we are working closely with retail to ensure a steady supply of consoles throughout the Christmas season, and third-party games have been selling well on the Xbox 360 platform and providing great choice for consumers. “In the current economic conditions, consumers are more cautious than ever and looking for more value for their entertainment spend,” said Lewis. “Xbox 360 delivers that value – we’re now the best-value next-gen console on the market and this positive momentum indicates Xbox 360 is offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price.” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games analyst at media research company Screen Digest said: “Even under the current economic conditions European consumers are spending strongly on games as we reach the mass adoption phase of this cycle of consoles. This Christmas we expect console game sales to outperform last year by a substantial margin, which is a boost for the whole industry. Consumers recognise that games offer a strong value proposition compared to many other forms of entertainment and this is being reflected at the tills.” </I><BR><BR>
New BenHeck Xbox 360 Portable
Xbox Scene :: Thursday, December 04, 2008
From benheck.com : <BR><I> My latest project is the Xbox 360 Portable. Figured that was a more appropriate name than laptop, because seriously, who’d put this in their lap? It weighs almost as much as my sister’s cat. It differs from my past Xbox 360 laptops in several ways: * Removable standard Xbox 360 hard drive for easy profile/data swapping * Both memory card slots accessible, same reason. * No keyboard! Really, they have those chat pads, what’s the point? (Besides looking cool) * Simplified layout of ports and buttons. * Internal wi-fi module, no external antenna . Antenna is strung out inside unit like other consoles/laptops. * Beveled edges! Countersunk screws! </I><BR><BR> Full Story: benheck.com
Maximus 360 Xtractor Reader v2.7
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
Maximus released a new version of his Xtractor Reader: <BR><I> WHAT IS IT: * Graphical tool to allow read keys from Lite On / Benq Drives * It supports USB key dumping if using with an 360 Xtractor Tool * Also contains bonus feature as NO-SLAX ModeB command * Can work with 360 xtractor tool or other (homemade max323) adapters, even rival tools are welcome MAIN FEATURES: – Key reading on Liteon Benq Drives – key.bin/identify.bin/inquiry.bin file generation – Allow ORIGINAL / CLONE detection for 360 Xtractor Tool (R.I.P. D.France) – BONUS FEATURE: Send ModeB command to All Hitachi Drives (even 78/79) NO SLAX REQUIRED WHAT’S NEW ON 2.7: * ADDED: Detect button for COM ports so it can locate easier the Virtual com port that windows assigned to the xtractor (if using xtractor usb conection). * FIXED: Inquiry data returned zero on some sata cards. </I><BR><BR> Official Site: (thx to hitman43 for the news) Download: here Buy Maximus 360 Xtractor ($36): gocybershopping.com
Jasper Motherboard in the Wild: 256MB Internal ‘MU’, 150W PSU, …
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
It looks like the first Jasper motherboards (which should have the new 65nm GPU) are now out in the wild! Moddage posted pictures of his new Jasper 360 on our forums (here and here ) and we also received some pictures from The Dude Z. Both are Arcade SKUs made 10-23-2008 Lot #0843X by Team FDOU. The new power supply is now 150W (25W less than those used with Falcon boards) and the plug has of course been changed so u can’t plugin this PSU into an older motherboard. Other unannounced change … the onboard flash chip has grown from 16MB to 256MB. Microsoft included internal memory storage, so the Arcade SKU now ships without (external) Memory Unit and the new NXE dash will install fully on the flashchip (rather than requiring a HDD or external MU). But the internal memory can also be used to store gamesave data, XBLA games, videos or whatever … u can use it asif it was an external MU. As the flash chip is also used for the kernel/keyvault/dash etc there seems to be about 214MB left according to scoldingice on our forums to store your own stuff (this is prior NXE install, if you install NXE it will take most of the space). I’m guessing the Jasper PRO and Elite SKUs will also come with this internal memory. It’s just cheaper for Microsoft to make 1 type of motherboard for all SKUs rather than making a different version for each SKU. Also seems logic in a way … get the full NXE dash on the internal flash is much ‘cleaner’ than using HDD/MU for it. The motherboard design didn’t change much … besides the bigger flash and what’s probably the new 65nm GPU, we also see a new south bridge model … the rest (videochip, CPU, heatsinks, general board layout, …) seems pretty much similar to falcon boards. It also appears there are RAM chips on the bottom of the board again (without thermal pads even) … Microsoft recently switched to RAM chips with double capacity so they could drop the 4 chips on bottom (and only place 4 on the top) … but apparently they are back (old stock maybe?). However the type of RAM chips they use is not bound to the motherboard revision … there are falcon boards with RAM chips only on the top and falcon boards with RAM chips on both top and bottom. Same can happen for the jasper boards.
Sony ‘Way Ahead’ on Environmental Issues
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From edge-online.com : <BR><I> Greenpeace International has told Edge that Sony is a significantly greener videogame company than both Microsoft and Nintendo. And while Microsoft is improving its standards, Nintendo is performing woefully. Sony: 24/45 Microsoft: 15/45 Nintendo: 4/45 And though Microsoft’s score suggests they are not too far from Sony in the broadest sense, the company’s score of fifteen points were largely tallied in three areas; precautionary principles, chemicals management and a timeline for phasing out potentially dangerous chemicals. Microsoft scored nine points in these three areas and failed to impress Greenpeace in a number of other areas, yet Sony accumulated its higher total by a focused effort across the spectrum of green measures. “Microsoft is just getting on board with the environment. They’ve just hired a sustainability team, and we are seeing movement from Microsoft with its 360 console, but the company had started from a very low base.” Kruszewska does praise Microsoft for making its changes, however, especially in its promise to eliminate PVC BFRs [brominated flame retardants – known for their toxic properties, resistance to degradation in the environment and an ability to ‘build’ inside humans and animals] by the end of 2010. “But really, they have it so easy because they only make two core hardware products – the 360 and the Zune – they should really be way ahead. But they are coming on board for sure.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: edge-online.com (3 pages)
Will the Xbox 360’s lead over the PS3 last?
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From seattlepi.nwsource.com : <BR><I> For two months in a row now, the Xbox 360 has solidly outsold the PlayStation 3. But in an interview last week, a PlayStation executive said that the Xbox 360’s rise was a “blip” attributable to its September price cut and that the consoles would be neck and neck during the holidays. “We’re going to see a very tight race this holiday because of our gaming lineup,” said John Koller, Sony’s director of hardware marketing. “We’re very bullish on holiday sales.” So far this year, sales of the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are essentially tied, with each console maker selling about 2.4 million units. Prior to the price cut, though, the PS3 had the lead, with 2 million unit sales through August to the Xbox 360’s 1.7 million. “You are going to see all consoles do well seasonally,” Koller said. “Going into next year that’s when proof is going to be.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: seattlepi.nwsource.com
Xbox 360 enjoys biggest European sales week ever
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From mcvuk.com : <BR><I> Platform holder Microsoft has revealed that it ‘recently’ enjoyed its biggest ever sales week in Europe – and it’s thanking the effects of the economic crisis for the boom. A press release from the firm reads: “British families are set to spend more quality time together than in the last ten years this Christmas, as the economic downturn drives more families to stay at home and enjoy entertainment together. “These trends show that providing both a broad experience and value to consumers with Xbox 360 is in line with consumer sentiment. To date, we have sold seven million consoles in Europe and recently enjoyed our biggest sales week ever. Our trend research shows that families are looking for gifts that keep on giving throughout the year. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: mcvuk.com
Columbia Pictures flicks – mostly – back on 360 Netflix
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From engadget.com : <BR><I> We never got a satisfactory answer for why they disappeared in the first place, but it seems the majority of the Columbia Pictures’ movies on Netflix Instant Watch lists suddenly switched to “not available on Xbox 360” are However Columbia Pictures movies tagged with the “available through Starz Play” logo — including Bad Boys and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story — are still out. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: engadget.com
Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 Samples Pictures
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
Team Xecuter sent us samples of the new Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 Lite and Pro . Here are some pictures, click for high-res. * Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 PRO * Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 LITE Official Site: Buy Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 PRO: mrmodchips | divineo Buy Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 LITE: mrmodchips | divineo
Black Friday: Spotlight on Xbox 360 deals
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From xbox360fanboy.com : <BR><I> The deal mongers have been waiting all year and the shopping addicts have been frothing at the bit for over eleven months for this Friday’s shopping mega event. That’s right, this Friday is officially Black Friday 2008, the day retailers (traditionally) try to entice shoppers into their stores with low prices, loss leading items and deals galore. Here at X3F, we know you just want Xbox 360 deals, so that’s what we’re offering. We’ve weeded through all the retailer ads and bring you our comprehensive list of all the Xbox 360 Black Friday deals listed by store. We even separated all the Xbox 360 hardware deals into one category for easy deal comparison. Hit the break for a textual overload of Black Friday savings. </I><BR><BR> Check out all the deals on xbox360fanboy.com .
Xbox 360 unveils a 72 Hour Line Up of Unmissable Entertainment this weekend
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
From the press release: <BR><I> Xbox 360 proudly presents Xtival – a three day non-stop party available to all Xbox 360 owners from midday on 28th-30th November, via Xbox LIVE. Xtival will showcase 72 hours of EXCLUSIVE entertainment, including music, movies and games direct to your living room. Kicking off the festival on Friday will be renowned British band The Prodigy. Marking a triumphant return to the spotlight, the band are offering an exclusive downloadable HD video of the title track from their new album,”Invaders Must Die”, ahead of its official March 2009 release.”This is the first time our fans will be able to download exclusive material from the new album, and we are glad to be part of the Xtival weekend,” said The Prodigy’s Liam Howlett. Britain’s biggest rock n roll band Oasis will be headlining the virtual festival on Saturday 29th November. Fans of the band will be able to download three songs from their No 1 album’Dig Out Your Soul’, for Guitar Hero World Tour, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE for a limited time. Closing the festival on Sunday will be Brit Award Winners Franz Ferdinand, who’ll be treating music fans to the video of the first single from their new album, ahead of its January 2009 release. But Xtival will also offer more than just music; it offers a whole range of entertainment, HD movies, competitions and gaming tournaments all delivered straight to your Xbox 360 console. Film fans will be treated to exclusive content from 2009’s biggest cult movie”The Watchman,” with Xbox LIVE Video Store offering 7’Webisodes’ from director, Zack Snyder’s website, all available for free and in High Definition during Xtival and beyond. Cancel your plans and block out your diaries – Xtival is your chance to round up all your mates, hang out for 3 days and experience the very best in digital entertainment- all brought to you by Xbox 360. For more details on Xtival and how to win some fantastic prizes, including the chance to chat with The Prodigy, please visit www.xbox.com/xtival08 </I><BR><BR>
iPrep 101 v008 Pro Beta
Xbox Scene :: Monday, December 01, 2008
Klutsh released a new version of iPrep 101(info ) a .NET application and collection of MSDOS scripts/applications for use in flashing a Samsung TS-H943A or BenQ DVD drives. What’s new/fixed: * Removed MTKFlash, now exclusive use of DOSFlash. * Forced use of removeable drives. * Win32 UI for DVDKey32. * Ability to generate valid BenQ/Samsung Lite-On Spoof Firmware. * Includes FirmTool 1.2, DVDKey32 v0.6, DosFlash(info ) 1.6. Official Site: x-projects.org Download: here