FpsBrain Supplement – The Gamer’s Pill
Tweak Town :: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
These are no ordinary supplements I’m soon to discover, they contain a little extra to help you focus and be able to concentrate more. Now, I’m a world class sceptic when it comes to the herbology department and I looked at the bottle like it actually contained snake oil.
The next night without them, I felt tired much quicker than the night before. About two and a half hours in I found myself needing more breaks to get a drink and rest for a while in an effort to get my concentration back. Obviously there is something to be said for these super-vitamin pills.
Video Games Are a Family Affair
Futurelooks :: Sunday, July 27, 2008
Video games are most definitely a part of the mainstream and are really no different than getting your entertainment through music, movies, and television. With this growing popularity, it seems that the face of the gaming demographic has changed substantially as well. They’re not kids and teens anymore. They’re your moms, your working professionals, and even dear old grandpa and grandma. Nothing seems to suit the perfect family better than the perfect video game.
Saling The World: Final Fantasy IV Heads DS Charts In Debut Week
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, July 25, 2008
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.
Critical Reception: Square Enix’s Final Fantasy IV
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, July 25, 2008
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Square Enix’s Final Fantasy IV, a Nintendo DS remake that reviews alternately describe as “one fantastic role-playing title,” and “needlessly redundant.”
Release This: Final Fantasy IV DS, Izuna 2 Premiere Stateside
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, July 25, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” explores a week that features North American releases for Final Fantasy IV and Izuna 2 on the Nintendo DS, while Japan gets Wario Land Shake and Siren: New Translation.
Saling The World: Dragon Quest V Tops Multiplatform Charts in Japan
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, July 25, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts find EA’s NCAA Football 09 leading sales on the Xbox 360 in North America, while a remade Dragon Quest V for the Nintendo DS leads cross-platform sales in Japan.
Critical Reception: EA Tiburon’s NCAA Football 09
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, July 25, 2008
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to NCAA Football 09, a college football sequel hailed as “national-championship caliber” in recent reviews.
Bungie president ‘certainly didn’t agree’ with decision to postpone E3 reveal
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From eurogamer.net : <BR><I> Bungie president Harold Ryan has denied “laughing” when Xbox boss Don Mattrick told him that the studio’s latest Halo product would not be shown at E3. “Keeping things clean, I certainly didn’t agree with the decision to delay our news until sometime after E3,” Ryan told Eurogamer today. “Bungie is always concerned first and foremost with our fans. Whenever we are prevented from exceeding their positive expectations it is not a laughing matter.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: eurogamer.net
Xbox 360 will outperform PS3 in software for years – Mattrick
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From eurogamer.net : <BR><I> When we asked to clarify if he [Microsoft’s Don Mattrick] meant Xbox 360’s next three or four years of software will outperform PS3’s, and that PS3 will be unable to make up the ground, he replied: “That’s what I said.” Mattrick famously hung the Microsoft’s E3 press conference on the claim that Xbox 360 will defeat PS3 worldwide in this generation of consoles and told Eurogamer that he came out and said it because he was fed up of being asked about it. “I did the math, I did the math a different way, I did the math…there was no equation that I came to where I got a different answer, and I went, ‘You know what? This is getting boring,'” he said. “Like, instead of everyone standing on the sidelines trying to hedge, I’m just going to say it.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: eurogamer.net
Xbox Live’s Worst Demos
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From oxm.co.uk : <BR><I> When a demo is done properly, it can create a lot of buzz around an unheralded title. The early days saw Fight Night Round 3 stun 360 owners with its sharp visuals and crunching slow-mo knockout replays. Later down the line Civilization Revolution, Lost Planet, Bioshock and Burnout Paradise all had stellar demos that did a great job of selling the game in question. Sometimes it’s too easy for developers to fall into a “here’s the boss, now the demo ends” trap. Unfortunately, some developers tend to fall even further. Here are the five most disappointing demos, all notable for the fact that they’ve turned people off the game rather than onto it. They might be free but sometimes, you get what you pay for… 5. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat 4. Sonic The Hedgehog 3. Turning Point: Fall of Liberty 2. Too Human 1. Hour Of Victory </I><BR><BR> Full Story: oxm.co.uk
Microsoft: Rivals have been slacking off
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From mcvuk.com : <BR><I> Don Mattrick has told MCV he is confident that Microsoft ‘won’ E3 this year – and has even accused Sony and Nintendo of slacking off over the past year. In assessing his rivals’ E3 conferences, he said: “I think we got more than 12 months’ work done, and others went on an extended vacation. Hopefully they got some good vacation photos, because they sure weren’t showing up at work.” “Of course I’m going to be biased, but so far what I’ve heard is that Sony and Nintendo have disappointed. And Microsoft has been leading, innovating and driving a very comprehensive global programme.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: mcvuk.com
TVersity v1.0.0.3 RC2
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
A new release candidate of TVersity Media Server(info ) 1.0 has been released. What’s new/fixed: * New Features o Album art support is now available and is compatible with the Sony PS3 as well as with the HTML interface (PSP, iPhone, Blackberry, etc.) and flash interface (Wii). Album art relies on JPEG files conforming to certain naming conventions that are present in the same folder as music tracks. These files can be created by either Windows Media Player or WinAmp and TVersity will pick them up, or users can add them manually. o Individual YouTube videos can now be added by pointing the browser to a specific video on YouTube and dragging and dropping the address bar icon to TVersity (or copying and pasting the URL). * Bug Fixes o MShare now refreshes as fast as it was in 0.9.11.4. o No files are periodically added to the Temporary Internet Files folder while the GUI is running (browser caching was turned off). o Fix crashes when adding/refreshing some FLAC and some MP3 files. o Flash interface is now more reliable when switching from one live stream to another and then going back to first one. o TVersity service was failing to start on machines that had a non ASCII character in their hostname. Official Site: Download: here
MS: We Keep Selling The HDD-Free 360 Because ‘Consumers Like Choice’
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From multiplayerblog.mtv.com : <BR><I> Don Mattrick, head of Xbox at Microsoft: “What we’ve learned is that consumers like choice. So we’re providing a choice in flexibility to consumers. There’s different entry points. There’s different types of experiences people want to use. That program is working for us. Retailers like it. Consumers like it. So that’s why we have it.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: multiplayerblog.mtv.com
How long can Microsoft keep charging for Xbox Live?
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From guardian.co.uk : <BR><I> I’m a big fan of Xbox Live. Friend lists, achievements, ease of use – Live still towers above the Playstation and Wii online services. But then it should. Live costs around 40 quid [GBP] a year, Sony and Nintendo’s offerings are free. Sure the service is good but how long can Microsoft get away with charging? The news that Games for Windows Live – essentially a PC version of Xbox Live – will now be available for free makes it increasingly difficult for Microsoft to justify charging a subscription to Xbox Live. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: guardian.co.uk
ex-XNA member Weller about Xbox LIVE Community Games
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From David “LetsKillDave” Weller’s Blog : <BR><I> People are buzzing about today’s announcement that developers can start making money soon off their Xbox LIVE Community Games built using XNA Game Studio. Being an ex-XNA member, I can still say, without a shadow of doubt, that Microsoft is offering a groundbreaking game channel, and that some people stand a chance to make great money from the system. It’s an exciting opportunity, but the danger for consumers lies in Microsoft’s deliberate steps to avoid discussions regarding game quality, even during peer review. I firmly believe that avoiding commentary/ratings on game quality will result in frustrated consumers, who will have no way to discern the quality of a game among (ultimately) thousands. Of course, the game creator has the option of offering a trial game, but it will be interesting to see how many developers take advantage of that path, (as it is not required) [Edit: Peter Hatch points to a Wired article where Chris Satnchell states that a timed trial will be enabled by default, but my concern about te lck of quality indicators still stands]. I doubt consumers will get a refund for buying a sucky game either. Before anybody thinks I’m bashing the XNA team, please keep in mind that this is the same approach taken for Xbox LIVE Arcade games — you’re on your own to find genuine game reviews and ratings. The difference is that XBLA games have a higher standard for quality and consistency regarding the gaming experience. XBLA games have a large number of technical conformances to adhere to, which are tested by the XBLA team prior to its approval for release — the Community Games has no such thing during the peer review (remembe, peer review is a check on the content, not on technical quality or gameplay quality). I think the upcoming plethora of games on the Commuity Games pipeline will only create more consumer confusion without them having a reliable guide </I><BR><BR>
GameFest: Inside Avatars For The Xbox 360
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From gamasutra.com : <BR><I> Talking at Microsoft’s GameFest event in Seattle, the company’s Cameron Egbert and Dan Kroymann have been discussing the creation of avatars for the Xbox 360, revealing lots of new details on the practicality of developers implementing avatars within their games. “It [Avatars] gives them an online presence they did not have before without Xbox Live. It is ubiquitous across the system. Also, you can use them in your games as a replacement for your characters, or in your UI, or whatnot.” Egbert further explained: “You build them from a predefined set of geometry and textures and customize them as you want… to suit your tastes.” How about edgy avatars? Egbert explained: “This is a product for everyone, so nothing in here will violate an E10 rating – no weapons, no compromising situations.” Finally, Egbert and colleague Kroymann took questions from the audience, with Egbert answering a query about whether there would be branded clothes or hats in the game with: “That’s not anything that’s being handled in the first iteration.” How about avatars rolling out across Games For Windows or MSN? Egbert said there’s “…nothing to announce right now – this is the first stage, doing it on Xbox”. Can you use avatars in Xbox Live Community-developed games? Dan Kroymann noted: “not yet”, but that the Community Team had been talking to them. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: gamasutra.com
User-developed games to be sold on Xbox Live for between 2.50 to 10 USD
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From betanews.com : <BR><I> Before they can be sold, however, all games must first pass a peer-review exam to ensure they are of suitable quality. Once approved, creators can set the price of their game between 200 and 800 Microsoft Points, or $2.50 and $10 USD, of which Microsoft takes 30 percent. [50 MB games for 200 Microsoft Points, larger 150 MB games for either 400 or 800 Microsoft Points] While a game developer will only earn $1.75 from a $2.50 download, the potential sales figures are quite large. Last year, the Ace Combat 6 demo, for example, was downloaded half a million times; comparable downloads at even the lowest price would net the developer $875,000. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: betanews.com
Analysts: 360 Price Cut Should Take It Ahead Of PS3 In July
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From gamasutra.com : <BR><I> For hardware, we do expect the Xbox 360 to outsell the Playstation 3 in July; obviously, this can be attributed to the recent Xbox 360 price cut. In the past, analysts have typically expected sales lifts in the 20-30% range after a hardware price cut; however, we should expect a different trend, as we will likely see more sales front-loaded into July and August as consumers rush to purchase the $299 version before supplies run dry. While Microsoft and Sony continue to compete in the “who has the biggest hard-drive” contest, we expect Nintendo to continue to win the real contest – selling the most systems. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: gamasutra.com
Xbox deal must look sweet, Netflix boss buying MS shares
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From seattletimes.nwsource.com : <BR><I> A week after a new partnership to stream Netflix content on Xbox consoles was announced, Netflix Chief Executive (and Microsoft board member) Reed Hastings has acquired a bunch of Microsoft shares. Hastings acquired 53,300 shares today in five separate blocks, at prices ranging from $25.54 to $25.60, or about $1.36 million combined. Hastings now has 177,000 shares of Microsoft, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: seattletimes.nwsource.com
Satchell: ‘We’ve reinvented the Xbox’
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From developmag.com : <BR><I> Microsoft’s games division CTO Chris Sachell told the attendees of his Gamefest keynote that the firm’s new 360 dashboard, which launches later this year, effectively reboots the console for a wider audience – and presents more chances for developers to monetise their creations. “What this does is reinvent the Xbox,” said Satchell. “I don’t think any one has ever done this before – transformed a console during its lifecycle.” “This will bring more people in. The new UI is more approachable and as we broaden our market it is important for reaching new gamers. And there’s also lots of ways to merchandise your content.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: developmag.com
Games for Windows – Live Goes Totally Free
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From edge-online.com : <BR><I> During Microsoft’s Gamefest 2008 in Seattle on Tuesday, the company seemed to finally answer year-old criticisms about its pricing strategy for Games for Windows – Live. Microsoft said that it would no longer be charging for “premium” online features in Games for Windows – Live titles, such as TrueSkill matchmaking, cross-platform gameplay and multiplayer achievements. The change takes effect immediately for all existing and future Games for Windows – Live titles. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: edge-online.com
Introducing Xbox LIVE Community Games
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From the official XNA Blog : <BR><I> You’ve played Xbox 360 games with the millions of gamers on Xbox LIVE. You’ve chatted, shared, and dominated in games of all kinds. But what if those millions could be playing your game? Better still – what if you were getting paid for it? Starting holiday 08, Xbox LIVE Community Games is your ticket to fame – and possibly fortune as millions of Xbox LIVE users now have the opportunity to view, buy, and play games that you create. How it Works The setup? Simple. The payments? Cash. As a Premium member in the XNA Creators Club, you’ll be able to submit any complete Xbox 360 game you’ve created in XNA Game Studio to the Creators Club community at , for peer review. Other Premium Creators will check to make sure your game is safe to play. If it is, you’ll set a price point – between 200 and 800 Points – that people will pay to download your game. Once the game is reviewed and the price point set, you’re done. The game is listed on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and you’ll get a check every quarter, for up to 70% of the game’s total revenue in your own currency. Depending on your game’s success, you may even have your game advertised on Xbox 360 and other Microsoft online properties. Just imagine – your game in the hands of millions of Xbox 360 gamers around the world: that’s the power of Community Games. How to Get Started While the official launch of Xbox LIVE Community Games won’t be until later this year, you can start working on that great game right now with XNA Game Studio and the XNA Creators Club Online community! First, download XNA Game Studio, the free game development tool from Microsoft. It’s free and works with Visual Studio or Visual C# Express Edition. If you’ve never made a game before, the XNA Creators Club website has tons of samples, tutorials, even whole video guides to game creation. Jump right in and start coding your dream game! Next, join the XNA Creator’s Club at . It’s a community of game creators just like you. If you’re going to develop games for Xbox 360 and want to sell your game on Xbox LIVE Community Games, you’ll need a Premium membership. It’s just $99 per year or $49 for four months. Finally, submit your finished game to the XNA Creators Club and watch the money roll in! Questions? If you’ve got a question about Community Games, XNA Game Studio, and all of the details in between, please read the handy FAQ to get your answers. </I><BR><BR>
Sony’s Peter Dille: MS Paid to get FF XIII, Won’t Drive Console Sales
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From multiplayerblog.mtv.com : <BR><I> Peter Dille, Vice President, Sony Computer Entertainment of America :What you have with “Final Fantasy XIII” is a lot like what they’ve paid for with “GTA.” It’s not an exclusive on their platform. It’s now a cross-platform game. Sand I think if you look at how “GTA” behaved in the marketplace and how it drove — or didn’t drive — either console, that’s what I’m talking about. Consumers responded to “GTA” on the PS3 just as they did on the 360. And it becomes a bit of a jump ball. But it didn’t rise the tide for them. And I think if you fast forward to when “Final Fantasy XIII” comes out I think you’re going to have millions of people who grew up playing “Final Fantasy” on the PlayStation playing it on a PlayStation 3. They spent a lot of money, I’m sure, to get “Final Fantasy” onto the 360 but at the end of the day it’s on our platform as well. Which is why we focus on, “Let’s look at what happens when you have “Metal Gear Solid” on your platform … when the NPD numbers come out … I think you’ll see the value of what a real exclusive title does and how it raised the bar for PS3 versus 360. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: multiplayerblog.mtv.com
(UK) Play.com Cuts Price by 30GBP – MS Says no Official Price Cut
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From edge-online.com : <BR><I> Online retailer Play.com has cut the price of the Premium 20GB Xbox 360 to ?169.99, ?30 less than the console’s RRP and ?10 cheaper than rival online store Amazon. Microsoft has since been in touch to tell us that Play.com’s Xbox 360 price cut is “merely a deal they’re running of their own accord”. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: edge-online.com
Video: Netflix on the Xbox 360 demoed
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
Quick tour through updated video streaming capabilities on the Xbox 360.
Xbox Live boss teases future features for Xbox dashboard
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From oxm.co.uk : <BR><I> General Manager of XBox Live has spoken of even more new features he expects to come to the Xbox Live dashboard – including the ability to control your console over the internet, and ultimately a hardware-free future. He also confirmed that hard drive installs will work with all current and future Xbox games. Speaking to OXM at E3, Marc Whitten said that the new update is “only the beginning” of the social networking features that Microsoft want to deploy. He also said that we can expect future updates to include the ability to switch on your Xbox from any PC and download content to it remotely – “at some point in the future you’ll hear more from us about that.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: oxm.co.uk
New 360 Dashboard: ‘You don’t have to use it’
Xbox Scene :: Friday, July 25, 2008
From computerandvideogames.com : <BR><I> If you don’t like the look of the new Xbox 360 Dashboard unveiled at E3 last week, then “you don’t actually have to use it,” says Microsoft’s Xbox Live director of programming Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hryb. According to The Major, every single function available in current 360 backend will be included in the new, clean-looking Dash’, which you can bypass completely if you choose. “I know that there are some people that aren’t going to like the happy, happy, shiny New Xbox Experience. For whatever reason it’s not flipping their bit,” Hryb said in his latest podcast. “Here’s my message to you: you don’t actually have to use it. You can never go there, just leave your game disc in and pretty much do everything that you could before but on the Guide level – one button press away in every single game.” Sounds excellent to us. Even more good news for New Xbox Experience haters comes in the form of Avatars, and how you don’t have to use them. “If you don’t like the avatars, they’re not required. You can use your Gamer Pictures,” said Hryb in the podcast. “Your existing and Gamer Pictures and Themes still work,” adds co-host ‘e’. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: computerandvideogames.com | majornelson.com
Writing About Family Gaming
XS Reviews :: Thursday, July 17, 2008
I’ve been playing games for a long time, so when I got married and had kids I wanted to share my hobby. However, grabbing a game from a store shelf that was reported to be suitable for my family often resulted in an ill fitting experience. Sometimes the games were too difficult to control for the kids, or addressed issues they weren’t interested in; and more often than not, failed to engage the other adults in our brood – namely my other half.”
Release This: Gundam, Dragon Quest V Headline in Japan
Gamasutra Columns :: Monday, July 14, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” examines a week that sees the North American release of NCAA Football 09 and Rock Band Track Pack Vol 1, while Japan gets Gundam Battle Universe and DS RPG Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome.
Saling The World: Civilization Revolution Makes Chart-Topping U.S. Debut
Gamasutra Columns :: Monday, July 14, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts find the just-released Civilization Revolution leading demand on the Xbox 360 in North America, while a debuting Persona 4 tops cross-platform sales in Japan.
Critical Reception: 2K Games/Firaxis’ Civilization Revolution
Gamasutra Columns :: Monday, July 14, 2008
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Civilization Revolution, a console-focused strategy title that is “remarkably adapted” from its PC origins, according to reviews.
‘New Xbox Experience’ Dashboard Pictures
Xbox Scene :: Monday, July 14, 2008
The guys over at engadget.com posted a few pictures taken during Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference showing the ‘New Xbox Experience’ Dashboard coming this fall to an Xbox360 near you. More Pictures: engadget.com
Final Fantasy exclusivity clarified at Square Enix conference
Xbox Scene :: Monday, July 14, 2008
From ps3fanboy.com : <BR><I> The announcement was heard all around the world: Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox 360? No way! Well, today’s Square Enix E3 press conference clarified a few details. First: Final Fantasy XIII is still a PS3-exclusive … at least in Japan. According to Kotaku, Square Enix exec Shinji Hashimoto told reporters: “I think you are right [in assuming that (the Xbox 360 version) is not coming out in Japan.]” It will only appear on Xbox 360 in English-speaking territories. In addition, Final Fantasy XIII will release in Japan first — and then will be localized for the international audience. That means Japanese gamers will enjoy FFXIII on PS3 long before the rest of the world will see it go multiplatform. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: ps3fanboy.com
Release This: Civ Rev U.S.-bound; Japan Gets Persona 4, Wii BioHazard 0
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” examines a week that brings Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon Stateside, as Persona 4 and a Wii port of BioHazard 0 debut in Japan.
Saling The World: Diablo Battle Chest Sees Sales Jump Following Sequel Announcement
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts find the seven-year-old Diablo Battle Chest heading North American PC sales, while Tales of Symphonia: Ratatosk no Kishi and Daigasso! Band Brothers DX lead overseas.
Critical Reception: Atari/Eden Studios’ Alone in the Dark
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Alone in the Dark, a classic adventure franchise rebirth that features “valiant efforts at innovation,” according to reviews.
Yeah, That $299 Xbox 360 Is Definitely On the Way
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
From gizmodo.com : <BR><I> These latest pictures from a Gamestop employee are by far the most conclusive. The first is of an internal document that’s not to be opened until 7/13 (the Sunday before this year’s E3). And in not-so-subtle letters it announces “Xbox 360 Pro Systems $299.99.” The second is of all the signage. </I><BR><BR> Full Story: gizmodo.com
100 things to do with your Xbox HD DVD drive
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
From gadgetzone.com.au : <BR><I> If you happen to have an Xbox360 HD DVD drive or picked one up during the bargain bin phase when they were going for $50 [or less], here’s an extensive list of what you can do with it. 1) Playing DVDs, since it works better than the drive in the 360. 2) Playing Transformers over and over and over in HD 3) Convince dumb friends its the new mini-xbox 4) Book-end 5) Play toy for the dog 6) Drink holder 7) Foot rest 8) Playing movies on that old X360 you have whose drive stopped working 2 days after the warranty expired 9) TV series marathon tool, so your X360 can hold 2 episode discs at once 10) Sold on Ebay in 10 years as a ‘rare player’ </I><BR><BR> Full List: gadgetzone.com.au
Leaked Info on 60gb Starter Kit and 20gb’s Death
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
From xboxfamily.com : <BR><I> Below is a portion of an email being sent out to GameStop and Blockbuster buyers (logistical people handling what the store actually stocks). The email has the complete details on the 60gb hard drive and what will happen to the 20gb and 120gb hard drives. Email follows: “With the introduction of the 60GB Pro console in July, we have research that suggests it is very important to have a 60GB stand alone Hard Drive to go along with it to allow the consumer a full range of choices and values. In late October/early November (exact date TBD but most likely last week in October or 1st week in November), we will ship the Xbox 360 60GB Hard Drive, tentatively called the “Xbox 360 60GB LIVE Starter Pack”. This will be an excellent value price at and ERP of $99.99 with an 18% retail margin that contains: * 60GB Hard Drive * 3 Months of Xbox Live * Xbox 360 Wired Headset * Xbox 360 Ethernet Cable (same one that is included with Pro and Elite) With the end of life of the 20GB Hard Drive and the price drop of the 120GB Hard Drive to $149.99 in September, this new 60GB hard drive will fit very well into our “Choice and Value” pillar and will fit nicely into our accessory line up. Exact SKU/UPC/Set up info will come soon and once we nail down the exact MSD, I will let you all know immediately.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: xboxfamily.com
Microsoft responds to Xbox 360 Elite RRoD rumours
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
From techradar.com : <BR><I> Microsoft has today responded to a number of misleading stories in the UK’s mainstream press earlier this week regarding alleged ‘red ring’ problems with the Xbox 360 Elite console that have been experienced by numerous UK gamers. Microsoft has now issued the following official response to these stories, which appeared in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Telegraph: “Recent reports in the UK media regarding Xbox 360 contain inaccuracies and pure speculation, as well as news that is a year old. “Prompted by what Microsoft viewed as an unacceptable number of repairs to Xbox 360 consoles, a year ago Microsoft announced an expansion of its Xbox 360 warranty. Effective 5 July, 2007, any original retail Xbox 360 customer who experiences a general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights is covered by a three year warranty from date of purchase, with all other issues remaining covered by the standard one-year warranty.” </I><BR><BR> Full Story: techradar.com
Release This: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Trauma Center 2 Head U.S. Lineup
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Release This!” examines a week that brings Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 to North America, while gamers in Europe can expect to see Space Invaders Extreme and a PSP UMD release of echochrome.
Saling The World: DS Guitar Hero, FF Tactics Top U.S. Portable Charts
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts find Guitar Hero: On Tour topping Nintendo DS sales in its first week of North American release, while Nintendo’s first party music game Daigasso! Band Brothers DX leads portable sales in Japan.
Critical Reception: Activision/Vicarious Visions’ Guitar Hero: On Tour
Gamasutra Columns :: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
This week’s edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Guitar Hero: On Tour, a portable debut that succeeds thanks to “a well-constructed peripheral and incredibly tight programming,” according to reviews.
Official: 360 price slashed in Australia
Xbox Scene :: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
From mcvuk.com : <BR><I> The Xbox 360 has become the cheapest home console on the Australian market after Microsoft slashed the price of the entry level Arcade model from [AUD] $399 (?191) to $349 (?167). The mid-range 360 console, with a 20GB hard drive, now sells for $499 (?239). Before the cuts it was $579 (?277). The high-end black Xbox 360 Elite, which adds a 120GB hard drive, HDMI cables and a free 30-day Xbox Live Gold membership, was slashed from $729 (?349) to $649 (?310). </I><BR><BR> Full Story: mcvuk.com