Wolfking Warrior XXtreme
Bjorn 3d :: Friday, May 09, 2008
In today’s gamer-friendly market there seems to be no shortage of gaming peripherals to choose from. Unfortunately for the games, however, not all peripherals are created equal – making it difficult and risky to choose. Today I hope to help with your decision by taking a look at the Wolfking Warrior XXtreme gaming keyboard. As an avid gamer that has always used a basic keyboard, the comparison will prove to be a great test for the latest Wolfking.
Age of Conan Beta After 24 Hours
BiTT Daily :: Friday, May 09, 2008
I rolled myself a Priestess of Mitra. So let’s start with charactercreation. Overall I thought the variety of options for customizing mycharacter was quite high. I won’t say I’m in love with the finalproduct. I guess guys will be thrilled with the ability to make a hotbody for the female avatars. I was not so thrilled with my best effortsto make a cute face. I realize this is not a huge issue, I am merelyproviding feedback in the order in which I experienced each aspect. Iknow the Hyborian life was a tough one so the people probably weren’toverly ‘cute†anyway. This was only cosmetic and not a big deal.
Saling The World: GTAIV Repeats U.S. and UK Sales Victory
Gamasutra Columns :: Friday, May 09, 2008
Gamasutra’s latest “Saling The World” charts see Grand Theft Auto IV topping multiplatform popularity in North America and the UK, while Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit lead worldwide Nintendo Wii sales
Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox360 and LIVE Statistics
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From gamerscoreblog.com (http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/05/07/559006.aspx ) (FYI: MS owned blog): [QUOTE] The Gamerscore Blog would like to congratulate Rockstar on the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV. GTA sold over 6 million units, and broke the entertainment record with over $500 million in sales. I got some data from the US team, and I’m here to share that news with you: * Actual MS sales data from last week shows Xbox 360 console sales at retail went up 54% week-over-week as a result of GTA’s success * According to retailers more than 60% of all GTA games sold in the first week were the Xbox 360 version * Retailers are telling us that the game is attaching strongly to new console sales, with roughly 40% of new consoles selling with a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV Regarding Xbox LIVE: * In the first week, more than 2.3 million people played Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox LIVE * GTA IV is now the number one played game on Xbox LIVE * Over the weekend, we saw the Xbox LIVE service reach 1 million concurrent users * Gamers have unlocked more than 12 million achievements worth over 100 million gamerscore points in GTA * Grand Theft Auto IV set a new record for time played, with the average gamer spending more than four hours playing the game on LIVE in the first week alone [/QUOTE]
Microsoft breaks ground for 5000-person Beijing R/D center
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From xinhuanet.com (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/07/content_8121501.htm ): [QUOTE] Microsoft China broke ground on Tuesday on a 280-million-U.S.-dollar research and development campus in Zhongguancun, Beijing’s high-tech region. The campus, with two buildings offering 101,000 square meters of space, is expected to be completed in 2010 and will be the company’s main overseas campus. About 5,000 employees will work at the facility. Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates had decided to build a research center in China after overseas revenues reached 60 percent of the total, which was in 2006, said Zhang Yaqin, board chairman of Microsoft China. [/QUOTE] Full Story: xinhuanet.com (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/07/content_8121501.htm )
GTA IV Breaks Entertainment Launch Records
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10348&Itemid=2 ): [QUOTE] Retail sales of Grand Theft Auto IV topped $500 million during its first week on sale, surpassing the all-time entertainment records for day one and week one sales by dollar value. According to publisher Take-Two, Grand Theft Auto IV sold approximately six million units globally with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million in the first week. The game sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally. Halo 3 set the previous videogame box office launch record, generating $300 million in first week sales, while Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End held the all-time entertainment launch record after grossing $404 million in six days. [/QUOTE] Full Story: next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10348&Itemid=2 )
Five Things Xbox Live Needs to Address to Stay Relevant
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From blogcritics.org (http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/05/06/173911.php ): [QUOTE] The point of this article is to look at the huge success that is Xbox Live and review it in the context that they are not alone anymore. Digital delivery and integration is everywhere these days and I am not just talking about their rival service, the PlayStation Network. I mean services like Steam on the PC, Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch – heck every cellphone has a GUI launcher for their services. Xbox Live is a phenomenal service, but in light of the changes in the industry and customer needs/wants they need to move with the times to stay relevant. * Number 5 – Better, More Consistent XBLA Content is Needed * Number 4 – Clean up Xbox Live Experience * Number 3 – Make Buying Items Easier and Fairer * Number 2 – A Facelift Can Be a Good Thing * Number 1 – Make Xbox Live Gold Mean Something Again [/QUOTE] Full Story: blogcritics.org (http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/05/06/173911.php )
Latin Artist of the Month: Voltio
Xbox Live :: Friday, May 09, 2008
Xbox.com honors Latin Artist of the Month Voltio, who releases his third solo album this November.
Rock Artist of the Month: Death Cab for Cutie
Xbox Live :: Friday, May 09, 2008
Xbox.com honors Rock Artist of the Month Death Cab for Cutie, releasing their new album Narrow Stairs May 13, 2008.
Analyst Predicts Next Xbox in 2010
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From gamespot.com (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6185976.html ): [QUOTE] Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson gave investors today a heads-up on when he believes Microsoft and Nintendo will unveil their next systems. “We believe that peak industry sales will occur in 2010, given that Microsoft will likely introduce its next console that year and Nintendo will likely launch before then. Further, 2010 is also likely to coincide with the end of the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP cycles.” [/QUOTE] Full Story: gamespot.com (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6185976.html )
Microsoft Gears Up to Release Xbox 360 with New Chips
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From xbitlabs.com (http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20080507132302_Microsoft_Gears_Up_to_Release_Xbox_360_with_New_Chips.html ): [QUOTE] Microsoft Corp. reportedly plans to release a new version its Xbox 360 video game system code-named Jasper in August and has already assigned IBM and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make chips for the new game console. However, there are other important rumours: TSMC got orders to produce the chip for code-named Valhalla Xbox 360 design, which is rumoured to combine microprocessor and graphics chip in a single piece of silicon. The code-named Jasper design of the Xbox 360 game console will use ATI Xenos graphics and memory controller hub (GMCH) made using 65nm process at TSMC as well as IBM Xenon central processing unit (CPU) produced at IBM’s 65nm nodes. The new system design is projected to consume less electricity, use less complex cooling systems and also produce less noise. TSMC is chosen to make the 65nm GMCH chips, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is contracted to package and test the chips, and Nanya has won orders to supply flip-chip packaging substrates, reports China Economic News Service. [/QUOTE] Full Story: xbitlabs.com (http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20080507132302_Microsoft_Gears_Up_to_Release_Xbox_360_with_New_Chips.html )
Hip Hop Artist of the Month: Tyga
Xbox Live :: Friday, May 09, 2008
Tyga is a up-and-coming hip hop artist signed in 2008 by Young Money Entertainment and Decaydance. His aptly titled debut album No Introduction is set for release this spring.
Rumor: MS May Debut New Xbox 360 Motion Controller Next Week
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From kotaku.com (http://kotaku.com/388741/rumor-microsoft-may-debut-new-xbox-360-motion-controller-next-week ): [QUOTE] Rumors about Microsoft entering the waggle market with a specialized, Wii Remote concept swiping controller have been popping up for the better part of a year. Talk of a partnership with Gyration, speculation that Bungie had quashed a proposal for a motion controller tied to Halo 3 and murmurs that Rare was now tasked with leading the waggle wand brigade have been bubbling up frequently. Microsoft and Gyration have both denied or brushed off the rumors, but we’ve just heard it pop up again. According to sources that will go unnamed, Microsoft may be showing its Xbox 360 motion controller as early as next week to press, a controller geared specifically for Banjo Kazooie 3 gameplay. In fact, we’ve heard that select members of the press have already seen the controller–in use on the next Banjo Kazooie title–in action. [/QUOTE] Full Story: kotaku.com (http://kotaku.com/388741/rumor-microsoft-may-debut-new-xbox-360-motion-controller-next-week )
Zune 2.5 now available
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From majornelson.com (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/05/06/zune-2-5-now-available.aspx ): [QUOTE] If you own a Zune, version 2.5 of their software is now available for download. It has a bunch of new features – including TV and Movies on the Zune Marketplace. The Zune folks have posted a list of the new features (http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/usersguide/gettingstarted/whatsnew.htm ) on Zune.net. You can either download the software directly (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6136349F-2B32-4946-83B5-A09775531EF4&displaylang=en ), or you’ll be prompted for an update the next time your open your Zune software. [/QUOTE]
XNA Game Studio 3.0 Community Technical Preview (CTP)
Xbox Scene :: Friday, May 09, 2008
From the XNA Team Blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/xna/archive/2008/05/07/announcing-xna-game-studio-3-0-community-technical-preview-ctp.aspx ): [QUOTE] Today, we are delivering the first Community Technical Preview (CTP) of XNA Game Studio 3.0, giving you the ability to build games for the entire family of Zune media devices. This feature gives you access to the majority of the XNA framework APIs while retaining a seamless sense of integration with the Zune media experience. In addition, this release now requires either Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition and higher (C# language support must be installed), or Visual C# 2008 Express Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/Default.aspx ). Keeping with Zune media experience, the XNA Game Studio 3.0 integration includes discoverability/access to user’s non-DRM music – allowing you to customize background soundtracks or create real-time visualizations. In addition, we’ve announced the ability to have multiple nearby Zunes wirelessly engage in an ad-hoc social gaming experience. A preview release of XNA Game Studio 3.0 is now available through the XNA Creators Club Online site (http://creators.xna.com (http://creators.xna.com/ )), with a final release scheduled for the holiday 2008 season. For those of you that prefer the shortest path to happiness, the direct link to the XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP is here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DF4AF56A-58A7-474C-BFD0-7CF8ED3036A3&displaylang=en ). There’s three other important things we want you to know before you dig in: * Either Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/Default.aspx ) and higher (C# language support must be installed), or Visual C# 2008 Express Edition are required to install and run the XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP. Visual Studio 2005 SKUs are not supported with XNA Game Studio 3.0 and beyond. However, you do not need to uninstall Visual Studio 2005 or XNA Game Studio 2.0, as those products will work side-by-side with Visual Studio 2008 and XNA Game Studio 3.0 CTP. * This current CTP does not enable Xbox 360 game development. Only Windows and Zune are supported in this CTP. If you want to build and deploy games for the Xbox 360, you must continue using XNA Game Studio 2.0 for now. * This CTP doesn’t work in 64 bit yet. We plan to support it before RTM. [/QUOTE]
