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Week of May 13, 2007
Linus Torvalds to Microsoft: put up or shut up
>> Not directly Xbox-related, but well ... from engadget.com:
[QUOTE]
Soon after Microsoft's General Counsel claimed that free and open-source software (FOSS) -- a bundle of which related to Linux -- violated precisely 235 of its patents, Linus Torvalds decided to fire back on behalf of the little guy. In an interview with InformationWeek, Mr. Torvalds retorted by suggesting that it is actually "a lot more likely that Microsoft violates patents than Linux does," and even noted that if "the source code for Windows could be subjected to the same critical review that Linux has been, Microsoft would find itself in violation of patents held by other companies." Of course, he backed his statements by stating that the "fundamental stuff was done about half a century ago and has long, long since lost any patent protection,".
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Full Story: engadget.com | informationweek.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
MS: What do YOU want to see on Xbox Live Arcade?
>> From the Microsoft's Games Global Marketing team blog:
[QUOTE]
Do you have a favorite game that you just can't wait to see on Xbox LIVE Arcade? Is there some feature that you wish more Xbox LIVE Arcade games offered? (i.e. a specific game-play mode?) Are there non-game features that you'd like XBLA (the destination) to implement? Lastly, are there events or promotions that you wish were a regular occurrence on XBLA? We want to hear your ideas! Please share your thoughts in the comments of this entry.
Don't limit yourself to past console games, current game-play features, or events/promotions you've seen elsewhere. Think of games that fit the "pick-up-and-play" promise of XBLA. Think of non-game features that make XBLA a more enjoyable place to download and play those games, in general.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamerscoreblog.com (FYI: MS owned blog)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
FrostyTheSnowman's VGA BIOS/Evox M8plus Patcher v0.8 *bugfix*
>> FrostyTheSnowman released a new version of the VGA BIOS Patcher(info) and Evox M8plus VGA Patcher(info) for Xbox1.
* FrostyTheSnowman's VGA BIOS Patcher for XBOX
[QUOTE]
Features:
* Supports Conexant Encoders
* Supports Focus Encoders
* Supports all HD resolutions, including 480p, 720p, and 1080i.
* Supports all current hacked BIOSes, including new X3 BIOSes.
* Supports 'green screen' games!
* NOTE: You NEED your HD settings enabled in your Microsoft Dashboard for this patch to function properly.
Change Log:
* Fixed IGR Color Problems
* Added support for 'green screen' games
[/QUOTE]
* FrostyTheSnowman's Evox M8+ VGA Patcher for XBOX
[QUOTE]
Features:
* Supports Conexant Encoders
* Supports Focus Encoders
* Supports all HD resolutions, including 480p, 720p, and 1080i.
* Supports only the Evox M8+ BIOS
* Supports 'green screen' games!
* NOTE: You NEED your HD settings enabled in your Microsoft Dashboard for this patch to function properly.
Change Log:
* Simplified Patching Process
* Fixed IGR Color Problems
* Added support for 'green screen' games
[/QUOTE]
Update: FrostyTheSnowman's Evox M8+ VGA Patcher for XBOX *Bug Fix*
[QUOTE]
The previously released Evox M8+ VGA Patcher has a flaw that causes the patcher to incorrectly patch the encoder registers. Please use the recently uploaded version to fix this issue.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, by FrostyTheSnowman
Download: VGA BIOS Patcher | Evox M8plus VGA Patcher *bugfix*
News-Source [xbins.org]: VGA BIOS Patcher | Evox M8plus VGA Patcher
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Compare Console Sales After First 6 Months
>> From infendo.com:
[QUOTE]
To steal a term coined by Kotaku, I put together the above charticle juxtaposing the first six month console sales of Wii, 360, PS3, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube [US only!]. First, the Wii has sold better than the mighty PS2 after the first six months. Amazingly, both the PS3 and 360 sold worse than the GameCube for the same period (!).
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: infendo.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Rumor: Modders accidentally leak Halo 3 information?
>> From gamesradar.com:
[QUOTE]
A Halo modding community has accidentally made various hidden game files public, found by retrieving hidden data in the Halo 3 Beta code.
Before we go any further, a warning: the following are in no way official or confirmed features of Halo 3.
* New equipment: Instacover ; Smoke (suggested this might be a smoke grenade?) ; Jammer
* New vehicles: Chopper ; Pelican ; Shadow
* New weapons: Flamethrower ; Claymore Grenade
* New mode: Infection (described as "Destroy the Flood or become infected. Score points for killing flood or big points for infecting a human. The player with the most points wins."
* New rankings: The highest rankings are now Killpocalypse and Killionaire, instead of Double Kill and Triple Kill.
* A reference to a map editor has also been found, a returning feature from Halo 2.
[/QUOTE]
News-Source: gamesradar.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Frosty's XBOX Rescue Disc v1.0 and Dual-Boot VGA Softmod v1.0
>> FrostyTheSnowman released 2 useful discs for the Xbox1.
* Frosty's XBOX Rescue Disc v1.0:
[QUOTE]
NOTE: This Rescue Disc REQUIRES that your XBOX is either Softmodded, Modchipped, or TSOP flashed. This disc WILL NOT WORK with an unmodified retail XBOX.
NOTE2: For softmods, you NEED to have a hard drive that is locked and has a functional 'C' drive to work.
Features:
- Supports all current Softmods, Modchips, and TSOP Flashes
- Entirely DVD based!
- Full support for ALL XBOX versions! (v1.0-v1.6b)
- Full, unrestricted FTP access to the XBOX hard drive partitions! (C,E,F,G,X,Y & Z)
- Allows full access to the REAL C drive on Softmods! (overrides ShadowC drives)
- Supports F & G Drives
- Supports Custom Partitions
- Includes DVD2XBOX and XBpartitioner(info) (both are entirely DVD based)
- Allows LOCKING and UNLOCKING of XBOX Hard Drives! (This disc will only lock and unlock hard drives with the same key as the EEPROM on the motherboard.)
- Changes 'Ring of Light' to RED to confirm the Rescue Disc is running
[/QUOTE]
* Frosty's Dual-Boot VGA Softmod v1.0
[QUOTE]
NOTE: This softmod is intended ONLY for v1.0-v1.5 NTSC XBOX consoles! If you have a PAL XBOX console, you will need to use a NTSC/PAL switching utility to change your PAL XBOX to an NTSC version before you can use this softmod. (Enigmah PAL-NTSC Switcher can do this)
NOTE2: This is a softmod, not a BIOS. This softmod requires a RETAIL XBOX BIOS to run, it will NOT run with any hacked BIOSes or Modchips.
Known Bugs
- Not compatible with PAL XBOX consoles (VGA cannot be used on PAL consoles)
- Not compatible with v1.6/Xcalibur XBOX consoles
- Not compatible with 3944 BIOS consoles (Must be running Microsoft 4034 or higher)
- Not compatible with Modchips (Unless the chip is flashed with a retail BIOS)
Features
- Dual-Boot Normal/VGA (Power Button = Normal Video, Eject Button = VGA)
- 100% FULL VGA SUPPORT! ALL GAMES/APPLICATIONS ARE 100% COMPATIBLE!
- Force480p (VGA mode only, forces 480i games to run at 480p)
- ForceGPUReset (VGA mode only, fixes all 'green screen' games)
- Supports Conexant Encoders
- Supports Focus Encoders
- F & G Drive Support (LBA48)
- Custom Partition Support (Supports up to 750GB HDDs w/XBpartitioner)
- IGR Support (In-Game-Reset, done by L+R+BACK+BLACK or L+R+BACK+START)
- ShadowC Drive (Protects softmod from being damaged)
- VirtualCDROM (Allows mounting of ISOs with DriveImage Utilities(info))
- NO VirtualEEPROM (Direct writing of EEPROM, no more HDTV enabling issues!)
- EvolutionX(info) +3935 (Main Dashboard)
- Microsoft Dashboard 5960
- XBOX Media Center (T3CH Release)
- DVD-X(info)2 DVD Player (Region-Free DVD Player)
- DVD2XBOX (File Manager)
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, by FrostyTheSnowman (Rescue Disc dev. thread)
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source/NFO [xbins.org]: XBOX Rescue Disc | Dual-Boot VGA Softmod
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Keypad Impressions and QandA
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
To get a bit more insight into the mysterious Xbox 360 QWERTY Keypad Device, we called on the expertise of Xbox Live's Group Program Manager Jerry Johnson.
* TeamXbox: Did you have any particular games in mind when creating this?
* Jerry Johnson: While we are sure that game developers will implement this keyboard into their titles down the line, this peripheral was created to make text chat and IM over the Xbox 360 easier and more convenient. We are excited to see how game developers use this accessory in the future, but games were not the primary reason for its creation.
* TeamXbox: Why did you decide to create a keyboard that was added to the controller, as opposed to a full-sized standalone keyboard?
* Jerry Johnson: A USB keyboard can already be used with the Xbox 360 today. Rather than create another standalone keyboard, the Xbox team decided to bring something entirely new to the gaming market. The new keypad for the Xbox 360 is the first ever that connects directly to the controller. Because it fits seamlessly into the 360 controller, gamers can use it while playing games without having to interrupt game play. We have created a very easy and convenient way to type messages to friends without having to ever pause the game or put down the controller.
We're really looking forward to using Windows Live Messenger with the Xbox 360 QWERTY Keypad Device, as it will easily change how people interact when engaged in an Xbox 360 endeavor (no more pecking at the virtual keyboard - whew!). The quality and seamless integration of the Xbox 360 QWERTY Keypad Device also gets us amped for the future possibilities of this device, as any text-based MMORPG or title needing more buttons for assignments will clearly benefit form such a quality piece. Even if you don't plan on playing games of a MMO nature or chatting with your friends via Live, you'll at least consider the Xbox 360 QWERTY Keypad Device as a favorable ergonomic upgrade for your current 1st party 360 controller.
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Full Story: teamxbox.com (4 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
InFeCtuS Xbox360 Flat Cables
>> InFeCtuS will soon release 'Flat Cables' for Xbox360 DVD drives ... this will allow you to easily install the InFeCtuS modchip on your Xbox360 ODD drive (this versatile modchip allows you to flash/patch the onboard DVD flash, serve as dual FW chip or act like a Globe360 or NME 1.2 chip):
[QUOTE]
INFECTUS QUICKSOLDER FLAT CABLES FOR X360 DRIVERS
In few days the new QUICKSOLDER FLAT CABLES allowing an easy and fast installation of infectus on the DVD DRIVE MAINBOARDS will be ready.
MORE FLAT CABLES for PS3, WII and other consoles will be available soon, as well!
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: www.infectus.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Starts Banning 360s on LIVE - MS Confirms
>> With the amount of posts we see on our forums ... it's clear, Microsoft decided to start banning Xbox360 with modified firmwares today (both Hitachi-LG and Toshiba-Samsung drives).
While it's the same release date as Halo3 beta, it seems that people who didn't download Halo3 also get banned. They could detect the modified FW, changes in FWs or backup-discs ... that's not very clear yet and we'll have to find that out in the next few days and weeks.
Even people using the new firmwares with disc-jitter added get banned, so it looks like Microsoft found another way to detect it. However we also see reports of people with modified firmwares that are not banned (yet). Microsoft is known to ban with delay though, so it'll probably take a while before we got a good view on who got banned for what reasons.
Just like on Xbox1 it looks like Microsoft bans the console unique ID (serial), not the LIVE user. Microsoft will not allow anyone to login on LIVE on a banned console.
Many people on the official xbox.com forums also claim they got banned but didn't have a flashed firmware ... we'll have to see how that story develops in the coming hours and days.
 Picture by Eraser77. This is what you get when you go to test connection and after xbox live fails click on network adapter
Update: This was just posted on Microsoft's Games Global Marketing team blog:
[QUOTE]
One of the great things about LIVE and the unified community is that we work hard to create a level playing field for all gamers and have a no tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior like hacking or cheating. As part of our commitment to our members, we do not allow people that we have detected to have modified their console to connect to LIVE. This is an important part of our efforts to try and maintain a fair gaming environment for the large majority of gamers that play by the rules. This topic is more important than ever given the recent release of the Halo 3 beta. As a result, some consumers that try to login to LIVE who we detect have illegally modified their console will get an error code (Status Code: Z: 8015 - 190D) when trying to connect to the service. These users will not have their account automatically banned from LIVE, but they will no longer be able to access the service from the console they modified.
We have stated in the past that customers can only enjoy access to the Xbox LIVE community through the use of a genuine, unmodified, Xbox console and we will continue to enforce this rule to ensure the integrity of our service, the protection of our partners and the benefits of our users.
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
UnleashX V0.39.0515 Build 583
>> A new version of the UnleashX(info) dashboard for Xbox1 has been released.
What's new/fixed:
* Fixed UnRar code failing on some Rar archives.
* Fixed Right and Bottom offset of Playlist background image.
* Fixed Music info database for custom soundtracks.
* Fixed Improved USB Keyboard handling
* Fixed InfoText: Drive C Size display
* Fixed Xbox Information. Incorrect label for "Xbox Info"
* Fixed Better handling of long soundtrack name.
* Changed "Middle" alignment reverted back to old implementation.
* Changed Re-wrote InfoText source which demands too much memory causing corruption in the display
* Added AlbumArt for custom soundtrack. Drop a file named "folder.jpg" or "folder.png" in each of your custom soundtrack folder. You can then display the album art like the following in either the main screen, or the music player.
[Image Left="520" Top="285" Width="90" Height="80" Source="AlbumArt" /]
* Added Limited USB mouse support.
* Added Rotate and accordion effect to the SlideShow screensaver
* Added SlideShow to Image viewer. To invoke: select an image to display from File Explorer(info), when the Image viewer comes up, press "Start" button Button Control:
-A/Start: Pause/Resume
-Y: Turn off/On effect
-DPad Up: Increase interval by 1 sec
-DPad Down: Decrease interval by 1 sec (min 2 sec)
* Added Full support for USB1.1-compliant FAT32 devices via File Explorer. Write speed is still slow. I patched the XDK library to go around the 4GB limit hardcoded into the system but my mobile HD still wouldn't work.
It could be that it's not USB1.1 compliant but I ran out of hardware to test. Tested with 128MB, 512MB, 1GB flash disk and 4GB iPod Nano. Let me know if you have success with bigger HDD.
-Read rate: ~1MB/sec
-Write Rate: ~350Kb/sec
-Multiple partition is supported (Max 4 partition)
-Limited to a single mounted device.
Official Site: n/a, written by unleashx
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Bunnie: Important Clarifications: HV Hack Authors, Talk with MS Explanation
>> Bunnie posted some important clarifications about the article he posted last week on the Xbox360 hacks presentation at the BlueHat Security Briefings in Redmond:
[QUOTE]
There are some important misconceptions that need to be corrected.
1. I did no technical work on the Xbox 360 hack. Felix Domke (tmbinc) is the true technical genius behind the hack -- please give him proper credit for his hard work. My role in this is entirely diplomatic; I was consulted because my previous work on the Xbox meant I was already familiar with the legal risks and the best contact methods. And, as with any hack, there were many other unsung heros involved who are forced to choose anonymity due to risks and circumstances out of their control.
2. No money was involved. The hack was reported to Microsoft per legal requirements, and per security industry standard operating practice. It is no coincidence that this is the exact same path that was taken on the first Xbox hacks (Hypertransport, 007 and Dashboard). The difference is that this time, Microsoft took the time to listen, and eventually invited us to their house to give a talk.
3. Finally, this was the opportunity to tell Microsoft that locking out low-level code development (and consequently Linux) will never work. It's neither sound technically nor good for business development in the long term. We believe they have listened. Although this approach has never been tried before, based on their reactions, future Microsoft devices may not lock out homebrew; at least, we have planted the seeds of a feasible technical and business path to such a future in key minds at Microsoft.
In closing, I don't think Microsoft is right in locking down hardware to outside developers; I also don't think that the pirates are right, either. As a result, I must walk a fine gray line, and I am continuously faced with many a difficult and ambiguous decision.
And, to quote Felix, who posted in the comment round on a previous blog entry:
"The reason to stay anonymous so long was...about not getting sued. But after Bluehat, it become clear that this was no issue anymore.
And my strict demand for working on a project like free60 is that i can publish stuff in public, under my real name, without hiding anything, and still be able to sleep well at night. This would not have been possible if we hadn't worked together with Microsoft."
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Official Site: bunniestudios.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft PR: Firmly Behind HD DVD Format - No Blu-ray Addon for 360
>> From Microsoft's Games Global Marketing team blog (FYI: MS owned blog):
[QUOTE]
'Just want to clear up a few things surrounding several erroneous stories regarding alleged comments from Peter Moore about Xbox 360 supporting Blu-ray. Simply put...These reports are completely incorrect.
Some online media outlets have picked up this story and are citing Internet speculation of an alleged Associated Press story that does not exist, along with comments taken out of context from a story in ITmedia that appeared back in January. This information is being reported as news and as a result of a recent interview, neither of which are true.
In an interview with ITmedia back at CES in January of this year, Peter said Xbox 360 has the flexibility to adapt to consumers' needs, allowing Microsoft to add features as consumers demand them - as evidenced by the offering of the HD DVD Player as an accessory.
It is important to understand the context in which that statement was made. We firmly stand behind the HD DVD format as the best choice for consumers. Current reports indicating that Microsoft has a back-up plan, which includes Blu-ray support are incorrect. We're fully committed to HD DVD and have absolutely no plans to support other optical formats.
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta: Crackdown Issue Update: Fixed, Beta Extended 4d
>> The original news is below, but bungie just updated their website that the fix has now been released - you can finally download the Halo3 beta via Crackdown and the beta period has been extended as 'compensation' for the delay:
[QUOTE]
It's been a long day for a lot of people but we're happy to announce that effective immediately, a title update for Crackdown is available on Xbox Live that will fix the issue that previously prevented you from downloading the beta. The Microsoft team just deployed this fix and when you launch Crackdown you should receive a prompt to download the update.
Please note that it could take up to four hours for your console to receive this update based on various factors. However, the good news is that we're in the clear and Halo 3 gameplay is just over the horizon.
We realize this has been a pain for many and an inconvenience at the very least. Given the circumstances, we've decided to extend the duration of the Halo 3 Beta from June 6th to June 10th at 11:59 PM PDT. So, you lost almost a full day of play today but to make up for it we're tacking on four more days (and a weekend at that).
We apologize for the delay and hardships this issue has caused and hope that it quickly becomes a distant memory clouded by good times playing Halo 3 with your friends.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding. We'll see you online!
Note : A rare bug has been discovered that sometimes results in improper text display in the game UI. Basically, you won't see any text at all. If you encounter this issue, you can fix it yourself by doing the following:
1. Restart your Xbox 360
2. Boot up the Halo 3 Beta
3. While the Halo 3 Beta is loading, immediately press up on the D-Pad and hold the A button until you see the Bungie logo. If you perform this correctly a dialog box will appear confirming maintenance has been done to your system.
4. Resume the Halo 3 Beta!
[/QUOTE]
Original news
From bungie.net:
[QUOTE]
We're happy to finally announce that the issues being faced with the Halo 3 beta and Crackdown will be resolved shortly. The Microsoft team has found a solution and it's undergoing final testing now.
Assuming the test pass goes according to plan, the fix will come in the form of a Crackdown title update within the next three to six hours.
We understand many of you were eagerly awaiting your chance to jump into the Halo 3 Beta and this technical issue has put a damper on your plans. Thankfully the fix is incoming and we're sincerely sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. Ultimately we hope this will all soon be a distant memory once you pick up the Spartan Laser, launch yourself from a Mancannon and enjoy online shenanigans with your friends.
As a reminder, people who already have the Halo 3 Beta are unaffected by this issue. We'll keep you posted as soon as we have more information.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Peter Moore Interview: PS3 vs DC, PS Home, PS3 Exclusives, ...
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
I meet with Moore in a large hotel suite in San Francisco. I ask him about PlayStation 3's troubles. It seems likely to be something he'll enjoy talking about.
He shakes his head, almost mournfully. Obviously, he's thoroughly enjoying himself, but he hides it well. "I've walked a mile in those shoes," he says. "I'm digging up my tortured past here, but remember Dreamcast?" And there it is. PlayStation 3 is Dreamcast. How delicious is that?
"We thought we were doing right," he recollects. "All of a sudden it didn't pan out." We all remember Dreamcast; a wonderful performer that the world cruelly ignored. Sega's console launch, steered partly by Moore in the US, found favor with adherents, but found itself unable to compete with PS2. It was crushed by Sony, mercilessly.
The comparison between PS3 and Dreamcast is disingenuous for many reasons, but as far as Moore is concerned, both products are badly flawed.
Moore explains, "Howard Stringer said 'it's not what's possible that's important, it's what's relevant'. I think that's probably indicative of the PS3. It was possible to build a box that had Blu-ray and Cell and HDMI and everything else, but what was relevant was maybe a $399 price point and great games. I think we can all agree, and even Sony would potentially agree, that they miscalculated the global consumer's appetite for the experience the offered at the price point they offered it at."
Okay, but Sony does have other advantages, what about PlayStation Home? "Four years ago, we looked at the concept of a lounge where your avatar could wander around. We looked at an area where people could play their music, show people their videos. But it was not something that we felt worth pursuing. We made a decision that the user interface that we would put in to Xbox Live was one that got you in quickly, that allowed you to navigate where you wanted to go, and to do what you wanted to do. The concept of hanging out was something that, while we looked at it, we just didn't think was something that our users wanted to do.
So with Sony in a painful place right now, Microsoft is mopping up any third party deals it can to deny its troubled competitors those big exclusives. But there are still a few holding out; the small matters of Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid come to mind. Is Microsoft going to get those brands?
Undoubtedly, the attempt is being made. "There are conversations had everywhere and sometimes the conversations don't work out," he says. "There are commitments made, long term commitments by publishers that you have to adhere to and respect. There is no stone left unturned by our team but I also respect the fact that a particular publisher may have a particular loyalty, or might have a long time or long standing business agreement that precludes us from doing things that we would like to do."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: next-gen.biz (3 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Halo 3 Beta CrackDown Delay and Offcial Release Date: Sept 25/26th
>> People around the world are now mass-downloading the public multiplayer beta of Halo3 but there seems to be some issues to download the beta via Crackdown. Bungie is aware of the problem though and will try to solve it asap:
[QUOTE]
Folks are reporting problems downloading the Halo 3 Beta via Crackdown this morning. We have alerted the appropriate Live authorities and they are taking care of the problem as we speak. More news as it comes in.
With any luck this will be a short delay. People enetering the Beta through other methods - Friends and Family, Rule of Three and so on, are unaffected.
[/QUOTE]
In meantime, Microsoft released the official release date of the final Halo3. You'll get it September 25th in North-America and the 26th in Europe. From the press release:
[QUOTE]
In a year when Hollywood is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, a video game is set to conquer them all. "Halo 3," the final chapter in the groundbreaking "Halo" trilogy, is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25. Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, "Halo 3" will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief's epic battle to save humankind. "Halo 3" will be available to audiences around the world starting Sept. 25 and will release in Europe on Sept. 26.
"'Halo 3' is much more than a video game release; it's the biggest entertainment event of the year," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business. "On Sept. 25, we intend to deliver a finale that will go down in entertainment history and leave people around the world with an experience that will be shared and enjoyed for years to come."
Fueling the early buzz around "Halo 3", Microsoft unveiled the multiplayer beta on the eve of its release at a star-studded event in Hollywood. Beginning tomorrow, May 16, Microsoft Game Studios will kick off the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta, which provides audiences worldwide with an exclusive, early look at some of the multiplayer elements of "Halo 3" on Xbox LIVE®. Adding to the excitement, Microsoft is also announcing a special edition Zune™ digital media player inspired by the hugely successful "Halo" franchise. On shelves next month, the Zune-Halo 3 edition comes loaded with a collection of "Halo" content, including videos, soundtracks, trailers, ads and artwork.
In November 2004, the world's view of video games changed forever with the release of "Halo 2," which generated a record-setting $125 million in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played game on Microsoft's Xbox LIVE online gaming and entertainment network, with nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.
The unveiling of the "Halo 3" launch date comes on the eve of the release of the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta, which will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE on May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.* The "Halo 3" multiplayer beta will provide audiences worldwide with an exclusive early look at some of the multiplayer elements of "Halo 3" on Xbox LIVE. Gamers who are interested in experiencing the multiplayer beta of "Halo 3" can still participate through the purchase of the critically acclaimed, Xbox 360-exclusive title "Crackdown™," which was launched in February. Starting May 16, the specially marked copies of "Crackdown" will act as a key for gamers to participate in the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta. In addition to giving gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, the multiplayer beta will also provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development.
The "Halo" franchise has expanded beyond video games into The New York Times' best-selling books, graphic novels, collectible merchandise and now a new, special edition Zune digital media player. Encased in collectible packaging, the Zune-Halo 3 edition digital media player comes pre-loaded with artwork, trailers and music from all three "Halo" games, as well as an exclusive new episode of "Red vs. Blue" from the fan-adored machinima creator Rooster Teeth Productions LLC. The Zune-Halo 3 edition (estimated retail price $249) will be available exclusively at GameStop starting June 15.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Interview with Xbox 360 Launch Team Member Hellfire360
>> From live-360.net:
[QUOTE]
I contacted Hellfire360 who was the development lead for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player and is currently the "Development Manager for Xbox Community, Commerce & Live Gaming" and he was nice enough to answer some interview questions for us.
* Live360: What was your experience like being part of the HD DVD team?
* Hellfire360: Pretty magical! it was like having teams of ethan hunts from Mission Impossible III, except they were all on fire and had lasers.
In software development, I think projects like hd dvd come together very rarely. What we did in the TINY amount of time, with so many different collaborators (we worked closely with about 5 other major teams at Microsoft, licensed a ton of new technology), with so many technical challenges...it was awe-inspiring to see it all come together and ship on time.
One of my guys wrote up a nice story about some of the technical challenges.
Ultimately, we've sold more units than all standalone HD-DVD players put together, meaning we're a big factor in the high-def format war. So while it's sold less than any other product i've helped ship, I am most proud of this product and the teams that built and tested it.
* Live360: If you could add anything to Xbox live what would it be?
* Hellfire360: I'd like us to make Live much more inviting (and we're working very hard on this). The common misconception of live is that its populated with foul mouthed teenagers. But as you probably know, once you find a crew to play with regularly, multiplayer is magical, co-op especially. I'd like everyone to experience that.
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Full Interview: live-360.net
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Twitter your Xbox 360 Gamertag
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
Are you caught up in the Twitter craze? It's a program akin to an away message or status update, telling people what you are doing. Self-proclaimed code / tea / etc. man Duncan Mackenzie has found a way to tie in his love of Twitter with his Xbox 360 gamertag.
With just a few quick installs and a computer left on, the Xbox Twitter will check your gamertag status every few minutes and update your Twitter account to reflect any updates.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: joystiq.com
Official Site/Download: duncanmackenzie.net
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Zsnexbox v3.1
>> Nes6502 released a new version of ZsnexBox(info), a port of the Zsnes Super Nintendo emulator to Xbox1 on our forums.
What's new/fixed:
* Added option to use the Path.ini or to have ZsnexBox create all the directories on the E partition. This will allow users to easily put ZsnexBox on a CD/DVD and run it on any Xbox (without having to create all the directories Path.ini points to). Just change "usePathINI=1" to "usePathINI=0" in the Path.ini before you burn the CD/DVD.
* Screenshots larger than 512x512 are no longer supported. If ZsnexBox finds a preview larger than this, it will not display it. Extremely high res box art will cause a crash (i.e ZsnexBox runs out of RAM), and 512x512 is plenty big enough. HD users at 1080i might want to go even lower (256x256). If ZsnexBox freezes after 2 or 3 games, you are running out of RAM and ensuring previews are no bigger than 256x256 will likely fix the issue.
* Tweaked all the skins to make them easier to read.
Official Site: n/a, by Nes6502 on forums.xbox-scene.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
GameDaily Opinion: Xbox 360's Keys to Victory
>> From biz.gamedaily.com:
[QUOTE]
The keys to victory are in Microsoft's hands, but turning that engine over and speeding away from the competition may prove difficult if the company doesn't take the necessary steps to guarantee (Guarantee not actually guaranteed. Offer void in Japan) victory.
That said, although this article is not meant to be a predictor of things to come, we do think the 360 has a legitimate chance of taking the crown this generation if Microsoft follows these steps (listed in no particular order):
1. Slash the price
2. Offer a special limited edition Halo 3 360 SKU this holiday
3. Make Xbox Live free
4. Go acquisition hunting and seek out exclusives
5. Broaden the audience with more family-friendly IP
The Xbox 360 is a fantastic system, its product portfolio is consistently improving, and its online services can't be beat. That said, Microsoft Game Studios Corporate VP Shane Kim recognizes that his company has a lot of work to do. Hopefully, everyone else on Team 360 shares his passion. Now is the time to take control of this race. If MS doesn't crank it up to the next gear, Nintendo and/or Sony could easily end up drafting right behind them before eventually overtaking them before the final lap.
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Full Story: biz.gamedaily.com (2 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Update Tomorrow
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Amir Majidimehr, the corporate vice president of Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology Group, announced on the AVS Forum that a software update for the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is scheduled for release tomorrow:
"It is my pleasure to let you all know that the HD DVD update for Xbox 360 is slated for release on 5/15 (i.e. tomorrow!). So when you wake up in the morning, you should be able to upgrade your software. And me free from telling you when are going to get it . Hope you all download it and provide feedback on what you think!"
Here's what the HD DVD audio update will include on May 15th:
* Fix DD being stuck in "Night Mode" which is essentially Dynamic Range Compression leading to the sound sounding very flat
* Option to output ALL HD DVD audio as DTS 1.5Mbps (list includes DD+, TrueHD, DTS, and any other audio option offered on HD DVD discs I may have missed)
* Option to output ALL HD DVD audio as DD 640Kbps, (which it currently does, but will be fixed from the Night Mode bug), list includes DD+, TrueHD, DTS, and any other audio option offered on HD DVD discs that I may have missed.
* Option to output ALL HD DVD audio as WMAPro (768Kbps I think), (list includes DD+, TrueHD, DTS, and any other audio option offered on HD DVD discs I may have missed) for those receivers that support WMA.
* Option to enable/disable Night Mode (with the default set to off)
* Fix a number of disc incompatibilities (including DVD Essentials) as well as a number of Lip Sync issues.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: teamxbox.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Shadowrun for Vista 50usd, for 360 60usd - MGS 'explains'
>> From newsweek.com:
[QUOTE]
Last week, Microsoft announced that Shadowrun, its multiplayer-only first-person shooter, had finally gone gold and would arrive in stores on May 29th. We wondered how Microsoft could justify charging Xbox 360 gamers $60 for Shadowrun when PC gamers would only have to pay $50 for precisely the same game? Rather than simply speculate or opine, we dashed off a few questions to Microsoft Game Studios corporate vice president Shane Kim. Here's what he emailed back.
* Since Microsoft is the first-party publisher of Shadowrun, the company doesn't have to pay itself the customary console royalty on the 360 version of the game. Why, then, do Xbox 360 gamers have to pay $60 for the same game that PC gamers only have to pay $50? Is this the pricing strategy that consumers should expect for future 360/PC cross-platform titles from Microsoft?
* The $59.99 for Xbox 360 and $49.99 for Windows Vista price points are our standard pricing for each platform. This pricing structure is not uncommon in the multiplayer-only first-person shooter genre, as numerous titles have seen success at this price point and gaming model. I think it's premature to speak to pricing for all future projects, but as of now this is our pricing structure for our marquee titles like Shadowrun. Additionally, MGS has the same development costs as other developers and publishers out there. One advantage other publishers have that we do not is that they can leverage their marketing and development costs over all platforms, while we are focused on Windows and Xbox 360 as a first party publisher.
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Full Story: newsweek.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Pachter Predicts April Sales: 175k 360, 100k PS3, 300k Wii
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Ahead of NPD Group's monthly report, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicts that that April US software sales were up 24 percent to $489 million, with the Wii heavily outselling the PS3 on the hardware front.
He predicted the following complete hardware unit sales for the month:
Wii 300,000
PS3 100,000
Xbox 360 175,000
PS2 250,000
PSP 200,000
DS 450,000
GBA 100,000
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2007-05-14 SVN rev8943 build - T3CH
>> T3CH released a new SVN compile (rev8943) of XboxMediaCenter(info) for Xbox1.
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:
* added: advancedsettings, ability to disable modchip detection/lookup; for X2 ModChip Series (more info)
* added: "busy indicator" dialog (DialogBusy.xml, temporary graphics), dialog is rendered on top of everything when the main thread is busy doing lots of stuff except rendering.
* I'm including the XBMC Win32 PC environment.exe that is meant for skinners & python developers, read more about the concept here. It was built using Microsoft DirectX Summer 2004 SDK.
* I've tweaked the win32 run_me_first.bat so it runs and then unmounts the virtual drives when you exit.
For the full changelog (all added/fixed/changed/updated stuff) since the 2007-05-07 SVN Rev8807 build click 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: www.xboxmediacenter.com (manual and FAQ)
Official T3CH Site: http://217.118.215.116 (release RSS feed)
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK) | Download SourceCode: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Moore On Xbox Plans at MI6
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
At the MI6 conference, Microsoft's Peter Moore, Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot and EA's Bing Gordon sparred on a heavyweight closing panel, and Gamasutra has highlights from the Michael Pachter-moderated showdown.
The panel, 'Gaming 2010', was billed as "A blue ribbon panel of experts project where the gaming future is headed in the next 3-5 years"
Moore On Xbox Plans
Peter Moore: When we at Microsoft think about how we will be doing business three or four years from now, we think about the three C's: Connected, Community, and Content. And content is not just games.
When we built the original Xbox, broadband wasn't as ubiquitous as it is today, but the courageous move to require a broadband connection for the original Xbox laid the platform for where we stand today. More than six million people today connect through Xbox Live...
The second thing is about community, about the role of user-created content, and this concept of personalization of the entertainment experience... The third of the three C's is content. Michael points out that content is going to be the real thing that determines winners and losers. It's not just content from the point of view of games, though they are going to be incredibly important.
There's high-definition movies, and TV shows. The thing we need to do as an industry is to play an important part of the visual entertainment lifestyle of our consumers. Those are the three things we will be talking about in the future. None of that would have been relevant to the conversation five years ago.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft's Shane Kim Unconvinced by PlayStation Home
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
In an interview with the widely-read ShackNews, Microsoft Game Studios exec Shane Kim said that Microsoft has no plans to layer a 3D environment over Xbox Live in the same vein as the upcoming PlayStation Home online service.
I don't think we need anything like that," said Kim. "I've spent some time with the Linden Lab guys [developers of Second Life]. To try to build Second Life on Xbox Live--or YouTube, Facebook, any of those big social networking services and sites--it's a lot of work. It's all software, and we're the software company in this market here.
"I doubt [Sony's] ability to implement it and execute it in a really rich and compelling way. PlayStation Network is not Xbox Live, it's not even close. To think about layering [Home] on top of that--wow. The hardest part is not even creating the system, it's regulating the behavior and all of that too. Boy, that's a massive investment in infrastructure. I actually believe that most gamers will always find more value in what we have on Xbox Live and now Games for Windows Live and how we're building that out, which really started all about gaming features and now has added more like instant messaging, Video Marketplace, etcetera. That's what I think is a much better approach, and that's what our approach is going to be," Kim said.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: next-gen.biz and shacknews.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Zsnexbox v3.0 Fix
Connect360 v3.0
>> NullRiver released a new version of Connect360(info), it's a tool to stream your music, images and videos from your Mac OSX to your Xbox 360 console.
What's fixed/new:
* Choose where your videos are stored
* Support for H.264 and MPEG4 videos in MOV and MP4 containers
* Support for iTunes Podcasts in the above formats
* Bug fixes
Official Site: http://www.nullriver.com/index/products/connect360
Download (free trial): here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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