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Week of November 2, 2008
Team Xecuter Connectivity Kit v3 Updates
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(Saturday 08 November 2008 13:12 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Super Mario War 1.8 Halloween Edition
>> A new special edition of the homebrew game 'Super Mario War(info)' for
PC and Xbox(1) has been released.
What's new:
* Complete graphics, sound, music, worlds, and maps update for halloween
* Based on SMW 1.8 Beta 2
* Animated tiles in platforms
* Tons of bug fixes from Beta 1
* New levels full of cauldrons, castles, pumpkins, mummies and more!
* Update by: General Guy, Link901, KingPepe, MC Jimmy, Mr Mister,
Tanuki, XS197, Asgardreid, Gadouken, LKA, and JJames19119
Official Site: forum.72dpiarmy.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
Read Me/NFO: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NXE Preview Part Deux
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
I mentioned this on my last show, but now it's time to make it happen. This week we took a look at the list of the thousands of Xbox LIVE members that originally signed up for the preview program and decided it's time to add more members. That means that on November 8th (tomorrow) we're going to be adding more folks to the New Xbox Experience Preview Program. If you are chosen, you will receive an email later tonight (check that spam folder!) followed by the update tomorrow evening (PT). We're only pulling names from those that originally signed up (there is no way to sign up if you missed it, sorry) and this selection process will be at random from those that previously filled out the Connect Program Survey from my original post. The New Xbox Experience will be available to all Xbox LIVE members on November 19th.
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(Friday 07 November 2008 22:49 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
NXE: What You Want To Know - Party And Photo Sharing
>> From the Xbox PR Blog:
[QUOTE]
Pretty sure we can all agree that Xbox LIVE is the best place to play games, hands-down. A good game of Gears of War 2 becomes an incredible game when you get into a heavy multiplayer match with your friends - or any person you're matched with - and reduce them into small chunks with your pretty chainsaw. It's the little things in life that bring such satisfaction.
But some people asked for ways to create parties and keep entire groups of people together online, no matter what they were doing. Well, we've listened and we've delivered. Once NXE launches on Nov. 19, it will be even easier to connect with your friends and the Xbox LIVE community of 14 million people around the world via Xbox LIVE Party*.
Xbox LIVE Party will let you and up to seven friends jump from experience to experience while staying connected at all times. If you have a weekly Gears match and one friend is always late - no worries. The rest of you can join a Party and either voice chat or play a quick game of Castle Crashers while you wait. Once your no good, lazy a** friend shows up (you know who you are), one person will be able to bring your group into the lobby of Gears with just the click of a button. Really - it's that easy.
But Xbox LIVE Party goes beyond games. The New Xbox Experience will also bring a photo sharing feature to Xbox LIVE members called Photo Party. With Photo Party, you and up to seven friends can share digital photos from a camera, disc or USB drive while voice chatting in real-time. You can even rate each others' photos - so you may want to keep that photo of your farmer tan in a Speedo to yourself. With Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up, you may even be able to convince your mom and dad to get an Xbox 360 to enjoy all the great new entertainment available through NXE.
Check out the screens of Xbox LIVE Party and Photo Party. Our own Major Nelson also put together a cool video to show how easy it is to jump from experience to experience in a Party, which you can watch here:
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(Friday 07 November 2008 14:53 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox360 Controller Mod with no Face Buttons of D-pad on top
>> We received this email from the guys at acidmods:
[QUOTE]
We created a 360 controller with no face buttons or D-pad on the top. We relocated the analog stick and fiberglassed the faceplate. the D-pad and face buttons are consolodated on two digital joystick on bottom of controller.. This mod allow for all buttons and analogs to be at finger access at all times...
[/QUOTE]
Full Story/Tutorial: acidmods.com
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(Thursday 06 November 2008 22:08 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Netflix bundling 48 hour trials with some Xbox 360 games
>> From engadget.com:
[QUOTE]
It looks like the new Quantum of Solace game for the Xbox 360 has a little something extra bundled in with the package: according to reports, an explosive 48 hour Xbox Live Gold trial membership card with a secret "Netflix code" on the back is included. Nobody seems particularly stunned to hear that the companies plan to aggressively push the streaming movie service when the NXE goes live on November 19th, though no other details of the trial have emerged yet.
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Full Story: engadget.com
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(Wednesday 05 November 2008 23:51 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Gears of War 2 Poised to Be Top Entertainment Premiere This Holiday Season
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Rivaling the media spectacle and fan anticipation of a blockbuster movie's opening weekend, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system is set to launch its exclusive title, "Gears of War 2," worldwide at 12:01 a.m. local time this Friday, Nov. 7. A total of 20,000 retail locations in 20 countries will open their doors to the crowds waiting to get their hands on this must-have entertainment experience. Fans and critics around the world are predicting that "Gears of War 2," available only on Xbox 360, will be the biggest blockbuster of holiday 2008.
"Each holiday season in this current console generation, Xbox 360 has led the industry with the best lineup of blockbuster video games, and we are poised to lead the charge again in 2008 with 'Gears of War 2,'" said Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. "Holding the title of fastest-selling video game of 2006, 'Gears of War' has sold more than 5 million units to date, and this next chapter in the franchise will raise the bar yet again."
Under the creative leadership of Cliff Bleszinski, the team at Epic Games Inc. has pushed the franchise into bold new territory, greatly expanding upon the game's themes of hope, survival and loss. In "Gears of War 2," the last cities on Sera are sinking, swallowed by a new Locust threat from below. As Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad pursue the Locust, the mission turns deeply personal for Dominic Santiago as he uncovers clues in the search for his missing wife, Maria.
"Epic's goal was to create an emotionally engaging experience that will not only satisfy core gamers, but also attract new players who want to experience something akin to watching a heart-pounding movie that draws you in and doesn't let you go until the very end," said Bleszinski, design director at Epic Games. "With 'Gears of War 2,' we're taking storytelling in the Gears universe to places it's never been before, and we hope it'll deeply connect with everyone playing the game alone or with friends."
To usher in the much-anticipated launch of "Gears of War 2" in the United States, more than 10,000 retail stores will open their doors at 12:01 a.m. local time on Nov. 7. At Midnight Mayhem flagship events in Los Angeles, New York City and Bellevue, Wash., attendees will have the opportunity to win limited edition "Gears of War 2" Xbox 360 consoles and other prizes, receive autographed copies of the game, and meet the creators from Epic Games. In addition, fans who purchase "Gears of War 2" at any participating retailer during Midnight Mayhem will receive an exclusive Xbox LIVE token to download an in-game, gold-plated Hammerburst for use during multiplayer gameplay. A full list of scheduled events, retail locations and exclusives can be found at http://www.gearsofwar.com.
"Gears of War 2" is available as a Standard Edition with an estimated retail price (ERP) of $59.99 (U.S.), as well a Limited Edition with an ERP of $69.99 (U.S.). The Limited Edition is packaged in a collectible SteelBook DVD case and includes a 48-page hardbound book titled "Beneath the Surface: An Inside Look at 'Gears of War 2,'" which is filled with character profiles and exclusive concept art. The Limited Edition also includes a bonus DVD containing the making-of documentary, a keepsake photo of Dominic and Maria Santiago, and a coveted Xbox LIVE token to unlock a gold-plated Lancer for online play.
In addition, all copies of the game come with an Xbox LIVE token to download the Flashback Map Pack for free. The Flashback Map Pack will be available immediately at launch and consists of five popular maps from the original "Gears of War," including Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway and Tyro Station. Each map has been specially updated with new graphics for "Gears of War 2."
To celebrate the launch, Xbox LIVE is hosting the "Gears of War 2" Xbox LIVE Weekend Assault, sponsored by the movie "Transporter 3" and delivering 48 hours of special events beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 7. Xbox LIVE Gold members will have the chance to download videos, participate in a Game with Fame with Epic Games, and play in online tournaments to win exclusive "Gears of War 2" prizes. More information about the Xbox LIVE Weekend Assault activities can be found at www.gearsofwar.com.
"Gears of War 2" is leading a blockbuster lineup of the best and broadest games that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has to offer this holiday season. Whether you are a fan of music, movies, sports, action-adventure, role-playing or games that the entire family can enjoy, Xbox 360 has the most anticipated games and exclusive content including highly anticipated music games such as "Lips," "Rock Band 2," "Guitar Hero World Tour" and "DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3"; movie-themed titles "You're in the Movies" and "Scene It? Box Office Smash"; sports titles such as "Madden NFL 09"; games for the family such as "Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts"; and role-playing games such as "Fable II" and "Fallout 3." The Xbox 360 Arcade console is available for $199.99 ERP (U.S.), the most affordable next-generation console on the market today.
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(Wednesday 05 November 2008 15:04 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Beta ruins 'initial cherry popping' of videogames says Bleszinski
>> From strategyinformer.com:
[QUOTE]
Asked why there was no Gears of War 2 beta, Epic's Bleszinski has compared the process to getting laid with some chick and then moving on.
He argued that beta testers are susceptible to not feeling "motivated" enough to grab the final product as you've already gotten your taste. GOW2 a "pretty great game", by the way.
"A beta is like hooking up with a girl just to say, "yeah, I f*cked her." I know that sounds crude, but it's the honest-to-God truth," said Bleszinski, speaking with GamePro. "Once you play a beta, you can check it off your list -- you can say, "yeah, I played it." Then you might not feel motivated to get that initial cherry popping from the proper, final game."
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Full Story: strategyinformer.com | gamepro.com
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(Wednesday 05 November 2008 15:02 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox LIVE Exit Polls: Obama Leads by 20pct
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
In less than 24 hours, the world will find out who is poised to lead the United States as its next President. Over the Halloween weekend, thousands were able to cast an early, unofficial "vote" on Xbox LIVE. The tallied results provide a unique exit poll, emphasizing where the youth votes could fall this historic day.
Xbox LIVE weekend of 10/31
Obama/Biden: 53%
McCain/Palin: 33%
Undecided/Other: 14%
CNN weekend of 10/31
Obama/Biden: 53%
McCain/Palin: 46%
Undecided/Other: 1%
These results follow a series of election-related polls hosted on Xbox LIVE. See below for more details, including another CNN poll captured during the same timeframe. While the Xbox undecideds still remain markedly higher than those in the CNN poll, the majority of the undecided voters broke for Obama between the two polls, with his numbers increasing 10 percentage points between Sept. 19 and Oct. 31.
Also included below is a snapshot from the Xbox LIVE issues poll, conducted the weekend of Oct. 17. It indicates while the economy/jobs are at the top of gamers' minds, this is far more than a one-issue race.
Xbox LIVE Issues Poll - weekend of 10/22
Jobs and Economy: 35%
Environment: 19%
Foreign Policy: 18%
Healthcare: 14%
Education: 14%
Xbox Live - weekend of 9/19
Obama/Biden: 43%
McCain/Palin: 31%
Undecided/Other: 26%
CNN - weekend of 9/19
Obama/Biden: 51%
McCain/Palin: 47%
Undecided/Other: 2%
To date, nearly a million pieces of election-specific content have been downloaded over Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE (convention speeches, gamerpics, Rock the Vote videos etc.), reinforcing how large the footprint of this topic is in the Xbox LIVE community, which at 14 million-members strong is nearly double the size of New York City. Nearly 80,000 voter registration forms were also downloaded as part of the historic partnership between Xbox 360 and Rock the Vote in an effort to help register young Americans.
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(Tuesday 04 November 2008 17:48 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
MS: Half of NXE plans were 'cut out'
>> From computerandvideogames.com:
[QUOTE]
Speaking in a recent interview Microsoft's Jerry Johnson said that the redesigned Xbox 360 dash isn't finished yet and detailed plans to bolster the backend with new applications and content.
"There's still a lot of stuff we want to do," Johnson told CVG in an interview. "Half the things we wanted to do [in NXE] we cut out of the service.
"One of the nice things we did was this architectural change to make things more published and driven from the service. All of a sudden we opened up the platform to say 'I don't have to wait until once or twice a year to release something onto the dashboard'.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: computerandvideogames.com
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(Tuesday 04 November 2008 13:17 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Update from Team Blackbolt: Ellipsis (EX) Skin for XBMC
>> From Team Blackbolt:
[QUOTE]
Well its approaching the end of 2008 and Team Blackbolt looks back on what might not be an eventful year for us, but it's certainly been interesting. We recently topped 3 Million user visits, which is staggering. We've had some website issues and we've suffered with lack of updates.
Well moving into 2009, this website will be revamped and made more simple, both to use and update from our end. Also coming relatively soon is the new skin Ellipsis for Xbox exclusive to XBMC, see image below. The skin formally known only as EX (Ellipsis for Xbox) WILL be made, WILL come out and WILL be amazing. While it's still early in development, as it's mainly a solo project by myself as the other team members are off busy with their own projects, I do plan on finishing it and giving it a proper release. So keep checking the site and hopefully as soon as the blog system is implimented I can start to keep you guys updated more often.
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Official Site: http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
EUROPE ONLY: Gears of War 2 Bundles Arrive for Xbox 360
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Friday 7 November 2008 sees the arrival of a new bundle pack for the highly anticipated sequel to the 5 million-selling blockbuster third-person tactical action game, and one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in history, Gears of War 2. Picking up six months after the events of Gears of War, this action packed sequel thrusts you back into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against a nightmarish force of underground creatures known as the Locust Horde. Available in France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Portugal, Hungary and the Czech Republic, this critically-acclaimed title will be on sale with the 60GB hard-drive Xbox 360 Pro console at an estimated retail price of €269.99
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(Tuesday 04 November 2008 00:31 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Epic: Microsoft is 'winning' online battle
>> From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
President of Epic Games, Dr Michael Capps, has told GamesIndustry.biz that he believes that Microsoft is winning the battle of the online space thanks to the company's policy of continuing "adding cool stuff," and he's particularly looking forward to the new Xbox Live Experience due on November 19.
"If you hop right into the game you sort of miss something. And the way they're expanding the Live presence - you know, they're leading right now, they're winning. And the way you continue to do that is to keep adding cool stuff that everybody wants. Netflix is a great example - making me watch my movies on my Xbox!"
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Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
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(Monday 03 November 2008 21:28 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
MS: 360 surprises coming in 2009, most not announced
>> From videogamer.com:
[QUOTE]
Speaking to VideoGamer.com in an interview to be published later this week, Microsoft's UK head of gaming and entertainment Stephen McGill said that there was "lots of great stuff" coming in 2009 that people "don't know about".
McGill said: "Well I know a lot of the games coming out from us and our third parties. Most of them, in fact, have not been announced because everyone's very focused on what's out for Christmas. So it would do our third party partners a disservice for me to announce their great line-ups before they're ready to."
When asked if Microsoft had surprises in store for 360 owners in 2009, McGill replied: "You could expect that, yeah absolutely."
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Full Story: videogamer.com
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(Monday 03 November 2008 17:30 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox handheld: only available in dreamland says Microsoft
>> From five.tv:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has gunned down gossip suggesting an Xbox handheld is in the works, crushing gamers' dreams everywhere in the process.
UK Xbox boss, Stephen McGill, who denied the juicy rumour certainly had his work cut out having earlier denied a brand new Xbox console was in the offing.
The latest crushing blow was delivered in typically, er crushing style. "No, we're not looking to do a handheld gaming device." He said. Can't get any more empathic than that.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: five.tv
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(Monday 03 November 2008 17:25 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
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