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Week of November 27, 2005
Akira v2 SE Sample
>> Here are some pictures of the 'Akira v2 SE' sample we received a while ago, but with all the 360 news lately I didn't have time to post them yet.
The 'Akira v2 SE', made for installers, is a sharp priced gen3b Xbox modchip with a 512kbyte flash and 1x512 or 2x256 banks. Thanks to the extra power and eject solderpoints you'll be able to use the power and eject buttons to select the different modes (so no need for external switches): tap power for 256k user bank, tap eject for 256k recovery bank, hold power to disable modchip and hold eject to boot in 512k mode.
It ships with a Headerpin and a v1.6x LPC rebuild PCB.
It comes pre-flashed with 'Akira Flashbios v1.0' ... that's a (legal) cromwell based flashbios with 'Multi Flashing' support, this allows quickly flash several chip by just hotswapping them. (can be useful for installers)
Modchip is added to the gen3b comparison table too.
More Pictures:
* Full set with Modchip in anti-static bag: Low-Res / High-Res
* Full set in its package: Low-Res / High-Res
* Modchip and LPC rebuild PCB: Low-Res / High-Res
* Top of Modchip: Low-Res / High-Res
* Back of Modchip: Low-Res / High-Res
* Top LPC Rebuild PCB: Low-Res / High-Res
* Back LPC Rebuild PCB: Low-Res / High-Res
Official Site: http://www.akirachip.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Draws 160 Watts of Power
>> From cnet.com:
[QUOTE]
Apparently, all the jokes made about the Xbox 360's massive power brick are well deserved. After some experimenting with the 360 and other equipment, we've discovered an interesting fact about Microsoft's next-gen console: it's obscenely power hungry.
We tested the 'box using Extech's MA200 power meter, which gives real-time power consumption results. It turns out that the Xbox 360 draws about 160 watts of power, over twice as much as the original Xbox, which draws 74 watts, and the PlayStation 2, which draws about 50. In fact, the great white beast chomps down more electricity than almost every piece of living room electronics we tested, including the JVC RX-D702 A/V receiver, the Denon DVD-3910 DVD player, and a DirecTV HD TiVo. The only pieces of A/V gear that draw more power than the 360 are big-screen high-definition TVs.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: cnet.com
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(Saturday 03 December 2005 02:11 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Scratched Game Discs: More Details
>> Llamma.com posts some details about the issue with scratched discs on the Xbox360 (see joystiq.com, gameshout.com, myxbox360.com):
[QUOTE]
Many users are experiencing game disc scratching while a game is in their Xbox 360. The Llamma team had a couple first hand experiences with some game disc scratches. Two Call of Duty 2's were damaged when gently moving from a vertical to horizontal stance. We were surprised at how easily scratches can occur.
We did a couple intentional tests and have a video to show for it. It turns out if you paint the high spots of the drive and make it scratch the disc some more you can figure out what part is actually scratching the disc. Full article here.
According to GameShout.com Microsoft says they will not be replacing damaged discs. Microsoft does warn us on page 11 of volume 1 setup "Remove the disc before moving the console or tilting it between horizontal and vertical positions"
[/QUOTE]
Go read the whole article on Llamma.com.
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(Saturday 03 December 2005 01:06 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Aims For a Million in Japan
>> From xbox360.ign.com:
[QUOTE]
The current generation Xbox has yet to top the 500,000 units sold mark in Japan. But Microsoft isn't letting that dismal figure force it to think small for the Japanese market. Japanese Xbox business manager Yoshihiro Maruyama, commenting to Dengeki Xbox 360, a special one time publication released to commemorate the 12/10 launch of the Xbox 360, stated that he hopes the X360 will reach a figure double that by Summer!
[/QUOTE]
Read More: xbox360.ign.com
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(Saturday 03 December 2005 00:29 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
40,000 Xbox 360s Sold on eBay
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
According to eBay president and CEO Meg Whitman, a staggering 40,000 Xbox 360 consoles have been sold on eBay.
As reported by Dow Jones last night based upon a presentation at the CSFB Annual Technology Conference, the 40,000 unit figure has left pundits flabbergasted. If launch supply estimates from American Technology Research are accurate, that would mean that 10% of all Xbox 360 consoles sold in the US were either sold or resold through eBay.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz
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(Friday 02 December 2005 17:47 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
N. Thompson and GAME CEO Interview and More on EU Launch and Party
>> GamesIndustry.biz spoke with Neil Thompson, Microsoft's senior regional director for Xbox in Northern and Eastern Europe, at a midnight launch event in London. Here's an excerpt:
[QUOTE]
* GamesIndustry.biz: In terms of the stock tonight and tomorrow morning at launch - is there a lot of stock in the UK that's on a first-come, first-served basis, or is it really mostly pre-ordered stock?
* Neil Thompson: I think... I would say the majority of what I've seen from retailers is on pre-order of some form or shape. I think some retailers will have plenty of free stock, because the pre-order mechanic isn't something that necessarily they can manage very well - but a lot of it will be pre-ordered stock.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole interview on gamesindustry.biz
GamesIndustry.biz also spoke with Lisa Morgan, GAME (leading UK and European videogames retailer) CEO. Here's an excerpt:
[QUOTE]
* GamesIndustry.biz: Looking onwards towards Christmas, how important is Xbox 360 going to be to you over the next few weeks?
* Lisa Morgan: I think we have to be realistic. We're really being kept in tune with what kind of stock is coming into the market, and the volumes of stock are not necessarily what we would have liked to have seen as a retailer - so in terms of overall impact on our business, there are other formats that are going to play a bigger part in terms of revenue.
In terms of sentiment, though, this is really key to our business. We think it's important to the market that there's new product coming into the industry, and this product is absolutely fantastic. It's really taking gaming that one step forward for us. So for us, 360 isn't just about the next few weeks - it's about next year and the year after, because we're in this for the long term.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamesindustry.biz
If you want to read more reports about the EU launch: read our earlier article if you didn't do so yet, and there are also reports on: Next-Gen.biz, bbc.co.uk, gamespot.com, 1up.com, computerandvideogames.com, i4u.com, gamespaper.com. Some images of lines in germany are available here.
Spong.com, Kikizo.com and CVG attended the Xbox 360 launch party last night in the swanky Soho area of fashionable London village. Additional pictures here.
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(Friday 02 December 2005 13:55 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Use Any Headset With Xbox360 Live Adapter Mod
>> From gamersreports.com:
[QUOTE]
Many of you have been complaining that the headset that comes with the Xbox360 is inferior to all other headsets out there. You can plug any new headset into the Xbox360 jack, but you will loose mute and volume functionality. Well we are here to tell you how to fix that with a simple mod.
All headsets have four wires, two for the mic and 2 for the speaker. The bare and the white wire are for the mic usually, and the blue and the red are for the speaker. Now, any headset you want to use should show these wires when you strip off the jack at the end. Once you figure out which is which, unscrew the Xbox360 Live headset adapter using the 2 screws on the back. You should see something similar to the diagram below.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamersreports.com
Master3xBOx, one of our forum members also posted a nice tutorial on how to connect the original Xbox headset to the Xbox 360 controller. So if you prefer the old original Xbox headset, check out the tutorial here[forums.xbox-scene.com].
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(Friday 02 December 2005 07:01 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
EEPROM on Xbox 360 and xexdump utility
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(Friday 02 December 2005 03:20 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
European Launch: News Overview
>> The Xbox 360 has been launched today - December 2nd 2005 - across the European continent. Here are some news articles about the launch:
* Gamers wait hours for Xbox launch (bbc.co.uk)
More than 200 gamers have queued for hours in the rain to lay their hands on the new Xbox 360 game console.
Some waited for up to nine hours amid fears the new generation console is set to sell out after retailers warned of a shortage ahead of the launch.
Doors opened to customers at midnight at Game's flagship store in London's Oxford Street.
In the UK, the first in the queue to lay his hands on the new console was Kevin Sage, 33, of Sydenham, south London.
He had waited outside the store since 1445 GMT.
Read More: bbc.co.uk
* European launch letdown -- a gamer's diary (joystiq.com)
Knowing that European stocks were low, but buoyed up by reports of available consoles nearby, it seemed like a good idea to go and queue at local shops with a pleading expression and a credit card, in vain hope of getting a 360 on launch. After reading accounts of various exciting launch events in America, it was surprising to find out that only a few shops were planning to do anything for the 360 launch over in the UK.
By a carefully-planned strategy of phoning round, I found that only two local shops were opening at midnight--one, a Tesco Extra superstore, happened to have the largest allocation of 360s in the UK, which looked promising. The other, a Gamestation, was only opening for preorder customers, presumably to give people the consoles they simply couldn't wait until morning to have. No 360s for sale there, so I formed my plan of attack (plan A: go to Tesco) and waited to set it in motion.
Read More: joystiq.com
* Germany not excited for 360 launch? (xbox360fanboy.com)
While Europe is preparing for today's launch of the Xbox 360, some countries might not be so excited. We already heard about Sweden and Austria, and now two German readers have contributed their observations. Stefan writes from the German city of Hannover (pop. 600,000):
"I don't know if this is of any interest for you, but I would like to report that the Xbox 360 is a complete no show here in Germany. While the launch is just a mere day away, there are no tv-commercials, no magazine ads, no news reports... no demo kiosks or even posters in any of the big electronic stores in my city. Nothing."
Read More: xbox360fanboy.com
* Gamers queue for release of new Xbox (independent.co.uk)
The new Xbox 360 consoles went on sale at midnight last night and were expected to sell out within half an hour.
Gamers were queuing up for the first consoles by mid-afternoon. Retailers and fans complained that Microsoft had underestimated the demand for the new machines.
Asda's chief executive officer Andy Bond has contacted Microsoft to raise concerns about the number of consoles available, as queues formed at Asda supermarkets in Manchester and Birmingham. Tony Page, Asda's non-food director, said: "Our gripe is that [Microsoft] has seriously underestimated demand and haven't produced enough to go round."
Read More: independent.co.uk
* UK vox pops -- querying the queue (joystiq.com)
Asking the people diligently awaiting the stroke of midnight at two UK-based launch events the simple question "Why are you here?" resulted in a range of answers:
* Gary, an IT analyst and first in line, had been queueing for over six hours. Sucked in by the hype, there was no question about his getting a 360, and his friends will be getting them too--eventually.
* Bob, also a web developer, had been queueing for nearly six hours but was displeased with the management of the launch. Having started gaming on the NES, the 360 was a must-buy for the collection.
* Scott, an IT worker standing just beyond the cut-off point at Tesco, was disappointed as he wants to keep up with his Live friends; he had a list of other places to try, though, so he may be lucky.
Read More: joystiq.com
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(Friday 02 December 2005 01:09 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Japan Xbox 360 Kickoff Details
>> From GameSpot.com:
[QUOTE]
In Japan, Microsoft plans to roll out the Xbox 360 with a bang at one of the hottest stores in Tokyo. The company today announced that it will be holding its official launch ceremony on December 10 in Shibuya Tsutaya, the same location where it celebrated the Japanese launch of the original Xbox console back in February 22, 2002.
Microsoft also announced that visitors who buy Xbox 360s at the opening ceremony in Shibuya Tsutaya will get a little bonus. The company will be setting up a huge Xbox 360 capsule vending machine at the store that will dispense free Xbox 360 tchotchkes to purchasers of the next-generation console.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamespot.com.
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(Friday 02 December 2005 00:28 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Xbox 360 refuses to replace scratched discs
>> From gameshout.com:
[QUOTE]
Several members from GameSHOUT are getting fedup with Xbox 360 defects. According to Microsoft, they will not refund or replace discs that are scratched from the Xbox 360 video game console. However, they will offer "Perfect Dark Zero" for free.
One GameSHOUT member, going by the name "Insanity Rulez" stated that the Microsoft Xbox 360 failed to save his "Call of Duty 2" video game. All stats are gone, and he got an error when making any attempts to resume his game mission. He stated, "I took out my game and checked it over and the 360 had totally ruined my game! It looks like someone took a pencil with the eraser side down [covered with sand paper] and touched the disk while spinning it! There is a perfect circle around the center of the disk and it prevents it from working on certain missions."
It's not just one Xbox 360 gamer, it's becoming a daily thing now as more GameSHOUT members report their defects. CD scratching appears to be the most common defect.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gameshout.com
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 23:51 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 vs Xbox: Graphics Comparison
>> GameSpot.com and GamesFirst.com both posted an article today comparing the graphics of the same games on Xbox and Xbox 360.
The GameSpot.com article shortly compares 9 Xbox 360 titles that were also released on the original Xbox with mouse-over-images (by default you'll see the Xbox screenshot, if you go with your mouse over the image the Xbox 360 screenshot will load):
[QUOTE]
After taking a look at nine Xbox 360 launch games and comparing them side by side against their Xbox counterparts, it's clear that we can't automatically assume that the Xbox 360 version of a game will be significantly better than the Xbox version, especially if you don't have an HDTV.
If you only can play at standard resolution, games like Gun, NHL 2K6, and Tony Hawk's American Wasteland are only marginal ports that offer very little over the Xbox versions of the same game. At the very least, you can expect to see higher resolution textures, and some will give you a new widescreen look, complete with a stretched-out UI overlay. Not all games were disappointing--many provided jaw-dropping graphics available only on the 360. Need for Speed Most Wanted, King Kong, and all of EA's sports games feature graphics upgrades that scream next-gen, just oozing with high-resolution textures and new lighting systems. The Xbox 360 is best enjoyed at HD resolutions, but there are plenty of launch games that still look great on normal televisions.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: GameSpot.com
The GamesFirst.com article goes in detail comparing lots of scenes in "King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie":
[QUOTE]
Looking at the screenshots, you have to decide for yourself if you think the improvement is significant enough to drop the $400 you'll throw at an Xbox 360, assuming you manage to find one to buy. At least at launch, the 360 and Xbox seem to be capable of providing similar experiences, at least in terms of King Kong.
For games that come out 6 months from now, this probably won't be the case. Games that come out one year from now will almost certainly be beyond even an Xbox adaptation; instead of just graphical changes and high resolution textures, the fundamental building blocks upon which the game is based will be the biggest change. Instead of walls built out of 3 blocks that tip over when smashed, they'll be built out of 100 elements that crumble differently each time they're hit. Or 1000. As better game engines are developed to take advantage of the new hardware, the separation between the Xbox 360 and the Xbox will become glaringly evident.
Comparing late generation Xbox titles to early generation Xbox 360 titles is hardly fair.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: GamesFirst.com
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 18:13 EST) - (Category: Xbox_Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
US 360 backward-compatibility list shrinks?
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
One of our intrepid readers compared the current U.S. backward-compatibility games list for the Xbox 360 with an older version saved locally, and came up with a few missing titles that had been included before.
After comparing the current list with the one transferred to an Excel spreadsheet a while back, he concluded that the following games had been excised from the master list (in its current form): Catwoman, Codename: Kids Next Door, Curse: The Eye of Isis, NBA LIVE 2003, Sid Meier's Pirates, and Star wars: The Clone Wars.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: joystiq.com
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 16:09 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 Balloon Fight 'Fun'
>> From vgmwatch.com:
[QUOTE]
I woke up on Nov 22nd in the morning to the strains of "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" on local alternative rock station DC101 and I immediately knew something was up. Sure enough, the station's Elliot in the Morning team couldn't stop talking about the Xbox 360 all morning, fielding calls from excited listeners and basically waxing unpoetic about how amazing everything associated with the system is.
But that's not all! The crew added a twist to their coverage by having two employees drive around area Best Buys in a van and throw water balloons at gamers and parents waiting in line for the system, all the while blasting "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" through the speakers. (You'll undersand if you've seen this commercial). The van approached the expectant shoppers promising free donuts, then let loose with an aquatic barrage when they approached.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: vgmwatch.com (news via xbox360fanboy.com)
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 13:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Using large portable/USB storage devices with your Xbox 360
>> MomDad already explained how you could connect a HDD to the Xbox 360 USB interface using a USB 2.0 to ATA adapter in an earlier news post, but if you need more information, llamma posted a guide here:
[QUOTE]
The best part about using a USB hard drive with your 360 is that YOU have control of what content you have on it. With the factory Xbox hard drive you cannot load any content to it unless its acquired from Live or ripped form CD's. That does not do much for us that want our MP3 collection on our Xbox 360's now. I'm not up for re-ripping my CD's again, nor am I satisfied with streaming as the only means of accessing MY media.
[/QUOTE]
Keep in mind you can't play back video files from the extra HDD, nor any other formats/codecs that aren't already allowed by the 360's dashboard by accessing the "Portable Device" option. The dashboard limits you to viewing photos and playing music.
Check out the full guide: llamma.com
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 11:52 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
(AUS) Xbox360 Pre-Orders start Next Week, VIP Club
>> From Xbox.com Australia:
[QUOTE]
Participating leading retailers will officially begin taking Australian pre-orders for the Xbox 360 from December 8, it was announced today.
The program will allow customers to be among the first in Australia to own an Xbox 360, subject to availability at participating retailers. The Xbox 360 sold out on its US debut day last week and similar enthusiasm for the next-generation console is expected when it is released at one minute past midnight on March 2, 2006 in Australia.
Pre-orders for Xbox 360 (RRP*$649.95) will be taken at leading participating Australian retailers.
Customers who pre-order the Xbox 360 will also be able to purchase the VIP Premiere Pack from leading participating Australian retailers - which includes discounted accessories† and leading launch title Perfect Dark Zero. The VIP Premiere Pack has a recommended retail price of $149.95* and includes:
* Leading launch title Perfect Dark Zero (RRP*$99.95)
* Additional wireless controller (RRP*$79.95)
* Limited edition faceplate (RRP*$29.95)
* Preview DVD featuring video of upcoming titles, recent Xbox 360 events and interviews with executives
* Access to a Xbox 360 VIP Premiere Pack website that includes exclusive content on the Xbox 360
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Xbox.com Australia
Also check out www.063xobx.com.au for puzzles: you go through the levels and gain desktop reminder apps for 360 related news, which eventually leads to the news above and www.xbox360vip.com.
Thanks to KeelBug/ILTB for news/link.
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 08:50 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
(USA) 300k-400k Consoles Sold at Launch
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
American Technology Research analyst P.J. McNealy estimates 300,000 to 400,000 Xbox 360s have been sold in the U.S in the last week.
McNealy believes Microsoft could have sold up to three times that amount, putting the company halfway to its three month target of 3 million units worldwide. "I think they would have been happy to have sold another million if they could have. They just didn't have them," he said.
Microsoft has told the retail channel top expect more supplies on a weekly basis, although further details have not been released. A company spokesperson has said that new supplies would arrive "for the weekend".
Meanwhile, Microsoft says the number of faulty Xboxs is below the average for new consumer electronics products, of 3%.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 08:22 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
iriver H10 First to Play Protected Content on Xbox 360
>> From the pressrelease:
[QUOTE]
iriver, the leading innovator in digital entertainment, today announced the iriver H10 will be the first portable audio player to seamlessly enable playback of protected content, including subscription content, from a portable device docked to the Xbox 360.
"We're excited about the great experience consumers will have when they plug their iriver H10 into their Xbox 360," said Enrique Rodriguez, vice president, Xbox Partnerships at Microsoft Corp. "The deep integration between Xbox 360 and the iriver H10 provides customers with access to the entire breadth of Windows Media-enabled music offerings including portable subscription and further advanced user options for customizing their game play experience."
The H10 family is PlaysForSure-verified, works seamlessly with Windows Media Player 10 and features support for Auto Sync, enabling simple syncing of music, photos and playlists between Windows-based PCs and the H10 player. By identifying the PlaysForSure logo consumers can easily recognize digital media stores that provide the best experience with the iriver H10.
With portable subscription offerings that include Napster To Go, Yahoo! Music Unlimited and Rhapsody To Go, users can fill up their H10 portable player with thousands of songs for less than the price of an album a month. Playlists can be created on the H10 by mixing and matching subscription and ripped content, and enjoyed as custom soundtracks during game play of any Xbox 360 game.
iriver H10 20GB players will be available with premium support for the Xbox 360 out of the box. Current owners of H10's of all capacities (5GB, 6GB, and 20GB) will be able to update their players to the same level of compatibility.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole pressrelease here.
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(Thursday 01 December 2005 00:28 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
One way to (maybe) find an Xbox 360
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
Can't find an Xbox 360? Chris Lambert to the rescue! He has created a site that continually queries online retailers for their Xbox 360 stock status. I am not sure how accurate it is, but if you are searching for an Xbox 360 it won't hurt to give it a look.
See the Xbox 360 Live Inventory Locater [update: there's a similar alternative on xbox360tracker.com]
[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 30 November 2005 21:54 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Japan: Xbox 360 interest tops Revolution at TGS 2005
>> From 1up.com:
[QUOTE]
The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association released the results of their Tokyo Game Show 2005 polling today. The survey polled over 1,000 attendees of the September game show and revealed some surprising views of the Japanese public.
When questioned on what system they were looking forward to, PlayStation 3 lead the way with 71.8%, PSP right behind at 35.7%, and interestingly, 23% looking forward to buying Xbox 360, while only 20.9% were looking to buy Revolution. Nintendo DS sat with only 13.7%.
The results may not be entirely surprising given the proper context. Xbox 360 was playable at TGS for show goers while Revolution was nowhere to be seen, and these numbers tend to show the hardcore gaming community in Japan.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: 1up.com
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(Wednesday 30 November 2005 17:39 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Moore: 'Europe is critical to the success of Xbox 360'
>> From computerandvideogames.com:
[QUOTE]
Despite only sending one Xbox 360 to the UK to share between all one hundred squillion gamers that want one for Christmas (this might be an exaggeration), Peter Moore has been regailing us Europeans with kindly words, assuring us of Microsoft's commitment to the territory.
Speaking to those lovable rogues (this might also be an exaggeration) over at OXM.co.uk during the Origen Xbox 360 desert hoe-down, Moore explained that traditionally during a console's launch "it's usually the home territory of the console first, with other territories following. Since Europe has no home territory console it always seems to end up getting everything last. As I like to say, Europe always gets shafted."
Despite the expected launch shortages which, let's been honest, have plagued console manufacturers since before baby Jesus was old enough to ride a motorbike, Moore was keen to reassure that "Europe is critical to the success of Xbox 360. We're putting a lot of focus on Europe. We've done well there and we can do better. I think we're sending a message to European gamers about how serious we are."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: computerandvideogames.com, oxm.co.uk.
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(Wednesday 30 November 2005 17:07 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
SmartXX v3 Picture
>> Team SmartXX(info) released a picture of the back of the upcoming SmartXX v3 modchip. In similar news Divineo informed us the new SmartXX LT OPX with a 2MB flash instead of 1MB has now arrived.
Official Site: http://www.smartxx.com
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(Wednesday 30 November 2005 13:05 EST) - (Category: Xbox) - (Posted by::
)
Free60 Project Updates Overview and More ...
>> Here's an overview of some of the progress made by the Free60 Project over the last few days. For those who missed earlier news the project aims to port open source operating systems like GNU/Linux to the Xbox360.
* Some info about the stock HD: It's a Samsung or Seagate drive, it's not locked, a FATX partition exists on the drive, 360's serial number is required when formatting a HDD so possible encryption of serial # into HDD info, so far no reason to believe content on HD is encrypted. There's also a full pin-out of the SATA connector and some more info about the drive content. Check it out here.
* Boot initialization details of the PowerPC 64-bit 970FX CPU. This is not the Xbox360 CPU, but it's probably similar. There are also some technical details/guesses about the architecture of the 360 CPU, you can check it out here.
* The Xbox360 can read iPod and standard USB flashdrives using HFS+, FAT(32)(?) filesystem. More about USB here.
* Lot's of info about the chips used on the Wifi Adapter PCB is available here.
* The (US) Xbox 360 ships with kernel and dashboard 2.0.1888.0, upon the first live update the dashboard and kernel are updated to (D:2.0.2241.0 - K:2.0.2241.0) BK:2.0.1888.0. It's speculated that a backup of 2.0.1888.0 remains in the backup kernel storage. The kernel is probably encrypted with per-box key and stored at offset 0 in flash. More here.
* Some info about UPnP (Universal Plug and Play): it runs on TCP port 1026 and seems to adhere to UPnP MediaRenderer Specifications. The 360 also uses UPnP to talk to Windows Media Connect and routers. Read more here.
* XEX File Format Speculation/Info: "XEX is the executable file format used by the Xbox 360 operating system. It seems to be a crypto and packing container for PPC PE executable files, comparable to UPX or TEEE Burneye. This would give more creedence to reports of .xex's being gigs large. Such speculation is also fueled by the presence of what appear to be clear text file and folder names. If games are Gigabyte sized .xex files then it's likely the 360 knows how to grab the section it needs into memory and decrypt/decompress on demand, instead of traditional all at once extraction. The executable code seems to be crypted, though, there exists some uncrypted XEX files in the wild.
A XEX file is composed of the following:
-A 32 bytes XEX Header
-Variable-length program/section headers
-Program/Section content "
More including info about Cryptography and Structure of the XEX File here and specifically about the Backwards Compatibility XEX update here.
Also more technical info about the XEX file format on this XBH thread. They found a SHA1 sums in default.xex (BC update file). More at source(xboxhacker.net)
More on http://www.free60.org/wiki/Documentation
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(Wednesday 30 November 2005 01:31 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 USB HDD Connectivity
>> From MomDad on allxboxskins.com:
[QUOTE]
Just to further the information mentioned in Llama's recent 360 "mod" (see the 11/29/05 news) of attaching a second HDD, and clear up any misconceptions people might have, it should be noted that generally any IDE->USB and/or SATA->USB adapter can be used on both regular 3.5" and 2.5" IDE/SATA drives.
In the referenced photos, you'll see I have an old 3.5" HDD hooked up to the 360 with a Bytecc BT-200 adapter (which works for 3.5"/5.25"/2.5" drives). Similarly, SATA->USB devices should also work.
Contrary to what some have already started to speculate, sadly you cannot play back video files from the HDD, nor any other formats/codecs that aren't already allowed by the 360's dashboard by accessing the "Portable Device" option. The dashboard limits you to viewing photos and playing music. This is however a nice alternative for those who do not wish to/can't install the Windows Media Connect application or MCE.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: allxboxskins.com.
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(Tuesday 29 November 2005 22:49 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Samsung's Graphics Memory Powers Xbox 360
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Samsung Electronics said today it is providing the majority of graphics memory for the launch phase of Microsoft Corporation's state-of-the-art Xbox 360 multimedia console.
Running at 700 MHz, the Samsung 512megabit (16Mbx32) GDDR3 will transmit data at 5.6GBps (gigabytes per second) per chip -- 3.5 times faster than the memory used in the first Xbox -- enabling real-time generation of near-cinematic animation in games. At a system level, the 512Mb density will allow the Xbox 360 to provide eight times the capacity of the first Xbox to store highly detailed textures that depict more life-like images. The higher transmission speed and additional capacity also will accommodate expanded image processing needs anticipated for storing electronically-formatted photographs, movies, music videos and other compressed video files.
The Samsung graphics memory is built on industry-leading 90 nanometer (nm) process technology using 300 millimeter (mm) wafers. It will interface with a graphics processor co-developed by Microsoft and ATI Technologies, Inc.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com.
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(Tuesday 29 November 2005 19:45 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox360FanBoy: The hypervisor and its implications
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
We're taking an in-depth technical look at one of the Xbox 360's features, its hypervisor. The Xbox 360 contains a hypervisor which provides security for the system--good news for Microsoft, bad news for hackers, as Microsoft has included it as part of its plans for a hack-proof 360. What are the implications of this for gamers and for those who wish to experiment with their console?
[/QUOTE]
Go read the whole article on xbox360fanboy.com.
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(Tuesday 29 November 2005 16:12 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 tops holiday shopping trends
>> From iht.com:
[QUOTE]
Two of the most coveted consumer electronics items in this U.S. holiday season are the Apple iPod music player and the Xbox 360 game console from Microsoft, according to retailers and industry analysts.
In 2004, portable MP3 music players did not even make the annual top 10 list of desired gifts compiled by the Consumer Electronics Association. And video game machines were in ninth place.
This year, though, those categories occupy the first and third positions on the list, based on a telephone survey of 1,000 randomly selected adults.
Microsoft sold 450,000 Xbox 360 consoles on Nov. 22, its first day on the market, according to estimates by Michael Pachter, a video game analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities. But shortages will keep sales to only an additional 550,000 units through the end of the year, accounting for $800 million in additional revenue to Microsoft, Pachter said.
The lack of supply should help Xbox's competitors. Pachter expects Sony to sell two million PlayStation 2s in the United States this holiday season. He estimates that Sony sold only half that number during the 2004 season because of a redesign and supply constraints.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: iht.com (via xbox360fanboy.com)
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(Tuesday 29 November 2005 14:19 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xored ETM Engine 2.1
>> Team Xored released a new Xored ETM Engine Launcher(info).
What's new/fixed:
* Improved kernel patch routine (also attempts to unhook Evox TSR)
* Play_Mod_File no longer get sets to TRUE if no soundtracks are found
* New partition handling and xbe launching routines
* Fixed problem with DVD swaping not being detected
* Launcher now runs at screen resolution 720x480 for nicer looking skins
* Added Skip_Intro (you must watch it once before this will work)
* 6 sided cube in intro now skinnable (good if you have children)
Official Site: forums.maxconsole.net
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
Major Nelson 'THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL'
>> Some notes from his Blogcast @ MajorNelson.com November 28th, 2005
- "THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL" so poo on the rumours circulating on sites just trying to get hits. Shame Shame!
- 2.5-3 Million units will ship in the first 90 days from launch, with shipments weekly from manufacturing to distribution points.
- Plug and Play Charge units.. will continue to trickle charge when the console is turned off (low power standby mode) when left plugged in. However, they will not charge if plugged in AFTER the console is turned off!
- "I don't own an Xbox360.. yet"
HSD - I don't feel bad for him. He's touring with a loaner.. and has a Launch Team 2005 LE sitting on his desk when he returns to work. :)
For the full story, check out the Blogcast at MajorNelson.com
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(Tuesday 29 November 2005 12:36 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
KRMaker v0.1
>> From readme/nfo:
[QUOTE]
KR Maker allows you to create songs given an mp3 and/or a midi karaoke
file that work with the original Karaoke Revolution game for the xbox.
Features:
* Can read any mp3 or wav file.
* Can read any midi or karaoke file, including files generated by Karaoke Revolution
* Nice GUI interface.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, by krxbox -AT- google.com
Download: here
Full Readme: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Premium Console Review - My First Week
>> Well.. like many of you, I braved the elements for a full hour and 15 minutes on launch day and scored a 360.
(don't hate me.. I was lucky and I admit that) I of course.. didn't smash it like that other guy who was in the same line as me.
I wanted to take some time here and review the console. At least as I see it in it's first week in my possession. I won't bother taking the usual group of pictures or even video for this roundup of the console. You've already been inundated with countless better sources for pictures, both inside and outside the console.
The Shipping/display packaging of the premium console is nice. It'll protect the unit well enough from most standard shipping mishaps.. I can vouch for this as my unit has a box that look like it went 5 rounds with Mohammed Ali.
Of course, you get the following: 360 Console, Power plug and brick adapter, Ethernet cable, limited edition dvd remote, 20 gb hard disk, headset with mic, silver Live membership, HD video cables and wireless controller and energizer batteries for both the controller and the dvd remote. (cdn Premium Bundle)
The Hard disk is preloaded with a sampling of audio clips/mp3, and video files/presentations. Some of which you might have seen leading up to the launch already. The included Silver membership is nice.. but it's basically a teaser, and a well thought out one. MS has basically figured.. "if we can get them in the door.. they'll see it and pay for it gladly." And for the most part they are right. Live had an explosion of new accounts this week.
I won't bore you with the run down of hardware specs you've been reading for months already. I'd like to just discuss/detail the aspects of this console that are either new, or have been tweaked to improve our experience.
Experience is a good word for what MS is delivering with this new console. This isn't a gaming console anymore. The first Xbox was. The 360 is something more than a gaming console. The Guide button and side sliding dashboard is quick to figure out and very intuitive. It's also customizable to an extent.
With some free themes, or the color customize option, you can adjust pallets used to suit your mood. More so, you can buy content cheaply such as Quake 4 Themes and add some "bam" to the dashboard. (Emeril rocks) Once you get past the free and pay themes you can acquire.. there is more to explore.
Photos and music. You got them. How and where you got them Microsoft doesn't really seem to care much about at the moment. Plug in your favorite USB devices like PSP, camera's, portable hard drives, etc and you'll have instant access to you pictures and music. View albums of photos, and listen to you favorite music tracks at the same time. (people with modded Xbox units with XBMC have been doing slideshow and music features for a long time now.. so they won't be impressed.. however, the ability to seemly plug in anything and get it working.. will)
Keep your music handy, either keep them available on a usb device, or rip from a cd and you'll enjoy those tracks while you play native 360 Games. Hate the background music track of a new game, fine, listen to your own. This might add a lot more playability to some games where the soundtrack alone used to drive you bonkers.
The Guide button can bring up a side panel that will keep you connected with friends online. The connected feeling is incredible in this dashboard. As soon as I turn on the 360 I'm connected to Live, and getting notifications about who is online and what they are doing. Chatting in games we've been doing for awhile now on Live. It works well enough. 360 takes Chat to new places. Playing our own music in new games was great. Now with 360 and Live you can now play different games, and stay connected and chat. That's right, Someone in Quake4, someone else in PGR3 and you'll maintain a trouble free chat session. Not good enough for you? One of you can chuck the game.. fire up a DVD movie in the Progressive scan dvd player of this unit.. and you'll still maintain that chat session.
360, and Live.. while seemingly designed from the ground up for Gamers, seems to now also cater very well to the casual gamer who might spend more time socializing than playing a game. Some of us on the original console have turned game lobbies into 8 and 16 person chat rooms. MS realized this. Not everyone wants to play on Live. Some of us want to talk.
The Marketplace I have mixed feeling about. It's a corner of Live that 360 users will get used to. You'll acquire all manner of content eventually via the marketplace. It works well enough. Buy the Point currency with your Credit Card.. and then when you want to buy anything from the market place, use the Points currency. MS has some big plans for the marketplace. The Marketplace is also the key repository for a lot of free content so don't shy away from it without giving it a once over.
The console's overall look and feel is pleasing enough. Wireless controller and dvd remote feel sturdy enough. Good balance and weight to both. I'm not thrilled with the included headset. It works, and it works better than HipGear's wireless crap for the first console I've been using on Live for the last year, but it doesn't come close to the quality of Logitech wireless headset hardware for the original console. I can't wait to see Logitech's entry into the 360 market.
Where are the gaming aspects in this review? Well.. what can I say about the games you haven't already read on IGN and other gaming sites? The games look awesome. Audio is great. I got Quake4 and PGR3 at launch in the morning.. then went out that night and grabbed Call of Duty 2 and Perfect dark Zero. I later rounded out my collection with Need For Speed and for something different, Kameo. As a group, these are sweet looking games. Graphics even on regular tv's using the standard video game cables look good. Plug in the HD cables that come with this bundle and the graphics just look so sharp. BTW.. Halo 2 fans, will enjoy the new look of Halo under 360. :) (let's not forget that the HD cables got a nice little port for your optical out folks. Those of you with better audio setups than mine are gonna rock when you hear the 360 on optical. :)
I won't cover the Window Media Center Extender Aspects of the console, as I've honestly not tried them yet. I've been watching my core group of online player friend spend hours though in the dashboard with "playing Windows Media Extender" listed beside their name. Clearly.. they are loving the connect ability and stream features of the 360. I have however used the Media Connect that you can freely download from Xbox.com. It works well enough, and is simple to setup. Only problem is, streaming is limited to mp3 and photos from the pc. If you want to stream Video, you'll need Window Media Center XP setup somewhere.
Now... the dirty part of the review. For a week now you've seen reports on the news page, and a handful of irate owners in the forums discussing the various issues they've faced since opening their little bundle of joy. Alas, I was no different than the few vocal ones out there. I too had issues. When I first got the console home, I fired up Quake4 (actually.. it's bonus disk first.. I wanted to play the included Quake2). Then I played Quake4. Enjoyed both. Fired up the PGR3 and 360 presented me with a white screen saying something to the effect "put this in a 360" (boy.. was I pissed..).
After a few attempts to insert and eject the game, it booted. I've had occasional intermittent issues booting it since, but nothing fatal. I am currently enjoying that game.
I've had a few boot issues since. Less as I use the unit more. I don't necessarily think the issue is with the games, I'm leaning toward blaming the reader. I don't have tangible evidence one way or the other however. It could just as easily be a bad press on the game disk.
Another issue that occurred, was that my Xbox360 had turned itself on a few times.. unattended. With some trial and error, and some leaps of logic it would appear that the reason was I had connected a USB mini keyboard to the 360 to the rear port. With the Xbox left off.. and unattended.. and that keyboard in place it would spontaneously power on from it's off (standby mode). If I removed the keyboard, and powered the console off, it stays off. Possible WOL function? USB glitch? Flaky USB keyboard? All of the above? Your guess.. is as good, likely better than mine.
Overall, I got to say that I am impressed with the unit, the games, and the peripherals at launch. I wish we had more games to choose from. I also wish that the consoles, and some of it's add-ons were easier to get. Short of that, I think most xbox fans are going to like this new box. Marketing aside. Fanboyism aside, It's a great unit. Non Xbox fans, well.. if the first console didn't grab you.. this one just might. It's only been out for a week officially.. give it some time. :)
Some other photography including some closeup of the contents of the premium unit and some additions can be found here.. HSD's 360
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(Monday 28 November 2005 23:44 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Gunjuro Trademark for Japanese Consumer? and no DOA4 on Launch
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
On November 14th, Microsoft registered a new trademark name: GUNJURO. Since discovery of this trademark, a number of gaming sites have speculated that the Gunjuro-brand will be used in conjunction with the launch of the Xbox 360 in Japan. Has the MS marketing team come up with a pet name to catch the eye of the wary Japanese consumer? Or perhaps Gunjuro is simply the name of a new franchise in development by a Microsoft-owned Japanese studio?
[/QUOTE]
Read More: joystiq.com, myxbox360.com
More news from Japan ... not so good this time. From pro-g.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
According to the Japanese website Game Watch the Japanese release of Dead or Alive 4 has been delayed until December 17. This means the game now misses the December 10 Xbox 360 launch and leaves the launch line-up looking rather weak.
This comes after recent news of delays to both Enchant Arm, a title originally planned for launch, and N3: Ninety Nine Nights.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: pro-g.co.uk
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(Monday 28 November 2005 17:40 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2005-11-27 CVS T3CH build
>> T3CH released a new CVS compile of XboxMediaCenter(info).
This T3CH-compile is a BAREBONE package (with just a few thirdparty scripts and with just the default skin) compiled with XDK v5849.
Here's the added/updated stuff from the full changelog since the 2005-11-21 CVS release:
* added: support for multipath bookmarks in video and pictures. its still very much experimental. use at your own risk.
* added: manual overriding of destination path when ripping cds without cddb.
* added: two new virtual directories for use in bookmarks: $MUSICPLAYLISTS, $VIDEOPLAYLISTS.
* added: <loop> tag to MultiImage control.
* added: Skin.HasTheme(themename) visibility condition.
* added: and tags to the multiimage control.
* updated: [ 1365798 ] Updated KAI-Vectors, thx to flymaster!
... rest of changelog here.
Keep in mind this is a CVS snapshot of the current development tree. It's not an official (stable) point release. Use only if you know what you are doing.
Official Site: http://www.xboxmediacenter.com / http://sourceforge.net/projects/xbmc
Discussion Forum Thread: forums.xbox-scene.com
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK)
Download SourceCode: here
Run Windows MediaCenter Applications on Xbox 360
>> From Rhindle on ga-forum.com:
[QUOTE]
I was messing around with the Media Extender interface on the X360, and noticed that the "More Programs" linked to a couple of apps installed on my PC as part of the Media Center Package, including MS Instant Messenger and some other stuff. All of these run when you access them from the 360 Media Extender client. The 360 essentially seems to act as a dumb terminal, interfacing with the application running on the PC.
Here's where things really get interesting: It's apparently very easy to integrate Windows applications into the MCE "More Programs" tab. All you have to do is build a link in a format specified by Microsoft and do some minor optimization, and the app will run in MCE. Here is how Microsoft describes the process of building games for MCE: msdn.microsoft.com.
So I downloaded a couple of apps and installed them on MCE, switched over to the 360, and lo and behold, most of them run perfectly. I was able to run apps with modified browsers to pull down news stories, stock quotes, sports scores etc., as well as several Internet Radio clients.
I also tried installing a couple of shareware games, including a Tetris clone and some card games. Interestingly, they all launch on the 360, but crash soon afterwards. My guess is that you could get them to run with some optimization. There even is a MAME emu for MCE out there, though I haven't tried to install it.
My guess is that it will be difficult to get anything other than simple casual games to run in real time using the interface, due to lag in response times. But I would think getting something like a full web browser up and running should be achievable.
[/QUOTE]
Note: these programs run on your MCE PC, just the interface gets transfered to the Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 input is sent back to the PC.
More Pictures/Source: ga-forum.com.
There's an xbox-scene discussion here and xboxhacker has a technical discussion here.
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 23:56 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Bunnie about Xbox 360 and ChipWorks Report
>> We already covered this Chipworks report thursday, but well ... because Bunnie posted something about it I thought it'd be interesting to mention. Andrew "bunnie" Huang is one of the main guys behind the original Xbox hacking, he's also known for his book "Hacking the Xbox".
Here's what he said on his blog:
[QUOTE]
I thought some readers might find it interesting that Chipworks has already de-capped and photographed the silicon inside the Xbox-360. You can read more at their press release. Bring out the big guns!
For those unfamiliar with Chipworks, they are a leading silicon reverse engineering firm. I saw their booth once at ISSCC and they had a copy of the full schematics of a Broadcom 802.11 WiFi transceiver RF backend that they had extracted from silicon. I overheard a comment from the Broadcom engineers that the Chipworks schematics were better documented than Broadcom's internal schematics...shows how high quality these guys are.
And no, I don't have an Xbox360; can't find ‘em in the stores. I hear there's a shortage of them, Microsoft missed their production targets. Not surprised. Maybe they'll get their production problems figured out before the PS3 is introduced...
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.bunniestudios.com
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 13:20 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 Availability: 300k for EU, weekly stock for US
>> Here's some new for europeans ... you'll get 300k consoles at launch this friday. From reuters.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft will have around 300,000 of its new Xbox 360 games console available for its European launch on December 2, a Microsoft executive said in an interview published on Sunday.
Industry analysts' estimates of 300,000 Xbox 360s available at launch "were not far removed from reality", said Chris Lewis, the Microsoft executive responsible for the Xbox in Europe, in German weekly financial newspaper Euro am Sonntag.
Lewis said it was possible the console would sell out at its European launch too.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: reuters.com
Over at Major Nelson's blog there's some news about the availability of the machine in the US:
[QUOTE]
(...) One thing I noticed was there is a large amount of incorrect information floating around regarding shipments of units. (One store (incorrectly) told me that ‘Microsoft won't' send us anymore until March.')
I double checked with the retail team, and while I can't speak to each retail outlets specific distribution strategy, I can tell you that we (Xbox) have a weekly replenishment strategy. That means that we have new shipments of Xbox 360's being sent out each week.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: majornelson.com
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 11:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
XLink Kai WePlayHere
>> From teamxlink.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
We are pleased to announce the official re-launch of WePlayHere.net, XLink's official competitive gaming system! Although registration opened earlier this week, competitions were disabled to allow us time to test the site with the mass amount of users that joined in just a few days. Now its time to play!!!
Competitions are set up for XBox and PS2 at this time, but we have a process in place to add a competition to any console we support simply by access the forum and requesting it. If your peers on that console agree that the addition would be joy and competition to the game, it will be added!
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: www.weplayhere.net, www.teamxlink.co.uk
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 02:13 EST) - (Category: Xbox_Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 Launch Team 2005 Special Edition
>> Some of you might remember the Xbox Launch Team 2001 special edition. It's probably one of the most (if not THE most) rare retail (original) Xbox system.
It's a translucent green Xbox with a 'Launch Team 2001' jewel signed by Bill Gates and it came with unique 'big' translucent green controllers (the PAL and Halo1/2 green special editions came with green 's' controllers). It was sold (not even given for free) to Xbox-division employees back in 2001.
Well it looks like Microsoft did something similar for the Xbox 360. Below is a picture of the 'Launch Team 2005' Xbox 360 special edition, courtesy John Porcaro, a PR manager on the Xbox team at Microsoft. Check out the USB door, it says "I made this". The top and bottom grill/hard drive are green and the controller has some green as well. It also has a '22 November 2005' inscription on the harddrive top.
Apparently (unlike the 'Xbox Launch Team 2001') these were given for free to the Xbox Team ... knowing what such a special edition could go for on ebay it's not a small gift from Microsoft ;)
Here are more pictures from drastic on our forums: pic 2, pic 3, pic 4.
News-Sources: flickr.com, joystiq.com, playright.dk.
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 01:06 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Arstechnica: The 360 DVD player: Mixed Results
>> From arstechnica.com:
[QUOTE]
Unlike the first Xbox, the 360 will play DVDs right out of the box, and the wireless controllers make a handy remote if you don't have the premium pack.
I've thrown a few discs at it, with mixed results. The good news is that it is a progressive scan DVD player, and so far it has played every burned DVD I've thrown at it. The bad news is the video quality just isn't that great. On Episode 3 it looked decent, but my Samsung progressive player blew it out of the water. On other discs I noticed so very apparent dithering and artifacts in the black areas of the screen.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: arstechnica.com
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(Sunday 27 November 2005 00:21 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
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