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Week of December 4, 2005
Xbox 360 Japanese Launch: 1 day after
>> It's a bit early to say how good or bad the Japanese launch exactly went. The hype and shortage is certainly not as big as here in North-America and Europe, but we'll have to wait for reports next week to know if the 360 managed to sell-out over the weekend. Even then it all depends how much stock Microsoft reserved for Japan ... and how much stock actually stayed in Japan as import stores like Lik-Sang and Play-Asia seems to have plenty in stock and they are shipping many to people in the western world desperate to get one in time for xmas.
News agency AFP (via Yahoo News) tells us the 360 got a 'lukewarm reaction' in Japan and a 'whopping' 200 (250 according to MS representatives via 1up) game fans queued up for the main launch event that began at 7:00 am at the Shibuya Tsutaya Shopping Center in Tokyo Japan, where according to gamespot.com the 360s sold out within half an hour.
Launch event, great ... but what about the rest of Japan?
* From AFP/Yahoo: "Only some 10 people were in line when a central Tokyo outlet of the Bic Camera consumer electronics chain opened its Xbox sales counter at 7:00 am. Customer reactions "are a bit subdued," a senior store official said, adding that fewer than 50 consoles were sold in the first two hours."
* From 1up.com: "Famitsu.com reports that around 100 people showed up at the famous Yodobashi Camera store in Shinjuku, while 50 or so had already bought systems at Ikebukuro's Bic Camera within 30 minutes of its opening."
* From 1up.com: "Across town in Akihabara-Tokyo's largest electronics and gaming district-the scene wasn't quite so pretty. Several stores opened up early with promotional events planned, but the initial turnout was grim. Only 21 people were lined up outside the enormous Yodobashi Akiba superstore before the doors opened at 7:00AM, while Asobit City, up the street, played host to an astoundingly small group of five. The press and event staff on the scene at Yodobashi well outnumbered the waiting customers."
* Kotaku has a great follow-up story about someone who woke-up before 6AM to get in line at the Den-Den Town's Sofmap, one of the neighborhood's most popular game stores. He comes as first in line at 6:43am, store opens at 10am. Other stores nearby started to get lines, for special sales, and one for figurines, but no lines for the Xbox 360. He saw one other customer coming for the 360 but as noone was really waiting that guy gave up standing 'in line' too (later he found out the guy didn't even come for the 360 but for some PSP game). At ~9:30am the store starts to open and they put out a blockade to mark the beginning of the line (the Kotaku reported is still alone at the time) and the 360 displays and kiosks. 15 minutes before the Xbox 360 goes on sale, 2 other guys come stand in line. When the store opens 19 people are there. (they didn't all come for the Xbox360 though). He also checked a huge store in Umeda where around noon they still got plenty of stock the Xbox 360 and they certainly didn't plan to sell-out on launch day.
Read the whole story at Kotaku: part1, part2, part3, part4, part5, part6, part7, part8, part9, part10.
* Kotaku also has a funny picture of the night before the launch. While the people seem to be very interested by the NDS Kiosk it looks like they couldn't care more about the Xbox 360 kiosk just next to it. Check it out here.
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(Saturday 10 December 2005 23:15 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
The Industry's Opinion: The 360 Launch
>> Gamasutra.com collected lots of opinions from individuals in the games industry about the Xbox 360 Launch in North-America and Europe:
[QUOTE]
Gamasutra has had a chance to gauge its initial impression on our audience of game professionals, by asking, "How successful do you think Microsoft's launch of the Xbox 360 was, in terms of game line-up, online connectivity and overall image?"
The answers reflected a fairly even mix, spanning the spectrum from the launch being a significant success to it being a dismal failure, and a majority finding launch-related issues. Notable points included, most obviously, the relative scarcity of the console in stores, but there was also confusion regarding 360 television advertising and positive comments on the impressiveness of Xbox Live.
[/QUOTE]
Check out all the opinions on Gamasutra.com.
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(Saturday 10 December 2005 20:56 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xvectrex beta 0.1
>> Darcelf released a new emulator for Xbox. Xvectrex(info) is a port of vecx, a vectrex emulator.
The Vectrex is an 8-bit video game console developed by General Consumer Electric (GCE) and later bought by Milton Bradley Company. The Vectrex is unique in that it utilized vector graphics drawn on a monitor that was integrated in the console; no other console before or after the Vectrex had a comparable configuration. It was released in late 1982 at a retail price of $199. As the video game market declined and then crashed, the Vectrex exited the market in early 1984.
Official Site: http://alg5.ifrance.com/Xvectrex/index.htm, http://www.darcelf.tk
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK)
Download SourceCode: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Launches in Japan
>> Around this time the sun should be rising in Tokyo, Japan. Saturday, December 10th marks the launch of Xbox 360, the day Microsoft makes its second go at the market that's ignored them the past four years (still a 5% share according to BBC).
I noticed that both big Asian 'import stores', Lik-Sang and Play-Asia, received their Japanese Xbox 360 stock and still have them in stock at time of writing.
If you consider buying this (at ~440usd they are cheaper than on ebay) you should know:
* It'll play only NTSC/J and not-region-coded games (play-asia reports that the 4 Japanese games they could test so far are all region coded, but 7 of the US games are NOT region coded)
* It's 110V (same as US, but 220V countries (Europe,...) will need a stepdown adapter with at least 250~300 Watts power output according to lik-sang)
* There's no exchange warranty service
There's no core/premium choice in Japan, only the 'Commemoration Pack' selling for 37,900yen (today that's ~314usd or ~266eur) without taxes. It's basicly the same as the Premium pack in US/EU, but cheaper, with a Final Fantasy XI beta demo disc (playable) and the video cable is a d-terminal high-definition cable.
There's some news about the launch already on tmcnet.com:
[QUOTE]
The world's largest software maker held a commemorative event in Tokyo's Shibuya district on Saturday morning.
About 200 people gathered and joined in a 10-second countdown to 7 a.m., the time of the product launch, and cheered when an image of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates popped up at zero on displays set up at the venue of the event.
[/QUOTE]
The Xbox Team Blog also has a story and images of the launch in Japan:
[QUOTE]
When Maruyama-san took the stage inside the TSUTAYA Q Front retail store, it was to the sound of a hundred eager gamers chanting his name. When Peter Moore took the stage shortly after, it was to the chant of his name, and resounding applause. When he uttered the words "Xbox San Roku Maru" ("Xbox three sixty" in Japanese) the crowd roared. The first consumer in line took the stage, and told his story of how he came to the store late last night to get his number indicating his place in line, and since his office was so close by, he simply stayed there for the evening, coming to stand in line at 4am in the morning to insure his purchase. By 5am, after the train lines opened up for the day, the line stretched alongside the building and around the corner into the next block, enthusiastic gamers huddled against the cold and eying the Starbucks shop standing mocking and empty before them (7am is FAR too late for any coffee shop, especially a Starbucks, to open its doors, no matter what country you're in).
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Xbox Team Blog.
Some news on Reuters about what they expect:
[QUOTE]
"Pre-orders on the Internet look solid, but I don't think the retail stores will sell out of Xbox 360s in the first day," said Takeshi Tajima, an analyst at BNP Paribas in Tokyo.
"Serious game fans will likely rush to buy them, but I think most people are going to wait and see," said Tajima, who added that "Dead or Alive 4," a 3-D fighting game that was supposed to be the hot new game for Xbox 360 in Japan, has been delayed until after the launch -- removing a key reason for fans to rush to buy the console.
[/QUOTE]
The guys over at 1up.com have an interesting interview with Peter Moore, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and Xbox Worldwide Marketing and Publishing:
[QUOTE]
* 1UP: This is Japan, and we're coming off of Xbox 1 in Japan which everybody knows was not the biggest success. And obviously you guys are trying to turn that around in Japan. Having big titles at launch, coming out of the gate with a bang, I'd think would be important here.
* Moore: Yeah, I mean, you would like Dead or Alive 4 not to be a couple of weeks after launch. But one thing I will never do, and Itagaki-san would never let me do, is rush a title out to meet launch that he's not happy with. It's non-negotiable, with either he or I. So we made the determination a few weeks ago, look, we've got to get this title where it needs to be, a couple of weeks isn't going to kill anybody, a year from now, everybody will have forgotten that it was two weeks after launch.
Ninety Nine Nights is a deeper title than we ever dreamt from an immersive point of view, and it's going to take time to finish. I think it shows our confidence that we don't feel we need to pack everything in, cut corners, cut features, get 20 games at launch, regardless of quality, that's not what we're about. This is really a marathon that we're committed to for many years. And having the games at the right quality, rather than forcing them into a launch period, is far more important.
We're looking at a long-term strategy of not only Ninety Nine Nights, but then think Blue Dragon, and then think Lost Odyssey--I mean, the fact that we're very comfortable being a year away from Sakaguchi-san's titles coming to market, still being very cool with that, knowing long-term what we're going to do to get behind this platform is indicative of our commitment to this market.
* 1UP: One more question. If you could have one dream Japanese game on the Xbox 360 - this is a serious question - any game from an existing franchise that you don't already have from Japan, what would it be?
* Moore: I'm trying to think what we DON'T already have... Mario. (Everyone laughs)
[/QUOTE]
Read the full interview on 1up.com.
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(Friday 09 December 2005 20:38 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft: 'Xbox 360 More Powerful than PS3'
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Xbox chief financial officer Bryan Lee says Xbox 360 is "on balance" more powerful than PlayStation 3.
He was demonstrating Xbox 360 to delegates at this week's UBS Global Media Conference in New York. During an hour-long speech he progressed through the usual demo of Live, Arcade and the machine's connectivity. He then said, "If Sony does hit the specs which they've said they'll have there's a debate. There are a couple of categories where they outdo us, and there's several categories where we outdo them."
He added, "On balance I think most people who study the space will tell you our system is slightly more powerful than theirs from a hardware standpoint. But for the purposes of this discussion I think it's fair to say they're both Ferraris"
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz
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(Friday 09 December 2005 13:12 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Pelican Product - 360 Fan Stand
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
For a mere $19.99 you can purchase Pelican's Xbox 360 Fan Stand, which promises to "extend the life of the system's hardware by operating at cooler temperatures." The problem is, last we checked, it wasn't the 360 unit itself that has an overheating problem. I guess there nothing stopping you from putting your PSU on this stand, or just stick with the homemade version.
On the other hand, it should also give your 360 "added stability when standing," which should help with the disc scratching problem, should a bump occur.
[/QUOTE]
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(Friday 09 December 2005 11:46 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
IBM Paper with Details of Xbox 360 CPU Design
>> IBM released a new paper with details about the Xbox 360 CPU they designed for Microsoft:
[QUOTE]
The Xbox 360 system has a single chip (with 165 million transistors) for its CPU. This chip is in fact a three-way symmetric multiprocessor design. The three PowerPC cores are identical, except that they are physically reflected through the X and Y axis. Each of the CPU cores is a specialized PowerPC chip with a VMX128 extension related to (and partially compatible with) the VMX instructions in the G4 and G5 CPUs. The three CPU cores share a 1MB Level2 cache. Each processor has 32KB each of data and instruction Level1 cache. The chip's front-side bus/physical interface has a 21.6GB/second bandwidth, and runs at 5.4GHz. The high frequency clocks are generated on-chip by four phase-locked loops: two for the core clocks, two for the PHY clock.
The Xbox 360 CPU chip has testing and debug functions, including tracing, configuration control, and performance monitoring features. Access to these functions is through the block in Figure 1 labeled test/debug. The block labeled Miscellaneous IO provides a JTAG port, a POST monitor, and an interface for a serial EEPROM in case patch logic configuration was needed during bring-up.
[/QUOTE]
The last sentence quoted above might give a bit more info as to why some Xbox 360s have the flash EEPROM near the CPU and others not.
Check out more tech details about the CPU on ibm.com.
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(Friday 09 December 2005 01:18 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
US Xbox 360 BC list updated *Updated*
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
The backwards compatibility team has updated the list of original Xbox games that can be played on your Xbox 360. If you have an Xbox 360 with the HDD, and you are connected to Xbox Live, you'll automatically get a prompt to download the auto update when you toss in an original Xbox game disc. Thanks to the team for listening to the community feedback and working hard to make more titles work in BC mode. (Splinter Cell...cool!)
[/QUOTE]
*UPDATE* There was a problem with Halo 2 running in wide screen mode and other games with the December BC update. The team worked through the night to fix it, so if you downloaded the version with problems, go download it again now.
See the complete list here (new entries are marked by "new" icon)
Details on how Backwards Compatibility works on the Xbox 360 here
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(Friday 09 December 2005 01:07 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 'XStress Retail Media' Disc
>> Balboa over at the teamxbox forums found the disc shown below in his Xbox 360 DVD drive after he got it back from Microsoft's repair service.
On the disc you can read:
XStress Retail Media
Confidential
September 2005 Version .01
Media Set: X11-61640
Balboa says that in a PC it acts just like an Xbox 360 disc (DVD movie: VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS dir), on the Xbox 360 it acts as data CD with an audio, pictures, testvcd, varied formats and video folder. It's unknown at this moment what exact files are on the disc, but if all above info is true it looks like a CD to test all the media features of the Xbox 360.
  More Screenshots: 02 - 03
News-Source: teamxbox.com forums (thanks to S.K. for mailing us about it)
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(Thursday 08 December 2005 21:11 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Team PI Coder releases Xbox 360 ISOs and Game Dump Extractor v1.0
>> The 'PI' group released Xbox 360 game ISOs today. Note that downloading such releases is illegal and you can't do anything with them yet (they will not boot on your Xbox 360). You can find the NFO of one of their releases here[Condemned - nforce.nl].
They also released an open-source tool to extract these releases (basicly it's an 'x360-ISO extractor') so you can check out the files in the image. It will NOT work on original discs as a PC DVD-ROM can't read those. Just like the original Xbox (xdvdfs) the 360 does not use the ISO9660 or UDF filesystem for the content on game DVDs. This tools allows you to extract the files from an image in the 'Xbox 360 DVD file system', it does NOT bypass the protection that prevents you from reading an original Xbox 360 disc on your PC.
From readme/nfo:
[QUOTE]
So you've seen all our raw dumps? but what can you use them for?
Nothing in their current form, yet! - But here we go with a nice extractor tool so that you can extract the dumps and check out the files, we even decided to release the source code, so that you can figure out the filesystem and make even nicer tools and clean up our horrible looking code, cause we are lazy and old!
Usage: extract360.exe gamename.360 [wildcard]...
For example: extract360.exe pi-nfsmw.360
Sit back and relax, and enjoy, these xbox360 games are quite large!
And a note to the tech guys: Yes, once you get past the protections and down to the raw bits on the disc, its just the standard xboxdvdfs, however the offset and layer breakpoint are different!
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, Team PI Coder
Download Game Dump Extractor v1.0: here (incl. source code)
News-Source/Full Nfo: xbins.org
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(Thursday 08 December 2005 18:51 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
PC vs Xbox 360
>> Ggl.com compared the graphics on the Xbox 360 with those on a high-end PC. The PC is an AMD FX-55 CPU, with dual NVIDIA 6800 Ultra video cards running in SLI and RAID 0 on dual Western Digital 74gig 8MB cache 10,000 RPM drives.
They compared the graphics on PC and Xbox360 in ‘Call of Duty 2' and ‘King Kong', 2 games that are released on both platforms, using the same high-definition LCD monitor. PC games ran at 1280x768, a close approximation to the 1280x720 the 360 provides when running in 720p.
Here's their conclusion:
[QUOTE]
At this point it's clear to say that the 360 is capable of delivering graphics at least as impressive as a far more expensive gaming PC. And, while PC hardware will always be progressing, so too will 360 developers be optimizing, and so it can be expected that Microsoft's new console will keep up at least for the next few years.
[/QUOTE]
Check out the full article: ggl.com
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(Thursday 08 December 2005 15:03 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 Low Chip Yield: Delayed launch was considered
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Tucked away at the bottom of an an interview today in The Ottawa Citizen, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "In these new consumer electronics devices based on new chips, there's always the question of what yield will you get out of the manufacturing process of the new chip. We're getting a little less, but not much less than the yields we expected, and we know that the yields we expected will probably outrun supply."
He added, "We decided to go ahead and launch rather than wait until post-Christmas and get a few million units out into the hands of users. We're doing our best."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz.
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(Thursday 08 December 2005 10:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft's CEO will have to shop for his Xbox 360
>> Coming from Reuters ... so I guess it's not a joke:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft Corp.'s Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will have to shop around for an Xbox 360 game console this holiday season just like the rest of us -- it doesn't come with his job.
"The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I'm in the same boat as many of you," Ballmer said. "Thanks to the wonders of Sarbanes-Oxley, management does not get a free Xbox 360," he quipped at a meeting of technology industry executives.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Reuters
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(Wednesday 07 December 2005 23:27 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Ten things to hate about the Xbox 360
>> CNET's David Carnoy wrote an article about 10 things he 'hates' about the new Xbox 360. It's a bit different then those "all good" reviews we've been seeing over the last few weeks:
1. Beige isn't the new black
2. No killer games at launch
3. Accessories cost a small fortune
4. The hard drive isn't big enough
5. Limited keyboard/mouse support at launch
6. No built-in Wi-Fi
7. Not enough USB ports, especially on the back
8. No HDMI or DVI connectivity
9. No built-in card reader
10. You can't get it.
Read the whole article on cnet.com.
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(Wednesday 07 December 2005 19:53 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Limelight Networks Leveraged as Content Delivery Network for Xbox 360
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Limelight Networks today announced that it is the Content Delivery Network for Microsoft's just-launched Xbox 360 video game system and Xbox Live, the online gaming service for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft now included with every system. Microsoft is leveraging Limelight Networks for delivery of trailers and game demos during one of the most important product launches in its history to ensure that Xbox Live audiences receive the best performance with any downloaded content.
"With the launch of Xbox 360 we're taking Xbox Live to new heights. Now that our customers can download game demos, high-definition movie trailers, and more, we need to be prepared for dramatic increases in traffic," said Xbox Live Operations Manager Eric Neustadter. "Working with Limelight Networks allows us to easily scale to any level of demand."
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole press release here.
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(Wednesday 07 December 2005 13:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Japan a tough market for Microsoft's Xbox 360 to penetrate
>> From forbes.com:
[QUOTE]
Despite the strong debut of its Xbox 360 in the US, Microsoft Corp is likely to struggle to displace well-entrenched incumbents in the Japanese video-game console market when it launches the Xbox 360 here at the weekend, analysts said.
'Unless we achieve meaningful success here, we cannot say we are a winner in the next-generation console battle,' Maruyama, head of the Xbox division at the Japanese unit of Microsoft, told a news conference.
But analysts are doubtful about Microsoft's chances.
'No one -- consumers or software makers -- has been talking about the Xbox 360 lately, although we only have a couple of days before the release,' Tokai Tokyo Research Center analyst Nobuyuki Kawamata said.
'Given also the fact that basic functions of Xbox 360 are inferior to Sony's next-generation machine, and that there are not many newly-developed titles ready for the Japanese launch, Xbox 360 is not likely to become a must-buy console here in Japan,' Kawamata said.
Hirotoshi Murakami, an analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, also believes the Xbox 360's prospects here are gloomy.
'We had previously thought that Xbox 360 could gain a major share of the Japanese market by taking some market share from front-runner Sony Computer,' Murakami said. 'But we now think that such a prospect may not be realized, given the limited attractiveness of its titles and its lukewarm functions.'
'Given declining enthusiasm for the Xbox 360 by Japanese players and software makers, it would be almost impossible for Microsoft to overtake Sony or even Nintendo,' said Shinko Securities analyst Yuichi Kobayashi.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: forbes.com
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(Wednesday 07 December 2005 01:30 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Fix the Xbox 360 DVD Drive to protect against scratched discs
>> After the reports of users having their DVDs scratched if they changed their Xbox 360 from vertical to horizontal position, the guys over at Llamma posted a guide to 'patch' the HL360 DVD-drive.
Keep in mind that this requires opening your Xbox 360 and thus it will void your warranty.
What they did is add rubber pads on the DVD-drive case on the opposite side of the laser. Now when moving the console, which results in the disc inside moving too, the disc will hit the rubber pads first. These rubber pads will limit the inclination angle of the disc so it can't touch the metal laserblock and get scratched. It'll touch the rubber pads, but that shouldn't scratch the disc.
Watch the video of the disc 'not scratching': here
Check out the guide on llamma.com
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(Tuesday 06 December 2005 22:29 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Lots of Xbox and Xbox360 Memorabilia
>> LowDown411.com posted pictures of tons of Xbox and Xbox360 memorabilia, from Xbox hats to chairs, maps, shoes, press kits, coke cans, t-shirts, wall signs, watches, limited editions, special discs and much more...
Check it out on lowdown411.com (news via xbox360fanboy.com)
Kotaku.com posted about an "Xbox 360 Cellie Charm". A wha? It's a cell phone gizmo that lights up magically when you use your mobile phone.
Check it out on kotaku.com and gamebrink.com
Another interesting item over at splodeswag.com. It's a white Xbox 360 faceplate signed by some of Xbox' best (Major Nelson, Cliffy B, J Allard, P Moore, ...).
On Ebay there's a 24kt solid pure gold, 900 grams, Xbox faceplate for sale. Price starts at 'just' 36k USD.
And on the launch event in Korea Microsoft showed some special Xbox 360 case designs, check them out on gizmodo.com.
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(Tuesday 06 December 2005 19:43 EST) - (Category: Xbox_Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Lots of Technical Xbox 360 Hardware Details
>> An anonymous source sent tons of details of the Xbox 360 hardware and security to the guys over at xboxhacker.net.
It's pretty technical, including NAND dump info, physical memory dump details, logical mapping, physical address mapping, PCI config region, hypervisor details, kernel details, details of syscalls used as communication between kernel and hypervisor ... and much more.
Check it out on xboxhacker.net or this XBH forum thread.
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(Tuesday 06 December 2005 17:09 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Re-Iterates Goals, Post-Xbox 360 European Launch
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Following today's news that the Xbox 360 has proved to be the fastest selling home console of all time in the UK, beating the previous record holder, the GameCube, with an estimated 70,000 units sold in the opening weekend, Microsoft has released a statement re-affirming its intent to restock the console often, and to deliver 3 million consoles worldwide over the first three months.
Neil Thompson, Senior European Regional Director, Home and Entertainment Division, added his own placating message: "The demand for Xbox 360 has been incredible and we are well aware that many gamers are disappointed to have not got their Xbox 360 on day one. We are working around the clock to manufacture as many Xbox 360s as we can and are replenishing retail stores in Europe in the weeks coming up to Christmas."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamasutra.com, official press release.
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(Tuesday 06 December 2005 13:26 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2005-12-05 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 stuff from the full changelog since the 2005-11-27 CVS release:
* added: critical section tracking for dlls (should fix some small memory leaks)
* added: dvdplayer initial ff/rw support in dvdplayer. only available in debug builds.
* added: Improved sorting routine speed throughout.
* added: manual browse for subtitle.
* added: playlists can be queued in library view
* added: Bitrate tag to http command getCurrentlyPlaying.
* added: File Browser Dialog - requires skinning
* added: Support for comma's in stacked file names.
... rest of changelog (including many fixes): 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
Xmac Beta 0.1 and Xthom Beta 0.2
>> Darcelf released 2 new emulator for the Xbox:
* Xmac Beta 0.1
Xmac is an xbox port of minivmac, a mac plus emulator.
The screen, keyboard and disk drive are emulated.
The keyboard is emulated using a virtual keyboard.
To Do:
-Add sound emulation.
-Improve the keyboard emulation.
-Compiling using release settings (smaller .xbe and more compatible)
* Xthom Beta 0.2
Xthom is an xbox port of Thom, a thomson to7-70 emulator by Sylvain Huet and Eric Botcazou.
The thomson to7-70, joystick, lightpen, k7 reader and sound are emulated.
thomson keyboard s emulated using a virtual keyboard.
To Do:
-Improve Border color accuracy.
-Correct the keyboard mapping
-disk support
-cartridge support (it should work, try to put a cardtridge file instead of basic.m7)
-clean the code
Official Site: http://www.darcelf.tk
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK)
Download Sourcecode: Xthom - Xmac
Full Readme: Xmac[xbins.org], Xthom[xbins.org]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Modcontrol 360 Experiments: DVD, HDD, Power Eject Button, Memcard, ...
>> From modcontrol.com (translated to english by Arakon):
[QUOTE]
We at Modcontrol.com and our sponsor Gamestore24.de decided to do some "trial and error" with the Xbox360.
Since there have been pictures of the inside of the system, the controller and the remote already, we're going to show the memory card here.
There possibly will be a 128 MB version of it, since the PCB layout points to being "upgradable" (there's an extra spot for a flashchip). We didn't have the matching chip available to try, but if this is possible, it would be a cheap way to upgrade your 64MB memory unit to 128 MB.
Also, we attempted to trigger some errors and error codes in the 360 on purpose, without success. All the important error codes seem to be ignored by the 360.
We attempted the following:
* Start without DVDROM
* Start without Powerbutton assembly attached
We also tried the following just for kicks, with no error messages by the system:
* No Eject button (it's not really attached anyways, the actual button is on the MB)
* No fans
* No memory unit
* No HDD
* No Controllers
The result was always the same: the system booted up fine. We started it with the remote, which is all you need to run the system, even with everything but the mainboard and power supply removed.
Removing the AV cord will result in the entire ring of light flashing red.
We had hoped to trigger and find out error codes with our testing, but with no result.
Attaching a normal SATA HDD to the connector of the original HDD didn't work either, using an external power supply since the internal one was too weak to power a 3.5" HDD)
Replacing the DVDROM with another SATA HDD also didn't work, as expected, it didn't get detected.
Also, we can confirm that the version number of the kernel update reported by www.free60.org is the same for the european system.
More Pictures: no dvd/hd/... pic2, memcard pic2, memcard pic3.
Gamestore24.de is also offering two 360 mods, replacing of the front LED circle with blue LEDs, and an internal VGA port so you can directly use your monitor cable.
[/QUOTE]
Source of the news in german: modcontrol.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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(Monday 05 December 2005 17:35 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Man sues Microsoft over alleged Xbox 360 glitch
>> From Reuters:
[QUOTE]
A Chicago man who bought Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 has sued the world's largest software maker, saying the new video game console has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up.
The proposed class action claims that in Microsoft's bid to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market, the company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co Ltd. that it sold a "defectively designed" product.
Robert Byers, who brought the suit, said the power supply and central processing unit in the Xbox 360 overheat, affecting heat-sensitive chips and causing the console to lock up.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court in Illinois, seeks unspecified damages and litigation-related expenses, as well as the replacement or recall of Xbox 360 game consoles.
Microsoft representatives were not immediately available for comment on Monday.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Reuters
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(Monday 05 December 2005 15:08 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Plays Big Brother With Xbox Live
>> From hexus.net:
[QUOTE]
Now no doubt Microsoft has this totally covered in its Terms and Conditions that you have to agree to when you sign up for an Xbox LIVE account, but did you know just how much information Microsoft shares with other Xbox 360 owners about what you're doing? Simply put, anyone you've been in contact with through Xbox LIVE can subsequently see what you're up to, regardless of whether they're in your friends list or not.
We here at HEXUS became a little anxious when the boss sent me a voice message over Xbox LIVE asking what I was doing viewing pictures through Media Connect instead of playing games on my Xbox 360. I assumed he'd made a lucky guess as he knew I was still playing around with the Xbox 360's media functions, using Media Connect to view stored family photos from my main PC. What I didn't realise was that he could actually see what I was doing as it was being relayed over Xbox LIVE and showing up in my profile!
If you were playing games, it'd be understandable to have your profile on display, showing what games you'd played, how far you'd gotten in them, what reputation you had etc etc... All of this info is in your gamer card and relevant to online gaming in general. Where Microsoft crosses the line is when you're not gaming. Your Xbox 360 will carry on happily reporting everything you're up to...
[/QUOTE]
Read More: hexus.net (via slashdot.org)
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(Monday 05 December 2005 14:40 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Asia to get Xbox 360 by March, Microsoft says
>> From Reuters:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft Corp. plans to offer its Xbox 360 game console in Asian markets outside of Japan by early March, despite tight supply in the United States.
The head of Microsoft's Xbox business in Asia, Alan Bowman, said the console would hit the market in Korea on February 24 and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore on March 2.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Reuters
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(Monday 05 December 2005 01:09 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360 Experiments: swap DVD/TSOP, 360 without EEPROM?, ...
>> CrackerJack (cjack) of darkmoon.org bought a core and premium Xbox 360 system and sent us an email with some info. He also posted several comments in this thread on our forums.
He noticed that while his core system has the EEPROM chip near the CPU, his premium Xbox 360 does not have this chip. However it does not seem to be core/premium related as my (XanTium's) premium Xbox 360 has this eeprom chip. On the images below you can see cjack's premium 360 without eeprom on the left and mine with eeprom on the right.
Some other interesting stuff he tried:
* He desoldered the TSOP of his 2 consoles and inverted them. The TSOP of Premium soldered in the Core console did not work. The 'ring of light' blinked red ... black screen. He resoldered both TSOPs in correct consoles ... and everything worked fine again.
* He also desoldered the eeprom from his Core Xbox 360 and, a bit unexpectedly, the console worked fine without the eeprom chip! Dashboard version and Kernel versions (backup version too) were the same then when there was the eeprom. Everything worked fine, games boot without problems, Xbox LIVE worked too...
* He checked the DVD player labels: they are almost the same but 2 different ROM versions:
-Core: DVD PLAYER model: GDR3120L (X800475-008), Rom version: 0046DH
-Premium: DVD PLAYER model: GDR3120L (X800475-009), Rom version: 0047DJ
He tried to swap the DVD players too and ... the games wouldn't boot. The Xbox 360 gave the same error screen then when you put the DVD in a PC DVD-ROM: "To play this disc, put it in an xbox 360 console". CrackerJack thinks that the Xbox 360 might have some kind of signature of the DVD player or that the ROM versions are not compatible.
More pictures of his adventures with the Xbox 360 are available here[darkmoon.org].
You can see his posts on our forums here[forums.xbox-scene.com].
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(Sunday 04 December 2005 21:00 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Best Buy Newsletter Says New Xbox360 Shipment On Dec 16
>> From gamersreports.com:
[QUOTE]
According to an internal Best Buy newsletter submitted to us by a reader, the new US shipment of Xbox360 consoles will hit stores on December 16. The document looks to be real, but as always, take it with a certain amount of scrutiny. It also states that the bonus remote will not be included in this next shipment.
[/QUOTE]
Read More/Newsletter Scan: gamersreports.com
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(Sunday 04 December 2005 19:14 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
ScummVM 0.80 Xbox WIP Release
>> Carcharius released a new version of ScummVM Xbox(info), it allows to play games based on LucasArts' Scumm (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion) system.
What's new/fixed:
* ScummVM 0.80 engine and all of the changes which that brings.
* support for 480p and 720p HDTV modes.
* support for FluidSynth midi emulation (see note).
* support for command line arguments from JbOne's xbe shortcut maker.
Official Site: http://carcharius.xbox-scene.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
Full Readme: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Donates Xbox, PlayStation and GBA consoles to Charity
>> From GamePlanet:
[QUOTE]
The Get-Well Gamers Foundation, a California-based public charity dedicated to bringing electronic entertainment to children in healthcare facilities, has announced a major donation from Microsoft that will enable it to pursue its mission of giving this holiday season.
The donation consists of hundreds of popular video games, games consoles and equipment. All platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation and Game Boy Advance, are represented along with a wide variety of game genres, from sports and adventure to racing and fantasy role-playing games. Controllers, documentation and other accessories are also available and, as with the rest of the donation, will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
"The breadth of what Microsoft has given us is astounding," said Ryan Sharpe, President of Get-Well Gamers. "There's truly something here for children of every age level. My only hope is that enough healthcare facilities step forward in time for the holidays."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: GamePlanet
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(Sunday 04 December 2005 11:37 EST) - (Category: GamingGeneral) - (Posted by::
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