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Week of November 6, 2005
BestBuy Store Xbox360 Unit Allocation Numbers
>> The guys over at gamersreports.com managed to get the list of how many Xbox 360 stock each Best Buy store will get on launch day:
[QUOTE]
This is the list of core and premium systems being shipped to BestBuy stores nationwide...the list is categorized by store #...to find your Bestbuy store number visit www.bestbuy.com and go to store locator. Pro means a premium pack and core means, well you can figure that out.
[/QUOTE]
Wanna know how much stock your local best buy will have? Check it on gamersreports.com.
Thanks to Gotti^ for the news/link.
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(Saturday 12 November 2005 21:43 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
No Xbox 360 for Walk-in Customers until April 2006?
>> From xbox360.ign.com:
[QUOTE]
The rumors, apparently, are true. According to retailers in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Miami and Houston, there will be mass shortage of Xbox 360 units on the targeted launch date of November 22. IGN contacted dozens of stores around the country, including Gamestop, EB Games, Electronics Boutique, Target and Walmart. One short-tempered clerk at a Gamestop in New York estimated that Xbox 360 units will not be available for walk-in customers until April. That's right, April.
April is obviously the worst-case scenario, but every retailer we spoke with that accepted preorders estimated that walk-in customers will have to wait until January for their new system. And since none of those retailers are accepting any more preorders, there may be a lot of disappointed little gamers this Christmas.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: xbox360.ign.com
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(Saturday 12 November 2005 15:56 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
OpenDash Windows Build 396
>> th0mas (d0wnlab) released a new Windows build of OpenDash (an opensource dashboard currently in development for Xbox that can be build with the legal OpenXDK(info)) some time ago (sorry for the delay in posting). This is an executable compiled for Windows (win32) and not for Xbox. It's made for users interested in testing the UI of OpenDash and to attract some graphical designers to make skins.
From th0mas (d0wnlab) on forums.xbox-scene.com/th0mas.xbox-scene.com:
[QUOTE]
I am releasing another windows build of OpenDash. It includes updates on the previous release such as:
* Skin/config separation. Now skins exist in seperate directories. They can also be loaded on the fly from within the dash.
* multiline text messages
* copying files/directories with progress bar display
* internationalization
It contains a demo skin made by myself, as well as a copy of Pred@tor's skin.
I am in the process of registering a sf.net project to host the code, so that the code exists in a central CVS repository instead of my hard disk. People interested in contributing should talk to me. An xbox release will be soon, but don't get too excited - there are still a couple bugs with the xbox build that I haven't been able to fix just yet, and a number of features that are not yet stable.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://th0mas.xbox-scene.com
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox360 Backward Compatibility List Released
>> The official 'Backward Compatibility List' for the Xbox 360 has been released on xbox.com:
[QUOTE]
The folks at Xbox are working hard to add more of your favorite games to this list, so check back often for the latest updates.
Note: A software emulator is required for each original Xbox game you play on your Xbox 360 console. Please check back for more details as we approach the launch date.
[/QUOTE]
Check out the full list (containing already over 200 titles) on xbox.com.
There's also a FAQ available:
[QUOTE]
* Xbox.com: Will there be any benefits to playing original Xbox games on my Xbox 360 console?
* Todd: Absolutely. One of the great things about gaming on Xbox 360 is the satisfaction of knowing that every game will be playable in high definition. We are now proud to reveal that this extends to the original Xbox games as well. Every original Xbox game will be upscaled to 720p and 1080i, and will take advantage of Xbox 360's anti-aliasing capabilities, delivering a picture that is clearer and crisper than anything available on Xbox.
* Xbox.com: How will you deliver the emulators for backward compatibility?
* Todd: There are several different ways that you can get them:
For Xbox Live members (either Gold or Silver members), just connect your Xbox 360 console to Xbox Live and insert an original Xbox game. The system will automatically check if you have the latest emulation software, download it to your Xbox 360 console as part of a system update if you don't, reboot, and start loading your original Xbox game.
Those who are not part of our Xbox Live network will be able to download the emulators from Xbox.com, and burn them onto a CD to insert into your Xbox 360 where it will auto-install the emulator. Or you can go to Xbox.com and simply sign up for a CD to be sent to your home for a nominal shipping and handling fee.
* Xbox.com: What about saved games as well as free and purchased downloadable content? Will that be transferable to Xbox 360?
* Todd: Content will not be transferable from Xbox to Xbox 360, including saved data and downloadable content. However, all free downloadable content for original Xbox games plus premium content for Halo 2 will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace for free. Xbox 360 owners will be able to get this free with an Xbox Live Silver or Gold membership.
* Xbox.com: What if I put in a game that isn't backward compatible?
* Todd: I want to clarify--if a game isn't on the list at Xbox.com/Games, it won't run on your Xbox 360 console. Putting in a game that's not on the list will give you a message saying that the game is not currently supported on Xbox 360 and point you to Xbox.com/Games for more information.
We're working hard to determine the next batch of backward compatible titles, and would love to get feedback directly from gamers as well. We'll have a place on Xbox.com where gamers can tell us their thoughts as we get closer to launch.
* Xbox.com: Are there any emulators already pre-loaded on the hard drive?
* Todd: An early version of the emulator that supports Halo: Combat Evolve(info)d and Halo 2 offline is included on Xbox 360 Hard Drives right out of the box as a special bonus to devoted fans of the franchise. However, to play Halo 2 online, or to play any other titles on the launch list, the full emulator update is required.
* Xbox.com: Can you play games cross-platform? Specifically, can I play Halo 2 on Xbox 360 with my friend who plays it on Xbox?
* Todd: Yes. You can play backward compatible original Xbox games cross-platform from Xbox 360 to Xbox. Personally, I can't wait to see the first Xbox vs. Xbox 360 Halo 2 clan matches pop up on Xbox Live.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole FAQ on xbox.com
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(Friday 11 November 2005 22:18 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
US video game sales fall 24 pct in October
>> From reuters.com:
[QUOTE]
U.S. retail sales of video games in October fell to $365 million, down 24 percent from a year earlier, when publishers released a slew of blockbuster titles, analysts said on Friday.
"We do not believe that recent weakness will persist, and expect a sales rebound in November and December," said Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter.
UBS analyst Michael Wallace is betting that game sales will decline slightly in 2005, and backed his estimate calling for a 1 percent year-over-year decline in U.S. video game sales.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: reuters.com
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(Friday 11 November 2005 19:48 EST) - (Category: GamingGeneral) - (Posted by::
)
(USA) Best Buy, Wal-Mart and CompUSA Details for Nov 22
>> Kotaku.com managed to get hold of Best Buy's 26-page launch guide with lots of info about what to expect Nov 22. Joystiq has a few details from Wal-Mart and CompUSA published their own press release:
[QUOTE]
* Best Buy is expecting 43,000 Xbox 360's company wide which works out to about 60 per a store with the midnight opening stores getting an extra 100 each.
Only a dozen Best Buy's plan to open at midnight for Xbox 360 sales, according to a document obtained by Kotaku. All other stores will open at 9 a.m. Nov. 22. Best Buy Expects $29 Million Launch Day (hardware sales, game sales, accessory sales and product replacement plans).
The official Best Buy 'Maze map' is available here.
If you are unlucky enough to miss out on a launch day 360, Best Buy will be giving you a special DVD meant to apparently rub salt in your wounds. The DVD comes packed with a video of how cool the 360 you didn't get is.
There will also be lots of coupons and special brochures, check the details here.
The mark-ups for the Xbox 360, games, accessories and that annoying after market warranty.
-Xbox 360: About 5 percent
-Average game: About 20 percent
-Average accessory: About 40 percent
-Product Replacement Plan: About 52 percent
* Wal-Mart has begun receiving launch instruction packages. Employees have been instructed to distribute numbered tickets (as many as the store has 360 units) starting at 10:00 PM on the 21st. The tickets are divided into two sets (green and silver), in order to differentiate between the core and premium bundles.
* UPDATE: CompUSA stores will have Xbox 360 units available for purchase to the public. The highly anticipated gaming system from Microsoft will be sold to the earliest arriving CompUSA customers using a voucher system. In addition, CompUSA will offer an extensive selection of Xbox 360 games and accessories. Customers will be lining up early to get their Xbox 360. CompUSA is dedicating substantial front-of-the-store space to the Xbox 360 experience, featuring demonstrations of the new console, game titles and accessories.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: Joystiq[Wal-Mart], Kotaku[BB midnight shops], Kotaku[BB stock], Kotaku[BB mark-up], Kotaku[BB bestsellers], Kotaku[BB accessories], Kotaku[BB brochure], Kotaku[BB map], CompUSA pressrelease.
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(Friday 11 November 2005 14:55 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Game Industry to Rival Size of Music Business
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
According to the latest forecasts from DFC Intelligence, the worldwide interactive entertainment market is expected to grow from about $28.5 billion in 2005 to around $42 billion in 2010. The interactive entertainment market consists of console video games, PC games, online games and dedicated portable systems.
"The upcoming launch of the Microsoft Xbox 360 heralds a new generation of console systems that together should push the worldwide game industry toward the size of the global recorded music industry by 2008," said David Cole president of DFC Intelligence.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com
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(Friday 11 November 2005 11:40 EST) - (Category: GamingGeneral) - (Posted by::
)
XBMC Skin Editor Beta v2.0
>> JimK (jimk72) released a new beta version of XBMC Skin Editor(info):
[QUOTE]
Fixes:
* Problems with setting not being loaded by XBMC because of caps
* Problem with texOffset and textoffset
* Text position on buttons :)
* Many others I found when fixing above
* Should no longer need the DLL
Additions:
* Now loads strings.xml from folder or you can select your own(No more numbers for text) :)
* Load font.xml file to set the fonts ##-- Default will not work as it uses xpr files, Just use arial for now --##
* Export and import for controls
* Spinbuttons can now be moved around.
* Most of the controls are now viewable :)
* Shows samples of some colors
* Shows real date and time for those labels :)
I know the app resolution is a problem for some people but it will be some time before I decide what to do as I need atleast 720X576 just for the preview screen, and If I remove that than its not very usefull :(
I am uploading a sample of the PMIII home.xml as rendered by my app. This is not a photoshop created image! It is realtime editing with click and drag!
Please remember this is still in beta form! If you upload an xml file to your Xbox and the screen goes blank, just ftp the original over top and reboot and it should be fine.
If you enjoy the progress so far, please support me by sending those bug reports and suggestions for improvements :)
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, by JimK
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
360 Backwards Compatibility News Due
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
After the Halo 360 'upgrades' yesterday, Next Generation went looking for more information on other Xbox1 titles. What we found out was less than conclusive but Microsoft will be making announcements about it in the next 24 hours (Friday, November 11).
A few of these developers and publishers had thrown source code over the wall to Microsoft under the auspices of having backward compatibility profiles and/or optimizations done for them. Unfortunately, most of these sources complained that once they had done delivered the code to Microsoft, they'd had very few updates (and in one case, no updates) on the status of their games.
Anti-aliasing seems to be the "flick a swich" improvement being given to many titles. Given that ATI's architecture emphasizes low cost anti-aliasing, this shouldn't be terribly surprising.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz
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(Thursday 10 November 2005 23:57 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Backs ICE To Ease Realtime Communications
>> From crn.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft is backing Interactivity Connectivity Establishment (ICE) technology, which the company said will facilitate secure VoIP and other realtime communications over the Web.
Microsoft is building ICE into upcoming versions of its MSN Messenger instant-messaging client and the fuller Communicator client, slated to arrive in the Office 12 time frame next fall. The ICE component also will flow into the stack of Xbox Live, Microsoft's online gaming console.
ICE, which Microsoft said is backed by Cisco Systems and a half-dozen as-yet-unnamed technology companies, launches in parallel with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which typically kicks off any realtime messaging or VoIP communication.
"It sends out an ICE discovery message, saying in essence: 'I'm about to set up a realtime media [session], but I need your help. I think my IP address is thus. Tell me if it looks like my IP is thus,' " Russell Bennett, program manager for Microsoft's Real Time Collaboration Group, said.
This verification process puts the real IP address into media packet headers and assures that the realtime media flows to the right recipient.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: crn.com
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(Thursday 10 November 2005 21:38 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Can the Xbox 360 Pull a 180 in Japan?
>> From theconsolewars.blogspot.com:
[QUOTE]
Just a controller's throw from the pricey, upscale shops of Harajuku, the Lounge is part of Microsoft's effort to drive sales of the upcoming Xbox 360 in Japan, a market where its predecessor was humiliated. In 2002, Microsoft's Xbox (released in late February) sold 327,699 units in Japan. That same year, Sony's PS2 moved a whopping 3.7 million units. In terms of software market share, Xbox tallied a measly 0.5 percent, compared to 55.2 percent for PS2 and 12.4 percent for Gamecube. Even Sega's flagging Dreamcast outpaced Xbox, earning 0.8 percent of the software market. And things only went downhill from there. In 2003, Xbox sold about 97,000 units - only marginally better than the ancient PSOne (61,000) and JVC's WonderSwan Crystal (47,000). In 2004, that number dropped to about 40,000 - or, just 10,000 more than Nintendo's non-SP Game Boy Advance. Over this three-year period, Microsoft sold roughly 464,000 units in Japan, compared to 9.2 million for PS2 and 2.59 million for GameCube. It's no wonder that not a single Xbox game has ever managed to crack the Japanese yearly top 50.
But in this, the latest battle of the never-ending "console wars," Microsoft seems prepared to come out blasting. Redwood recognizes the importance of conquering Japan, the industry's second-largest game market.
"The Japanese market is the most important key for the Xbox [360]'s global strategy," said Yoshihiro Maruyama, general manager of the Xbox Division in Japan, at a recent press conference. "Microsoft is committing fully to its success in Japan."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: theconsolewars.blogspot.com (news via joystiq.com)
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(Thursday 10 November 2005 15:13 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
G4 Will Cover The Launch of the Xbox 360
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
G4 is preparing to cover an entertainment milestone -- the launch of the massively anticipated Xbox 360. As the only television broadcaster going live from four locations across the country, "Countdown to Xbox 360" will be the destination for viewers to get wall-to-wall Xbox 360 coverage. The groundbreaking 3.6 hours of dedicated Xbox 360 programming begins Monday, November 21, 2005, at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on G4 -- videogame tv.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com
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(Thursday 10 November 2005 12:05 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Prometheus Update5
>> Prometheus is a map editor currently in development that will allow you to edit and create maps for Halo 1, Halo 2, and future games that use the Halo Engine. A new update has been posted:
[QUOTE]
September... October... November, gasp! It's November and our last full update was posted the end of August; that means 2 months without an update, we're horrible people! How could we go so long without giving an update? Well, quite easily actually, we got so fixated on working on Prometheus we didn't want to take a break to write an update. But now, 2 months and ~450 code changelists later, we're ready to show off what we've been slaving away on.
[/QUOTE]
Go check the full news on halodev.org.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
OXM Xbox 360 stock: 50k for UK, just over 1 million for USA? *update*
>> While rumors yesterday (from sources at EBgames) said USA would get only 400k unit on launch day, today OXM UK (Official Xbox Magazine United Kingdom) comes with different numbers. While OXM might sound like official information, they say themselves this info is not confirmed ... so this stays a rumor:
[QUOTE]
Around 50,000 Xbox 360 units are winging their way towards the UK for launch day on December 2, according to reports www.OXM.co.uk has received from retail sources.
To put the 50,000 figure into context, Sony's PSP recently sold around 185,000 units in the UK alone on its launch weekend, and Nintendo's DS sold around 87,000 units when it hit the streets earlier this year.
Microsoft has declined to confirm these numbers, telling us that it "does not comment on rumour and speculation."
The latest launch figures coming out of the US seem to dwarf the UK's rumoured allocation, but reports from across the pond also point towards stores shutting up their pre-order lists.
A forum poster, claiming to be a Microsoft share holder in possession of an Xbox 360 sales forecast sent to all those who own Microsoft stocks, claims that 1,098,200 units will be shipped to US stores on launch day - with the majority going to retailers Wal-Mart and Best Buy - and that 29 Xbox 360 games will be available before the end of 2006.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: oxm.co.uk
Oh ... I thought it would be interesting to give the population of both countries with this news. UK has around 60 million inhabitants, USA around 300 million.
*UPDATE* GamesIndustry.biz spoke with Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson about these numbers:
[QUOTE]
"Xbox 360 is the hottest gift this Christmas and will be hard to find - but we're working hard to ensure there's a regular replenishment of stock to retail," Thompson said.
Microsoft declined to comment on the 50k rumour. With regard to pre-orders, Thompson stated: "Microsoft does not have an official Xbox 360 presale program and we are unable to verify the status of these retailer programs."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamesindustry.biz
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 23:43 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Bungie Confirms Halo Improvements for Xbox 360: WS 720p
>> There were already some rumors and now it's confirmed by Bungie:
[QUOTE]
A while back, Microsoft announced that the 360 would have some level of backward compatibility. We worked closely with that team to ensure that Halo and Halo 2 both performed according to plan. That meant a lot of work for our test team.
To clarify, the "new" version of Halo or Halo 2 is simply the disk you have already. Pop it into your 360 and it'll load up just like before. You will have to log into Xbox Live to enable Halo 2's online functions, but both games will work immediately.
But here's another bonus - the hardware in the 360 can do a lot of nifty stuff, and specifically in the cases of Halo and Halo 2, it can display the graphics in wide screen, at 720p, with full scene anti-aliasing. And it doesn't look kludgy, artifacty or smeary like an upscanning DVD player. The best way to describe it is that both games look like they're running on a PC at those resolutions.
Now, to reiterate, we didn't redo any of the old textures or geometry - this is simply the game you already own, running at a higher resolution. The results are not miraculous, but for owners of HDTVs (or VGA monitors with the appropriate cable) they are sweet.
[/QUOTE]
Compare 480p version VS 720p version: bungie.net.
Read More: bungie.net.
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 20:20 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Jeff Reents Confirms no Screws on Xbox 360 case
>> Xbox.com has an interview with Jeff Reents, Lead Mechanical Engineer for Xbox 360:
[QUOTE]
* Xbox.com: Tell me another cool thing about the guts.
* JR: Well, we want to discourage hackers, so this time around we didn't put any screws on the outside of the box and have multiple tamper evident labels. So with Xbox 360 we'll be able to tell if they've cracked the case.
* Xbox.com: And of course, just like the original Xbox, cracking the case immediately voids your warranty.
* JR: Of course.
* Xbox.com: What's the story on environmental standards? Is Xbox 360 "greener" than Xbox?
* JR: Definitely. Xbox 360 had to meet the Lead Free requirements and be RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant.
* Xbox.com: Sounds good, but what specifically did that legislation mean for Xbox 360? What kind of compliance criteria did you have to deal with?
* JR: It means that Xbox 360 can't contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) or meet the limits established by ROHS. So, the motherboard and all the solder in the Xbox 360 had to be lead-free.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole interview on xbox.com (news via joystiq.com/hack360.com)
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 17:01 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Ad enabled Xbox 360 a possibility?
>> From pro-g.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
Speaking at the Harris Nesbitt Media & Entertainment Conference Bryan Lee, the chief financial officer of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices subdivision has said how in some markets outside of North America there is a possibility that the cost of the Xbox 360 and its software could be subsidised by advertising. Lee said how Microsoft is already trialling in-game ads.
"[In] markets outside of North America, the fundamentals of our business may not hold," said Lee. "Consumers may not be accustomed to paying $50 for software and buying a $200, $300 or $400 device, an ad model may be a way to augment to kind of make the economics work for everyone."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: pro-g.co.uk
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 16:08 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
More Prototype Xbox 360 Designs
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
What we were looking for were better images of the prototypes we ran last week. What we got were high res images of completely different prototypes that weren't used as the final design for Xbox 360 (which is also good).
While some of these designs have been seen in other media (notably a great piece at Idle Thumbs with Microsoft designer, Jonathan Hayes), we hadn't seen them in high res where you can actually see the details on the product finishes, the ports and vents, etc.
[/QUOTE]
Read More/High-Resolution Images: next-gen.biz
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 15:29 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Super Mario War v1.6
>> A new version of the homebrew game 'Super Mario War(info)' has been released.
What's new/fixed:
* Readme in HTML format
* Tournament Mode
* 7 new powerups: Hammer; Poison Mushroom; Slowdown clock; Bob-omb; POW Block; Bullet Bill Frenzy; Hammer
* Skins (and changed sprite structure for easier skin creation): Mario; Bahamut; Black Mage; Bub/Bob; Classic Mario; Kirby; Link; Luigi; Monty Mole; Ninji; Pig (FF1); Shyguy; Snifit; Tweeter; White Mage
* Background Music: Customizable using config files in the music directory
* Team Play
* Warping pipes
* 5 New Game Modes: Jail; Goomba; Race; Owned; Hammers
* Updated Game Modes: Tag - now you can transfer the tag by touching other players
* Added new options on menu: Scoreboard placement; Announcer voice; Team kill (friendly fire); Team colors (players on same team get same color); Screen crunch; Map over layer like chains and railings
* Different options for cloud eye candy
* Fixed top row collision problems
* Fixed general collision detection problems where players would end up inside blocks
* Improved performance
* New Maps (from 4matsy, j rok, nitsuja, ventuz and Xijar)
* New map layers (4 tile layers + 1 block layer)
* Out-of-bounds indicator and timer
* Exit confirmation box
* Better powerup collision detection (no bouncing off of thin air)
* Coins, powerup cards, eggs and yoshi move if not collected in time
* Improved AI
-Collects goal items like powerups and coins
-Avoids threats like fireballs and thwomps
-Attemps to avoid spikes (needs improvement)
* Improved spawn location performance
* Team colored fireballs/hammers
* Fixed player spawning under spikes
* Fixed CPU hogging (runs at 30% CPU on my 2ghz P4)
* Improved tools in the level editor
-Select eyecandy
-Select tiles and move them around
-Copy tiles and paste them
-Designate "no spawn" areas
* Adjustable music and sound volume
* Configurable respawn time
Official Site: http://smw.72dpiarmy.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
Full Readme: xbins.org
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(Wednesday 09 November 2005 06:42 EST) - (Category: Xbox) - (Posted by::
)
Details on Xbox Live TrueSkill Ranking System
>> Microsoft released a paper with information about the way that gamers will be ranked on the new Xbox Live:
[QUOTE]
The TrueSkill ranking system is a skill-based ranking system designed to overcome the limitations of existing ranking systems, and to ensure that interesting matches can be reliably arranged within a league. It uses a technique called Bayesian inference for ranking players. Rather than assuming a single fixed skill for each player, the system characterises its belief using a bell-curve belief distribution (also referred to as Gaussian) which is uniquely described by its mean [mju:] ("peak point") and standard deviation [sigma] ("spread").
[/QUOTE]
Read the full paper on microsoft.com.
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(Tuesday 08 November 2005 23:25 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360's in-game MP3 playback is optional
>> From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
An Xbox 360 developer has shed more light on the issue of background music in games for Microsoft's next-generation console, revealing that in-game streaming of music from outside music sources such as iPod is something developers can opt not to support.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: eurogamer.net
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(Tuesday 08 November 2005 23:06 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox Retrospective: Successes and Failures
>> From igo.ampednews.com:
[QUOTE]
When Microsoft first announced the Xbox, many were weary of what it meant for console gaming. Microsoft was viewed as the big bad wolf, and rightfully so. They had dominated every market they had entered, and fear that they would try to do the same in monopolizing the gaming industry was somewhat warranted. Thankfully Microsoft didn't go around and buy up every third party publisher on the planet. It instead competed by traditional means, and made the Xbox a success through its smart business practices, games, and focus on offering a central unified online gaming service.
Part two of our five day "Xbox Retrospective Week" feature takes a look at where Microsoft went right and where they went wrong with the Xbox.
SUCCESSES
1. The Acquisition of Bungie
2. North American Market Penetration
3. Xbox LIVE
4. The Hard Drive
5. Viral Marketing
FAILURES
1. Lack of Genre Variety
2. No Asian Market Penetration
3. The Cancellation of True Fantasy Live Online
4. The Acquisition of Rare
5. The "Duke" Controller
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole article on igo.ampednews.com (news via slashdot.org)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Games, Accessories Hitting Store Shelves
>> From TeamXbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft announced today that retailers nationwide are beginning to sell various Xbox 360 games, accessories, and Xbox Live retail offerings in advance of the November 22 console launch. Eager fans are encouraged to check with their local retail stores for information regarding specific Xbox 360 product availability.
"Offering Xbox 360 games, accessories, and Xbox Live products in advance of the November 22 console launch lets gamers and retailers jump in on the euphoria and prepare early for the hottest consumer electronics product launch of the decade," said Peter Moore, Microsoft Corporate VP, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com, gamespot.com.
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(Tuesday 08 November 2005 17:42 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
(USA) 400000 Xbox 360s on Launch Day?
>> From punchjump.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has revised the allocation of Xbox 360 launch units to 400,000 for the North American region, an EB Games employee said on Saturday. The number of units is far below the 1 million units expected at the launch window and much dire than recent estimates.
At 400,000 units, consumers will see less units on store shelves than the Playstation 2 launch of 2001.
The employee, who works at an EB Games brick and mortar retail shop in Southern California, said the store will be able to fulfill only 14 of 43 pre-orders. Another shipment is expected to arrive before Christmas, however the employee did not see entire fulfillment of pre-orders until March of next year.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: punchjump.com
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(Tuesday 08 November 2005 13:33 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft: 3 mln Xbox 360 sales in 90 days
>> From reuters.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft Corp. expects to sell as many as 3 million Xbox 360 consoles in the first three months after launching the newest version of its video game machine, the financial chief of the giant software company's Xbox business said on Tuesday.
The sales target of 2.75 million to 3 million Xbox 360 units in the first 90 days after the launch date of Nov. 22 was outlined by Xbox chief financial officer Bryan Lee at an investors' conference in New York.
Lee also said that sales of the new consoles, games, peripherals and online gaming subscriptions should total about $1.5 billion in the same period,
[/QUOTE]
Read More: reuters.com
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(Tuesday 08 November 2005 11:25 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2005-11-07 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 and updated stuff from the changelog since the 2005-10-31 CVS release:
* update: dvdplayer, ffmpeg to latest version
* added: option in my programs settings to en/disable Kai(info) (disabled by default).
* added: added: dvdplayer, 24 bits lpcm decoding
* added: last.fm, user's recently listened tracks, sortable by date
* added: dvdplayer, media duration estimation when no duration is available
* added: basic external subtitle support to the dvdplayer (not enabled)
* added: "lastfm:" virtual filesystem (initial audioscrobbler web services support). Add a My Music share to "lastfm://" to test it, and make sure you are registered with audioscrobbler.
...read the full readme here.
Keep in mind this is a CVS snapshot of the current development tree. It's not a official (stable) point release. Use only if you know what you are doing.
You can add more scripts and skins yourself if desired. You can download them from allxboxskins.com, xbox-skins.net and xbmcscripts.com.
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
(Japan) New Xbox 360 Promo Site and Wrestle Kingdom Event
>> From gamespot.com:
[QUOTE]
Against formidable competition in the form of the Nintendo Revolution and Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft is continuing to push its next-generation console in Japan.
Today, Microsoft took its promotional push online. The company has launched a new Web site for the Xbox 360 named Jump In, and it will be giving out one 360 per day through the site between November 8 and December 9.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: jump-in.jp and gamespot.com
From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
Last Friday at the world-famous Bundoukan (Japan), Microsoft dragged out those Xbox 360 kiosks to promote their Japanese wrestling game, Wrestle Kingdom. I wouldn't exactly call it a mob scene.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: kotaku.com and famitsu.com (google translate)
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(Monday 07 November 2005 22:13 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox 360: Zero Hour
>> Microsoft released more info about the "Xbox 360: Zero Hour" event:
[QUOTE]
It's just a small, intimate party to celebrate the launch of the first next-generation console. Just J Allard, Peter Moore, leading game developers, the entire Xbox 360 launch lineup, live entertainment, VIP winners from the Hex 168 and Origen campaigns, and 3,000 of our new best friends. That's where you come in.
Enter to win two tickets to the biggest gaming event of the year!
Where is It?
It's at an undisclosed location in the Mojave Desert. Top secret.
When is It?
We'll play Xbox 360 games from sundown on November 20 through 12:01 A.M. on November 22.
What's On?
* Hundreds of gaming stations fully tricked out with hi-def monitors and digital sound
* Play the full Xbox 360 launch lineup
* First opportunity to play a 32-player match of Perfect Dark Zero on Xbox Live
* Highly anticipated games that will ship this year and into 2006, from 2K Games, 2K Sports, Activision, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios, Namco Hometek, SEGA, Square Enix, Tecmo, THQ, and Ubisoft.
* Full access to all Xbox Live Arcade titles
* Demos, sneak peeks, and live game play of Gears of War
* Round-the-clock refreshment stations
* Live entertainment and music, including a genuine "kaiju Big Battel" and rock band Louis XIV
* Exclusive schwag, such as Zero Hour Xbox 360 faceplates
* Onsite Best Buy store where partygoers can purchase their Xbox 360 consoles, games, and accessories
What Do I Do?
At an undisclosed time between 12:01 A.M. and 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time on November 10, signup forms will appear on various participating sites (Xbox.com, GameSpot, GameSpy, 1UP, Game Informer, GamePro, IGN, TeamXbox.com, UGO, G4 (maybe more later, check microsoft.com)) letting you enter to win!
[/QUOTE]
Read More: xbox.com and microsoft.com
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(Monday 07 November 2005 18:49 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Popular Science: Xbox 360 Top Tech Home Entertainment Innovation 2005
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Every year, the editors of Popular Science magazine review thousands of new products and technologies in pursuit of 100 breakthroughs that merit the magazine's highest honor, the Best of What's New award.
Winning the Home Entertainment category is the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This is what Popular Science said about the upcoming console:
"The first of the next-generation gaming consoles, the new Xbox 360 is not just about games -- the 360 is poised to take over the living room as well. The 360 is the first Media Center extender that receives and plays back HDTV from Media Center PCs, and it comes with a free lifetime subscription to the Xbox Live online service."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com
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(Monday 07 November 2005 16:22 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
XBMC Translator v0.9b
>> From Jose_T on forums.xbox-scene.com:
[QUOTE]
I'm working on a tool to make more easy to translate XboxMediaCenter(info) in another languages. [edit the XBMC XML Language Files]
It's developed using Delphi, so you need to run it on Windows.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: sourceforge.net
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Halo 2 Mod: Exodus v1
>> From halomods.com:
[QUOTE]
This Mod brings together two of the great modders of Halo 2 Zenon and Greennc in this Zanzibar mod Exodus, using the skin of Greennc's and Zenon's weapons and modding knowledge have come up with an outstanding mod
* GREENNC Skin
* Atmospheric lighting with a slight foggy haze
* Pelicans flying over, suffering plasma explosions with falling dissappearing bits to look more realistic and projectile collision (as in you shot it and you get an impact effect)
* Crashing Banshees spewing green plasma stuff
* Automatic Gate in new position
* The control panel for the gate still works as well as being automatic (in same location)
* Enormous fires on the beach and one in land, near some of the palm trees
+ so many weapons and scenery changes i have not listed
[/QUOTE]
More Info/Screenshots/Downloads: halomods.com
Halo film script unveiled... allegedly
>> From bit-tech.net:
[QUOTE]
The chaps over at movie website Latino Review claim to have a first look at the script for the new Halo movie.
Do not go there unless you want to read potential spoilers!
The script is basically a reflection of the storyline of the first Halo game - the Pillar of Autumn, Captain Keyes, etc. According to this preview, the film is nothing more than a movie version of Halo 1.
This seems a little odd. The assumption amongst the gaming community has always been that the film would tie in to the mythology somehow, perhaps resolving a climax at the end of Halo 3, due out next year.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: bit-tech.net
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(Monday 07 November 2005 09:26 EST) - (Category: OffTopic) - (Posted by::
)
Press gets Xbox 360s: AC Adapter 85percent of PStwo with 2 fans
>> The Xbox360 huge A/C adapter saga continues as the Xbox 360 units sent to the press this week also get this big power adapter.
From gamepro.com:
[QUOTE]
According to Famitsu, the Xbox 360's AC adaptor is the largest of any game console, with a length of 210 mm, width of 75 mm and height of 54 mm. The Japanese game magazine obtained an advance shipment of a limited edition Xbox 360 launch pack.
The adapter itself is roughly 85 percent in volume of the slim PS2 (850.5 cubic centimeters versus 978.9 cubic centimeters).
According to Microsoft, the larger adapter is due to the higher electrical power consumption of the Xbox 360. The max power consumption of Microsoft's next-gen console is 254 watts--notably higher than the 200 watts for the Xbox and dwarfing the 45 watts for the PlayStation 2.
Interestingly, the adaptor purportedly has two fans inside, too. While Microsoft has yet to give official word on the final retail adapter for the North American version, the chances are high that the stateside Xbox 360 will also have a hefty AC adapter as well.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamepro.com
Thanks to Boogie for the news/link.
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(Sunday 06 November 2005 22:54 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox360's backwards compatibility: More titles and saved games?
>> Spanish Rare-fan-site Mundorare.com claims they received some new information about the Xbox360's backwards compatibility from sources inside Microsoft.
In addition to Halo and Halo 2, they say the Xbox 360 will also play all other Microsoft Game Studios games and Rare's 'Conker and Grabbed By The Ghoulies'. As said before to make an Xbox game work on the Xbox 360 you'll need to download a 'driver' on Xbox LIVE, so you'll need a 360 with harddisk (some 'drivers' will probably be preloaded on HD already).
They also repeat the rumor that Halo and Halo 2 will get slightly improved graphics on the 360, and maybe some other titles too in the future.
What's really new is that the article claims there will be a way to transfer your original Xbox saves to your Xbox 360 via Ethernet from HD to HD. So if true maybe your saved games won't be lost after all...
Read More: mundorare.com (google translate) (news via gamersreports.com)
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(Sunday 06 November 2005 12:40 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox360's Black Screen of Death
>> Agent21KGB posted the first picture of the Xbox 360 error/crash screen on our forums. A bit similar to the original Xbox error screen, it asks to contact the Xbox Customer Support and gives an 'Error Number' to help identify the problem:
[QUOTE]
So I went to the local Wal-Mart and walk on the 360 display and was like well I'll see If I can get a better look at this deal since few people were in the place. I turned the corner and found the Contact Xbox support screen. The xbox was blinking red and claiming error 74.
[/QUOTE]
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(Sunday 06 November 2005 10:36 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
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