|
|
Xbox News is a site that brings you the very latest Original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One news, the latest games and releases, Part of the
DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network.
THE LATEST NEWS BELOW
|
August 27th, 2009, 10:57 Posted By: Darksaviour69
Starting Friday, August 28th (tomorrow) the price of the Xbox 360 Elite is getting a one-hundred dollar price cut in the United States.
Here is how the new pricing breaks down for the US:
Xbox 360 Elite $399.99 now $299.99
Xbox 360 Pro $299.99 now $249.99 (While supplies last)
Xbox 360 Arcade $199.99 $199.99
For the UK its a little different. While the elite drops £30, the Pro is the same price (and being phased out) and the Arcade's price is raised by £30 
Here is how the new pricing breaks down for the UK:
Xbox 360 Elite £229.99 now £199.99
Xbox 360 Pro £169.99 now same price but being phased out
Xbox 360 Arcade £129.99 now £159.99
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
 Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
 |
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 22:03 Posted By: wraggster
The rumoured announcement of a 360 price cut in the wake of Sony's PS3 Slim move is expected to be confirmed tomorrow, say retail sources.
MCV reckons that the announcement will include word on a price drop for the Xbox 360 Elite model, the discontinuation of the Pro unit and changes to the Arcade SKU.
Check back tomorrow to see if it happens. Let you fellow readers know below if you spot a new deal on the way to work though.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 22:02 Posted By: wraggster
The aptly named Laura Bento constructed this delicious Xbox-themed lunch for her husband. In other news, that guy is totally out of his league.
The controller itself is obviously mostly comprised of rice, but the D-Pad was constructed from naturally grey Konnyaku (Japanese yam cake), while lemon peel, green apple peel, red pepper and dyed blue egg white make up the four colorful buttons.
And from the star jelly pudding to the mini carrot cakes, it all looks delicious...until you notice the large wall of teriyaki Spam. Why would Laura Bento dare do such a thing??
http://gizmodo.com/5345936/xbox-360-...x-360-to-shame
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 16:34 Posted By: wraggster
This sign was spotted in front of a Japanese game shop and states that the store will no longer be buying back used Xbox 360s that went on sale before August 2007.
The poster tells customers how they can check the serial number on their machine's date. The store will buy Xbox 360s will the dates 2007-09-01 and onward. It's not yet confirmed how widespread this is or if this is merely an isolated incident.
The Xbox 360 went on sale in Japan on December 10, 2005.
http://kotaku.com/5345678/japanese-s...x-360-consoles
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 16:27 Posted By: wraggster
The Xbox 360 will sell one million units in Australia by the year's end, group manager Jeremy Hinton has predicted, and the goal will be reached without reducing the console's current AUD 299 price point.
"We've just hit 700,000 consoles sold in Australia, and we're now finding that it's the fastest growing console down under," Hinton told Gamespot.
"We expect to hit a million Xbox 360 consoles sold across Australia and New Zealand by the end of the year. We're confident we can reach this goal with the console's current price point and the new experiences we're bringing through Xbox Live, such as Movies on Demand, Facebook and Twitter."
Speaking about Microsoft's response to Sony's recent worldwide price drops of its PlayStation 3 hardware, Hinton said he felt the 360 would still be the more appealing to Australian consumers.
"It's only going to help them, although I don't know that anyone was surprised by the announcement given the months of rumours before it," he said.
"But its a long way until Christmas and I think the Australian consumer will still see the AUD 299 price point of Xbox 360 as the more compelling offer.
"We always have things planned," he added. "In the past we might have been in third place and we might have been thinking about what Sony's doing, but now things are different.
"We've had our Christmas plans set for a long time and they won't change simply because Sony's plans do."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...a-by-christmas
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 16:27 Posted By: wraggster
FASA Interactive founder Jordan Weisman has spoken out about Microsoft's acquisition of his highly-regarded studio, saying that the corporation "destroyed" its development culture and came close to doing the same with Halo developer Bungie.
"When Microsoft bought FASA Interactive and incorporated it into Microsoft... the two reasons they bought us was, one, they wanted the catalogue of intellectual properties and, two, they felt that we had developed a really good development culture. And the reality is that, pretty much from the day we moved to Redmond, that development culture was destroyed," Weisman told GamesIndustry.biz.
"I don't think the studio ever really had a chance. It was destroyed right in the beginning."
And Microsoft came close to repeating its mistakes with Bungie, added Weisman, who was working for the corporation as creative director at the time the Chicago-based studio was acquired.
"When we were acquiring Bungie, they wanted me to sit down with the owners of Bungie and tell them how well the transition went," he explained. "And it was like - 'what planet are you guys on?' This transition did not go well. And actually I became the lead vocal pain in the ass to get things done very different for Bungie.
"I tried to convince them to leave Bungie in Chicago, but not winning that I did succeed in getting them to put them in a walled off room, which didn't follow any of the other Microsoft stuff. We were much better able to defend Bungie's culture than we were FASA's culture."
Weisman established FASA, creators of the MechWarrior and Crimson Skies franchises, in 1980, and the company was subsequently merged with Virtual World Entertainment then acquired by Microsoft in 1999.
In 2007, FASA became one of the first studios closed by Microsoft as part of a series of cutbacks.
The reasons for this are clear for Weisman, who had already left the company to start up new venture WizKids by the time Microsoft pulled down the shutters on FASA.
They moved everybody into Microsoft's standard organisation, he said, and then changed his role so his staff were no longer reporting to him. "I was creative director for the entire group - all 300 people, not just the 60 that came with me from Chicago - so that didn't help either."
Since FASA's downfall, Weisman has successfully licensed some of his own IPs back from Microsoft and today plans to, in turn, licence them out to creative teams and publishers. The venture forms a part of his new company - Smith & Tinker - which yesterday announced it had successfully raised capital of USD 29 million to further fund its first release, Nanovor, and subsequent kids' entertainment projects.
The game designer plans to work with Vancouver-based studio Piranha Games to make a new MechWarrior title - "if we can put a deal together with a publisher - we're operating under some pretty tight restrictions of the licence that make publishing the games kind of challenging."
It's a situation Weisman admits is far from ideal.
"I guess one of the disadvantages to being old is that you outlive your children sometimes. And in this case, my children are owned by different people around the world and so it becomes a different kind of relationship."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ulture-weisman
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 26th, 2009, 01:45 Posted By: wraggster
Despite having released a number of games on the platform, Rare's Xbox 360 franchises haven't had the fan following of your War Gears and your Halos -- the developer's design director, George Andreas, chalks this up to the fact that the "hardware is aimed at a different demographic, and so we've always battled against that." That is fairly true -- the hardcore Xbox 360 audience has little patience for anthropomorphic piñatas or bird-backpacked bears. However, Andreas has hope for the future -- a future which will see the introduction of Microsoft's full-body controller, Project Natal.
Andreas has stated Rare's interest in the new technology before, but in a recent interview with VideoGamer.com, he further explained the studio's excitement -- "it's a union of the two philosophies of the different companies, I guess," he said. Sounds like Rare's sticking to its family-friendly roots -- we suppose that rules out the possibility of Rare's secret Natal project being Gun Murder 3: The Legend of the Lost Shoot-Blaster.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/na...-philosophies/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2009, 20:48 Posted By: Shrygue
via IGN
The second round of downloadable content (DLC) for the original Mass Effect is now available. Called Pinnacle Station, the new scenario can be grabbed from the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 Microsoft Points, or US $5. Included are 13 new combat scenarios and, according to the download's description page, two to three hours of gameplay. It also says you have to reach spectre status in-game before seeing what Pinnacle Station has to offer.
Pinnacle Station arrives roughly one and half years after the first DLC, Bring Down the Sky, which was released in March of 2008. BioWare's Mass Effect, an action role-playing game, was released for the Xbox 360 in November of 2007. A sequel is expected early next year.
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2009, 18:50 Posted By: wraggster
New special offer from Play Asia:
The UP video game will take players on an exotic adventure with Carl Fredricksen and his young sidekick, Wilderness Explorer Russell, as they set off on a wild journey through the undiscovered jungles of South America.
Players will be able to experience all four main characters from the movie -- Carl, Russell, Dug the lovable dog or Kevin the prehistoric bird -- while playing as a single-player or with a friend cooperatively throughout the entire game.
Players will encounter exciting, new environments as they navigate through treacherous jungle terrains, battle dangerous creatures and trek the slippery slopes of the Amazonian Tepuis.
In addition, the game also features multi-player game modes, including an epic level that will allow up to four players to compete in aerial combat.
There is only one direction to go, UP. The UP video game is available for an unbeatable bargain price of US$ 24.90. As an Asian version, you can play it on any Xbox360™ console. The game offers English and French language options, play the game in a language you are more familiar with.
http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...-24z-84-n.html
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2009, 16:37 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft could be about to reduce the price of the Xbox 360 in the US, bringing the price of its Elite system in line with the new price of the PlayStation 3.
According to a Target advert, published by Engadget, the price of the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite is set to fall to USD 299.99 from USD 399.99, while the 60GB console will be reduced to USD 249.99 from USD 299.99.
The advert is scheduled to appear on August 30 suggesting that, if the new price points have come from Microsoft, an announcement will be made later this week.
Analysts have been expecting Microsoft would be forced to follow Sony's price cut since the new PlayStation 3 price was unveiled at last week's Gamescom.
"The USD 299 price point will likely become the new standard for the next generation consoles for the next year," Jesse Divnich, director of analyst services at EEDAR, recently predicted.
Other analysts have suggested reductions are likely to appear this summer, to coincide with the September release of Halo ODST.
A discontinuation of the 60GB console has also been rumoured, which would allow Microsoft to concentrate its efforts on just two SKUs - the Arcade and Elite bundles.
However, while the likelihood of a price reduction in the US seems increasingly likely, there's no guarantee the move will be mirrored in the UK. Earlier this month, UK retailers said they were gearing up for a price increase on the Xbox 360 Arcade pack, from GBP 129.99 to GBP 159.99. This was being done to counteract the poor pound-to-Euro currency exchange rate, said one independent retail source.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...60-elite-price
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2009, 01:30 Posted By: wraggster
We've already gotten a glimpse of the Zune HD's packaging courtesy of Best Buy's big preview event this past weekend -- but what about the contents of said packaging? Therein lies excitement. Excitement like some giant fold-out instructions, a USB cable, and a pair of headphones that seem to be more or less identical to the ones that came with the Zune 120 -- oh, and a little thing called the Zune HD. Hit up the link below for a closer look, and a couple more demo videos for those that still can't get enough of the thing.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/z...d-at-best-buy/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2009, 01:27 Posted By: wraggster
When the first Xbox got old, Microsoft gave it Old Yeller treatment, though the metaphor would be more accurate if the beleaguered mutt had been forcibly stuffed into a rocket and shot into the sun. Some analysts think the 360 may get a kinder treatment later in its life cycle with a new form factor in the vein of Sony's new slim PS3.
"I think it is a question of when not if. However, the when part is a big uncertainty ... rumors have been going on for a long time. I think people were asking me the same question last year at this time," David Cole of DFC Intelligence told IndustryGamers. Others are less convinced, like Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee who said, "It would be nice but I don't think they have to. I think Natal will be killer app that will help keep the momentum for the 360 next year. I do think they need to cut the price by at least $50."
So, since the analysts can't seem to agree, we thought we'd put the question to you, the readers:
Will Microsoft introduce a new 360 form factor in the next 12 months?
Yes
No
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/an...mmer-xbox-360/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2009, 17:07 Posted By: wraggster
Can't say we're all that surprised given other sightings, but one anonymous tipster has sent us pics from a local Walmart of the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite in a shiny white package with a back-of-box chart that neglects to mention the Pro models, essentially striking it from the records. It's still scanning at $399 for now, but having seen multiple retailers' print flyers -- including Walmart's own -- quoting $299, the computers very well may be updating just after some official Microsoft announcement, which wouldn't surprise us at all if it happen sometime this week, just ahead of the PS3 Slim launch. Peruse the pics in higher-res format below.
Update: As several readers have pointed out, the back-of-box chart shows the Elite as having standard, presumably non-HD cables only, and there's no mention of bundled HDMI cables anywhere. Also of note is the wording for Xbox Live has changed from "Silver Membership" to "Free." Before you go thinking the premium Gold membership is going away, however, there's a superscript '4,' and if it's like the older box, it leads to a longer explanation on the Xbox Live's tiered plans -- not to mention there's an ad for buying into XBL Gold just under the chart.
http://www.engadget.com/photos/xbox-...ro-on-the-box/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2009, 17:06 Posted By: wraggster
Admittedly, when we saw Game Informer's survey that pegged Xbox 360's failure rate at 54.2 percent, we were thinking that was a bit steep of a number, possibly bumped up a few digits from some possible sampling errors. So when we were gearing up to read Microsoft's statement responding to the data, we fully expected some harsh rebuttal of the number. Turns out we got disappointed. A spokesperson for Redmond pointed to its superior entertainment value, its "best warranty in the industry" and its "constantly improving design, manufacture, and performance." At no point is there a dispute or even direct reference to the findings, which is really something that could've helped public perception on a nagging issue. How about taking a page from Fujifilm, eh Microsoft?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/m...e-rate-report/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2009, 16:53 Posted By: wraggster
id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead has said he believes Microsoft will be the first out with next-generation of hardware.
"Somebody’s going to do it, and - to me - probably the player who's in the best position to do so is Microsoft, because I do think they’ve recouped a lot of the costs of their console," Hollenshead said in an interview with VG247.
"Maybe they’ll push the [Xbox 360] to year six - maybe seven - but I've got to believe that they're already planning the transition now, and they have their eye on the ball as to what it is, because I think they see that there are some weaknesses that they can exploit with what's going on at Sony," he added.
The biggest problem facing the games industry at the moment, said the CEO, is the global recession. As such, each platform holder is faced with "major disincentives" to start another console cycle.
At some point though, he predicted, "the PC is going to gain substantial competitive leverage by virtue of superior technology" which consoles will no longer be able to compete with.
That is when the industry will be forced to handle the next console transition, he speculated. Even though the PlayStation 3 install base "is still a problem for Sony", and the price points for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are atill above what can be considered mainstream or mass market.
Hollenshead also spoke about his company's recent purchase by Zenimax - an event which he said saw id acquire a publisher as much as Zenimax acquiring a developer.
There are issues with independent game development - especially for id, he said, largely caused by the decreasing number of companies in a position to work with the developer.
"Most of the publishers that were out there all had titles or teams that were internal that were in sort of our competitive area of shooters, so that created natural conflict," he explained.
"Also, the declining number of companies that we could work with - just because of companies going out of business or being bought, acquired, merged, etc - was becoming a concern."
Not that Hollenshead thinks id's situation applies to all independent developers, but he does believe it's become increasingly difficult for them to achieve a "mega-hit" alone.
"If you want a huge mega-hit, that's not a million seller," he pointed out, "it's a ten million unit seller. And to make a game that sells ten million units not only requires a lot more development time and effort to be put in the game - it requires other financial considerations as well.
"You've got to spend tens of millions of dollars - I mean, it's anyone's guess on how much Microsoft spends marketing Halo - but I have seen hundred million dollar figures bandied about. So you've got to spend huge money marketing a title. And when you take all these things into account, an independent, internally-funded developer is almost too much to ask for."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...t-gen-hardware
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2009, 00:48 Posted By: wraggster
News via http://www.eurasia.nu/modules.php?na...ticle&sid=2445
User "jc" in #free60 found that his Jasper, built June-30th 2009, already contained the new bootloader (but with a 7363 Kernel). We don't know when Microsoft switched it in production, but this discovery means that they did this at least over a month before the update. So far, we don't know what Boxes are safe to buy. If you want to check your box, dump the flash, at look at the "CB" Version (offset 0x8202, the two hex bytes after "CB"). For Jasper, CB Versions 6750 (and up) are bad, CB Version 6723 is still good (at least we think so), CB Version 6712 is good for sure. If you find that your jasper is still either "good" or "bad", please post the mfg date (and CB version) here so we can determine the cutoff date. Let me remind your that we are not completely done with the adaptation of the hack to jasper yet. We've sorted out most things now, so we'll release it soon. The recent build.py changes will make an adaptation easily possible, and nandpro already supports jasper. Remaining things are the SMC and the J1F1-replacement points. We're working on this, don't worry. My Jasper, built 2008-10-10, is "good" (CB version 6712).
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2009, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster
Another day, another Xbox 360 Elite price cut rumor. This time, said gossip comes to us in the form of a tipster (who wishes to remain anonymous), whose unnamed Canadian retail outlet is adding a new SKU to its store shelves -- a $349.99 Xbox 360 Elite bundle which includes a copy of Halo 3 and a network adapter. Considering both of those items still carry fairly hefty price tags, that's one heck of a deal.
Said tipster sent in four photos (the others are posted after the jump) and a supposed street date for the Canadian bundle -- August 28. Another interesting bit of info: The tipster also claimed that a new shipment of Xbox 360 Arcades carry no mention of the supposedly-soon-to-be-phased-out Pro model. If you're a Canadian retail employee who can shed some light onto the veracity of this new bundle, shoot us an email -- and as always, we'll respect your anonymity. We'll also respect your anemones. And your enmity!
Update: We've just received a tip pointing out that this very bundle is now available at The Source, a Circuit City affiliate based out of Canada. Get this -- the online offer actually shows a $329.99 price tag for the whole kit-and-caboodle. Oh, if only we lived up in America's Big White Hat!
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/23/ru...ing-to-canada/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 23rd, 2009, 01:33 Posted By: wraggster
This is like U.S. presidential elections. No sooner do we have a conclusion to a two-year orgy of rumor and speculation than another immediately begins.
But a sampling of analysts turn up some who believe that, sure, Microsoft will follow suit with an Xbox 360 slimline design.
The pros for such a move: If the re-engineering cost can be held down, smaller product means lower costs in shipping, packaging, and more space on the shelf. Also, Microsoft seems to have beaten the RRoD with the Jasper motherboard, but actively marketing "New, more reliable Xbox!" in the same old case rings a bit hollow. A new case gives enough cover for such a campaign.
Cons: Jasper solved RRoD, and so that effort and outlay represents Microsoft's re-engineering of the console; marketing "new more reliable Xbox!" diminishes and reminds the existing installation base it has the "old, less reliable Xbox!" And aside from the me-tooism, Microsoft's better bet is in selling different hard drive configurations - and a 360 slim would likely require either its own line of removable drives, or have an internal-only unit.
That said, here's your cheerleader for a 360 slim: David Cole, DFC Intelligence, speaking to Industry Gamers.
"I think it is a question of when not if. However, the when part is a big uncertainty...rumors have been going on for a long time. I think people were asking me the same question last year at this time. As cost efficiencies allow smaller and more reliable is always a good thing. However, you also have something like Project Natal which could also tie in with hardware redesigns. There are a lot of questions Microsoft must weigh internally and there are always going to arguments on both sides of the fence around timing. So I don't know, but in our DFC forecasts we anticipated a major redesign in 2010 ....so I guess that was our bet."
Yes, great awesome. Now please start sending all your faeks, hoaxes, shakycams and shoops to our tips box.
http://kotaku.com/5343302/analysts-g...ng-on-360-slim
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
« prev
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
next » |
|
|
