|
|
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
|
June 27th, 2009, 14:27 Posted By: wraggster
Do you get the sense that Project Natal is ... missing something? Accessory peddler dreamGear does. The maker of such essentials as the 3-In-1 Player's Sports Kit for Wii, the 7-In-1 Player's Kit for Wii, the 10-In-1 Player's Kit for Wii, and the 15-In-1 Player's Kit for Wii is already hard at work trying to adapt its enhancements for Microsoft's upcoming motion technology release. "One of the biggest challenges for peripherals firms is keeping up with changing technology, particularly the trend toward interactive gaming started by Nintendo and now embraced by Microsoft's Project Natal," dreamGEAR COO Richard Weston explains to MCV. Molding a plastic steering wheel that fits in everyone's hands is a true challenge, you see.
"From all the recent revelations at E3 for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, motion sensing devices and add-on accessories for these devices will be the main focus in the future," Logic3's sales manager Paul Croucher frighteningly foretells. So then, the snooker cue attachment for the PS3 wand confirmed? Please, make it STOP.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/na...plastic-props/
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 |
|
 |
|
|
|
June 27th, 2009, 14:22 Posted By: wraggster
Being El Presidente of a South American country is an exclusive club. With that in mind, Kalypso Media is currently taking applications for players interested in Tropico 3's closed beta. Despite what you've been led to believe in recent years, a beta is not a demo, and your job is to actually help test the game and report bugs.
Those interested in helping make the banana republic simulator the best it can be, can head on over to the Haemimont Games website and fill out an application. The actual testing begins July 13. Tropico 3 is expected to start a revolution on PC and Xbox 360 this September.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/si...ta-revolution/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 27th, 2009, 11:18 Posted By: wraggster
Clover creator Daniel Jones and Tank Strike maker Daniel Steger reckon Microsoft has not done enough to nourish independent talent on the Xbox Live Community Games channel, and call promotion of the platform "woeful".
Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer, the pair say Microsoft's indie resurrection dream cowers next to the iPhone App Store, and is undesirable and unprofitable in its current state.
"Microsoft has gone quiet on the service, with nary an official public mention in recent months. Compared to the marketing Apple have invested in for the iPhone as a games platform, it's pretty woeful," Daniel Jones, boss of Clover developer Binary Tweed, told us.
"Even popular services like iPhone have a lot of people making games that just don't make money. Their service just suffers from different problems of games being lost in the crowd, rather than not having a crowd," Daniel Steger explains.
"There's an argument that maybe the games just aren't good enough," adds Jones, "and whilst there's some truth in that, the fact is we have 20 million Xbox Live users, of whom 4 million regularly purchase content. That the top-selling XBLCG titles only sell around 10,000 units shows there's something quite seriously wrong with the service's marketing - namely a lack thereof."
Clover and Tank Strike are among the better examples of games on XBLCG, as our May roundup points out. But Jones openly admits that Clover lost money, and the same under-exposure forced Steger to pander to an audience he literally cannot afford to miss. The outlook isn't rosy.
"Those that stay and download are often those who already have intent to purchase. This results in a high conversion rate but a less-than-stellar download rate. I have to hit a certain standard based on their past experiences with this genre before they will even look at the game, and at my foolishly low 200 [Microsoft] Point price I don't make enough per sale for it to be financially viable if I don't get a large group looking," says Steger.
"Clover cost around GBP 13,000 to make," Jones reveals, openly admitting the project lost money, "and that was almost entirely on living costs - central London isn't cheap! I know some developers who have sunk USD 30,000 into their XBLCG projects, and were still worryingly optimistic about making that back," Jones reveals. "I feel very sorry for them, but I hope that they can prove me wrong."
The winners of the Xbox Live Community Games channel are applications. RC-AirSim, a radio-controlled model aeroplane simulator, is the hottest title now and has been for some time.
Steger says this is because he and fellow indie game-makers have to compete with both retail games and Xbox Live Arcade titles. For every Clover there is a Sam & Max; for every Tank Strike there is a Worms or Death Tank. He cannot compete as things stand.
"I think that XBLCG can be a viable platform, but it's more about knowing what market you are trying to enter. Games like Clover and my own game Tank Strike didn't receive as many sales as we would need to be financially viable for the long-term, but what about the applications that do hold on to their positions in the top 10? I've seen myfishtank and RC-AirSim at the top for quite a while, and they have probably gotten a decent return on their investments," Steger explains.
"Applications are also easier to satiate their audiences with because there are no points of comparison. The top isn't filled with apps because the marketplace is filled with apps. The top is filled with apps because they offer something that Xbox Live users can't get anywhere else."
But change is on the way, as Microsoft plans to change the channel name to Xbox Live Indie Games and add reviews to sort through the bulk. It's a start, but Jones and Steger believe more needs to be done before XBLCG becomes a breeding ground for indie talent.
"For XBLCG to expand, quite a few things will need to happen," outlines Clover's Daniel Jones. "Research we've done has shown that there's a great deal of ignorance and confusion regarding the service, with some Live users thinking they need to subscribe to the [XNA] Creator's Club to play the games, and others just having no idea what XBLCG is.
"There's even been instances of developers recommending games to their friends who can't find them on the service. If people who know about the service, know about a game, and have already decided to purchase can't find the damned thing, then it's no wonder that sales are relatively low."
Steger agrees: "With that in mind I really wish that Microsoft would set up a better system for hot-linking to our own games marketplace, so that we could minimize the steps players have to go through to queue a game for download from their PCs."
"It's hard for games to stay at the top of the sales charts on XBLCG, and Microsoft's future changes for adding reviews and changing the name to Xbox Live Indie Games may pull in more people looking for 'games'," Steger adds, "but I wouldn't bank everything on that prospect, and no matter what, there's always going to be those who won't be able to make the service financially viable."
Xbox Live Community Games was introduced as part of the New Xbox Experience last year. Along with the XNA Creators Club Online, which offers Xbox 360 development tools and advice - albeit for a small price - Microsoft hoped to spark a fire of indie innovation.
It's a lonely crusade that Microsoft has admirably persisted with. And Jones and Steger, despite their frustration, acknowledge and praise the Xbox-maker for it.
"The XNA framework has done a fantastic job of lowering the technical learning curve of developing console games, and XBLCG as a service has really enabled a much more accessible route to getting a game to market," says Jones. "It's a much better deal for aspiring developers than the traditional pitching-to-publishers model, and from what I've heard a much better platform than WiiWare. Has anyone except Frontier made money on that yet?
"People have asked, 'Is XBLCG a success?' To answer that, you've got to wonder what its goal was. To drive uptake of XNA? Yep, it's done that nicely. Make lots of money for developers and Microsoft? Absolutely not. Create a new route into the industry? Given the opportunities that have presented themselves to Binary Tweed since Clover's release, I'd say it's achieved this one quite nicely," he concludes.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/mi...rketing-woeful
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 26th, 2009, 23:19 Posted By: wraggster
According to one of Ars Technica's reliable sources, the Xbox 360 lineup will see a marked shift this fall. And the PS3 Slim is still on its way.
This September, the Xbox 360 Pro (60GB, $299) will be replaced by the Elite (120GB, $399). So in one sense, the Xbox will see a price cut. In another, the 360 doesn't necessarily sound like it's getting any cheaper with some lower entry level price.
Also of note, Ars reaffirmed their claim that a PS3 Slim would arrive this fall along with price drops "on the hardware that's out now." Even with these rumors standing as they are, Sony cuts the price of the PS3, it's hard to imagine Microsoft not offering a true price cut as well.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...cts-early-2010
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 26th, 2009, 22:56 Posted By: wraggster
It's obviously a bit hard to put too much faith in Zune HD rumors when even Steve Ballmer himself can't keep things straight, but someone claiming to be a Software Engineer at Microsoft (who has also dropped Zune HD tips in the past) has now spoken at some length with Neowin.net, and provided plenty of speculation fodder in the process. The biggest of those purported details is word that the Zune HD will run between $249 and $280 for the base 16GB model, and that Microsoft is also apparently considering a 64GB model for further on in the model year in addition to the planned 32GB model. Other tidbits include word that the Zune HD will boast full support for 720p movies though its HDMI out and that, as we had heard before, it's supposedly on track for a launch in early September.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/z...down-the-road/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 22:42 Posted By: wraggster
Gearbox Software President Randy Pitchford has confirmed that the company's new "War Hero" trademarks are for "something down the road." In a statement sent to outlets, including ShackNews, Pitchford states the War Hero series isn't signed to a publishing partner yet, nor has the developer even talked to any potential partners.
We couldn't help but ask the company if the title had any involvement with Activsion and would use some sort of plastic peripheral? A company spokesperson said, "This has no relation to Guitar Hero." But, but, it has hero right in the title! Doesn't Activision Blizzard own the word by this point?
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/ge...down-the-road/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 22:40 Posted By: wraggster
The living Beatles, and the wives of the dead ones, are full "creative partners" in the development of the new Rock Band game, according to Harmonix.
Speaking to Crispy Gamer lead designer Chris Foster said, "The shareholders, as we call them - Paul and Ringo, Olivia and Yoko - were really creative partners throughout the project.
"They were involved in picking and approving the song list, the venues we went into. With the dreamscapes, they saw storyboards of all of the material, and gave feedback on whether or not they felt like those interpretations supported the songs in the way they wanted."
The fab two and the other two also cast their eyes over the character designs and animations. "With Rock Band, you've got these avatars that are, you know, anyone, so it's pretty easy for you to believe in them. But when you know who the Beatles are, and you know the joy in their faces when they play, you have to capture that on-screen; you have to be true to that, and they were really good about keeping the standard high."
That applied to the standard of playing, too: "I think Sir Paul McCartney heckled our project lead's bass-playing when he saw one of the game demos," said Foster.
"So yeah," yeah, yeah, yeah, "They were involved. I'm not going to put words in their mouth, but seeing all four of them at the Microsoft press event is about as validating as everything. They don't get together for almost anything... It has to be something important, something they believe in."
The Beatles: Rock Band is due for a release on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii on 9th September. You can find out all the business via the gamepage.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/or...g-on-rock-band
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 17:42 Posted By: wraggster
PlayStation fans will be left out of the fun with the new Serious Sam update, titled Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD, having been confirmed for XBLA and PC only.
As reported earlier today, the game is described as a "grab you by the jibblies run and gun, twitch FPS," featuring big guns, an insane number of enemies, four-player online co-op and revamped HD visuals.
A spokesperson for the publisher told us there are currently no plans for a PS3 version. Shame, that.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=218326
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 17:18 Posted By: wraggster
Worms 2: Armageddon will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade next month, on July 1. Here are ALL the details you're ever likely to need.
The 800 Microsoft Point sequel (that's £6.80) is set to feature new weapons, modes, physics, Worm customisation and support for 360 Avatars.
The first was received very well by Arcade fans, so it'll be interesting to see how the second goes down.
Here's the gigantic feature list, care of Team 17:
SENSATIONAL NEW WEAPONS!
Sentry Gun! Defend your position with this deadly guardian.
Electro Magnet! Attract or repel deadly metallic explosives with this unique item.
Bunker Buster! Use this vertical missile to dig out enemy Worms that have snuck away!
Buffalo Of Lies! The Donkey's nemesis, this Trojan Buffalo will cause havoc!
Super Bunker Buster! Devastating below ground charge!
RETURNING CULT FAVOURITES FROM ARMAGEDDON
Super Sheep! Take your fluffy flocking friend to the air! A controllable, flying super sheep!
Holy Hand Grenade! Hallelujah! The Deity's weapon of choice!
Concrete Donkey! It's back! As mad and wildly destructive as ever!
Napalm! Love the smell of burning Worms in the morning?
Petrol Bomb! This cocktail packs a mighty roasting for enemies. Lob one today.
Armageddon! Not quite the end as we know it, but it could be for your enemies!
Parachute! A roper's best friend! Drop huge heights with wind assist...
Drill! Dig to victory with the pneumatic drill.
Baseball Bat. Whack out enemy Worms for a home run cheer!
Earthquake! Can you rumble the opponent?
Poison Strike! Germ warfare!
NEW GAME FEATURES
All new high definition, widescreen artwork
Reworked audio-visuals throughout
Fire! Persistent fire eats and burns away the landscape. Hot stuff.
Crazy Crates! Start with basic weapons and shop as you go!
Fort Mode! Start teams on your own bases.
Rope Racing mode.
Massively enhanced & improved game physics & reactions.
Speedier, more direct gameplay.
All new high-definition audio (sound effects, music)
Speak your mind! Massive variety of comedy voice sets with many all new.
All new crazy achievements.
All new extensive customisation, Worm Hats, voices, graves, dances, colours, forts!
Uses NXE Avatars to reflect game status in game!
All new Single Player adventure combines death matches and puzzles.
Win tokens in the all-new 30 chapter single player campaign to win prizes in the game SHOP, unlock new landscapes, voices, hats and more.
Enhanced CPU AI for more challenging single player games.
Improved online handling, including host migration for network play.
All new leaderboards and leaderboard objectives.
NEW GAMEPLAY LEVELS
5 all new landscapes graphical types modelled on the original Armageddon style. Battle in Medieval England, Cheese Moon, Construction site and more.
130 base landscape styles (compared to just six on original) for diverse play levels.
Vertical Levels! Play on tall, narrow strips or caverns as well as traditional 'wide' levels.
Mix combinations of landscape type, style, your own game rules and more to create thousands of possible levels and hundreds, if not thousands of hours of replay value.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=218252
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster
A whopping one terabyte hard drive is rumoured to be in development for the next iteration of Microsoft's Xbox 360 console.
The increased capacity hard drive is rumoured to be launched at the same time with as Project Natal.
Industry analysts have identified the limited storage space of the current Xbox 360 range as a major feature holding the tech back right now, particularly with the rapid developments in movies and games on demand services via Xbox Live.
"I don't see the timing between new release and digital download being a function of anything other than hard drive sizes," analyst Michale Pachter told GamesIndustry.biz. "I think as soon as we have large hard drives - think the rumoured Project Natal 'new' Xbox 360 with a terabyte of storage in 2010 - we'll have day-and-date downloads."
http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...te-hdd--610708
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 25th, 2009, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster
Craig Labovitz of Arbor Networks Inc has written a detailed report on what specific traffic is being blocked and/or filtered, noting that "Interestingly, game protocols like xbox and World of Warcraft show little evidence of government manipulation".
With the Xbox 360 offering video chat among the features of being an Xbox Gold subscriber, this could easily be an upcoming popular way for loved ones and news outlets to deliver messages to and from the country.
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...anian-firewall
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 22:56 Posted By: wraggster
Newly released today:
Time Leap takes the dating simulation genre a leap forward by animating the characters in real time throughout the game.
Using the full power of the Xbox360 consoles, the romance game flows out smoothly like an anime, complete with a star studded cast of voice actors and actresses behind it.
You are living with a group of girls in a shrine on a secluded island, one of them is Ayumi the popular upperclassman whom everybody looks up to and there is Yuu, the cute girl you love like a little sister.
One day, a younger version of Ayumi appears in front of the group due to a time leap and it is your job and desire to get a long with her.
http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3brq.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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 22:49 Posted By: wraggster
Hey, remember that Gamasutra feature where Michael Pachter said Xbox Twitter was the greatest thing of E3? Yeah, well in that very same feature, Cowen and Company analyst Doug Creutz had some choice words for the PlayStation Motion Controller. Specifically, Creutz believes that while Project Natal may have gotten the bulk of E3 coverage, the PlayStation Motion Controller is the better peripheral for hardcore gamers.
"Natal appeared to me to be a technological solution in search of a problem," said Creutz. "I had a very hard time envisioning playing Modern Warfare 3 using Natal," he said, adding, "By contrast, I had a very easy time envisioning it (and enjoying it) using Sony's control/motion capture scheme." Creutz stated that Microsoft is likely trying to snag some of the Wii's casual marketshare -- "a difficult proposition given that you're essentially asking casual gamers to upgrade twice during the cycle," according to Creutz -- while Sony's device caters more to the core gaming demographic.
We must point out that neither Project Natal nor the PlayStation Motion Controller are finished products, so there's no telling how they might be implemented in future games. For example, there's no reason that Natal couldn't make use of both motion sensing and traditional control, similar to Sony's device. Furthermore, we'd say Sony is probably just as keen to capture some of the casual market as Microsoft.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/an...ore-gamers-th/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 22:46 Posted By: wraggster
When the official Kodu blog mentioned that the title would be available this month, it apparently wasn't lying. Xboxic is reporting the game will be available for download on the last day of this month, June 30, for a reasonable 400. Oh, and if you're scratching your head due to Microsoft's penchant for Humpday releases, remember this is an Xbox 360 Community Game Indie Game, and not an Arcade release.
For clarification's sake, we've put in word to Microsoft to confirm and will be sure to get back to you with what we find.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/ko...x-360-june-30/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 17:38 Posted By: wraggster
Daniel Jones, the director of developer Binary Tweed and the man behind Xbox Live Community Games hit Clover has cast doubt on the credentials of Microsoft’s indie publishing platform as a viable avenue to market.
“It's a shame to say that Clover has not sold as many copies as we'd hoped for,” he told Digital Spy. “As it stands, through Community Games alone, we definitely won't recoup costs.
“Frustratingly enough, the critical reception to the game has been good. The size of the XBLCG market is prohibitively small to be financially viable, so I can only see it being of use to Binary Tweed as an arena for proving concepts.
Jones also went on to criticise the fragmented nature of Microsoft’s Community offering – though of course this isn’t something that has troubled Apple’s App Store.
“The problem is that the Community Games market is just too small, and the people buying titles via the service don't seem at all interested in games,” he insisted.
“In the first week of Clover's release, the top ten CG titles was made of eight applications, RC-Airsim (which seems to be having a self-fulfilling prophecy at the top) and one edutainment game.”
http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/288...bitively-small
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 17:31 Posted By: wraggster
Cross Edge just came out in North America, but the Gust meets Disgaea meets Darkstalkers RPG has been out for over a year in Japan. Compile Heart had plenty of time to create Cross Edge Dash, an Xbox 360 port of the PlayStation 3 game.
Cross Edge Dash includes some new features like additional event graphics and a colosseum mode where you can win extra items. Japan gets the game on October 1. While Cross Edge sports an “only on PlayStation” banner NIS America may pick this up since they are a licensed Xbox 360 developer.
Idea Factory, the parent company of Compile Heart, has a habit of porting games with bonus features after they stay on one platform for a year. Record of Agarest War came out on for PlayStation 3 first and after a year it became Record of Agarest War: Reappearance on the Xbox 360. Should we expect the same thing for Trinity Universe?
http://www.siliconera.com/2009/06/24...e-to-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 |
|
|
|
|
|
June 24th, 2009, 17:31 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft corporate VP and head of Israel R&D, Moshe Lichtman, has confirmed Microsoft's acquisition of "the intellectual property of 3DV Systems".
Microsoft was previously linked to a buyout of 3DV, who has been designing motion-sensing camera technologies for some time. Its 'ZCams' are said to be a far more accurate version of Sony's EyeToy, because the devices can detect how far away a subject is from its lens
Shortly after the MS rumours, 3DV's holding company Elron Electronics said that it had "entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of substantially all of its assets" to an unnamed third party.
Lichtman said at the centre's annual press conference that dozens of new employees were recruited after the purchase, according to Globes.
Lichtman refused to comment on speculation over links between Microsoft's camera-based motion sensing Project Natal and 3DV's technology, other than saying: "When there's something to tell, we'll do so," whatever that means.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=218156
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
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
next » |
|
|
