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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
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December 9th, 2013, 22:04 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's ID@Xbox program means - theoretically - anyone can self-publish on Xbox One. But there are strings attached.Last week Microsoft announced a list of 32 developers that had been accepted onto the ID@Xbox program. It includes the likes of Double Fine, Slightly Mad Studio and even Crytek.Interestingly, indie developer Iron Galaxy was on the list for two-button fighting game Divekick, which has already released on PlayStation consoles.It turns out that Microsoft has ditched its platform exclusivity requirement for Xbox One. Microsoft required exclusivity, timed exclusivity or at the very least launch date parity for Xbox 360 games - but it has confirmed it is willing to work with developers on a case-by-case for games that have already released on other platforms when it comes to Xbox One."We do not require exclusivity agreements. However, we do ask for day one parity with other console game platforms," a Microsoft spokesperson said."In instances where games have signed a timed exclusive with another platform, we'll work with them on a case by case basis."In short, you can self-publish on Xbox One if you do so at the same time as other platforms. So far, so (relatively) good.Then, later last week, indie developer Vlambeer, also on the list, revealed the steps it took to get onto ID@Xbox - exposing a curious loophole in the process.According to Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail, Vlambeer contacted Sony to set up launch exclusivity for Nuclear Throne on PlayStation 4 after it heard about Microsoft's launch parity clause. Why? Because it heard an exception would be made for games that were already signed to another platform before ID@Xbox was announced at Gamescom.Ismail, as you'd expect, wants Microsoft to drop the platform parity clause, thus enabling developers to self-publish their games as various versions are complete.For Vlambeer - and Xbox One owners - it should all work out in the end, with Nuclear Throne launching on Microsoft's console. But for others it's not so simple.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ch-on-xbox-one
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December 9th, 2013, 22:03 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft has warned Xbox One owners about an internet prank that claimed the console could be made to play Xbox 360 games.Pranksters at 4Chan created an image designed to look like official Microsoft messaging with instructions on how to make the Xbox One backwards compatible. The instructions, if followed, could break your Xbox One. But that didn't prevent it from gaining traction on Twitter.Now, Microsoft has responded. "To be clear there is no way to make your Xbox One backwards compatible & performing steps to attempt this could make your console inoperable," Xbox mouthpiece Major Nelson tweeted.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...tibility-prank
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December 9th, 2013, 22:02 Posted By: wraggster
UK and US spies are able to monitor communications within games such as World of Warcraft and listen in to private discussions on Xbox Live chat, leaked memos have revealed.The latest collection of documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden, published today inThe Guardian newspaper, have highlighted the security services' growing interest in online gaming as a means for people to communicate. To think that people like you ruled a country.
A September 2008 memo from GCHQ suggested that the agency was able to listen to voice chat on Xbox Live. Agents had "successfully been able to get the discussions between different game players on Xbox Live", the report noted.NSA operatives were deployed within games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life to monitor users and extract information on their "buddylists and interaction".Games "are an opportunity!", one analyst wrote, and offer an alternative "target-rich communications network" to the more traditionally-monitored forms of communication. Games were somewhere that targets could still "hide in plain sight".The 2008 document talked of the NSA's "vigorous effort" to monitor game users via "exploitation modules" against Xbox Live and World of Warcraft. The program was run out of the agency's UK Menwith Hill base in North Yorkshire and used World of Warcraft metadata to link "accounts, characters and guilds" with potential targets.Crucially, however, the leaked documentation offers no proof the surveillance in any way helped foil terrorist plots - or that terror groups had been found to use these services at all.It is unknown how the agencies were able to gain the access they did, how many people's private communications and data have been accessed and whether the surveillance is still ongoing.Microsoft has declined to comment on the report.World of Warcraft maker Blizzard said that it was "unaware of any surveillance taking place. If it was, it would have been done without our knowledge or permission".A spokesperson for GCHQ did not "confirm or deny" the Guardian's report, but reassured that the British agency's actions were carried out "in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework which ensures that its activities are authorised, necessary and proportionate, and there is rigorous oversight, including from the secretary of state, the interception and intelligence services commissioners and the Intelligence and Security Committee".
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...communications
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December 9th, 2013, 21:58 Posted By: wraggster
Following concerns that government agents can listen in on Xbox Live and other game communication channels, Microsoft has issued a new security measure to bring its users peace of mind.The latest update to Microsoft accounts lets users see a history of their logins and any other account activity, so they can see first-hand if anything fishy's been going on. Users will be able to check every activity they've done - from an unsuccessful password attempt to a security preference change - as well as what browser, device and location it was done from. There's even a "this wasn't me" button one can use to highlight suspicious activity."Our goal with this new experience is to give you peace of mind when everything is going well, and give you actionable information if there's questionable activity that concerns you," Microsoft noted on its official blog. Check your logins. Make sure you're not in the [say it with me now] Danger Zone!
Additionally, users can request a recovery code if they lose access to multiple pieces of login info at the same time - as may be the case if they move and change jobs then suddenly find themselves with a new phone number and e-mail address. These are a last resort though, and you can only keep one of these at a time.Finally, users can select how they'd like to receive security alerts, which can now be linked to a phone number or e-mail of your choosing.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ivacy-concerns
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December 9th, 2013, 19:58 Posted By: wraggster
Halo: Spartan Assault, the top-down spin-off of the popular sci-fi shooter series, is heading to Xbox One on 24th December.The game will be priced at £11.99 / $14.99, but those who purchase Spartan Assault on Windows 8 or Windows Phone prior to 15th December will be eligible to upgrade to the Xbox One version for a mere £3.99 / $4.99.This will be worth it for a lot of players as this console rendition of Spartan Assault comes with loads of extras. Chief among them are online co-op and the new Operation Hydra single-player expansion.Additionally, this next-gen version will run naively at 1080p and 60fps and feature new weapons, enemies, and abilities - like being able to teleport, which 343 Industries executive producer Dan Ayoub noted was a personal fave on the Xbox News Wire. There will also be new achievements, as detailed on Halo Waypoint.Halo fans who've not invested in the next generation of consoles will still receive Spartan Assault on Xbox 360, but this version won't be ready until January."Halo's touch-screen debut is good-looking, colourful, and fun," wrote EG's Chris Donlan in his Halo: Spartan Assault review from this summer. "Here's hoping it eventually gets ported around a little," he concluded. Glad to know someone's listening.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-christmas-eve
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December 7th, 2013, 23:57 Posted By: wraggster
Overkill has issued a significant update for the PS3 version of Payday 2, bringing that console's version up to par with the latest version of the game on PC.
There are over 200 tweaks that have been made to the PS3 game, including a complete overhaul of the weapons rating system, adjustments to how stealth works and some fixes for a few persistent crash bugs. The game's economy system has also been updated to pay out more cash for looted bags as well as XP from completed missions.
The full patch notes are quite extensive, so feel free to pore over them in this Steam post. A patch for the Xbox 360 version is currently in the works.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/07/pa...-closer-to-pc/
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December 6th, 2013, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb walks players through the Xbox One control scheme, covering a few shortcuts and tips involving voice commands and the console's fancy new controller. One major update to the Xbox One is the controller's menu button – the one with the three horizontal lines in the right-center of the faceplate. It's case sensitive, acting as a "right click" to pull up different options depending on which app you're hovering over.
Major Nelson also covers a few handy voice commands, such as saying "Xbox, Select" to highlight all of the speakable options on any page. We covered that phrase and a few other gems in our review of the Xbox One, under the subhead "On Kinect."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/05/xb...-major-nelson/
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December 5th, 2013, 23:48 Posted By: wraggster
A Microsoft publishing policy which asks independent developers to release games on Xbox One at the same time as PS4 has again come under scrutiny.
The ID@Xbox program, which launched in August, was met with generally favourable reception from independent developers, though the 'launch day parity' clause was one policy that came under scrutiny.
 As part of the contract to self-publish on Xbox One, Microsoft says "we do ask for day one parity with other console game platforms".
It was this clause which spurred Vlambeer - the studio behind cult iOS titles such as Super Crate Box - to seek a timed exclusivity deal with Sony. Rami Ismail, co-founder of the Netherlands indie outfit, claimed that the team rushed to make an agreement in order to jump a loophole.
"Microsoft was doing reach-out to certain developers back in the early days of ID@XBOX, and we discussed potentially bringing Nuclear Throne to Xbox One with them," Ismail said in an interview with Joystiq.
"There had been mentions beforehand that there was a launch parity clause in the contract, with the exception of games that were already signed to another platform during the announcement of their self-publishing program.
"Thus, before we signed with Microsoft, we e-mailed Sony that we quickly wanted to sign Nuclear Throne with them with a month of exclusivity."
However, new indie game contracts signed for Xbox One must adhere to the launch-day parity policy - something which has sparked criticism among developers.
Ismail believes the policy should be abolished.
"Honestly, we've had enough trouble with our promise for a simultaneous release for Luftrausers, so by getting rid of parity we'd be able to focus on one platform for Nuclear Throne first," he said.
"We'd rather Microsoft allow us not only the freedom to self-publish, but also to publish in whatever order we prefer.... We'll keep pushing for Microsoft to drop the clause, and we'd recommend any other developer to do the same."
Ismail also said that Microsoft holds the interest of developers in high regard, which is why Vlambeer continues to partner with it.
"To be honest, we're in the ID@XBOX program mostly because we think [ID@Xbox director] Chris Charla is a person that genuinely cares about games and because we feel that with our visibility, it might be a good idea to go through the gauntlet and report back on whether it's a risky or unpleasant experience.
"So far, there's nothing but good news when it comes to the program - Microsoft seems to have taken the cue from Sony and joined the platforms that allow for self-publishing," he added. "Especially considering that this is still sort a pilot program, they're doing great. More platforms allowing for self-publishing is good news for everyone that makes games, and in the end, that's the part we really care about."
On Wednesday, Microsoft released a list of more than 30 indie developers set to self-publish on Xbox One including Crytek, Double Fine, Keiji Inafune's Comcept and Bit. Trip studio Gaijin Games.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...crutiny-again/
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December 5th, 2013, 23:43 Posted By: wraggster
The ploy is simple - find out what gadget or gizmo is most popular, then put up a listing on eBay that makes it look like you're selling it. Only you aren't. You're selling this.
 Pic credit: Nottingham PostLook into those eyes. They're the eyes of a man who has been deceived. They're the eyes of a man who has been conned out of £450 ($734 USD).
They're the eyes of a man who read the word "photo" and decided that meant "not a photo".
It's a tale of heartbreak, as reported in the Nottingham Post. 19-year-old Peter Clatworthy thought he was buying an Xbox One but instead he was buying a photo of one.
"It said 'photo' and I was in two minds," Peter told the paper, "but I looked at the description and the fact it was in the right category made me think it was genuine."
We think we can see where he went wrong.
As if the con wasn't bad enough, the crooked eBay seller even trolled their victim: "They'd written on the back of it 'thank you for your purchase'," Peter said. "I was fuming."
Joking aside, we hope the evil man responsible for this is given the karmic equivalent of a swift kick in the plums, because nobody should be pulling this stunt so close to Christmas.
As for Peter, it's good news (otherwise we wouldn't have been quite so sarcastic earlier) - eBay is going to insist the seller gives Peter a full refund by Monday.
"I've had to make a joke out of it because I was that angry," he concluded. "At least we've now got something to laugh about in the years to come."
That's probably a mature way of looking at it. Had it been us, we'd have sent the crook a badly-printed photo of a prison cell.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...x-one-on-ebay/
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December 5th, 2013, 23:38 Posted By: wraggster
The digital upgrade to Ultra Street Fighter 4 will be available in "early June" on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, Capcom has announced.
The upgrade will be available for $14.99 (€14.99) on PS3 and Xbox 360.
 The console release will be followed by the PC version in August, which will also cost $14.99 (€14.99), as well as the PS3 and Xbox 360 full digital bundle and retail versions. The retail versions will include all costume DLC as well as the new content for for $39.99 (€39.99).
PC players will also be able to purchase the full digital bundle with all the previously-released costumes for only $29.99 (€29.99) in August.
Capcom announced Ultra Street Fighter IV in July. The Xbox 360, PS3 and PC update will introduce five new characters, six fresh stages and new modes and features.
Capcom previously explained that it is taking advice from fans to make extensive changes to SF4.
"We've been working hard to ensure that this is indeed the most openly influenced version of SF yet," it said. "Just on Capcom-Unity alone there was well over 20,000 comments that we had to go through to make sure that the most beneficial changes made it in, while also pleasing the fans."
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...in-early-june/
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December 5th, 2013, 23:22 Posted By: wraggster
Capy's mind-bending side-scrolling shooter Super Time Force is now slated to come to Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program.Don't worry, it's still coming to Xbox 360 as well via a Microsoft Studios publishing deal on XBLA. While available on both platforms, playing on Microsoft's latest console "means you can play with the sweet new Xbox One d-pad," the developer stated in its announcement.The bad news is that the game's been delayed until early next year. "While we had originally intended to release this year, the opportunity to do Super Time Force on Xbox One, plus the sheer insanity of releasing during new console launches meant that moving a few months into 2014 was the best plan for our game," the studio stated.Capy noted that it's "aiming to launch both versions side-by-side."For more information about Super Time Force, EG-contributor Steve Haske went in-depth with it last year in his preview.In addition to Super Time Force, Capy is still hard at work on the Xbox One timed-exclusive action roguelike Below, though no release window has been set.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ng-to-xbox-one
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December 4th, 2013, 22:53 Posted By: wraggster
DICE’s ongoing struggle to fix the problems that have affected the many versions of Battlefield 4 show no signs of abating.
A page on EA’s support site stated: "Some PC players of Battlefield 4 China Rising have found themselves getting kicked from servers within seconds of joining. DICE have identified the issue and is implementing a solution to the problem. This fix will take some time to be fully completed, but players should be noticing normal gameplay behaviour soon."
The DLC has also caused problems with the Xbox 360 version with some users now completely unable to join the game’s servers.
DICE also admitted on Reddit that yesterday’s PC patch only partially fixed the “one hit kill” issue it was designed to address, adding that: “To be completely fair, there’s really no one else to blame than us. Our game, our responsibility.”
A patch for the PS4 version was supposed to arrive alongside the above PC patch but was indefinitely delayed at the last minute for “additional testing”.
US consumer site Polygon yesterday revised its previous 7.5/10 review score for the game down to 4/10, stating: “After a brief period of reliability in the day or so before Thanksgiving in the US, Battlefield 4 has again succumbed to repeated and consistent issues on every platform.
“PC players are reporting crashes, while Xbox One and PS4 players are once again suffering from crashes to the homescreen of their respective platforms, as well as general matchmaking problems for the Conquest game type.
“More than a month after its initial release, Battlefield 4 is still barely playable for many players, and EA and DICE can't seem to fix the problem (though EA has informed us a new patch is going live on PC tomorrow, delaying our appraisal of that platform for at least a day or two).”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/battl...ntinue/0125299
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December 4th, 2013, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster
Mobile phone network O2 has added the Xbox One to its in-store console line-up.
As detailed on the O2 site, Consumers can now pay £99.99 upfront for the machine as long as they sign up to a two-year £52 month contract.
For the money they get an Xbox One console, FIFA 14, 12 months Xbox Live membership and a Nokia Lumia 1020 Windows 8 smartphone.
Of course, that means that while potential customers face a significantly reduced outlay to acquire the machine they also face the prospect of paying £1,348 in total for the machine, although this cost is slightly offset by the fact they’re also getting a phone with some included usage.
http://www.o2.co.uk/christmas/consoles
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December 4th, 2013, 22:48 Posted By: wraggster
The simplified architecture of PS4 and Xbox One allowed EA to reach a higher quality benchmark with its launch titles than it managed last time out.
That’s according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson who made the statement at the Credit Suisse 2013 Annual Technology Conference, Videogamer reports.
"One of the nuances here is that this transition, so this console cycle, both Sony and Microsoft platforms have simplified their architecture and simplified their tool sets," he stated.
"In the last transition we [spent] the first two to three years actually just trying to figure out how to get the most out of the boxes, and particularly because the two boxes were very different. So the good news now is I think that we have reached the level of quality at launch that we didn't get through last time.
“And our teams are already starting to think about investment in new innovation for the future."
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ea-s-...ox-360/0125316
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December 4th, 2013, 21:23 Posted By: wraggster
In the realm of esoteric statistics, Microsoft announced that over 50 million hours in "games and entertainment" have been logged on Xbox One systems since it launched on November 22. The console manufacturer added that over 415 million Gamerscore points were unlocked via achievements on the system.
Microsoft also noted a few other in-game milestones achieved in individual Xbox One games, such as the number of miles driven in Forza 5 globally (90 million), zombies killed in Dead Rising 3 (three billion), combos achieved inKiller Instinct (150 million) and enemies defeated in Ryse: Son of Rome (186 million).
By comparison, EA announced that over 140 million gameplay minutes were logged in its games on PS4 in the console's opening five days. To add to today's numbers, Sony announced that global PS4 sales exceed 2.1 million, though we're not certain how that translates to hours spent or zombies destroyed or how close that is to the moon when you stack them all, etc.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/03/mi...s-since-launc/
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December 4th, 2013, 21:18 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft listed 33 developers that will be participating in its ID@Xbox self-publishing program for Xbox One. The list of those that applied and were approved by Microsoft included Iron Galaxy (Divekick), Crytek (Crysis, Far Cry), Halfbrick Studios (Fruit Ninja), Demiurge Studios (Shoot Many Robots), Double Fine (Brutal Legend) and Vlambeer (Ridiculous Fishing). Some developers have already announced the games they are bringing to the platform, such as Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 and Capy's Below.
The independent developers program was announced in August, and grants indies access to two Xbox One development kits as well as a license to the Unity game engine in order to create games for the system. Microsoft said the first round of games published in the ID@Xbox program will arrive in early 2014. Microsoft's initial plans to disallow self-publishing on the Xbox One were reversed in July.
A list of the participating developers, which Microsoft says is "far from comprehensive," can be found after the break.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/04/fi...include-doubl/
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December 4th, 2013, 21:16 Posted By: wraggster
Indie developers in the Xbox One publishing program, ID@Xbox, get two console development kits, a Unity license and the opportunity to self-publish their games – in return, Microsoft asks that the games launch same-day on Xbox One and other console platforms. Launch parity, rather than exclusivity.
Building a game for multiple launch platforms can be hazardous for indie developers, transferring energy from building games to bureaucracy, Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail tells Joystiq. When Vlambeer learned about Microsoft's launch parity clause, it immediately contacted Sony to set up launch exclusivity on PS4 for its next-gen game Nuclear Throne.
"Microsoft was doing reach-out to certain developers back in the early days of ID@XBOX, and we discussed potentially bringing Nuclear Throne to Xbox One with them," Ismail says. "There had been mentions beforehand that there was a launch parity clause in the contract, with the exception of games that were already signed to another platform during the announcement of their self-publishing program. Thus, before we signed with Microsoft, we e-mailed Sony that we quickly wanted to sign Nuclear Throne with them with a month of exclusivity."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/04/xb...throne-to-ps4/
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December 4th, 2013, 21:14 Posted By: wraggster
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag gets new single-player content on December 17, according to a magazine ad. As spotted by Videogamer.com, the latest issue ofGame Informer pins the date for the Freedom Cry DLC, with logos for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, and PS3 visible.
Freedom Cry puts players in the role of former slave Adewale, now second in command to flaxen-haired hero Edward Kenway. The DLC finds Adewale shipwrecked in the French-owned Caribbean colony of Saint-Domingue, forced to fight alone across nine missions.
We've reached out to Ubisoft to confirm details on the DLC, which FYI is covered by the game's $20 Season Pass. One platform that won't hear the roar of Freedom Cry is the Wii U, after Ubisoft revealed it isn't bringing any Assassin's Creed 4 DLC to the Nintendo console.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/04/re...-in-two-weeks/
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