|
|
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
|
November 10th, 2005, 20:28 Posted By: wraggster
Bungie has confirmed recent Internet rumours surrounding the Xbox 360's backward compatibility and graphical enhancements for the first two games in its award winning Halo franchise.
There has been some contention as to how comprehensive Microsoft's backward compatibility function will be, and it is has been suggested that not all Xbox titles will run on the next generation console.
To mark the one-year anniversary of Halo 2 on November 9th, Bungie released an update on its website, confirming that both the original Halo and Halo 2 will be compatible with the new console, including Xbox Live play for Halo 2.
In addition, both titles will be slightly enhanced to take advantage of the new machine's capabilities and will feature widescreen support, 720p (progressive-scan) support, and full-scene anti-aliasing to smooth over any jagged edges.
The statement from Bungie reads: "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."
For anyone interested in a comparison between the old and the new, Bungie has also provided a selection of shots showing the improvements, which can be viewed by visiting the company website. The feature also includes a detailed look back at Halo's original path to market and its subsequent global success.
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 |
|
 |
|
|
|
November 10th, 2005, 20:28 Posted By: wraggster
Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson has admitted that there could be Xbox 360 shortages this Christmas - but promises that Microsoft is doing all it can to get the consoles into shops as soon as possible.
"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 offered no comment on rumours that the US will be getting precisely 1,098,200 units on launch day, which emerged after a forum poster on Team Xbox claimed he had received a copy of a booklet sent out to shareholders.
The poster claimed the booklet also revealed that Microsoft hopes to sell four million Xbox 360s in the five months following launch, and that 29 games for the console will be in the shops by the end of the year.
Rumours have also emerged that the UK will be getting just 50,000 Xbox 360 units in time for the console's launch on December 2.
That's according to the Official Xbox Magazine website, which claims it got the information from "a representative from one of the UK's largest videogames retailers."
Pre-ordering offers no guarantee of a console in time for Christmas, either. "We started taking pre-orders for Xbox 360 back at the start of summer, and by the end of June one store already had 300,” the source is quoted as saying.
"Customers can still put their names down for an Xbox 360, but we can’t guarantee that they’ll get their system before Christmas.”
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."
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 10th, 2005, 01:58 Posted By: wraggster
A new version of the homebrew game Super Mario War has been released.
Heres 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
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 9th, 2005, 19:27 Posted By: wraggster
As the Xbox 360 launch draws agonizingly close--games are already appearing in retail--the game industry is aquiver with anticipation. However, given that Microsoft has not yet announced a final launch lineup for the console, some industry-watchers are wondering if the next-generation console will stumble in its mad dash to be first out of the gate. Recently, UBS analyst Mike Wallace lowered his 2005 360 sales projections from 2.5 to 1.5 million units.
Unsurprisingly, Microsoft is optimistic about the Xbox 360's prospects. In fact, in public, executives for the Washington-based Software colossus are downright gung-ho, talking up the platform at virtually every high-profile game-industry event since the console was unveiled on May 12.
The latest example of salesmanship came today, courtesy of Bryan Lee, the chief financial officer of Microsoft's newly established Entertainment and Devices subdivision. In a presentation to the Harris Nesbitt Media & Entertainment Conference, the executive gave a very rosy forecast for the console. "I'm very proud to announce that we think through the first 90 days of launch...we expect to have sold 2.75 to 3 million consoles worldwide," said Lee.
While selling a lot of Xbox 360 hardware will help the platform get adopted, it will also cost Microsoft a bundle of money. Though the company won't discuss manufacturing costs, analysts estimate it is losing around $75 on each console sold. And while Lee didn't address the subject of the 360 being a loss-leader, he did talk about where Microsoft will make money off of the consoles.
"When you think about what consumers are going to be spending on consoles, and then you think about the games that they're going to buy along with them, you think about the peripherals, the accessories they're going to want, you think about the Live subscriptions they're going to want," said Lee.
Lee pegged total revenue generated by all Xbox 360 hardware and software at "well over" $1.5 billion in the console's first three months on the market. "I can't think of many other, if any other, products that have had an initial launch that have sold $1 1/2 billion to consumers in their first 90 days," he boasted.
The executive also paid the requisite lip service to the "HD Era," the coming mass adoption of high-definition televisions. "It is really the future of displays," he chimed. "There are millions out there and projections are that by 2008 there will be over 100 million high def displays out in the world."
Lee also spoke about how Microsoft is already experimenting with a potentially massive future driver of Xbox 360 revenue--in-game advertising. "We've actually got a couple of games out in the market now on the Xbox platform where we're trialing some ads and we've been working with Massive on those couple of games. ... We feel very excited about advertising as a potential growth opportunity for the business."
Interestingly, Lee also raised the possibility of ad revenues defraying the cost of a 360 in other countries. "[In] markets outside of North America, the fundamentals of our business may not hold," he said. "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."
Speaking of advertising, Lee also said a major Xbox 360 ad would run during tomorrow night's episode of Lost on ABC.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 9th, 2005, 19:13 Posted By: wraggster
Scattered reports from the US suggest that Microsoft's first party Xbox 360 games are starting to ship, despite the fact the console itself won't launch until November 22nd.
Both GameStop and EB Games are listing Kameo: Elements of Power as available to ship within 24 hours, and various gamers report receiving it.
Meanwhile, Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 are expected to go on sale more than a week in advance of the console's US launch.
So far there's been no sign of the same happening on this side of the Atlantic, however, where Xbox 360 is set to launch on December 2nd, although most shops are full of placeholder boxes and other point-of-sale promotions. Retailers are expecting actual stock closer to release.
Games going on sale this far in advance of their home platforms is unusual, but it's not the first time games have made it out before consoles - some PSP games, for example, were widely available in the few days prior to the console's launch in the US and similarly in the UK.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 9th, 2005, 03:30 Posted By: wraggster
In the middle of last month, the Xbox 360 controller was discovered in stores, leaving many a gamer wondering why Microsoft would release a peripheral for a console not even available. Turns out that head-scratcher had a viable reason: The controller is also PC-compatible.
However, gamers who ordered Kameo: Elements of Power for the Xbox 360 may be in for another perplexing situation. Postmen all over the country are delivering the game to front doors a full two weeks before the retail launch of the Xbox 360.
One GameSpot editor got the game today directly from EBgames.com. The retailer's Web site, as well as that of GameStop, presents the following: "Usually ships in 24 hours." This means the game is physically in the company's warehouse.
GameSpot called an EB Games retail outlet, and the store expects to have Kameo in later today, as well as "possibly" Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3. All these games are published under the Microsoft Game Studios brand.
The product pages for PGR3 and PD0 show that EB expects the games to ship November 14 and 16, respectively.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 8th, 2005, 20:32 Posted By: wraggster
The games are nearly over for the launch of the Xbox 360. This Thursday, November 10th, “at unspecified times throughout the day between 12:01 AM PST and 11:59 PM PST,” a number of gaming web sites will offer sign-up forms for eventually 3,000 chosen registrants to check out the 360 launch event in the Mojave Desert in SoCal.
Lucky gamers will be treated with tickets for two to join winners from the U.S. “Hex 168” and European “Origen” Xbox 360 contests in that little piece of paradise from November 20-22. (Hopefully, plane tickets are included.)
So if you want to buy a 360 from Best Buy, finally check out 32-player PDZ, or try your hands on a playable version of Gears of War a little earlier than most, you’d best be refreshing those web sites and clicking away this Thursday. Good luck, all!
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 8th, 2005, 20:32 Posted By: wraggster
According to an EB Games employee in Southern California, his chain will only be able to fulfill 14 of 43 preorders on launch day; and he does not foresee fulfilling the entirety of these preorders until March. In addition, the retail employee estimates that Microsoft will only ship about 400,000 units at launch (in the US). Inventory estimates from Best Buy, Toy R Us, and Game Rush chains in Southern California seem to confirm this report—we’ve also received similar “confidential” reports from retail employees around the US.
If units do prove to be scarce throughout the holiday season, what’s your limit? How much would you be willing to spend on an Xbox 360 off of eBay? What’s 3–4 months worth?
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 8th, 2005, 20:30 Posted By: wraggster
In the the December issue of Popular Science, which will go on newsstands November 15, the Xbox 360 is reported to have taken top honors (that is, the Grand Award) for the Best of What’s New in Home Entertainment, one of twelve different categories considered.
“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.”
According to the editor: “The Best of What’s New awards honor innovations that affect the way we live today and change the way we think about the future.” Despite lacking a qualifier regarding the subscription basis for Live multiplayer support, we’re sure MS must be pleased by the accolade.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 8th, 2005, 20:25 Posted By: wraggster
It's a well-known fact that Xbox 360 will be able to stream music from iPod MP3 players on its "dashboard" front-end and to provide background music for games, but what's less well-known is that the next-generation console will be unable to play songs purchased from Apple's iTunes Music Store.
That's according to Microsoft's Jeff Henshaw, who told CNET News.com that because of the digital-rights-management (DRM) software in iPod, playback of those tracks was not possible. The songs will appear greyed out in menus when Xbox 360 owners attempt to access them.
Henshaw said Microsoft had tried to forge a partnership with Apple on the issue, but that Apple had rejected the idea.
During the same interview, Henshaw also declined to comment on whether Microsoft has had to engage in any reverse-engineering to achieve iPod compatibility. Neil Benson, creator of iPodcopy, polled in the same piece, said that the process of locating and accessing iPod's stored music was "more complicated than Microsoft is letting on".
Indeed, Microsoft has gone to great lengths to demonstrate how easy it all is - in demonstrations with journalists, company representatives have hooked up regular (pre-Video) iPods, iPod nanos, Sony PlayStation Portables, and other devices, and promised that the shipping Xbox 360 would feature support for an enormous variety of peripherals. Updates that open up access to future products are likely, Microsoft has said.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 7th, 2005, 00:48 Posted By: wraggster
Carcharius posted this:
The first version is finished and now released to ‘the usual places'
I hope everyone enjoys what is there and doesn't moan too much about what is missing!
Many thanks to everyone for all the comments and messages of support that have been made over the past few weeks.
Introduction
This is the Quake 3: Arena game engine ported to run on the Xbox.
So what does it do?
As it stands now it will let you play the single player game portion of Quake 3: Arena. You should also be able to play on a network and over the internet, against other Xbox players as well as people running Quake 3 for the pc. For internet play you will require a valid CD key from the pc version of Quake 3.
It also has the ability to load and run some of the many mods available for Quake 3.
But please be aware, there are some mods that will run fine whilst others won't run at all. Unfortunately this is due to limitations in the Xbox hardware (basically it's a very tight squeeze trying to get Quake 3 to run at all using 64MB). I have not tested many mods, really I've done nothing more than try a couple to make sure that the mod loading process is working properly.
If you intend to try running any mods I strongly suggest a usb keyboard and/or mouse be attached to the xbox. Without them it may prove very difficult, even impossible, to navigate through the mod's interface and get a game running. This is because none of the mods available will be setup to work properly with the xbox controller.
If any mod authors do wish to make their mods compatible with this port then please drop me a line and I can let you know what (simple) changes are needed.
http://carcharius.xbox-scene.com/
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 6th, 2005, 00:17 Posted By: wraggster
1UP is featuring an excellent — yet very eerie — article comparing the Dreamcast to the Xbox 360. The article features 23 points which the two consoles have in common: from not supporting the future formats for movie playback (DVD for the Dreamcast and HD-DVD for the 360) to having the same guy running the marketing department (Peter Moore the Xbox 360 marketing boss also worked on Dreamcast marketing).
The similarities could be seen as wild coincidences, but when you’re about to launch a console that will cost your company billions of dollars, you don’t want it associated with one of the biggest product failures in recent video game history. Whilst the two consoles share a lot of similarities, there are also some important differences. For example the original Xbox was not a failure, unlike the Sega Saturn which signalled the beginning of the end for the games giant that is (was?) Sega.
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3145154
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 5th, 2005, 10:25 Posted By: wraggster
Here’s a fun question to chew on for the weekend. If Microsoft were to launch a handheld device, when would they attempt to do so, and what preconditions would need to be satisfied first?
To be clear: Microsoft has repeatedly noted that they’ve got no interest in launching a handheld gaming device at this time and that they’re wholly focused on the Xbox 360. However, if they were to establish a solid position for the Xbox 360, might they turn their attention to growing the empire?
Is the handheld market large and attractive enough? Probably. Are trends moving in the right direction and do people desire mobile entertainment? Yes. It seems that the only reason it’s not a Microsoft priority is that they’re preoccupied with not losing another $4 billion on the Xbox 360.
Let’s therefore assume that companies (even Microsoft) are constrained in the number of products that they can build, launch and support at once. It follows that a company with such constraints will seek to stagger the release of their stationary and handheld consoles so that the development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution phases of the work don’t bunch up and create bottlenecks.
Here’s a brief history of handheld releases. The first number is the approximate date of the system’s release. The number after the plus sign is the number of months after the release of the company’s previous major console:
Nintendo Game Boy (1989.04, NES + 42 months)
Nintendo Game Boy Color (1998.11, N64 + 22 months)
Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2001.06, N64 + 54 months)
Nintendo DS (2004.11, GameCube + 34 months)
Sega Game Gear (1990.10, Genesis + 24 months)
Sony PSP (2005.03, PS2 + 54 months)
Assuming this pattern holds, one might begin to look for an Xbox handheld around 2005.11 +22 to +54 months, which would put it between fall 2007 and spring 2010.
What do you think?
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 5th, 2005, 10:21 Posted By: wraggster
The official story: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation."--Microsoft auto-response.
What we heard: With the Xbox 360 still set for a November 22 launch, many gamers are realizing that they will be getting their first taste of sweet, sweet next-gen goodness in less than three weeks. However, a lot of people haven't been able to lock down a preorder of the console, which has become near impossible to get online unless you want to fork out $2000 for GameStop's Omega Bundle.
Most gamers chalked up the 360 supply issues to general platform-launch woes. However, Arstechnica offered a much more conspiratorial theory. They propose that Microsoft is engineering the supply chain so the Xbox 360 will sell out at most locales. Why? Two reasons. First, widespread sellouts would create the appearance that the console is so popular that retailers can't keep it in stock--actually it wouldn't be an appearance, since it would technically be true. Then the media would pick up on the shortages, generating even more buzz about the console and giving it more free publicity.
Such a wily approach would fit right into Microsoft's publicity campaign. The company has jumped onto the viral marketing bandwagon with both feet, using the infamous ilovebees.com alternate reality game (ARG) to promote Halo 2 and ourcolony.net to give the world its first glimpses of the Xbox 360. After ARGs to hype to Xbox 360 contests, the company has now launched another one to promote the Xbox 360 launch.
Though not an ARG, an artificial 360 shortage would also set the stage for a new technique called targeted marketing. Practiced by companies such as San Francisco-based Ammo Marketing, this rather insidious selling style targets "influencers," people whose behavior others want to emulate. Companies hire influencers to use their products in the hopes their friends will see them using said product and then emulate said friend's behavior.
In the case of an Xbox 360 shortage, only the hardest-core Xbox fans will go to the lengths it would take to obtain the console, like waiting in line overnight. Eager to show off the coveted item they were luckily enough to get, these ubergeeks will become mini 360 evangelists, inviting all their friends over to play. Then those friends go out looking for the hard-to-find consoles, locate one, show it off to all their friends, who then all want to get one, und so weiter.
But is there any evidence that Microsoft is manipulating supply to artificially create demand? Sort of. Arstechnica refers to several well-respected Web sites that have received e-mails from readers claiming to be retail employees. Kotaku posted a report from an anonymous Target clerk saying each location is only getting 10 to 50 units of the console. Each Target location has also been instructed to preprint a giant "Sold Out" sign in advance to slap on the front window the minute the last next-gen machine is gone.
But while preemptive signage could be chalked up to mere retail prudence, an e-mail sent to Gizmodo indicates a far more sinister plan could be at work. It comes from an alleged worker at a Norwegian store, which says that every retail location in the country is only allowed 20 360s, regardless of size. (Scandinavian socialism in action!--ed.)To get them, "According to the reader, 'each shop or chain has to sign an agreement saying that they will sell out of all 20 consoles on the release date.'" In addition, the Gizmodo source claims "Microsoft Norway even said themselves that they're gonna use the 'Sold Out' as a marketing strategy to hype the console."
But will 360 sellouts actually generate positive hype? Well, one thing's for certain--when a platform launches with much fanfare and doesn't sell out, people notice. Just ask Sony. Despite solid sales, the PSP was branded a failure by many just because there were still plenty on store shelves during its first weeks on the market.
Bogus or not bogus?: There will be an Xbox 360 shortage, no question. Whether it's deliberate or not can't be definitively proven.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 5th, 2005, 10:13 Posted By: wraggster
Divineo USA have posted this news:
Starting from now, during the next 48h, we will give a 10$ discount on the Spider GX. Get yours now!
Apply on qty of 1 or 5.
"The SpiderGX is the latest universally solderless Xbox chip from the talented SpiderChip Team. The SpiderGX is a clear step ahead of the previous generation of solderless Xbox Chips. This chip offers the best all round package for your Xbox modding needs, not only is it fully solderless on any Xbox revision but it is also powered by an intelligent operating system."
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 3rd, 2005, 21:02 Posted By: wraggster
Whether you are already lining up for the XBox 360 or holding fast for the PS3, investment firm Merrill Lynch says that when it comes to cold hard cash, Microsoft is looking good to win the next-gen gaming console war. They did a breakdown of parts being used in the machines, and claim that:
PS3 will not only be significantly more costly than Xbox 360 at launch, but will continue to operate at a cost disadvantage for several years.
Though the PS3 will surely be a more impressive console in terms of technology, it will cost Sony a bundle, ML thinks $500 at its launch in the spring of 2006. By then the Xbox might be down to $249.
The biggest cost for Sony is going to be the new Cell processor, which should cost the company $160 per chip (initially) compared to Microsoft’s $100 PowerPC chip. The one saving grace Sony may have? That they hope to able to use that chip for much more than just the PS3. Think TVs, laptops, DVRs. But Merrill Lynch doesn’t think that will be of much help because
Processor architectures have been in consolidation mode for the last 5 years, and we think it’s going to be difficult for Sony to find takers for Cell outside of the PS3.
One last monetary problem is the promised Blu-ray drive, which will add another $75 to the price. But hey, don’t forget the fans folks. It’s not over til Final Fantasy XXXVIIII comes out.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 3rd, 2005, 20:49 Posted By: wraggster
Reports from retailers in Scandinavia have revealed that Microsoft is planning for a complete sell-out of its initial allocation of Xbox 360 units on day one - and is demanding that its retail partners work to ensure that it happens.
An anonymous retail source in Norway, speaking to US technology site Gizmodo, said that stores in the country are each being allocated 20 units of the new console for the launch day - 14 Xbox 360s and six Core System packs.
However, according to the retail source cited in the report, they'll only get their allocation if they sign a form guaranteeing that all 20 units will be sold out on day one (presumably based on preorders), and what's more, Microsoft is insisting that two games be sold with each console.
"Microsoft Norway even said themselves that they're gonna use the 'Sold Out' as a marketing strategy to hype the console," he told the site.
Initial volumes of the Xbox 360 are expected to be low due to the worldwide roll-out of the console, but Microsoft has promised to support retail with ongoing shipments of the hardware right up to Christmas and beyond.
Its policy of demanding a sell-out first day from smaller stores is also not unusual; one UK retail source told GamesIndustry.biz this afternoon that many platform holders in the past have requested that retailers give guarantees about sell-through levels on day one and tie ratio of software in order to be given sensible allocations of 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 1st, 2005, 19:53 Posted By: wraggster
If you’re in Tokyo and plan on frequenting that trendy new Xbox lounge, do it in style with some exclusive swag from the Japanese Sega Select online store. If you pre-order a new 360, you’ll receive a green and white t-shirt with Xbox and Sega branding, while reserving any new 360 game will get you one of two collectible mouse pads with similar branding. Domo arigato, Sega, now how about fixing up the gaijin on the other side of the pond?
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 1st, 2005, 19:43 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft has confirmed the location and dates for its forthcoming Xbox 360 Hour Tour, which kicks off in Scotland this month ahead of the next-generation console's December 2 launch.
The first event will take place at The Lighthouse in Glasgow from November 4-6, and will be open to the public from 10am to 6pm. Attendees will be allocated a 30 minute gaming session on launch titles including Kameo: Elements of Power, Project Gotham Racing 3 and the highly anticipated Perfect Dark Zero.
Because Microsoft wants to promote the media and online benefits of the new console, demonstrations of its music, marketplace and multimedia functionality will also be provided.
From Glasgow, the tour heads down to The Old Library in Birmingham for November 11-13, hitting The Custard Factory in Leeds from the 18th-20th and culminating in a four-day event at London's Mercer Street Studios on November 25-28.
Microsoft's head of marketing for Xbox, Stephen McGill, commented: "This is a great opportunity for people around the country to put the Xbox 360 through it's paces and judge first hand whether it lives up to their expectations. We're confident gamers will be impressed with the innovation in graphics, animation and gameplay but the Xbox 360 also has loads to offer non gamers so we'll be showing the music and entertainment capabilities too."
"We're delighted to kick off the tour in Scotland and give Glaswegians the first taste of the next generation of gaming," he added.
The Xbox 360 is the first next-generation console to hit market, and its launch will mark the first time any console manufacturer has attempted a tri-continent release just weeks apart. The company originally intended to offer a simultaneous launch, but opted for a staggered approach due to the logistical issues involved.
The new console will launch in the US on November 22, hitting Europe on December 2 and Japan on December 10. Nintendo has recently hinted that it could follow suit and opt for a tri-continent launch for the new Revolution console. Sony has yet to reveal launch plans for the PlayStation 3.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
November 1st, 2005, 19:42 Posted By: wraggster
Japan's chief of Xbox operations, Yoshihiro Maruyama, has confirmed that while a version of the Xbox 360 console which can read HD-DVD discs is a possibility, the next-generation DVD standard will never be used for games on the platform.
His comments were made to Enterbrain's Famitsu Xbox magazine in an interview, where he expanded on a statement made by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates back in June regarding the potential for a HD-DVD enabled Xbox 360.
"It's a possibility, but it won't have any relationship to gaming," Maruyama said, according to a translation from US website GameSpot. "If the Xbox 360 uses a next-generation DVD drive in the future, it will only be used for watching movies that run on next-generation DVDs."
His statement is simply confirmation of what many commentators had already said - that Microsoft can't change the media it's shipping games on halfway through the life cycle of a console, leaving owners of the DVD version unable to play HD-DVD games.
However, it's telling that Maruyama used the phrase "next-generation DVD" rather than HD-DVD specifically. In recent weeks, several supporters of the HD-DVD standard - which is being pushed by Toshiba and its partners - have defected to the camp of rival standard Blu-Ray, which was developed by Sony and will be used by the PlayStation 3.
Microsoft, however, remains a staunch supporter of HD-DVD, for the stated reason that the specification allows for the contents of a disc to be securely "ripped" to another storage device in the consumer's home - such as a Windows Media Centre PC.
The support of the software giant hasn't extended to putting HD-DVD drives in the Xbox 360 though (not least because they probably wouldn't have been ready in time for launch), and is unlikely to carry as much weight as the support of the key Hollywood studios - most of whom appear to be falling in line behind the Blu-Ray banner at present.
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
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
next » |
|
|
