We've already written about how Microsoft has begun to ban modded Xbox 360 home gaming consoles from the Xbox Live service, which includes severing access to multiplayer gaming and friend communication.There are estimates saying that no less than 600,000 users have been banned for modifying their devices, most of them in order to be able to get access to pirated titles. The ban was designed to hit at the same time as the launch of Modern Warfare 2, the first person shooter widely targeted by pirates because of its popularity in multiplayer.A spokesperson from Microsoft told IGN that “If you purchase a modified console second-hand... [read more >>] This week, Rockstar and 2K Games are hitting gamers with a double blow of GTA IV content. Those who have picked up The Lost & Damned downloadable pack can now get, also via Xbox Live, a new add on, called The Ballad of Gay Tony. And those who have not been interested in exploring alternative stories for GTA can now pick up a disk-based release called Episodes from Liberty City, which combines the two stories mentioned above. And it seems that the new releases might actually be the last Rockstar will offer set in the New York-like landscape of Liberty City.A poster, attached to this article, can be seen in the manual for the game that has ju... [read more >>] One of the advantages that the PlayStation 3 has publicized since the beginning of the console battle of this generation has been the presence of an integrated Blu-ray drive, which allows for bigger capacity disks to be used and for the game console to play high-quality movies. The Xbox 360 has tried to counter by backing the HD DVD format, but, with that no longer supported, Microsoft has long been rumored to be preparing to get a Blu-ray unit for the Xbox 360. Now, Steve Ballmer, who is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, has told Gizmodo as part of an exclusive interview that Blu-ray is a definite possibility for the Xbox 360 home... [read more >>] Infinity Ward has confirmed, via the official Twitter feed of the company, that when Modern Warfare 2 is released to the public on November 10, the Xbox 360 version of the game, the one expected to have the biggest sales, will be bringing items that can be employed on the Avatars of the users and even Rewards offered when certain in-game objectives are completed.The news was delivered by Robert Bowling, the community manager of Infinity Ward, who goes by the moniker of “fourzerotwo.” He was adamant that military-themed and Modern Warfare 2-themed avatar clothing and accessories would be available in the Avatar Marketplace on the... [read more >>] Microsoft has recently released a list of huge publishers, ranging from Electronic Arts to Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, that are set to support the developers of videogames that will work with the upcoming Project Natal.But the manufacturer of the Xbox 360 has not indicated any concrete project that will use the new platform by name. Now, Epic Games, the people behind the very successful Gears of War franchise, which is exclusive to the Microsoft gaming console, are apparently being the first to confirm that their game engine will work for Natal.Mark Rein, who is a vice president at Epic Games, and one of the company's public voice... [read more >>] The prevailing philosophy at Microsoft seems to be that you can never have enough Halo. The recently launched Orbital Drop Shock Trooper content was initially set to be a download-only add on, but it grew into a full fledged 60-dollar title.Bungie was supposed to be breaking off with the software giant to pursue its own projects but now it is slated to create and release Halo: Reach in 2010. And it seems that's not even remotely the end for Halo-related content.Frank O'Connor, who is the creative director for 343 Industries, the new entity in charge of the development of the franchise, has talked to USA Today about the long term p... [read more >>] 14:00. I put in the Multiplayer disc. I guess I got used to all those PS3 titles that ship on Only one Blu-ray. Campaign label is small.14:02. In a galaxy, far, far away... I know that's Star Wars but the initial intro is built up the same way by Bungie. Nice clouds in the cinematic sequence.14:04. “They missed one.” “No, they left it for us?” Could all this be more stereotypical? At least Nathan Fillon can act, especially when up against Tricia Helfer. At least the developers can pick a little on the stereotypes of the genre with phrases like “Pays to be the strong, silent type.”14:07. Since Alone i... [read more >>] Microsoft seems to be going through a weird period. First, it announced that, for two weeks, the Xbox 360 Elite, which is at the moment retailing for the lowered price of 299 dollars, was set to receive a 50-dollar rebate between September 22 and October 5. And, now, the company has set the price for the Sergeant Johnson DLC for Halo 3: ODST at 99.999 Microsoft Points, which is probably the biggest sum ever charged for something on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The description for the downlodable content says that, “Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson is a tough as nails career Marine that has been in more life or death battles than you'... [read more >>] Microsoft has announced that, between September 22 and October 5, it will be offering rebates worth 50 dollars for all those who buy an Xbox 360 gaming console. This is, basically, another price cut, albeit one that will only last for two weeks, bringing the most complete of the versions of the Microsoft home console to an actual price of just 249 dollars. Microsoft is saying that the rebate system will work by mail and that it is working to put up a special website that will allow buyers to get all the details and track the progress of their rebate claim. The official line from Microsoft is, “Not only does Xbox 360 play the best gam... [read more >>] A new study offered by OTX through its GamePlan Insights service shows that a lot of those players who have picked up the new Halo 3: ODST are also set to buy Modern Warfare 2 when the title is released on November 10. This is good news for Microsoft and Activision and might prove to be pretty bad news for other publishers and other video games, which are set to be released in the run up to Christmas. OTX is estimating that the average gamer will be buying three full-priced video games for this holiday season. This means that there's a lot of competition between franchises and publishers and creating associations between two series ca... [read more >>] | 
RSS
