Archive for April 8th, 2007
Burger King 360 prize comes with steep price: Terror
Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
Ever heard of looking a gift horse in the mouth? It’s supposed to be a bad idea. It’s just not as unwise as looking a gift Burger King in his deadened, black, all-seeing eyes and learning the exact date of your death. One guy named David did just that … and lived to tell the tale.
David was lucky enough to win a Burger King sweepstakes — an effort to promote their line of top-notch games — picking up a premium Xbox 360, tons of accessories, oh, and the physical manifestation of fear: a Burger King mask. Sure, he enjoyed the prizes and all, but it had to be packed in with the face of evil itself, which more than negates the generosity. It’s a little like getting hot, free muffins from a truck that just ran over your uncle. “Yes, the muffins were delicious, but …”
Well, at least David didn’t receive a copy of Big Bumpin‘. So there’s still some kindness in the world.
[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
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IM coming to Xbox 360, keyboard accessory this summer
Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360
Alright, so Gamespot’s leakier than a colander full of swiss cheese, but now we’ve got the official details (from Microsoft this time) on what’s included in the upcoming Xbox 360 Spring Dashboard update, due in one month beginning the week of May 7th. Integrating the 6 million Xbox Live users with the 260 million Windows Live Messenger users stands at the core of the upcoming update, allowing Xbox 360 users to communicate with up to six of their PC, Mac, or mobile phone bound friends at once.
To aid gamers in their instant messaging, Microsoft is also preparing a keyboard accessory for the Xbox 360 controller, which will connect via the headphone jack. The un-named, un-priced, and un-dated device, which currently exists only in the pristine renderings contained in the gallery below, is reportedly due “this summer.” In the interim, an on-screen or USB keyboard will do the trick.
Also included in the Spring update: a new Achievement pop-up that displays the name and associated gamerscore value; a separate Xbox Live Marketplace blade to help organize the perpetually overcrowded service; the ability to begin watching incomplete video downloads; and a new auto-off function to put that system to sleep after it’s done downloading. Oh, and Major Nelson’s favorite new feature? Yup, the Dashboard will finally list what game is loaded in the disc tray. No more trial and error!
[Update: Xbox.com has been updated with a fairly repetitive list highlighting some additional features of the new update, including H.264 and MPEG-4 Part 2 video support (hrm?), WM-DRM streaming, the (now more informative) tray icon displays achievements and gamerscore for that game, and Xbox 1 games "show the name and image of the game."] Engadget has some additional details on the keyboard accessory, including the unfortunate news that the device prohibits the use of existing headsets and will come with its own.]
Gallery: Xbox 360 Spring Dashboard ‘07
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News: Incoming: Gears of Wars update goes live today, adds new mode
Today, at 4:00pm PST, the eagerly awaited Gears of War update will go live on Xbox Live, adding several enhancements including a new multiplayer game mode.
Screen Update: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Tons of new action-packed Quake screens!
Screen Update: Saboteur
Saboteur takes WW2-styled games in a whole new direction!
Review: Super Paper Mario
The first game starring everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber has finally landed on the Nintendo Wii.
Preview: Alien Syndrome
It may look like a repetitive action-RPG, but Alien Syndrome for the PSP is incredibly addictive.
Preview: Crush
Crush is the latest 2D/3D hybrid for the PSP and one of the handheld’s most original games yet.
News: Heavenly Sword Week begins — 10 new screens only on GamePro.com
Heavenly Sword Week has begun, and GamePro.com is the only place to see the latest screens and intel.
Screen Update: Saboteur
Saboteur takes WW2-styled games in a whole new direction!
Screen Update: Heavenly Sword
10 new GamePro.com exlcusive Heavenly Sword screens show just what we’re all waiting for!
Screen Update: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Tons of action-packed Quake screens!
Review: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
With Vice City Stories, Rockstar brings us another shot at the world of Grand Theft Auto. It’s the usual suspects here; drugs, prostitutes, guns and a whole lot of violence.
Screen Update: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Take it all in in these amazing Quake Wars screens!
Preview: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
The biggest and best game of the year for the DS will probably be Phantom Hourglass.
Leaked Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment, Voltron jealous
Filed under: Culture, Hacks, PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
[Update: It's official. More information and higher resolution pics of the rendering here.]
With Gamespot and other sites leaking details about the upcoming Dashboard updates to the 360, you’ve gotta wonder how text messaging between the 360 and Windows users will work. Typing out even the briefest of messages using the 360 Controller is a lesson in patience; it’s easier to record and send a voice message than it is to hammer out “LOL WRU?” on that thing. Enter this Xbox 360 snap-on qwerty keyboard attachment — conveniently also leaked (and now pulled) by Gamespot — which will be available in the summer for an unknown price. Luckily Engadget snagged some shots before they disappeared into the ether. One more after the break.
Continue reading Leaked Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment, Voltron jealous
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A Credit Card For Your God Complex
I guess it was just a matter of time before EA’s uber-popular Sims franchise started expanding outside the computer and game screens. But EA wouldn’t be satisfied with stickers or action figures, oh no. They are going straight to the top by issuing a Sims credit card.
Currently on The Sims‘ website, you can vote for one of four designs. Not that I really want a Sims credit card or even care for The Sims in general, but in the interest of crackerjack reporting, I voted so I could see the results. Design number three seems to be the front runner with design number four making a close second.
There are no details yet on what the terms of the card will be, but the site promises “exciting rewards and offers for The Sims player community.” Whatever these exciting rewards are, I hope they are tangible items and not some exclusive in-game super toilet so your Sims can pee faster. Did you ever notice how long it takes those little bastards to go to the can?
[Thanks, knukleur]
TAFA To Launch Two New Archives
As I was perusing The Arcade Flyer Archive yesterday in search of an appropriate piece for Arcade Flyer Art Saturday, I noticed a little announcement post from site co-owner Dan Hower. After acquiring over 10,000 new coin-op flyers from a private collector, TAFA plans to launch two new archive collections, The Pinball Flyer Archive and The Arcade and Amusement Game Archive.
The pinball flyer archive will include electromechanical, solid state, bingo, video pinball and pinball redemption. The arcade and amusement game flyer archive will include an even wider assortment of game types, including pitch n’ bat, rifle, bowler, novelty, driver, wall, 16mm film and other electromechanical and novelty coin-op equipment. The three flyer archives will be independently cataloged.
To help pay for the costs of getting these new sites off the ground, Dan will be selling TAFA’s original duplicate flyers on eBay under the name “dphower.” I will be sure to post an announcement once these flyers go up for auction so perhaps you can buy a great piece of arcade art and support TAFA at the same time. TAFA is an amazing resource and historical archive and if you haven’t checked them out before, you owe it to yourself to do it now. I would also like to personally thank Dan and his partner in the site Eric Jacobson for working so hard to preserve a huge chunk of arcade history.
Clip: Mario and Luigi Teach Italian
I’ve always considered Mario’s Italian accent to be on a par with the likes of Chico Marx; Not authentic by any means, but close enough for Americans. Brett Simmons directed this funny spoof for a fictitious Mario and Luigi Italian Lesson plan featuring his friends Tristan and Anthony. The opening credits state that this is “Tristan and Anthony’s Italian Project” leading me to believe this might have been created as part of a school assignment. As live action Mario and Luigi spoofs go, this one is pretty clever, or at least that’s my opinion. I’ll let you judge for yourself.
The Xbox 360 Easter Egg
And I mean a real Easter Egg, not the I-hid-something-in-my-game-see-if-you-can-find-it easter egg. Since I seem to always get stuck with the holidays I always feel somewhat obligated to mention them while I’m here and then try and relate them to games somehow. Easter seemed like it was going to be a bit of a stretch until Kotakuite Josh saved the day with his custom made Xbox360 Easter Egg. Now if some one could make a Wii egg (doesn’t require much painting) and a PS3 egg (dunno about a black egg), the collection will be complete. But, to make it true to life you’ll have to hide the Wii egg where no one can find it and leave the PS3 egg out in the open where no will want to find it. Happy Easter!
