Artist rendering of Xbox 360's 'Newton' controller

New Fallout 3 screenshots

Gears of War 2 - New faces, new places, new vehicles...

...but this time he's brought some new pals along for the ride. Gears of War 2, the hotly anticipated sequel to the original million seller, takes the fight directly to the Locust. Sure enough, Fenix is heading underground...

The way your character takes cover is much improved over the original, ensuring that sneaky Locust scum can't pop off a shot at you and hit you when you're hiding behind a wall or peeping round a corner. Weapons are tweaked though all the oldies but goldies are there of course. There's a new dual-wield chainsaw gun ensuring that Marcus and the other characters in the game can get up close and personal, and spill some alien blood. Underground levels aren't tight twisty dark dank little corridors but vast subterranean spaces, breathtaking in scale and scope and much improved over the originalA new enemy, the Kantus, can use focussed sonic attacks on the player, causing damage and loss of energy. These focus chant attacks are probably the newest most lethal weapon in the Locust arsenal. If you're looking for something bigger to pick a fight with, Cliff Bleszinski promises monsters that will "make the Brumak from the original game look like a baby panda bear."With vast improvements to the original spec Unreal 3 engine used for the sequel, the gushing Cliffy B also added that far more enemies would be on-screen at once, making you really work for your achievements and those end of level encounters with big nasty bosses. Along with Fenix, Baird and "The Cole Train" will be reappearing in the sequel, along with new characters like Tai Kaliso, a spiritual warrior chick, Chairman Prescott (no he doesn't own two jags), the previously unseen head of the human government, and Dizzy, a human vehicle specialist with rather too fond an attachment to his truck - one of many new vehicles in the game. Multiplayer has also been universally expanded and improved over the original. Can't wait. Tune in towards the latter half of the year for the game's release, and keep 'em peeled here - we'll bring you more details, screenies and movies when we've got 'em.

PS3/360 Cry Engine 2 to Look Near High Settings on PC

It almost sounds too good to be true. Almost? It is too good to be true. Could Cry Engine 2 on consoles really look any where near as good as Crysis on the PC? Crytek’s Engine Business Manager, Harald Seeley, states that they expect the console versions to “look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC.” *Shock.*
When asked what differences there would be between the PC and console versions of the Cry Engine 2, and whether the engine will be tailored to each platform, Seeley replies:

Yes, we definitely tailor the engine specifically to each platform. More than just the difference in CPU and video hardware capabilities of PCs and consoles is at play here. So are the much smaller memory budgets we must work with, the lack of a hard disk on some models, and the acceptance requirements of the hardware vendors themselves. All have an effect on how we approach each version of the engine.
The surprising thing has been how well the consoles can perform visually, once this tailoring is in place. We expect the final outcome will result in games that look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC. Actually, we found it as much or more challenging to address the memory limitations of the consoles when converting our current AI system, as we did while converting our rendering engine or physics system, which was not something you might have expected at the start.

by Patrick Steen on April 7, 2008

New info and shots of Gears 2

Gears of War 2 begins six months after the deployment of the Lightmass bomb at the end of part one. Read more here

High infernal priest Dark Radai from Ninja Gaiden 2

Exclusive shot - You've seen it here first!

The story follows as (the guy on the right in the picture) the high infernal priest Dark Radai is trying to restore the arch fiend - aka the Devil which could see the end of the human race. Helping Dark Radai is a female from the CIA (to the left of the shot).

The game begins when a mystirous lady called Sonia tries to find Ryu to tell him about the arch fiend. She is kidnapped by the spider clan who seem to be working with the fiends, but then later rescued by Ryu. Sonia who also seem to be with the CIA then tells him that his village is under attack for the demon statue. Ryu Hayabusa is out to once more save his clan and the human race. Exclusive NG2 content is supposed to hit XLM on April 15, the demo in May and the game release on June 6.

new NG2 pics!

GTA Vs PS3 bounus round

http://www.gametrailers.com/bonusround.php?ep=20

GTA IV More Popular on Xbox 360 according to IGN Poll

On March 28 IGN created a poll on IGN.com asking readers the following question: "If you're buying GTA IV, which platform version will you purchase?" Surprisingly the Xbox 360 version beat out the PlayStation 3, despite the fact that the series was popularized on previous Sony consoles where past iterations have sold tens of millions of copies.

Xbox 360 to hit 2m in UK

Xbox 360 to hit 2m in UK "next week"
The Xbox 360 is on course to record 2 million sales in the UK next week, according to Chart-Track.
Boosted by the recent official price cut and bumper Easter sales period, Microsoft's console hits the milestone in the midst of a fierce scrap with Sony's rival PlayStation 3 in the key European territory.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Dorian Bloch, director of UK sales monitor Chart-Track, said: "We are very close to clocking through 2 million 360s in the UK. It should be next week."
The Xbox 360 launched in the UK in December 2005 and reached 1 million sales after 60 weeks. Sony announced that PlayStation 3, which launched in the UK last March, had sold through 1 million units by February of this year. According to Microsoft, the Xbox 360 has sold around 18 million units worldwide since launch.
Following price reductions to all three models of the Xbox 360 across Europe, GamesIndustry.biz revealed that 360 enjoyed a 40 per cent uplift in sales within the first weekend after the cut.
After a further leap over the Easter weekend, Bloch said sales dropped by 11 per cent for week 13, while PS3 enjoyed a jump of 14 per cent, coinciding with the launch of the heavily advertised Gran Turismo 5: Prologue hardware bundle. Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
"The Xbox 360 is extremely well liked in the UK and very strong," added Bloch. "Sony has a long way to go to overtake it in the UK."

Gears of War movie slated for 2010

The film adaptation of Epic's Gears of War has been slated for release in 2010.
"We've got our script on and a director we're about to attach. We'll hopefully make that early next year for the summer of 2010," Twilight producer Wyck Godfrey has told ComingSoon.net.
It was revealed in March 2007 that New Line Cinema has nabbed the rights to a Gears movie, with Stuart Beattie handling the script.
Beattie later described the Gears movie as being an "enormous film."
"There's no way to build that world any other way, really," he said. "That's a huge world. It's a planet and it's a bubble and it's a building. It's an epic sci-fi war and an enormous film. To get it made at all, the only way to make it for a price is to be on a soundstage. But the game also has that look, which is really interesting, so I think it will dovetail really nicely."
Courtesy of CVG.

Sheng Long To Appear In Street Fighter 4

EA Buys Take Two And Gets The Whole Kaboodle

by Torrence Davis
It’s finally happened. EA has purchased Take Two for a lump some of 5 billion dollars. They get all the IP’s including the GTAIV series and all of the Take Two sports games. Say goodbye to NBA2K because EA is not only sticking with the Live brand, but also the Live development team. This means Visual Concepts is now a free agent. The same holds true to all of the 2K sports franchises. EA has completely fucked over ever person who buys 2K sports games because of their greed. They also control the GTA market as well. It’s a sad day for gamers and a great day for EA.

Breaking News: GTAIV delayed for 360 ONLY

Sources close to XE have told us that Rockstar is halting production and delaying the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 for the Xbox 360 due to a late night conference call that happened late this evening. Details are scarce, but it seems as if a former disgruntled Rockstar employee managed to leave hidden data on the Xbox 360 version of GTAIV. Rockstar immediately halted production of the discs to ensure that another “Hot Coffee” type uproar would not occur within the public and media again. Details are very scarce, but word is spreading that the content was a hidden mission involving violence, drugs, and sexual innuendos. Apparently the ESRB missed this content even after a very rigorous review of the entire game. The ESRB even requested a printout of the game code to be reviewed by their own independent research team. This “printout” is rumored to be around 1.7 million pages of data that was read by 14 independently contracted programmers. How they still managed to miss this content is not yet known. This source, who wants to remain anonymous at this time, has also told us that the PS3 version will NOT be delayed. The source states that the content which is causing this mess could not be put on the PS3’s blu-ray discs due to the amount of redundant uncompressed audio that was needed to fill the disc.

GTA4 running on screen shot

TOO HUMAN

Major analyst predicts Xbox 360 GTA IV will outsell PS3 version by a 2 to 1 ratio

Michael Pachter, the biggest analyst in the video game industry says the superior Xbox 360 version will outsell the PS3 version by a 2 to 1 ratio.
Pachter: "We expect around 6 million copies of GTA IV to be sold to Xbox 360 owners"

Janco Partners' Mike Hickey said that Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV would likely sell 5.8 million units in its first week. Now, in his latest research note on Take-Two, Wedbush Morgan Securites analyst Michael Pachter has issued a similar forecast, predicting that the game will ship six million in its first week and could sell more than nine million during Take-Two's fiscal year, which ends on October 31.

"We estimate that GTA IV is likely to sell over 9 million units during the fiscal year, and think that the company will likely ship 6 million units in its first week, and will sell 3/4 of that amount in a brief period of time. The performance of GTA IV will thus be responsible for more than 100% of Take-Two's earnings for the year, and the game is likely to mask the underperformance of the rest of Take-Two's portfolio," he said. "We think that GTA IV will generate around $450 million of the company's expected $1,073 million publishing revenue this year, and will generate an operating profit of around 30%, or $135 million. At the high end of company guidance, Take-Two will generate operating income of around $130 million, meaning that the game is responsible for 103% of overall company operating profit."

Pachter also questioned the profitability of the downloadable episodic content for the game: "[We think] Take-Two will have to generate over 2 million downloads (assuming a $15 per download price) on the Xbox 360 before it sees any more cash from this content. We expect around 6 million copies of GTA IV to be sold to Xbox 360 owners, and believe that around 65% of Xbox 360 owners are Xbox Live members, so the company has to sell a download to 50% of its addressable market in order to generate cash from the first download. This is possible, but not highly likely."

Elsewhere in the report Pachter noted his disappointment in Take-Two as a whole. GTA IV is the "one glaring exception," he said.

"We think that it is important to point out that U.S. industry software sales have grown by over 58% from the November 2005 – January 2006 period through the November 2007 – January 2008 period, while Take-Two's publishing revenues have declined by almost 23%. This is clearly a company that is losing market share, and as we review the lineup for the balance of 2008 and 2009, we see more of the same type of games we have seen over the last three years," he said. "The company's sports lineup continues to underperform, generating only $32 million of sales (26% of publishing revenues) for the key holiday period. This figure calls into question whether Take-Two can deliver sports revenues of $250 million for FY:08, as management implied in a prior earnings call."

IKARUGA coming to XLM April 9th

# 800 MS Points
# LIVE Co-op + leaderboards
# Replay mode
# Horizontal mode (letterboxed) is higher resolution than even the arcade version
# Vertical modes (tilt) supported, both left and right rotations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToBdzV7w5Pc

UEFA EURO 2008 demo now available

By Neil Vaughan - 27 Mar 08
The demo for UEFA EURO 2008 is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

For those not familiar, UEFA EURO 2008 is the official game for the European football/soccer championships taking place this summer.

All Xbox LIVE regions are able to download the demo, which weighs in at 1.10GB.

NINJA GAIDEN 2 DEMO IN MAY ON XLM

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/

Bourne Combat Action

Sega Leaks First Screens of Sonic Unleashed

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/16036/Sega-Leaks-First-Screens-of-Sonic-Unleashed/
Looks amazing

Is Race Driver the Future of Driving Games?

Codemasters claims your favorite racing games, the Gothams, Forzas and Gran Turismos, aren’t actually about racing at all. What are they about? Maybe ownership, or glamour, or simple iterative realism. Anything but what they’re meant to be.

“Gotham 4 was cool,” admits Ralph Fulton, chief designer of Race Driver: Grid. “But when we started looking at what this game’s ‘thing’ was, we looked at our competitors and found that, as a whole, they were concentrating on everything but the racing experience. We concluded that our strengths, historically, are in providing that experience. We do excellent AI, excellent physics, world-leading damage systems. We look at the competition and they’re palpably not doing what we do really well.”

If it sounds like a rather flat description of a game about the innate buzz of racing, it’s understandable; Grid’s ‘thing’ is hard to put into words. It’s a truly generational sequel, as unlikely a TOCA game as Dirt was a Colin McRae Rally. What it hopes to capture is something ethereal: an air that exists wherever there’s a race, an electricity that runs through the mere notion of taking the wheel. Imagine a storied, charismatic driver – Kowalski, say, from the movie Vanishing Point – looking back over a life spent chasing that high, wherever it’s to be found. Grid has that same deep, universal, uncomplicated love.

Its issue with modern racing seems, primarily, to be its obsession with science and technology. Too many facts and figures. Too many publicized polygon counts. Too much telemetry written across the screen. In its three territories, Europe, America and Japan, Grid seldom stares at the intricacies of vehicle manufacture; it never feels like a Haynes manual. Despite inheriting Ego (formerly Neon), the most sophisticated engine a racer could have, its attention is drawn more to the bonnets themselves that what’s beneath them.


“I’m not sure anyone could argue there’s a chasm in the racing market,” laughs Fulton. “Last year, we saw AAA racer after AAA racer come out, and obviously we were thinking then about how we’d differentiate ourselves. With many franchises, particularly racing, each iteration becomes an exercise in box-ticking: more cars, more tracks. We didn’t want to go down that road.”

Not to sound too obvious, but roads are a big thing here. Rather than a fetish for clinical, famous straights and bends, its reverence veers towards the iconic. And in its treatments of Haruna (the celebrated hill-climb from Initial D), Milan (a sun-struck, hazy dash through and around the Galleria) and San Francisco (a sepia-toned tribute to Dirty Harry) it gives renewed meaning to that overused term. The open-wheel touring cars of European circuits, belching muscle cars of US cities and tuned drift cars of illegal Japanese street-racing all convey an uncommon sense of heritage.

Unlike the era of Colin McRae 04 and Race Driver 2, where the two companion brands ploughed damagingly through each other’s turf, this game is healthily unique. “There’s healthy competition, maybe, but no overlap in terms of content,” insists Fulton. “We’ve gone out of our way to make a clear distinction between the two brands; although they’re noticeably from the same studio, they’re palpably different. There’s an overlap of personnel in the art team and programming, and obviously our outsource studio in Kuala Lumpur is heavily involved. But the key personnel differ from project to project.” And he should know: a lead designer here, he wasn’t even involved in Dirt.

What the games share most of all now is experience. And, of course, shockingly powerful technology. Burned somewhat by the weak multiplayer and meandering singleplayer of Dirt, Grid hopes to make no such mistakes. “It was at pains with its literalness, wasn’t it?” Fulton laughs of Dirt’s career mode. “That you were climbing, literally, a pyramid. It’s a fair criticism. I think we’ve tried to ground our career mode much more in the notion of a world which evolves. And while a lot of racing games have the pretence of choice, where really you’re just moving in a linear direction, we want the player to choose his career path and what to do next.”

Review: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2

By Brandon Hofer - 22 Mar 08
In Rainbow Six Vegas 2 you are once again tasked with the mission of saving the city of Las Vegas from a group of terrorists. As you quickly learn, the events of Rainbow Six Vegas 1 & 2 are running concurrently, therefore you are fighting against the same group of terrorists in both titles. Going through the story mode you will encounter the familiar locations such as casinos and such, however, you will also go through an MLG convention hall, a theater and a few other new locations as well. Much like the first title you can go through the story by yourself or with a friend via co-op. Going through co-op this time around has been improved over the first game making this co-op experience a more well rounded experience. The “Terrorist Hunt” mode also makes a return and you can choose to tackle that either solo or with a buddy over co-op. Then of course there is the multiplayer aspect which features your standard fare of team deathmatch, attack & defend, total conquest and other modes that are similar. Customization is also a big part of the game as you can choose to customize your equipment, armor & clothing. Once you choose your weapons you can even customize those, choosing which type of attachment you would like to use and things of that nature. Going through the game you can choose to customize them even further by choosing whether or not you want to put a silencer on your weapon so that you can sneak up on enemies easier. As you progress through the game you will gain more experience, which will then unlock new gear that you can use to customize your character. You also have the feature to import your face using the XBox Live Vision cam, similar to how it worked in the original Rainbow Six Vegas. There is even an achievement for doing that so be sure to do that if you want some easy gamer score points.
One new addition that Ubisoft put into Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is the sprint button. While it seems like such a simple concept, when you went through Rainbow Six Vegas you were not able to sprint ahead. This lead to a lot of deaths when you couldn’t get to cover in time because your guy would simply walk over there instead of running. It should also be noted that a couple of the controls were changed for this sequel. In the first title you would tag enemies for your allies to take out using the “back” button. In this game Ubisoft changed it so that you have to use the “LB” button. To sprint ahead you also have to hold down the “LB” button instead of clicking the left stick like some other shooters. You still control your allies in much the same way that you did in the first title. You can still have them stack up against a door and then order them to clear out a room and all of that fun stuff.
Going through the campaign mode you will notice that graphics do look better than its predecessor, however, it is not a huge leap forward. They just tend to look a little more crisp and detailed in some areas. Another thing you will notice is that the frame rate tends to dip in certain areas of intense action. It is surprising that Ubisoft was not able to lock down a steady frame rate, especially considering I don’t remember the first Rainbow Six Vegas having that issue. With that being said, the frame rate dip does not happen often and only occurs in certain areas of the game. It is definitely not enough to ruin the game, it is just a minor annoyance. The online play in this title, however, seems to run smoothly. I have gone through the entire campaign with a friend over co-op and it ran without a hitch. There was no lag at all except for the aforementioned frame rate problems. If you went through Rainbow Six Vegas and still have the save file on your hard drive then as soon as you boot up Rainbow Six Vegas 2 you are immediately rewarded for being a “Veteran”. You will receive some extra XP which will help you unlock items in the game along with a flight helmet, ballistic goggles, a tactical helmet & Balaclava. In addition you can unlock a free map to be used alongside your other Rainbow Six Vegas 2 maps by using the code that we revealed earlier in the week.
Overall, if you were a fan of the first Rainbow Six Vegas, then you should enjoy Rainbow Six Vegas 2. There is nothing groundbreaking here however Ubisoft did improve on what was already there. The storyline follows the first game pretty well and closes everything off neatly as you finish the campaign. If you weren’t a fan of the original Rainbow Six Vegas then you probably won’t like this title either as it is more of the same. However for gamers who are fans of this series you should have a lot of fun going through the game’s various modes and trying to unlock everything in the game.

Game Ratings
Graphics
9
Audio
10
Gameplay
9
Longevity
9
Online Play
9

Overall 9/10 another great shooter!

Games trailers tv

http://www.gametrailers.com/gametrailerstv_player.php?ep=11

Gears of War Hits 5 Million in Sales for the Xbox 360

Epic Games' entry into the console game space in a big way. First legitimate competitive 3rd person shooter of significance and possibly the greatest graphics to ever grace the screen of a television plugged into a console. The game is definitely gory and violent with lots of blood and splatter involved.
The story is centered around a group of soldiers or 'Gears' that are engaged in a series of missions fighting their way through hordes of the Locust, a race of creatures that emerge from under ground to battle the humans of the planet Sera. You take the leadership of this group of Gears as Marcus Fenix and the whole campaign is centered around squad combat and the use of cover and flanking to a significant extent.
Definitely one of the most innovative (if not most) shooters of recent years, the decision to with a 3rd person perspective and the implementation of a cover system change the mechanics of the game from your average shooter and really add a lot to the experience.
The campaign component of the game is roughly 5-8 hours long and has both single player, two player offline co-op and online 2 player co-op. Playing with someone else through the campaign makes it a much funner experience and brings the squad combat to the forefront even more than the game normally does.
The multiplayer game is 4 on 4 multiplayer with 4 modes: Warzone (team deathmatch), Execution (team deathmatch with the ability to revive fallen comrades for a short time), Assassination (killing the other team's designated leader) and Annex (king of the hill).
Except for Annex, the multiplayer modes don't have timed respawns like other shooters do. Essentially each round is a battle of its own. This makes for a very frantic and competitive series of rounds where each player's role is maximized beacause of the small teams.
Online downloadable content has been added and more is on the way in the form of maps and new modes (Annex was added as a downloadable) so the game has continually improving online experience.
With some of the best visuals in any game ever and really interesting gameplay mechanics, good single player levels and very addictive and competitive multiplayer game, this is a must for every 360 owner who isn't turned off by the violence.

super street fighter ii turbo hd remix Capcom Explain Why There's No PS3 SFII HD Beta

360 owners get access to the SFII HD beta when they pick up Commando 3. PS3 owners don't. That kind of discrepancy leads to questions, which left unanswered lead to thinking, then a wacky hypothesis, then most likely an ill-informed internet forum rant. Seeking to head that kind of rant off at the pass, Capcom have explained just why PS3 owners won't be getting access to the beta, listing reasons such as a finite number of resources, the fact a double-test would have pushed the actual game's release back months and the near-impossibility of running a cross-platform beta test. All very legitimate, all very sensible. None as sensible as this, though: this is a beta test. Not a demo. As Capcom's Seth Killian explains, "There is code parity across the two and any issues found in 360 will be fixed in PS3".

Call of Duty 4 DLC : Chinatown Preview Video

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/News-123496.aspx

GTA IV Online Multiplayer: 15 Modes, 16 Player Support

Death Match will feature rocket launchers.
The host of the match sets the rules for each game type. In “Race” and “GTA Race,” the host chooses the vehicles and number of laps. In “Deathmatch” and “Team Death Match,” the host chooses the weapons, the number of pedestrians, the amount of traffic, even if the police will sneak in or not.
You can customize your character in multiplayer, from sex and race to hair and clothes.
PlayStation Revista Oficial played a death match game where all players had rocket launchers and half the city was blown away.
In “Mafiya Work” and “Team Mafiya Work,” each player becomes a Kenny Petrovic's assassin that competes against the other users. The goal is to complete Petrovic's orders (issued via a mobile phone) before the other players.
In “Race” and “GTA Race,” you can use fire weapons to neutralize your rivals and steal a car in case yours gets busted.
In “Cops N Crooks,” you’ll be able to play cops and robbers, but in a wild way. One team plays as criminals on the run while the other team plays as the cops, whose mission is to kill the head of the criminal band. To make things even more interesting, cops can see the location of the criminals on their GPS, so criminals never know where or when police will sneak in. Of all the game types played by PlayStation Revista Oficial, “Cops N Crooks” was the most entertaining one.
In “Hangman’s NOOSE,” you’ll play co-op and this game type is similar to the VIP escort game mode found in Counter-Strike.
The game modes are:
Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch
Hangman's NOOSE
Mafiya Work
Team Mafiya Work
Cops N Crooks
Race
GTA Race
Car Jack City
Bomb da Base
Bomb da Base II
Turf War
Deal Breaker
Free Mode
????

Darksector !

Mass Effect 2 will blow people away

BioWare senior manager teases with Mass Effect 2 details.


Speaking to VideoGamer.com at EA's Guildford HQ yesterday, BioWare's Senior Manager Matt Atwood shed some light on Mass Effect 2, teasing us with how brilliant the game will be.
"How will it correlate to Mass Effect, the original? There's a lot of really exciting answers to that question. I think that people are going to be blown away," said Atwood. "I've learned some of the things. I don't mean to tease people. The teams are just so brilliant and the story writing is so good that straight out from the beginning of Mass Effect 2, people are going to be in awe."
And what about the story of the second game? Atwood confirmed that Mass Effect 2 would continue the story and that it won't be a prequel.
"The story was always written as an arc, so they are meant to stand alone as great games to play individually, but even better if you play them all, because you get the entire experience, and there are quite a few twists - there'll be quite a few things that people will not expect."
Gamers wanting to know how your crew and characters will be carried over to the sequel will have to wait a little longer for the info, but Atwood did reassure us that BioWare is working on it.
"As far as keeping your crew, and keeping your characters, and bringing them into Mass Effect 2, I don't want to get that specific with regards to what will happen, but I will tell you that things you did and people you interacted with in Mass Effect... you may very well meet up with them again, whether it be the main character or other characters. Other characters take on more significant roles and there's plenty of folks you haven't met yet."

Mass Effect 2 to Be an Xbox 360 Exclusive

After EA acquired BioWare, the future of Mass Effect was uncertain and once Microsoft confirmed it no longer owns the publishing rights of the series, every Mass Effect fan thought they will eventually see the game on the PlayStation 3. Well, that won't be the case. Speaking to CVG, BioWare senior manager Matt Atwood revealed that the sequel will definitely be an Xbox 360 exclusive and, like the first game, it may eventually be released on PC. "I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time," Atwood told CVG. Then he added: "I think you'll see a PC version not too far away."

360 bundle madness grips retail

Flurry of advertising hits national press as price war takes hold following 360 cut

Multiple retailers are offering Xbox 360 bundle deals to coincide with the today's price drop.

Several of these offers are promoted in today’s Metro newspaper, which includes deals from Zavvi, Argos and Blockbuster.

Zavvi is offering an Xbox 360 Pro, with copies of Assassin’s Creed, Lost Odyssey and Halo 3, for just £210.

Blockbuster is promoting a deal for Xbox 360 Arcade, which includes a new game (Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, Army of Two or FIFA Street) for £169.99,

Finally Argos is offering two free games (Forza Motorsport 2 and Viva Pinata) with any 360 console.

Microsoft announced earlier this week that the Xbox 360 price was to fall, with the Arcade edition priced at £159.99, the Pro version at £199.99 and the Elite console coming in at £249.99.

New Street Fighter IV character revealed!

Above: El Fuerte!

Ubisoft Announces Special Legacy Edition GRAW 2

Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it would release a special Legacy Edition for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter ® 2, the follow up to the massively popular squad-based action franchise, and next generation smash hit of 2006.This exciting new Legacy Edition will include the original game, and an additional disk containing all the GRAW 2 downloadable packs available on Xbox Live to date! It includes:- 32 additional maps, a combination of new maps and best of maps!- New exciting game modes and a large variety of exclusive ground-breaking missions- Exclusive additional weapons that enrich the tactical possibilities in Single PlayerTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter ® 2 Legacy Edition is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in April 2008 and will be available in stores at Mid-Price

DICE announces multiplayer beta for Xbox 360's Battlefield: Bad Company

DICE has announced a multiplayer beta for the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield: Bad Company. The beta will start on March 17, while the game will be available come June. Check the full article for details on where to get a beta key.
by: Michael Ogunnubi
March 13, 2008
Electronic Arts studio DICE has announced the multiplayer beta test for the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield: Bad Company. In the beta, gamers can battle through two different maps and try out the game's new infantry kits and vehicles. IGN Founders’ Club and IGN Insider will be offering beta keys to both members and the general public in North America and Europe. Beta keys can also be obtained from IGN.com and its affiliated websites including GameSpy, TeamXbox, Planet Battlefield and Voodoo Extreme.

Xbox: 'We can rule summer'

European boss Chris Lewis says he "wouldn't change places with any other platform holder" after price cut.

Tomorrow’s price drop on all three Xbox 360 SKUs will give the console the boost it needs to rule the next-gen battle this summer, Microsoft has told MCV.The platform holder has made a clear attempt to lure in famillies with the cuts, which see its Arcade model retail for £159.99 (€199.99). “I genuinely wouldn’t change places with any other platform holder right now,” said Euro Xbox boss Chris Lewis.

We’re very confident – not only in terms of the price cut but also in terms of what content is coming this summer and later this year."The race is far from over. We've always had a deliberate strategy that we had to secure the core gamers first. Having done so in a way that we're proud of, we now have a real appetite to appeal to the mass market."

Lost Planet: Colonies Edition Announced

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition COLONIES EDITION is in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft as well as a version for Windows-based PCs that will support Games for Windows – LIVE®. Scheduled for Platinum Hits release this June in North America, Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION extends the acclaimed Lost Planet experience by delivering fresh new content and gameplay options, as well as online cross-platform play between both the Xbox 360 and Windows-based PCs using Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE. Both SKUs of the game will offer excellent value, with the Xbox 360 version achieving Platinum Hits status. Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and will be released on both Windows PCs and Xbox 360 on May 27 for the Platinum Hits value price of $29.99. Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION provides the same compelling single player experience found in the original Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, with the addition of three new modes. In Score Attack, all enemies have points assigned to them and the score awarded will change depending on how they are defeated, with skilled marksmen being rewarded. For those who thrive on a challenge, Trial Battle Mode delivers, pitting players against all of the game’s bosses, one after another. Players of both Score Attack and Trial Battle modes will be able to compare their skills and compete for bragging rights via the online ranking system. Finally things get a little crazy with Off Limit Mode which lets players take on Lost Planet’s harsh environments and enemies with over-the-top, super-charged weapons and a powered-up grappling hook.


Click here to view all screenshots Fans of multiplayer action will not be disappointed as Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION allows them to enjoy a host of new maps, characters, weapons and gameplay modes. Players turn poacher as they attempt to steal opponents’ alien Akrid eggs in a number of individual and team play modes, while the addition of VS Annihilator Mode assigns one robotic Vital Suit to each team, which must be defended at all cost. Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION also includes the feature that Lost Planet fans across the globe have been clamoring for – the ability to play as a gigantic marauding Akrid. Revel in the chance to turn the tables on the Snow Pirates as you assume the role of one of E.D.E.N. III’s indigenous creatures in Akrid Hunting mode. All of these modes can be played across a total of 20 diverse maps, including a number of brand-new multiplayer arenas set in areas such as the confines of an ancient coliseum or the zero gravity of space. For the first time, Xbox 360 owners will be able to join up with or play against Windows-based PC gamers, thanks to Lost Planet COLONIES EDITION’s cross-platform compatibility. Lost Planet Extreme Condition – COLONIES EDITION includes everything that made the original Lost Planet a hit on 360, Windows PC and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, as well as the following new features: New modes for single-player campaign
Score Attack – Each enemy and destructible object has points assigned to them, with the player being awarded different points depending on how they defeat the enemy.
Trial Battle Mode – Take on each of the game’s Bosses, one after another
Off limit Mode – Go wild with over-the-top super-charged weapons with unlimited ammunition and increased speed of movement

lost planet colonies scans

Capcom working on a “top secret” Xbox 360 game

Siliconera reports that earlier today, Capcom opened their doors to Bay Area gamers interested in spending an afternoon playing one of their new games. A set of photos from the test are now online and one of them teases us with black boxes over the monitors. While we can’t see the title in question there are Xbox 360 development units adjacent to the flat screen TVs and a 360 pad in someone’s lap. It seems likely the unknown title is going to be an Xbox 360 game. Could this be a test for Lost Planet Colonies? While Capcom has yet to say anything official about a potential Lost Planet follow up many, many ratings boards have Lost Planet Colonies in their database. The room happens to have Lost Planet artwork on the wall too, which may or may not be a coincidence.

Lost Planet Colonies Finally Announced PC/360 Only

Kotaku Writes: Capcom (may) have, via leaked mag scans, had the wraps taken off Lost Planet Colonies, the successor to snowy bug-killing simulator Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. What's new? There's a new playable character (that girl in snow gear) and in online play you'll get the option of playing as the bugs against the humans. That online play will feature cross-platform play between PCs and 360s. There's all-new weapons and all-new monsters to fight (including their eggs), and it'll be out in Japan on May 29. Oh, and no word of a PS3 release as of yet. Bear in mind: all this info comes courtesy of a leaked magazine scan that's been...modified to include super-awesome Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui, so until we get some more concrete info, take it all with a grain of salt.

Bioshock 2 officially confirmed

Bioshock 2 has been officially confirmed as being in development at 2K Marin Studio with the game being release later this year.

The Orange Box Wins More Than 100 Awards

The 2007 award season is coming to an end and that's why Valve Software has announced that The Orange Box has won over 100 awards, including 50 Game of the Year honors. "While some have called it the best value in video game history, Valve took a chance with the product mix in The Orange Box, the game design of Portal, and the art style of Team Fortress 2," said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. "After earning the top review scores of all time on two platforms, becoming a best seller on multiple platforms, and accumulating over 100 awards, that risk has been rewarded by gamers and game critics around the world. We look forward to following up on the success of The Orange Box later this year with the launch of Left 4 Dead on PC and Xbox 360."

Mass Effect: Bring Down the Sky

The following in game content is now available for purchase from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Mass Effect. This download includes an additional achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles

1 call of duty 4
2 halo3
3 guitar hero 3
4 gears of war
5 rock band
6 army of two
7 fifa 08
8 madden nfl 08
9 rainbow six vegsa
10 frontlines fuel of war

Microsoft VP on European 360 price drop

“Xbox 360 is now mass market in Europe,” said Chris Lewis, Vice President, Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business Europe. “We have reached and surpassed several key milestones that form part of our long term strategic plan to achieve critical mass in Europe; and our portfolio now offers the kind of mainstream entertainment experiences that secure wider appeal for Xbox 360. These factors allow us to execute on our strategy to widen the market for Xbox 360, as planned.
“We continue to offer intense, immersive gaming experiences for gamers – but now we’re priced in a way that will allow new consumers to find out for themselves why Xbox 360 is the ultimate in high-definition entertainment.” said Lewis. “History shows that €199/£159 is the price point where a console’s audience begins to expand, and with these new ERPs in place we’re ready to bring more consumers into the Xbox 360 world.”

An interview with Microsoft about the 360 price drop

By Neil Vaughan - 10 Mar 08

The Xbox Community Network have caught up with Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President, Xbox Europe to ask him some questions about the Xbox 360 price drop in Europe.
So we’ve heard the great news about the reduction in the estimated retail price (ERP) for the European Xbox 360. Why are you deciding to do this now?
From long before we even launched the Xbox 360 we had a very specific plan to hit a number of key milestones in Europe, and our portfolio of games and features now offers the kind of mainstream entertainment experiences that secure wider appeal for the Xbox 360. It’s great to see that we’ve achieved our goals and made it to that critical mass, making Xbox 360 a mass-market proposition. That’s why this is the perfect time to reduce our ERP.
We’ve also seen from history that €199/£159 – which is the new ERP for the Xbox 360 Arcade console - is the price point where a console’s audience really begins to take off, and with these new ERPs in place we’re ready to bring more customers into the Xbox 360 family. For example. PS2 sold 79% of their total installed base after dropping price to this level. It’s an exciting move for us and I’m sure lots of new people will now decide that the Xbox 360 experience is perfect for them!

Over the past few months we’ve seen really strong sales from PS3 and Wii – are you trying to catch up by selling Xbox 360s off cheap?
Not at all. Like I’ve already said, the new ERPs are part of our ongoing strategy to open up the ultimate in high-definition gaming and entertainment to an even wider audience, with an offering for everyone. This is about giving even more people the opportunity to try out Xbox 360.

Tell us more about the overall strategy that you refer to.
No problem. From the beginning we’ve had a very deliberate plan to secure core gamers first, and then expand the market. I think we’ve done a phenomenal job of securing the gamer, with record-setting game attach rates and great growth on Xbox LIVE. But I think Xbox 360 also offers something for everyone. We’ve got huge titles like GTAIV, BioShock, Halo 3, more casual titles like Scene IT? and Guitar Hero, and then there’s Xbox LIVE Arcade’s quick and fun downloadable games, or if you’re in the UK, Ireland, France or Germany a selection of films for the whole family from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

You also recently reduced the estimated retail price of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. Are these two things connected? Should Xbox 360 owners be concerned about the future of their console?
Xbox 360 owners should not be worried at all – in fact, I think they should be more excited than ever about the future of their console! We’re committed to continuing to offer intense, immersive gaming experiences for gamers – but now we’re priced in a way that will allow new consumers to find out for themselves why we think Xbox 360 is the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience. This isn’t connected to any HD-DVD announcement whatsoever.

How do you think Xbox 360 is doing against the PS3 and the Wii?
I’ve said this before and I still truly believe that if someone offered me to trade places with any of our competitors I’d say no thanks. I won’t deny that competition is very high in this generation, but the race is far from over and we are confident we have a winning strategy. Our new ERP is just part of that plan.

So how many Xbox 360s do you think you will sell before the end of your financial year in June?
I’m afraid that we’re not announcing any guidance figures on Xbox 360 sales for a number of competitive and market reasons. But what I can tell you is that Microsoft recently announced the Entertainment and Devices Division reached profitability in the first half of the year driven by record-setting gains from Xbox 360 hardware and software sales. We’ve got a great story to tell about the success of the Xbox 360 – currently more than 17.7 million consoles have been sold, and Xbox LIVE continues to explode with more than 10 million members online to date. But I think the most interesting stat for me is that we have a record-breaking game attach rate of 7, so on average everyone who owns an Xbox 360 game also has 7 great games in their collection. That is the highest attach rate in this generation of gaming, and I think that says so much about the quality of our games, the quality of the overall experience, and the quality for the Xbox 360 community!

We’ve been hearing a lot about ‘broadening the audience’ and ‘opening up the market’. Do you think that’s a realistic goal for Xbox 360 and do you feel you’re making it happen?
Absolutely! We provide the largest next-generation collection of ‘3+’-rated games – there are more than 150 in all. We want to make sure that no matter who you are, what age you are, or where you’re from, Xbox 360 has the perfect selections of games for you. I definitely think we’re making that happen.

So what Xbox 360 games are you most looking forward to in 2008?
Oh wow, there are so many! It’s so exciting to be able to run through the massive games we’ve got coming, especially the next versions of great franchises like GTA, Resident Evil and the sports games like FIFA and Pro Evo. And of course, the Xbox 360 is going to be the only place to play the complete version of GTAIV with two exclusive downloadable episodes only available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
And I have to mention all the massive sequels to games which are already exclusive to Xbox 360! Of course, there’s Gears 2, which will be hitting shops this year. And with Fable 2 and Ninja Gaiden 2 also in the mix I think it’s pretty clear that this is another blockbuster year for Xbox 360.
Another thing I’m really excited about is our plans for the XNA community. We’re giving people the chance to create their own games and share them with the Xbox LIVE community, and I believe the whole XNA program is going to give Xbox 360 owners even more choices and opportunities to experience the broad range of the console.

Xbox has talked previously about the huge number of new Xbox LIVE subscribers who came online over Christmas. How many people are on LIVE now?
There are currently 10 million Xbox LIVE customers in 26 countries. We projected to hit the 10 millions member mark by July 2008, but we are delighted to announce that we reached our goal 6 months early! Of those 10 million members, roughly three-quarters of the Xbox LIVE community are male and one-quarter female, with new members added daily. Something I’m particularly proud of is the huge boost in female Xbox LIVE members, as that number has increased dramatically during the service’s five years. I think it’s another sign that we’re continuing to add the right features like Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store and great casual games to bring more and more people – men, women, kids and adults – to Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE.

Thanks for your time Chris!

Football Manager 2008 on Xbox 360 Gone Gold

SEGA Europe Ltd. and Sports Interactive today announced that Football Manager 2008 on Xbox 360 has gone gold.
by: Jason Solorzano
March 10, 2008
SEGA Europe Ltd. and Sports Interactive today announced that Football Manager 2008 on Xbox 360 has gone gold. Football Manager™2008 for Xbox 360 has been updated with all transfers from the last transfer window, and retains all the depth and realism of the record breaking PC version. The Xbox 360 version also utilises Xbox Live to have different online modes to the PC game, permitting you to challenge friends to one-on-one matches and even host tournaments, and is a multi-region game, so European copies will work on Xbox 360’s around the world. “We’re really pleased to be able to offer all Xbox 360 owners the chance to play Football Manager” commented Miles Jacobson, Studio Director of Sports Interactive “This years game is the first that “core” users will be able to enjoy due to the hard work of the development team, and we look forward to getting a new generation of budding Football Manager’s across Europe.” Football Manager 2008 was released across Europe for PC and Apple Macintosh in October 2007 and is the fastest selling game in the series to date. The Xbox 360 version will be available in stores on March 28th 2008.

Dark Sector Goes Gold

Dark Sector Goes Gold
by Matt Gibbs


D3Publisher of America (D3PA) today announced that Dark Sector will ship to retail stores in North America on March 25, 2008 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Developed by acclaimed developer Digital Extremes, co-creators behind the award-winning Epic Game's Unreal franchise, Dark Sector is an all-new and original action-thriller that will offer players a dark, gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging story.

"Dark Sector fans have been waiting for this moment and we're pleased to say that after months of tweaking and polishing, the game is ready to entertain and wow gamers," said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3PA. "Digital Extremes has poured their heart and soul into this game and it shows through compelling gameplay and absolutely stunning graphics."

Utilizing the Evolution Engine, proprietary next-gen technology developed by Digital Extremes, Dark Sector is an all-new and original action-thriller designed exclusively for next-generation consoles. The game thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an elite black-ops agent sent on a dangerous mission into a decaying Eastern European city that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities; he must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero. A dark, gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging story, Dark Sector represents the next evolution of gaming.

Far Cry 2 Screenshots

Microsoft will support Blu-ray

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has already admitted that they are looking to support the Blu-ray format following the demise of HD-DVD.

Although Ballmer did not specifically mention gaming, it does look as if Microsoft will soon announce a Blu-ray add-on player for the Xbox 360.

Speaking at the Mix08 conference, Ballmer said: "We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like.

"I think the world moves on," he added. "Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense."

Damnation first look

With some pretty stunning looking graphics, Damnation serves up an adventure laden shooting experience...

Damnation from new developer Blue Omega Entertainment aims to give the player plenty of action-orientated environments to swing around in, and of course shoot nasty enemies in.

Giving the shooter genre a much needed shot in the arm with its unique and exhilarating combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation will feature stunning open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts.

Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation will feature vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet. Think Crackdown goes Country.

Players will be able to choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. However players aren't the only ones with mind-blowing acrobatic skills; intelligent enemies will give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction – in Damnation's world there's no safe place to hide.

In addition to the single player experience, Damnation fires up LIVE with multiplayer gameplay taking place in the game's expansive levels. Damnation will be available for Xbox 360 in late 2008.
http://www.totally360.com/

Exclusive: 60GB Xbox 360 Will Replace 20GB Model

TrustedReviews writes:

"Following my outing of the 16GB iPhone I have once again have attained from a rock solid source that Microsoft will be replacing the 20GB hard drive on the standard Xbox 360 with a larger 60GB version. Dates are not nailed down, but my source says Microsoft wants it done and dusted before the end of its financial year which translates as our Q2."

Bourne Action

Halo 3 March Playlist Update

Bungie has announced a March playlist update to Halo 3, which is live now. The update features a number of tweaks to the matchmaking experience and the introduction of DoubleXP Weekend playlists as well as some tweaks to the DLC playlists. Luke Smith explains:

We're introducing two Weekend Hoppers DoubleXP playlists this month, with the first hopper launching Thursday, March 6 at NOON.

* Grifball, the game created by Burnie Burns of Red vs. Blue will be an unranked, weekend-long social playlist awarding DoubleXP to winning teams. We've slightly adjusted some of the rules for Grifball (unlimited round times make for unlimited griefing potential), but kept the game's core intact. You'll be able to go in with party configurations ranging from one to eight people. This playlist will be available from Thursday, March 6 at NOON until March 10 at NOON(all times Pacific Standard). I apparently forgot to mention that the Grifball hopper is being treated like a Tournament hopper -- a hopper where there will be prizes. Tournament prizes.

* Beginning March 20 at NOON will be the return of Team SWAT in the Social, DoubleXP variety. Team SWAT is an old Halo 2 gametype where players have no shields, increased body health and do not have the luxury of radar. This eight-player maximum hopper will be completely Team Slayer focused with the SWAT ruleset. This weekend playlist will be available from March 20 at NOON until March 23 at NOON(all times Pacific).


The Heroic DLC hopper has underwent some revisions as well. The hopper has been split into DLC Slayer (4v4) and DLC Objective (6v6) featuring a mix of various gametypes on the DLC maps. Slayer variants include Team Snipers, Team Rockets, Team BRs, Team Duel and Team Duals. Objective variants include Multi Flag CTF, Multi Flag BR, One Flag, Assault, Neutral Bomb Assault and Team King.

A number of other changes to maps and Matchmaking were included in today's rollout:

* Fixed map exploit on The Pit
* Fixed map exploit on Construct
* Fixed map exploit on Epitaph
* Reduced Ranked Big Team Battle "Large party" size to six players and increased Big Team threshold to two*
* Fixed Spartan Laser occasionally falling through map on Sandtrap
* Fixes to matchmaking to allow more even leveling for players
* Disabled Mixed Skill restrictions for RBTB and Team Slayer**


These changes are all live, now.

Army of Two

OUT THIS FRIDAY

Race Driver: GRID Preview (Xbox 360)

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1891/Race-Driver-GRID/p1/

GRAW 2 Co-op Collection 2 Revealed

MISSIONS:

Bridges – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder)
Stronghold – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder)
Depot – (Ghost Recon: Desert Siege)
Riverbed – (Ghost Recon: Desert Siege)
Ghost Town – (Ghost Recon: Desert Siege)
Roadblock – (Ghost Recon: Desert Siege)
Island – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder)
Treatment Plant – (Brand New)
Mining Camp – (Brand New)

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Co-Op pics

Is Gears of War Better Than Halo?

Is Gears of War Better Than Halo? Two heroes. Two evil alien races. Two sweeping sci-fi universes. Two battles for humanity's survival. Two franchises. Two multiplayer kings. Two best-selling, megaton-popular action games beloved by consumers and celebrated by critics. Two shooters competing for the title of Xbox 360 champion.

The Halo and Gears of War series are both incredible, but in a world of internet trolls and blind fanboy allegiance, only one can be crowned. So, in an effort to declare a final victor - or at least ignite a flame war - GamesRadar Editors Charlie Barratt and Chris Antista put aside all professional objectivity and fair minded rationality for a bloody (and juvenile) battle royale.


http://www.gamesradar.com/f/haloradar-gears-of-war-vs-halo/a-20080229153630372055

Alone in the Dark 5 - Tech demo 2

Prototype gameplay - awesome

Alone in the Dark 5 - Tech demo

FAR CRY 2