Microsoft now faces a lawsuit over recent problems with its Xbox Live online gaming service.
Three Texas residents filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of themselves and others who have had trouble connecting to Xbox Live in recent weeks.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Houston, claims Microsoft's outages represent a breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation for which the software maker is liable. The suit doesn't claim specific damages, but notes the amount is in excess of $5 million.
In the suit, the plaintiffs allege that Microsoft should have known strong holiday sales would tax its servers. "Microsoft knew the increase in subscriptions would increase game-play on its servers, yet failed to provide adequate access and service to Xbox Live and its subscribers."
Microsoft has apologized for the outage and said it would allow Xbox live subscribers to download a free game.
A Microsoft representative was not immediately available for comment.
The Grand Theft Auto and Max Payne series, along with other Rockstar titles, are now available on Valve’s Steam content delivery platform.
GTA I, II, III, Vice City and San Andreas are all available on Steam starting today, along with Midnight Club II, Max Payne 1 and 2, Manhunt and Wild Metal Country.
Rockstar’s games will be discounted by 10 percent during launch week.
Steam, which recently introduced community features such as groups and chat, currently boasts 13 million accounts worldwide.
"We are continually looking for ways to give back to our fans and this collaboration will give people a chance to easily revisit some of our greatest titles,” said Rockstar head of finance Rowan Hajaj in a statement.
Midway released today a downloadable map pack for Stranglehold. The map pack features 10 additional multiplayer maps ranging from the Kowloon Market to Wong's Estate Grounds to the Rooftops of Chicago, as well as 21 all-new multiplayer character skins.
The Xbox 360 version will include 10 new achievements worth 250 points. Rated "M" for mature by the ESRB, the Stranglehold downloadable map pack is available now in North America via Xbox LIVE, and is coming soon to the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network.
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox 360 has sold 17.7 million consoles worldwide—click through to see Halo 3 and Mass Effect’s staggering sales figures.
Microsoft announced Thursday that Bungie’s Halo 3, released September 25, 2007 in North America, has sold 8.1 million units worldwide.
BioWare’s RPG Mass Effect, released November 20, has sold an impressive 1.6 million units to date.
These titles helped drive a software attach rate of 6.9 games, according to November NPD data.
“Microsoft is proud of the contributions Xbox 360 is making to the gaming industry, and looks forward to an even more successful 2008,” the firm said in a statement.
A source close to Microsoft has downplayed rumors of an equipped-to-the-hilt “Xbox 360 Ultimate.”
An article in UK-based gadget mag Stuff said that by August 2008, Microsoft will release what the publication called the “Xbox 360 Ultimate.”
This machine would outdo the current Xbox 360 top SKU, the Xbox 360 Elite, by including “1080p HDMI output, built-in Wi-Fi, hi-def audio output, cooler 65nm hardware architecture and a near-silent fan,” as well as a 320GB disk drive and a possible built-in HD-DVD player.
When contacted by Next-Gen, Microsoft declined to comment on the rumor. However, a separate source close to Microsoft who wished to remain anonymous said that the rumored “Ultimate” is simply not on the cards.
Third-party videogame accessory provider Mad Catz has inked a deal with Rock Band publisher MTV Networks to provide peripherals for the game.
The multi-year licensing agreement will bring Mad Catz' Rock Band controllers to the market sometime in the first half of 2008. The firm now has the rights to manufacture, market and sell Rock Band peripherals and other Rock Band-related products.
Mad Catz’ instrument controllers will be produced for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PS2. The peripheral maker said that guitars would come in wired and wireless varieties.
In Rock Band, which is distributed by Electronic Arts, four players can play together simultaneously using two guitar controllers (bass/lead guitar), a drum kit and a microphone. Mad Catz will be releasing versions of all Rock Band peripherals.
MTV Networks and its development studio Harmonix have ran into snags with Rock Band controllers since the game’s US release in November 2007. Faulty strum bars plagued the guitars, and tight supply has prevented the release of individual instruments outside of the $170 bundle (or $160 for PS2).
HQ Network: 8,827 | 
Guests: 5124 |
Members: 1
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Houston, claims Microsoft's outages represent a breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation for which the software maker is liable. The suit doesn't claim specific damages, but notes the amount is in excess of $5 million.
Steam, which recently introduced community features such as groups and chat, currently boasts 13 million accounts worldwide.
The Xbox 360 version will include 10 new achievements worth 250 points. Rated "M" for mature by the ESRB, the 
BioWare’s RPG Mass Effect, released November 20, has sold an impressive 1.6 million units to date.
Mad Catz’ instrument controllers will be produced for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PS2. The peripheral maker said that guitars would come in wired and wireless varieties.
