The Xbox 360 supports DivX and XviD as of today, which may make some of you with big file collections (like us) as giddy as a kid in store with puppies made of candy. We threw our entire collection of movies, TV shows and random clips at it and found that the 360 can play back pretty much anything. Here are some notes.
You can play files off of a CD/DVD. This feature wasn't listed on the Xbox Team's website as one of the supported locations for playing back content, but this is fantastic for homes that have wireless networks (or no network at all). In fact, reading off a disc is probably the best way to ensure your movie won't cut out in the middle due to network congestion (unlikely) or someone turning off the computer accidentally (fairly likely).
It supports almost all files. It played back all TV shows we threw at it, including My Name is Earl, 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Battlestar Galactica, and The Venture Bros.. Most of these, and most TV downloaded TV shows, are encoded in XviD format. As for DivX, that's supported back to version 5.0, but it's unlikely that you're going to find any DivX 3 or DivX 4 online, unless you're talking about old files you've saved for a couple years.
Sierra Online have announced that Battlestar Galactica will be available from the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007.
Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, has set release dates for Battlestar Galactica™, an action-packed, space combat interactive game based on the popular television series produced by Universal Media Studios and airing on SCI FI Channel. Battlestar Galactica™ will be available for Windows PC via top online gaming portals and in retail stores Oct. 23, 2007 and will land on Xbox LIVE Arcade Oct. 24, 2007. The Battlestar Galactica™ interactive game is produced under license from Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.
Leading up to the launch of the game, fans of the series can also watch Razor Flashbacks on www.scifi.com/battlestar that will whet their appetites for the upcoming SCI FI Channel special two-hour Battlestar Galactica episode: Razor. Razor, which will serve as a backdrop for the events of season four of Battlestar Galactica, tells the story of Lee Adama's first mission as the commander of the battlestar Pegasus — and the harrowing tale of that ship's desperate fight for survival in the immediate aftermath of the Cylon's genocidal siege of the Twelve Colonies.
Game Features
Single-Player Campaign – Pilot various ships and complete 10 memorable missions from the TV series.
Multiplayer Game Mode – Play online in this relentless space-based action shooter in Domination, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes. (8 players on Xbox LIVE Arcade and 16 players on Windows PC)
Legendary Spaceships – Fly 4 Human and 4 Cylon ships from the Viper II to the Cylon Raider, each with unique weapon capabilities.
Special Weapons – Coordinate attacks with an arsenal of destructive weapons including the missiles, guns and more.
Defensive Maneuvers – Avoid annihilation with the barrel roll, flip turn and other aerial moves.
Battlestar Galactica is rated E 10+ and will be available for Windows PC at retail outlets nationwide as well as top online gaming portals for $19.99. An Xbox LIVE Arcade version of the game will be available for 800 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. For more information on the Battlestar Galactica interactive game visit www.bsgarcade.com.
The guys over at Xbox 360 Rally have done a fantastic job and gone to all the effort of writing up a Complete List of FREE Xbox 360 Live Marketplace Downloads..
Kudo's must go to the guys for putting in such a great effort..
Please remember that this is a US-based list! If you live in, say, Canada or the EU and see items on here that are region specific.
The Xbox LIVE Marketplace is a true cornucopia of stuff. Whether it be classic arcade games like Paperboy, Time Pilot and Contra, or downloadable content for your favorite games, like Santa Claus outfits for Saints Row and expansions for Oblivion, Xbox LIVE is chock full o’ stuff for just about everyone. If you have the MS Points, you can open the door to all the world’s delight and joy.
But what if you’re broke? Are you just left outside in the snow, to stare in the window from behind the bushes to see all the joyous boys and girls playing with their horse armor and their extra Crackdown skins? Of course not! There’s stuff for you, too, cheap ass!
In fact, there is a LOT of free stuff for you. Whether it be extra content for your favorite game, or the most worthless of things (*coughgamerpicscough*), there is a surprisingly large amount of free stuff for your downloading delight on Xbox LIVE.
Switchball, Commanders, Battlestar Galactica on the way..
Sierra Online has announced three upcoming titles which will be released for Xbox Live Arcade.
Switchball, a physics-based puzzle game, is due on Xbox Live Arcade late in the summer. Commanders: Attack!, a turn-based battle game, and Battlestar Galactica, based upon the Sci-Fi Channel television series, will both be available this autumn.
David Haddad, senior vice president of Sierra Online, told GamesIndustry.biz that the company is "very excited" about the Xbox Live Arcade platform.
Enjoy Tokyo Game Show and X06 direct from your living room with an all-access pass to the biggest video game events of the fall.
Xbox Live is “Bringing It Home” and invites Xbox 360 owners to check out games, demos, trailers and news from the show floors.
Gamers don’t have to be on the Tokyo Game Show and X06 guest lists to have a front row seat to all of the action, because this year Xbox brings these event show floors to you. Following on from the success of “E3: Bringing It Home,” Xbox is inviting all gamers to enjoy exclusive access via Xbox Live Marketplace to Tokyo Game Show, the largest show from the world’s second largest gaming market, and X06, the ultimate Microsoft games showcase.
Starting Wednesday, September 20, through Friday, September 29, connected gamers can access the best content from the Tokyo Game Show in Japan and X06 in Barcelona, Spain, including highlights from both press briefings, daily updates and behind the scenes videos from the show floors as well as the hottest playable game demos and videos in high definition. The majority of this content will only be available until 12:00 a.m. PDT on September 29, so be sure to download everything you want while it is available.
There will also be a brand new Xbox Live Arcade title launch each week, one at Tokyo Game Show and one at X06, including a never before announced major franchise making its way onto Xbox Live Arcade. In total, more than 100 pieces of new downloadable content will be available to gamers during the nine day period. In addition to new playable game demos, there will also be new game videos from the following titles being showcased at Tokyo Game Show and/or X06:
Rumors of a built-in HD DVD sku are greatly exaggerated. We're proudly launching the HD DVD Player as an accessory this holiday. Turns out you want a say in how you spend your entertainment dollars. So who are we to burden every customer with the cost of expensive movie technology?
The Xbox way is to let you customize your high def and online experience.
- You see that in the selection of 160 high definition games we're offering this holiday
- You see that in the pricing of the games, which start at $5 for Arcade games and will soon include a Platinum Hits line
You see that in the two Xbox Live offerings--Silver and Gold
* You see that in the family of more than 20 accessories
-Launch accessories included: Wireless Controller, faceplates, Play & Charge Kits, etc
-Holiday '06 Accessories: Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows, Xbox Live Vision Camera, Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, and Xbox 360 HD DVD Player
What about high definition entertainment? We have a broad entertainment strategy that gives you the freedom to personalize your experiences:
* Out of the box: Plays HD games, DVD movies, Mp3 music, and digital photos off devices and discs; Xbox 360 also serves as a media center extender