The image above is said to be a European Forza3-pack Xbox 360 Elite with a MFG 2009-08-17, LOT 0942.
It has been reported that some of the newer xbox 360's have a Philips-LiteOn DG16D2S-09C drive which so far has been reported to have firmware that is unreadable by DOSflash ('Invalid Drive Data').
Also you will notice in the Pic above that the 2nd Gpu heat sink and heat pipe has been removed. Has MS solved the overheating issue?
Looks like Valve's Doug Lombardi has set down with CVG and spilled his guts on all things Left 4 Dead, so i will do my best to sum up as much of what was said for the guys out there like me that just want to know the major points and not read over a bunch of pointless banter to get to the facts.
To start with CVG asked about the boycott and what effect it had on there plans for L4D and L4D2 just to find out it had no effect at all, Lombardi said: It really didn't change our plans at all. As I mentioned we had plans to keep releasing stuff. We put the Survival Pack out for free which I thought was pretty cool on 360 as well as PC - it's sort of uncommon to be able to get new stuff out that way.
We're already released the authoring tools and the matchmaking to get that content out to people, because the problem with mods and stuff like that is people make great stuff but then it doesn't really get propagated to the whole community properly.
So we're doing that. And then there's more new content that we're working on that we'll be announcing as I mentioned at the end of the summer.
I think there was just some confusion. When you go to E3 and make a big splash on a new product you're trying to get the retailer's attention and the press attention.
It's not really the venue for announcing DLC and whatnot. I think folks took our announcement as a sign that we were dropping Left 4 Dead 1 and that's just not the case.
Lombardi went on to say: Oh I don't think the fans are spoilt, I think that they're getting their money's worth, right?
We always look at it as, if we were a customer what would we want from stuff? How would we want to be treated as customers? I think as I mentioned with Left 4 Dead so far we've done a pretty good job with the Survival Pack, the authoring tools and there's more stuff coming.
You obviously can't do that forever, both technically and financially there's reasons why at some point you have to move on to the sequel.
But with Half-Life 1 folks got Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat and bunches of other stuff that was free for a long time.
With Half-Life 2 that got Deathmatch right away, Counter-Strike: Source came with it. Orange Box we thought was pretty good value and we're trying to make Left 4 Dead 1 feel like it's really great value and we'll try to do the same thing with Left 4 Dead 2.
For the PS3 fans out there who want to know what they can look foreword to i am sorry to say you will get nothing in this case, looks like the PS3 slips again.
When asked about the PS3 cut of L4D2 Lombardi said: The first thing that comes to mind is changing the finales at the way they work. That wasn't on the original list, it was something that came from watching people play the game in mass after launch.
We saw a lot of people in finales 'gaming' the game, backing up to the wall and waiting for zombies to come to them to make it much easier.
So we've change the ways the finales work now. The best way to describe it is we'll 'put you on the run'. The finales don't end until you get from point A to point B and if you try to back up against the wall you're just going to get smothered. They're going to keep coming and you're going to run out of ammo and run out of health.
So we're trying to push people to play the game a little more in the way it's intended rather than 'gaming' the game.
I'm sure that in the ideas that we come up with to counter that folks will find another seam and we'll come up with another idea to counter that.
That's one of the cool things about developing stuff and having the ability to iterate on the design really quickly: we're able to change things up and watch what happens.
I guess that will wrap up my key notes for this one and if you would like to read the full interview with Lombardi be sure to hit the news source link at the bottom.
An Xbox 360 press release has dropped announcing the XBOX 360 Wireless Microphone for use with most 360 vocal games, big shocker for the Rock Band fans out there is that there is no word on when or if it will ever work with the Rock Band games.
Official Press Release: "Get ready aspiring music stars, the biggest music event is taking place in the best hot spot ever – your living room! Now you can take the stage solo, or join your friends like true rock stars or power duets, free from the clutter of wires. Grab your friends and get ready to croon along to the best songs on your favorite Xbox 360 music games with the new Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone. Belt out your vocals while playing games like “Lips,” “Guitar Hero Metallica,” “Rock Band 2”* and “Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year” as well as new blockbusters available this holiday, including “Lips: Number One Hits” and “The Beatles: Rock Band.”
Whether you want to jam to today’s biggest hits or revive Beatlemania, the Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone will bring out your best performance with high-quality voice reproduction technology and stylish interactive motion sensors and lights. Available this fall, the Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone will have an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).
If your like me at all you might have been wondering ware the all new and flashy OnLive system was this year at E3 and why they seem to be very quit about this service all together, here with a few answers for is the team over at joystiq.com.
Even though OnLive said it wouldn't be at E3, we still got to give the streaming game service a shot. It wasn't actually on the show floor, but inside an actual home ... as in luxury downtown condo that no one actually lives in. OnLive rented the place for the experience, and the service was running over a normal at-home internet connection.
As proof, it showed off an actual Time Warner cable modem to prove that the experience was real, complete with blinking lights and bundles of cables. Update: An OnLive executive told us that speeds through the modem were peaking at four to five megabits per second, which is near the top limit of a low end cable modem usage tier, although average speeds were two to three. They were able to dial up or down what the OnLive service was using on the fly, although the cable internet connection maxed out at six mbps, which again is standard for a low-end connection.
The service worked well enough to make us suspicious that OnLive actually moved one of its servers into the back bedroom. However, we were assured that it was running off a bank of machines in Santa Clara, almost 350 miles away. We played a shooter, a racing game, and a flight simulator, and a first-person action game (we weren't allowed to disclose titles) on a big LCD television in the living room through its microconsole, and on a MacBook Pro running the service via the browser plugin. We used a prototype of their Xbox-style controller on the TV, and tried out both a mouse and keyboard combination, and a Logitech game controller on the laptop.
Of the four games, the shooter was the only one that felt slightly sluggish, and it was also the only active multiplayer game out of the bunch, pairing us with other OnLive users scattered around the country. It also was a title we weren't that familiar with, and since it's E3 week we can't just go home and try it out and see if it was the service, or if that's just how that game plays. Everything else performed very well: several of the games were extremely reliant on timing, and we were able to nail jumps and avoid obstacles fairly easily after a couple of tries.
What was very slick was the interface: multiple streaming video windows of other players playing at that moment form a tile background, and they flip and transition as you move from location to location within the GUI interface. Most of these videos are canned, since they only have a hundred or so beta users right now, but they'll eventually be all live streams. In the Arena, you can scroll across all of these and click on any of them to spectate in full-screen mode, and in some cases join their game instantly.
When you launch a game from your collection, you'll see a brief video of that title while a progress bar fills up at the bottom of the screen, but at longest that load took us no more than 10 seconds. Once you're in the game, it's just like a normal game experience. A press of the center OnLive button, or a keystroke when you're playing with a keyboard, will take you back to the OnLive "home" space, for lack of a better word. You can also press the right thumbstick down or hit alt-b on a keyboard for the 15-second "Brag Clips" we talked about earlier, which are transparently saved out into the OnLive ether instantly.
In summary, the thing works. Games load and play fairly quickly, we didn't have any hardware on-hand other than the microconsole and their controller, and no physical media like game discs or files. Although the speeds indicate almost full usage of a low-end cable modem connection, which are below normal DSL levels, so you're probably going to use cable if you plan on getting on this service. OnLive is in the process of rolling out a closed beta, and we're hoping to be a part of the open beta later this summer. Stay tuned. Or live. Either way.
Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Centre Stage
Microsoft rewrites the rules on fun with controller-free entertainment, Facebook for your TV, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video
LOS ANGELES — June 1, 2009 — The future of home entertainment has a new name: Xbox 360. Today, Microsoft Corp. opened the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) with a historic Xbox 360 briefing that rocked, tweeted, revved and awakened the world to a new era of fun and entertainment. In addition to premiering 10 exclusive new games, revolutionising the way we watch TV, and making it easier than ever to connect to friends, Xbox also welcomed visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg to introduce “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming.
“Today with cultural visionaries at our side and controller-free gaming on our horizon, Xbox 360 authored a new page in home entertainment history,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “For us, this E3 is about breaking down barriers — between generations, between games and entertainment, and most important, between video game players and everyone else — in a way that only Xbox 360 can.”
During its briefing, Microsoft showed why Xbox 360 continues to defy industry sales trends. First: A lineup of blockbuster games to ignite every passion, including “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Alan Wake,” “Halo 3: ODST,” and “The Beatles: Rock Band.” Next? A host of groundbreaking Xbox LIVE services, from instant on 1080p HD streaming movies and television to Facebook and Last.fm tailor-made for your TV. And rounding it all out, “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play, no controller required.
“Project Natal”: No Strings (or Controllers) Attached
Unveiled for the first time to the public was “Project Natal,” pronounced “nuh-tall” and a code name for a revolutionary new way to play, no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak, you and your friends can jump into the fun. The only experience needed is life experience.
Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the “Project Natal” sensor is the world’s first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice.
In addition, unlike other devices, the “Project Natal” sensor is not light-dependent. It can recognize you just by looking at your face, and it doesn’t just react to key words but understands what you’re saying. Call a play in a football game, and players will actually respond. Want to log onto Xbox LIVE? Simply step in front of the sensor.
“The next step in interactive entertainment is to make the controller disappear,” said Steven Spielberg, visionary director and producer. “With ‘Project Natal,’ we’ll see games that bring everyone together through technology that actually recognizes us.”
The Best of the Internet, Custom-Made for Your TV
Groove, party or connect with a friend. Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on TV, today announced Facebook and Last.fm would be tailor-made for your TV, only on Xbox 360. Microsoft also announced Xbox LIVE Party for movies, which allows movie experiences to be shared — on the couch or across the country over Xbox LIVE in supported movies.
“We are always asking ourselves how to make the TV more social,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. “By bringing Facebook, Last.fm and Xbox LIVE Party for movies and TV shows to Xbox LIVE, we’re not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home to your friends in different corners of the world, we’re creating the definitive social network, uniting more than 200 million people to share status updates, pictures, thoughts on music and the world’s best online gaming experience.”
The addition of Facebook to Xbox LIVE means friends are always connected, anytime, anywhere — from virtually any couch. But updating your status and sharing photos won’t be the only things you can do. Using Facebook Connect, you can share your greatest moments in gaming by posting updates and screenshots from supported games directly to Facebook. Don’t let your moment of glory fade away — make sure everyone sees it with Facebook Connect, starting with the future version of the premier EA SPORTS golf franchise “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®.”
A first for TV, Last.fm1, part of the CBS Interactive Music Group, will give Xbox LIVE subscribers access to millions of songs streaming through Xbox 360 to the best speakers in the house. Xbox LIVE subscribers will be able to create their own free, personalized radio stations and listen to them with friends in the living room or across the country.
Xbox 360 also solidified its place as one of the leading social entertainment networks by announcing Xbox LIVE Party for movies. Go to the cinema with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your avatar (a virtual you) on the screen, all while you listen to each other laugh and cry at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE. With movie parties, the only thing you can’t share is the popcorn.
1080p HD in an Instant
Continuing a pioneering effort that began with the introduction of the industry’s first video marketplace in November 2006 and broke new ground with the announcement of the first live TV straight from a gaming console last week in the U.K., Microsoft today announced that Xbox would deliver yet another first-to-the-world: instant on 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound — direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through the Xbox LIVE social entertainment network.
Starting this fall, a broad selection of movies and TV shows from Zune video on Xbox 360 will be available to start and stream instantly, in the highest video quality and at the push of a button.2 No discs, no waiting for downloads and no delays. Get the selection of a video megastore, the best video clarity available and the convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.
In addition, Microsoft announced it will more than double the number of markets where Xbox LIVE offers its TV shows and movies, growing from eight to 18, by adding Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Xbox LIVE members in these markets will have access to instant on 1080p video. New Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace advancements also came for the U.S., U.K. and Ireland specifically:
More choices with Netflix. Watch movies instantly streamed from Netflix.3 Browse and add selections to your instant Queue — right on your TV with your Xbox 360. Plus now with Xbox LIVE Party, you can watch and share supported movies with up to seven friends on Xbox LIVE. Debating between comedy and horror? Recommend your favorites to friends and see your virtual you as an avatar on the silver screen.
Live TV with BSkyB Ltd. The Xbox LIVE commitment to providing the best global entertainment gains momentum with its newest partner, Sky. Now, for the first time, watch live or on-demand TV from Sky on Xbox 360, including Sky Sports. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment across the U.K. and Ireland on Xbox LIVE. You can even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.
Games for Everyone
Get behind the steering wheel of the sleek Audi R8. Rock out with your friends to the latest music and party games. Discover a new chapter set in the iconic universe of “Halo.” Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, highly anticipated games and experiences in the industry. With more than 1,000 titles to date, there’s more than just one for you.
Get behind the wheel. Hit the straightaway in more than 400 cars on the world’s most beautiful tracks in the definitive racing game for this console generation, “Forza Motorsport 3.” Or get your avatar in the driver’s seat as you tear up the track with your friends in “Joy Ride.”
Adrenaline-rushing exclusives. Xbox 360 is your top destination for the biggest exclusives this year and beyond, including “Halo 3: ODST,” “Crackdown 2,” “Alan Wake,” “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” and “Left 4 Dead 2.”
Tap into your inner musician. Xbox 360 continues to be the preferred venue for the music games you love. Discover the magic of music and The Beatles with “The Beatles: Rock Band” or start a spontaneous singing party with “Lips: Number One Hits.”
The best blockbuster experiences. Third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Pairing must-have titles such as this year’s blockbuster from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare 2” with Xbox LIVE, Xbox 360 offers more friends to play with and an exclusive collection of Game Add-ons.
“Gears of War 2,” the entertainment blockbuster of 2008, has surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide, and the overall “Gears of War” franchise unit sales have eclipsed the 11 million unit mark. The momentum doesn’t stop there – to commemorate these milestones, Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games will unleash the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection,” a value-packed compilation that combines all previous “Gears of War 2” Game Add-ons with brand new multiplayer and campaign content. Available only at retail, the new collection invades store shelves worldwide on July 28 for $19.99/£14.99/€19.99.
Included in the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” is the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on, which features seven new multiplayer maps and a deleted campaign chapter titled “Road to Ruin.” In “Road to Ruin,” Marcus and Dom return to the Locust Hollow in a scene that can be played two ways, guns blazing or in all-new stealth mode.
The seven new multiplayer maps in the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on are:
Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.
Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.
War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.
Way Station: Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.
In addition to the new content, the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” also contains every “Gears of War 2” Game Add-on released to date, including the classic “Flashback” Map Pack, volatile “Combustible” Map Pack and the winter-themed “Snowblind” Map Pack. Also included is an introduction to “Road to Ruin” from Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski, along with a custom Xbox LIVE theme, collectible “Gears of War 2” poster and a strategy guide. Containing over 3,600 Microsoft Points worth of content, the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” is an incredible value at $19.99.
Already enjoying the previously released “Gears of War 2” collection of map packs? Available day-and-date with “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” via download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the “Dark Corners” Game Add-on will be available separately for 1,600 MS Points.
“Gears of War 2” is available exclusively on Xbox 360 and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and PEGI 16+. “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” and “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” will be available in LIVE-enabled regions worldwide, where “Gears of War 2” is available.
MVP USA have released a "Rock Band Replacement Drum Pedal" which is made of composite materials and features a 100% lifetime warranty. The new replacement pedal suits all rock band drum pedals young or old and is great value for anyone looking to replace their broken pedal.
With super fast international shipping and a product which will surely outlast the drumkit itself you will be happy you checked out MVP USA's online ebay store.
Here's some detailed information about MVP USA's Rock Band replacement pedal.
MVP USA Rock Band Replacement Pedal
Patent pending design!!
The ultimate pedal replacement, easier to install than repair pedals, NO drilling or aligning to install the screws.
This composite PVC pedal can be installed in less than 5 minutes using only a few basic hand tools, no drilling required like the repair pedal, only tools required are a hammer, Phillips screwdriver & pliers. Allen key, knock out pin (for removing hinge pin), & instructions included!!
Molded from a remarkably tough composite PVC material this 3/8" solid pedal won't let you down, manufactured by MVP in the U.S.A.
This is a direct replacement for the black plastic pedal that breaks very easily.
Unbreakable (lifetime warranty) & 14 day return policy if you are not satisfied.
Padded foam rubber pedal pads which are recessed into the pedal are great when playing with bare feet or socks (so your feet won't slip off the pedal and for added comfort).
No need to box the whole set up and take in for more replacement.
This is not a repair pedal like you see on other listings for $29.00 that mounts to your broken pedal this REPLACES your broken pedal.
"MVP USA's Replacement Pedal" is top shelf and has lightning fast international shipping. It will definately outlast your drumkit!
- 360 HQ Recommended
How to Identify your Pedal
Before you can order your own replacement pedal you will first need to know one simple thing. What version rock band pedal do you have?? If you need help visit our Xbox 360 Tutorials area where we have a full tutorial including pics to help you.
Well you have seen things come and go but the question today is will OnLive be a big player in the game wars or will it be the next Sega Dreamcast?
CNET.com reports: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, look out. Your traditional video game console business model may be in danger.
It's too early to tell how much danger, of course, but a start-up called OnLive announced a brand-new game distribution system Monday night that, if it works as planned, could change the games game forever.
OnLive, which was started by WebTV founder Steve Perlman and former Eidos CEO Mike McGarvey, is aiming to launch a system--seven years in the works--that will digitally distribute first-run, AAA games from publishers like Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Atari, and others, all at the same time as those titles are released into retail channels. The system is designed to allow players to stream on-demand games at the highest quality onto any Intel-based Mac or PC running XP or Vista, regardless of how powerful the computer.
The system will also stream games directly to a TV via a small plug-in device, and players can use a custom wireless controller as well as VoIP headsets in conjunction with it.
The OnLive system includes the ability to use wireless controllers similar to those available for standard console systems like the Xbox or PS3. It also has a small micro-console that will allow games to be streamed directly to a TV.
Based here in San Francisco, OnLive timed its formal unveiling to this week's Game Developers Conference, where it will be showcasing the technology and 16 initial games it will launch with.
The service is currently in a closed beta, but is expected to go into a public beta this summer, and to launch this winter.
This is a huge number to say the least and shows just how big this game is, so here with full details is the Bungie.net official story to cover there new found McDonald's like status and a few numbers to explain just how massive that number really is.
Bungie.net reports: "Saturday night, while many of us were stuffing food into our faces, plenty of folks were still playing Halo 3. At precisely 6:36pm PST, in a three minute and nineteen second game of Infection on Foundry, four players participated in Halo 3's one billionth match.
One Billion. It's a giant number, one that's difficult to understand without the proper context. Our first thought was to put it into perspective by comparing Halo 3's total games played with its predecessor, Halo 2, a title that we are still super proud of, and one that's topped the original Xbox LIVE Leaderboards since its launch through to present day - over four years of online gaming.
But there's a problem with that comparison. Halo 2 has yet to achieve one billion games played. As of right now, it's sitting pretty at 798 million total matches played. Surprised? We were.
Still, we wanted to find ways to help you (and us) better comprehend just what one billion games means in the grand scheme of things.
If each game of Halo 3 lasted only three minutes and nineteen seconds, mirroring the Infection game outlined above, the total amount of time played would eclipse sixty-three centuries. For those looking for more granularity, that's roughly 630 decades, 6,300 years, or 2,300,000 days.
But admittedly, that's working from a pretty rough estimate. No worries, we keep tabs on this sort of stuff. We recruited our database guru, RocketMoose, to provide us with some more accurate numbers. The data point he supplies below is a sum total of all player time spent in matchmaking. If ten players completed a ten minute match, the database would log 100 minutes of total playtime. This figure also does not include data from Custom or Offline matches.
Total Matchmaking Playtime: 2,023,153,340,764 seconds.
Yes, that's two Trillion seconds, or 64,109 years of playtime.
64,000 years ago:
Neanderthal walked the Earth.
Modern Man had yet to set foot in Asia.
The Battle Rifle was Hitscan.
We couldn't have done it without you, our fans. Literally. Thanks a billion for all the good games and the continued community support. We're in awe of the success Halo 3 has been met with, but we're not done yet. Stick around and stay tuned, there's definitely more to come.
Once i had played the Lost & Damned i knew it was going to be big but just how big it would become was something i don't think any one saw coming, just one more thing to add to your list of reasons to buy this kick @$$ download.
Kotaku.com reported: Being both popular and, for a piece of downloadable content, expensive, would it surprise you to learn that Grand Theft Auto IV expansion Lost & damned has set a new Xbox Live revenue record?
It shouldn't. Because it has. According to Microsoft, the expansion has "eclipsed first-day revenue for all previous downloadable content on Xbox LIVE". Which means more money was spent on it than any other piece of DLC in its first 24 hours on sale.
Kind of meaningless without sales figures or a previous record holder to back it up, but then at least other games now know who's top dog when it comes to DLC cash money intake.
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Bungie's popular first-person shooter makes its debut on the Xbox 360 with Halo 3.
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