More than 85 Percent of Players Connect to Xbox Live, Driving New Gold Memberships by 50 Percent
As “Gears of War” continues to emerge throughout the world ahead of the holiday sales rush, the Xbox 360 juggernaut has sold an impressive 1 million copies world-wide in just its first two weeks of release—elevating the game to the fastest-selling title of 2006 and fastest-selling original Xbox game of all time.
The battle continues to rage on Xbox Live as well, as more than 850,000 unique gamers have engaged in 10 million gameplay sessions while unlocking an impressive 7 million Achievements. On top of being the #1 title on Xbox Live, “Gears of War” has also driven new members to the network, as paid registrations per day have skyrocketed more than 50 percent since the game’s launch.
Propelling its rise to popularity, Gears of War has been crowned the best next generation game of the year by over 45 publications, earning a 95 percent average review score as tracked by www.gamerankings.com. Critics everywhere overwhelmingly agree and have united to make “Gears of War” one of the best-reviewed games of all time.
“From the very beginning, we knew ‘Gears of War’ would be an industry-defining hit,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president at Microsoft Game Studios. “As we watched both the game and its hype grow, it became obvious that ‘Gears of War’ was the rare title that could live up to such incredible anticipation, and judging from the reaction of critics and fans, it’s done just that.”
PorscheXboxster from 360-hq.com has graciously posted his First Impressions of the PS3 vs. Xbox 360 and as you can expect he still rates his xbox 360 so much higher.. Read on...
Well, I unpacked my PS3 last night. I really don't care for the glossy black finish because it shows fingerprints just like the PSP. It feels heavier and is a fair amount larger than the Xbox 360. I got it set up without much difficulty... I did need to buy an HDMI cable as none was provided.
For all the hype about how "advanced" the PS3 is touted to be, shouldn't it have come with an HDMI cable??? After it's connected, it thinks it's sending out 1080P and the monitor thinks it's receiving 1080P, so I guess all is good.
OK, I tried to connect to the Playstation online services... oops! My PS3 had out-of-date system software, so I couldn't connect until I updated the system software. Launch day and it's already out-of-date? WTF?
Over two freakin' hours later, it finally finished the upgrade! Once again, WTF? I was even using the ethernet cable, not WiFi!
OK, it's upgraded, now I have to establish an account. After entering data on several pages of forms (which took way too long to load), it asked if I wanted to enter credit card information for online purchases. I chose "YES". Big mistake! I got an error message about being unable to connect to the server. All the freakin' information I entered was LOST! I had to re-enter it.... WTF? I decided NOT to add credit card info the second time around!
Once my account was established, I could go to the Playstation store. I saw a couple of lame games to purchase... one was $7.99 and the other was $9.99. A few game demos, a few trailers/game videos... none compelling.
I hate the menu system of the PS3. If you like the PSP menu system, you'll love the PS3 menu system. Personally, I hate the PSP menu system... it's just not that intuitive.
Speaking of the menu system, there was an item labeled "Internet Browser"... I couldn't read the garbage it displayed on the screen. Too small and not clear enough... on a 65" DLP screen at 1080P! I couldn't figure out how to get the browser to work. Oh well! I guess I'll stick with the HTPC for web browsing for now.
I decided the setup the WiFi connection... it worked quickly and flawlessly! Hurray! This was the one thing that was easier on the PS3 than on the Xbox 360.
I've tried out Ridge Racer 7 & Resistance: Fall Of Man. Ridge Racer is a worn-out series that needs to be retired. Resistance was OK, but not terribly impressive and it had fairly long load times (Xbox 360 load times are too long also). I purchased it only because I'd read some reviews that seemed to indicate it was the best launch game. Maybe it will improve when I get further into it. The graphics were excellent, but there are Xbox 360 games that are better.
The new controller is very light... too light. While I don't want a boat anchor, I do like a controller with a substantial feel to it. It feels like one of those cheap PC controllers Wal-mart sells for next-to-nothing. It came with an EXTREMELY short mini-USB-to-USB cable to charge it... WTF? No chance of playing while charging with that short cable! I bought an additional controller... only $50! gulp!.... it didn't even come with a freakin' cable! My understanding is the rechargeable PS3 controller batteries are not replaceable
I haven't tried out the Blu-Ray DVD movie yet (Talladega Nights... I've already seen it and it wasn't that funny). I did try out my HD-DVD Xbox 360 add-on box and it works very well.
SUMMARY:
Appearance: Xbox 360 gets the edge here. I personally favor the flat white over the glossy black. The PS3 does look more "futuristic" look, it is also quite a bit larger and heavier.
Basic Value: Xbox 360. Microsoft doesn't force you to buy stuff you may not need. Don't need WiFi? Don't buy the add-on. Don't need to play DVDs in HD? Don't buy the add-on. Don't need rechargeable batteries? Use alkaline batteries. If you do decide to buy the rechargeable batteries, you'll get a substantial length of cable.
Online Marketplace: PLEASE! They experiences don't even compare. OK, you DO have to pay for Xbox Live, but it's worth it! Even though the Playstation online experience is free, I'd STILL like my money back!
REJOICE IN YOUR XBOX 360! STILL THE BEST CONSOLE ON THE MARKET!
In less than 4 hours, I'm off to GameStop to pick up my Wii! If the Xbox 360 isn't my favorite console, it will be unseated by the Wii.... not the PS3!
Prior to their original release date of the 19th of November, it seems the Burger King games have already been released. Just take a trip down to your local Burger King, order a value meal or three and you can get the games. Plus, we know someone who has played them.
It seems that LinkinPrime, a regular poster and submitter of news in the ICGamers realm, has gotten all three of the games, since they appear on his gamer card. Lucky him, who can now earn up to 600 more Gamerscore points from these games.
And the Xbox Live Marketplace just got a tad bigger, as Microsoft has recently and finally unveiled the Xbox Live Video Marketplace for everyone to enjoy, quashing all rumors along the way. With this new service, Xbox 360 owners will now be able to download full-length HD movies, television show episodes, music videos, or game videos - all of which would be available to Xbox Live Silver and Gold members and can be purchased for a set number of Microsoft Points.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Video Marketplace options with TV Shows, Movies etc etc are only available to XBOX LIVE USA MEMBERS..
You can however create a second gamertag and leave your profile as a USA based address so you can access the TV Shows & Movies Tab..
Regarding pricing, the video tutorial over at the Xbox site notes that HD movies will cost 480 MS points (US$ 6), while the standard definition version of the movie will cost only 320 MS points (US$ 4). As for television shows, either version of one episode would cost 240 MS points (US$ 3).
There's still a few things to remember though, including the fact that episodes will be for the user to keep, the way that Live Arcade games are yours to do with as you please. On the other hand, movies will be on a "rental" basis, meaning, after downloading it, one will have 14 days to sit down and watch the film, but after watching it, the movie will be "returned" after 24 hours, when the rental expires.
And then there's the issue of download speed, though Microsoft says that this is covered since a new service has been launched to handle these types of downloads specifically. This is a good move on Microsoft's part, considering that an HD movie can be as big as almost 5GB, and has to be downloaded overnight or perhaps in the background while you play a game.
In the meantime, the new Video Marketplace has the following up for download:
"Robot Chicken" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" from Adult Swim
"CSI," "Survivor", and "Star Trek" from CBS
Emmy and Peabody award-winning "South Park" and "Chappelle’s Show" from COMEDY CENTRAL
"The Real World" and "Pimp My Ride" from MTV
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" from Nickelodeon
"Skyland" and "The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival" from Nicktoons Network
"M:i:III," Nacho Libre" and "Jackass: The Movie" from Paramount Pictures
"Carpocalypse" and "Raising the Roofs" from Spike TV
"Race Rewind" provided by NASCAR.COM
Select episodes of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and the "UFC: All Access" shows from the UFC
"Breaking Bonaduce" and "Hogan Knows Best" from VH1
"The Matrix," "Superman Returns", and "Batman Forever" from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Emergence Day has come and gone, but humanity's battle with the Locust Horde is just beginning. Thousands of Gears of War® fans played round the clock to be the one atop the leaderboard when the dust settles. Now that the results are in, congratulations to GHOS7 187, the winner of the Warzone Leaderboard Tournament and a one-of-a-kind AX-50 electric guitar from ESP Guitars! GHOS7 187, remember to send a friend request to GearsTourney to claim your prize.
The results for the Play & Win contest are still being calculated, so check back to see if you're a winner of one of the Samsung Home Theater systems.
Here are the final Warzone Leaderboard standings:
GHOS7 187
sYs ProLoGic
IMAGE VAIN
X REAMPED CJ X
Killercrank
SGTPoopiePants
Darkslayer16
pA S4ints
Zzanger
RonAA
x h2GoDz x Luck
Zer0DarKReepeR
MARINE SNIPER 8
CHAOTICxPHOENIX
A blaze A
III terry15 III
Fon462
MrziGz
hinkgods
SAT Spartan
DopeyMcGee
gunfight3r
THM ComandrMIKE
tombug
diddy dame
Some stories are simply too sensational to be true, thus giving us every reason we'd ever need to just blow it off, but there's one saving grace to a whacked-out story: pictures.
Reportedly, an Xbox 360 owner was rammed in a hit and run style accident, where his Chevrolet S-10 "rolled over three or four times," launching the helpless console and a bevy of accessories onto the freeway. While the fellow (thankfully) survived the ordeal with little more than a "bruised elbow," his beloved console suffered quite a beating; the Xbox 360, its power brick, and several controllers were ran over by oncoming vehicles, leaving "tire marks" everywhere and "squishing" the metal supports within.
After the turmoil subsided, this hardcore gamer was (understandably) more concerned with the life of his toy than whether or not his insurance policy had expired, so he rushed home to try things out. Although his trigger arm was a bit sore, the console managed to boot up, play games, and even play back a DVD, providing an assumed sigh of relief for traumatized lad. You can catch a video of the rugged console in action after the break, while hitting the read link will show you the survivor's tale and a bevy of pics.
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For all the hype about how "advanced" the PS3 is touted to be, shouldn't it have come with an HDMI cable??? After it's connected, it thinks it's sending out 1080P and the monitor thinks it's receiving 1080P, so I guess all is good.
