Xbox 360 News

Xbox 360 Game Dumping Tutorial:
In order to include/ understand the goal of the ‘ hotswap’ method, it is necessary to include/ understand how a reader CD/ DVD functions: At the time of the insertion of a disc, the reader reads the FAKE (Table Of Contents) which describes in particular the size occupied by the data on the media.

This size is expressed in sectors, each sector making 2048 bytes. The reader will not read again any more than fake, unless we’re ejecting the disc, but this is what we want to avoid. Indeed, what prevents us from copying a XBOX DVD towards its hard disk is the fact that this DVD contains a fake header, which describes only the first session (the DVD video, the only visible thing when you to try to read the DVD with another reader than the XBOX), which makes only some MB (approximately 100000 sectors). Our goal is to copy a maximum of sector from the DVD, that is to say a maximum of 9Go approximately, that represents 4500000 sectors.

From what we have been able to gather, the first mod-chips for the 360 will be available within a month. Speaking to us under terms of anonymity, one source close to the research and development of some well known current-generation chips said, "We've been seeing partial success from some corners [in China] though nothing that could go on sale yet." This paints a dark picture of the console industry and the aggressive blight it suffers.

"Everyone is working on a full-functioning 'do everything' chip that will take apart the 360 and let users do what they will, though we expect a first-generation bypass device that will allow back-ups within weeks. The first on the market is likely to be complex and might not be particularly good, though that's just a stopgap before real chips become available."

After waiting nine hours in line, a group of five boys and young men entered the store as soon as it opened and purchased their limit: one per customer. The young men tried to make a little extra holiday cash after emerging from the store. They offered to part with two of their Xboxs to folks in line. For $600, said police spokesman Paul Honeman.

No one agreed. So the five, ages 14 to 24, piled into a van and drove to McDonald's on Lake Otis Parkway near Abbott Road for breakfast. They left the 14-year-old in the car with the Xboxs. Someone who also wanted an Xbox and who apparently saw them trying to sell the consoles outside Best Buy followed them to McDonald's, Honeman said.

Namco's Ridge Racer 6 is the worst-selling game for Xbox 360 according to sales data from market research firm NPD Group. The sequel sold 9,091 units in the month of November. By comparison Activision's Call of Duty 2, the top-selling Xbox 360 game in Nov., sold 250,730 units. In stark contrast, Ridge Racer 6 is the top-selling game in Japan at 29,891 units sold in the first two days of launch.

The report cites Microsoft UK mobility business manager Jason Langridge as saying the system should be live within six months, as part of Microsoft's wider strategy to connect its various online services. Langridge explained that this is part of plans to better integrate Xbox Live with instant message system MSN Messenger. This will make it possible to send a message or alert from Xbox Live which will then instantly appear on a PC using MSN Messenger (or a smartphone using MSN Messenger as part of the Windows Mobile operating system).

Nissan is looking to capitalize on the Xbox 360 craze by showcasing a prototype vehicle with an integrated Xbox 360. The Urge has two seats that are modeled to like a cockpit, so the passenger will get to pretend he's driving while the driver hopefully isn't too distracted to do the real thing.

The Urge (not to be confused with the new MTV download service of the same name) will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9.