Next Xbox Live Update To Bring Some Features

Microsoft announced that the next update for Xbox Live, that comes out this August, will have the following updates:

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

* Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.
* Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.
* Enhanced Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.
* Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.
Avatar Marketplace

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises.

* Clothing – Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."
* Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
* Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

Games on Demand— Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

* Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
* Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
* It's Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

User Ratings

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

* Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
* Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone's been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.

Xbox LIVE Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

* Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
* Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

Video Display Options

We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

* Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.


Other Improvements

We're always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

* Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you've been a Gold member.
* Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
* Achievement Browser – We've revamped the Achievements browser so it's now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
* Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
* Streamlined Navigation - Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more
* Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
* Friends List Sorting – It's now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
* Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.

Account Management

We've made some changes to make your life easier.

* Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
* Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
* Account recovery – We've enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?

The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we'll be sure to let you know about.

* Facebook
* Twitter
* Zune video and 1080p Instant On
* Last.fm
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In Case Your Wondering....

Ok, I have received a few messages regarding the giveaways I usually have, so I will let you know whats going on with them and other things.

The giveaways are currently paused right now due to the lack of inventory of online codes from Amazon.com. I am currently pondering other ideas for giveaways, so if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section. Keep in mind that I am a working man, a full time college student with kids and my budget is very small.

Secondly, if you ever wonder why I don't update this site with constant 360 news like some other sites, its because I don't care about "filler" news. I wanted this blog to be a site that I would enjoy, and so I only post news thats worthy of my attention. Constant lil tidbits about said games is not for me, I just do not have the time. If anyone would like to write for this blog, and post more updates please feel free to email me @ kcandersen@mchsi.com. But for now, I will continue posting updates on only news that both core gamers and casual gamers truly care about.

I think that about does it, thanks for your attention.
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Rapture we have a problem

With 2K announcing that Bioshock 2 has been pushed back to Early 2010, to me this means one thing: Something is wrong with the game.

It was originally supposed to be out this fall, and should have been nearing the completion very soon. So what happened? IMO, a few different things could have happened:

1. Game is completely Bugged out, and it will take a while to fix all of them.

2. The game was not nearly as fun as the original, and 2K does not want to damage the Bioshock brand in any way, what so ever. (Most likely scenario)

3. Too much competition coming out this fall, with blockbusters such as COD:Modern Warfare 2, Halo 3:ODST, Brutal Legend, and a few others, 2K does not think that they will be able to put Bioshock 2 up against these titans and walk away with as much money as they would like. (Other most likely scenario)

I am officially bummed out about this, I was so excited to go back to Rapture this fall, but now I will just have to wait. What do you guys think about this?
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Fallout 3: Point Lookout Secret Locations

Here is a great video of some secret locations in Point Lookout, in case you missed them. I scoured the entire (rather large map) and found all kinds of goodies.

Fallout 3 -- Point Lookout at IGN.com

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Awesome Mass Effect 2 Gameplay Video

This is a must watch for any Mass Effect Fans, or anyone looking forward to playing this stellar game.


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Summer Of Arcade Release Schedule

Major Nelson has posted what we gamers are going to be spending all of our hard earned money on, and our much valued time. This is going to be a block buster summer for XBLA with titles like these:

July 22: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Turtles in Time Re-shelled 1200 Microsoft Points
(Ubisoft Singapore®/Ubisoft®): Cowabunga dude! Marking the franchise’s 25 anniversary, everyone's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is back with a brand new look in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled.” The arcade classic has been revamped with all new 3D graphics, but the same classic beat 'em up gameplay.


July 29: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 1200 Microsoft Points
(Backbone Entertainment/Capcom): One of the most popular fighting games of all time, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2,” arrives worldwide on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Choose from 56 legendary characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom history, including Ryu and Wolverine. With online multiplayer over Xbox LIVE and enhanced HD graphics, decide your own dream team in the ultimate tag-team fighting experience.


August 5: Splosion Man™ 800 Microsoft Points
(Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft): Fools they were, to tread where knowledge should stay forbidden. For what emerged was not a man - it was a Splosion Man. "And all who saw him were sploded, for he was the fire and they were but meat." Able to splode himself at will, the Splosion Man launches his way through levels as an uncontainable force. From Twisted Pixel Games, developer of the award winning The Maw™, Splosion Man will keep you on your toes as you play through more than 50 single-player levels and 50 multiplayer levels. Nominated by GameSpy, Gamespot, IGN, and 411mania, this meat-riddled splosion-fest took several Best of E3 awards including Best Platformer and Best Downloadable Game.

August 12: Trials HD 1200 Microsoft Points
(RedLynx/Microsoft): Nominated for GameSpy’s Best Downloadable Game of E3 award, “Trials HD” is guaranteed to get our heart racing.” Put on your helmet, and rev your way through “Trials HD,” a full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing platformer in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customize your rider to fit your personality.


August 19: Shadow Complex 1200 Microsoft Points
(Chair Entertainment and Epic Games/Microsoft): Winner of numerous Best of E3 awards including Best Downloadable Game from 1UP, IGN, GameTrailers and G4TV, “Shadow Complex” is the next evolution in downloadable games. “Shadow Complex” marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the stunning visuals of Epic Games’ industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, and a classic side-scroller. Set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire,” Shadow Complex provides more than 10 hours of in-depth gameplay and introduces a compelling universe.
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Johnny Lee Says "Natal will spawn new genres"

The Wii head tracking genius, or Geewiiness as some call him (Ok just me) did an interview with 360Magazine.uk and had some great insight to share about Natal. The most prominent thing johnny said was that "Almost certainly. Most of the current game genres are optimized for the input device that was available. With the additional of motion and pointing sensing, we’ve already seen several great examples where developers are exploring novel kinds of gaming experiences.

“The lines blur between game categories, and the lines blur between control mechanics. Natal provides a very different set of input capabilities than your typical game pad. To really take advantage of those capabilities, new kinds of experiences will have to be explored.”

Click here to read full article.
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Will The Real Project Milo Please Stand Up?

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Gears Of War Title Update 4 Available Now

Man, it has been a month or so since I have played Gears 2, But with yesterdays new title update, I think I am going to take it for another spin, and hopefully this vehicle doesn't stall out on me constantly like it did the last few hundred times I have played.

The Gears team released Title Update 4 for Gears of War 2 today. The update is available now and will download automatically when you start Gears 2 while connected to Xbox LIVE. For the full run-down on all of the improvements and exploit fixes, check out the complete patch notes on the official Gears of War forums.

Here is the complete rundown of improvements/tweaks:

Title Update 4 makes these new improvements:

• Adds the ability to collect multiplayer experience by playing Horde mode. Players currently gain experience at this rate:

o 50 points per completed Casual wave.
o 75 points per completed Normal wave.
o 100 points per completed Hardcore wave.
o 125 points per completed Insane wave.

• Adds the ability to restart Public Horde from the current failed wave instead of having to start over from wave 1. Title Update 4 also allows the host to kick players from a Public Horde session.
• Increases the frequency of downloadable content (DLC) maps showing up in map voting if all players have shared map packs.
• Adds a message at the end of the match to explain to players that they should wait before quitting so that they avoid an experience penalty for quitting early.
• Adds support for the new campaign chapter, "Road to Ruin."
• Adds 13 new achievements worth 325 points. All of the new achievements require the Dark Corners Map Pack, a set of seven new maps and a deleted campaign chapter to be released July 28.

Exploit Fixes

Title Update 4 fixes these possible exploits, where under certain circumstances:

• A player could copy game progression data from one profile to another.
• A team could use the 50-point revive bonus to artificially increase its score in Horde. Going down but not out (DBNO) in Horde now subtracts 50 points, so there is no advantage to using the revive-bonus technique.
• A player could get 2 points for each kill in Wingman.
• A player could continue to shoot the Flamethrower while performing special movements like evading and mantling.
• A player could cause heavy weapons to spawn continuously while playing Horde.

Title Update 4 also fixes a number of lesser-known exploits.

General Fixes

Title Update 4 fixes these other issues as well:

• An issue that could cause players to lose all achievement progression if they signed in during a loading screen.
• Issues related to the Smoke Grenade causing a player to cringe instead of knocking them down. If hit by a Smoke Grenade with cringing turned on, players will now:

o Drop the Boomshield, even if aiming while carrying it.
o Drop a heavy weapon, even if it is deployed.
o Cringe while roadie running.
o Cringe while in cover.

• An issue that prevented players from shooting around the lower left side of a planted shield.
• An issue that could cause a DBNO player to not appear as DBNO.
• An issue that prevented Gears players from inviting players of other games to join them in progress in a Private match using DLC.
• Issues that caused rich presence information to become inaccurate.
• An issue that caused the overall achievements progress bar to not reflect the latest achievements.
• An assortment of localization bug fixes.
• Additional miscellaneous bug fixes.



http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/
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Happy Fourth Of July!

It's that time of year again, time to fire up the grill, light some fireworks, kick back a few cold beers (if your of age of course), and watch some fireworks. If your like me, The fourth also means a three day weekend, and that means getting in some gaming. I will be playing Fallout 3 Point Lookout and Fight Night Round 4 this weekend, what will you guys be playing?
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ZUMA XBLA CODE GIVEAWAY!

Yeah I know some people may be thinking "Zuma, thats old as hell" Well my friends Amazons xbla game code catalog is very limited, and even more so if I stick to my budget. So with that said, Zuma is a great arcade game, very, very addictive, and is fun for the whole family. If you love Peggle, then you will like Zuma.

UPDATE: The winner of this weeks giveaway is flamboyantfrank. Congratulations, and thanks to all for entering.

The Rules To Play:

-Due to the region locks on XBLA Game Codes, you must be a U.S Xbox Live Gamer to participate, well at least if you want to actually play the game.

-Leave a comment about Michael Jackson!

-Only one comment per person

-Leave contact details such as Gamertag, Yahoo handle, MSN Handle, AIM handle, or Email so I can contact you if you win.

-Entries can be submitted until Saturday, 11:59 Central Time.

-Winner will be chosen at random, and will be sent the online code to win Zuma!
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MetaReview: Fight Night Round 4: Its A KO!

Fight Night Round 4 is the reigning champion of all boxing games, and this new edition is the crown jewel of the group. I have had loads of fun with this game, and Its one of the best games you could possibly buy this year. Metacritic has Fight Night Round 4 with a metascore of 89. Here are what some of the more popular reviewers are saying about Fight Night Round 4.

1UP, Score 91. Developed by an all-new team and re-built from the ground up Fight Night Round 4 is in good hands with the team at EA Canada; not only have they matched the quality of the original title, but in many ways they dramatically exceeded it.

Official Xbox Magazine, Score 90. Despite the uphill difficulty curve, repetitive commentary, and long loading times, Round 4 is a force that topples its mind-blowing predecessor in every category. You will get punched in the face, and you will love it. [Aug 2009, p.64]

Game Informer, Score 90. It’s hard to reinvent a sport that’s…well, already a sport. But, developer EA Canada has done a marvelous job with bringing a focus to the fighting that brings out the sweet science.

IGN, Score 88. A wonderful boxing game. There are certainly issues to be found in the new Legacy Mode, but it’s much closer to what players want from a career mode. The online offering, while not hugely different from the previous Fight Night, still delivers where it counts.
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I Cant Do That.....

So today, this guy was in my office, and I asked him " Your always so damn happy, what gives?" he said to me " I just live everyday like its going to be my last bud." After he left I pondered this concept for a while, then i realized, I CANT DO THAT, and here is why:

A. If i lived every day like I was dying, I would be obese by the end of the year. I mean lets face it, if it was our last day to live, we would eat all the desserts, fatty foods, and most calorie filled foods imaginable.

B. I would be unemployed. If it was my last day to live, the last place in the World I would be is at work.

C. I would be a chain smoker. Yes I quit smoking, but only to prolong my health and save money. If I thought it was my last day to live I would be smoking like a champ.

D. My family would be plain sick of me. If i lived a day like it was my last, then I would spend every moment with my family, and they would be tired of my ass within a week.

I could go on and on, but the point here is that I don't think its truly possible to sustain a normal happy life if you "lived every day like it was your last." So with that said, maybe we should just live, and treat every day like its a gift, and try to enjoy it as much as possible.
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TMNT 1989 Classic Arcade XBLA Giveaway [UPDATE}

This week I am going to be giving away ONE online code for the Xbox Live Arcade Smash Hit TMNT 1989 Classic Arcade!!!

UPDATE: This weeks lucky winner is BuckyBadger26. Thanks to everyone for entering, stay tuned for the next giveaway.


The Rules To Play:

-Due to the region locks on XBLA Game Codes, you must be a U.S Xbox Live Gamer to participate, well at least if you want to actually play the game.

-Leave a comment about North Korea!

-Only one comment per person

-Leave contact details such as Gamertag, Yahoo handle, MSN Handle, AIM handle, or Email so I can contact you if you win.

-Entries can be submitted until Saturday, 11:59 Central Time.

-Winner will be chosen at random, and will be sent the online code to TMNT 1989 Classic Arcade!!!
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This Is Brutal Legend......Box Cover

Brutal Legend is one of my most anticipated games of 2009, and its coming out this ROCKTOBER!!! This is the Box Art for Brutal Legend that was just released, looks pretty sweet I must say.
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MetaReview: Ghostbusters

Ive already played this games for a couple of hours, and I must say it is very fun. If you are a fan of the movies, then you will definitely enjoy this game, as it seems as if it is the next true Ghostbusters story. It has a Metacritic score of: 80, and some of the more popular reviewers had this to say about the game:

1UP, Score: 83. As a Ghostbusters fan, this game came through by delivering an entertaining experience with plenty of laughs and just the right amount of action.

Team Xbox, Score: 81. For whatever Ghostbusters: The Video Game is lacking purely as a game – and really, it’s not that much – it more than makes up for it in the production. We should hold it up as a model not just for movie into video game translations, but as an example of how you treat a beloved institution right when making a video game about it.

IGN, Score: 80. There are some moments that cause the game to stumble, but you're getting a new tale in the Ghostbusters canon, fun gameplay, a whole bunch of stuff to destroy, and some cool ghosts to scan. I felt that the game's ending was a bit flat and the romantic interest was forced, but Ghostbusters is a hell of a ride.
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Cliff Bleszinski says more Gears!

In and interview with oxm, Cliff states that there is still plenty of life in the Gears universe, and although the survival horror genre is near and dear to his heart, he is still focused on Gears. So Mr. Bleszinski when are we going to get a Gears 3 teaser???
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Awesome Deal for Bioshock and Oblivion

Just caught wind of this two in one game deal that will combine the Hits Bioshock and Oblivion together for $39 on the 360, and $29 on the PC. This would be a great buy for anyone who hasnt played either of the games. I personally have played the crap out of both of those titles, but still will be picking up this special edition.
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Madden NFL Demo

Hi Folks, just got this email from GameStop, figured I would share with you Madden Fans. This email has just forced my hands into pre ordering from GameStop, something I hate to do. Anyways, here is the message:

From the Editor
GameStop Exclusive Super Bowl XLIII Rematch Demo*

While you're waiting for the release of Madden NFL 10, you can relive the Super Bowl in our GameStop-Exclusive Super Bowl XLIII Rematch Demo between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, with four 5-minute quarters! Just reserve Madden NFL 10, and you'll be eligible to receive a code for the demo, while supplies last. The demo should begin in late July, and you should expect to receive your demo code in mid-July.

Starting Monday, visit the GameStop Blog for Madden Mondays, our weekly peek at some of the features of Madden NFL 10. Madden NFL 10 releases August 14 for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP and PS2. Reserve online now or at your local GameStop.
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XBLA Wednesday

Tomorrow we have three new games going to be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade. The first one is Rocket Riot, which will cost 800 MS Points. Then we have Sam And Max Save The World and Magic The Gathering to round it out. Looks to be another great week for Xbox Live owners, Which one will you pick up?
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