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Microsoft
UK intelligence organisation places ads on Xbox Live
By Adam Englebright | November 20, 2009
And I thought that the average Xbox Live gamer and intelligence were diametrically opposed. UK intelligence agency GCHQ (Government Communitcation Headquaters, thank you Koss!) has been putting adverts, like the one pictured, on the Xbox Live dashboard (the Guardian reports). GCHQ answers to David Milliband (the UK’s foreign secretary) and deals with MI5 and MI6 (the British security and secret intelligence services. But it’s easier to say spys.) So, spys (or to be more precise, the advertising agency TMP) are using Xbox live to recruit new members because they “reflected in game-play experiences on Xbox, such as quick thinking, problem solving and team work”. (Insert obvious joke about spys pwning n00bs and teabagging corpses). Apparently, as well as conventional threats, they’re looking for 18-35 year olds (the Xbox’s target demographic) because “GCHQ’s work is also about helping government departments, such as the Ministry of Defence, to protect their information and communication systems.” So, protecting the systems against 1337 h@XX0rz then. I’m not quite sure what to make of this story. My experiences with Xbox live would suggest that the sort of people who congregate there are not the sort you’d want national security to depend on. On the other hand, it might get them out of their mother’s basements.
Ready to Skate in Your Living Room – Tony Hawk: Ride Hopes So
By Joe Haygood | November 17, 2009Well, in case you have been living under a rock, you may have heard of a new game called Tony Hawk: Ride. Not content with just having you controller a skater via a controller, Activision has upped the ante with a new skateboard peripheral. Full of sensors and gyroscopes, the new Skateboard controller allows you to interact with Tony Hawk: Ride in all new ways.
I think that all the analysts and game companies are going to be watching this release to see how it does, kind of as a barometer for the future of plastic peripheral based games. So far, we have watched as DJ Hero has debuted to less than stellar sales, and Tony Hawk: Ride could be the nail in the proverbial coffin if it does not sell extremely well. Word of advice to Tony Hawk – find out how to buy out your contract and hit up the guys working on the skate. franchise at EA. It is what your games use to be oh so long ago.
New Xbox Live Dashboard is Ready For Download
By Joe Haygood | November 17, 2009After a long preview period, the Xbox Live Dashoard Update is posted up for everyone to download. When you sign into your profile, you will be asked to perform an update to the console.
The update brings the social interaction features that were ballyhooed at this year’s Microsoft E3 press event. You will now be able to twitter from your console, check out your Facebook friends, listen to some music via Last.fm and of course, stream movies instantly at 1080p via the Zone HD marketplace.
If you are curious about what is in this new Dashboard update, take a look at our preview of all of the new features. And sorry folks, no Mafia Wars, Vampire Wars or Farmville are available via the new dashboard update.
Activision Thinks that Consistent DLC for “Hero” Brands a 2010 Trend
By Joe Haygood | November 14, 2009Sometimes I have to wonder if Activision management is firing on all cylinders when it comes to the statements that they make. I mean we have Bobby Kotick talking about how he decided to take all the fun out of making games, and instead focus on the bottom line. He also has made jokes about wanting to charge more than the market rate for games, making mention of the fact that he could sell Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for $80 or $90. Now we have Dan Rosensweig, the brand manager for the “Hero” brands over at Activision making more incredulous statements.
When asked about the viability of sequels for their “Hero” brands next year, the response was rather awe-inducing. Dan Rosensweig stated:
“We’re working on our 2010 slate now. You will probably see fewer SKUs from us, but the focus on making the best-selling, most fun to play, best-reviewed games will continue. Those are the things that are constant. [There will be] more DJ Hero, and the next iterations of Guitar and Band are on the way. But we will see how the market plays out. What you will see is the games will live longer and be more vibrant through DLC.”
Okay, so apparently, next year is the year when DLC for music games finally becomes an important battleground. Did I miss something here? Isn’t that what Harmonix has been preaching about for some time now? The idea that you do not need to have a new release for your game every year. Instead, just load up on DLC content for the game, buying what you want to be included in the game. I am just amazed by the idiocity of the people that run the brands at Activision. No, I do no think Dan Rosensweig would ever want to admit that his chief competitor is better, but sometimes, you need to acknowledge those that have created something in your field that works. Borrow from it and innovate, but it is really stupid to completely ignore the fact that someone has outplayed your brand in the downloadable marketplace.
What do you think about the current “Hero” brand games. Do you need more disc based releases, or should Activision take a page from Harmonix and work on ramping up their DLC offerings? Make your comments known below.
Rock Band Weekly Update – November 13th Edition
By Joe Haygood | November 13, 2009
This week in the Rock Band marketplace, we have a new five pack from the band AFI, and a track from The Bangles.
AFI fans will have a chance to rock out to such tunes as “Beautiful Thieves”, “End Transmission” and “Love Like Winter” to name a few. If you are a Bangles fan, you will get your chance to rock out “Walk Like and Egyptian”. And just for those paying attention, Susanna Hoffs was totally looking at me in that video. “Walk Like an Egyption” will also be playable in Lego Rock Band.
If you have Rock Band Unplugged on the PSP, you will have a chance to grab “California uber Alles” by Dead Kennedys and “Your No Rock n’ Roll Fun” by Sleater-Kinney.
Check the jump for the full press release with pricing info.
Sgt. Pepper’s Album Coming to The Beatles: Rock Band Marketplace
By Joe Haygood | November 13, 2009
Harmonix has announced another DLC album coming to The Beatles: Rock Band next week. This time around we will get the chance to complete the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
The Sgt. Pepper’s album DLC will finish off the album collection, and includes such hits at “When I’m Sixty Four”, “Lovely Rita” and “A Day In The Life” to name a few. You can purchase tracks individually, or in a “Complete The Album” pack if you have an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.
Pricing for individual tracks is standard Rock Band pricing, with each track costing 200 Wii Points, 160 MS Points or $1.99 on the PS3. The “Complete The Album” download will be 1080 MS Points or $13.49 on the PS3.
Check the jump for the full press release for more info.
XBL Update: Twitter, Facebook, Last FM, Movies & More …
By Vikki Blake | November 13, 2009
It’s mandatory XBox Live update day!
Following on from the launch of Netflix on the PS3 last week, Microsoft hope to appease their own members by an update that integrates dashboards with the biggest social networking and multimedia sites available today.
From the 17 November, Gold members be able twitter with friends via XBox Live (although, thankfully, nothing will pop up whilst you’re in the middle of playing) and update statues or sync gamertags via Facebook accounts. You’ll be able to explore and discover new music via Last FM’s vaults of 3.5 million tracks to tailor your perfect radio station and – with a promise of minimal buffering/download time – Zune offers HD movies to buy/rent from the comfort of your dashboard.
This comes within days of the UK update that enables subscribers to British broadcaster BSkyB to watch Sky TV – including the Sky Sports, News, Movies and entertainment channels – from their console. (As someone who has never been able to access the Sky Player due to Mac functionality issues (sigh), this was a much-wanted feature in Vikkiland.)
Just a note of caution if you’ve got a modded box; the BBC reports that over a million gamers have been banned from the XBL network following violations of terms of use on discovery of chips and pirated games.
So what do you think? Are you pleased with the new features?
Review: Brutal Legend (Xbox 360)
By Joe Haygood | November 12, 2009
Tim Shafer has always created great games that are normally critically acclaimed, yet never have any amount of commercial success. Brutal Legend went through a tumultuous sequence of events on its way to release, but throughout the process, looked to be a solid experience. However, some game design elements and repetition seem to take a lot of the fun out of an otherwise, incredible open world experience.
Starting into Brutal Legend, I was poised for a great hack and slash experience, as all of the demos and presentations gamers have received for the game have showed Eddie Riggs, our main protagonist, tearing up beasts. He would do combat with an axe and with the blazing hot strings of his guitar, but never would I have thought I would be playing Command and Conquer lite in Brutal Legend. If you cannot piece together that analogy, it basically means that you will be doing less hacking/slashing and far more building units and commanding them into battle. It is not a flawed system, but it is not what gamers were prepared for walking into this title.
First Impressions: Bayonetta
By Vikki Blake | November 12, 2009
It’s hard to believe that this game can be that good. The gaming press have been all over it, wet-dreaming their way through 10/10s and perfect scores, so when I hit the floor at the Eurogamer Expo in London last week (did I mention how great it was, btw? If you live in the UK and didn’t go this year, you missed out. Seriously), I made a beeline for the dark, tall, hair-clad witch we know and love as Bayonetta to put her through her paces myself as we searched to regain her lost memories and powers …
What struck me first and foremost was that Bayonetta hits the ground running. With an intuitive yet simple combat system, beautiful landscapes, great soundtrack and, of course, our not unappealing heroine, anyone can pick up a controller and get stuck right in – and I do mean anyone. Whilst there’s plenty of combos to be recited, learned and memorised – something you can try whilst hanging around in the loading screen – you can still kick-ass with nonsensical, button-mashing frenzy, too. Other reviews will tell you that there seems to be an infinite amount of combos to discover, and I’m not going to tell you anything different – there is no way the combat system is ever going get old. Add in the extra quick and slow time elements, and you know that no one chapter, no matter how often you replay it, is ever going to give you the same battle twice. The magical elements and special attacks are interesting, engaging and varied. Plentiful enemies keep battles entertaining and spontaneous, and the better you fight, the higher the score, and the better your subsequent rewards. Simple, no?
Rock Out for Real with Rock Band 3?
By Vikki Blake | November 11, 2009
It was only a matter of time before someone saw the value in marrying insanely popular fake-guitar-playing games and actual musical instruction, but it seems as though that time is coming sooner rather than later with Rock Band 3 aiming to be more than just a bit of fun in its next incarnation.
Dhani Harrison, son of Beatle George and a musician in his own right, not only confirms the existence of Rock Band 3, but also goes on to explain its potential educational merit. “I’m working on Rock Band 3 and making the controllers more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game,” Harrison told the Chicago Tribune this week. “Give me a couple years, it’s going to happen.”
Considering his significant involvement and contributions to the Beatles: Rock Band, he does seem well placed to know what’s happening behind the scenes.
Whilst this throws up the question of whether people actually want to learn when they’re unwinding playing video games, the concept of learning how to play a real instrument at the same time as rocking out with friends is undoubtedly an interesting one. Considering the significantly bad press these types of games have, including criticism from (usually aging) rock stars themselves, I can’t wait to see if and when instructional music games hit the shelves. How about you?
Source: G4TV
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