Xbox 360 Fanboy

FaceBreaker demo breaks faces next Thur.

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 6:30PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Marketplace

Preparing for its September release, EA's over the top boxing game FaceBreaker will be making its way to the Xbox Live Marketplace next Thursday, July 31st as an all out face-breaking demo, no less.

Included in the release of the demo will be three "unique" boxers (Ice, Sparrow and Steve) and two arenas (Booty Caves and Trailer Park), playable versus locally or against an AI opponent. So, no Xbox Live demo experience. Most interesting though is the fact that the FaceBreaker demo will include EA's Game Face tech allowing players to Vision camera their face into the game. Fun times, at least for the beautiful people of the gaming world.

[Via Joystiq]

It's an NCAA Football 09 Live Weekend

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:15PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News, Xbox Live

Kicking off this Friday, July 25th and going into overtime on Sunday, July 27th, EA and Xbox.com are sponsoring an NCAA Football 09 Live Weekend full of prizes, playtime with the developers and a sprinkle of over the top end zone dances. You can read up on all the weekend's NCAA 09 festivities over on Xbox.com, pre-register for the fun and even find out how you can get a chance to game it up with hall of fame running back Eric Dickerson. Down, 3, 2, set, set, hut, HUT!

Next week, Ticket to Ride expands into Europe

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 4:45PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Stock up on coal and keep the train engine warm, because next Wednesday, July 30th Xbox Live Arcade board game Ticket to Ride will be hauling in a new expansion. The upcoming European expansion board DLC will give players a new board to choo-choo on and add new game elements to the mix including ferries, tunnels and train stations. All that excitement and more for (deep breath) only 600 Microsoft points. Yowzaz! We never knew that getting a European ticket to ride the rails would be so darn expensive. Darn the economy!

Halo 3's Valhalla gets Boom Bloxed

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 4:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: Fan stuff

Come one, come all and witness the creation and destruction of Halo 3's multiplayer map Valhalla in real-time, utilizing the building block awesomeness that is Bloom Blox (a Steven Spielberg Wii game don'tcha know).

Watch as Boom Valhalla creator EazyB2189 gives a tour of his Blox creation then attacks it with bowling balls of destruction all set to the comical tune of random Boom Blox sound effects. We know the ancient Forerunners would not approve of the mindless destruction, but for a bored fanboy who is attempting to make it through another Wednesday, the mindless Valhalla destruction is much needed entertainment.

[Via HBO]

Comic-Con attendees, meet GoW2 and the Cliff

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:30PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News

We already touched on the upcoming Comic-Con 2008 festivities, but yesterday Microsoft released an officially official press release detailing all the Gears of War 2 love they'll be showing for Comic-Con attendees. And already, we're jealous we can't attend.

Microsoft will have a booth setup on the floor where everyone can get a chance to play Too Human and Ninja Gaiden II, where also on Saturday, July 26th from 2:00-2:45PM the Cliff Bleszinski and GoW2 lead writer Joshua Ortega will be signing Gears posters. Later on Saturday, from 3:30-4:30PM, team Epic will be holding a "Gears of War" Showcase Panel where Bleszinski, Ortega and Karen Traviss will discuss all things Gears and give an exclusive preview of the vehicles and weapons that'll grace Gears 2 come this Fall. NECA will also be on hand selling an exclusive Carmine figure, previewing the General RAAM figure and there will be other Gears comic and novel goodness all over.

2008 is the year Gears of War 2 takes over Comic-Con and, depressingly, we can't attend. Though, MS does promise to "Bring it Home" via Xbox Live, so that should help our Gears 2 needs. Hopefully it'll be enough.

Molyneux feels sorry for Dyack and Too Human

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News

Why all the Denis Dyack (stuck) hating? That's the question Fable 2's Peter Molyneux (stuck) seems to have asked himself because recently, in an interview with VideoGamer, Molyneux expressed sorry feelings for Dyack and how he and Too Human have been treated as of late. "I feel sorry for Denis Dyack because you know, I think a few things were said wrong, there was that really unfortunate showing at E3 a few years ago" Molyneux continued, saying that "everyone got on the bandwagon of saying things about Too Human." Peter then threw his support behind Too Human saying that "it's a good game" admitting that "it doesn't deserve a lot of that harsh criticism."

A perfect example of how developers have to stick together if they want to survive in the industry. Strength in numbers, friends, strength in numbers.

Watchmen based games to go episodic

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 2:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Downloads, Xbox Live Marketplace

Let's go off-topic for a moment. Watchmen is probably one of the greatest graphic novels ever created and the film looks totally rad. From director Zack Snyder, the guy who directed the film adaptation of Frank Miller's 300, and partially penned by David Hayter, of Metal Gear fame, it looks like it's going to be one helluva flick.

The problem with creating a great movie is that, inevitably, someone will want to create a game based on it. Variety is reporting that Watchmen is no exception to this rule but the game based on the film (based on the graphic novel) is taking a different approach. Warner Bros. has announced it will release two downloadable episodic games on Xbox Live, PC and PSN to coincide with the theatrical and DVD releases of the film.

Developed by Deadline Games, which is currently working on Faith and a .45, we don't know much about the content of the games but we hope a smaller game will work out better than licensed titles of the past. We also hope for world peace and an end to fanboy flame wars -- guess how that's going so far?

[via Joystiq]

Fanpoll: How was Microsoft's E308 showing?

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 2:00PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff, E3

After being privy to everything we heard, saw and played at E3 2008 we'd like to hear what you thought of Microsoft's overall performance. With suitable OMG-megatons like Final Fantasy XIII, awesome exclusivity announcements like DLC in Fallout 3 and rad showings of games like Gears of War 2 -- it seems like it was a great show! But ... noticeable absences like Alan Wake, the controversy surrounding the Bungie announcement and debatable decisions like the dashboard revamp this poll could go either way. So, X3F Army we ask you. How did Microsoft do overall?

Games for Windows Live goes free

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 1:15PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Xbox Live

This topic sure to be a hotbed of commenting action. Yesterday Microsoft announced that Games for Windows Live, the PC-based equivalent of the Xbox Live service, has changed to a completely free business model. After a lukewarm launch against PC service powerhouse Steam the Games for Live service has ended the Gold/Silver distinction for PC gamers that Xbox Live subscribers are subjected to. Changing to a free model means gamers can compete in cross-platform gaming (where applicable) at no additional charge. The question now remains, does this move signify a a change that must be made to the Xbox Live structure or are the services two completely different beasts. Consider, only a handful of games and features exist on the PC side of Live and with strong competition from other free services it's a move Microsoft had no choice but to make to survive. So, what are your thoughts on Games for Windows Live going free?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Via Engadget]

Gamerscore Blog's message to Japanese gamers

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 12:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff, Videos

Microsoft needs help in Japan. OK, let's not mince words here -- they need a bona fide miracle. While sales are sluggish (that's called an understatement), Microsoft continues to approach the Eastern market with an assortment of games that appeal to the majority of their tastes. In response, the region sometimes sees a spike in sales but overall the Xbox 360 rarely sells more than a few thousand units per week (and this is an overstatement).

Enter Team Gamerscore Blog. Attempting to communicate directly with the Japanese gamer, the team at GSB have created a a video that hopes to entice gamers into the Xbox 360 camp. How? With personality, that's how!

We know some of the of comments to this video will be negative for the attempt but trying this approach to the market couldn't hurt right? Microsoft is essentially a faceless corporation in the East and putting some nice people in front of a camera talking about games could help remove the negative stigma the system has in the region. Or you know, maybe it won't.

[via Gamertag Radio]

Go! Go! to the XBLA for Break Steady & 1942

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 11:45AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Welcome to yet another Wednesday XBLA update. This week the Arcade gets Go! Go! Break Steady and the revamped classic 1942: Joint Strike. Each clocking in at 800MS points both are now available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Go! Go! Break Steady is a rhythm title that sports 30 levels of break dancing action alone or with up to one other player over Xbox Live. 1942: Joint Strike brings the classic shooter into a 3D environment as you maneuver WWII-era aircrafts and take on huge waves of incoming enemy fire which can be played cooperatively over Xbox Live. Check them out today!

Gallery: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA)

Gallery: Go! Go! Break Steady (XBLA)

Halo 3 reclaims top spot on Xbox Live

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 11:15AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff

Look who's back on top? After falling in the Xbox Live ranking to Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Halo 3 has been named the most played Xbox Live game of the last week according to Major Nelson. There are a few things that could have helped the spike. Maybe gamers were hoping they'd catch some kind of in-game hint to Bungie's next project, maybe the concept of a free map finally sunk in or maybe it's because Halo 3 is a great game. Either way, Halo 3 is back to the number one spot. Can Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare reclaim the crown next week?

SimCity Lite for XBLA? - A Kingdom for Keflings

Posted Jul 23rd 2008 1:30AM by Terrence Stasse
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade, Videos

So who's read Gulliver's Travels? Raise your hands, don't be shy. Hmmm, more than we would've thought. Those familiar with the tale should remember the island of Lilliput (and its rival) which was the home of, well, tiny people. A Kingdom for Keflings is rather similar in concept: you're a giant among insects (so to speak). From there the game concept adds in some dashes of SimCity and Black & White, as the goal is simply to build a city and castle as well as attract more Keflings.

While coming to us from the same devs who did Band of Bugs, A Kingdom for Keflings looks like it's doing things that we've all seen before. Hopefully Ninja Bee will find the sweet spot of city-building, avatar control, and simply watching the simulation play itself out, so that the game doesn't simply tread old ground.

Footage of Shred Nebula

Posted Jul 22nd 2008 11:30PM by Terrence Stasse
Filed under: News, Videos

So after some delays to the project's release, Shred Nebula is finally getting some of its marketing going. With so many twin stick shooters out these days most gamers (understandably) have some reservations about playing more games like them. While it isn't exactly the same as playing the game, videos of gameplay definitely give a much better idea of what the game is really about than just descriptions and screen shots. So for those out there who are looking for something a little more than just words and static images, check the video. To our eyes it looks like s more substantial and traditional take on Geometry Wars and Phoenix. Oh, and the music sounds good too.

[Via Gamerbytes]

Rumor: Mass Effect Trilogy exclusive to the Xbox 360 [Update]

Posted Jul 22nd 2008 4:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Rumors

Update: A BioWare representative commented on this story at GameDaily denying the Muzyka ever alluded to Xbox 360 exclusivity. "This site [Xboxoz360] is incorrect; Ray did NOT make any such statement regarding any exclusivity plans for the Mass Effect trilogy," the rep insisted.

In the September issue of Australian 360, BioWare co-founder and CEO Ray Muzyka was discussing the future of Mass Effect and the possibility of multi-platform at the EA European Showcase. "We said we were committed to supporting Mass Effect as a franchise and have the trilogy on the Xbox 360, and that's still our goal", Muzyka told the magazine, later adding "we're always very ambitious in our goals and the most important thing is quality, so we're never going to compromise that."

The quote doesn't actually lead us to believe that the series will be exclusive because the word is never actually uttered. If anything it provides the insight that the series will always be on the Xbox 360 but Muzyka never says it will only land on Microsoft's console. As one reader points out, it's more of a nod to the entire trilogy making it out this generation.

Questions regarding the fate of Mass Effect have been in the air since Electronic Arts acquired the famed Canadian developer -- who hold the rights to the Mass Effect name and universe. With major companies going multi-platform to make up for costly development we'd be surprised if EA went this route. Unless of course a deal is in place that was made prior to the EA acquisition or shortly thereafter.

~~A representative for Electronic Arts has yet to reply to inquires regarding this rumor at the time of publishing this story.~~

[via Xboxoz360]

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