Posts by Xav De Matos at Xbox 360 Fanboy

Xav de Matos
Toronto, Canada - http://www.thelevelgrind.com

It’s Xav de Matos. That’s like Have with a Z. Public Relations major by day, gaming journalist by night. Xav has been in the industry for over five years with stints in retail management all the way to blogging for www.Xbox360Fanboy.com; part of AOL’s Joystiq Network. Xav's GamerTag is: Snypz. Why is Xav writing in third-person? Xav doesn't know.

Xbox Japan sees 157% growth in the last year

Posted Oct 21st 2008 11:30AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News

The numbers aren't Earth shattering -- or cause for a sweater in the pits of Hell -- but Xbox 360 has found a small niche in Japan. Famitsu Marketing data (via GameDaily) outlines that the Xbox 360 has seen a year-to-year growth of an impressive 157% during the first seven months of the year.

Before we start to prep our Sony eulogy for Japanese newspapers we should keep in mind that a growth of 157% on an already small group isn't much to brag about but Microsoft is hopeful for their future in the region. According to data from Famitsu the console has sold 748,992 units since its release in Japan and Microsoft hopes to crack the million units sold milestone, "as soon as possible." The spike in sales is in large part to the exclusive debut releases of the role-playing titles Tales of Vesperia and Infinite Undiscovery. The lifetime hardware sales numbers for each platform (and handheld) can be found after the jump.

[via Joystiq]

Continue reading Xbox Japan sees 157% growth in the last year

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Fable II Collector's Edition may have missing DLC code

Posted Oct 21st 2008 10:45AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Fable 2

After being stripped down of its heftier extras the Fable II Collector's Edition may have, unintentionally, misplaced one of its replacement bonuses. According to tipsters at Joystiq, some Fable II Collector's Editions sold at GameStop are missing the redeem code for the special in-game downloadable content offered exclusively with the package.

A GameStop source told Joystiq that a company wide email notes that cases bearing an orange "48 hours of LIVE"' sticker include the DLC code, but copies without the sticker do not.

Allegedly customers are being directed by GameStop to the Xbox Support phone line (1-800-4MYXBOX) if their Collector's Edition does not include the code -- which Joystiq confirmed with a phone call to Xbox Support as the current course of action for the situation. The anticipated role-playing game from Lionhead Studios releases for the Xbox 360 today.

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X3F TV -- Fable II Pub Games gold and Xbox.com item merge tutorial

Posted Oct 21st 2008 10:00AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff, Fable 2, X3F TV

Savvy gamers are already aware that gold obtained in Fable II Pub Games for the Xbox Live Arcade can be transferred to their characters in Fable II -- which releases today. While we've told you how it's done we thought we'd create a quick tutorial video and show you the quick and painless process. Also, make sure to check out Fable2.com (part of Xbox.com) and to win gold and items for your characters within Fable II. This video also walks you through the steps of obtaining those bonuses as well. We're all about helping a gamer out here at X3F.

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Rock Band USB hub starts electrical fire

Posted Oct 20th 2008 4:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Rock Band 2

Blogger at THEBBPS Jim Squires was in for a rude awakening while playing Rock Band when the included 4-port USB hub began fuming during a 10-minute play session. Playing with four instruments connected and plugged into an open wall outlet the device began to smoke as the wires burnt through the casing. Upon notifying the EA Support site of the situation Squires received a form letter -- which is basically an automated response -- urging him to plug the unit in and try again.

"Congratulations EA, your form letter just killed me," Squires wrote in his story about the problem. A second reply pointed Squires to an automated replacement site ignoring his request for information regarding the electrical fire. Let's hope that warranty isn't expired otherwise he may be forced to pay for the luxury of another blaze.

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Call of Duty: World at War beta impressions

Posted Oct 20th 2008 10:45AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Call of Duty: World at War

Jack Bauer yelled at me last night. Well, technically it wasn't really him but the commander's voice who calls in artillery strikes and rabid dogs for the Americans as portrayed by Canadian television superhero Keifer Sutherland in the multiplayer beta for Call of Duty: World at War. After releasing last week we decided to spend some extra time to develop our thoughts on the highs and lows of Treyarch's upcoming shooter. Jump in for more footage and our thoughts on the beta version of the multiplayer experience.

Gallery: Call of Duty: World at War

Continue reading Call of Duty: World at War beta impressions

Video: The evolution of Resident Evil

Posted Oct 17th 2008 3:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff, Resident Evil 5

They say, "Time heals all wounds." Unless those wounds are a zombie bite, in which case you are pretty much done-zos. Capcom's Resident Evil 5 is slowing inching toward a release and throngs of excited fans cannot wait. How has the series sustained itself for so many years? Evolving both graphically and technically, Resident Evil has set the standard for reinventing itself countless times while telling a long, sweeping story that has spanned the globe. From its humble beginings of scaring us with pixelated slow-walkers to the HD-era of online co-op zombie action. Resident Evil 5 looks better than ever and on March 13, 2009, we'll all find out if it will be worth the wait.

Japanese report removes Konami 'looking into MGS4 on Xbox 360' quote

Posted Oct 17th 2008 1:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News

Earlier in the week Japanese investment research firm, Morningstar, released a published report that quoted an unnamed Konami representative as saying the company was "actively looking" to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to Xbox 360 -- suspiciously, the quote in question has now disappeared.

GameCyte details that the Kabushiki business journal, which is owned by Morningstar, has changed the original article with new quotes from another Konami representative discussing completely different titles. Speaking to J-Cast News, an unnamed Kabushiki representative said that the article is not a correction but a 'second appearance' and admits to no breach of journalistic ethics.

[via Joystiq]

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Portal: Still Alive to bend space on the XBLA this Wednesday [update]

Posted Oct 16th 2008 12:45PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Update: Major Nelson confirmed with us that Portal: Still Alive will be priced at 1200 Microsoft points.

Attention -- the Aperture Science Enrichment Center cordially invites you back to experience its award-winning testing facility very soon on the Xbox Live Arcade. Play it again and for the first time with the complete original, 6 advanced maps and 14 new challenge maps. GamerScore Blog officially announced today that Portal: Still Alive will land on the marketplace on October 22. Unfortunately no price was revealed, which makes us think we're going to have to open the wallet wider than the average 800MS points. We can still dream, together.

[Thanks, HazyCloud]

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Viva Killer Instinct, special cards include nostalgia

Posted Oct 16th 2008 12:15PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise

There's nothing better than a Rare treat, is there? Rare has released three special cards to be scanned into Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise that promise "a suitable Pinata approximation of whatever is pictured." The three items pictured? Killer Instinct characters Fulgore, B. Orchid and Tusk. To access the KI pinatas, print out the cards and hold them up to your vision camera.

Let's not jump the gun and think this means a new KI is on the way, kids. Rare has mentioned they don't want to go to the IP Well before -- so, I guess that means they're filthy, filthy teases.

Gallery: Viva Pinata TIP Killer Instinct cards

Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams teased within the depths of the PS3 original

Posted Oct 16th 2008 11:45AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Rumors

According to internet chatter, a teaser trailer for 2K Marin's sequel to the critically acclaimed shooter has been discovered. CVG is reporting that a teaser for the upcoming sequel unlocks within the menus of the PlayStation 3 version when the game is completed. The trailer opens with a title card that reads "Atlantic Ocean" and pans away from a Big Daddy stuffed animal being held by, what looks like, a grown up Little Sister as she looks off into the water. Pillars then begin to form around her and the title screen reveals the name "Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams."

Joystiq has contacted 2K Games for confirmation on the game and trailer.

[Thanks, webster1990]

X3F TV -- Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Review

Posted Oct 13th 2008 12:00PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Reviews, X3F TV

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway marks the first time the critically acclaimed World War II shooter has made its way to the Xbox 360 generation. Known for a dramatic look at the relationships and emotions of war, Hell's Highway continues the story of Staff Sergeant Matt Baker as his squad of 101st Airborne Division veterans this time as they push through the ultimately flawed plan of Operation Market Garden. How does the latest from publisher Ubisoft and developer Gearbox Software stack up? Check out our full video review.

[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.
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[MP4] Download the M4V directly.

Soulja Boy calls out Xbox Live gamers

Posted Oct 11th 2008 5:45PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff

Hey you, on Xbox Live -- Soulja Boy has called you out! That's right, every one's favorite game reviewer has made an official announcement via his YouTube page that he can destroy anyone at online gaming. Take your pick kids: Halo 3? You're done. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare? Don't bother. Gears of War? Put down the controller and walk away. Soulja Boy is so confident that he throws out the challenge to anyone willing to find him on Live. Want to go head-to-head with the artist? Check out the video after the jump for his Gamertag -- of course the video is NSFW. Good luck, kids.

[via What They Play]

Continue reading Soulja Boy calls out Xbox Live gamers

Activision calls in the budget Secret Service

Posted Oct 11th 2008 2:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News

Looking for a shooter to fill the genre's void on the Xbox 360? Luckily Activision has revealed their recently announced, bargain-priced shooter Secret Service. As an agent of the presidential protection unit your duty will be to eliminate a terrorist organization who decides attacking Washington D.C. on Inauguration Day is a good idea. Which seems about as smart as attacking a Dunkin' Donuts next to a police station during a 2-for-1 sale. We kid.

Interested parties may enlist on the Xbox 360 "later this year" for the budget price of $39.99.

TGS 08: Street Fighter IV extended trailer

Posted Oct 11th 2008 12:45PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Fan stuff

There is little doubt that fighting games and arcades go hand-in-hand, so the death of arcades should mean the death of the genre, right? No! Thanks to the advent of online competition, fighting games have been given a new lease on life. One of the many fighting titles still battling for console attention is the upcoming Street Fighter IV from Capcom. Bringing the series back to the quarter-stealing roots of Street Fighter II, SFIV is one of our most anticipated titles of ... whenever Capcom decides to release it!

Gears of War 2 is so gold, you don't know how gold it is

Posted Oct 10th 2008 1:45PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News, Gears of War 2

Hear that noise? It's the sound of hordes of fanboys scurrying toward their local game store in anticipation of Gears of War 2. Why the sudden dash toward retail? Gears of War 2 has gone gold, that's why.

Developed by Epic Games, Gears of War 2 continues the adventures of Marcus Fenix and his ragtag team of military misfits in a quest to kick Locust butt. Promising a longer campaign experience than the original, Gears 2 has added more weapons, enemies and modes to give Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare a run for their money on the top of the Xbox Live most played list when it hits stores on November 7.

We're not pre-reviewing the game or anything but we're going to go ahead and assume it'll sell like cakes. That are hot. Hotcakes, if you will.

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