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Xbox Feels Neglected
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360,
With it’s faster and more powerful sibling taking all the glory, the original Xbox is starting to feel a bit neglected. With an established base of millions of units, Microsoft has all but shunned the original system and seems to be focusing solely on the Xbox 360. Sony, by way of contrast, has just this month stopped producing the original PlayStation console that was released over a decade ago (December 1994). Rumors from earlier this year indicated that once the existing stock of Xbox systems was depleted, there would be no more.
Particularly upset by Microsoft’s unvoiced neglect is Adam Roberts, the Executive VP of Vivendi Europe. Quoted as saying that the Xbox “probably needs help at the moment”, he laments the loss of retailer support for the console. Roberts believes that Microsoft needs to do whatever is necessary to reaffirm the trust and loyalty of the retail segment. Once again, Sony is pointed to as having a clear concept of the life-cycle of the PS2 and that it’s far from over. In fact, God of War 2 will be released not on the PS3, but on the PS2.
Of course, it should be noted that it’s difficult to release a game for a non-existent platform, and when an aging platform is the only one in your arsenal, you have no choice but to support it if you want to maintain market share. Considering the delayed launch of the PlayStation 3, by supporting the PS2, Sony is doing what is required. Microsoft, plagued by hardware shortages, may be doing exactly what is necessary to firm up their grasp on the market prior to the PS3’s release.
Read More 
| IGN
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Manage Xbox Live Friends List Via The Internet
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Internet, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Xbox Live’s Major Nelson has announced the new Xbox Live Friend Management features on Xbox.com, with a few screenshots showing off the new interface. Now it is possible to send and receive friend requests, and manage friend your list over the web. You have the option of simply entering the Gamertag of someone you want to add to you list, or you can send a friend request while viewing another’s profile. Any requests sent your way canbe accepted or rejected through the new interface as well. The new features will be particularly useful when one is trying to add friends when not near the Xbox 360; remembering if it was 0blivi0n or Oblivion or 0b7lv10n to be added doesn’t have to wait until you get home.
Read More | Xbox.com via Major Nelson
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Review On Xbox 360 And PC
Posted by John Goulden Categories: PC, Reviews, Role Playing Games, Xbox 360,
If there is one thing that is a constant in the world of video games, it’s the argument of console vs. PC. In the past, the PC has usually won on terms of image quality and the sheer number of polygons that can be smoothly processed, but times are changing. With the introduction of the Xbox 360, and the eventual release of the PS3, the lines are more blurred than ever. So if visuals can no longer pick an easy winner, then certainly game availability is a deciding factor. A good argument if there ever was one, and one that remains credible as progress marches forward. However, what happens when a game is released for both platforms, at the same time? Now, it comes down to not only visuals, but gameplay differences, hardware capabilities, and so forth.
A game that has recently been released to the salivating hordes of RPG fans, on both the PC and Xbox 360, is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Ars Technica has done a review of the game on both pieces of hardware, and while I don’t totally agree with the way the review was done (separate reviewers were used for each platform), it still provides some interesting insight into areas where one system is “better” than the other. One platform did score higher than the other, and . . . well, you’ll just have to read the review to find out.
Regardless of the outcome, the game has great visuals and overall gameplay, and looks to be a hit for RPG fans everywhere, no matter what it’s played on.
Read More | Ars Technica
Read More | The Elder Scrolls Official Website
Latest Gear Live Videos
We haven’t held back on our complaints regarding the lack of DivX support on the Xbox 360. While a hack was created back in January, it was too time consuming to set up for the average user. Finally, thanks to our friend Jake Ludington, you can watch your DivX content on your Xbox 360 with minimal fuss. Using a free product called MCE Video Encoder, you can convert DivX, XviD, and other video files on the fly, sending them to the Xbox 360 in easy fashion. Also, it supports fast-forward and skip ahead along with the standard play and pause features you would expect to find in a standard video product. Check out MediaBlab for all the information, including screenshots and instructions.
Read More | Jake Ludinton’s MediaBlab
Read More | Gear Live
Microsoft Xbox Team Working On Portable Gaming Device?
Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Portable/Mobile, Rumors, Xbox, Xbox 360,
It seems that Microsoft does have a portable gaming device in the works, and it isn’t the Origami. that’s not the Origami. As rumored, the device will play movies, games, and music - sounds like a PSP-killer to us. Mercury News says that, “Game executive J Allard leads the project, and its director is Greg Gibson, who was the system designer on the Xbox 360 video game console. Bryan Lee, the finance chief on the Xbox business, is leading the business side of the project.” No other details have really been released, but don’t expect to see it until mid-2007.
Read More | Mercury News
Two Burnout Picture Packs Available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Driving, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace,
For the Burnout uber-fans out there, there are two new Burnout Picture Packs (pictured above) available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Quick question though - is anyone out there actually spending their Microsoft Points on anything other than Live Arcade games? Are the picture packs actually worth the cost to some folks? Let us know.
Read More | Major Nelson
We will admit it - we are addicted to unlocking achievements on the Xbox 360. Except for when DOA4 taunts us for losing 10 straight in online play, but that is neither here nor there. If you are stuck, or just want to find easier ways of upping your Gamerscore, head on over to Gamespot. They just put up an article detailing which games you need to rent in order to bring raise your score by about 6,000 points with minimal effort. Gamefly, here we come.
Read More | Gamespot
Being that the Xbox 360s only current wrestling game is exclusively available in Japan, we have to settle for Rumble Roses XX here in the States until THQ and Midway release their grapplers to get in on the action. Of course, Konami is alaos working on a follow-up to Rumble Roses, dubbed Rumble Roses XX. They have just released a trailer of the game, which shows off a lot of T and A, along with a bit of the games mechanics. Of course, Rumble Roses XX is a bit over-the-top as it pertains to a wrestling title.
Read More | Rumble Roses XX Trailer
As it turns out, it looks like a correctly built Xbox 360 should not be overheating at all. The problem is, there are some Xbox 360s out in the wild that were built incorrectly. A group of German modders took apart two Xbox 360 units that were purchased independently of each other, and they found that the protective foil had not been removed from the heatsink. The problem with that is obvious - the heatsink is being insulated by the foil and plastic, and thereby cannot do it’s job. Honestly, we are surprised the Microsoft would be shipping units with such an amateur mistake.
Read More | Xbox Scene
Modding The Xbox 360 Controller Into A Duke
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Mods/Hacks, Xbox, Xbox 360,
While we don’t agree, we know many a gamer who absolutely loved the original Xbox “Duke” controllers. You know, the ones that were about the size of a Gamecube? Well, one guy loved them so much that he refused to play his Xbox 360 using the standard controller. Instead, he opened up his 360 wireless pad, removed the joysticks, and replaced them with the more round Duke sticks from an old-school Xbox pad. Not being satisfied with that alone, he replaced the 360 directional pad with the more comfortable S-Type pad. He now says that gaming on the Xbox 360 is pure bliss - and he sent us two images to show off his work. Gotta hand it to the guy. We have one more image after the jump.
(Thanks, Rick!)
Click to continue reading Modding The Xbox 360 Controller Into A Duke
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