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Ads with sound hit Xbox 360 dashboard
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Culture, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Well, how’s this for a slap in the face? It looks like ads that have sound incorporated into them have come to the Xbox 360 dashboard. As you can see in the video above, the ad appears in a tile, and if you bring that tile into primary view, sound automatically plays - even if you don’t select the ad. That’s pretty low, considering you paid for the console, paid for the games, and more than likely, pay $50 a year for an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription. Here’s hoping that Silverlight in the Xbox 360 Fall 2009 dashboard update doesn’t bring even more advertising with it.
Gallery: Ads with sound hit Xbox 360 dashboard
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Continuing the trend of Japanese gamers getting the premium Nintendo goods while us in the US just get to watch, Nintendo is set to release a black Wii over in the Land of the Rising Sun. Sure, it’s the same console, but the Wii and WiiMote are a shiny black, rather than the glossy white we are all used to. Oh, and here’s the box. The black Wii hits Japan store shelves on August 1.
Read More 
| NeoGAF
Gallery: Japan’s Black Wii Box
Bioshock 2 promotional vinyl
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Culture, PC, PlayStation 3, Survival Horror, Xbox 360,
I’m a sucker for video game promotional items. Why? Well, they are usually extremely creative and make a great addition to any game collection. Also, the bragging rights are kind of nice. The fine folks over at Destructoid got such item last week from 2k Games promoting Bioshock 2. The package delivered a 7” vinyl and well – lots of mystery. Assuming we all carry around a record player (which obviously we do), we could find that the vinyl contained a Rapture anthem which is later interrupted by some crackling by the voice of a young girl calling out, “Daddy”. Now, I know I can make all kinds of clean jokes about this, but it’s not the same if you, the reader, have not yet been graced by these sounds. You can head over to There’s Something in the Sea and after the page loads, click the yellow arrow on the left and then click on the record player. You will then be able to hear what the vinyl contained. You know what they say—it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.
Read More | Destructoid
Gallery: Bioshock 2 promotional vinyl
TweetCraft: Twitter within World of Warcraft
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Culture, MMORPG, PC,
TweetCraft brings two obsessive habits together, allowing you to do both at once. That’s right, my addicted friends, you can now follow your Twitter friends (like us!) while you play World of Warcraft, thanks to a handy little tool called Tweetcraft. Tweetcraft is an in-game Twitter client that lets you tweet while playing. You can also upload screenshots, and have it send out tweets when you log in to the game, enter an instance, or get an achievement. Yeah, so, it’s pretty much a must-have if you are a World of Warcraft-addicted Twitter fanatic. Hit the video above for more on how it all looks and works.
Read More | Tweetcraft
Gallery: TweetCraft: Twitter within World of Warcraft
Fans of the Monkey Island Adventure series are about to go bananas! Organizers of Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) have just annouced Ron Gilbert as the keynote speaker at this year’s sixth annual event to be held Sept. 4-6 in Seattle, Washington. The 20-year veteran game designer, programmer and producer, Ron Gilbert’s resume includes Maniac Mansion and the first two installments in the Monkey Island adventure series. In addition, his famous SCUMM scripting language granted him a spot in the Computer Game Hall of Fame. He is currently creative director at independent development studio Hothead Games in Vancouver, Canada.
Gallery: PAX 2009 Keynote Speaker Revealed
Some might say gamers are an entirely differently species who require a special diet – Gamer Grub agrees. Gamer Grub snacks are specially designed to improve the performance of gamers. Packed with vitamins and many other chemicals we can hardly spell or pronounce, Gamer Grub offers a delicious snack, which will also help gamers to power up.
To raise the awareness of their product, Gamer Grub’s booth at E3 gave out free sample for the drained by-passers to refuel. The snacks come in different flavors such as Pizza, PB&J, Wasabi and Chocolate, which were all very tasty.
If you are in dire need to step up your game, Gamer Grub is available at Fry’s and ThinkGeek. Remember—eat well and prosper.
Gallery: Gamer Grub: Snacks for Gamers
Facebook coming to Xbox 360
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Casual, Culture, E3, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
In addition to Twitter, Facebook is also coming to the Xbox 360 this fall. You’ll be able to update your Facebook status, browse your news feed, view photos, and more, all from the Xbox 360. Even better? Games can take advantage of Facebook Connect, to publish screenshots and other details directly to your Facebook account, if you so choose. You’ll also be able to send Facebook friend requests to those in your Friends list on Xbox Live, if they’ve linked their Facebook and Xbox Live accounts. Get a look at the Facebook on Xbox 360 screenshots that we’ve put together, so you can get a better idea of how it will all work.
Gallery: Facebook coming to Xbox 360
Twitter is coming to the Xbox 360, as announced by Microsoft at their 2009 Xbox Media Briefing at E3 2009. You’ll be able to see recent tweets from your contacts, and you’ll also have the ability to update your Twitter status right from the Xbox 360 as well. Check out a few Twitter on Xbox 360 screenshots, and feel free to follow Playfeed on Twitter.
Update: Facebook for Xbox 360 is also on the way!
Gallery: Twitter coming to Xbox 360
Ever wonder how it might look if Mario grabbed a go cart and started speeding down your local highway? You’ve gotta check out the YouTube video above, produced by Remi Gaillard. Once he started chucking banana peels, we were rolling. Seriously, take a look, it’s worth a laugh.
If you know of any other great video game related videos on YouTube, feel free to link to them in the comments!
[Thanks, Drea!]
Gallery: Real life, live action Mario Kart
GDC 2009: Hideo Kojima: Solid Game Design: Making the Impossible Possible
Posted by Alex Lifschitz Categories: Culture, Features,
If you at any point in your life have enjoyed a stealth game, you might know Hideo Kojima as the man to whom you owe your firstborn. He’s the father of the beloved Metal Gear game/interactive movie series, and he delivered the final keynote of the GDC today. And, as expected, it was worthy of a man who had just received a lifetime achievement award the night before. I took some pictures of the presentation, and tried to elucidate as best I can, but I seriously cannot stress how much you should try and find the video of the presentation as filmed by the GDC – Kojima is a genuinely funny guy with a lot to say, and if you like the cut of his jib (which is a very good cut, I hear), you deserve to see and hear the whole thing. In the meantime, have some on the house.
Click to continue reading GDC 2009: Hideo Kojima: Solid Game Design: Making the Impossible Possible
Gallery: GDC 2009: Hideo Kojima: Solid Game Design: Making the Impossible Possible
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