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Dashboard Update: Games on Demand, Netflix Updates, Avatar Marketplace launch August 11
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace,
You know that Xbox 360 Dashboard Update we’ve been talking about? Microsoft has finally given it a date, and you can expect it to hit your Xbox 360 on August 11th. This update brings with it Netflix Movie Parties, along with a bunch of other Netflix updates, Games on Demand, and the Avatar Marketplace, which allows you to spend Microsoft Points on clothing and accessories. The other features, like Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune Marketplace with 1080p instant-on movie streaming will arrive later this fall.
Remember, you still have a chance to apply for early access to the Xbox 360 Dashboard update.
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Apply now for early access to Fall 2009 Xbox 360 Dashboard update
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Just like last year, you have the opportunity to apply to receive preview access to the Fall 2009 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. Major Nelson made the announcement over on his blog, and made sure to mention a few points of interest:
- We’re looking for multiple thousands of participants, so your chances of making it in are good
- This opportunity is open to all Xbox LIVE Members in regions where Xbox LIVE is available.
- Just completing the survey does not automatically get you access to the Preview Program. We’ll be making final selections from the completed surveys and send you an email if you are selected.
- While both box LIVE Gold and Silver members can sign up, Priority will be given to Gold members in the selection process.
You know you want it, so go ahead and try and secure yourself a spot.
Read More 
| Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program
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.
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Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Update Preview
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Features, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,
Lucky us, we are getting early access to the Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Dashboard Update this coming Monday. We will bring you all our thoughts on everything we are able to try out. We have a list of stuff we will have access to on Monday, which you can see after the jump, but we were also able to put together a gallery of some of the things we will be playing with as well. You can find all those images over in our Xbox 360 Fall 2009 NXE Dashboard Update Preview Gallery.
Click to continue reading Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Update Preview
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Mothership Zeta Fallout 3 DLC info
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adventure, Downloadable Content, Games for Windows Live, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace,
The fifth and final Fallout 3 DLC, called Mothership Zeta, will be available on August 3rd on the Xbox Live Marketplace, as well as Games for Windows Live, for 800 Microsoft Points. It will be released for the PS3 at a later date. Here’s the synopsis from Bethesda:
Defy hostile alien abductors and fight your way off of the massive Mothership Zeta, orbiting Earth miles above the Capital Wasteland. Mothership Zeta takes Fallout 3 in an entirely new direction – outer space. Meet new characters and join with them in a desperate bid to escape the Aliens’ clutches. To do so, you’ll wield powerful new weapons, like the Alien Atomizer, Alien Disintegrator, and Drone Cannon, and deck yourself out in brand new outfits, like the Gemini-Era Spacesuit and even Samurai Armor.
You can color us excited. Now we know that the alien crash site was meant for more than just finding the fantastic Alien Blaster weapon. Who’s excited?
Read More | Fallout 3 Mothership Zeta DLC
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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
Latest Xbox 360 Portable from Ben Heck
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, Microsoft, Mods/Hacks, Portable/Mobile, Xbox 360,
Just leave it to Ben Heck to continually amaze us with how he can take a modern-day game console like the Xbox 360, and turn it into an amazingly delicious portable system. Check out the stats of his fifth revision of his portable Xbox 360:
- Built-in Ethernet port, finally.
- Built-in WiFi adapter, as usual.
- Digital pushbutton volume control rather than a clunky knob. I used a different audio amp as well, and it sounds a lot better.
- Flush-mount DVD door and side panels (such as the memory card slots)
- IR sensor for the remote control.
- Two user USB ports.
- More air holes!
- Jasper motherboard.
Yeah, who wouldn’t want one of these? You throw that into a suitcase, surrounded by clothes, and you are ready to travel. Check out a video of the awesome contraption after the jump.
Click to continue reading Latest Xbox 360 Portable from Ben Heck
Read More | Benheck
LEGO Rock Band hands-on
Posted by Alex Lifschitz Categories: E3, Music, PlayStation 3, Reviews, Xbox 360,
God, what a lonely-looking stand they had this game set up on. Look at that. Really?
When it comes down to brass tacks, at least to me, Rock Band and LEGO go together like peanut butter and chitin. After being revealed to discerning eyes during Dan Teasdale’s GDC talk, the game has garnered some attention from puzzled, clueless journos like myself. LEGO Rock Band is a game for the little’uns, principally, tooled to a younger age demographic and given a fresh coat of paint to keep the drooling cretins jamming away on modern pop hits. So if you’re coming in looking for some Pantera, you’ll be disappointed. But I digress.
Hit the jump for some impressions of LEGO: Rock Band.
Click to continue reading LEGO Rock Band hands-on
Test Out Instant-On 1080p Streaming Now
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Internet, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace,
As we all know Zune Marketplace is coming to the Xbox 360. Through the magic of Microsoft Silverlight, instant-on 1080p content will be available when the Marketplace comes to the Xbox 360; but did you know that you could check out the 1080p streaming now? All that you need are a compatible web browser with Microsoft Silverlight installed. As you’ll see in the demo, you can play around with the bit-rate to see exactly how the technology will work, and compensate for changes in your Internet speed. Check it out and let us know what you think, is this enough to replace Blu-Ray in your life?
Read More | Experience Smooth Streaming
EA Sports Fight Night Round 4
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Electronic Arts, PlayStation 3, Sports, Xbox 360,
EA Sports has released Fight Night Round 4 for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. The boxing game includes both Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in its total 48 characters. It has a physics-based gameplay engine that should make for more realistic play. Added to the new release is Legacy mode that lets you move up from amateur to the top of the heap. A Photo Game Face tool will help you create your virtual self. Pick one up for $59.99 for either game system.
Read More | EA Sports
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