XBox 360 Rally

Though Rooster Teeth has moved onto the 1-800-MAGIC series, they have announced a come back of sorts, in the form of 5 episodes being promoted by Microsoft themselves of course to preamble Halo 3. Gamerawr has uploaded to YouTube the first of the 5, which I am bringing to you so quickly, that I haven’t even watched it myself yet.. so I am going to do that.. right now.

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President Fumiaki Tanaka of Konami Digital Entertainment stated at Konami’s analyst meeting, “As we are aware of the popularity and hardware-driving power of this software franchise, going forwards we are open to taking this franchise across to other platforms.” (via Kotaku)

Gamepro sat down with Microsoft’s Shane Kim, who pulled out this lovely quote speaking on Metal Gear, “If you look at it from an economic standpoint, third parties have to support more than one platform. That’s their business model. Titles are just getting way too expensive. How much do you think that Konami is spending on MGS4? So economically they’ve got to leverage that the best that they can. So it’s really up to the first parties to create the content that’s going to differentiate the platforms and that’s where we think we have the competitive advantage.” (Via Gamepro)

And finally, I understand that Hideo Kojima has stated that Metal Gear Solid 4 is a “PS3 Exclusive,” .. however, this is Konami’s call, not Kojimas.

My personal prediction, there will be a Metal Gear game on the 360, even if it isn’t “Guns of the Patriots,” Konami has a good relationship with Microsoft and to back what Shane Kim stated, this is just being realistic, Konami needs to make their money back on the production of the game for the PS3, there is not enough PS3’s in existence to ensure that they make as much money as they should with this franchise. Either way, bets are on it is only exclusive for a year. As a final note, jeebus, I get tired of this coming to 360 then not coming to 360 every other week, but on the other hand, I guess if people weren’t so vocal about this the companies wouldn’t know how much 360 owners want this on their system.

Ben Heckendorn, master hardware modder (this guy has made a portable N64!) has been working on his new Xbox 360 laptop (see original here). Well using a nice brand new Xbox 360 Elite, he has cracked that ish open and found new heat sinks. Now though he doesn’t make a fuss about it himself, this is something that has been said on the Rally before, and now we can see it in action. Add this to the new chips and you have yourself one champion workhorse 360, no overheating here, no three red rings.

Now I could take this time to be a little angry at the fact that it should have been this way from the start, but, I will be a good little fanboy and say that I am fine with my 3 year warranty (I am such a tool). Now, back to heap a little more praise on Ben, this new Xbox 360 Laptop has planned the following changes from the old one:
Xbox 360 Elite based, 120 gig hard drive.

• Built-in WiFi.
• New design.
• HDMI - DVI adapter to allow digital video on the LCD screen. Probably still a 17″ widescreen.
• Some sort of different cooling system, a little more refined than last time.

• [Inside the Xbox 360 Elite]
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2K Sports has announced a new feature that will be good enough it will become a standard setting for the NHL 2K series. The “precision puck handling” will be taken care of thanks to the right thumb stick that will work with the face-off system. They are really happy about this new technology, as they sent us a full press release about the feature. Though I am not supporting 2K Sports (click here why you shouldn’t either), this does seem like a good move for the company and this franchise to change things up and to keep moving forward, and by the description, I am surprised they had not thought of this before. Check the press release for some more detailed info straight from 2K:

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In what had me Googling more than I wished to find if this was a prank press release, the odd news is true, India’s “largest game services provider” Gameshastra, has signed on to develop an Etch A Sketch game. At the least, this will not be a full game but an XBLA title, still, the mind ponders what the hell were they thinking, what will be the goals in the game, what are the options, multiplayer, achievements?!?!

With a little thought (still more than I want to think about this game at all), I can instantly think of one of the Mario Party mini games where you have that jack hammer and they throw an image in the center of the screen for you to copy. I guess with multiplayer, one person controls the left knob while the other on the right.. err.. I am really reaching for answers on how this will be played and .. why will it be played. I can assure you, the official press release reveals little information on anything to do with this game but more of a spamming of the companies involved, still, read if you wish, after the break (personally, I recommend enjoying JW’s favorite, The Etch-A-Sketchist’s work instead or even going online and making your own Etch-A-Sketch art in flash! oOoo).
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Oh man, I remember having to read this in high school, which sucks, cause sometimes they had good books for you to read then, but since they were forcing it on you, there was little hope to actually enjoy any of it. Still, even with bad memories of the story, the trailer has turned me around on this. The gameplay is reminding me a little of Rise of Argonauts, but the graphics are beyond what I have seen in that game. I can’t lie, this looks good, real good, check the press release after the break for some actual good key info on what to expect from this title as well as some of the background of the development (Ghost Recon!) .

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Capcom, known for being pretty interactive with their fans imo, has had a little contest going on, that is going to be ending on August 1st (Wednesday), Brian Dunn the blogger for Capcom explains the contest so easily a caveman could understand it:

You get to make suggestions and then vote for the best Achievement, which will make it into the final game.

We want to put your thinking caps on and come up with any Achievements you would like to see make it into Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. Post your suggestions for Achievements in the comments section here.

Simple enough, right? Well get to posting your idea (click here to do so!). After they pick 10 of the best ones, Brian will post them up on their forums for you to vote on, the winner’s suggestion will make it into the game! Be creative but realistic with your idea.
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Coming to us in 2008 will be a brand new fighting game featuring characters we have probably already seen in the Capcom/Marvel games. Seriously though, I welcome a new fighting game onto the 360 with open arms, DOA4 doesn’t do it for me at all (no hate here, just not a game that stuck with me), and other than that, you can only get your fighting on via the Live Arcade or just accept that the 360 seems to focus a lot on shooting games only!….

..ahem, let me catch my breath and stop ranting while I try to focus and be happy that the team that was behind Def Jam: Icon (meh) and Fight Night Round 3 (yeah!) will be working on this title. In what I am going to take as a direct attack at Capcom’s take on Marvel and fighting games just for the sake of fighting on the internet, EA Chicago VP Kudo Tsunoda said “Were challenging ourselves to make a game that delivers on the Super Hero promises of past top-tier fighting games.” All right, maybe not an attack on Capcom, but more an attack at EA themselves for the piss poor Marvel Nemesis game. Either way, with the development team they have picked out for this project, at the very least, this game is going to look next gen big time.. lets just hope it plays well and is as fun as some old school fighters.

[ShackNews]
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With both titles seeing a release this month (just pretend its already August, okay!), it has been announced by Midway that Stranglehold will be getting a demo. However, on the Bioshock side of things, it is more Internet Matlockery that has produced the information that the German USK board (basically their ESRB) shows an age rating of 18 for a demo of the game that is “due for imminent release.” Keep in mind that not all games get their demo’s out before the actual release, two recent examples were The Darkness and Shadowrun, and I really don’t think that Bioshock is a game that needs to have a demo to get people excited about it.
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Stock up folks. You just don’t know how much those GTAIV extra episodes or Halo 3 multiplayer maps are going to cost. Hell, Bomberman has those new maps and costumes coming too. The specifics of this deal are right in that pic above, can’t you read! You buy any two items, you get $20 off. So yeah, you can get a wire headset and 1600 points (= fool!), or spend fifty bucks and get some points and a year of Live.. or a wired headset and Live, the foolish combinations are endless! Seriously though, this deal is good on racking up some points so you can get all the horse armor your heart desires at half the price, though I honestly personally recommend picking up Bomberman Live for both online and offline fun, maybe some 3D Adventure Golf (yes I am one of the 300 people in the world who bought this.. and love it), or even some Texas Hold Em or Uno, there is really a ton of good choices for XBLA titles, so download demos and see what you like. This offer is good only until August 4th (This Saturday), I suggest getting on the deal as soon as you can this morning.

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Wow, this came out on Friday and I admit I completely missed it. While doing my usual browsing of GameVideos.com, this was the second video down. I figured the focus would all be on the Lego Batman game for right now.. however, I will not kick this gift horse in the mouth. Being one of the few people in the world a way bigger fan of Indiana Jones over Star Wars, this is going to be at the very very (very) least a ‘must rent’ .. all right, Ive said enough, press release below the video for more info straight from the company.. now roll the clip!

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NOTE: If this turns out to all be smoke that is being blown up my ass by lazy Wal-Mart employees, I will be royally, ROYALLY pissed!

A picture says a thousand words, doesn’t it? Here is an actual in-store flier from Wal-Mart, and you can plainly see the Xbox 360 console with the big numbers “$349″ above it. That is, in fact, an Xbox 360 Premium Console selling for $349 at Wal-Mart. But this is no sale, oh no. See the red? That’s the famous Wal-Mart “Rollback” logo, meaning that this is the NEW price of the Xbox 360 Premium!

But as of now, Microsoft hasn’t returned my many e-mails regarding the matter, so I, JW, have taken the news into my own hands, and have begun calling EVERY SUPER WAL-MART I CAN FIND, searching for answers. Little by little, the puzzle is starting to come together!

INFO GATHERED (All info gathered is subject to change with more inquiry)
Xbox 360 Elite will rollback to $399, Xbox 360 Premium to $349, and Xbox 360 Core to $299
Rollback will take effect “sometime this week”, possibly as early as Sunday.

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The World Cyber Games registration is closed, however, 56 ‘wild card’ spots have been opened up and you can get in if you are good enough… as well as live in Indiana, New York, Texas, California, Florida, or Washington. Luckily I live in Orlando! However, I am not the best in any of these games…

• Gears of War (Xbox 360)
• Dead or Alive 4 (Xbox 360)
• Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (Xbox 360)
• Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360)
• Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (PC)
• FIFA Soccer 07 (PC)

• .. well maybe Tony Hawk (I KEEL YOU in ‘Tag’). Check the page they have set up on CircuitCity.com to see specific dates with each state (August 2nd - Oct 7th). I am attempting to see if I can at the least attend one or more of the events, especially the finals, and hopefully get back with some kind of report, if not, anything they giveaway, I will bring back to the Rally here for a contest of some sorts (for now, have you finished your photoshop to win GTAIV yet!?). Also, check out The Circuit City Forums where Xbox.com’s TriXie and Age of Empires champion MrMilo will be holding a chat Sunday, July 29th, 8-9pm eastern. See the official press release for the event after the break.
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I don’t know much about Bungie’s Curtis Creamer. I know that he’s an employee of Bungie, and a Producer on Halo 3. I also know that, with a name like Creamer, he was probably picked on in grade school. Thankfully we’ve moved beyond that sort of childish behavior (sans the picture), and will not be making any jokes at his expense. Because he could probably cream me in a fight. *snickers*

Seriously, though. Creamer was the most recent honoree of the “Meet the Team” feature at Bungie’s official website, and in the interview he gave us, the people, a few insights regarding the Halo 3 Single-Player.

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It goes without saying that the Japanese love their RPGs. Hell, they love them so much that they, to date, have made over twenty sequels to a supposed “Final” Fantasy (that counts sequels, spin-offs, etc.). For a console that is struggling as bad as the Xbox 360 is in Japan, it would be a no-brainer that RPGs such as Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata would only help the console’s cause. Especially since we’re not getting Metal Gear Solid 4 (sorry kiddies, we’re not gettin’ it — get over it.).

So when news that The Elder Scrolls IV: Onlivion was making it’s way to Japan, suffice to say it was destined to be a hit — and a hit it was, selling over 35,000 copies in it’s first day of release in the land of the rising sun.

Considering the sheer volume of cries, pleas, online petitions and downright threats (I assume there were threats) calling for Oblivion to come to Japan, it should come as no surprise that people want to play this epic RPG. Just look at what Bethesda did with Oblivion. They redubbed the entire opening cinematic in Japanese, and went about translating (albeit into subtitles) every line of dialogue, as well as every book, scroll and poster throughout all of Cyrrodiil.

In the end, Oblivion doesn’t fix Microsoft’s woes in Japan. But, with quality, popular RPG titles like Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata already on the market, as well as upcoming games like The Last Remnant, and Lost Odyssey, this could be a major stepping stone in making the Xbox a viable brand in Japan.

[360-gamer]

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