XBox 360 Rally

You not convinced that HD DVD is dead? Are you one of those sad, sad saps who think that HD DVD will rise from the ashes like the mighty phoenix? Well, you’re a moron. You see, Engadget is reporting that over in Ireland, they are able to get their hands on the now-defunct format (which still has some great films on the format) for a whole €10.

For those of you in the US, that’s roughly $15.53.

Here’s what I think of this — HD DVD is kind of like BetaMax. Sure, the format died years ago, but there are still people who insist that BetaMax was superior to VHS and still watch BetaMax videos to this day. Hell, I myself still watch Star Wars on LaserDisc… yes, I own a LaserDisc player, and have used actual Laserdiscs as mirrors because they’re the size of 78’s.

Michael Bay is either incredibly crafty, or phenomenally paranoid, but either way his theory that Microsoft wants to keep HD DVD alive long enough for them to perfect digital downloading seems to be carrying more and more weight. Why do I say this? Because it had appeared that Microsoft had dropped the price of their HD DVD drive yet again.

Toys ‘R’ Us currently is offering the HD DVD drive for the low, low price of $129.98, and according to some reports, Amazon also had this price listed earlier today.

Pretty cool, huh? …yeah, doesn’t matter to me, either. I mean, once you had the one ultimate HD DVD deal, they all fail to compare. The only thing I have that’s HD-ready is my 19″ PC monitor, and really… what’s the point? High Def is meant to be enjoyed on HUGE screens, not computer monitors.

, , ,

Microsoft is fighting fire with fire it seems, as the Official Xbox Magazine is reporting that Xbox 360 owners will be able to download original Xbox titles come December 2nd. The service will be part of the Fall Dashboard Update, and will feature six titles available from the start, each on sale for 1200 MS Points ($15 USD). What games are for grabs, you ask?

• Halo
• Fable
• Burnout 3
• Fahrenieit
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

• To say this is awesome is a slight understatement. With a service like this, Microsoft could very well rival Nintendo’s Virtual Console service.

  [Eurogamer]

  , , , , , ,

Hey boys and girls! I’ve gotten bored and missed working for the ol’ green and grey, so I’m back (at least temporarilly) until we get some new writers for Xbox 360 Rally. And, I come bearing news about potential X-Mas gifts!

According to Punch Jump, Best Buy will be having a couple kick ass deals on some Xbox 360 stuff for the annual “Black Friday” shopping bonanza! First, Best Buy will be selling Xbox 360 Premium consoles bundled with Guitar Hero II and controller for the standard Premium price of $349.99. Naturally, if you’re visiting this site, you probably don’t need a 360. But it’s still something nice to get your friends.

But wait, there’s more! In addition to the bundle, Best BUy is offering both Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (the last GOOD Tony hawk game) and Def Jam Icon for the low, low price of $14.99.

But that offer is on November 23rd, and November 23rd ONLY. So don’t slouch.

[Punch Jump]

, , , ,

Hi, boys and girls. It’s just me, your friendly neighborhood JW, here to remind you all that we’re currently looking for people to replace us here at Xbox 360 Rally. All you have to do is go HERE, fill out the form, and wait to hear back. It’s really not that hard.

So, get to it already — so Paco and I can get to the NEW site!

Ok, people, here’s the deal — Paco and I are on our way out. We’re taking over at 1PStart.com in an effort to restore it to it’s former glory. …that, and I just plain want to write about another game every once in a while, is that so wrong?!

Anyways, here is what we’re looking for: A competent, capable writer with a love for all things Xbox. Now, by competent writer, we mean someone who spells “you” correctly, and knows when to capitalize. If you can do that, you’re a shoe-in. So, CLICK THIS DAMN LINK, do the required stuff, then get paid to play video games and write about stuff.

…hell, Mike and I did the hard stuff already, and YES, the GTA4 Banner contest will continue, and I will still give you a copy of GTA IV… or something. So, hop to it.

, , ,

A nice deal of the day on this fine Saturday, for twenty bucks you can get yourself a shiney brand new copy of WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 on the 360. Metacritic gives the game a solid 81, with the first six reviews on the page giving the game a full 90. There is a demo on the Live Marketplace, and sadly, if you are into wrestling as much as my cousin is, you might buy the game based on the wrestler intro’s alone (I can’t lie, they were well done)

Click here and get your copy before they sell out (ie like with the Prey $11.99 deal)

UPDATE: DEAL IS DONE!!
They literally sold out! That is how good of a deal this was.

Prey is $11.99 right now. You MUST buy it, right now. Non-used games of this high caliber do not get cheaper. If you really need to think twice, quickly download the demo available on the Live Marketplace, and you will be sold. You will be wanting to give 2K five extra bucks for making this deal too cheap. IGN gave it a 9, GamePro gave it a 4.75 (out of 5), even the touchy GameFaqs reviewers all seem to lean toward the positive . Amazon’s deals of the day are so-so sometimes, this is not one of those times, this is a must buy if you like first person shooters at all, also one of, if not the cheapest deal I have seen on a brand new product (especially of this quality).

CLICK HERE AND GET ON IT NOW!

Oh, my God! Amazon has the steal of the CENTURY, people! If you haven’t yet joined the Xbox family, now is your time to jump right in! Check out this DEAL!

Isn’t that just amazing!? The savings are ASTRONOMICAL!

…seriously, however… why? Just… just, why?

Happy Labor Day, and we’ll be right back here tomorrow.

[Amazon]

, ,

Get ready this weekend to get some not great, but not bad games! Well, at the new prices, some of them are looking to be pretty sweet. Small Arms, the Smash Bros wanna be game isn’t too shabby, especially at only 400 points. Next is Zuma Deluxe, only to be 400 points, so for you puzzle type players, if you don’t have this already for whatever reason, jump on it. Arcade classic your thing, Gauntlet is only 200 points! If I liked the game just a little more that would be a no brainer. Finally, one more arcade classic, Dig Dug, 200 points. Your best bet, download the trial versions, see what you like, get ‘em while they are cheap.

Microsoft and Fox have signed an agreement today that will bring Fox programming to the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. First up? Family Guy!

Family Guy will be the first of what will surely be many shows from Fox (24, House, etc.) that will find a new home on the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. Considering what’s been popular in the Video Marketplace, the program decision seems obvious.

The first two seasons, as well as “Family Guy Presents: Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story” will be available for download sometime next week, with the other seasons following soon after. New episodes will be added to the Video Marketplace the day after they premeire.

Freaking sweet.

UPDATO MAGNIFICO:
160 MS ($2) Points per episode? Considering each Family Guy DVD collection runs roughly $50 ($1.75 per episode), it’s not that big of a price increase. However, if you go to Amazon.com, you can get these DVD sets for $35, meaning each episode would cost you between $0.60 - $1.25 an episode.

[Variety]

, , , ,

For $179.99, you will get the HD-DVD player (that works not only on your Xbox 360 but computer as well), the HD King Kong movie will come with that. Now, choose three other titles such as The Departed, Batman Begins, V for Vendetta, and some more not too shabby flicks (see the list of those movies here).

Now to top it all off, they still have that pick 5 movies offer with select choices on what you can pick, Print up this PDF and choose 5 additional movies.

So for $179 you are getting the player and 9 HD-DVDS!. I do not even own an HD tv set yet, but I think I will be jumping in on this offer.

The Xbox LIVE Marketplace is a true cornucopia of stuff. Whether it be classic arcade games like Paperboy, Time Pilot and Contra, or downloadable content for your favorite games, like Santa Claus outfits for Saints Row and expansions for Oblivion, Xbox LIVE is chock full o’ stuff for just about everyone. If you have the MS Points, you can open the door to all the world’s delight and joy.

But what if you’re broke? Are you just left outside in the snow, to stare in the window from behind the bushes to see all the joyous boys and girls playing with their horse armor and their extra Crackdown skins? Of course not! There’s stuff for you, too, cheap ass!

In fact, there is a LOT of free stuff for you. Whether it be extra content for your favorite game, or the most worthless of things (*coughgamerpicscough*), there is a surprisingly large amount of free stuff for your downloading delight on Xbox LIVE.

Read the whole list after the break!

(more…)

Crackdown, the game I love to hate. I beat the game within a day, but, that is not what the game was all about. It takes the Grand Theft Auto idea of a sandbox game to a whole new level. Yeah, you can complete missions, but there is races, hidden things to find, tons of free items on the Live Marketplace to add (as soon as you pop the game in for the first time you will literally be bombarded by updates). I never felt that $60 was a good price for this game, but.. for $17.49, this is quite a deal and a half. Looking for a game to mess around with until Halo 3 and the other big name titles are out, couldn’t afford BioShock yet, then pick up Crackdown right now, it is worth the 18 bucks. CompUSA.com product link.

One of those crazy Amazon “Deals of the Day” Not sure how much time people have to get to play another title other than BioShock right now (I just got my preorder from GameStop today, the Big Daddy toy is so detailed and cool, plus mine didn’t come broken, yay!). Anyways, back to Shadowrun, the game still retails for $59.99, which I always thought was way too high of a price for a multiplayer only game, however, for $30, its not looking too shabby. I think this deal will last only the duration of the day, so click here to pick it up NOW!

Don’t like it, re-sell it on eBay, because I believe that you will at least get $30 back from it if not more, its a win win.