XBox 360 Rally

A day after Square-Enix licenses the Unreal 3 engine, probably to make Final Fantasy XXXVIII, Epic Games poked their heads out of the pile of money Gears of War has amassed for them to confirm that the next Unreal Tournament game will be coming to everybody’s favorite console, the Xbox 360. That isn’t the only news regarding Unreal Tournament 2007. The other big news regarding Unreal Tournament 2007 is that it’s not called Unreal Tournament 2007, but Unreal Tournament 3.

“Unreal Tournament 3? But J.W., wasn’t there four Unreal Tournament games?” you may be asking. The short answer is… yes. Including UT3, there will be four UT games:

Unreal Tournament (1999)
Unreal Tournament 2003 (2002)
Unreal Tournament 2004 (2004)
Unreal Tournament 3 (2007)

Thank God there isn’t a story continuity, otherwise I’d be REALLY confused. But as to why they decided to call the fourth game in the series “three”, well… they can. After Gears of War, they could collect deer droppings, put it on a plate and people would buy it in droves.

Damn you, Cliffy B!

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Ok, rumor is spreading (thanks to ActiveXbox) that Halo 3 is going to be coming to us this November. November 15th, to be precise. Now, I am not someone who is familiar with ActiveXbox, but they claim to have gotten this info from, and I quote, “an anonymous executive in Microsoft’s Xbox group.” With the North American release on 11/15/07, you can expect to see the game coming to Europe and Asia a couple weeks after.

Now personally, I think this is bogus. Although the timing DOES sound about right for Halo 3, with it being Christmas time and all. Either way, stay tuned to Bungie’s website for more info, since we all know Microsoft won’t comment on anything.

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Remember about two weeks ago when the interweb was abuzz with elation and joy over some videos that shown what a modern day Ghostbusters game would look like, using the Unreal 3 Engine? Yeah, they’re not there anymore. If you were to go to YouTube right now (which I ask you all not to, but rather continue exploring this great 451 community), you would see the following message when you try to watch the greatness that is Ghostbusters:

This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Sony Pictures Entertainment because its content was used without permission

Sony, you whores. Hopefully Sony looks at the possibilities with this: The reaction to the videos was absolutely staggering; everyone loved the idea of a Ghostbusters game. But not all is lost. Sony and Zootfly are still negotiating over the rights to the franchise. I would have to think that, at this point, Zootfly has the power. I mean, we all saw the reaction to the Ghostbusters footage. Sony would have to realize that this is a game people everywhere are creaming their jeans over.

Never mind people saying “Sony should do the right thing” because this isn’t a matter of right or wrong — this is a matter of Sony making TONS of money! …of course, this gaming coming out on the 360 would be a kick in the balls, eh?

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In a bit of news that has suddenly washed away the hype over the Halo 3 BETA, a representative from Microsoft has confirmed that every copy of the upcoming underachieving shooter Crackdown will have the Halo 3 BETA included with it. And it’s not even the first batch of Crackdown discs with the BETA included, oh no. The BETA will be available right on through March.

I can’t say this makes me happy. In fact, if I were anyone who signed up for the BETA, I wouldn’t be happy. See, in my twisted little head, being part of any BETA test is like being in a little club all your own. Now you’re going to have a couple million people buying Crackdown and getting in on the BETA goodness. Not to mention that the developers of Crackdown, Realtime Worlds, can’t be too happy about this from an artistic aspect. Sure, it’ll sell the game (an easy million in the first month), but how many people are going to play the game? I know of at least one who wouldn’t.

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Well, apparently other blogs are starting to catch on to a little fad first brought to the masses (at least, I think I was first *shit-eatin’ grin*) in “t3h w31rd” last Friday. Last Friday, while the story of the Xbox Live/Kidnapper story was the lead, the second bit of “w31rdn3ss” was a look at case mods from a company called “National Console Support, Inc.” They specialize in customizing consoles ranging from the (obvious) Xbox 360 to the PS2, to just about everything inbetween.

Remember, kiddies, each case mod runs for $49 and, if you’re willing to violate your warranty, feel free.

Ron Mexico is sure to be heartbroken over this sad news today. Midway’s underachieving story-driven football game “Blitz: The League” for everyone’s favorite console has been BANNED in Australia. Apparently, the Australian ratings board refuses to classify Blitz due to the rampant drug use during games. In a statement about the game, officials said (and I quote):

“In the course of the game, the player may access what are purported to be both legal and illegal performance-enhancing drugs for the members of the team. Choosing to use these drugs (by selecting from a menu) will have both negative and positive effects on team-members, for example, by improving their speed while making them more susceptible to injury. Each drug has different characteristics. Fake urine samples may also be acquired for avoiding positive drug tests. While the game-player can choose not to use the drugs, in the Board’s majority view there is an incentive to use them. By using them judiciously, the player can improve the performance of the football team (while managing the negative effects) and have a better chance of winning games, thereby winning bets and climbing the league table”

So basically, having the option to use drugs for performance boosts is enough to ban the game. Midway shouldn’t feel bad, however. After all, they are hardly the first developer to have their game banned in the land down under — Rockstar, for example, has had… well, they’ve had just about everything of theirs banned in Australia.

What Midway should be worried about, and be ashamed of, is how the could let a piece of junk like Blitz get out of Beta Testing without addressing the broken game play. But that is neither here or there.

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So, Crackdown finally loaded up for me. I kid you not, I was waiting for it to DL all damn day. But I finally got it on my hard drive, and after FINALLY completing the main quest in Elder Scrolls IV. All I can say is… not bad.

I have no idea what the story of the game is, outside the fact that you play some sort of bionic cop trying to wipe out the gangs of “Fictional City” (my personal name for it, not the actual name). What I liked about the demo was just how easy it was to jump into, especially for a game with the surprising depth that Crackdown has. As you progress through the demo, shooting baddies, blowing stuff up and just plain exploring, your character will level up specific attributes, such as your strength, your driving abilities, and your skills with firearms.

I only played one mission with the demo: An apartment complex where I was supposed to kill this ganger princess. But from playing the game in a sandbox-like mode, I think it can be said that MOST of Crackdown’s missions will be the basic shoot-that-guy formula. Now, I DID find a couple of racing activities, but I kept getting told I wasn’t high-enough level.

A few knocks on the game: The mission structure seems kind of broken (as in “so loose it’s confusing”). The combat can get repetitive. While the option of targeting a specific limb is cool, in the end it’s still run-and-gun. I don’t want to include graphics, but this game isn’t… it isn’t Xbox 360 quality, let’s leave it at that.

And if you’re wondering about Co-Op, it’s more of the same.

Overall, I’m now officially interested in Crackdown. I may not love it when I get it, but it has it’s moments when it can be true fun.

It’s coming, people. Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter was one of the biggest games on the Xbox 360 when it was first released way back in March. Unfortunately I never had the chance to experience the game when it first came out, because I was in Basic Training at the time, but even with my limited exposure to the franchise I can tell you that it’s one of the best titles on the 360. Period.

Well, it’s sequel time, and according to some e-mails from Ubisoft, we could see the demo “in the near future.” Considering that the game is due for a March 6th, 2007 release “in the near future” doesn’t guarantee that the demo will be released before or after the game is. In fact, we don’t even know if it’ll be a single-player, or multi-player demo we get. I assume one of each, but you never know.

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After a long wait, all you guys who’ve been drooling over Crackdown can finally get your hands on it. Sort of. The 1.24GB Demo for Crackdown is finally available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for free download, and you better hurry yourself up and get to it because just about EVERYONE is downloading the damn thing.

Basically, the demo consists of both a single player mission, as well as an online co-op mission. Personally, Crackdown doesn’t appeal to me in the very least, but I want to hear what you all think about it. Do you think Crackdown will be a success, or will it fall flat on it’s face?

…ok, who’re we kidding? The Halo 3 BETA is included with the damn game, so of COURSE it’s going to be successful.

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Busy week for the Xbox 360. After a slow Monday, the rest of the week will surely be occupied by a plethora of new games. So, let’s get to it…

…

…

…what? Nothing? There is NOTHING this week?! …son of a bitch… ok, well… um… you know what? Screw it!

This is going to be a LONG week…

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So far this week, news regarding everyone’s favorite console has been scarce. In fact, it’s been nearly non-existent. So in my continuing efforts to both meet my deadline, and keep you coming back for more, I’m actually reporting about the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences awards.

Either way, a few big Xbox 360 titles are up for awards this year. Gears of War led all games with ten nominations, while The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion raked in eight nods, although it seems they are recognizing the PC version, rather than the console offering so we’ll just talk about Gears of War for the remainder of this. The awards GoW is up for are:

Overall Game of the Year
Console Game of the Year
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Outstanding Direction in Art Achievement
Outstanding Character Performance - Male
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering
Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Action/Adventure Game of the Year

The winners should be announced on February 8th, 2007. Expect Gears to go home with a LOT of hardware.

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Remember back in December when the entire gaming blogosphere exploded in a nerdgasm when the Halo 3 BETA went into open invitation. Well, this is zero hour, now — the Halo 3 BETA Registration is complete, and those lucky bastards who were chosen (since I’m almost certain I won’t be) will be notified this week.

Screw you asshats.

If you’ve been chosen, you will know by Friday. Do let me know if you’ve been chosen — that way I can stab you in the throat and steal it. [*insert smiley face here*]

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I know, I know. I’m posting this on a Monday morning — sue me. I just got back from my duty station. Regardless, looking at the RSS feeds and around the general internet, I couldn’t find a single piece of news about the Xbox 360 from over the weekend. Notta. Zilch. Absolutely nothing. So naturally, when a blogger can’t find anything on the subject he’s supposed to (and in this case, is paid to) cover, he does the sensible thing: Rehash an already reported and very well known story, adding a hint of personal opinion to the matter.

Kind of like my personal Jesus Christ, Keith Olbermann. So without further interruption, let’s do this.

As I’m sure you all know by now, Gears of War has topped over 3 million copies sold. For those of you who can do math, $60 x 3,000,000 = $180,000,000, which essentially boils down to $180,000,000 = Cliffy B. rubbing his naked body with crisp $100 bills. Epic is making money hand-over-fist with this game, due in part to the George Lucas effect. Namely, Epic developed both the game AND the Unreal 3 engine, thus doubling the lining of their pockets. When this game became a HUGE hit, this is when the George Lucas effect truly manifested itself.

Now I know that Epic doesn’t get all of that money. Retailers and Publishers get a hefty chunk of the game’s profits as well. But when I see a game like this making as much as it does, I find it hard to root for the little guy. The “small time” developer who falls back on the age-old excuse of “We were working on a budget” for producing a steaming pile of virtual feces. Epic Games was once one of those “small time” developers. But they put forth the time and effort, and were able to create a game like Unreal using nothing but hard work, determination, and a crap-load of caffeine.

At one time, Epic Games was amongst the development houses who had their games thrown into the bargain bin days after release. Now you see them and think of them as one of the top development houses in the industry, turning out one great game after another. And they’re not done.

So I say to all you small time development houses out there — don’t try to make the quick buck by knocking off a bigger, and better game. Take the time, effort and energy to create your own idea. Your own gameplay mechanics. Your own game engine (if necessary, since they take a LOT of love). Do all that is necessary to create a game that will make you money, but will also get you recognition from inside the industry. Do your part, little men, and some day YOU could be like Epic.

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The site may be a little lacking in the updates this weekend. I know, I know, you’re all heartbroken, but let me explain.

I’m a member of the United States Army Reserve, and this is my weekend to report in.

…no, that’s it. I’ll try to get a couple things in over the weekend, but really, it won’t be much.

Okay, when the Xbox 360 launched, games on the Xbox Live Arcade were capped at 50MB. I can only assume it was done to accommodate those 360 owners who didn’t get a hard drive and had to store their arcade games on a memory card. Well, now many a source is reporting that Microsoft is going to bump up the file size limit five-fold, to 250MB. With Microsoft’s approval, a particular developer could get the limit bumped up further, to 450MB.

While this isn’t yet “official”, I really couldn’t see any logical reason why Microsoft wouldn’t do this. After all, the upcoming Castlevania: Symphony of the Night not only surpasses the current 50MB limit, but it absolutely squashes it, coming in at 96MB. Of course, the 50MB limit was also the reason that Lumines Live! was broken down into a successive series of downloads (which, in turn, was why I didn’t get it). My point is that the 50MB limit is currently placing a limit on games we want to see on the XBLA.

Just think, with a larger limit to the file sizes, we could potentially see games coming from the Sega Saturn and the 3D0 in the future. I know I’d love to see those “lesser known” classics, like Mr. Bones, on the XBLA one day soon.