XBOX Game Reviews

Increase in Friends Limit on Xbox

Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox and Xbox Live, has confirmed Microsoft's plans to increase the 100-friend limit. Greenber told Joystiq:

"I can't commit to when that will happen, but that is something we want to do. It's definitely something we're looking at expanding and, as this social network grows, we've absolutely heard the pleas for that. It's on the list."

Microsoft extends Xbox 360 warranty

Microsoft said Thursday that it will take a $1 billion charge as it extends the warranty on the Xbox 360, after an investigation showed the game console can be prone to hardware failures.

"As a result of what Microsoft views as an unacceptable number of repairs to Xbox 360 consoles, the company conducted extensive investigations into potential sources of general hardware failures," Microsoft said in a statement.

Microsoft said its probe found "a number of factors" that can cause a general hardware failure indicated by three red flashing lights on the console. The company said that, in addition to extending the warranty, it has made unspecified design changes to the product.

Microsoft said it will cover machines that experience failures for up to three years from the date of purchase. To cover the cost of the new policy, Microsoft said it will take a pretax charge of $1.05 billion to $1.15 billion in its just-ended quarter.

Microsoft said it will reimburse customers who have already paid for repairs for the hardware problem that is indicated by the three flashing lights.

Xbox - X06 News - New Games

Xbox 360 Ushers in Exclusive New Worlds of Entertainment for Most-Anticipated Franchises Ever at X06

Microsoft announces partnership with Peter Jackson to create two new interactive entertainment series for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live; new, exclusive "Halo Wars," "Splinter Cell," "Grand Theft Auto," "Bioshock," "Banjo Kazooie" and "DOOM" announcements wow crowd; HD DVD version of Peter Jackson's "King Kong" to be distributed with Xbox 360 HD DVD Player this Autumn.

Microsoft Corp, at its annual X06 event, announcements  announcements highlight how the world’s greatest game creators are stretching the bounds of what’s possible in high definition and online storytelling and included the following:

A landmark partnership announced between Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live®. The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the “Halo®” universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

“Halo Wars” is an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the “Age of Empires” franchise.

Rockstar and Take-Two announced they will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two downloadable, epic episodes of “Grand Theft Auto IV” via Xbox Live, each with hours of entirely new gameplay and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.

Ubisoft confirmed that the next “Splinter Cell” title, the next instalment in the series after “Splinter Cell Double Agent,” will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of Xbox 360 to deliver a complete experience no other console can match.

2K Games confirmed that “BioShock,” a revolution in the genre that will forever change the expectations for first-person shooters, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows next spring.

“Project Gotham Racing 4,” the latest addition to the best-selling racing franchise from Bizarre Creations exclusively for Xbox 360, was unveiled. “Project Gotham Racing 4” promises to continue the “Project Gotham Racing” pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.

Championship Gaming Series (CGS)

After networks like MTV (Cyberathlete Professional League) and HD Net (World Cyber Games) dabbled in pro gaming coverage last year, ESPN and DirecTV are ramping up TV coverage for this year. ESPN is expected to broadcast events from Major League Gaming this year.

DirecTV is taking things a step further by creating its own pro gaming league called the Massive Gaming League.Beginning in early 2007, DirecTV will turn Championship Gaming Series (CSG) into a full-season pro gaming league, with all events broadcast in HDTV. There will be eight major gaming events during a season, and the audience will be able to discover their favorite competitors through online coverage as well as watching events on TV. Information on the league, the players ,and the current action will be available to the audience at any time.

"Everyone who goes to these tournaments will be able to participate in some way, whether it's through a Beat The Pros competition or an open gaming event."

Shanks said that t eams of players will compete on Xbox 360 and PC games at live events around the country for the chance to win the "Dew Cup," along with a large amount of cash and prizes. He said that the actual games that will be featured in next year's competition have yet to be finalized, especially since some potential candidates haven't shipped yet, but titles like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™ and Halo® 2 are potential pro gaming material.

Xbox Game Rentals

Top game rentals at Blockbuster video last week (Aug 14 '05):

1.  The Incredible Hulk:  Ultimate Destruction (PS2)
2.  Madden NFL 06 (PS2)
3.  The Incredible Hulk:  Ultimate Destruction (Xbox)
4.  Madden NFL 2006 (Xbox)
5.  Destroy All Humans! (PS2)
6.  Midnight Club 3:  DUB Edition (PS2)
7.  delta force: black hawk down (Xbox)
8.  Fantastic Four (PS2)
9.  NCAA Football 06 (PS2)
10.  Delta Force:  Black Hawk Down (PS2)

Samsung and Microsoft Accounce HDTV Alliance for Next-Gen Xbox

Samsung Electronics, a global HDTV leader, and Microsoft® today announced an alliance to elevate gaming to the next level through high-definition technology. Microsoft has chosen Samsung as the exclusive HDTV worldwide marketing partner for the next-generation Xbox® high-definition (HD) gaming platform. The announcement was made today during the Home Entertainment Expo at the New York Hilton.

The next-generation Xbox/Samsung HDTV combination is designed to deliver the most advanced and realistic high-definition experience to gamers worldwide. To promote the HD Era, the companies plan to place over 25,000 Samsung high-definition televisions in Microsoft Xbox retail kiosk locations across the globe.

"Gaming has become a primary force for innovation in the entertainment and technology industries. Samsung has selected Microsoft Xbox as the best next-generation game console and a key driver in the global HDTV revolution," said Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President of Consumer Electronics and North America Corporate Marketing for Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "Samsung is proud to expand the Microsoft relationship and stand with them at the forefront of the HD gaming century."

"Samsung is a natural partner to showcase the richness of the next-generation Xbox," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Xbox at Microsoft. "Samsung HDTVs will provide Xbox enthusiasts with the truest high-definition gaming experience available."

Popular Game Rentals

Ten game rentals from Blockbuster Video - week ending April 24, 2005.

1.  Midnight Club 3:  DUB Edition (PS2)
2.  Midnight Club 3:  DUB Edition (Xbox)
3.  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Xbox)
4.  DOOM 3 (Xbox
5.  God of War (PS2)
6.  Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
7.  Dragon Ball Z:  Sagas (PS2)
8.  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (PS2)
9.  Close Combat:  First to Fight (Xbox)
10.  MX xv. ATV Unleashed (PS2)

Winning Eleven Nation

January 28, 2005 - Konami today announced Winning Eleven Nation, the official website for the Winning Eleven series of soccer titles. Armchair goalies and fowards alike can here find news, exclusive information, strategy, tips, interviews, polls, contests, and message boards related to the franchise.

On February 1, Konami will ship Winning Eleven 8 for the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. Featuring 136 club teams and 57 national teams, Winning Eleven 8 offers gamers control of up to 4,500 of the world's greatest soccer players.

2004 XBOX Live Game Review

Eighty-five Xbox Live-enabled games were released in 2004, beginning with Auto Modellista on January 13 through MechAssault® 2: Lone Wolf on December 28. Most of these games feature online multiplayer, and a few are Live Aware, Content Download only, or Stats Upload only. There are now over 200 Live-enabled games to choose from! As of December 28, 2004, here are the best of the best:

Top Ten Best-Selling Xbox Live-enabled Games

Halo 2
ESPN NFL 2K5 Fable (Xbox Live Aware)
Madden NFL 2005
Ninja Gaiden (Content Download)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Star Wars Battlefront™
NCAA Football 2005
Star Wars® Knights of the Old Republic® II: The Sith Lords™ (Content Download) Full Spectrum Warrior

Links above go to amazon, but you can find some of the above games used on sale from GameFly.com

Xbox Game - Halo 2 Launch Next Week

Thousands of gaming fans are expected outside the Toys R Us store in Manhattan next week for the launch of Halo 2.

At 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Halo 2; a sequel to the best-selling game ever developed for Microsoft's Xbox, will go on sale amid a blast of rock music, celebrity sightings and packaged pandemonium in Manhattan. At the same time, some 6,800 stores in the United States, and others abroad, will open in the first minutes after midnight, putting the game into the hands of those who have reserved it--Microsoft reports 1.5 million advance orders--and others willing to part with $50.

"Halo: Combat Evolved," a first-person-shooter game developed by Bungie Studios, involves an interplanetary struggle between Earth soldiers and an invading swarm of battle-ready buggers called the Covenant. Since its release three years ago the game has sold more than 5 million copies.