Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices in Europe

Microsoft is cutting the European price for its Xbox 360 games console by 50 euros to 349.99 euros ($470), following a similar cut in the United States.

The company said in a statement on Monday that the lower price would be effective from August 24. It also plans to launch a new model, Xbox 360 Elite, that will ship with a 120 gigabyte hard disk and cost 449.99 euros.

The price of the entry-level model Xbox 360 Core will be cut by 20 euros to 279.99 euros, Microsoft said.

Source: Yahoo!

Microsoft Extends Xbox 360 Warranty

Great news for all you Xbox 360 owners. Microsoft has decided to extend the general hardware failure coverage for all X360 consoles to 3 years:

"As of today, all Xbox 360 consoles are covered by an enhanced warranty program to address specifically the general hardware failures indicated by the three flashing red lights on the console. This applies to new and previously-sold consoles. While we will still have a general one year console warranty (two years in some countries), we are announcing today a three-year warranty that covers any console that displays a three flashing red lights error message. If a customer has an issue indicated by the three flashing red lights, Microsoft will repair the console free of charge—including shipping—for three years from the console’s purchase date.

We will also retroactively reimburse any of you who paid for repairs related to problems indicated by this error message in the past. In doing so, Microsoft stands behind its products and takes responsibility to ensure that every Xbox 360 console owner continues to have a fantastic gaming experience."

New Warranty FAQ <--> Letter to Xbox 360 Owners

The Lord of the Rings Online first free content expansion...

Turbine's The Lord of the Rings Online which only launched about two months ago has just gotten one of its first free "expansions" today. Launching around 2PM EST today, Book 9: Shores of Evendim greeted everyone as they happily patched the game up. Though the patch was quite large (about 600 megs or so), considering the amount of content included I doubt anyone complained much. Just taking a look at the three page long changelog and you can see how much stuff is here. Over 100 new quests, an entire new zone to explore (Evendim, with around 70 of the new quests) new armor sets, new deeds, monster play additions, character class changes (hear that Champions??), you name it - it'll probably be here.

Of course there are the usual bug fixes and game changes, way to many to list. Normally I would list some of the changes/additions etc, but not this time. There are just way, way to many. Turbine, known for giving lots of content away for free, did not waste much time with its newest MMORPG hit. Turbine has four (4) major content updates planned, Shores of Evendim being the first obviously. Just to compare, the new Evendim area is roughly the size of The Shire in the game.

Multiplayer Online Games Directory also has a nice interview up with Turbine, explaining what the update includes, the new raids available and monster play changes among other topics.

Multiplayer Online Games Directory Turbine Interview

id Software Shows Off New Game Engine

At Apple’s worldwide developer conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, California, John Carmack, the chief technology officer of id Software, a well-known game developer, has demonstrated the company’s new game engine, which, it claims already works on numerous platforms including game consoles. “In the last couple of years we’ve been working, pretty much in secrecy, on a next-generation technology and a next-generation game core. This is actually going to be the fist time that we show what we’ve been doing publicly,” Mr. Carmack said during his two minute keynote at WWDC.

The new game engine, which id calls id Tech 5 supports Microsoft Windows-based PCs, Apple Macintosh computers running Mac OS as well as popular game consoles – Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3. No information was released about the game engine itself, though, it was implied that it also features MegaTexturing, a feature in id’s Enemy Territory: Quake Wars game due out this year.

XbitLabs

Nintendo Wi-Fi service reaches 5 million users

Nintendo said Wednesday that its Wi-Fi Connection service--which allows Nintendo DS users to play wirelessly against each other--has surpassed 5 million users.

All told, the video game giant said, users have initiated more than 200 million sessions, playing games like Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime Hunters and others wirelessly.

Read More...

Halo 3 to be released on Sept. 25

Halo 3, the Xbox 360 gold mine, will be released on Sept. 25. After rumor and speculation, amongst closed circles mind you, that the game may be released early, we now have a final and solid release date. From the press release:

In a year when Hollywood is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, a video game is set to conquer them all. “Halo® 3,” the final chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy, is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25. Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, “Halo 3” will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind. “Halo 3” will be available to audiences around the world starting Sept. 25 and will release in Europe on Sept. 26.

So here we go! ready for the game buddies...

Read More...

Microsoft to offer free XBLA shooter

While it was originally spotted on the Entertainment Software Rating Board earlier this year, Microsoft kept mum on its Xbox Live Arcade game Aegis Wing until today, when it dropped a couple of smart bombs about the side-scrolling shooter.

First of all, Microsoft said the game would be free to download for all Live Silver and Gold users for a limited time. Second, it's going to be released this Wednesday at 2 a.m. Pacific time. Finally, the game is the product of a trio of students, conceived during a summer internship with Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade division and developed in conjunction with Carbonated Games (makers of Uno for Live Arcade).

More @ GameSpot

Condemned 2: Bloodshot Announced for Xbox360/PS3

Ask anyone who owns an Xbox 360 what one of the most memorable and surprising hit launch titles were and I’m sure Condemned will be at the top of everyone’s list. Thankfully, SEGA knows this and has announced today Condemned 2: Bloodshot will be released in early 2008 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot will put us back in the shoes of Ethan Thomas. It seems Ethan’s former partner has gone missing, so he sets out to find him. Ethan though isn’t the same man he used to be. He was effected by all of the craziness that went on in the first Condemned and is now a “desperate burnout”, according to SEGA’s description.

One of the biggest surprises from the announcement is the fact there will be online multiplayer included in Condemned 2: Bloodshot. No further details on what we should expect with this addition, but as soon as details emerge we will make sure to update you guys accordingly.

Full Story

Xbox 360 to Support H.264 and MPEG-4 With Spring Update

Along with Windows Live Messenger integration, better Achievements system and that new QWERTY keypad accessory, the Spring Update will also include H.264 video support (up to 10 Mbps peak, Baseline, Main, and High profiles with 2 channel AAC LC) and MPEG-4 Part 2 video support (up to 5 Mbps peak, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC). Unfortunately, the addition of MPEG-4 does not mean the Xbox 360 will now play DivX or XviD videos - the console will only natively support the WMV and MP4 containers. Red Kawa, maker of Videora, proclaimed that the update will put Microsoft ahead of the Apple TV and the PS3 in the video area. The Spring Update will be released the week of May 7 and will be easily accessible to every Xbox 360 owner through Xbox Live or on Xbox.com.

source: DailyTech

Xbox 360 Ad Banned

A TV advertisement for the Xbox 360 has been banned in the UK because it promotes and glamorises dangerous driving. The ad featured a rooftop and street car chase ending with the protagonists congratulating each other and swapping roles. "We were concerned that the ad gave the impression that reckless street car racing was exciting and fun, and considered that was compounded by the congratulations offered to the other driver at the end of the race by the other young men involved," stated the Advertising Standards Authority.

Microsoft had defended that ad stating the publisher and the ad makers had worked hard to avoid misconceptions that the console was encouraging dangerous driving. As well as airing the ad after 9pm the ad featured on-screen text explaining the stunts were in a controlled environment and that at no point were the cars breaking speed limits. However, the ASA found that "the text reinforced the sense that the events in the ad were real, rather than fantasy, and were therefore capable of being copied."

The advert will not be shown on UK TV again due to breaching rules on health and safety and driving standards. Videogame companies face regular run-ins with the Advertising Standards Authority. A number of complaints about violence, glorifying violence and advertising to children were received by the ASA recently over a series of advertisements for the launch of the Nintendo Wii. However, all seventeen complaints were rejected.

GamesIndustry.biz

Microsoft says Xbox Live security wasn't breached

Microsoft has announced the company has not found evidence of a security breach on its Xbox Live or Bungie.net online gaming services; gamers who had trouble with their accounts were likely duped into giving up their details to fraudsters. "There have been a few isolated incidents where malicious users have been attempting to draw personal information from unsuspecting users and use it to gain access to their Live account. We have looked into the situation and found no evidence of any compromise of the security of Bungie.net or our Live network," Microsoft said in a statement.

The statement comes a day after Microsoft said it would investigate possible fraud on its Xbox Live and Bungie.net online gaming properties. Gamers had reported that their Xbox Live accounts were hijacked and their credit cards used to buy "Microsoft Points," the virtual currency on Xbox Live. According to Microsoft, no credit card or other personal information was exposed. Microsoft also noted the usual 'don’t give out your or someone else’s personal information' as it can be used for illegal or harmful purposes.

Source: News.com

Xbox 360 DivX, XviD Playback Guide

This guide shows you how to stream DivX and XviD movies (as well as share photos and audio files) to your Xbox 360 using TVersity.

The Xbox 360 is a great games console, with HD output. It is now also a good alternative to buying a HD DVD player, if you purchase the HD-DVD add-on drive. With it's Windows MCE extender and UPnP functions, it can also serve as a media hub for your home entertainment system, streaming video, audio and pictures from your central media server (Windows MCE or UPnP server). What isn't so good is that by default, the Xbox 360 can only play back WMV encoded files, as well as MPEG-1/2 - there is no DivX or XviD support, which is a shame considering the popularity of both formats. But there is still hope! This guide will teach you how to setup your own UPnP server using the free software TVersity, and using it's built in Xbox 360 profile and transcoding features, stream DivX/XviD files to your Xbox 360 and play them back with good quality.

Full Guide