Xbox-Scene News

360 Avatar Editor More Popular Than Gears 2, GTA IV

XanTium — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:11:13 -0500

From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
Xbox Australia have recently begun displaying their own localised version of the "top 10 games on Live" chart normally seen on Larry Hryb's blog, and this week's edition contains an interesting tidbit.

Were the avatar editor a piece of retail software, it would have ranked at #4 on the charts. Ahead of Gears of War 2, Grand Theft Auto IV and Fallout 3. To give you an idea of how impressive/strange a feat that is, remember, these charts don't track multiplayer games alone: they track the games people are playing while simply connected to Xbox Live.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: kotaku.com

Natal dev: Natal will spawn new genres of videogames

XanTium — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:19:44 -0500

From 360magazine.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
360 recently interviewed Johnny Chung Lee, the motion control celebrity who is now working on Project Natal.

* 360: Do you think Natal is likely to spawn entirely new genres of videogame?
* Johnny Chung Lee: "Almost certainly. Most of the current game genres are optimized for the input device that was available. With the additional of motion and pointing sensing, we've already seen several great examples where developers are exploring novel kinds of gaming experiences.
"The lines blur between game categories, and the lines blur between control mechanics. Natal provides a very different set of input capabilities than your typical game pad. To really take advantage of those capabilities, new kinds of experiences will have to be explored."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: 360magazine.co.uk

JungleFlasher v0.1.64 (16)

XanTium — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:43:46 -0500

A new version of JungleFlasher(info) has been released:
[QUOTE]
* General items Updated
Ctrl + F4 to open iXtreme from firmware folder to Target
Added context menus to Source and target tabs
Source
- open f/w from working folder
- clear source
- update to key data base
Target
- open f/w from working folder
- open f/w from .\firmware folder
- clear target
Removed - not allowing blank serial in for Lite-on Dummy.bin
- previously if serial was blank the iX file serial was left as is
- Warning changed for dummy.bin w/o serial, to mention is possibly ok.

* Key Database in Registry
Database will be populated automatically from a dump.
Ctrl + F10 to add/update key database from Source tab info
Ctrl + F12 to launch notepad with key database
Ctrl + F11 to create .csv from key database
Added extra item to explorer(info) context to load as source and add key to db
- iX will not autoload to target for this task
- can select mutliple f/w files, these will load in turn

* Hitachi Support Updated
Fixed bug in Rev 36 Ram Upload Dump Code
All dumps are rev checked immediately, a failure to identify will abort sequence
- dumps from other drives and locked 79's (coming back empty) would proceed to key
- check and fail

* MTKFlash32
Added warning message Yes/No to Flash Erase Button (default is No!)
Added Esc to abort to flash read within auto reads in moddermode
Bypassed Sammy-Un-Lock warning in ModderMode
[/QUOTE]

Official Site: http://jungleflasher.net
Download: here

Major Nelson about Silverlight ads on Xbox 360

XanTium — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:46:41 -0500

From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
I've seen quite a bit of discussion today about how we're bringing Silverlight ads to LIVE in the future.
I need to let you know that you don't need to worry about a huge influx of ads across the dashboard. One of our core principles is to enhance, not interfere with the gaming experience, and we work directly with our partners to only deliver experiences that are relevant to the LIVE community. Silverlight will help make those ads a more organic part of the dashboard, like we've done with some of the NXE slots in the past. No one on the team wants to turn the dashboard into something that looks like like Shibuya Crossing. That's just not good for anyone.
[/QUOTE]

Adam Thole's Tilt Board v3 - Schematics and Board Layout

XanTium — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:50:11 -0500

From adamthole.com:
[QUOTE]
The link gives you the schematics and PCB board layout for the Tilt Board v3. They were created using the program Eagle CAD 5.4.0 which is available to download from here. Eagle CAD is an excellent (and low priced) program that has a free version available. The zip file contained in the link above this post contains two files. The .sch is the schematic and the .brd is the board layout. For an excellent tutorial on how to use Eagle CAD software check out this tutorial by Spark Fun. If you don't want to mess with learning Eagle CAD but you still want your own board you can order as many as you want from Batch PCB. They are who I ordered my prototypes from and are a really cool company.

Please feel free to use these files for any personal use. I am making them available to help others learn more about electronics. They may not be used for commercial purposes.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: adamthole.com

BenHeck's Xbox 360 Portable Revision 5

XanTium — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:45:18 -0500

From benheck.com:
[QUOTE]
A few months ago I announced that I would be building a few more Xbox 360 portables, and well, here's one now! While it looks similar to the previous model it's once again a from-scratch redesign and has the following features:
* Built-in Ethernet port, finally.
* Built-in WiFi adapter, as usual.
* Digital pushbutton volume control rather than a clunky knob. I used a different audio amp as well, and it sounds a lot better.
* Flush-mount DVD door and side panels (such as the memory card slots)
* IR sensor for the remote control.
* Two user USB ports.
* More air holes!
* Jasper motherboard.

[/QUOTE]

Full Story: benheck.com

Get Creative with Microsoft Research�s New Xbox LIVE Community Game �Kodu Game Lab�

XanTium — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:11:34 -0500

From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Have you ever wanted to create your own video game? Now is the time to put your imagination to the test. Microsoft Research's new game lab "Kodu Game Lab" launches on Xbox LIVE Community Games today, giving aspiring game makers of all ages the chance to bring their own game creations to Xbox 360. For just 400 MS Points, or $5, anyone with a passion for game creation can harness the magic of programming and game development at every level.

Built using Microsoft's XNA Games Studio, "Kodu Game Lab" is a pick-up-and-create toolset where any aspiring game creators can build their own unique world using a simple image-based creator menu that makes game-making easier than ever. With almost 200 different programming features to choose from, and the ability to share games with anyone on your Friends List, the opportunities are endless.

In addition to a simple image-based user menu, "Kodu Game Lab" enables game creation using only an Xbox 360 controller, right from the comfort of your couch. "Kodu Game Lab" comes equipped with a bridge and path builder, a terrain editor to build unique playgrounds, co-op gameplay for up to four players and 20 different characters with a range of abilities.

What's more, "Kodu Game Lab" keeps minds active by developing logic, problem-solving and creative thinking skills since it was originally designed as a learning tool for kids.

"As a programmer, I wanted to help create something that unlocked the magic of Xbox 360 in the same way that I was able to unlock my computer as a child and bring my imagination to life through games," Lead "Kodu Game Lab" Programmer Matthew MacLaurin said. "We had such success with bringing 'Kodu Game Lab' into classrooms and after-school programs that we wanted to offer it to any wannabe programmer or creator through the Xbox LIVE Community Games Channel."

Just in time for summer, "Kodu Game Lab" finds its home among some of the freshest, most diverse and creatively independent games showcased on Xbox LIVE. Get ready to create!
[/QUOTE]

Last.fm on XBL: free to gold subscribers, 3 hours per month for others

XanTium — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:05:23 -0500

From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft announced at their E3 keynote last month that Last.fm would be coming to Xbox Live. We can share one tidbit: today we spoke with Christina DeRosa, a general manager for XBL, and she let us know who the service will be available to.

"Silver users will be able access what we're considering a trial period of three hours a month, which comes with video advertising. Gold users will have unlimited ad-supported access, so they can use it 24 hours a day. There will also be a premium offering on a subscription basis from Last.fm, that will be commercial free and will also have more sophisticated personalization features, like Loved Tracks."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: joystiq.com

Xbox Live To Get Rich Media, Silverlight Ads Later This Year

XanTium — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:26:13 -0500

From paidcontent.org:
[QUOTE]
While Microsoft is beefing up Xbox Live with social networking tools and more video content for gamers, it's also adding a plethora of new ways for advertisers to reach them. The newest option will be IAB-standard rich media ads, which the company plans to roll out later this year, according to Mediapost. The addition of rich media support--including Microsoft's Silverlight--will make it easier for agencies to create multi-platform campaigns (online, mobile and Xbox Live) without needing to develop separate creative just for the Xbox.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: paidcontent.org

Xbox 360 Will Fall to Third Place Thanks to Japan, says Pachter

XanTium — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:17:00 -0500

From industrygamers.com:
[QUOTE]
As part of an absolutely massive 210-page report from Wedbush Morgan Securities on the future of the video game industry, analyst Michael Pachter has predicted that Japan will be the Achilles heel for Microsoft, enabling Sony's PS3 to overtake Xbox 360 on the global market. Wii, however, will maintain its leadership role until the end (with a little help from a new "Wii HD").

"We think that the PS3 will capture significant market share, primarily due to Sony's victory in the high definition DVD format war, and will end up in second place by 2015. Although Microsoft's Xbox 360 enjoyed a first mover advantage, we think that its market position will fade to third place due to lack of penetration in Japan. We expect the Wii to capture 49% share of the U.S. and European market by the end of 2009, followed by the Xbox 360 at 29% and the PS3 at 22%. By the end of 2011 (the extent of our current forecast), we see Nintendo 'winning' the console war by maintaining its share, with 48% of this market. We expect Sony to pull even with Microsoft, each with 26% market share. Notwithstanding the projected finish, we truly believe that all three manufacturers should be considered 'winners', with Microsoft selling twice as many Xbox 360s as Xboxes and building a robust Xbox Live business, and with the other two companies generating significant profits from their respective shares. These estimates do not include console sales in Japan, which we expect to be dominated by Nintendo with over 65% market share through 2011."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: industrygamers.com

Xbox 360 Natal kits with THQ's developers, Sony PS3 'wands' not yet

XanTium — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:31:18 -0500

From mirror.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
In an interview with G4's The Feed, THQ CEO Brian Farrell said the company had had Microsoft Xbox 360 Project Natal kits "for some time... four, six weeks, however long they've been available."

Farrell said that THQ had only had "discussions" with Sony over its PS3 wand kits and "don't have any of the actual, hands-on dev kits yet."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: mirror.co.uk

Xbox users in France to get Canal Plus films, soccer

XanTium — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:22:26 -0500

From edge-online.com:
[QUOTE]
The Canal+ Group has teamed up with Microsoft to offer French Xbox 360 owners a range of its pay-TV content.

As well as access to around 6,000 titles, including 3,000 films, the service will feature coverage of top flight French, English, Spanish, German and Italian football, plus the Champions League.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: edge-online.com

Arstechnica Mole: Elite to replace Pro Xbox 360 this fall?

XanTium — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:20:14 -0500

From arstechnica.com:
[QUOTE]
Our favorite inside source has given us a heads-up on what to expect from both Sony and Microsoft this year in hardware packages and pricing.

Expect the Xbox 360 Pro to disappear in July or August, but you're going to see some solid bundles to get those systems moving off store shelves. The Halo 3/Fable 2 bundle the Mole previously tipped us off to shows that Microsoft is willing to put some good games into the box to get people buying.

So what are we going to do without the Pro systems? Nothing. The Elite units, with the 120GB hard drive, are going to become the Pro-level system after an early September price cut. We'll be on the lookout for another holiday bundle as well, and that should hit around October.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: arstechnica.com

360 Modification USB Drive v1.6 Revision 3

XanTium — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:26:07 -0500

FrostyTheSnowman released a new revision of his 360 Modification USB Drive(info).

What's new/fixed in v1.6 Revision 3:
* General code cleanup on all scripts
* Powerpoint-style GUI added
* Disclaimer screen ad

Official Site: n/a, by FrostyTheSnowman
Download: n/a (contains modified FWs)
News-Source/Full Readme: xbins.org

Non-purchasable Facebook, Twitter, Sky and Last.FM branded Xbox 360

XanTium — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:35:25 -0500

From examiner.com:
[QUOTE]
Xbox Director of Programming, Major Nelson sent a tweet today showing off four Xbox 360 consoles that we the consumer will not be able to buy.

Though no doubt there are plenty who would buy up such neatly colored boxes, they were made specifically for the companies that Xbox 360 had announced partnership with during their E3 conference.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: examiner.com

New Xbox 360 Dev Kits with 1GB RAM, X-Engine

XanTium — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:45:22 -0500

From gamezine.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
You may not know it, but Microsoft shipped a new Xbox 360 development kit to studios earlier in the year. One striking difference was the inclusion of one-gigabytes of RAM. No, this does not mean that Microsoft will be releasing a new Xbox 360 with more memory; the new kit instead makes development a little easier.

Like the PlayStation 3 1GB development kits, the extra memory can be used to properly test your game. This was a problem for Xbox 360 developers before now, since extra memory from the 512MB pool would have to be put aside to test their game engine. Developers could of course disable these test features in order to use this spare memory, but that would mean that they wouldn't easily be able to test their game.

Something else might have surprised developers when they received their new Xbox 360 development kit; a new set of tools, or more accurately a new engine. According to our insider source, Microsoft has been on working a new internal Xbox 360 engine, which has been nick-named the X-Engine.

Our source explains that Sony's PlayStation 3 tools (named Edge) have been picking up steam, and are now taking true advantage of the platform's make-up, especially the consoles CPU, Kutaragi-san's infamous Cell. As for the Xbox 360, it was lacking an engine that took advantage of it in the same way; a hole Microsoft hopes to plug with their new X-Engine. We're told that the engine isn't just a new set of special effects; it's actually a whole new way to develop for the system: a new first party engine design.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: gamezine.co.uk

Patcher: What Went Under-Reported at This Year's E3?

XanTium — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:41:12 -0500

From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
The announcement that I thought was missed was the opening of the Xbox Live Dashboard interface to the internet. Later this year, Microsoft will allow members to access last.fm and to select music, to access Netflix and instantly watch films/TV shows, to access Facebook and interact with other friends, and to access Twitter and post/read tweets.

In order for this to happen, Microsoft has to open up the Xbox Live interface and for the first time will let Xbox Live members use the built-in browser as a browser.

Admittedly, the selection is limited to these four sites, but it's a start, and is a glimpse into the future of the Xbox 360 as a home media/internet hub. I think that this announcement was far and away the most important one of the show, and think that the media completely missed its importance.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: gamasutra.com

XBLC games not 'financially viable'

XanTium — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:38:00 -0500

From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
Clover developer Binary Tweed believes the Xbox Live Community Games market is too small to be "financially viable", and that the service's only use is as an "arena for proving concepts".

"It's a shame to say that Clover has not sold as many copies as we'd hoped for. As it stands, through Community Games alone, we definitely won't recoup costs," Binary Tweed boss Daniel Jones told Digital Spy.

"Frustratingly enough, the critical reception to the game has been good," he added, as if reading Eurogamer's Clover review aloud. "The size of the XBLCG market is prohibitively small to be financially viable, so I can only see it being of use to Binary Tweed as an arena for proving concepts."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: eurogamer.net

Rumour: Xbox 360 to get one terabyte HDD?

XanTium — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:39:19 -0500

From techradar.com:
[QUOTE]
A whopping one terabyte hard drive is rumoured to be in development for the next iteration of Microsoft's Xbox 360 console.

The increased capacity hard drive is rumoured to be launched at the same time with as Project Natal.

Industry analysts have identified the limited storage space of the current Xbox 360 range as a major feature holding the tech back right now, particularly with the rapid developments in movies and games on demand services via Xbox Live.

"I don't see the timing between new release and digital download being a function of anything other than hard drive sizes," analyst Michale Pachter told GamesIndustry.biz. "I think as soon as we have large hard drives - think the rumoured Project Natal 'new' Xbox 360 with a terabyte of storage in 2010 - we'll have day-and-date downloads."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: techradar.com

Xbox Live not Blocked by Iranian Firewall

XanTium — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:29:33 -0500

From examiner.com:
[QUOTE]
Craig Labovitz of Arbor Networks Inc has written a detailed report on what specific traffic is being blocked and/or filtered, noting that "Interestingly, game protocols like xbox and World of Warcraft show little evidence of government manipulation".

With the Xbox 360 offering video chat among the features of being an Xbox Gold subscriber, this could easily be an upcoming popular way for loved ones and news outlets to deliver messages to and from the country.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: examiner.com