Xbox Live 360.com. Games and Games.

Every Portal player knows that the Weighted Companion Cube was the greatest videogame character to come along in 2007. If you are a true cube lover then you should check out the new Weighted Companion Cube plush toys Valve has set free on the world.

While the Valve Store is sold out of these plush tastic cubes there are many of them on Ebay right now but they are selling for upwards of $200. Also on Ebay was a giant Weighted Companion Cube with proceeds being given to Childs Play but the auction ended with the a final bid of $1,200!!! Act now if you want a cube to be forever part of your real life.

~Hotapplepie

Sources: Ebay Valve Store Kotaku

There has recently been talks of Microsoft making a motion sensored controller and Cesar from Teamxbox took a break from his holiday to bring the community this message:

"I should not have been talking about this until next year, but a story of a motion sensing add-on for the Xbox 360 controller forced me to interrupt my holiday break. First, let me tell you that the image floating around with supposed prototypes of a motion sensing Xbox 360 controller is FAKE.

The image in question (see above) was taken from a Gizmodo article that showed the many prototypes Gyration and Bridge Design pitched to Nintendo in 2001; prototypes that eventually gave birth to the Wii controller.

TeamXbox.com can confirm that Microsoft has been researching alternative input technologies for the last two years, including vision-based recognition such as the one used on Xbox Live Vision, as well as motion sensing technologies similar to those seen in the Microsoft Freestyle Pro and the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS.

Particularly, Microsoft has looked at ways to improve the right analog stick input and you’ll hear more about those efforts soon.

In the long run, there’s more than a first-party tilt mod in the works and TeamXbox.com will bring you a real list of next-generation Xbox controller prototypes soon. "

Personally I have no problems with the current 360 controller, and I have my Wii to please my motion sensor needs, but if Microsoft wants to combine the two, I wont complain.

~Hotapplepie

Source - Teamxbox

Check out this cool lithograph from my current game of choice: Mass Effect.

"Talented BioWare artist Sung Kim was commissioned to create this beautiful and unique rendition of the arch-villain of the Mass Effect universe: Saren Arterius. The image also features a young Captain David Anderson. Limited to a print run of 100 prints, hand-signed by the artist, only 75 of these will be made publicly available."

A signed, limited edition lithograph for only $18 seems like a good idea. For $42 you can buy the full game and experience one of the best 360 games to date.

~Hotapplepie

Source - BioWare Store

Edit: Seems they are sold out. Sorry guys.

There are only a few days left to vote for Law of the Game in the ABA Journal's Blawg 100. The voting ends January 2, 2008, and I would appreciate any additional votes between now and then.

Click here and vote for Law of the Game.


Have a Happy New Year!

The proposed "Game Tax" from Wisconsin state senator Jon Erpenbach has gained quite a bit of attention, and accordingly, I thought it was worth addressing a few key points. First, I'm sure many folks are wondering why they should care about a tax in a state in which they don't live. The simple answer is that tax ideas seem to spread. If Wisconsin adds such a tax, it will only be a matter of time before a dozen other states follow suit. In short, the long term picture is not pretty for gamers if one state begins taxing games.

The second question is what type of tax is this? There are two likely candidates, those being the "Sin Tax" and the "Luxury Tax." The concept of a sin tax is that because the government wants to discourage a behavior and because that behavior has a proven, clearly demonstrated, and direct negative impact on society, the government taxes the item to both discourage the behavior and offset the negative impact. For example, cigarettes are taxed because they are linked to lung cancer. Alcohol is taxed because drunk drivers kill thousands every year. Video games, however, would be taxed due to an unproven link to a theoretical change in behavior for a small number of users. The link is not nearly as defined as, say, drinking to drunk driving.

The other possibility is considering it a luxury tax. The idea here is that some things are just so extravagant that people should pay extra, or from a different viewpoint, that the people who want to buy certain things are well enough off that they can afford to pay more taxes. A good example of products often hit with a luxury tax are expensive cars. The assertion here would be that video games are a "luxury item," and therefore are so unnecessary that gamers should have to pay more for them. However, given that books, music, movies, and all other forms of entertainment are not subject to such a tax, it does not follow that any aspect of the "video game" so separates the medium from other forms of entertainment as to draw the line there.

This would appear to be nothing more than another cheap shot at a scapegoated industry for the basic purpose of continuing to fill the already bloated public coffers, which serves to continue to perpetuate the problem of government over-spending. Far be it for me to dictate public policy in Wisconsin, but a video game tax is simply not a logical answer to the issue presented. I'm certain there are many other ways to fund the "keep non-violent juvenile offenders out of adult prisons" program.

[Via GamePolitics]

This post is to announce that James Collins is the Winner of our Halo 3 contest. James got a brand new Halo 3 Gift wrapped from Xbox360help team. Congratulations James & Good luck for all of you in our next contest.

Please leave a comment on this post with your suggestions for our next contest, should it be a free game? An Xbox live Gold Card? or maybe something else?

Over at Ebay seller worldwidewebbs is selling this custom made plasma grenade based off the ones that are popular in the Halo series.

"What you have here is a plasma grenade "prop," that you can display next to your Halo 3 Edition Xbox 360, or on your desk, or even attach to a costume. The grenade is made from clear blue plastic and is illuminated from the inside by a blue LED. There is also a genuine red laser built into the grenade. For safety precautions, I have covered the lens with a white paint to prevent the laser from being pointed accidentally into someone's eyes. Still, I would try to avoid looking directly at the laser if at all possible. The grenade comes with a metal base "cup" that can hold the grenade for display. The LED and laser are powered by three button-cell batteries like watch batteries, which are included and can be replaced without disassembling the grenade, and which are activated by a slide switch."

The grenade sells for $19.99 with a shipping cost of $5. For a object that doesn't even do anything I would be more than willing to shell out the 20 bucks for this amazing piece of work.

~The new guy. (Hotapplepie)

Source

If you haven't been following our Halo 3 contest, then you must have been living under the rock!!! Tonight we are going to announce the winner's name so stay tuned by subscribing to our feed.

Microsoft announced recently that they have droped the price of the Xbox 360 wireless racing wheel by $30 from $130 to $99.99.

"Microsoft is now giving holiday shoppers even more value by reducing the price of its incredibly popular Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel by $30 to just $99 (U.S. ERP). The newly priced Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel now comes bundled with a driver disc and a demo of the acclaimed “Forza Motorsport 2” including full force feedback support. With its sleek design and cutting edge technology, the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel immerses gamers in an unparalleled racing experience.

The Wireless Racing Wheel is compatible with all of the most popular racing games on Xbox 360, including:
• Forza Motorsport 2
• Project Gotham Racing 4
• Project Gotham Racing 3
• Test Drive Unlimited
• Need for Speed Carbon
• DiRT• Nascar 08"

Source: Teamxbox

Wow, it's been a WHILE since my last blog. Sorry about that, it's been a crazy few months for me.

Anyway, I wanted to wish all the readers and bloggers of The Xbox Collector Happy Holidays with a Special Greeting Card I found:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from APERTURE SCIENCE


I'll be back with more blogs in 2008, I promise.

--Capt. Capcom

The Orange Box

Xbox 360 help joined the new advertising service, only designed for bloggers. Blogsvertise advertising service is setup for bloggers and online journal writers to earn revenue/income from their online blog/journal in an easy to use, simple and effective system.

It is free to register your blog and add your blog to the system for approval. Once approved, your blog goes into the assignment queue. The blogsvertise administrator then assigns writing tasks for what our advertisers want you to mention in your blog. You dont have to endorse the website product/service, just mention it in your blog and link to the advertiser website 3 times in your entry.


We thought that we would share this great service with our readers who are interested in blogging.


Xbox 360 help blog team.

Blood Bowl, based on the popular 80’s board game created by Jervis Johnson and published by Games Workshop, will soon be receiving a breath of Xbox 360 life by way of French development studio Cyanide.

Scheduled for release in late 2008, Blood Bowl combines American football with a Warhammer-like fantasy universe, resulting in a brutal, bloody sport like no other. Imagine a team in which players consist of Orcs, Elves, Humans, Dwarfs, Goblins, Lizardmen and many other fantasy creatures whose only desire is to carry the ball to the Endzone…at any cost! Weapons, magic and good old fashioned hand-to-hand combat are at your disposal as you battle your way to victory in this unique sports sim that doesn’t bother to take itself too seriously.

While players can choose to play Blood Bowl in real time, the game also features the board game’s turn-based mode of play. Both modes come complete with the original rules, devices, strategies, play and rhythm that fans have grown to love. Bribe a referee, hire a wizard to cast spells on the other team, hire cheerleaders, whatever it takes to win.

If you have a few spare minutes for some holiday cheer, please check out the GamePolitics.com Holiday Podcast. It's full of nothing but personal holiday greetings from many people in the game industry and blog-o-sphere, myself included.

To celebrate the launch of Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store Microsoft is giving everyone chance to download the spectacular 300 (BBFC 15) at a bargain price. For 24 hours starting at 00:01 (GMT) on 28 December to 23:59 (GMT) on 28 December, the Warner Bros box office hit can be yours to rent for just 100 Microsoft Points.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• The complete Matrix trilogy
• Ocean's Eleven (2001)
• Lethal Weapon 4

Classic cinema such as :

• The Fugitive
• The Perfect Storm
• Eyes Wide Shut

Family favourites as :

• Analyse This
• Clash of the Titans
• Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

Start renting great cinema in standard or High Definition today - all you need is an Xbox LIVE membership and broadband.

Commisioned Faceplate by Pavel Dolgov.
Strike Freedom Gundam - Lighting Edition Xbox 360 Faceplate

Commisioned artwork : Customized Xbox 360 for Traktor agency (Austria)

Very simplistic. Could have been worse.

Source: Cryostasis

Worlds in Motion has an article up detailing a new surge in the efforts to legitimize real money transactions in MMO games. Generally, the idea is a good one, as RMT can provide the players what they want, as demonstrated through the vibrant black market, while the legitimization gives the developers what they want. In fact, RMT based games are widely successful in other parts of the world. However, given the current state of US gambling laws, increased RMT in MMO games where gambling exists could put the MMO providers on thin ice. Second Life has already seen attention for gambling, and other worlds may not be far behind.

The tricky issue to deal with is the conversions between the virtual goods or currency and real currency. This is something I've discussed at length in my SSRN Papers. From a broad perspective, if a game either lacks gambling or lacks RMT, then there should be no cause for concern. However, when both elements are present, it becomes more problematic. Second Life (while gabling was still permissible), for example, as a direct currency exchange, could be viewed no differently than online casinos. In fact, even if gambling were using a more barter-like system, where, for example, weapons were wagered in fights, there could be a gambling issue assuming the weapon has a real world value, for example, from the ability to buy or sell it for real currency. The even more complex situation arises where the market price can fluctuate, especially given the prospect of reporting winnings or losses for tax purposes.

Obviously, this issue could take a number of turns depending on what the developers end up implementing in future games. It will be interesting to see if more developers place outright bans on wagering to avoid the issue entirely.

My sincerest apologies, readers, for the hiatus that just ended. It's rare that I have so many projects operating as such a pace where I simply cannot find any time to blog, but as the year draws to a close, many clients want to wrap up ongoing projects. However, I seem to have things back under control, and so my blogging should be back to normal.

I will also (hopefully) be able to make a pretty big announcement in the very near future.

And please remember to keep voting for Law of the Game until Jan. 2!

Most importantly, please have a happy holiday season.

Happy Holidays from Law of the Game

The glitz and the glamour of Hollywood is about to hit Xbox 360 when the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store opens for business.

• 300


• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone


• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


• Zodiac


• The Matrix


• The Matrix Revolutions


• The Matrix Reloaded


• Ocean’s Eleven


• The Perfect Storm


• Swordfish


• Three Kings


• Training Day


• The Fugitive


• Risky Business


• Space Cowboys


• Eyes Wide Shut


• Analyze This


• Demolition Man


• Eraser


• Executive Decision


• Lethal Weapon 3


• Lethal Weapon 4


• Looney Tunes: Back in Action


• Mars Attacks!


• Clash of the titans


• Superman III


• Dead Calm

Have you satisfied your appetite for Halo 3 yet? It’s barely been out of the office Xbox 360 since it arrived and we’re still hungry – ravenous, even – for more. And that’s very fortunate because ‘more’ is just what we’ve got, thanks to the Heroic Map Pack.

Came to Xbox LIVE (in a hail of Covenant bullets) on December 11th the Heroic Map Pack download comprises a trio of brand new multiplayer arenas, each offering a unique gameplay experience and all significantly extending the incomparable Halo 3 fun – and that’s got to be a good thing, right? Be assured, it totally is!

The first map, Standoff, is set in a symmetrical valley that is riddled with large boulders and sinuous trenches, making it ideal for sneaky sharp-shooters and mid-sized Slayer matches. Next up Rat’s Nest is a vast and twisty labyrinth that you wouldn’t really want to run around on foot, thus the action is more vehicular in nature – and is all the more explosive for it! Finally the Foundry describes itself as the ultimate Forge map. More or less every component of this cavernous warehouse can be moved and placed to your liking – stairways, bridges, tunnels and large walls to cower behind when you see us coming, guns a-blazing! With that kind of flexibility you might never need another map pack again. But that’s not how we play…

The Heroic Map Pack costs a mere 800 Microsoft Points and is available now – go check it out! However if you’re prepared to wait until spring 2008, when the next Halo 3 map pack is scheduled to launch, it will be totally free. How’s that for a triple-whammy of awesome news? But can you really keep your itchy trigger finger in check until next year? No, us neither!

Yes! This is a very very cool shirt if your a HL2 Orange Box PORTAL fan ! Which I happen to be.

Source: Splitreason

This blog has recently been cited on CNBC concerning the numerous xbox 360 problems. Recently, new titles like Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 areleading to system crashes, overheating, and an abundance of frustration.

As stated in the CNBC article, "We knew there were problems: Microsoft copped to the issues over the summer when it set aside $1 billion and extended Xbox warranties by 3 years. But now, with these new titles available, and so many new players spending so much more time on Xbox play, Microsoft's sense of "mission accomplished" may have been premature."

If you want to see the link to this site, scroll to the bottom of the article, and you'll see us listed as "Here is a recent blog on Xbox 360 problems and ways to get your Xbox fixed.". Pretty cool, huh?

If you've been having problems with your Xbox, you don't have to wait 4-6 weeks for Microsoft to repair it. With just a few tools from around the house, you can have your Xbox back up and running in under an hour. Check out one of the best solutions here.

Information Week is reporting that a San Diego resident is suing Microsoft and Bungie because Halo 3 "consistently causes the Xbox 360 to crash, freeze, or lock up while the game is being played." I have a number of problems with this allegation and this suit. First and foremost, if Halo 3 were truly "defective" or caused the problems alleged, it seems reasonable to assume that message boards and blogs alike would have been exploding with those types of complaints since October. I dare say it might have broken the internet due to the volume of vocal complaints. However, this is the first time I have seen any such allegation, between the Rooster Teeth forums, Bungie forums, and Xbox.com forums or anywhere on the gaming blog circuit. The suit states: "Although faced with repeated and mounting consumer complaints and inquiries concerning this operational flaw in Halo 3, the defendants have failed to recall Halo 3 or otherwise remedy its failure to function on the Xbox 360." I would love to see a full version of the complaint and/or the "mounting consumer complaints" that are being referenced therein.

This brings me to the second issue. What the plaintiff is describing sounds far more like the well publicized problem with the Xbox 360 console rather than any problem with the game. And if that is the case, then the plaintiff should be taking advantage of the warranty repair process rather than filing a lawsuit. Which brings me to the third and final point, that given the available evidence, this seems like a rather simplistic attempt to profit from the game that set the new single day sales record. I have no problem with using the legal system to remedy actual problems, but at first glance, this suit seems like it's either misplaced blame or a shot in the dark. Once the pleadings make their way onto the internet in full, hopefully some more light will be shed on this case.


[Via Joystiq]

The Xbox 360 has been subject to a number of technical problems. In fact, 1 in 3 Xbox 360's will encounter problems.

Here are a few of the most common problems.


Three flashing red lights

This is one of the most common problems. It is known as a "general hardware failure" and is classified by three red lights flashing on the front of the console. This is well-known among Xbox gamers as the 'red ring of death'.

Unfortunately, you'll be waiting 4-6 weeks for your Xbox to finally be returned to you. That's an eternity if you're a serious gamer like me. If you don't want to wait that long, check out this simple repair solution you can do right at home.


Xbox 360 Overheating

This is another common problem. It is indicated by 2 flashing red lights. When you receive this error, you should turn the console off, unplug the power supply, and wait for at least 5 minutes. Then replug power supply and turn the console back on.

According to the German computer magazine c't, the main reason for overheating problems is that the wrong type of lead free solder was used, a type that becomes brittle when exposed to elevated temperatures for long periods of time. (Fanatic Xbox gamers like me can play for hours on end...)

Microsoft has actually reserved more than one billion dollars for this problem.

You can help prevent this problem by keeping your 360 well ventilated. If you keep your Xbox in a closed cabinet, you may want to take it out and let it get some air.

It can also be very beneficial to get your Xbox up off the ground. The main idea here is to get your PSU off the ground for maximum heat release.

Whatever you do, don't put your Xbox on carpet. This will block the ventilation and will cause the system to overheat very quickly.


Xbox 360 Scratching Disks

Almost as soon as the Xbox 360 was released, gamers started complaining that their consoles were scratching the discs. In February of 2007, Llamma.com investigated the matter and found that some Xbox 360 drives do not contain a mechanism to secure the disc solidly in place. This has left some video game discs unusable.

Believe it or not, this can actually be fixed with toothpaste. Simply put a thin layer of toothpaste over the disk, let it dry, and then carefully wipe the toothpaste off with a wet towel as if you were cleaning it. After you have removed the toothpaste, clean it once again with windex.

*** Just be careful, if you do this too many times to the same disk, it will destroy
the CD.

The Xbox 360 is an awesome gaming system. Unfortunately, it has been plagued with a number of different hardware issues. The most common of these is the flashing 3 red lights. It's commonly known as the "red ring of death". The three red lights indicate that you have a general hardware error. Fortunately, you can fix this problem in about an hour using common household items.

Best of all, once you learn this simple method, you can start making money by buying broken xbox 360's and reselling them on places like Ebay. You can find tons of broken xbox 360's with the flashing red lights on places like Craigslist and eBay.

Almost all of these can be fixed and then resold at a profit on eBay.

Find out how to get started fixing Xbox 360's at Three Red Lights Fix...

There are a number of methods discussed on the internet on how to get your Xbox fixed like the "Towel method" or "blowing hot air into your Xbox". Beware, these methods will only burn you Xbox.

The ring of Light is divided into four quadrants that enclose the power indicator light.

One of the most common issues with the Xbox 360 is the three red lights that appear when the console has experienced a hardware failure. In the gaming community, they call this the ring of death. Fortunately, there is a fix for this problem.

Green Indicator Light:

The default indicator light is green. When the Xbox 360 power supply light is green it means that there are no problems with your power supply. However, if you are having problems and the power supply light is green, this means that the console is faulty and you need to contact Xbox 360 support.

Orange or Yellow Indicator Light

When the Xbox 360 power supply light is orange or yellow this means there is no problem with your console but the power supply can't supply it with power.

To remedy this problem, first try unplugging the Xbox 360 power supply from the console and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. You'll also want to uplug the Xbox 360 power supply from the power cord.

Wait for about five minutes and then reconnect everything. You might also want to try plugging it into another wall outlet without an extension cord.

If you are still getting an orange or yellow indicator light, then something is at fault with the Xbox 360 power supply. If this is the case, contact the Xbox 360 customer support to get a new one.

Red Indicator Light:

If the xbox 360 power supply light is red, then there is something wrong with the power supply connection. If this is the case, try the same solution as listed above of unplugging the power supply from the console, unplugging the power cord from the wall outlet and unplugging the power supply from the power cord. Wait for about five minutes and then reconnect everything. You might also want to try plugging it into another wall outlet without an extension cord.

If the indicator lights are still red, then there is a fault with the power supply. If this is the case, contact customer support about getting a new one.

No Indicator Light:

If the XBox 360 power supply light is not illuminating at all, this usually means that the Xbox power supply is not connected to the wall outlet correctly. On the other hand, it might also be a fault with the power supply or the power cord.

Either way, try the same solution as listed above for the red indicator lights. If you still don't see any lights illuminated after unplugging and then reconnecting everything, you'll need to contact customer support about getting a new power supply.

Green and Orange Indicator Light:

If the indicator light is flashing green and orange, this may mean that the console does not detect the AV Pack.

Disconnect and then reconnect the Xbox AV Pack. Make sure the connections are firmly connected. Turn your Xbox back on.

If the indicator light is still flashing green and orange, try another AV pack if one is available.

If the indicator light is still flashing green and orange, you'll need to contact Miscrosoft Customer support.

Flashing Orange Indicator Light:

If your Xbox console's indicator light flashes orange, this means the internal components have overheated and the Xbox has automatically shut down to prevent damage.

Turn off the console and let it cool for at least 10 minutes.

To prevent the Xbox from overheating in the future, make sure that it's not placed in a closed cabinet or on carpet. It's best to get the Xbox elevated off the ground where the PSU can have maximum heat release.

You'll also want to make sure the Xbox is not located near a heat source like the back side of a television, computer, monitor, or other electrical device.

Law of the Game has been added to the ABA Journal's list of "Top 100 Blawgs." To view the complete list, click here. Selection to the list means that Law of the Game is one of the "top 100 best websites by lawyers, for lawyers."

From now until January 2, there will be voting to determine the "favorites" among the categories. It is in the "Black Letter Law" category. I'd greatly appreciate if if you would take the time to vote for Law of the Game.

Vote Here

About the ABA Journal:
The ABA Journal is the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association, and it is read by half of the nation’s 1.1 million lawyers every month. It covers the trends, people and finances of the legal profession from Wall Street to Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. ABAJournal.com features breaking legal news updated as it happens by staff reporters throughout every business day, a directory of more than 1,500 lawyer blogs, and the full contents of the magazine.

About the ABA:
With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

Check our Halo 3 contest, u might win a free Halo 3!

From the same wonderful people who brought gold farming bots to life, online poker bots may soon come online to harass online poker players according to the Freakonomics blog. The difference between bots of yore and the potential new breed of bots is that rather than just replicate mundane in-game tasks, poker bots will actually have to outplay their opponents. However, once poker is "solved" like checkers was "solved," it would seem the bot should be able to beat humans over the statistical long run, although any given hand may go one way or the other based on the simple "luck of the draw."

As the article points out, poker sites claim they will boot bots. This may prove more complex than anticipated. Randomization can be incorporated into bot play, or a human may simply reference the bot's choice and play accordingly. Penalizing players who do "too well" over the long term isn't a viable option either, as a good player can simply do well on the long term.

There is one point of contention I take with the article, and that is the classification of poker as "pure skill" like "chess and checkers." This is simply not the case. While poker has a defined and significant skill element, there is still a draw pattern that is not any result of player skill. Chess and checkers have no randomization at all. The pieces always start in the same place, and both players start with identical position. While poker does have skill, the simple dealing of cards at the beginning introduces an element of chance. While I don't wish to argue the varying levels of chance vs. skill in this post, I cannot agree with anyone who classifies poker as a "pure" chance or "pure" skill game. It contains elements of both.

Bots haven't toppled other online games, but the poker bot theory may provide the greatest anti-bot challenge to date. Only time will tell how online poker sites decide to deal with bot players, but I doubt that bots will end online poker.

Our friends over at Xbox Addict have launched some really nice Faceplate forums for all you collectors and modifiers. My good friends Artistpavel and Spaceghost2k have even found time to show support.

Click here to visit the Faceplate Forums.

Ubisoft has announced a sequel to last year's tactical first-person-shooter Rainbow Six Vegas is in the works, and it's coming as soon as March of next year. Additionally, Free Radical's PS3 exclusive shooter Haze has been delayed into early next year, despite the recent confirmation of a December release date. The news all comes as part of Ubisoft's financial report for the first half of the fiscal year, which according to Gamastura shows their sales up 52% to $372.86 million, and profits up 12% to $44.8 million.

"Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas took the gaming world by storm in 2006 thanks to its technological advances and gameplay innovations," said Ubisoft President and CEO Yves Guillemot. "We are convinced that Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will remain a pioneer in the highly competitive first person shooter genre, bringing more of what Rainbow Six fans love to the table."

It appears that Microsoft is bringing out the ban hammer once again. According to a thread on an Xbox-Scene forum, users are having their Live wrists slapped left, right, and center due to "bad discs" (i.e., non 1:1 copies of games).

Initially, the problem seemed to be modified DVD firmware, but it now appears the cause is due to game data that isn't properly copied, or has been "touched" in some manner. Keep in mind, these are console bans, as opposed to Live account bans, which is a minor amount of good news.

The forums are abuzz with profane indictments of Microsoft and calls for heads on platters (okay, it's not that bad) -- but mostly everyone is just waiting to see where the next hit will come from. You've been warned, folks.

According to reports, a member of the official Xbox forums posted up the entire list of what can be expected in this Fall's Xbox 360 dashboard update, however his original post has been deleted from the official Xbox site. Anyhow, check out the full list.

Compatibility with 3rd party wireless controllers
Compatibility with messenger pad
Xbox Live Vision firmware upgrade, sharper image filtering
Many more Vision Cam settings
New screensaver settings - when away from Xbox 360, screensaver will play for optional time, before screen goes dark
New Xbox Live Arcade blade - where you can download, play and learn about Xbox Live Arcade
Brand new “web based adver-games” flash games which aren’t downloaded, but are playable bite sized games, accessed via new Xbox Live Arcade Blade
New Screensaver option in Themes and Gamer Pics option in Marketplace blade
New functionality with Messenger, works with chatpad
New XNA Game Launcher for those that have the program, new options
New language, time and date settings
New “advertising opportunities” in gameplay
Xvid support
New “favourites” option via Xbox Live Arcade, can rate according to preference
IPTV Functionality - support for TiVo like PVR options. Will be able to record TV direct. Options include source by channel, director, actor and distributor
Filter friends list, will be able to filter friends via games
New clan support - will be able to launch clan games direct from dashboard, can “fold” friends into new clan category in friends list
Better translations in settings and other options for Japanese, German and Spanish languages
New quick option to delete via X Button in memory viewer.
Option for having downloadable In-game content not inform when completed download
Option for having video content not inform when completed download
Faster settings for viewing unfinished video content downloads
New option in Games tab - beta and others, will be launcher for MMO and multiplayer betas
New option in Marketplace Games tab, search by letter, can be inputted via text pad or console
Smarter game settings - you can be messaged via publishers about new in-game content for your games
Picture in picture functionality for DVD Drive and some other updated settings
Improved USB Keyboard settings
Improved voice chat settings in game and from dashboard
Faster response times to Redeem Code settings
Option to play a Redeemed Code game straight after redeeming code
Console will now recognise low Hard Drive space, will inform you immediately if can’t download current item, will automatically download next available that is able.
Increased space size for gamerpics and dashboard themes
Themes can now be animated
Themes may now have sound effects
Better slideshow capabilities, new options added. New sound effects and integration with Hard Drive/ PC music capable.
New estimated timer for downloads, informing how long download will expect to take.

Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live and better known to gamers as Major Nelson, warned gamers about sharing account information and tampering with one's Gamerscore or Achievements.

In a blog post, Major Nelson warned that, aside from being a violation of the terms of service, sharing account information could result in a loss of that account.

He added that if players “employ some nefarious techniques to artificially increase [their] Gamerscore or obtain achievements by manipulating the Xbox software without playing the game,” their Gamerscore could be removed or their account and/or console might be banned from Xbox Live.

Information Week is reporting about a class action lawsuit that resulted from a child using his parent's debit card to register for Xbox Live without permission. The damages are from an overdraft fee a year later when the automatic renewal occurred. While I'm sure many class action attorneys love the idea of being able to take a shot at Microsoft, this case makes me want to roll my eyes because it highlights three major points of personal responsibility, one of which is a legal issue.

First, the two non-legal points: financial responsibility and parental responsibility. Financial responsibility in the US has been a major problem as of late, especially given the debt trends in the country. However, I would assume most people monitor their cash flow to some extent. Accordingly, I find it hard to believe that the parent in this case didn't notice the original Xbox Live charge, and if he did, then it was irresponsible not to address the issue at that time and rather let it renew a year later. Second, the parent should be monitoring the child's activity, and it is ultimately the parent's fault the card was taken and used by the child. The parent should realize this at some point in the transaction before an entire year has elapsed.

This leaves the third issue, the concept of vicarious liability for the actions of your child, which I would consider a spin-off of parental responsibility. While this issue varies from state to state, many states do hold parents responsible for the actions of their children, be that vandalism or online piracy or, in this case, use of a parent's credit card. Given that Microsoft already refunded the charge, the vicarious liability would be limited to the bank overdraft fee, which still stems from the original action of the child. I'm not sure of the vicarious liability laws in the state where this action is being brought, however.

Ultimately, holding a parent liable for $35 in damages caused by the unsupervised action of their child seems like a pretty minimal penalty, and I would hope that the parent would take it as a very inexpensive lesson that they need to keep a closer eye on their child and their wallet. Instead, it has been turned into a class action suit against Microsoft. I can't predict the outcome of the case, but if it were entirely up to me, I would dismiss the suit without question.

[Via Joystiq]

Timed to correspond with the five-year anniversary of Xbox Live, Microsoft has announced it will begin adding original Xbox titles to the Xbox 360's Live Marketplace for users to download to their hard drive.

Roar and gore. It' the two words that have been left lodged in our grey cells following a recent eyes-on event with Ubisoft's Beowulf.

Roar, because Beowulf's a shouty fellow with obvious anger management issues who is surrounded by thanes constantly yelling the Norse equivalent of "Beowulf FTW!"

Gore, because it's gratuitously violent. With gratuitously violent knobs on.

The game is a tie-in with Robert Zemeckis' forthcoming Beowulf movie - which in turn is based on the ancient Epic poem - and naturally borrows scenes from the flick while also featuring the notable voice acting talents of the likes of Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Anthony Hopkins (King Hrothgar) and Brendan Gleeson (Wiglaf). But rather than reprise just the movie in videogame form, much of Ubisoft's game focuses on a 30-year period in the fictional life of Beowulf not covered in the flick. It is, if you will, Beowulf: The Lost Years.

Boiling the game down to its bare bones, it's a third-person action-adventure steeped in Norse mythology that deals with a lead character (accompanied by a group of thane buddies) who is struggling to perform heroic, righteous feats while battling inner demons. In gameplay terms, this ongoing fight for Beowulf is represented by the player being able to switch between two types of play styles - Carnal and Heroic, both of which can be upgraded RPG-style during the game.

Carnal is akin to Beowulf unleashing berserker rage. On-screen, the world is overlayed with a tinge of red, the sound becomes muted and the violence ramps up to over-the-top mode. An already violent game, suddenly the lead character is ripping off heads, crushing enemies' chests in with knee stomps and causing gore-filled carnage with melee weapons. When the beast is let loose, no one is safe from Beowulf's ire. Both friend and foe can be cut down in an orgy of wanton destruction.

On the flip side of the coin, Heroic mode is Beowulf creating slightly less bloody mess while strapping on goody-two-shoes. In this mode he can boost the morale and combat effectiveness of comrade thanes during combat and order them to do his bidding via a simple command system.

Want that conspicuous, giant round stone rolled out of the way to reveal a cave entrance? Easy. Order your thanes and they'll shove it out the way with a testosterone-filled yell of hurrah. Well, as long as you succeed with the simple, timed mini-game this involves, that is.

Order Beowulf from Amazon.com

By design, playing in Heroic mode presents more of a challenge when stacked up against Carnal. Carnal is more seductive, an easier path to walk, helping you out of seriously sticky situations; and, at the risk sounding too much like Yoda, we'll shut up there. At this point you might expect us to start talking about a moral system impacted by the choice of play styles, except there isn't one. What you get instead, we're assured is key NPCs questioning you're actions if you revel in Carnal, but precisely what effect this has on the game overall we've not been shown.

Officially confirming statements by Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games, publisher Aspyr Media has announced that PC real-time strategy title Supreme Commander is in the works for Xbox 360. Vancouver-based Hellbent Games, founded in 2006 by former Rockstar Vancouver/Barking Dog Studios designer Christopher Mair, will be handling the port.

Due in early 2008, the Xbox 360 port of the game will feature newly-created units, maps, multiplayer modes, and interface and HUD elements. Xbox Live-based online multiplayer will of course be supported.

"We believe that we¹ve raised the bar for RTS gaming on the PC and now, co-developing with Hellbent Games, we know that we can do the same on consoles," said Taylor in today's announcement. Last month, Taylor characterized Xbox 360 as "the platform of choice for moving stuff from the PC." He acknowledged the strategy genre's control interface obstacles on consoles, but stated, "we're getting closer and closer to that touchdown."

Aspyr will be publishing Supreme Commander on Xbox 360; it will be the company's first game for Microsoft's current-gen console. PC version publisher THQ does not appear to be directly involved.

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Coming with the newest Xbox 360 dashboard update in early December, the "Family Timer" will allow parents to set a limit to gaming hours; notifications will warn the gamer periodically of the time remaining. This new feature headlines the joint initiative between Microsoft and the PTA called "PACT": a family contract "intended to foster family discussion surrounding screen time guidelines."

Manage Play Allowance Screen

"As a leader in interactive entertainment, it's Microsoft's responsibility to provide parents with tools they can use to manage their children's video gaming and online experiences, and we have made that a priority from the very start," Microsoft's Robbie Bach said in a statement.

The PTA, of course, agrees, and CEO Warlene Gary noted that "as times change and technology advances, the role of the parent stays the same in raising a safe, healthy, and successful child. PTA is proud to partner with Microsoft to provide parents with more resources that keep them involved in their children's lives."

In-Game Timer Notification

This will be sort of a disaster for some kids who will be forced then to quickly save the game before it automatically turn off, would that be a good step or a non needed one??

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GamePolitics has run a number of stories on the rumor, later squashed, of a Jack Thompson debate at the GDC, in addition to the debate that already occurred. In fact, GP's recent poll is on this very topic. I'd like to voice an opinion that really hasn't surfaced in any of the gaming media on this topic.

The Jack Thompson Debate at GDC would be a waste of time and have no real benefit for the industry.

I'm sure more than a few readers may be outraged by this statement, but I have four specific reasons for my position.

1. It won't change Jack's position.
It has become readily apparent that no amount of reason, logic, or factual evidence, much less the vocal and emotional pleas from fans, will sway Mr. Thompson. He will, in all likelyhood, hold the same stance from now until his death in the distant future. And in the mean time, he will use every waking moment to fight what he considers the "good fight." Mr. Thompson is the definition of a zealot, and although another debate will likely serve point 4, it won't change Mr. Thompson's mind. In fact, I doubt his mind would change if he soundly lost a million debates.

2. It won't reach the mainstream media.
Ultimately, this whole issue is about the perception of the video game in the main stream media and in the main stream American's mind. A debate at a conference of game developers won't make it on CNN or FoxNews or MSNBC. At best, it will make its rounds through the game fan circles, the game media, and maybe the technology media crowd, who are already overwhelmingly opposed to Mr. Thompson's position. The impact on society at large would more than likely be negligible.

3. It gives Jack more free press and attention.
I know my mother always told me to ignore a bully. By bringing in Mr. Thompson for a debate, it will make him the center of attention. And, when asked about the event, I'm sure he will spin his take on the event to his benefit, no matter the outcome. It's another line for his resume that we don't need to provide.

4. Jack would lose, but the only benefit would be an ego boost to people in the industry.
Here's the one benefit, if you can consider it that. Essentially, no matter how large or small the loss, the industry will be happy. And perhaps a video of the event might make its rounds into more mainstream parts of society. But ultimately, it's an ego boost without an impact to the mainstream. We all need ego boosts sometime, but I really think the net benefit here is fairly minimal.

I must admit I am relieved to see that, so far, the GDC has not arranged for this debate to actually occur. To me, the circus that would follow the debate would detract from the conference, and ultimately prove to have little or no benefit to the anti-game censorship cause. However, that is just my opinion, and so feel free to disagree.

Readers,

You may have noticed that the firm I work for has undergone a name change to The Vernon Law Group, PLLC. Accordingly, the firm needed a new web site, which I personally designed. I wanted to take this opportunity to invite you to visit the firm's new website at:

www.vernonlawgroup.com

Please feel free to send any comments on the site or its structure to me.

There are 5 of these? Whats up with companies now days, first it was Eternal Sonata and now Ace Combat. Unless you work at a game store or are willing to fork over a load of cash on ebay you probably will never have this full set of Ace Combat 6 faceplates for the Xbox 360. One of the faceplates even includes a special case.

Source: eBay