Xbox Live 360.com. Games and Games.

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.

Compete at the highest level of street racing with Need for Speed ProStreet. It's no longer good enough to simply rule your local neighborhood; you need to dominate on a global stage. Build the ultimate battle machine, take it to multi-disciplinary showdowns and pit your skills and reputation against the world's best street racers. Every dent, every scratch and every crumpled body panel is a battle scar, proof of your commitment and competitive mettle. This is your chance to prove that you have what it takes to be crowned the next Street King. Need for Speed ProStreet is the realization of the raw power, visceral aggression and intense rivalry that embodies street racing culture.

Features:

• Real, Adrenaline-Fueled Racing—Experience the raw power of street racing with a brand new physics engine, and intuitively refined AI.
• Dominate Across All Racing Disciplines—Prove yourself in four distinct styles of racing: Drag, Drift, Grip, and the all-new Speed Challenge.
• Ride the Edge of Disaster—One wrong move, and witness the consequences of your mistakes via truly advanced and comprehensive damage capturing technology.
• Performance Drives Results—Choose from hundreds of real-world, aftermarket parts and see the impact of visual Autosculpt technology on performance - all in real time.
• Redefining Competitive Social Play—Redefined online features amp the spirit of competition and create for the ultimate showdown.
• Share your Tuning Capabilities with the World—The all-new Blueprints feature allows you to upload your visual and performance customization settings online. You'll be credited each time your design is used to dominate a race.

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??

If you are looking for an Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix then I suggest you download the entire guide in the top right of this page as it will guide you through the steps you need to take to get your Xbox 360 up and running in about 30 minutes.

This post will tell you 3 things you can do to help prevent the need for an Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix and tell you ways you can prolong the life of your console.

1. Xbox 360 3 Red Lights is caused by the chips taking too much heat and a good way you can stop this from happening is to make sure that your console has enough room to churn out the hot air and you should have it free on all sides so it can get rid of sufficient air!

2. Another way you can stop the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights is by making sure you get the power brick up off the floor as this needs to get air too and if you feel either end when you are running your Xbox 360 you will feel it churning out air. So a good idea to prevent the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights is to put it up on an open cardboard box and this will ensure that it can get enough air and stop the freezing!

3. Lastly you can stop the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights by investing in some cooling options like the Nyko Intercooler that plugs into the back of your console and gives you three fans that churn out the air. NOTE: If you have the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights at the moment the Nyko Intercooler will not help and you will need to fix it yourself first.

If you are suffering from the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights at the moment then at the top right of this page is a link to the best Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix on the net with full video guides!

I recommend you get a copy and fix this today!

If you would like more information on the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix then click the link below or get the full guide in the top right of this page:

Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix

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

The Xbox 360 3 Red Lights, what a journey it has been! The reason I am posting an update today is of course to give you the latest news on the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix and also tell you a bit more about the guides that are floating around online that claim you can fix this problem yourself.

There is of course a lot of debate whether or not there is a real Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix and if you have been following this blog you will have seen a lot of your questions already answered. The truth is that you can get rid of this problem yourself and it really is not that difficult if you get yourself a good Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Guide.

All you must make sure is that you pick a guide that will give you simple step by step instructions to fixing the problem and also that is written with the user in mind and not laid out like a space shuttle manual.

If you have a look in the top right of this blog, you will see a link to the best Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix that I have found and it even includes video instructions on getting rid of this problem so you can get back to your games super fast!

So if you haven't fixing the problem yet, check out the guide in the top right of this blog, or click the link below to get another article that will tell you more about the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix and what causes it!

Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix

Scene it game is making its way to Xbox 360, complete with four newly crafted (and by "newly crafted" we mean that they blatantly ripped off Buzz's controller design) controllers.

The real question with Scene It? isn't whether it's fun, because it is, but instead it's whether or not you should spend the extra twenty bucks on converting to the Xbox 360 alternative when there are already a bevy of board game options available.

A big point of contention that 360 owners are obviously going to be gabbing over for awhile is the controllers that come packed in the game.

Yes, there are four of them. Yes, they use infrared lights to communicate with your console, and yes, you do need to attach a new IR port to receive the signal. Why are they handcuffing 360 owners to the limitations of infrared technology rather than using Microsoft's proprietary wireless technology?

Our best bet is to cut costs. The additional IR dongle also allows you to keep your 360 in an entertainment center behind a closed door and simply run the receiver's wire up to ten feet away from your system. It's just a hair shorter than the wired controller's cable, so there's a good bit of freedom.

Got Scene it?

Check Scene it? At the Xbox 360 help store.

Party play is the most disappointing of the modes, as it's the one that requires you to have four players taking part. You can play with three people, but the computer will assume that there is a fourth so you'll be sitting idle as the clock ticks down waiting for someone to buzz in on the fourth controller. Granted, if you're at a party you'll likely have at least four people to play with, but if you aren't the most popular kid on the block it would be nice to have the option to play with fewer.

The short and long play are where you'll spend most of your time, and both perform extremely well once you factor out the annoying announcer and the unneeded cutscenes that are intended to set up the game. One of the features that separate the Xbox 360 version from what you've been playing since 2001 is the fact that Microsoft's system keeps track of which of the 1,800 questions you've seen already.

That means that you won't have a repeat for quite some time. When you do get a repeat, and we have, it'll likely be in the movie clips section of the game. is Scene it? constantly taking you into the "screening room" and showing off the different movie clips that it holds, far more often than any other game mode. Luckily there's no set cycle of questions, so just because you get one repeat set of questions doesn't mean that you'll have already played the subsequent bunch.

Even though the gameplay won't blow anyone's hat off, there are plenty of puzzle types that stay fun throughout the experience, which is exactly why Scene It? can be looked at as an overall success. It doesn't try to be more than it is. It's a party game through and through and you and your movie buff friends--or even casual fans--will have a blast yelling at each other and obsessing over every question that comes along. Time factors into the score you get for each correct answer and games do come down to 30 or 40 points (out of a total of around 40,000) on occasion so you can imagine the amount of tension that can bring to a household.

The game designers also did a good job of crafting questions and puzzle types for different types of players. Some types are geared towards more creative thinkers, others are geared towards analytics, and then there are strictly memory-based games. That means that you could play with four friends, through four games, and it's entirely within the realm of possibility that there could be a different winner each time.

The biggest downside to the gameplay is that there is essentially no Xbox Live integration. This game would have been perfect to play with friends or random people from across the country, or at least have the ability to download new questions for a fee from Microsoft's online service. As it stands there doesn't seem to be anything of the sort, but that's not to say that they couldn't release a patch that opens up online functionality later on.

Xbox 360 Scene it? Trailer:

They say war is hell. Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare takes you to the very depths of Hades.

The long-awaited COD4, IW's follow-up to the excellent Call of Duty 2, is a jarring, intense, and gripping take on war in the new millennia. The enemies are smarter, the weapons are deadlier, and the grenades all too plentiful. COD4 will shake loose your fillings and have you begging for more.

But as any Call of Duty fan can tell you, the people at Infinity Ward are skilled storytellers and masterful scenarists. It's because of this that Modern Warfare finds itself in the company of movies like Black Hawk Down, rife with intense portrayals of serious and complicated situations that, though perhaps not entirely realistic, still convey to the rest of the nonenlisted world how war might feel: completely f***ed up.

The premise is loosely based on several volatile political situations on the other side of the world: A bloody coup occurs in an unnamed Middle Eastern nation that is fed up with Western influence and perceived imperialism. A Russian ultranationalist offshoot is trying to influence the outcome and use the Arab state's upheaval as a distraction for more nefarious and immediate plans. It's as much CNN as it is recent seasons of 24 -- events and timelines obviously exaggerated for effect. The story unfolds from an unapologetic "us versus them, and they are wrong" perspective, with little time spent on the larger philosophy of war. And that's fine, because it's ultimately a story about how soldiers execute their orders: efficiently, without question, with no room for pulpits.

Get your Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare from Amazon.com, click here.

Call of Duty is one of those roller coaster-type games, where you sit back and let the game guide you down one hopefully thrilling path. But the trick to pulling off a successful linear shooter is breaking the player away from the rails every so often, and that's accomplished by making encounters engaging and avoiding repetitive situations. Jumping between American, British, and Russian troops worked well in Call of Duty 2 and the same method applies for COD4. You alternate missions under British SAS and U.S. Marine Corps command, but both squads are linked by attacking the same ultimate goal from different angles, and because of that variance, it always feels like what you're doing is a vital part of winning the war (without developing into the stereotypical one-man army).

Moonlight rescue missions, frontal assaults and panicked extractions, sniper infiltrations and assassinations, ambushes and support roles, small teams and big squads...even though you're using the same guns and grenades throughout the entire game, every objective you're told to complete is a different exciting experience.

A mission begins with your squad moving through the countryside and taking out enemy positions. It's tense, and the firefights are frequent. But halfway through, you're transported high in the sky on an AC-130 gunship, peering through a black-and-white scope at small dots on the ground. The fancy graphics and sound disappear, creating an odd sense of security as you continue guiding the squad to its objective by clearing the path ahead with the AC-130's massive guns. The calm, nonchalant radio chatter of the airplane's operators replaces the screams for help. And then you're back on the ground in the thick of it -- an excellent example of the game manipulating your expectations of the series. When they're done well, scripted sequences work.

Unless you're playing on the Hardened difficulty setting, for that's where the scripted nature works against the game. Thanks to the more powerful enemies and less powerful armor, Hardened is always a challenge, and frequently a repetitive frustration. The checkpoint system is almost perfectly laid out, but there are certain "brick wall" areas that overwhelm you with punishing enemy fire and little recourse. Repeated attempts reveal enemy patterns and behaviors, and once you can anticipate that it feels like a shooting gallery. You start out impressed with the unknown combat scenario, but that feeling gives way to "and now two guys will run through this door..." In short, play through on Normal the first time for medium challenge and maximum enjoyment of the set pieces, and then challenge your skills later.

Just as the campaign is a satisfying thrill, COD4's multiplayer is treated with equal craftsmanship. A party system fueled by a wealth of playlists of differing maps and modes provides for near-endless entertainment, and a combination leveling/in-game achievement system keeps the carrot at the end of the stick. From levels 1 through 55, there are various rewards to unlock: new weapons, attachments, camouflages, and "perks." These perks are extra abilities that you can grant your character that give you certain advantages. Stopping Power makes your shots more powerful, Deep Impact allows for better bullet penetration through materials, Last Stand lets you draw your sidearm when you've been shot for a final attempt at revenge...other perks allow you to carry more ammo and grenades. And for every weapon, there are challenges that you can complete to unlock further upgrades. Most boil down to "shoot enough people," but there are more interesting challenges, like shooting down enemy helicopter support.

Xbox 360 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in game play video:

he best way to contain so many options is by total character and class customization. The Create-a-Class feature lets you differentiate your weapon loadout and perk assignments dependent on the situation. There are default classes like "Assault" and "Sniper," but this is the best way to employ your rewards in the game's various multiplayer modes. With 55 levels of progression (and multiple passes through the ladder -- you can surrender all of your unlocked stuff and start over with an emblem of honor), it can be daunting for those starting out at the bottom. You don't get much cool gear or perks, and you'll likely be trounced in the first handful of games by guys who can run faster and shoot better than you. But advancement is quick, and you'll get new guns, better sights, and more valuable perks soon enough -- and that quest for better gear is when the addiction sets in.

With proven mechanics, brilliant visuals and sound, a satisfying campaign, and robust multiplayer, COD4 is one of the best FPS packages of the year -- no small feat, considering the competition.

Well, two posts in 2 days about the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights problem. The reason I am updating so soon is to let people know that the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights is nothing to do with the DVD drive!

I have been recieving some emails asking if the problem is connected to the DVD drive and to my knowledge it is not. The Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix addresses the issue that the Xbox 360 has with overheating and tells you the EXACT methods that you can use to displace the heat from the Xbox and get it running superfast!

So what do you get with the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix:

Well you get a simple easy to follow guide that has full video instructions detailing the fix!

Also with the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix you get a full guarantee so if it does not work for you, you are safe in the knowledge that you can get a refund!

Another question that I have been asked about the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix is how long it takes to do yourself, well it should take you no longer than 30 mins to apply the fix from start to finish!

So if you want to get your Xbox 360 working again superfast all you need to do is click the link on the right hand side to get the guide or you can click the link below:

Click Here To Get The Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix Repair Guide

Bioware has decided to make Mass Effect Collectors Edition online available online at select retailers like EBgames.

Source: Kotaku

Looks like dressing up like the classes from Team Fortress 2 is the hot costume this year. Check out some of the devs over at NCsoft, they happen to be big fans of the game. Congrats guys!

Source:Playtr

Ok, it has been a while since I last updated on the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix but I though why update if you have nothing to say?! Well here is another update and this one will give you a treat.

There still seems to be alot of speculation as to whether there is a real Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix or not? Well I think (as this blog has progreesed) that the main thing is finiding out why you need an Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix in the first place?

I am pretty sure it is due to the Xbox overheating but just to make sure what I have done is written some lenghty articles on the subject of Xbox 360 Repair and the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix so you can have a look through and see what I think causes it and whether it can be helped!

Of course there are many DIY guides out there that will help you do the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix yourself, but how do you know you are going to get a lasting fix?

Well it is all explained within this article:

Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Fix

GameDaily is reporting that the Silicon Knights v. Epic case is moving ahead after Epic's motion to dismiss has been denied. While they have mentioned this is "common," they haven't actually explained what it means. A motion to dismiss is essentially a motion to determine that the case isn't one for which there is a remedy at law even if the facts are true as stated. In this case, it would be the basic equivalent of Epic saying that Silicon Knights hasn't made any actual legal claims in their case. The judge, by denying this claim, is simply saying that he believes there is a claim or at least there is the appearance of a claim that can be remedied by law. The reason that it is common for motions to dismiss to be denied is that there is rarely something presented that is so outlandish that it makes no resemblance to a claim that can be remedied at law. If you would like an example of a time when a motion to dismiss would be appropriate, I would direct you to this lawsuit against Michael Vick.

The motion to dismiss is not to be confused with a motion for summary judgment, which is basically asking for a ruling without a trial in favor of one party. Put as simply as possible, if Epic had moved for summary judgment, they would stating that even if the facts are viewed in the manner most favorable to Silicon Knights, Epic would still be victorious in its claim. Motions for summary judgment generally occur after discovery, so they could still occur in this case. There is also a motion for a directed verdict, which would come after the plaintiff presents its case and essentially says the plaintiff has not proven their case. To use the continuing example, after Silicon Knights rests their case, Epic could move for a directed verdict on the basis that Silicon Knights has not sufficiently met the burden of proof necessary for their claims.

In sum, the Silicon Knights v. Epic case is moving forward at this time. Law of the Game will being more commentary as more developments occur. If you would like to read more about these motions, or about other motions, please visit this Wikipedia article.

[Via Joystiq]

Dear Bungie,

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the "Playlist of the Living Dead" extravaganza yesterday on Live. The infection gametype has always been one I've enjoyed, from its latest iteration in Halo 3 to the older iterations in games like Perfect Dark Zero and the TimeSplitters series. To me, it's more interesting than a standard deathmatch but doesn't actually require much strategy or teamwork, like some of the team games. It's a happy medium that doesn't appear often in the ranked rotations.

I would love to see the All Infection playlist get permanent placement among the other ranked playlists. I know many people would opt to play pure infection as a ranked alternative to slayer or team slayer. Given that the number of players is significantly more than the Lone Wolves playlist, it makes for a more "fun" big atmosphere. A possible alternative here would be a Lone Wolves 8-13 size ranked list, where infection is sprinkled in. Another point is that people like to be able to play ranked with their friends, and the allowance to have a party of 4 join the ranked lists was a great addition.

In conclusion, I'd love for the all infection list to become a permanent ranked list for Halo 3 multiplayer, or in the alternative, a large (8-13) Lone Wolves list where infection is roughly half the games.

Sincerely,
Mark