03.30.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News, Halo at 1:06 pm by UNSCleric
From Bungie.net -
It’s true! here’s the digest version: Two new maps, both available on April 17th through the Halo 2 downloader in the game itself, and it’s just $4 for the pair.The maps are Tombstone and Desolation - remakes of Hang ‘Em High and Derelict, respectively.
Go look at ‘em right now: New Halo 2 Map Shots!
Click for full image
It’s an original Xbox download, so there’s no way to use MS points - and you WILL need an Xbox Live Gold account to download and play, since the original Xbox (even in BC mode) can’t tell the difference between gold and silver. But you CAN use these on 360, just so we’re clear. You just need to use a credit card for the purchase, instead of marketplace points. We’ll have LOTS more info in the update later today, and in the meantime, here’s the full text of the press release:
HALO 2 MULTIPLAYER MAPS REVEALED
Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the upcoming release of two new, eagerly awaited downloadable maps for “Halo® 2.” The maps will be available as premium downloadable content for Xbox® and Xbox 360™ on April 17.
Fans of the original “Halo” have long requested the addition of some of their favorite maps to the critically acclaimed multiplayer experience of “Halo 2.” These re-creations, developed by Bungie and Certain Affinity Inc., are a perfect way to thank fans for their support as they surpass 800 million hours of “Halo 2” gaming on Xbox LIVE®.
The two maps will bring new life to ancient battlefields and legendary skirmishes, as both are new, improved and redesigned remakes of fan favorites from the original “Halo: Combat Evolved.” For the price of $4 for the pair, these maps bring a fresh burst of action to the seminal “Halo 2” online multiplayer experience. Both of the maps will be available through the “Halo 2” in-game content downloader for both Xbox and Xbox 360.*
The king of “Halo” maps has returned at last. Hang ’Em High, arguably the most popular multiplayer map for the original title, has been reimagined for “Halo 2” as Tombstone, with all-new graphics, features and a few hidden surprises. Now fans will enjoy the dangerous catwalks and trenches that made this the most requested “Halo” multiplayer map ever, with a modernized “Halo 2” flavor.
The second map, Desolation, is a symmetrical, Deathmatch-oriented map and a beautiful remake of the original Derelict. With new graphics and effects and a massive gameplay overhaul, the old favorite is now faster-paced and more balanced than ever — perfect for intense “Halo 2” combat.
When they announced a few months ago that new Halo 2 maps were coming, they said they would be available on the Xbox 360 only, but now these two maps can be played on either the Xbox or Xbox 360. Does that mean more maps are coming? We’ll find out later today. These two maps were made by Certain Affinity though, so I don’t think we’re going to see anymore maps.
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03.29.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 3:53 pm by UNSCleric
You can view the trailer here.
The trailer is now on the Xbox Live Marketplace as well.
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03.28.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News, Halo at 3:39 pm by UNSCleric

Unfortunately no one can be told what the announcement is…you have to see it for yourself.
Tonight at 9pm Pacific/11pm Central/12am Eastern, there is going to be another announcement coming from Microsoft. This was revealed by Microsoft’s On10.net website last night, which said they would have a video for each announcement each night. Just a few minutes before the announced time last night, Microsoft.com put out a press release finally confirming the Xbox 360 Elite.
On the On10.net website, they say the following:
And the same goes for tomorrow night, stop by at 9PM PST to see the first official look at a very cool announcement. Feel free to leave your best guesses in the comments, but fair warning; we’ve hidden Tina’s keyboard so she can’t spill any secrets.
As you may know, Tina is a huge fan of Halo.
Many rumors are flying around again today, everything from Grand Theft Auto 4 becoming exclusive to the Xbox 360 (The first ever trailer for GTAIV will be released tomorrow night at 5pm central as well) to the Halo 3 beta actually being released. I’m going to place my bet that tonight’s announcement will be Halo 3 beta related, and that at the least, they’ll announce the date the beta is beginning. I don’t think the release date for the actual game will be announced until mid-July. July 13th to be exact, as it is the final day of E3 2007. I also say that date due to clues on Bungie’s website.
“X.XX.713> ghost.713/non-auth/activity ongoing”
What are everyone’s bets for tonight’s announcement? Do you think we’ll be playing Halo 3 by this time tomorrow, or will we at least know the date of its arrival? Is it something else?
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03.27.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 10:21 pm by UNSCleric
Click for High-Res Version
Click here for the On10.net video showing off the new system
The new Xbox 360 Elite console is expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.
REDMOND, Wash. — March 27, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.”
Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:
•Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
•Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).
•Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).
•Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
•Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.
There will also be a black Play & Charge Kit.
There will also be a cord included with the Elite so that you can still use your surround sound system even if it doesn’t use HDMI. So the HDMI would be going into the TV, and the audio cord would plug into the normal slot the video/audio does now, and the end of that cord would have a Optical port and Red/White depending on your needs. For pictures of that click here. The Elite is not limited edition, and will be a permenant entry into the Xbox 360 SKU family.
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(Original post is below)
Associated Press - March 28th, 2007 (Yes, this is news from the future)
REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. will sell a version of its Xbox 360 with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and a souped-up high-definition video connection in a bid to broaden the appeal of its popular console beyond video games.
Earlier versions of Xbox 360 came with 20 gigabytes of storage. But that filled up too quickly with movies, TV shows and games from the Xbox Live Marketplace online store, said Peter Moore, a corporate vice president in Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment group.
The new Xbox 360 Elite will sell for $479.99. Consumers who already own the $399.99 20-gigabyte model will be able to buy a snap-on 120-gigabyte hard drive for $179.99.
The new console and the drive are expected to hit U.S. shelves April 29.
Microsoft also added an HDMI connection, which sends high-definition content from the console to the TV without losing picture or sound quality, while also helping prevent piracy.
Xbox 360 was the No. 2 U.S. video game console after Nintendo Co.’s Wii in January and February, according to data from market researcher NPD Group. The Xbox outpaced Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3, a $599.99 console that plays Blu-ray DVDs.
Microsoft’s decision to upgrade the Xbox 360 is the latest of many steps the software maker has taken to position its products at the center of home entertainment.
Microsoft has incorporated Media Center software, which can turn a computer into a digital video recorder, movie and music player, into all but the most basic version of its new Windows Vista operating system.
And Xbox 360 users can connect the console to their home network, then stream movies, music and other content from the computer to the Xbox and television.
Unlike Sony, Microsoft has not added a high-def DVD player to the console, but consumers can buy an external HD DVD player for the Xbox for $199.99.
On Wednesday, Microsoft also announced deals to bring new high-def video to the Xbox Live Marketplace, including New Line Cinema’s film “Snakes on a Plane” and coming releases from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s direct-to-video division.
Microsoft’s focus on downloadable high-def video sets the effort apart from the competition, Moore said.
He said the content fills a gap between cable companies’ DVR services for fresh TV episodes, Tivo Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.’s standard-definition content available over the Web, and Apple Inc.’s recent move to send iTunes movies and music to the TV from a Mac.
At the core, though, video game players aren’t going to choose their system based on its ability to play movies or television shows, said Anita Frazier, an analyst for NPD Group.
“To the extent [the consoles] do other things, it’s great, but this industry is all about the games,” she said.
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Posted in Xbox 360 News at 7:51 pm by UNSCleric
Xbox Live, Xbox.com, and the Xbox.com Forums are up and running. (8:15pm Central)
Breaking news:
Two of the coolest Microsoft announcements since CES are going to be breaking tonight and tomorrow night, and we have exclusive video for both of them. So if you are online at 9:00PM PST tonight (midnight on the east coast) check in to get a full scoop on what your friends will be talking about tomorrow.
And the same goes for tomorrow night, stop by at 9PM PST to see the first official look at a very cool announcement. Feel free to leave your best guesses in the comments, but fair warning; we’ve hidden Tina’s keyboard so she can’t spill any secrets.
- Your friends at Channel 10
Go to On10.net to watch whatever video they will be showing.
So Xbox Live’s maintenance went longer than expected, and Major Nelson’s website is being slammed with several million people, so much so that his website is now completely down for the time being. Major has posted over on his “twitter” website that he has a surprise for us tonight, but what could he mean? Is it concerning the Xbox 360 Elite? Halo 3 Beta? Something being upgraded on MajorNelson.com? Who knows, but here’s an interesting article concerning the Halo 3 beta coming out today or tomorrow that is making its way up the Digg charts.
I’m going to bet on the Elite being announced, and the Halo 3 beta either being released, or information (and a date for it) being announced.
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03.25.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 6:02 pm by UNSCleric
San Jose Mercury News - 3/24/07
Rumors have floated in the past month that Microsoft will launch a new high-end version of the Xbox 360. It’s true that Microsoft is preparing to announce the Xbox 360 Elite, a version of the game console with black plastic and advanced features. Several sources confirmed Microsoft plans to add this box to its product line.
The new box will go on sale in limited quantities soon for $479. The details may not be precise here, but I believe it will have an HDMI connector so that you can connect at the highest speed to a high-definition TV. It will come with a 120-gigabyte hard disk drive and will have IPTV capability.
Bill Gates announced in January that the Xbox 360 was capable of serving as a set-top box for IPTV, or Internet Protocol TV, which phone companies such as AT&T are using to offer high-definition movies and scores of channels in competition with TV.
The Xbox 360 Elite will apparently not come with a built-in HD-DVD drive, which will remain an option for playing high-definition movie disks. In the spring, the new machine will be available in limited quantities and it will reflect a redesigned motherboard. Tina Conley, an outside spokeswoman for Microsoft, declined to comment on Saturday. How solid is this information? Some details may be wrong. I’m not looking at any press release right now that describes it all. The details will be announced soon enough.
I’ve been waiting for Microsoft to make a move like this. The company has scheduled a motherboard redesign and cost reduction for every year, but this is the first major change to take the costs out of the inside of the Xbox 360. By the fall, the company will also implement a chip redesign, shifting from 90-nanometer production to 65 nanometer production. That will bring costs down fairly dramatically and will enable Microsoft to make the box in larger quantities by the fourth quarter.
Every other year, the company plans to shrink the size of its chips. It is overdue for a shift from the 90-nanometer chips that it started with in 2005 to the 65-nanometer chips commonly in production elsewhere. That transition isn’t yet complete but it should be by the fall.
Why is it important to miniaturize a chip? When you make the width between circuits in a chip (the difference between 90 and 65), the technology gets better. The electrons travel shorter distances, the circuits are more reliable, defects can go down, yields go up, and you can fit the same chip design in a much smaller area. Since chip costs directly relate to how much material you use, a smaller chip is cheaper to make.
Every console maker will have the opportunity to reduce the costs of its chips. But how the console makers capitalize on that decision depends on strategy. Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan, said in an email that he believes Microsoft will launch its elite box, but he isn’t sure how it will position the other boxes, especially the Core unit. I expect the Xbox 360 with the 20-gigabyte hard disk drive will continue to sell for $399 and the Core unit, which has no hard drive, will sell for $299.
At $479, the Xbox 360 Elite will still be cheaper than Sony’s $499 20-gigabyte PlayStation 3 and the $599 60-gigabyte PS 3. But it will match the Sony box with the HDMI connector feature. The Sony box is not yet capable of IPTV.
It is interesting that Microsoft hasn’t added the HD-DVD drive as a permanent feature. The format war with Blu-ray is still going on, and that drive would add considerable cost. Microsoft sells it separately for $199.
The larger hard drive on the Xbox 360 Elite will make it much more useful for downloading movies and serving as a digital video recorder, which is one of the primary uses of an IPTV set-top box. High-definition movies can take up five gigabytes or more, while standard movies take about a gigabyte of storage space. Hence, 120 gigabytes is enough for, accounting for 10 gigabytes used by the system for other things, about 22 HD movies.
In any case, this is going to put some pressure on Sony and it will enable Microsoft to patch some holes in the technological capability of the Xbox 360. It will enable Microsoft to please the relatively small group of hardcore gamers who care about having the highest-end technology in the living room. It’s those gamers who are most tempted by the PS 3. HDMI, for instance, will enable someone to view games and movies the way they were meant to be seen in either 720p or 1080p resolutions.
Dean Takahashi is a very reliable source within the Xbox community, and this story gives even more credibility to the existence of the Xbox 360 Elite.
Left: GameStop promotional material for the 120GB HDD.

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03.22.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 3:09 pm by UNSCleric
Amazon.com’s Deal of the Day
Deal is now dead.
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03.20.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News, PS3 Related at 2:59 pm by UNSCleric
As one of the first sites to break the news about Codename Zephyr, it comes as no surprise today to report that the story was true (much like the DMC4 story broke last night). Zephyr is now known as the Xbox 360 Elite, and will be the third Xbox 360 SKU offered by Microsoft.
The Elite will be limited quantities only; that may be as much or as little as a couple hundred thousand.
The case, controller, and Live headset will all be black. It will have all new packaging.
Elite will cost $479, and will be a 3rd SKU; it will be sold alongside Premium and Core packs.
Eventually Elite hardware (in white plastics) will take the role of the Xbox Premium. That is to say, after the Elite is launched and sold out, future Xbox Premiums will have 120GB / HDMI.
We do not yet know exactly when 120GB / HDMI will become the standard for Premium, but it is loosely estimated to be late summer or fall.
Elite models run cooler than normal 360s, but they are not yet confirmed to have 65nm chips.
Prices may remain the same with the 120GB / HDMI hardware upgrade in the Premium Xbox, but we may still see a price cut on the line when 65nm chips start shipping.
The HD DVD drive will not be internal or bundled — Microsoft never did or nor does not currently have plans to put an HD DVD drive in the 360.
There are no current plans to integrate WiFi into the Elite or future Premiums
It was also announced today that the next installment of the Ace Combat series, a series that has been exclusive to the PlayStation brand since it began, is now exclusive to the Xbox 360. Is there any doubt that Metal Gear Solid 4 is coming to the Xbox 360? Not for me there isn’t, it’ll be interesting to see if the PS3 is even still alive when MGS4 finally comes out in 2008.
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03.19.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 9:09 pm by UNSCleric
I’ve said it was coming countless times over the past year, it seems that Capcom has finally admitted it.
Capcom Co., Ltd., a world-wide leader in the gaming industry, is proud to announce the development of “Devil May Cry 4″ for the PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360™ and PC platforms.
”Devil May Cry” is a series of popular, stylish action games, with a cast of unforgettable characters. Since the release of the original “Devil May Cry” in 2001, the series has shipped 6,800,000 copies as of December 31st, 2006, proudly making it one of Capcom’s flagship titles. The series appeal is not limited to games; an animated TV series to be broadcast on Japan’s WOWOW network is slated to air Spring 2007. The latest iteration, “Devil May Cry 4″ will take advantage of each platform’s hardware strengths to achieve the most stunning visuals in the series to date, and the introduction of a mysterious new protagonist will keep the action fast and fresh. Even before its release, “Devil May Cry 4″ has been met with tremendous anticipation, as fans patiently endured long lines at TOKYO GAME SHOW 2006 for the chance to play the demo. “Devil May Cry 4″ will be released simultaneously for the PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360™ platforms.
Capcom was among the first software developers in the world to make games for the next-generation consoles, and those efforts have been met with great success. In addition, Capcom’s use of an integrated development environment is one of the many methods being employed to improve efficiency and help take advantage of the cutting-edge functionality in next-generation systems.
Capcom will continue to produce titles that appeal to users while pursuing a multiplatform strategy to help enhance profits.
Related:
08.20.06 Dead Rising Success = More Capcom Support
Companies like Capcom are not being paid to keep their games exclusive to Sony most likely, unlike Square-Enix, but if Capcom and other companies start seeing huge profit opportunities on the Xbox 360, they’re going to ditch their cultural loyalty to the PlayStation, which is good news for everyone. Sony’s threats to developers no longer work now that they have a viable option to jump to in the Xbox 360.
02.22.07 Lost Planet Sales & New Xbox 360 Platinum Hits
(Thanks to DavidGX for the tip)
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03.16.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News, Halo at 3:34 am by UNSCleric
Below is a great article dissecting why Halo 3 could be released in September, reasons vary from certain things Microsoft executives have said, to what other games are coming out this fall as well. I believe the theory is very credible.
Halo 3 is slated for Fall 2007, as the poster would suggest. So, based on past experiences in 2001 and 2004, we can safely narrow that down from “Fall” to “November, duh”, right? Well, in our GDC edition of the Fancast, we mentioned how Shane Kim said that Halo 3 will ship when it’s finished and isn’t bound to console launches or tattooed biceps. He threw out September as an example, then followed that with how it would ship next week if it was done as a means to cover his tracks. Well, we’ve got some more food for thought in regards to Microsoft’s Fall ‘07 line up.
We’re finishing off the year with the world-wide release of Lost Odyssey in December, so that month is covered. Grand Theft Auto IV is hitting shelves for both the 360 and PS3 smack dab in the middle of October, and Microsoft has no intention of releasing anything against that behemoth. So, that leaves Project Gotham Racing 4 and Halo 3 with either September or November. Using the aforementioned logic, you’d assume that PGR4 will hit in September and Halo 3 in November. Well, Shane brought up another interesting point in that releasing a game in September doesn’t necessarily hurt sales. Fable came out in September, got good initial sales, and then an additional boost in November. He went on to say that Halo 3 could do the same thing, while coming out before GTA IV and “beating it” like the 360 did the PS3.
So, place your bets now, which of the two is the most likely month for Halo 3: September or November?
Also, from TXB:
“We don’t tell Bungie when they have to ship Halo 3.” Kim told 1up. “If they can get out before GTA4, they probably feel like that’s better, sort of like Xbox 360 coming out before PlayStation 3.“
Can Halo 3 sell well if it is released so early? Kim believes so.
“What happened in September of 2004? In September of 2004 we released Fable, Fable got big sales and then in November got big sales again,” Kim said. “I just believe great titles can get the double bump and I think Halo 3 is going to be that.“
Update: From IGN:
A big-name publisher and well-established development house separately revealed to IGN that Microsoft intends on beating this year’s stacked holiday rush with a September release, rather than the assumed November timeframe.
This way, when GTA:IV comes out in October, Xbox 360 will have both of the biggest games of the year already on the console. Xbox 360 = automatic winner of Christmas 2007.
In other Halo news, some renderings of the supposed Halo 3 packaging have hit the Internet as well.
Update:
Shortly after uncovering the official box art for the Halo 3 Legendary and Limited editions, Microsoft has sent official details of both special edition packages. First, the big shocker: the Halo 3 Legendary edition will cost $129.99. For the hefty price tag, Halo fanboys will receive the oft mentioned limited edition case featuring the Spartan helmet and two bonus DVDs. The first disc contains behind the scenes footage of Halo 3 including a high definition “Making of Halo 3” documentary. The disc also has a special audio/visual calibration tool designed by the Bungie graphics and sound team. The calibration tool is designed to get the most out of players’ home theater setups.
The second disc — exclusive to the Legendary edition — includes cinematic material from the first two Halo titles (HD versions of all Halo 1 and 2 cut-scenes), including developer commentary. Also on the disc is special content from the makers of Red Vs. Blue and This Spartan Life. Finally, the Legendary edition will include exclusive storyboard art featuring important moments in the Halo storyline.
The Limited ediiton will cost $69.99 and comes in a spiffy metal case. It includes the same behind the scenes DVD as the Legendary edition and a Halo fiction and art book. The art book contains info on the various species in the Halo universe and reveals new info that expands on Halo’s storyline. Just so Limited edition folks won’t feel jilted — and to give Legendary purchasers a reason to buy another edition — the art book is exclusive to the Limited edition.
Finally, the plain ol’ regular edition contains nothin’ but Halo 3 for the price of $59.99.
Also, did any readers here get accepted into the Shadowrun beta?
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03.14.07
Posted in Xbox 360 News at 2:08 pm by UNSCleric
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
Price: 400 Points
A blast from the past! Help the Turtles save their friends April and Master Splinter, and defeat the evil Shredder once more in this classic arcade brawler!
St. Patrick’s Day Picture Pack
Price: 80 Points
Saint Patrick’s Day Gamer Pics from Team DZN. The Dark Leprechaun, The Elfmaid, O’Brien, Shamrock, “A Pint”, and the Irish Flag.
Click here for a full list of Marketplace content that went up over the past few days.
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