All Entries Tagged With: "Xbox Live"

The Guild’s New “Game On” Music Video Goes Bollywood

Those of you who don’t watch The Guild don’t know what you’ve been missing. Felicia Day’s web series about a rag-tag group of guildmates and how they deal with real life issues is a cult phenomenon. You can get all three seasons (and the first few episodes of season four) free on Xbox Live or watch them online.

Needless to say, last year at ComicCon the cast unveiled their now-famous “Do You Want to Date My Avatar” video. This year what do they have up their collective sleeves? Another music video, of course! This one is titled “Game On” and has a distinctly Bollywood theme – from the music and dancing to the visuals. You can check it out now at their site. Even if you haven’t been watching The Guild, you can dive right in and start by watching this new and hilarious music video.

Why the Pros Play Xbox LIVE

What games offer the best online experience? The answer: competitive games. Sure games like Resident Evil 5 and Left 4 Dead offer some great experiences, too, but online (console) gaming really thrives off of the competitive games. I can look at my Xbox LIVE friends list right now and the majority would be on Modern Warfare 2. And no, just to clear things up, they are not friends that I met on Modern Warfare 2. So now that it has been established that online gaming is tailor made for the competitive, which system has better competition? Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, or Playstation 3 and PSN? The answer: Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE.

It’s a fact that for games that are multi-platform, the big time competitors usually prefer to play on the Xbox 360. An example with this is with fighting game pro, Justin Wong. He has stated on his blog, “I personally play on xbox and the fact that PS3 lags [a lot] affects my gameplay a bit.” I’m no expert on technical stuff or why stuff like lag would even happen, but we’ll just leave it at that. The bottom line is that the pros play on Xbox LIVE, and there is no denying it. So what could possibly have them all (or at least most of them) on Xbox LIVE instead of PSN for games such as Modern Warfare 2, Super Street Fighter IV, and Bad Company 2?

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Screenshots Released

Konami loves us like they love Hideo Kojima. Okay, maybe not to that extent, but they love us nonetheless. Because we’re so lovable, and because we’re so soft and cuddly, Konami decided to inject us with some of their very own dose of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair screenshots which, I must say, has me more excited than a convicted child molester at a Chuck E. Cheese. We’re kind folk here at DualShockers. And we love you guys so much, that we decided to slather this creamy spread of awesomeness onto your screens.

Like any other 2D Castlevania, most of us here are pumped for the game. If you ogle the screenshots a bit, you’ll take notice that the game’s visuals somewhat resemble that of Symphony of the Night (my favorite in the franchise). Aside from the SNES-esque visuals, we’ll be treated to other goodies like co-op play, a cool map system, and a bad ass protagonist that wields a spear bigger than himself. The game releases on Xbox Live, and will be at Comic-Con, for those of you lucky bastards who are attending.

Check out the screens after the jump. You’re going to love it.

The Xbox Live Community Decides the Fate of Gears of War 3 Character Carmine

In the upcoming sci-fi third person shooter/action title Gears of War 3 gamers of the Xbox Live variety will actually be able to decide the fate of the rookie character known as Carmine. Clayton Carmine is the full name, don’t wear it out. This rookie or otherwise known as “noob” character will be making his appearance in the third installment of the series on Xbox 360 and have the chance to actually survive through it unlike his previous rookie peers Anthony and Ben. In order to cast your vote for death or life in the fate of this man gamers will have the chance to buy Xbox Live avatar clothing such as a black shirt reading “Save Carmine” or a red shirt that says “Carmine Must Die”. As the winner of over 30 “Game of the Year” awards, this title is one that many shooter fans are clamoring for and is probably on everybody’s holiday wish list (even if you aren’t the biggest Epic Games fan). These digital shirts will be on sale in the Xbox Live Marketplace starting July 29th.

In addition to this special offering of fan input and avatar gear Epic Games is also letting the attendees of Comic Con be ‘among the first’ to check out Beast Mode for Gears of War 3 hands-on at the Xbox booth where Cliff Bleszinski, Rod Fergusson, and Karen Traviss will be on deck to sign their name to your heart’s content. At the NECA booth there will also be real life versions of the shirts sold. Sounds like an interesting day for Gears fans.

Plants vs. Zombies For XBLA Priced

If you’re curious as to how addiction truly feels, you should probably get your hands on a game that oozes digital methamphetamine that will provide you with hours of satisfaction. Plants vs. Zombies is one of these games. If you have yet to play this game, make an effort to pick this gem up on Xbox Live. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that the game has finally been announced by PopCap to release on XBLA with both a price and release date.

Due to release early September, the game will feature two new multiplayer modes, 21 mini-games unique to the XBLA version, 12 whopping achievements. Adding to the cauldron of awesomeness, the game will also feature a new way to track and share progress online, with players creating their own custom homes which can be visited by friend who wish to ridicule their mediocre scores. PopCap has also stated this will be the sexiest looking version by far, with a resolution of 1920×1080 (high-definition, for those of you who aren’t savvy with technical specifications).

The game will run you 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), that is definitely well worth every penny. If, for whatever reason, you’re not an owner of an Xbox 360 because you prefer to spend a bunch of your money on upgrading parts on your computer, a “Game of the Year” edition for both PC and Mac will be shipping to retails stores for $19.99. What does the additional $5 get you? A zombie figurine. I’m in there like swim wear.

New Red Dead Redemption DLC Screenshots Released

Some exciting new content has been revealed for Red Dead Redemption which is part of the four downloadable content packs being released that DualShockers revealed to you in detail recently. This content pack is called Legends and Killers and comes with an assortment of new additions. These include nine new multi-player maps, effectively doubling the current amount. It will also add eight playable characters for the multi-player modes. These new characters have been taken from Red Dead Revolver, the 2004 western TPS from Rockstar games. Also, included in the content pack is a new weapon called the Tomahawk. The Tomahawk will have both single player and multi-player challenges. Most will probably consider the new trophies/achievements the biggest bonus. Legends and Killers will be available for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and is priced at $9.99 via PSN and 800 MS points via Xbox Live. It launches in August. Hit the break for the new screens.

Spec Ops: The Line Multi-Player Beta Signups Begin Now

If you haven’t got your fill of online multi-player beta action recently, you will want to first enter the DualShockers Medal of Honor Beta Code giveaway (and stay tuned for that) and then you may be interested in another title entering private beta mode soon called Spec Ops: The Line. If you haven’t heard of 2K Games’ futuristic, post-apocalyptic Dubai shooter yet then you can check out my impressions of it here.

This beta is for Xbox 360 only, so for those of you with an MoH Beta code waiting for the Xbox 360 launch, now is your chance to enter something that may become available a little sooner for you. First off, this will require a Xbox Live Gold subscription, but that should have been obvious already. Signing up does not guarantee access, but this is also pretty standard stuff. The beta includes a non-disclosure agreement so you won’t be able to tell the world all about the awesomeness you experience which is less than ideal but hey, what do you want for free?

Hit up the signup page here and don’t say we never did anything for you.

1 Vs. 100 No Longer On Xbox LIVE

Microsoft has announced that 1 Vs. 100 will not be returning for a new season on Xbox LIVE. The online only game show that awarded winners with achievement points, Microsoft points, and prizes has been discontinued after only two seasons.

An excerpt from blog post by ‘Trilobiting’ of 1 Vs. 100 reads, “We knew starting on this project, that 1 vs 100 was completely different and would be an idea we would continue to evolve. We’ve learned a lot from this experience and we’re committed to applying these lessons to the cool, new stuff we’re working on, but can’t yet discuss.

It is unfortunate that 1 Vs. 100 is gone (especially because I never got to be the 1 or the mob!), but let’s hope that the future holds something even better.

[Xbox Blogs]

Now PC Owners Get To Tango Down

Zombie Studio’s new downloadable FPS Blacklight: Tango Down is now available to the PC gaming community. The game released last week for the Xbox 360 on Xbox LIVE. Gamers can download the game via Steam, Microsoft Games for Windows, Direct 2 Drive and Impulse. The game ships with 12 maps, 7 game modes and multiple co-op missions. Blacklight: Tango Down mixes familiar mechanics with unique, innovative elements that combine to create an FPS experience like no other. Blacklight: TD is being hyped as one of the “Next major entertainment franchises”. Published by Ignition Entertainment, the game retails for $15 and is available for PC as of July 14th, 2010. Hit the break for more information on this exciting new shooter.

Xbox 360 Not Getting Final Fantasy XIV Anytime Soon

Some fans of Square-Enix’s current MMO, Final Fantasy XI, who play on the Xbox 360, might have hoped that their newest outing into the genre would land squarely across all platforms that the current one does, those being Windows PC, Sony’s PS2 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. No matter how much Square attempts to haggle with Microsoft, it appears it isn’t to be this time around – at least not until Microsoft changes their rules.

In a recent interview with Players4.de, FFXIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka placed the blame, so to speak, squarely on Microsoft at this point. Microsoft apparently made a one-time exception for FFXI back in the day, before Xbox Live was as established as it is now. Under their present “rules”, something like that wouldn’t be allowed. Why not? It’s his understanding that this one-time exception was made because Xbox Live needed all the help it could get at that point. Now the console giant is unwilling to open up its system to work with Final Fantasy XIV.

Because of that, it seems all development on the 360 version of FFXIV has been cancelled. I can’t blame Square-Enix here. Why would they continue development of their MMO on a system that seems staunchly against allowing the game to work? This doesn’t mean development can’t be restarted in the future, if Microsoft decides it wants to cooperate, but for now, don’t hold your breath!

[FFXIV Core]

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week is Nothing to Go Gaga About

Not unless you’re a Lady Gaga fan, then by all means. This week’s deal on Xbox LIVE features Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” on sale at 50% off, along with two downloadable titles. Magic: The Gathering and South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! are both 50% off, too.

This week’s deal puts the catchy track at the price of 80 Microsoft points, as opposed to the usual 160 Microsoft points. That means the track is only $1 for this week!

Magic: The Gathering and South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! are normally 800 Microsoft Points, but this week has them both at the affordable price of 400 Microsoft Points. That is $5 folks. That is a nice price for two relatively popular games. We hope you all have a good week of downloading!

Hulu+ is Coming to the PS3 This Year

The on-demand video streaming service Hulu Plus was recently announced. Hulu, in case you didn’t know, is a video streaming website that is already being enjoyed by millions. This new service is premium, being brought to HD consoles and various devices including the iPhone.

There are more than one hundred different providers for the service, delivering more than one thousand programs. What’s more is that it even offers HD programming for those with the option available. The monthly fee is $9.99, though it is speculated that multiple packages will be available similar to Xbox Live. While there is no launch date for the service, it is confirmed that it’s “coming soon”.

The Xbox 360 launch of Hulu Plus is expected in 2011.  Other upcoming mediums for the new service include iPad, iPod Touch, Samsung TVs, Samsung Blu Ray players, Sony TVs, Sony Blu Ray players, Visio TVs and Visio Blu Ray players.There is no confirmed date for the launch of the service across these devices.

[Examiner]