Tag: Xbox 360

This Week’s Videogame Releases (Batman Arkham City!)

The big game this week is Batman: Arkham City. The sequel to arguably the best comic-book videogame ever release, Arkham City should be another thrilling action game starring The Dark Knight. PlayStation 3 owners looking for some exclusive cooperative action should give Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One a look. Insomniac rules! Rocksmith adds an interesting twist to music games by allowing you to plug any guitar you have into your console. Everybody Dance is the newest franchise on the highly competitive dancing-game scene. It’s getting hard to keep track of them all.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

The Q4 onslaught of videogame releases continues! Dead Rising 2: Off the Record combines the world of the sequel with the protagonist from the original game. Forza Motorsport 4 brings back Microsoft’s inimitable simulation racing style. If you’re looking for action in the friendly skies then Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the game for you. Spyro is back in Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, which is a crossover with a new line of toys. The immortal Hulk Hogan returns to the gaming world in Hulk Hogan’s Main Event, which allows you to do the infamous “big boot” with motion controls. If you’re looking for an athlete that’s down with recreational drugs then why not give Michael Phelps: Push the Limit a chance? Lastly, JRPG fans will want to keep an eye on Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #408: Double Dipping on Xbox Live

I’ve always hated that Netflix on Xbox 360 is a “Gold” feature. You’re already paying for Netflix service. You’re already paying for the Internet bandwidth. Why should the cost be built into your Xbox Live subscription? That’s crap…yet more and more services on…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, dreaming of Yu Darvish in a Yankees uniform, famous atheists fighting cancer, or when NBA basketball will be back, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve always hated that Netflix on Xbox 360 is a “Gold” feature. You’re already paying for Netflix service. You’re already paying for the Internet bandwidth. Why should the cost be built into your Xbox Live subscription? That’s crap…yet more and more services on Xbox 360 are requiring Xbox Live Gold, despite them being paid for already.

Last week RPadholic smartguy pointed out that the next update for AT&T U-Verse on Xbox 360 will require Gold membership. Again, you’re already paying for U-Verse service, so why should you have to pay more for using your Xbox 360 to access it? Even AT&T realizes the charge is stupid and in a preemptive measure stated that it will credit the cost of a one-year subscription to Xbox Live Gold to its customers.

Charging for Netflix, U-Verse, etc. just seems like an artificial way for Microsoft to create “premium” features for Xbox Live Gold. It’s coattail riding or double dipping instead of actually creating compelling services that justify the cost of Xbox Live Gold. For some reason, I expected gamers to be angrier about these charges and practices. Gamers are typically loud complainers, but the typical outrage just isn’t there. What’s the deal?!?

Anyway, let me know how you feel about double dipping on Xbox Live. Is it a fair practice? Is it bogus? Does it make you angry like Mr. McGee does?

UFC Coming to Xbox Live on December 1, 2011

Microsoft has announced that UFC content will be coming to the Xbox 360 starting December 1, 2011. Live pay-per-view events, on-demand content, press conferences, weigh-ins, and more will be available. The first live PPV broadcast will be UFC 140 on December 10. Here are the bullet points from the press release:

  • Live and On-Demand Video — Event previews, UFC Countdown, press conferences, weigh-ins, interviews, workouts, highlights, and more, together for the first time on your big screen.
  • Streaming HD Quality in 720p –UFC fans demand stunning HD viewing, and Xbox LIVE brings the most premium streaming HD to the big screen.
  • Pay-Per-View with Ease — The biggest pay-per-view fights available to all Xbox LIVE members in HD and SD pricing options. Purchase directly with your credit card, Microsoft Points not required.
  • Interactive Fight Card with Predictions — Size up the fighters with the tale of the tape and view their past fight results. Predict upcoming fights, compare results with friends for points and bragging rights, and see where you stand against them on the leaderboard, all accessible while watching the fight so you’ll never have to leave the excitement of the Octagon.
  • Control the action with Kinect — Focus on the fight instead of looking for the remote. Navigate through the video content, bring up the Interactive Fight Card, or play, pause, and rewind that big punch, kick or submission…all with the magic of Kinect.

I know that most of you are incredibly excited to control UFC events via Kinect. I kid, I kid. In all seriousness, this is a tremendous partnership. UFC is incredibly popular and Microsoft is being very aggressive with its television initiatives on Xbox 360. I have no doubt that this will be a great success for everyone involved.

Any of you psyched for you UFC on your Xbox 360? What features are you looking forward to the most?

Xbox 360 Fall 2011 Dashboard Update Video Leak

Here’s a leaked video of the Fall 2011 Xbox 360 dashboard update. It’s in French, so it’s more pretentious than usual. I kid, I kid. Seriously though, what’s interesting here is that the new interface is heavily inspired by the design elements found in Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8’s Metro UI. I love the idea of Microsoft unifying its UI elements across PCs, tablets, phones, and consoles. It just makes sense to offer a consistent experience across a wide variety of Microsoft products.

Check out the clip when you have a chance and let me know what you think (please!). Do you dig the idea of unified design elements across Microsoft-powered consoles, PCs, tablets, and phones?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

October kicks off with a slew of awesome videogames! If you’re looking for a supremely gorgeous post-apocalyptic shooter then you definitely want to pick up id Software’s Rage. There probably won’t be any NBA basketball played until next year, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing NBA 2K12. Spider-Man — both the current version and the 2099 version — are back for another wall-crawling adventure in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Want something dark and brutally difficult? If so then Dark Souls, the successor to Demon’s Souls, is right up your alley. Finally, sometimes you just need to dance. If that’s the case then Just Dance 3 will do you good.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are tons of great games coming out this week! As a comic-book nerd and Silicon Knights fan, I’m most excited about X-Men Destiny. Football (soccer) fans have FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 to devour (go Man City!). The PlayStation 3 is arguably the most interesting platform this week with The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Child of Eden, Tom Clancy’s: Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy , and Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland set for release.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week?

Conan O’Brien Does Gears of War 3 Spoof

Check out this clip of Gears of War 3 from Conan. It’s cute and cool. I absolutely love that videogames are a regular part of late-night television hosted by younger comedians. Shows like Conan and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon feature games all the time. Of course it helps that people with gaming backgrounds, like the excellent Gavin Purcell, are behind the scenes. One day soon, gamers will control the media and the government. Then there’s no stoppin’ us! Muahahahahaha!!!

Anyway, check out the clip and let me know what you think of it (please!).

This Week’s Videogame Releases

So…who’s buying Gears of War 3 this week? Anyone? Anyone?!? If that’s not your bag then you can pick up Supremacy MMA for some arcade-style fighting laced with modern MMA. PSP gamers looking for some a game with crazy depth and challenge should consider Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Innocent Sin. It’s a light week with most publishers wisely deciding not to go head-to-head with Gears, but there are still some solid choices.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Two Videos of Xbox Live on Windows 8

Here are a couple of videos that show the Xbox Live functionality baked into Windows 8. The video above was posted by WinRumors, while the video below was posted by GeekWire. Between the two clips, you should get a good idea of the type of Xbox Live integration in the next version of Windows.

When you’re done checking out the clips, kindly revisit this discussion on whether Xbox Live on Windows 8 will take Microsoft’s social gaming service to a new level.