New video game AQUA will be released by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox LIVE Arcade

Upcoming naval shooter AQUA will be released in summer 2010 by Microsoft Game Studios on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. AQUA is a stylish arcade-action shooter with numerous tactical elements, driven by an entertaining story with beautiful hand-drawn comic sequences.

DarkStar One: Broken Alliance video game - Epic Space Combat and Science Fiction Adventure Combine on Xbox this Summer

Space combat/adventure title DarkStar One: Broken Alliance is coming to Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. DarkStar One: Broken Alliance is currently in development by Kalypso Media’s own studio Gaming Minds and is scheduled for a summer 2010 release.

Xbox 360 exclusive video game Alan Wake will NOT be release on PC - the game has been cancelled!

Open world adventure video game Alan Wake has been cancelled on PC. The game took centre stage at Microsoft's X10 conference.

Microsoft X10 - Explosive Stories of Power, Espionage and Humanity's Survival Mark the Biggest Year in Xbox 360 Gaming History

Xbox 360 is the only entertainment console where gamers can experience the year's most anticipated exclusives and blockbuster games.

Rare to show working demo of Perfect Dark for Xbox Arcade next week at X10

This post on Destructoid announces that Rare will demo a working version of Perfect Dark on Xbox LIVE Arcade at next weeks X10 event.

Read the full post here...

Halo 3: Mythic Map pack launched on Xbox LIVE

“Halo” fans, make ready your battle rifles and prepare to step into an expanded fight on Xbox LIVE. Mythic 2 Map Pack, a Game Add-on developed by Bungie for “Halo 3” consisting of three multiplayer maps available previously only on the “Halo 3: ODST” multiplayer disc, is set to arrive on Xbox LIVE on Feb. 2, 2010.

Microsoft annouce the end of Xbox LIVE for Xbox

Toady, 5th of February 2010 Microsoft has announced it will discontinue Xbox LIVE online service for older Xbox consoles.

Here's the open letter posted on the Xbox 360 press site.

CES 2010: New Xbox 360 features for 2010

It that time of year again and Microsoft are talking about the release of some exciting new features for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE owners in 2010.

Buying advice for video games consoles this Christmas - Should you buy a PlayStation3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii?

Games consoles are always on Santa's list so I've put this guide together to help you select the best one for your needs.

You have three main players Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. Most shops offer deals on 'bundles' where they add games and quote discount prices, beware that the console price is not discounted and the games they 'bundle' are not good value most could be picked up for less than they quote they're worth. So check the game reviews online in this blog or go for the extra controller or cable (more later on cables) offers. Make sure it's an official controller and not some cheap third party junk.

Xbox LIVE Ban Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Javelin Exploit Abusers

Stephen Toulouse, the director for policy and enforcement for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live online service, announced via Twitter on December 2 that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 players who abuse the "javelin missile exploit" will be banned from the entire Xbox Live service.

Depending on the severity of the abuse, the ban may last between 24 hours and a few weeks or, in extreme cases, the ban may be permanent.

Read the full post

Banned Xbox 360s flood eBay after Microsoft action on modded consoles

After Microsofts action to ban Xbox user who modded their consoles dozens are appearing for sale on eBay and Craigslist.

The consoles are listed with various descriptions including 'working offline' or 'banned'. They can be picked up for as little as £50 that's £100 off the new price!

Microsoft kicks 1 million gamers from Xbox Live over piracy claims

Microsoft have booted as many as 1 million players from its Xbox LIVE due to their belief that they modified their consoles to play illegally downloaded games.

"All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty, and result in a ban from Xbox Live," Microsoft said in a statement.

Microsoft ban Xbox LIVE user who have played pirate games

Microsoft have confirmed they have taken action against Xbox 360 users with modded consoles who have played pirate games.

The ban will take effect immediately they are taking action using their policy against piracy.

New Xbox 360 dashboard update leaked - but loading it will block your Xbox 360 LIVE account

Following the leak of the latest Xbox 360 dashboard update, Microsoft have responded by blocking Xbox LIVE accounts until November 17th for anyone who updates before the official release.

Anyone who take the trouble to load the update using a simple USB Flash drive

Xbox 360 Wireless N Adapter out November 3rd Price $99

Microsoft’s new Wireless N Adapter for the Xbox 360 has been dated, as well as priced.

And the price has been set at $99 for it, the same as the current wireless adapter.

Video of Mass Effect 2 full game play demo

Here's the full Mass Effect 2 demo footage Bioware showed to the public at GamesCom 2009.
Note: This video is recorded with a camcorder.

Escapist Launch 'Atomhex' Video Game

Escapist Games Limited announce that AtomHex, "that crazy multiplier arena shooter" by Mark Incitti has been launched on the Xbox 360 Indie games platform for a paltry 80 Microsoft Points.

You may remember Mark Incitti as the guy who got into trouble with Bizarre Creations after developing a Geometry Wars clone that was so good, it began to eat into their sales. Well now he’s back, but this time it’s with an entirely new and completely different game, far superior to both Geometry Wars and his original clone.

AtomHex is a colourful, fast-paced shooter where you pilot your ship through a world filled with harmless Atoms and Hexes. Change your colour to successfully despatch the hexes, and attempt to survive the chaos as atoms combine with hexes and release their deadly offspring.

“It’s a game of tactics.” says Escapist Games founder and director, Chris Walley, “Instead of just wildly shooting everything like in most games of this genre, you have to be a lot more selective. Developing a strategy is key. In fact just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, a whole new layer of depth to the gameplay emerges. Then you can really start to get the high scores. 2 billion points in five minutes? It’s possible if you know how!”

Atomhex can be found under the Indie games channel on your Xbox 360 Dashboard, or it can be queued for automatic download to your Xbox 360 by going to the following link: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585502b4/?p=1&of=7&bt=0&sb=1#offers

The official Atomhex website can be found here: www.atomhex.com

54.6% of Xbox 360 fail in survey - Microsoft respond

Koyaku report - Microsoft's responded to Game Informer's controversial survey, which found 54.6 percent of Xbox 360s - among their readership anyway - have gone RRoD.

Microsoft didn't dispute numbers or offer their own, but did concede they're "constantly improving" the 360's design.

In a statement to TG Daily, Microsoft said:

Microsoft stands behind the Xbox 360 as a superior entertainment console with one of the best warranties in the industry. We are constantly improving the design, manufacture and performance of the console through extensive testing of potential sources of any problems. Xbox 360 is pleased to maintain the title of 'most played console' and the vast majority of Xbox 360 customers have enjoyed a terrific gaming and entertainment experience since their first day, and continue to, day in and day out.

As always, when you are dealing with a spokesman, it's what's not said that's the story. In this case, Microsoft didn't even take a swipe at Game Informer's survey methodology, or the staggering 54.6 percent figure. in February 2008, they disputed the validity of a report saying the console had a 16 percent failure rate.

Then again, Microsoft probably knows that to continue the who-shot-john over its original motherboard and Falcon designs is to propagate the console's rep as a failboat. Plus challenging someone else's numbers either dredges up ones reported in the past, or creates demands for you to produce your own. Probably best to give it some "superior console" boilerplate and invite the issue to go away.

Microsoft still didn't say anything about the suck-egg customer service numbers - that only 38 percent found theirs helpful.

Source: Kotaku

Puzzle? brings three new word games to the Xbox Live Indie Games channel

Utilising a word list of over 430,000 words in three exciting word games Puzzle? will prove entertaining and educational as you expand on your vocabulary exploring new words that you never thought existed.

Additionally if you fancy a bit of a timeout from word games, why not try out either single or local two player tic-tac-toe, which comes with Puzzle?

You can purchase Puzzle? today from the Xbox marketplace for only 80 Microsoft Points (US$1).

Retro clothes launched for your Xbox 360 avatar - Kotaku talks to the designer

Xbox gamers can dress as a BioShock Big Daddy or a Halo trooper if they sample the new virtual world fashions launching today. Or they could dress like they're from the Great Depression. The line's designer explains why.

We dress in mere costumes when we control characters in our Xbox 360s. Michael Connell believes it's time for us to wear fashion — some of which came from poorer times.

Connell is the Microsoft-contracted designer behind two original fashion lines, offered, for pay, as part of the new Xbox 360 system update that goes live today. The freelance creative director whose professional experience includes modeling, designing Barbie-branded fashion and a stint as the design director of the Cranium line of games, has crafted clothing for the bodies of virtual men and women, to be worn by Xbox 360 Avatars.

Read full post on Kotaku here...