halo 3

Showing posts with label halo 3. Show all posts

Monday, January 05, 2009

Favourite Microsoft Xbox 360 games of 2008 Halo 3, Bionic Commando, Street Fighter, Burnout Paradise and more...

Image via WikipediaAfter the success of Halo 3 in 2007, Microsoft started 2008 on a very rocky basis as its Xbox Live Service experienced frequent outages.

However it didn't take long for the service to bounce back and then help deliver some of the best games of the year.

Yes, this is the year I truly think digital delivery came into its own. Braid, Castle Crashers, and Geometry Wars2 headlined Xbox Live Arcade and offered some of the best new gameplay experiences available, and high definition remakes of games such as Bionic Commando and Street Fighter II made playing classics feel brand new.

Braid on its face seems like a simple Super Mario style side-scrolling action game, but your ability to roll back or speed up time made the simple timed jump mechanics one of the most complex and fun experiences in gaming.

The glorious painted graphical style and atmospheric music make the $15 price tag seem unfairly inexpensive for its creators.

Of course this is Xbox, and its power is not in the artsy or indie, but in testosterone and raw destruction. The biggest contenders for this prize are Burnout Paradise and Gears of War 2.

Burnout Paradise is an open world racing game, where you're dropped into a fictional city and can start a competition at any traffic light. Ramps and shortcuts litter the streets, inviting daring jumps and stunts, and you're rewarded new cars by running your opponents aggressively off the road. Tap the left and right bumper buttons simultaneously and your car will go into a controlled roll and a counter will keep a running tally of how much damage in dollars you can cause. One of my better runs racked up a 110-car pile-up, including 8 city buses, that totaled several million dollars in damage. The almost pornographic level of destruction is offset by there being no human drivers or consequences for such actions, making it like playing with Matchbox cars that explode.

Gears of War 2 continues the adventures of Delta Squad from the 2006 original. You'll traverse city streets, tunnels, and mountains fighting an invading alien menace with maximum machismo. The story is paper thin, but the gameplay is right there and accented with over the top voice acting and literally dozens of ways to take down and enemy, including a chainsaw mounted to the end of your rifle. Not for the faint, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in replay value.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Bungie release new Halo 3 ODST expansion artwork

Bungie complete the year with another weekly update (even if their studio is closed).

New artwork for Halo 3 ODST has been posted.

To view the complete series visit the Bungie site here...

Sunday, October 12, 2008

XBox 360 £125 advert - video games system

Against the backdrop of one of the world’s largest video games event, Tokyo Game Show 2008, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a blockbuster portfolio of games for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from many of the world’s most renowned developers. The line-up, which features a variety of high profile titles coming this holiday season, as well as in 2009 and beyond, was headlined by “Halo 3: Recon,” an exciting new chapter in the legendary “Halo” franchise from acclaimed developer Bungie.

During his keynote address, John Schappert, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of LIVE, Software and Studios showcased the best blockbusters Japan has to offer from the most popular genres. Cementing the reputation of Xbox 360 as the premier home for great storytelling and the industry’s best role playing games (RPGs), Schappert provided an exclusive look at the widely anticipated “Star Ocean: The Last Hope” and “THE LAST REMNANT” from developer Square Enix. Action-adventure fans were also given a new look at the latest trailer for “RESIDENT EVIL 5,” slated to launch on Xbox 360 in March 2009.

“Xbox 360 continues to be the destination of choice for the best and broadest games from the world’s biggest and best developers,” said Schappert. “With the latest incarnations of the ‘Halo’ universe, as well as global hits like “Star Ocean: THE LAST HOPE” we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide the calibre of entertainment and games that capture the imagination of people across the globe.”

A New Look at the “Halo” Universe

To the delight of devoted fans across the world, Microsoft debuted “Halo 3: Recon,” developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie. “Halo 3: Recon” is a new chapter in the “Halo” saga that lets gamers experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of a new hero in the “Halo” universe. The standalone expansion, set to release in autumn of 2009, extends the award-winning “Halo 3” experience with hours of new campaign excursions and multiplayer gameplay. In addition, attendees were given an all-new glimpse of the Xbox 360 exclusive strategy game “Halo Wars” from Ensemble Studios. By showing campaign mode for the first time, the live demo provided viewers with a thrilling taste of the revolutionary gameplay and new perspective of the “Halo” universe. Players will be able to enjoy the full experience when “Halo Wars” hits retailers in early 2009.

Japanese Developers Gain Worldwide Momentum

By partnering with the best and brightest Japanese developers and publishers, Microsoft is committed not only to providing an unparalleled gaming experience on Xbox 360 not only to Japan, but also to helping Japanese games reach new audiences worldwide. During his keynote address, Schappert announced that Xbox 360 has the most top-selling, third-party Japanese titles among all other current games platforms. He also noted that Japanese publishers have sold more than $800 million worth of games thus far on Xbox 360 and are on track to see lifetime revenue of more than $1 billion by the end of this holiday.

To underscore that point, Schappert unveiled dramatic new titles from Japan, including “NINETY-NINE NIGHTS 2[1]” produced by Q Entertainment and developed by Feelplus. The title will join the “Ninja Gaiden” franchise and the just-announced “Ninja Blade” in making Xbox 360 the best place for Japanese action games. Schappert also declared that the release of “Star Ocean: THE LAST HOPE” and “THE LAST REMNANT” are further proof that Xbox 360 is the best console for RPGs, citing a rich portfolio of global blockbusters including “Infinite Undiscovery, “Fable II,” and “Fallout 3.”Additional Japanese-developed blockbusters debuting this holiday and 2009 include the following:

• “THE LAST REMNANT” (Square Enix) “THE LAST REMNANT” is a new role-playing game crafted using the finest artistry and technology Square Enix has to offer. Set in a fantasy world, war-torn and scarred by years of conflict, gameplay revolves around mysterious artefacts — Remnants — that possess magic powers. Groundbreaking graphics possible only on Xbox 360 bring the intensity to a whole new level. “THE LAST REMNANT” is launching worldwide on 20th November and will be available only on Xbox 360.

• “NINETY-NINE NIGHTS II” (Q Entertainment) Set amid a dramatic, epic backdrop of a warring world, “NINETY-NINE NIGHTS II” blends strategy and action, allowing players to take control of massive armies to defeat thousands of enemies in massive-scaled battles never before seen on the Xbox 360.

• “RESIDENT EVIL 5” (Capcom Entertainment Inc.) Destined to bring new fans to the series, “RESIDENT EVIL 5” is the sequel to one of the highest-rated video games in history (according to Metacritic.com and GameRankings.com). Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, “RESIDENT EVIL 5” unleashes an unprecedented level of fear for the next generation. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and the “RESIDENT EVIL” world, will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

• “Star Ocean: THE LAST HOPE” (Square Enix) “Star Ocean: THELAST HOPE” is the long-awaited continuation of the celebrated science fiction and fantasy role-playing game series. Slated for release on Xbox 360 in spring 2009 and published by Square Enix, this prequel set during the aftermath of World War III combines science fiction and fantasy elements spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the Star Ocean universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise’s famous real-time battle system, introducing the amazing graphics and visual effects possible only on Xbox 360.

Xbox LIVE Arcade Debuts New line-up

Xbox LIVE Arcade continued momentum built during the summer of arcade as Microsoft announced seven new titles to the already robust lineup of classics and original titles. With the power of Xbox LIVE Arcade, a new generation of gamers can now experience some of the most beloved games of all-time from Japan’s most legendary developers. Classic titles showcased at Tokyo Game Show include the following:

• “ARKANOIDTM Live!” (TAITO) First appearing in the 1980s as a block-breaking game, the next evolution will now be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Gamers can enjoy “Arkanoid” in high -definition with beautifully choreographed background movies and background music. “Arkanoid” is loaded with 120 stages and colourful cooperative and versus modes.

• “The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match” (SNK PLAYMORE) The original “dream match” comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade with new features, characters and game modes. Gamers can face their favourite “The King of Fighters” characters to determine the ultimate champion.

• “Metal Slug 7” (SNK PLAYMORE) Gamers can join Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fiolina, Clark and Ralph as they prepare to take on Modern’s Forces across seven new missions. “Metal Slug 7” will also feature new weapons, colossal new bosses, new gameplay modes, and new Slugs to pilot.

• “Meteos Wars” (Q ENTERTAINMENT) Take a ride through this intergalactic journey where you slide, stack and ignite your blocks to blast away the world‐ending meteors! Only you can stop them from falling and crushing your planet. Master the combo links and power-ups to challenge your friends in intense multiplayer sessions

• “R-Type Dimensions” (Microsoft) “R-Type Dimensions” combines the genre-defining coin-op classics “R-Type” and “R-Type II,” with a twist. For the first time ever, “R-Type Dimensions” allows multiplayer co-op play locally or over Xbox LIVE for up to two players. Gamers fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in the original 2-D or all-new 3-D graphics, and can swap between the two seamlessly.

• “SPACE INVADERS EXTREME” (TAITO) Gamers can experience “Space Invaders” in fully immersive sound and vivid high definition on the next-generation system, with visuals that will excite their senses.

• “Tenchu: Shadow Assault” (FROMSOFTWARE) Tenchu, the world-famous ninja action game, is now on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Gamers can control their favourite characters as they use a variety of ninja weapons to defeat their enemies and complete their missions. They can use traps in multiplayer mode[2] to kill their friends for massive points.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Halo 3 - recon video game - Fact Sheet

Halo 3 - Recon - Fact Sheet

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: Recon” is a stand-alone expansion that extends the award-winning “Halo 3” experience with hours of new campaign and multiplayer gameplay.* The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for more than six years.

The new campaign chapter predates the events that unfold in “Halo 3” and gives players a new perspective through the eyes of a new hero in the “Halo” universe. New multiplayer maps ensure that the award-winning Xbox LIVE experience of “Halo 3” continues to thrive.

Features:

Top features include the following:

• All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: Recon” campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous “Halo” experiences, “Halo 3: Recon” will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.

• A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.

• Expanded multiplayer collection. No “Halo” experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and “Halo 3: Recon” gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with “Halo 3: Recon.”

• Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3” technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

“Halo 3” is the conclusion to the epic trilogy and picks up where “Halo 2” left off, answering questions about the fates of the beloved protagonist Master Chief and his artificial intelligence sidekick Cortana as they struggle to save humankind from destruction at the hands of the alien coalition known as the Covenant. In addition to the rich storyline, “Halo 3” continues the franchise’s grand tradition of delivering innovative online multiplayer experiences via Xbox LIVE.

Title: Halo 3 - Recon
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system; Xbox LIVE-enabled
Availability: Fall 2009

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Gamedaily - Top 25 Xbox Games

Gamedaily Top 25 Xbox games...

01. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (LucasArts)
02. Halo 2 (Microsoft)
03. Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo)
04. Halo (Microsoft)

05. ESPN NFL 2K5 (Sega)
06. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar Games)
07. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Electronic Arts)
08. Burnout 3: Takedown (Electronic Arts)
09. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Ubisoft)
10. Jet Set Radio Future (Sega)

11. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Ubisoft)
12. Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge (Microsoft)
13. SSX 3 (EA Sports Big)
14. Jade Empire (Microsoft)
15. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher's Bay (Vivendi Games)
16. Psychonauts (Majesco)

17. Beyond Good and Evil (Ubisoft)

18. Fable (Microsoft)
19. Mercenaries (LucasArts)
20. Panzer Dragoon Orta (Sega)

21. Dead Or Alive 3 (Tecmo)
22. Unreal Championship 2 (Midway)
23. Star Wars Battlefront II (LucasArts)
24. Project Gotham Racing 2 (Microsoft)
25. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (Sierra)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack Arrives in April

The Fight Continues - Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack Arrives in April

The award-winning "Halo 3" multiplayer experience continues to evolve with three new maps available only on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

More than 7.3 million copies of "Halo 3" have flown off store shelves, upwards of 500 million hours of online gameplay have been logged on Xbox LIVE and the Heroic Map Pack has been downloaded by 1 million plus gamers and counting. But it's not over yet…

Microsoft and Bungie today announced that 15th April will mark the release of the next wave of "Halo 3" downloadable content. Available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points, the Legendary Map Pack will introduce three new maps to the title's award-winning multiplayer experience, Ghost Town, Avalanche, and one map yet to be revealed. And with the addition of some exciting Forge options, fans can explore new ways to create and share their custom "Halo 3" content.

Ghost Town is a battle-scarred maze of narrow passages and dangerous ruins outside the once-prosperous city of Voi. Collapsed ceilings and shell-battered buildings provide both valuable cover and deadly traps, as catwalks and stairways take the fight from claustrophobic ground combat to dizzying rooftop battles. Ghost Town is a mid-sized map ideal for Team Slayer games and smaller, objective types.

The second map, Avalanche, is a tribute to Sidewinder, a "Halo: Combat Evolved" fan-favourite. This massive, vehicle-oriented objective map adds a twist to its classic predecessor with all new interiors, dramatically reshaped exteriors and brand new vehicle variants. Take a ride and admire the visual variety from the cockpit of the retuned Hornet.

The third map to be included in the Legendary Pack has yet to be announced, but stay tuned to Bungie.net for full details on another returning classic… fans of smaller Slayer maps, it's time to get excited.

Be sure to check out www.xbox.com and www.bungie.net for all the latest information and screenshots of the new maps.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

PANASONIC PROJECTORS PARTNERS MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING TO SPONSOR PRO GAMER TOM "TSQUARED" TAYLOR

PANASONIC PROJECTOR SYSTEMS COMPANY PARTNERS WITH MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING TO SPONSOR PRO GAMER TOM "TSQUARED" TAYLOR

Pro Gamer Has Tested and Will Promote Panasonic's PT-AX200U, the First Home Theater Projector Designed with Gaming in Mind

Panasonic Projector Systems Company (PJSC), Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, today announced its partnership with Major League Gaming (MLG), the professional video game league, to work with one of their top ranked professional gamers, Tom "Tsquared" Taylor. Tsquared has tested the "Game mode" on the new PT-AX200U home theater projector and found that it is the first projector to deliver a high-quality, gaming experience. The high definition 720p projector will remove virtually any lag in response time and expands detail reproduction, revealing gradation in saturated areas that are otherwise lost to darkness.

Tsquared, one of the top ranked professional Halo players, is a leading member of the Halo team, Str8 Rippin. Over the last two years, Tsquared has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, ranked #1 by Stuff Magazine in the "Top 20 Under 30 Power List", starred in MTV's "True Life: I want to be a professional gamer," and featured on G4TV's "XPlay" gaming tutorial. At the age of 20, Tsquared has become one of the most recognized professional video game celebrities in the industry.

"I'm very excited to work with Panasonic Projector Systems Company in this new partnership. Panasonic's AX200 is truly in a class by itself. This is the only projector I'll ever need to use. I practice on it at home before tournaments, use it for casual gaming and it's great for watching sports with my friends"

said pro gamer Tom "Tsquared" Taylor.

"We recognized the growing gaming market, both recreational and professional, and designed a quality home theater projector that caters to gamers' needs. We're excited to partner with Major League Gaming and one of their top ranked professional gamers, who both agree that Panasonic's AX200 offers a superior experience for gaming," said Thomas Zitelli, president of Panasonic Projector Systems Company.

Tsquared joined PJSC at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV to promote and demonstrate the PT-AX200U to reporters and attendees. He will participate in events and promotional opportunities throughout the year with the Panasonic Projector Systems Company team and can be seen at the following MLG (www.mlgpro.com) Pro Circuit events:

MLG Pro Circuit Event:

April 11-13: Meadowlands, NJ
June 13-15: San Diego, CA
July 11-13: Orlando, FL
August 22-24: Toronto
October 3-5: Dallas, TX

To learn more about the brand new AX200 projector, please visit www.panasonic.com/projectors

MatchBox360 XL – Tournament sponsored by SteelSeries

MatchBox360 XL – Tournaments sponsored by SteelSeries

Event: MatchBox360 XL

Date: 21st - 23rd March 2008

Venue: NEC Toute Suite, Birmingham

MatchBox360 XL are pleased to announce that SteelSeries will be an official sponsor of the forthcoming MatchBox360 XL eSports tournaments on 21st-23rd March at the Birmingham NEC Toute Suite.

SteelSeries will be providing the winning players and teams each with a pair of the latest SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Headsets, which are fully compatible and conducive to competitive Xbox 360 gaming. In addition to these fantastic prizes, the SteelSeries Neckbands will also be available on demonstration throughout the 3 day MatchBox360 XL weekend:

"SteelSeries have always designed high quality headsets for PC gamers, and they are now supporting console gaming which is great news for everyone attending XL! We're delighted to be working closely with SteelSeries to provide what promises to be an incredible weekend of gaming action." – Graham Hoffman (MatchBox360 XL Event Manager).

SteelSeries is all about gaming and to provide performance enhancing gaming gear, created for and by leading professional gamers from 3 different continents in order to continuously improve upon their wide range of gaming products:

"SteelSeries is proud to partner up with MatchBox360 for the upcoming XL4 event. The MatchBox360 organization continues to support the growth of the console gaming scene and we are happy to be a part of that, by providing the winning teams with our professional gaming gear and equipping the demo consoles with our headsets. We wish good luck to the participating teams!"– Casper Mejiholm (SteelSeries Marketing Manager).

The new SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Headset features a similar eye-catching visual design, as well as the popular white theme, that made the original Siberia headset so popular. The comfort and soundscape in the SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Headset was fine-tuned with the help of professional gamers, electronic DJ's and rock musicians. The headset is also fully compatible with the Xbox 360 and plugs directly into the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller, where in-game sound and voice communication can be combined.

In addition to cash prizes worth upto £10,000, MatchBox360 XL continues to set the standard for competitive console tournaments in Europe and the winners of the following tournaments will each receive SteelSeries Siberia Neckbands:

Halo 3 FFA
Halo 4 4v4
Call of Duty 4 FFA
Call of Duty 4 5v5
Gears of War 4v4

Tickets are selling out fast, so if you want to test out and have a chance to win yourself a pair of SteelSeries Siberia Neckbands please purchase your tickets asap from the MatchBox360 XL Ticket Office: http://tickets.matchbox360.co.uk

For more information on SteelSeries or if you wish to see more of their products, please visit them online: http://www.steelseries.com

Saturday, January 12, 2008

How Halo 3 Changed Game Development - Tom Carroll

The Difficulty of Difficulty

The success of the Halo franchise has led to a need to appeal to a wider collection of gamers than just those labeled "hard core." As a result, in Halo 3 the easy and normal settings are easier than they might have been prior, and the heroic and legendary settings are likewise more difficult. Casual gamers will be overjoyed with the easy setting, but they'll miss out on numerous cool features of the game, including hidden skulls and cool enemy AI. Dedicated gamers, the ones who have invested hours mastering earlier incarnations of Halo, will want to jump in on heroic or legendary, lest they risk becoming bored from the start.

The secret skulls were first included in Halo 2, but then they nearly always activated some challenging feature, such as not being able to see anything on your HUD. In Halo 3, the system of skulls is much more challenging (read: fun) for anyone choosing to find them and activate them. A skull might make it so you can't see your gun scope, or enable enemies to throw grenades faster. Activating a golden skull makes the game harder for the player, but by surviving you earn a lot more points.

More from... http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/482/how_halo_3_changed_game_.php?page=2

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Cost headache for game developers

Next-generation consoles have wowed gamers with breathtaking graphics, surround sound and stunning gameplay since coming on to the market in the past year.

Halo 3 has been a massive success for Microsoft
Cutting-edge video games might be a dream come true for consumers around the world, but for many companies developing them, it's been a nightmare.

The movie-like productions on Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 games have meant that the cost of producing them has risen sharply.

Halo 3, an extremely popular game produced by Microsoft, is estimated to have cost $30m (£15m). However, the American software giant was able to recoup that, and the millions more spent on marketing, straight away.

On its first day of sales, it brought in $170m, setting the record for the most money earned in a day by an entertainment product. It far outstripped the money made in a day by Spiderman 3, the biggest-grossing Hollywood film.

More from the BBC

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Nine : Halo 3 on Microsoft XBox 360

Say what you will about Master Chief and the games he stars in – they do make one hell of a good shooter.

Halo 3 is the final game in what is one of the biggest franchises the gaming world has ever seen and the third instalment finally gives players the chance to finish the fight once and for all.

Taking control of Master Chief, the seven foot tall green-glad cyborg with a deep voice and a chip on his shoulder, players fight back against the alien Covenant and try to save the world all over again.

What makes Halo 3 the quintessential game in the series and the ninth best game of the year is that it manages to retain all the greatness of previous Halo games while still managing to expand in a number of ways.

The singleplayer was always fun, but it’s the multiplayer modes which have always been the defining part of the Halo experience. Halo 3 builds on the bog standard deathmatch modes by introducing the new Theatre and Forge features to the mix.

Theatre is pretty self-explanatory – it allows gamers record and take photos from their past matches and post them online. Forge on the other hand is a bit more exciting – it lets gamers create their own maps by repositioning and sculpting parts of the game world.

Neither of these things are revolutionary in and of themselves – screenshots and level editors have been on PCs since time out of mind, with Garry’s Mod beating Halo 3 to the post in regards to Forge. What Halo 3 does though is bring both of these aspects to the Xbox 360 – rounding out the already awesome multiplayer side of this seminal series. Forge alone is pretty revolutionary for the way it opens up the game into a newly creative and occasionally romantic arena.

Although it would be an understatement to say that the Halo series has divided gamers into love/hate camps, there's no denying that the Halo games have represented the modern pinnacle of multiplayer console FPS and that Halo 3 is the most rounded game of them all.

Source: Bit-Tech

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

More than half of Microsoft XBox 360 owners own Halo 3 video game

It seems that with some simple math Kotaku have come to conclude that of all the Xbox 360 owners in the US, over half of them own Halo 3.

While their assumption might not be too accurate it definitely gives you an idea of just how popular the Halo series has become, with 7.9 million 360s sold in the US, and 4.1 million copies of Halo 3 sold.

This shouldn’t be a surprise to most considering how hyped Halo 3 was prior to release causing some to buy a 360 for the soul purpose of playing this game.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Gamer jargon becomes word of the year - WOOt!

A word widely used among online gamers has topped an online poll for Word of the Year run by US publishing group Merriam Webster.

The word "W00t" got most votes in the poll looking for the word that best sums up 2007.

It is now included in the Merriam Website open dictionary that exists on the web.

More from the BBC

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Halo 3 video game - Heroic Map Pack Download at Xbox 360

Award-winning multiplayer experience evolves with three new maps now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

The international award-winning “Halo 3” gets even better as the “Halo 3” Heroic Map Pack launches today on Xbox 360’s Xbox LIVE Marketplace. After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, more than five million “Halo 3” players worldwide can now enjoy a package of three all new multiplayer maps. The Heroic Map Pack is the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map offers a unique experience. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

As if the legions of "Halo 3" players needed more reasons to stay logged on to Xbox LIVE, Forge also allows players to edit and customize all three maps, keeping “Halo 3’s” multiplayer experience fresh, exciting and evolving. In addition, ongoing updates to “Halo 3’s” matchmaking playlists ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive.

The maps of the Heroic Pack are available in matchmaking today to those who have purchased the download. All three maps will become available as a free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of all new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Video game sales ahead of DVDs this Christmas

DVD sales are lagging and game sales are up. Something's gotta give, as they say.

Retail shelf space is a finite thing in the world of brick and mortar, so each inch has to be maximized with product that is going to sell. As video games continue their rise, we're likely to see less and less shelf space given to DVDs, and more to video games and related merchandise.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier weighed in on the record game sales last month when talking about October's sales numbers. "This year [video game] sales have already achieved the annual sales number for 2005—and the two biggest months are yet to come. I think we'll see not only record-breaking revenues but record-breaking year-over-year growth when the final numbers are tallied," she said. The month previous, Frazier made another hopeful comment about the industry: "Although we've been confident for many months now that the industry was poised to realize it's best year ever in terms of revenue, the results in recent months makes me even more bullish." In other words, the sales keep getting better and better, with titles like Guitar Hero 3 and Halo 3 leading the charge.

More from...

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Microsoft is Being Sued for $5 Million Over Halo 3 and Xbox 360 Problems

A federal lawsuit was filed against Microsoft and Bungie recently alleging that Halo 3 “routinely, consistently, and systematically ‘froze,’ crashed,’ or ‘locked up’” the plantiff’s Xbox 360. The plaintiff is Randy Nunez and he is seeking class-action status along with $5 million in damages plus costs and attorneys’ fees.

The lawsuit also claims that “many consumers” have these issues, making their console “totally inoperable” and the court papers site “industry Internet web sites, weblogs, and message boards” as the sources to prove these problems exist. It also states that Microsoft and Bungie have “received numerous complaints” from consumers over the phone and on their support forums without admitting these alleged Halo 3 issues to the public.

More here...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Free Xbox Live Arcade games

Microsoft and Xbox 360 truly bring Friends Together

Xbox 360TM owners rewarded with free Xbox Live® Arcade titles for encouraging a friend to join the Together Experience
Microsoft today announced it would reward Xbox 360 console owners and one of their chosen friends with a selection of Xbox Live Arcade titles for free when they too join the Xbox 360 experience.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, all Xbox 360 owners have to do is persuade a friend to purchase an Xbox 360 console (which shouldn’t be too hard considering the incredible festive line up of Halo 3, Project Gotham Racing 4, Mass Effect, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action and many more), then visit http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/10gameseach/gameinformation.htm.

Participants simply fill out the form together, then send off as instructed to both receive an incredible ten Xbox Live Arcade titles, including Every Extend Extra Extreme, Sonic The Hedgehog, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Bomberman Live, Marble Blast Ultra, Spyglass Boardgames, 3D Mini Golf Adventures, Small Arms, Assault Heroes and Zuma Deluxe.

“Going into this holiday period with one of the greatest line ups in video game history is certainly a compelling reason for a friend to jump into the world of Xbox 360” commented Stephen McGill, Head of Gaming and Entertainment, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft UK. “However, this incredible offer also enforces the fact we’ve got an exceptional online service in Xbox Live, which truly does bring everyone together.”

Terms and Conditions apply – please see http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/10gameseach/gameinformation.htm for further information.

Halo 3 Evolves as Heroic Map Pack Explode

Plus, this Week "Undertow" Dives onto Xbox LIVE Arcade

The internationally award-winning “Halo 3” multiplayer experience is about to get even better. After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, “Halo 3” players will be able to enjoy three all new multiplayer maps on 11th December as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

All three maps will become available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of all new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps.

As if the legions of "Halo 3" players needed more reasons to stay logged on and fragging, the Forge also allows players to edit and customise all three maps, keeping “Halo 3’s” multiplayer experience fresh, exciting and evolving. In addition, ongoing updates to “Halo 3’s” matchmaking playlists ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive.

While you wait for the “Halo 3” Heroic Map Pack, check out the 101st game to launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade as Chair Entertainment Group brings “Undertow” to the platform. The fast-paced, aquatic action game arrives this Wednesday, 21st November 2007 at 9:00.

"Undertow" redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. "Undertow" features a story driven single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for up to 16 players over Xbox LIVE. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. "Undertow" will be available worldwide this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated 15 BBFC.

For more details on “Undertow,” please visit: http://www.xbox.com/enUS/games/u/undertowxboxlive

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Release Of The Halo 3 Original Soundtrack

FROM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH IN HISTORY, COMES THE MOST ANTICIPATED VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACK OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Sumthing Else Music Works, Inc., through its licensing relationship with Microsoft Game Studios, proudly presents Halo® 3 Original Soundtrack. The highly anticipated original soundtrack comes in a 2-CD set featuring the game’s original music score and will be released on November 20th to US retail outlets through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works label www.sumthing.com and via digital download at Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com.

Halo 3 is the conclusion to the epic trilogy and picks up where Halo 2 left off, answering questions about the fates of the beloved protagonist Master Chief™ and his artificial intelligence sidekick Cortana as they struggle to save humankind from destruction at the hands of the alien coalition known as the Covenant.

The official Halo 3 Original Soundtrack features the new symphonic compositions by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori, the award-winning composers behind the best-selling Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 Volume One and Halo 2 Volume Two soundtracks. In addition to new original tracks written for the Halo 3 video game, the Halo 3 Original Soundtrack also includes new arrangements of the game’s musical themes that Bungie’s audio director and composer Martin O’Donnell recorded with a full live orchestra and chorus. The 2-CD set amounts to two hours of original music from the game Halo 3.

Developed by Bungie Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios, the critically acclaimed Xbox 360® exclusive, which was released worldwide on Tuesday, Sept. 25, is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history. The Xbox 360 title beat previous U.S. sales records set by blockbuster openings for entertainment events such as the release of “Spider-Man 3” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Halo 3 was released in 37 countries and 17 languages. To date, more than 20 million copies of the games in the Halo trilogy have been sold worldwide. For more information visit www.halo3.com.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

XBox live user face ban for sharing accounts

"You might have your console banned from Xbox Live," states Hryb

Microsoft has again warned Xbox 360 users not to share Live account information with other player's online.

Some users share accounts in order to have other players boost their Gamerscore and unlock difficult Achievements, but if shared accounts begin taking advantage of paid content and registered credit cards, they are breaking the Xbox Live Terms of Use.

"I have mentioned this a couple of times on my podcasts, but I want to make sure those that don't listen to the show get the message. Specifically, don't share your account information," writes Larry Hryb, Xbox Live director of programming on the Gamerscore blog.

"If you run into that person in Halo 3 who claims if they could have your Live ID name and password to recover your Xbox Live account to their Xbox and they'll rank you up or find you all the hidden skulls in Halo 3, I urge you not to fall to temptation.

"If that 'friend' of yours decides not return your account and buys a bunch of Arcade titles and movies on your account, there is nothing we can do except cancel the account since you willingly shared your information," he warned.

And any tampering of 360 Gamerscores or Achievements by "nefarious" means is likely to result in harsh penalties – accounts can be cancelled, Gamerscores removed, and consoles banned from the popular online service.

"If you decide to employ some nefarious techniques to artificially increase your Gamerscore or obtain achievements by manipulating the Xbox software without playing the game, bad things will happen," continued Hryb.

"If you use tampered gamesaves to boost your Achievements and Gamerscore, you may sign in to Xbox Live one day and discover that we have removed your Gamerscore. Once we do that, you will never be able to re-earn those achievements on that account. Even worse, you might have your account and/or console banned from Xbox Live."

Source: Games Industry

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