Xbox Fanatics

Gee, I wonder why this does not surprise me. I for one am considering one now that it is in the sub-$500 price range. BTW, sub-$400 would close me on that subject. 

PS3fanboy.com has this to say…

It already looks like the price drop for the PlayStation 3 is having an effect on sales. After official confirmation of the price drop, sales at Amazon.com for the 60GB PS3 have spiked by 2800% and have overtaken the Wii and Guitar Hero: Rock the 80s as the best selling item in the Video Game category.

While it’s hard to judge the success of the price cut in only one day, it’s interesting to see how many people are snapping up the new $499 PS3. A price cut of $100 is not insignificant but the PS3 is still the most expensive console, and industry watchers were curious to see just how many people would be moved to purchase the console after a ‘mere’ 17% price drop.
Judging from the early evidence though, the answer is ‘a lot.’

I actually wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of this situation. You know criminals have to be involved in some way.

A British teenager who bought a Sony PlayStation 2 on eBay for £95 ($194) got more than he bargained for when he opened the package. Instead of a shiny, happy gaming console, there was a whole heap of euros – €65,400 ($90,000) to be precise – stacked neatly inside. A spokesman for eBay said that the parcel’s contents were “somewhat unusual”, but that they would help the police in any way they could.
When the parcel arrived, on March 20, the boy’s parents contacted the Norfolk Constabulary, who are now holding the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. If the owner does not come forward by September 22, then the family can apply to have the cash returned to them – unless the police apply to hold onto the money for a longer period. [BBC]

via Gizmodo.com

via The Washington Post

Just days after Microsoft Corp. took a more than US$1 billion earnings charge to fix hardware problems in Xbox 360 consoles, a class-action suit says that the consoles also damage game discs.

Filed on Monday in the U.S. District court for the Southern District of Florida, the suit claims that Xbox 360s scratch game discs, making them unusable. Thousands of people have been affected by and have complained to Microsoft about the problem, the suit claims.  read the rest here

No duh ! I for one have been disappointed in the hardware quality of the 360. The quality of programming and the actual output of the console is extraordinary, but these hardware issues make me leery. Let’s hope MS does the right thing with this warranty extension, which will more than likely become a recall to replace the DVD player and fans.

Microsoft has just confirmed Peter Moore’s departure following a press release issued by Electronic Arts that announced that Moore will serve as president of the EA Sports label. Don Mattrick, a former president of Electronic Arts, will take on Moore’s job.
Microsoft said in a statement that Moore has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for “personal reasons,” while securing another job in the video game industry.
Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, commented: “Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go. Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console’s ascent.

At the same time Peter Moore will be moving to EA to be President of the EA Sports brand.

Talk about ring around the rosie……

XM Radio has had a bad week, maybe even two weeks.

First, the deal with Opie and Anthony, which many people blew out of proportion. I believe that XM has the right to do with it’s MULTI-MILLION dollar talent whatever it wants to do. I also believe that those people who cancelled because of O&A will be back, at a higher monthly fee more than likely. It was, of course, their right to cancel.

How sad if O&A where the only thing on XM that they listened to. XM has the live broadcast of EVERY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL game, LIVE. It has play by play of ALL NHL games through the Stanley Cup. It has Indy Car, ESPN Radio and Dale Jr LIVE. Cal Ripken has a show. XM Public Radio.  60 Commercial Free Music stations (if you can’t find music you like here, it does not exist).

For people who like O&A uncensored comedy, they have XM Comedy 150, a completely uncensored comedy channel.

XM has Oprah & Friends, Air America, Fox News Talk, Traffic and Weather for 21 Major Metropolitan Areas, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, ABC, BBC, The Weather Channel, CNN Headline News, CNN en Espanol and CSPAN.

XM has original shows that bring the biggest names in music, comedy and sports into their studios.

I have had an XM Radio for 3 yrs and cannot live without it. Remind again, what does a commercial sound like? Whatever your politics are , you can find them talking your way on an XM Channel. Need news – got you covered 24/7 on 6 or more different channels.

So go and get an XM Radio now and show them some love.

Microsoft has released an update for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player on Xbox Live.
It will be automatically applied to your hardware the next time you watch a film in sparkly high-definition while being signed into Live.
The biggest improvements are in the audio department, which now boasts more output choices when using TOSLINK or HDMI connections. You can choose from Digital Stereo (2 channel PCM), Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and WMA Pro. You’ll also find a new “Dynamic Range Control” option to fiddle around with.
Networking support has been updated, as has title compatibility, and you should find that performance with MPEG-4 AVC and H.264 files has been tweaked.
Those of you about to buy an Xbox 360 Elite in America will also be pleased that 1080p is now supported via HDMI, while concerned mums and dads can now flex upgraded parental powers (well, controls).
Don’t worry if you don’t have access to Live to download the update, as it will be available later in the week from Xbox.com.

REDMOND, Wash. — March 14, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the extension of the Xbox LIVE^® games and entertainment network to the Windows^® platform, bringing together the most popular online console game service with the most popular games platform in the world. Debuting on May 8, 2007, with the launch of the Windows Vista™ version of the Xbox^® blockbuster “Halo^® 2,” Games for Windows — LIVE will connect Windows gamers to over six million gamers already in the Xbox LIVE community. Then, launching in June, “Shadowrun™” will for the first time connect Windows gamers with Xbox 360™ players in cross-platform matches using a single service. “UNO^®,” releasing later in 2007, will also support cross-platform play between Windows and Xbox 360.

The launch of Games for Windows — LIVE marks a major expansion of the Xbox LIVE service across multiple platforms, uniting gamers with a single identity, a single gamertag, a single friends list and a single list of achievements attainable on the Xbox 360 and a Windows-based PC. Games for Windows — LIVE gamers will be able to easily find and play supported titles online with their friends across a Windows computer or an Xbox 360. As a unified service with Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows — LIVE will be available in every country and region supported today by Xbox LIVE.

“Five years ago, we began building a service that now defines the bar for online gameplay,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “The benefits of expanding Xbox LIVE to Games for Windows titles is twofold: We’re bringing together two communities that share a passion for playing online games, and we’re enhancing the online experience for PC gamers who have long desired seamless game and voice connectivity — it’s a win for everyone.”

Members of Xbox LIVE automatically receive the functionality of Games for Windows — LIVE, using the same gamertag and friends list at no additional cost. For a single, unified service, the pricing of the LIVE services across both Xbox and Games for Windows is identical. In addition, Games for Windows — LIVE introduces the best of Xbox LIVE functionality to please PC gamers, such as in-game voice chat, integrated achievements and dedicated servers. The offering of both Silver and Gold memberships will remain in place for gamers on the Xbox 360 and Windows PC. There is no cost associated with signing up for a Silver membership. Gold memberships will deliver the premium online network experience for $49.95 (U.S.) per year. Current Xbox LIVE Gold members will automatically have access to Gold features on Games for Windows — LIVE titles.

Silver Membership Features

•  Single gamertag

• Common gamer profile

• Common gamerscore

• Single player achievements

• Private chat via text and voice

• Common friends list and online presence

• PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games

Gold Membership Features

• All Silver membership features

• Multiplayer matchmaking with friends

• TrueSkill™ matchmaking

• Multiplayer achievements

• Cross-platform gameplay

These features of the LIVE services will enable gamers to communicate online and play supported games across both of Microsoft’s gaming platforms, bringing more players and their friends together to connect in new and exciting ways. The following games make up the first wave of titles to support the Games for Windows — LIVE service:

•  “Halo 2” for Windows Vista (Microsoft^® Game Studios). Release date: May 8, 2007. The highly anticipated title brings Master Chief to Windows Vista and is the first title to incorporate the new Games for Windows — LIVE service. Windows Vista gamers will be able to challenge each other in PC-to-PC multiplayer matches and earn achievements for the first time in the “Halo” franchise, as well as communicate via voice or text with other Xbox LIVE or Games for Windows — LIVE members. The visually enhanced classic includes an all-new Map Editor, which will allow for new content and greater game customization. “Halo 2” will be playable with mouse and keyboard or the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows.

• “Shadowrun” (Microsoft Game Studios). Release date: June 2007. The intense first-person shooter will let gamers rewrite the rules of engagement as they vie for supremacy in an experience that rewards cleverness, cunning and split-second improvisation through a unique combination of modern weapons, ancient magic and advanced technology. The first title to connect both Windows Vista and Xbox 360 gamers in cross-platform competition will let up to 16 players battle online. Cross-platform play will require Gold level membership. More information can be found at http://www.shadowrun.com.

• “UNO^®” (Carbonated Games/Mattel Inc.). Release date: 2007. The classic party card game that’s a No. 1 hit on Xbox LIVE Arcade is also coming to Windows Vista and Games for Windows — LIVE. Gamers will be able to compete against three other players on the Xbox 360 or Windows Vista platforms to match colors and symbols and be the first to play every single card in this award-winning game. For gameplay today, “UNO^®” is currently available on MSN^® Games, Messenger Games and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Source: Microsoft Press Release

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 price¹ of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:²

The new Xbox 360 Elite console is expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

Click for high-res version.

• 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.

• Xbox LIVE Silver Membership. With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.

• One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold. An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Those who subscribe to this premium service can engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor their matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold separately:

• Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit. Complete with a charging cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit allows gamers to recharge their Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without interrupting their gameplay. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 rechargeable battery (black). The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $11.99 (U.S.).

Source: Microsoft Press Release