Archive for the ‘Xbox Live’ Category
Xbox Live will be down on Monday, September 29th at 12:01 AM.
The Xbox Live service will be going down for maintenance updates and could last up to 24 hours, according to Microsoft’s Larry Hryb.
The outage will affect the Xbox Live and My Xbox sections of the of Xbox.com as well, and forums will be set to read only for the duration. It’s all in preparation for the impending launch of The New Xbox Experience, but only in preparation for it, so don’t expect to hop back online when the service goes up and get to work crafting your shiny new avatar.
I posted last week that Buy.com today was going to start a sale on the XBOX live Gold for 12 months, with a free bonus month. The sale only lasts for a week, take advantage of it!
Here at Gamers Lounge we want to strive to get you not only the best cheat codes, but also the best prices on all gamers equipment.
We found at Buy.com the best price for XBOX Live 12-Month Gold w/a free month.
The sale starts on February 25th, so make sure to bookmark this post and be sure to click on the link.
It’s only $38.75, but for first time users of Google Checkout, you get an extra $10 off. That’s only $28.75 for the 13 month subscription…. you can’t beat that with a baseball bat.
To take advantage of this offer click here from 2/25 - 3/2!!! Do not let this deal go….
At Microsoft’s site designed to provide support for the Xbox, Xbox.com, they extend new owners an invitation to be part of the Xbox community. They help point you in the right direction to find what you need to meet other gamers, fill up your friends list and maximize all the potential of that beautiful white box.
Those of you that have signed up for the Halo 3 Beta will be notified this week if you’ve been selected.
“Phase one of the registration is now closed,” states the website, Halo3.com. “If you have been selected to participate, congratulations and stay tuned for an email notification on the week of January 22-26, 2007.”
The website goes on to list the other two ways available to participate with the development of Halo 3 for those not selected. One is qualifying over Xbox Live via the “Rule of Three” program in early February, and the other is by purchasing marked packages of the upcoming game Crackdown™, which hits store shelves in the U.S. on Feb. 20″.
Let us know if you’ve received an invite confirmation this week!
Microsoft today announces that Gears of War is becoming a behemoth in gaming sales. In just 10 weeks, this franchise is taking over the gaming world by storm. “Gears of War is tracking to be one of the best-selling video games of all time.” says, Jeff Bell, Corporate VP, Microsoft.
Two weeks ago, Xbox Live® Marketplace offered free downloadable maps, sponsored by the Discovery Channel’s “FutureWeapons” series. In that short time, the new maps have garnered an astounding 750,000 downloads. There have been more than 1.5 million total downloads of all Gears of War content currently available via Marketplace, including the maps, themes, and video walkthrough, by gamers who can’t get enough of Delta Squad and the Locust Horde.
“Like blockbuster titles from Microsoft’s Halo® franchise and the Grand Theft Auto and Zelda franchises, Gears of War is tracking to be one of the best-selling video games of all time and has established itself as the most successful new intellectual property (IP) of the next generation,” said Jeff Bell.
Gears of War
Gears of War, rated “M” for Mature, thrusts you into humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Blending the best of tactical action games with the best of survival horror titles, Gears of War features cinematic, beautifully rendered interactive environments with high-definition visuals.
Official XBOX Magazine, the video game periodical that has salivated over everything XBOX since its inauguration in November 2001, has announced it’s best (and worst) of the gaming industry for 2006.
Here are some of their more obvious picks, per category. (With commentary, of course). Be sure to let us know whether you agree or disagree.
Sports Game of The Year:
Fight Night Round 3 (XBOX 360)
The magazine states that the “jaw-smashing visuals and gameplay, immediately justify the $400 XBOX 360 purchase.” It calls this award an easy choice, while listing the runner ups, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 (XBOX), NBA 2K7 (XBOX 360), and College Hoops 2K7 (XBOX 360).
Interesting tidbit: This game also won the Best Use of a Fist Pounding on an Oiled Up Pig Carcass award.
Shooter of the Year:
(TIE) Prey and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (XBOX 360)
The magazine couldn’t seem to pick the better of these two. With GRAW, the astounding visuals and tactical genius launched it to 360’s first killer app. Prey on the other hand, “literally turned the shooter world upside down. By reinventing the concepts of both 3D space and how death is handled in an action game,” Prey became the heavy favorite.
Driving Game of the Year:
TOCA Race Driver 3
Although this category seemed to be lacking this past year, TOCA Race Driver 3 is not a secondary choice. With a good mix of good visuals and a myriad of racing choices (you can actually race lawnmowers), TOCA proved a master racing game.
Role-Playing Game of the Year:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The girth of the game seems to be the reason for this award. With over 200 hours of playing time available, no other game stood a chance.
Interesting tidbit: There were no runner-ups in this category. Is that really a surprise?
Action-Adventure Game of the Year:
Splinter Cell Double Agent (XBOX)
As crazy as it may seem, the original-Xbox version of Double Agent, takes this award. The solo campaign was different from the 360 version and equally compelling, but it was the 14-mission co-op campaign that sealed the deal. It ran parallel to the single-player game and brought this title to a new level.
Multiplayer Game of the Year:
Rainbow Six Vegas
“The sheer intensity of Vegas online skirmishes pushes in to the top of the heap,” the magazine says. Enough said.
XBOX Game of the Year:
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
The last chapter in the Mortal series took the cake this year. While allowing players to choose characters from its 14-year run, it also allowed the ability to create your own fighter. Even the silly bigheaded Motor Kombat racing remained deadly serious in supporting XBOX Live with eight-player online races.
XBOX 360 Game of the Year:
Gears of War
Is this really a surprise? Gears of War delivered on all fronts. It is by far the most visually stunning game available, on any console. It is also replayable, (thanks to the endless co-op play, and Achievement based incentives for playing the game on harder levels).
There were plenty more categories, but a little too many to list here. For the most part the magazine, in our humble opinion, gets it right. 2006 was a busy year, with the release of the next-gen consoles, and the onslaught of games that came with it.
I can’t wait to see what 2007 will bring.
Gamepsot.com reports - “Konami is showing off Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the Xbox Live Arcade at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. As with most older games brought to Xbox Live Arcade games, Symphony of the Night won’t be a mere port. Konami has said the game will feature enhanced graphics and sound, widescreen support, achievements, and leaderboards. Players will be able to choose between the original graphics or enhanced visuals that mitigate sprite pixilation when the game is played in high-definition.Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is expected to release on the Xbox Live Arcade later this year. For more on the game, check out GameSpot’s hands-on impressions from the CES show floor. “