The first XBOX 360 Elite commercial!

Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess announced!

Square-Enix has announced an expansion pack to Final Fantasy XI called Wings of the Goddess, the expansion is scheduled to be released this winter.  So far the details are few and far between but when asked if the Final Fantasy MMO will be ported to the PS3, series director Koichi Ogawa responded by saying no.  Apparently it would take 4 to 5 years to port the game to another console and it takes over a year alone just to add other languages.

"It took us around a year and a half to add German and French translations to the game as it was only ever designed to display Japanese and English. Sadly we don't have the time to do the same localisation job for Spanish and Italian users as there simply aren't enough subscribers from those regions."

[Source] Eurogamer.com

XBOX 360 HD DVD player auto update now available!

The following comes via Majornelson.com:

If you have an Xbox 360 HD DVD player, you’ll be prompted for an auto update the next time you watch an HD DVD movie (and your are signed into Xbox Live.) 
Here are some improvements you’ll notice after the update:

Added option for user to select from the following audio output formats via TOSLINK or HDMI:
o    Digital Stereo (2 channel PCM)
o    Dolby Digital 5.1
o    DTS 5.1
o    WMA Pro
Added "Dynamic Range Control" toggle for digital audio output
Improved HD DVD networking support
Improved HD DVD title compatibility
Improved performance with MPEG-4 AVC / H.264
1080p via HDMI is supported on the Xbox 360 Elite with HDCP compliant displays
Improved parental controls
If you don’t have access to Xbox Live, this update will be available for download from Xbox.com later this week.

Another day 5/14/07!

I have decided to wrap it up a little early today, that's if 7:00 AM-5:15 PM is early. 

Today's Stories:

1. XBOX 360 HD DVD player update tomorrow! 
2. Prince of Persia headed to XBLA with Sands of Time graphics! 
3. Microsoft's top lawyer reveals the company's plan to sue Linux out of the market! 
4. Halo 3 beta gameplay modes! 
5. Halo 3 offers the "Cheneymania" award! 
6. XBLA game Aegis Wing will be free! 
7. Miyamoto VS Bungie round 1! 
8. Bullet witch content now available! 
9. Eternal Sonata demo is now LIVE for the Japanese market! (But the US has access to, ssshhhhhh)

XBOX 360 HD DVD player update tomorrow!

Amir Majidimehr, the corporate vice president of Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology Group, announced on the AVS Forum that a software update for the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is scheduled for release tomorrow:

It is my pleasure to let you all know that the HD DVD udpate for Xbox 360 is slated for release on 5/15 (i.e. tomorrow!). So when you wake up in the morning, you should be able to upgrade your software. And me free from telling you when are going to get it . Hope you all download it and provide feedback on what you think!

Prince of Persia headed to XBLA with Sands of Time graphics!

IGN.com got the exclusive first look at Prince of Persia for XBLA.  Prince of Persia classic has had a complete overhaul in the graphics but it maintains it's classic play and IGN sat down with the games producer Vincent Boiteau for an interview that you can read here.

The following comes via IGN.com:

May 14, 2007 - The original Prince of Persia on Apple II was arguably as important to the growth of platform gaming as Super Mario Bros. Xbox gamers will soon have a chance to decide for themselves if Prince of Persia is worthy of such acclaim. No specific date or pricing has been confirmed, however, expect Prince of Persia Classic to be added to the Xbox Live Arcade library soon. Developed by Gameloft, POP Classic takes the original game and gives it stunning graphics, some new enemies and a few unexpected twists.

We spoke with POP Classic Producer Vincent Boiteau about what is easily the most exciting XBLA release so far this year. Boiteau discusses what's changed, the new modes and the Achievements waiting to be unlocked.

[EDIT @ 8:20 P.M-video added]

Microsoft's top lawyer reveals the company's plan to sue Linux out of the market!

Actiontrip is reporting on a lawsuit that Microsoft plans on filing against Linux for violating over 230 patents:

Microsoft's top lawyer reveals the company's plan to sue Linux out of the market for snatching its patents. According to a Q&A, conducted by Fortune magazine, Brad Smith claims that "free and open-source software violates more than 230 of Microsoft's patents. The Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, while its user interface and other design elements infringe on a further 65."

He added: "Open Office.org is accused of infringing 45, along with 83 more in other free and open-source programs."

Wow, it looks like Linux is fucked!

Halo 3 beta gameplay modes!

Halo 3 offers the "Cheneymania" award!

It looks like the guys over at Bungie has a sense of humor and it really show's with one of the badges you can earn in a Halo 3 multiplayer match.  If you get 10 consecutive kills without dying with the shotgun, you will have earned yourself the "Cheneymania" badge.  And just incase you don't get the joke, click here and you will soon find it very humorous.

XBLA game Aegis Wing will be free!

It was announced last Friday that Soltrio Solitaire will be this Wed XBLA game.  This morning Microsoft has announced that there will be another game for this Wed for free and the game is called Aegis Wing which was developed over the Summer by a couple of Microsoft employees.

• Amazing environmental art
• Full symphonic soundtrack
• Up to four-player simultaneous cooperative multiplayer gameplay, either locally on the same Xbox 360 console or over Xbox LIVE*
• Ability to attach your ship to your wingmen’s spacecraft to gain the “turret” ability and increase the firepower of the Super Weapons
• Four Super Weapons: the Hades Beam (wreaks total destruction), the Gorgon Burst (wipes out incoming fire and disables enemy spacecraft with an electromagnetic pulse), the Arcus Missile (a heat-seeking missile) and the Lambda Shield (deflects incoming fire back at enemies)
• Six epic missions and several memorable boss encounters to fight through

Miyamoto VS Bungie round 1!

You may remember last week when Shigeru Miyamoto said that he could make Halo but he chooses not to:

"I could make Halo. It's not that I couldn't design that game. It's just that I choose not to. One thing about my game design is that I never try to look for what people want and then try to make that game design. I always try to create new experiences that are fun to play."

Well, I didn't think this would happen but Bungie's own Frank O Conner actually responded to Miyamoto's comment in a interview with Joystiq:

"Yeah, well. I just want to go on the record and say that Bungie is hard at work on a side-scrolling platform game featuring some plumbers -- I'm not going to say what their ethnicity is, it's none of anyone's business -- but we took that as a gauntlet, a sort of glove slap, and we're going to respond in 2D scrolling style. That's all I'm saying."

Miyamoto isn't known for stirring things up like this, he is a quiet guy that everyone seems to like.

Bullet witch content now available!

Why in the hell is there new content for a shitty game like Bullet Witch that nobody plays yet there has been no new maps for games like F.E.A.R.?  One will never know. 

Name: Dawn in the Valley Extra Edition
Price: 20 Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Details:A new version of the stage "Dawn in the Valley".

Name: One Shot Kill
Price: 20 Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Details:Make it to the goal area without taking a single hit from the enemy!

Name: Dawn in the Valley Great spells unlocked
Price: 20 Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Details:The restrictions on all great magic spells have been unlocked.

Name: Secretary Costume
Price: 20 Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Details:Eyes like gun barrels hidden behind glasses.

Eternal Sonata demo is now LIVE for the Japanese market! (But the US has access to, ssshhhhhh)

This morning, Microsoft put up a demo on the Japanese XBL marketplace of Eternal Sonata but for some reason the US has access to the demo as well.  Is it a mistake that has yet to be rectified and the LIVE team is working on it? or do they not know about it yet? whatever the reason you better download it now before it disappears.

[UPDATE @11:55 AM]

I made a mistake by saying that you could simply download it with your region set to U.S and that's not the case.  There is a simple work around that you have to do that Microsoft wont condone.  Needless to say, 1UP.com has posted this simple work around:

1UP can confirm that, while this is not a practice Microsoft would condone, if the XBL profile you're using has its region set to Japan (regardless of whether you actually live there), you will be able to download this demo. Thousands of miles removed from the "Land of the Rising Sun," we were able to download the English-language demo for Eternal Sonata as a scientific experiment; a successful one to boot. And once it is on your Xbox 360, you can switch back to your regular profile and play the game. Erm, not that Microsoft wants any of us doing this... but you can for now.

Frontlines: Fuel of War delayed!

THQ has announced in a press release that "Frontlines: Fuel of War" is being pushed back to early 08:

We have selected a January 2008 launch window for our new open-world shooter, Frontlines," he revealed during a postearnings analyst call. The game had been slated for release on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 later this year, and is one of several original IPs the publisher is carefully scheduling.

I would say that is a very smart move, with the release of Halo 3 and GTA 4 you are pretty much wasting your time releasing a game in the same time as those 2 juggernauts.

Games for the week of 5/14/07!

1. Marvel Ultimate Alliance (gold)

Ships-5/15/07

Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance GOLD EDITION lets players control the biggest, most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Choose from heroes like Spider-Man™, Wolverine™, The Incredible Hulk™ and Captain America™, to form and customize a four-member strike force. Then partner, battle and interact with more than 140 characters from the entire Marvel™ universe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. Shrek the 3rd

Ships-5/15/07

Save Far Far Away as you adventure as Shrek® and his friends on a quest from the movie and beyond in this hilarious twisted fairy tale. Play as your favorite characters and new friends from the movie each with unique abilities and outlandish moves. Journey through classic locations like Far Far Away, plus explore all new environments in the Shrek® universe. Battle a cast of all-new villains including bosses like the huge Ice Dragon, the musical Captain Hook and the devious Prince Charming.