The Original Xbox

When Microsoft decided that they wanted to enter the console market, the critics all stood up and laughed. They did not think that the software giant had what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat market video game console world, and when the first Xbox was shown to the public, it’s huge size was questioned. The giant black box was packed with more power than the competition.

Do you know how fast the processor in the original Xbox was?

If you answered 700 MHZ then you were right. That is quite a difference from what is out there today, but remember this was ten years ago. This gave Microsoft twice the processing power of the already popular PS2. It also enabled the Xbox to have better visuals and better sound too.

Do you know how much ram the original Xbox had?

Get ready for this one. It had a massive 64 MB of ram. While it may not seem like much by today’s standards, this was still twice as much power as the PS2.

What was the nickname of the original Xbox controller?

This question will really test your Xbox knowledge. Not many gamers from this era have even held this giant controller in their hands. Because of the huge size, the original Xbox controller was given the nickname of “The Duke.” This giant controller became a fan favorite quite quickly, but internal testing at Microsoft showed that a lot of people could not use the controller because it was just too large to fit in their small hands. You know what they say, “Little hands means little controller.” The Duke was quietly put to rest, despite many avid gamer’s protests. Microsoft was after the entire video game market, not just the 18 and up crowd.

The original Xbox would not have gotten off the ground if it was not for one game. There was one game that was sold with almost every single Xbox. Do you know what game this was?

If you guessed Azurik: Rise of Perathia, then you are not a true Xbox fan. Shame on you! Halo Combat Evolved was the game that everyone wanted. Microsoft knew that they needed a game that would move their new console, and purchasing the game developer Bungie got them Halo, a game that is still a system seller to this date.

Halo Combat Evolved was recently given a fresh coat of paint in a HD remake for the its tenth anniversary. It was listed as one of the best selling games for the week of November 15th 2011 at many video game retailers. Fans still can’t seem to get enough of the legendary Halo.

There was one game for the original Xbox that out sold every other game on the system. Do you know what that game was?

It was not Madden 2002. It was Halo 2.

Something wicked this way comes!

Did you know that the original Xbox did not have Xbox Live. On what date did Microsoft unleash Xbox Live to the world?

It was exactly one year later on November 15th 2002. This is a day that changed the way people played video games forever.

This new service allowed users to choose a gamertag. This would become their online user name. Do you know what the very first gamertag was?

If you answered Bill Gates, you are wrong. The very first gamertag was “E”

Within a few months Xbox Live had around 250,000 subscribers. According to stats released by Microsoft that number has now grown to over 20 million people. Microsoft really hit the nail on the head when it came to the Xbox Live service. By now the Xbox was an actual threat to Sony, and people started to take it much more seriously. Microsoft was making it well known that their video game console was going to be around for a very long time.

Even with the success of the original Xbox selling around 24 million units, Microsoft had bigger and better things on the horizon. The original Xbox was put to rest and discontinued in 2005.

A rush to the finish line.

With rumors flying about the PS3 and the powerful cell processor, Microsoft had to try and beat the competition to the market. On November 22 2005, the Xbox’s replacement was released. The Xbox 360 was greeted by legions of crazy fans who fought over its limited quantities, but the Xbox 360 was a ticking time bomb.

Xbox 360 systems all over the world started failing. What was the nick name for the system failure?

If you guessed happy green lights, then you were wrong. This needed a much more ominous nickname, a name that would reflect the anger of gamers. It was called The Red Ring of Death. Microsoft stepped up to the problem, and announced that they would extend all warranties to a period of three years. Gamers were still sore, but like crazed addicts, they were happy knowing that they would still be able to get their fix.

In a short period of ten years Microsoft has made huge advances with their Xbox brand. The next time you turn on your Xbox, remember that this whole phenomena only started ten short years ago. Happy 10th birthday Xbox!

One thing I do not like about the xbox live network is that whatever content you buy for your gamertag, it can only be used for that gamertag and if you buy Microsoft Points, they cannot be gifted either. Because of those restrictions I think it makes a gamertag the target of numerous frauds which can result in you devoid of your Xbox live account.

A while back, my son got conned into giving out 1500 Microsoft points to access the 10th Prestige Lobby for COD Modern Warfare 2. He is just a kid and he did not know any better. I am often working on my laptop in his room so I can most often hear what is going on while he is playing. Some random kid came into the chat party offering those the 10th Prestige Lobby in exchange of 1500 Microsoft Points and let me tell you, some of them sound very convincing. Within the hour he was offered the 10th Prestige Lobby 3 times!

My son was upset about losing his points for nothing so I decided to give a call to xbox live customer support and report the person who took the Microsoft points. I was advised to post a review.

Whenever you come across anyone carrying out on xbox live you can simply post a game player review that will give rise to getting these individuals eventually suspended. Whenever a sufficient amount of individuals post reviews, steps will be performed by Xbox 360 Live’s employees. The issue with the review system is that it’s made up of pre-made answers and you have to chose one only. None of the answers apply to fraud and you cannot add any personal comments which to me it makes this system useless.

I argued the case for an hour on the phone. The xbox live staff told me not to worry as everything was tracked on the xbox live network. Well that kid still has an active profile and for all I know he probably conned 100s of other kids to give him points since no one could actually report him.

Now, we have another issue. My son has several gamertags and has spend quite a fair bit of his pocket money on them. One of them has just been stolen after he just added a 3-month xbox live gold membership to it. So here I am again on the phone with Xbox live customer support to try and solve the issue. I have to admit, after the first incident I did not think it was even worth calling but I did and they seem to take the incident serioulsy and the call has been escalated to a full investigation.

My advice as a parent, because after all we are the ones paying for it, make sure you kids have a not so easy to guess password and explain to them  to not give it out even to their best buddies.  Check out the option of their email address to make it difficult to recover the password with hard to guess answers and to expire every 72 days. You also have the options to buy prepaid memberships and Microsoft points from leading stores so there is no need to store your credit card details on the console.

Xbox live is fun but play it safe.

On June 15th the doors to the LA Convention Center opened, allowing a massive swarm of gamers and journalists in to check out the future of gaming at the E3 convention, and we’re here to tell you that future looks bright. Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all had a lot to show, and we’re going to bring you some of the highlights.

Ubisoft didn’t bring their A-game to the show this year. While they did show off Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, and Shaun White Skateboarding, both of which look good,  they also showed off a game all about destressing called Innergy, that teaches you to breathe evenly. Let’s not forget the part of the show where they unveiled their next big innovation in gaming: Laser Tag! Yes, that’s right, Ubisoft showed off a new version of Laser Tag where a piece of software keeps track of scoring, and provides challenges. If it had come out ten years ago, it probably would have been well received. Things being what they are, it was underwhelming.

EA showed off the upcoming titles you would expect. Dead Space 2 and Medal of Honor made appearances, as did the previously unannounced Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, which is being developed by Criterion, who you may remember from the wildly popular Burnout; Paradise. EA also announced a partnership with Sony. The PS3 versions of multiplatform titles will include bonuses, such as early beta access, and free games packed in with titles like Dead Space 2, and Medal of Honor.

Microsoft and Sony both showed off their motion controllers, and all of the games associated with them. Each had a sports title similar to Wii Sports, as well as a few fitness titles. MS showed off some causal games that take advantage of Kinect (formerly Project Natal), while Sony showed off some Playstation Move games that will appeal to a more hardcore audience.

Nintendo had a very strong showing at this years E3. They officially announced the 3DS, a new version of the DS with a top screen that displays stereoscopic 3D images without the need for goofy glasses. They also showed a gameplay demo of their upcoming Zelda game. The game had a few technical hiccups, but it was still a crowd pleaser.

This has just been a small taste of our upcoming post-E3 convention coverage. We’ll be bringing you more detailed looks at Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo’s E3 line ups, so be sure to check back over the next few days for more info on what the big three had to offer.

In Japan, that play chance will likely come at the Tokyo Game Show. In an interview with Nikkei BP, Japanese Xbox head Takashi Sensui hinted that Natal will appear in playable form at the September event.

“It was in limited form, but we introduced Natal in advance at last year’s Tokyo Game Show,” said Sensui. “This year, we’d like to ready a space for a wide audience to experience it.”

(Regarding last year’s show, Sensui is likely referring to a Natal panel that featured Hideo Kojima, Toshihiro Nagoshi and Keiji Inafune.)

TGS, to be held this year from September 16 through September 19, will be business only for the first two days and open to the general public on the last two days.

As Natal is due for release later this year, it’s presumable that Sensui is aiming for the device to be playable for the general public in addition to business partners.

Sensui’s comments came as part of the latest in Nikkei BP’s ongoing “keyman” interviews, where the site speaks to top execs at Japan’s biggest game companies. (Last week, Tecmo Koei CEO Kenji Matsubara was in the hot seat).

Outside of the playable TGS showing, Sensui answered a few more general questions about Natal’s technology.

He first corrected the site’s use of the term “camera” to describe the camera that the interface uses to capture your movements. The correct term, he said, is “sensor.”

Asked if Japanese players might have trouble with Natal due to smaller living environments, he said, “There’s need for a certain amount of space, but we believe the general home will be able to enjoy it — and that includes Japanese living environments.”

Nikkei also asked Sensui some pressing questions about areas outside of Natal.

Asked for his thoughts on 3D gaming, he said that the key for the technology spreading in games lies with the spread of 3D televisions based off content outside of games. Sensui noted that while Microsoft is currently keeping its eyes on how things go, the 360 hardware is already ready for 3D games.

Unrelated to Xbox 360, Sensui had some positive comments about Nintendo’s 3DS. “I think it’s an extremely good experiment. The play environment for portable machines is suited for 3D games. Because the perspective and distance to the screen are pretty much fixed, it’s relatively easy to realize a 3D environment.”

Sensui unfortunately skirted a question about the release of a slimline Xbox 360 model. Instead, his answer was more related to an Xbox 360 followup system as he noted that there would be a change to new hardware only when something emerges that cannot be done with the current hardware.

As a closing message, Sensui said “As was announced by Microsoft on a worldwide scale, we’d like to make 2010 the biggest year ever for our games business. One of the big chances to realizing this is, of course, Natal. However, parallel to that, we’ll continue offering high end quality titles and a variety of services for Xbox Live.”

[Source]

All invitees got an e-mail on Thursday morning informing them that the Natal event will feature a “spectacular live performance imagined by Cirque du Soleil.”

That kind of makes sense, given that Project Natal is a hands-free motion controller, and I can’t really think of a better group of people to put the new system through its paces than a bunch of Cirque performers. Of course, we don’t know if they’ll be using Natal or just getting the crowd fired up with their amazing gyrations, but here’s hoping that they do something with the device.

At the same time, Microsoft said in a statement on Thursday saying that MTV Networks will be offering an exclusive look “inside the spectacular controller-free games and entertainment” Natal offers.

Note the fact that the word “spectacular” was used in these two separate instances. One might draw the conclusion that Microsoft is trying to build up expectations for the Natal event and for the system itself–which is expected to be released in October.

Cirque du Soleil will put on a special performance at the Project Natal E3 event. (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

SPIKE TV will play host the broadcast of the briefing while other MTV channels will show the Cirque Du Soliel preformance, with the briefing to be held on Monday June 14th at 1:30pm EDT and ‘The World Premiere Of Project Natal’ to be shown one day later, and commercial free, on Tuesday June 15th at 3:30pm EDT.

[Source]

For a manufacturer, to be popular means to be innovative. People would normally grab things which are new to them. So to make the product sell, makers must put new features and other innovations in the product.

There are so many consoles available nowadays. And its manufacturers keep on developing new consoles or upgrading their latest ones every now and then to stay ahead in the market. The US is one of the world’s largest video game enthusiast countries and they are the fastest innovators. Here are three of the most popular video game systems in the US:

• MICROSOFT XBOX – as the name conveys this console is made by the Microsoft Company. The first console Microsoft released is the Xbox. The Xbox is a desktop style console that has lower memory and specs as compared to its successor. Four years later, Microsoft introduced the Xbox 360 on the market. The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both game medias and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, players can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 120GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. A built-in Ethernet port allows gamers to connect their system to an Internet connection to access Xbox Live. With the high technology and specifications Microsoft infused with their console, better graphics can be used by game developers to make the game more realistic.

• SONY PLAYSTATION – this console was made by Sony Company. There are several Playstation versions that Sony has made so far. It all started with the PS1. The most anticipated version of Playstation was the PS2 in 2001. It is basically a remake of the PS1 but with several improvements. The latest released console by Sony is the PSP (Playstation Portable). It is a hand held DC powered console. This console is considered to be the seventh generation video game system that Sony has made. This was released on November 11 in Japan and on 17 in North America. PS3 is the successor of PS2 and is the next stage in the evolution of Sony’s console gaming powerhouse. It supports Blu Ray discs, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats. Its Dualshock 3 wireless controller provides an intuitive game play experience, with pressure sensors in each action button and the inclusion of the highly sensitive Sixaxis motion sensing technology. PS3 owners get free access to The PlayStation Network (PSN), where they can download games, game demos, movies, and other content, as well as chat with friends, play mini-games, compete in tournaments and explore dedicated game spaces.

• NINTENDO GAMECUBE and WII– this is the latest release of Nintendo. Like its first video game systems, GameCube also uses its original game pad. After Family Computer, Nintendo never stopped improving their home consoles even when they arrived at an amazing console tagged as GameCube. Nintendo, like any other console maker, never stops discovering new things and making new consoles. Nintendo Wii is the newest console and can comparably be leveled to Microsoft’s Xbox360 and Sony’s PS3. Nintendo Wii is only 8.5 inches long and 6 inches wide and the thickness of this console is only about 2 inches. One of its innovations is in its revolutionary wireless remote which measures movement in all directions and at all speeds..

There are still so many video game systems that are sprouting out and making their own name in the industry. As the demands of gamers keep on leveling up, makers also strive hard to produce video game systems that does not just sell well but become popular with most gamers.

Featuring the Grappler weapon, players will be able to manipulate gravity for their own purposes soon on Sony’s PS3 and the Microsoft XBox 360 console.

Press Release: 21st October 2009 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S today announced INVERSION for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

Developed by Saber Interactive, INVERSION takes players on a whirlwind journey complete with nonstop firefights, and a suspense-filled storyline. Packed to the brim with action,INVERSION also introduces revolutionary gravity-wielding combat, zero gravity environments, vector changes, and a unique destructible cover system.INVERSION is planned for release in 2010.

The Grappler can be used in countless combat situations by maneuvering massive objects as shields or projectiles, and moving camped enemies out of concealed cover so they can be blasted away.

The Grappler is also a key tool for tactical situations and puzzle solving as players can lift, move, or create cover objects at their whim. The awesome power of gravity is right at players’ fingertips. Additionally,INVERSION is one of the first games to feature the HAVOK destruction engine which bestows INVERSION with massively destructible environments including an elaborate cover system.

Set in the near future, the tranquil peace enjoyed by mankind shatters with an unforeseen invasion by an unknown enemy called the Lutadore. Armed to the teeth with futuristic gravity-controlling weapons, the Lutadore easily overrun the city’s defenses. Unbeknownst to all, mysterious anomalies have surfaced in conjunction with the invasion.

Random regions in the city have entered zero gravity or have suffered vector changes, throwing the world into topsy-turvy chaos. Assuming the role of Davis Russel, a hotheaded 28-year-old cop, or Leo Delgado, Davis’ neighbor, players will embark on a journey through the war ravaged gravity twisted disorienting streets of their home town and beyond, to find Davis’ missing child.

“INVERSION will turn the shooter genre upside down, literally,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations, NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “Saber Interactive’s innovative gravity manipulation feature will blow away any preconceptions of what a contemporary shooter should be.”

“Working with NAMCO BANDAI Games on a project of this caliber is a complete thrill,” said Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive. “We are doing things in INVERSION that most people didn’t think possible on the current generation of consoles. We can’t wait to get INVERSION in the hands of gamers across the world.”

“We are delighted to see Havok Destruction incorporated as an important gameplay element in INVERSION,” said David O’Meara, Managing Director for Havok. “The talented team of developers and artists who is creating INVERSION has really embraced the Havok Destruction technology and we can’t wait to see the final results.”

See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun — the only experience needed is life experience. The add-on will offer features such as auto sign-in for players to Xbox Live based on complex facial recognition, sports game with extremely detailed body tracking which will be able to follow the individual movements of separate limbs…

Today I decided I would hit the Alan Wake website, sure enough there is a new trailer.   Better yet I was able to find a newer trailer not even available on the Alan Wake website.  I have only seen bits and pieces of game play and a very short trailer thus far.  The game looks promising to me.  Has a Silent Hill feel and look to it, which in my eyes is not a bad thing.  Designed by Microsoft Game Studios and Remedy Entertainment.  Remedy is best known for its award winning Max Payne games. What is Alan Wake?  http://www.alanwake.com

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Finally, finally, finally!!! And we got a brand new Xbox 360 to replace the stolen one! I am so jumping of joy! I have not told Jag but left a little clue on my xbox live profile….

So of course the first game to get had to be Gears of War 2!

Ever since the original was released, fans have clamored for this sequel. Developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Epic Games, Gears of War 2, which has already garnered several awards, picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original Gears of War. Players are thrown back into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading the battle for humankind’s survival against the Locust Horde. With innovative third-person tactical action gameplay and unsurpassed high-definition graphics, Gears of War 2 is a must-have game for the Xbox 360.

Gears of War 2

Players:
Offline: 1-4
Online: 10

Gears of War 2 Gameplay Modes:

Single player, competitive multiplayer, cooperative multiplayer, system link multiplayer, online multiplayer with voice support.

Gears of War 2 Format:

16:9 Widescreen on HDTV 480p, 720p, and 1080i.

Huge Environments, Bigger Gameplay

For those who loved Gears of War, Gears of War 2 builds upon it in every way, but with several major enhancements. There are more weapons, bigger vehicles, and more action. The enemies are more dangerous, and the total experiences is more immersive than ever. And with a revolutionary tactical combat system, the game will require not just fast reaction times and shooting skill, it will also challenge you to devise a strategy that will work against the enemies who exhibit smart AI.

Jaw-Dropping, Realistic Graphics

Just as Gears of War did the first time around, Gears of War 2 ups the ante for graphical prowess. Combined with the sweeping vistas and evocative locales of Sera, where the story takes place, Gears of War 2 offers jaw-dropping graphics that are made possible through advances in Unreal Engine 3. New visual effects include ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, improved character lighting, the ability to render hundreds of on-screen characters simultaneously, improved water physics, additional blood and bullet decals, advanced destructible environments, new weather effects, and the introduction of fluid objects.

Immersive, Gripping Story

Taking place six months after the end of the first game, Gears of War 2 returns the cast of characters of the original, including Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as well as several newcomers.

Novelist and comic book writer Joshua Ortega, who assisted with the writing, has created a story that is big on character development and personality. With a new in-game conversational camera system and multiple story arcs, the story is presented in a gripping cinematic style where characters gain an emotional depth that matches their realistic graphical representation.

More Characters, Upgraded Vehicles, Badder Weapons

Those who were impressed by the original Gears of War will be in for a real treat. New characters such as Tai Kaliso, weapons like the burst pistol, and huge vehicles like the COG Centaur tank will give players a whole new dimension and scope of gameplay in both single-player and multi-player modes.

Order Gears of War 2