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MS giving the gift of a stable Xbox Live this holiday

by Dustin Burg { Dec 11th 2008 at 1:45PM }

After the embarrassing fiasco that was Xbox Live Holiday '07 that resulted in a Undertow apology gift, Microsoft is committed to keeping Xbox Live up and running through the holidays without any problems.

"We are well prepared for the type of growth we expect this holiday," Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told Kotaku in a recent interview, explaining "we've built a lot of infrastructure, a lot of behind the curtain no one sees." We're also informed that Microsoft will have additional Live staff on the job (probably getting paid double time) who'll be ready to jump in if problems surface. "Knock on wood we will hopefully not have any issues," ... believe us, we're knocking.

[Via CVG]

EA update: Forum bans do not equal in-game bans

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 3rd 2008 at 1:45PM }

Hey, remember last week when an Electronic Arts community manager announced that being banned from an EA forum would simultaneously ban users from playing their EA games online? Well, it's okay. All of you naughty forum dwellers can turn on the lights and open the shades, because it turns out that the community manager in question, known as eaapoc on the forums, was mistaken. Said eeapoc on the forums, "I had a misunderstanding with regards to our new upcoming forums and website and never meant to infer that if we ban or suspend you on the forums, you would be banned in-game as well. This is not correct, my mistake, my bad." He elaborates that being banned from the forums or from a game are separate process, so those banned from one need not fear being banned from the other.

So there you have it. You'll have to be some sort of super-jerk in order to be banned from both the forums and a game. Don't worry, internets, we know you're up to the task.

Don't cry, Xbox Live is down on Monday

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 23rd 2008 at 1:45PM }

Major Nelson has informed us that Xbox Live will be undergoing maintenance starting Monday morning (or really late Sunday night, depending on your point of view) at 12:01 AM PST. The maintenance, as you might expect, is to prepare Xbox Live for the New Xbox Experience (or NXE as the kids call it) which will be landing on Xbox 360s sometime later this year. The maintenance will not add any new features to the Xbox 360, so don't go looking for any. Xbox Live will be down for as long as 24 hours, so you'd best start making plans now, perhaps a game of RISK.

[Image: hypertypos]

Games for Windows Live goes free

by Xav de Matos { Jul 23rd 2008 at 1:15PM }

This topic sure to be a hotbed of commenting action. Yesterday Microsoft announced that Games for Windows Live, the PC-based equivalent of the Xbox Live service, has changed to a completely free business model. After a lukewarm launch against PC service powerhouse Steam the Games for Live service has ended the Gold/Silver distinction for PC gamers that Xbox Live subscribers are subjected to. Changing to a free model means gamers can compete in cross-platform gaming (where applicable) at no additional charge. The question now remains, does this move signify a a change that must be made to the Xbox Live structure or are the services two completely different beasts. Consider, only a handful of games and features exist on the PC side of Live and with strong competition from other free services it's a move Microsoft had no choice but to make to survive. So, what are your thoughts on Games for Windows Live going free?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Via Engadget]

Joystiq talks DRM with Microsoft

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 26th 2008 at 4:15PM }

With the new DRM tool finally available on Xbox.com, we're sure that everyone has plenty of questions. Thankfully, Joystiq has the answers you need. What can you transfer? How many consoles can you transfer to and from? And then there are questions you may not have though about like: can you sell your licenses to someone else? What about moving licenses to the next Xbox. Head over to Joystiq for their Q&A with Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox Live.

Download now, or forever hold your points: Potential delisted Xbox Live Arcade titles

by Griffin McElroy { May 26th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Our Xbox-toting brethren at 360 Fanboy recently came across a list of Xbox Live Arcade titles which may be up for expungement in Microsoft's spring cleaning of their online store. The list (available after the break) includes all titles that fulfill the first and second criteria of Microsoft's new standards -- that is, they've been available for six months, and currently hold a 65 percent or lower average score on Metacritic. A steady conversion rate (the number of people who purchase the complete title after downloading the demo, a figure only Microsoft has access to) is the only thing standing between these games and a date with the delete button -- so if you've been holding out on downloading Shrek-N-Roll, you may want to pick it up in an expedient manner.

Continued →

Michigan kids exposed to nudity via XBL Vision Cam

by Terrence Stasse { Mar 9th 2008 at 7:30PM }

*Sigh* Here we go again, the latest overblown news story to come out of the mass media regarding video games. This time it regards a pair of kids who were playing online (its unknown what game, as all the article says is: "while playing a game on X-Box Live, a video game that allows you to play against people anywhere in the world." Now whether of not "X-Box Live" is a video game in and of itself isn't really the issue here, the fact the the article mentions receiving pictures is. Because that setting can be disabled.

While the education of parents as to the extent of their own ability to filter their children's content is a problem, some of the statements made in the news article are downright silly. Things like: "Jennifer (the mother) now fears the safety of her children" do much more harm than good. So for all readers out there who could find a moment to educate those folks who aren't quite so up speed, it would benefit us all.

Job posting hints at new Xbox Live

by Kyle Orland { Feb 18th 2008 at 3:14PM }

Despite a few updates to the basic interface, Microsoft's Xbox Live has remained a remarkably consistent gold standard for online console gaming since it relaunched with the Xbox 360. Could the service be due for a major overhaul for the next console generation? It sure could, if a Microsoft job posting is to be believed.

The posting, which went up in January, looks for a project manager who wants "to be involved in the next release of Xbox" and "[build] the games, the console interface and logic, and the server support for a totally new LIVE experience." The manager will also act as a games producer to "help implement our first generation games that will run in this new environment." The posting doesn't reveal much about the functionality of the new Live, but apparently it will include a "dynamic server support to create a compelling, fresh scenario each time," whatever that means. What features would you want to see in the next generation of Microsoft's online service?

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Xbox Live has had a rough holiday [update]

by Dustin Burg { Dec 30th 2007 at 10:30AM }

Update: Lies, all lies! As of Sunday evening Xbox Live is again dead. Come on Xbox Live engineers, get it together already!

If you've been gaming online for the past week you've probably experienced some craptacular Xbox Live service. Problems that run the gamut of absolutely no Xbox Live connection to spotty matchmaking and messaging. And Microsoft is the first to say that they apologize for the problems.

Major Nelson posted a little update confirming that Xbox Live has been having issues this past week, that their engineers have been working on a fix and says that "problems like this are not acceptable". We're nearly certain that an influx of new gamers going online post holiday put a lot of strain on Xbox Live, but one would think that Microsoft would have been ready. Though, it's good to hear that they're owning up to their mishap and were quick to get their tech team working on the problem. And you'll be happy to hear that, as of this posting, Xbox Live is up and running like normal. So, happy online gaming everybody.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

Xbox Live is experiencing some technical issues

by Dustin Burg { Dec 23rd 2007 at 12:15AM }

Trying to log onto Xbox Live but keep getting random error messages? Well, you aren't alone, because Xbox Live is currently experiencing some technical difficulties that aren't allowing subscribers to log in. And that's a big bummer. The flakiness started Saturday evening and according to the Xbox Live status monitor over at Xbox.com the problems are widespread, but are being dealt with. So, expect Xbox Live to be down for a bit and know that even when it gets fixed that slowness and oddness will follow. For up to the minute information about this mini-crisis be sure to point your browser over to Major Nelson or the Xbox Live support page. We have faith in you Microsoft, we know you won't let Santa bring new Xbox 360s to boys and girls this holiday and not have Live up and running at full steam.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

11.6 million 360s sold, Halo 2 still most popular

by Dustin Burg { Sep 20th 2007 at 5:45PM }

It's that time again when Microsoft gives us the digits and we get to trudge through the facts, figures and numbers to learn about everything going down in Xbox 360 land. So, let's jump right in.

After giving the numbers a quick look over, we found the biggest and most informative fact to be that worldwide Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles, which is in line with what we've already expected. Other interesting tidbits found within' the press release include little nuggets like a new members joins Xbox Live once very eight seconds, that the 360's 6.3 game attach rate is the highest in the industry and that US Xbox 360 owners have purchased 24.3 million games which is more than the 19.3 million games both the PS3 and Wii have sold combined. Finally, Microsoft also included three "top ten" charts showcasing the top Xbox 360 and XBLA games played over Xbox Live as well as the top downloaded demos off the XBLM. And it's no surprise to see Halo 2 and Gears of War topping that list, but seeing Aegis Wing up there is a tad puzzling.

Check out more facts and figures after the jump as well as the top ten lists which are posted after the break. Hopefully, after giving everything a read over, your craving for Xbox 360 facts will be satisfied. Bon appetit!

Continued →

Molyneux says Live "more impactful" than Wii remote

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 6th 2007 at 3:30PM }

In a recent interview, Peter Molyneux stated that he believed Xbox Live will be "far more impactful" to video gaming than the Wii remote in the long term. As Xbox 360 Fanboys, we can certainly understand his sentiments, though current sales numbers might suggest otherwise. Still, it raises an interesting question. Both the Wii remote and Xbox Live have changed console gaming as we know it. Sure, there have been motion controls before, and there have been online games on consoles, but the Wii remote and Xbox Live represent the most successful iterations of both concepts. The question then is which will have the most impact on the industry, input or networking? Motion controls may bring more gamers into the fold with intuitive input, but networking brings those gamers together with online play and downloadable goodies.

Our instinct tells us the end result will be combining the two (Xbox ThWii-Sixty?) but, for the sake of discussion, why not share your thoughts on the importance of motion controls versus social networking in gaming.

[Via Joystiq]

Recent 360 and Live buyers get two free XBLA games

by Zack Stern { Aug 17th 2007 at 4:45PM }

Microsoft offers two free Xbox Live Arcade games if you bought a 360 and Live account over the past year. Fill out a short registration form and enter code "XBX0807" to qualify. However, the site is cagey about which games you'll get. The terms and conditions state that you'll receive an email code by September 30 to download the titles, but the offer "will be for games selected by Microsoft."

360 fence-sitters still have until September 15 to buy the console and net the games. And the promotion includes buyers as far back as August 8, 2006. The wording sounds like Live account renewals don't qualify, but we still registered. ~~We've contacted Microsoft for clarification but hadn't heard specifics when this post went live. We'll update you when we learn more.~~

[Update: Microsoft told us it hasn't announced which games you'll get and also stated that the promotion is for new Live accounts only. So officially at least, Live renewals get no love.]

[Via Dealnews]

Former EA exec joins Microsoft as VP of Live

by Christopher Grant { Aug 8th 2007 at 5:45PM }

Like Superman and Batman trading capes, or Aquaman borrowing Wonder Woman's uh ... invisible plane, EA and Microsoft have been awfully chummy lately. First, Xbox exec Peter Moore leaves Microsoft to be closer to his family in San Francisco ... and take a lucrative position at EA Sports. Of course, he was replaced with former EA exec Don Mattrick, ensuring the carefully balanced game of corporate Jenga wouldn't come crashing down.

Today, Microsoft announced that EA executive vice president John Schappert has joined the company in the newly created position of "corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services." The one-time founder of Madden-dev Tiburon will oversee Xbox Live as well as Games for Windows Live, XNA and Microsoft Casual Games, which includes Xbox Live Arcade. He'll be reporting directly to his old EA compatriot – you guessed it – Don Mattrick. We imagine their meetings will involve reminiscing about that time they did that thing at that one group team building exercise in '99 and various ways they could spell Microsoft with a consecutive 'e' and an 'a.' Good times, good times.

Now, to complete the circle, Xbox will need to sacrifice one of their own to EA! Let the ritual commence ...

EA Sports introduces kid-friendly waggle with "Family Play"

by JC Fletcher { Jul 4th 2007 at 1:45PM }

Never let it be said that EA can't innovate! Whatever we usually think of EA Sports, their new Family Play control system is really cool.

Madden '08, NBA Live '08, and FIFA Soccer '08 will all include Wiimote-and-Nunchuk-based control schemes that will allow players to "take full control of the game"-- running, passing, kicking (not so much in NBA Live) and such. But they'll also include simplified Wiimote-only control schemes that reduce the games to Wii Sports-level . The controls become fully gestural, and the AI takes over some of the gameplay tasks that were previously yours.

The coolest part? You can switch back and forth on the fly, just by plugging in or unplugging the Nunchuk. Even the method of choosing controls is streamlined. We are quite impressed.