The FNG-Spot: Blog

Soul Calibur IV - Yoda vs. Vader

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:12:11 GMT

I know every Soul Calibur fan out there is wondering which console has the better version of Soul Calibur IV; PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360... I say get the version you feel you'll play the most & stop worrying about PlayStation 3 having Vader and Xbox 360 having Yoda.... I believe BOTH consoles have BOTH characters playable, and here's why.

We've seen videos on YouTube of Vader vs. Yoda.
(They could be from an early version of the game, but I doubt it.)
Character locations in the character select menu.
(Based upon screen captures on Sony's website & seeing the Xbox 360 version in action)
- Character Slot 1 - Yoda (Xbox 360)
- Character Slot 1 - BLANK (PS3)
- Character Slot 2 - BLANK (Xbox 360)
- Character Slot 2 - Vader (PS3)
- Character Slot 3 - Apprentice (Xbox 360) - Unlockable via completing Arcade Mode
- Character Slot 3 - Apprentice (PS3) - Unlockable via completing Arcade Mode
Pics.... Who knows, these MAY be photoshop jobs of the french version, but I can't be 100% sure.
NOTE: Darth Vader is translated to Dark Vader in the French version.

When real life gets in the way...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:33:33 GMT

Hello everyone. I thought I'd take a moment and apologize for the lack of updates on my MSN Space.

I don't mean to make excuses, but I do have reasons for not posting as frequently as I used to.... The first and foremost reason I haven’t been posting is simple… “real life”. I have a great deal going on at the moment and it doesn’t seem to be calming down at all. Between finding, meeting with, and hiring an attorney to assist me in maintaining custody of my son, dealing with day-to-day chores, and work, I try to spend my down-time with my wife. When I do find the time / get the urge to post something useful, I’m immediately reminded that I now have to post a blog entry on Codejunkies.com. ( us.codejunkies.com/blog to be more specific.)

Hopefully, once the ‘personal issues’ have been resolved and I take care of the stack of work sitting on my desk I’ll feel a bit more motivated to post here and play on Xbox Live.

Until then, take it easy!

- Jay "FNG"

Demand & Ye Shall Receive!

Fri, 23 May 2008 23:36:13 GMT

I recently heard some wonderful news.... this news finally went from rumor to "semi-official" as of yesterday. (I only say "SEMI" official because it was only confirmed in an interview & I haven't seen anything on Xbox.com yet.) In an "exclusive interview" posted on next-gen the general manager of Xbox Live, Marc Whitten, explained that there will be a tool released next month that will fix games & content purchased through Xbox Lvie Marketplace to be DRM'd to a new console.... this is EXCELLENT news. If this is true, Microsoft will have finally redeemed itself in my eyes & I will once again proudly (and shamelessly) tell everyone I meet & speak to that the Xbox 360 is the best gaming machine on the market right now.

"Next-gen.biz: Last year Xbox 360 owners got a spring dashboard update in early May. It's now late May and you still haven't announced anything regarding this year's update. Should 360 owners be holding their breath for it?

Marc Whitten:We have taken a different approach this spring and spent a lot of our time and resources of building the proper infrastructure and scale for the service not just today but also into the future. So while most users will not notice any significant changes to the dashboard this spring, I can tell you that the team will be releasing a new digital rights management (DRM) tool next month that will allow you to better consolidate your licenses for downloaded content to a single Xbox and allow you the freedom to be able to play your content both online and offline.

Next-gen.biz: There have been some high profile complaints on the web about how difficult it is to transfer things like XBLA game licenses to replacement 360s in the wake of an under warranty hardware failure. Would these changes to DRM policy address these issues, letting people who have experienced such failure re-license their purchases on their new Xbox so they don't have to be connected to Live to play? Are there any other sorts of changes to DRM policy being made here that would affect the end-user experience?

Marc Whitten: Yes, this new tool will officially launch next month on Xbox.com and will allow you to be able to consolidate these licenses onto one box so you can access things like Xbox LIVE Arcade games and TV show you have downloaded even if you are not online. Because this involved allowing users to re-download licenses for content that belongs to our partners it has taken some time to work out the agreements with them to allow this, but we have heard the concerns from folks about DRM and are happy to announce that everything is nearly in place to roll this out in June."

Source: "MS to Delist XBLA Titles" - next-gen.biz

- Jay

GTA IV is officially Here

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:43:56 GMT

It's finally here... well, it's finally "officially" here. Many gamers have been playing GTA IV for several days now due to advanced sales & leaked pirated copies, but today anyone 17 years of age+ can get their hands on an officially released retail copy of GTA IV. (If you're got the extra coin, and you want a safe place to keep your M rated games, I suggest picking up the Special Edition.)

Here's an early image of what the Special Edition would come with:

GTA IV Special Edition - What We Got:

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Box

GTA IV Special Edition - What's In The Box:

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Lockbox

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Duffel Bag

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Audio CD (not entire soundtrack)

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Art Book

Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition - Game Disc & Key Chain

I checked my Xbox Live Friends List at one point last night and there were 19 out of 95 people online; 19 of those 19 people were playing GTA IV!! (This is going to be so much fun!!)

Super Smash Brothers Brawl - Power Save

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:49:41 GMT

I've finally finished a Power Save for one of the most anticipated, not to mention best selling, games for the Nintendo Wii.... Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

This was the most requested Power Save since the Wii Power Save product first launched, and I'm happy to say that I've been able to come through.

Subspace Emissary 100 percent Complete and MUCH More!
Adventure Mode complete (all difficulties), 9999 Coins, 99x of Every Sticker & Trophy,
Gallery Complete, 7 Hammers, Every Masterpiece Unlocked, Every Music Unlocked,
Every Stage Unlocked, and best of all... EVERY Character Unlocked.

Rockband - Mega Pedal

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:47:12 GMT

Hello once again everyone.... It's been a couple of months since I've posted anything here, and I apologize. I've been trying to "lay low" lately, for numerous reasons, but today I'm coming out of hiding to share something with everyone; the "Mega Pedal".

After by buddy Nick stomped his kick-pedal in half, and scoured the internet for solutions, he found a website that manufactures and sells the Mega Pedal. Since Nick is the star drummer in our "band" any time we have a "Rockband-and-adult-beverage party", he's constantly playing MY drums. I ordered the Mega Pedal as a preventative measure, due to his over-zealous kick-pedal-snapping foot stomping. (The more beverages he consumes the more "Mc Stompy" he becomes.)

So, what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks is the Mega Pedal? It's a 3/16" piece of aircraft grade aluminum that has been cut to the exact size and shape of the Rockband drum kit foot pedal. If you're lucky enough to have NOT broken your foot pedal yet, installing the Mega Pedal will reinforce it to prevent breakage. If you've already snapped your foot pedal in half, the Mega Pedal will act as a repair kit and save you from spending $79.99 on a replacement drum kit. (Since all of the Rockband drum kits are nearly identical, the Mega Pedal will work on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 & PlayStation 3 foot pedals.)

As of right now, the Mega Pedal comes in three different "flavors":

Mega Plate Pedal Repair Kit - $12.95 +shipping
(3/16" aircraft grade aluminum - "diamond plate" pattern - used to repair or reinforce the foot pedal)
Billet Mega Pedal - $18.99 +shipping
(3/16" aircraft grade aluminum - "Billet" pattern - used to repair or reinforce the foot pedal)
Complete Billet Mega Pedal - $29.95 +shipping
(Complete replacement pedal piece. Machined from a solid block of 6061 T6 billet aluminum.)

I ordered the pedal on March 13th and it arrived yesterday, the 17th, so I was extremely pleased with the quick processing / shipment.

When I got the Billet Mega Pedal home I immediately gathered up all of the tools I'd need to install it.

Cordless Drill
1/8" drill bit
Drill & bit were used to make 7 guide holes for the attachment screws.
NOTE: These are not required since it comes with 7 self tapping screws. I drilled guide holes to make sure I inserted the screws as straight as possible.
Tack Hammer
Center Punch
Hammer & Punch used to tap the hinge pin out of the foot pedal.
Phillips head screwdriver
I strongly advise AGAINST using a powered screwdriver or drill to drive the screws into the foot pedal. The plastic is soft and the screws are extremely likely to 'strip' it. If this happens the screws will not hold.
Super Glue or Modeling Glue
NOTE: Glue is not required; however, it will ensure that the Mega Pedal doesn't slip out of place while drilling guide holes or driving the self tapping screws. Gluing the Mega Pedal in place will also create a stronger bond. (I did not use glue in my installation.)

INSTALLATION:

Rockband Foot Pedal & Billet Mega Pedal Before Installation

STEP 1: Remove the Hinge Pin

Using a hammer, along with a punch or thin screwdriver, gently tap the hinge pin out of the foot pedal.
Once the foot pedal is removed from the base you're ready for the next step.

NOTE: You do not need to fully remove the pin from the foot pedal. When the pin has passed far enough through, 85-90%, you should be able to angle the pedal and remove it from the base.

STEP 2: Glue the Mega Pedal in place.

Using Super Glue or Modeling Glue adhere the Mega Pedal to the kick pedal. Be sure to align the toe portion of the Mega Pedal with the toe portion of the kick pedal.
NOTE: Aligning the Mega Pedal at the "toe" end of the kick pedal is crucial. If you have too much of the mega pedal hanging over the heel section, you'll run into problems reassembling the kick pedal and / or hinder its range of movement. Also, you do not need to glue the pedal in place; however, the manufacturer recommends this step. (I skipped this step and merely aligned the pieces, clamped them together securely, and drilled the guide holes.)

STEP 3: Drill the guide holes.

Once the glue has dried, use a 1/8" drill bit to create 7 guide holes from screw installation; this is prevent the screws from going in crooked.
NOTE: You do not have to drill guide holes because the Mega Pedal comes with 7 self tapping screws. I drilled guide holes to eliminate user error and be absolutely sure the screws would not be inserted at an angle.

STEP 4: Install the 7 supplied screws.

Using a Phillips head screwdriver, SLOWLY insert the supplied screws until they're snug.
NOTE: DO NOT use a power screwdriver, drill with screwdriver attachment, etc. Over tightening the screws will strip the plastic and the screws will not hold; you may end up having to purchase a new foot pedal if you ruin yours!

Billet Mega Pedal attached to Foot Pedal

STEP 5: Reassemble the foot pedal.

Reposition the pedal into the kick pedal base. Check to be sure that the spring and the orange plastic guide have been slid into position / aligned properly.
Again, using a hammer, gently tap the hinge pin back into the foot pedal.
NOTE: Be sure the pin is aligned through the entire reinsertion process. There are several kick pedal variations. Some, like mine, do not have a solid piece of plastic to slide through and can easily be snapped if misaligned.

Final Assembly of Foot Pedal

The entire installation process only took me 30 minutes. If using super glue or modeling glue to adhere the Mega Pedal to the foot pedal, you'll have to wait until the glue is completely dry before drilling guide holes or inserting the screws.

The only big complaint I have regarding the Mega Pedal is that the pedal sent to me isn't as smooth and polished as it was advertised on their site. Mine has very visible swirls and appears a bit dull.

If you're asking the question "is it worth the money?".... The answer is a resounding YES!
If you're interested in picking one of these bad-boys up, click HERE!

OVERALL: 4/5 stars!

Digg It!

- Jay

Xbox 360 Ultimate?!?!

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:10:39 GMT

Sure, we've all heard the rumors about an Xbox 360 with a built HD DVD drive, built-in Wi-Fi, or a smaller, quieter, more effecient chipset, but what if Microsoft decided to drop the mother of all bombs on the gaming community? Introducing the latest rumor.... the Xbox 360 Ultimate.

The Xbox 360 Ultimate is believed to combine all previous rumors and toss the idea of an even larger hard drive in all of our early adopting faces......

BIG IN 2008 – Xbox Ultimate

Xbox Ultimate – the gaming daddy? We’ve already had the Xbox 360 Premium and Elite. Both are, of course, fine gaming machines with the best games catalogue in the next-gen field. But come autumn 2008, we reckon both will be rendered obsolete by the Ultimate.

This PS3-killer will benefit from almost three years of Xbox development, featuring 1080p HDMI output, built-in Wi-Fi, hi-def audio output, cooler 65nm hardware architecture and a near-silent fan.

It’ll also have the ability to make the most of the by-then established Xbox IPTV service, which will mean recording TV shows to its vast 320GB hard disk and watching live TV shows via your broadband provider.

But the piece de resistance? It’ll have a built-in HD DVD drive. Let Round 12 with the PS3 commence...

Source: Stuff.tv

It sounds like either microsoft is begging for more headaches, complaints, and DRM-outraged Xbox 360 owners, or it's just a buch of B.S. If this were true it would be a good thing for the HD DVD side of the format war, yet an Xbox 360 with all of those features would probably run close to $500.00! (At that price I think I'd seriously consider purchasing a PlayStation 3.)

Xbox 360 Ultimate rumors aside, I still have high hopes of Microsoft eventually providing a solution to our Xbox Live Arcade / Marketplace DRM woes.

Xbox Live Outages

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:35:56 GMT

Wow, it's 2008 already..... HAPPY NEW YEAR.

With that being said, I'd like to point out the fact that over the last week or so Xbox Live connectivity has been horrific. Many people, like me, have been completely unable to sign into Xbox Live due to 'outages'. I'm completely aware that the problem is being worked on and connectivity seems to have improved slightly, however, it's been more than frustrating for Xbox Live gold members.

If you're an Xbox Live Gold member, the frustrations of paying $50.00 per year to play online, download games, content, movies, etc. only to have several days, if not weeks of "Cannot Connect to Xbox Live" have got your blood boiling... What about the folks who paid hundreds of dollars for downloadable content and Xbox Live Arcade games and "upgraded" to an Xbox 360 Elite or had their consoles killed by the Red Ring of Death? The majority of those people have NO way of accessing their Xbox Live Arcade games or downloadable content while they're disconnected from Xbox Live.

Recently Larry Hyrb, "Xbox Live's Major Nelson", posted a message on www.majornelson.com regarding the outages; Xbox LIVE Status (Updated). While many of us appreciate the frequent updates he provides, many Live subscribers are outraged and are demanding more. Some are not only posting rants on www.majornelson.com, they've taken their anger and angst to the Xbox.com forums and are demanding compensation for the downtime.

So, how do you feel about the situation? Have the outages had any impact on you? Feel free to post your comments... I'd truly like to know.

Here's my 2 cents on the situation:
(Submitted as a comment to www.MajorNelson.com)

No offense or anything Major, but I hope the big-wigs over there understand that the "downtime" has prohibited more than just online game play / marketplace downloads... I've been unable to access the majority of my Xbox Live Arcade titles and downloaded content due to the Xbox Live outages.

When I upgraded to an Elite and was told there was nothing Microsoft could do to fix the DRM issue, or enable my 40+ games to work offline, I was upset.... When nobody would listen to my rational explanations as to why the "you must stay connected to live to access content" rule would leave valued customers like myself out in the cold (when ISP / Live connectivity issues arose) I became irate... I hate to say it, but maybe if enough Live members fight the system, someone may finally listen to reason and resolve this issue once and for all.

So I ask you Major, is there a light at the end of this dark DRM tunnel? Will you speak with your contacts and at least inquire as to whether or not there will ever be a solution to the DRM issue plaguing our beloved Xbox 360 / Xbox Live?

- Jay

Christmas

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 05:47:18 GMT

Hello all, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holdiay..... Did Santa bring you what you asked for or did you find a lump of coal in your stocking this year? What was your biggest surprise, favorite gift, etc.? (I know it's not all about the gifts, so feel free to share your favorite holiday moments too.)

My wife surprised the heck out of me yet again this year.... I NEVER expected to see this bad-ass Master Chief under the tree, that's for sure.

Getting gifts is great and all, but I REALLY get a kick out of seeing the reactions / expressions on the faces of my friends, family / loved ones when they open something special.

I finally got the "OMG WTF?!?!!" reactions I've been trying for from my son and wife.... My son flipped out when he opend his Nintendo DS Lite Gold with Zelda, and my wife nearly wet herself when she tore the wrapping paper off of a new "Quad Core" PC. (She's been complaining about our PC for over a year now.)

Christmas COPS

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:13:31 GMT

Dashboard Update - December, 2007

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:27:34 GMT

The full feature list for the "Fall Dashboard Update" has finally been revealed:

Full Features List for 2007 Fall Update:

Improved Video Library.
Improved visuals and descriptions.
Users can now sort movies and TV Shows in the video library by Title or (Download) Date.
TV shows can now be grouped by Series .
Group video and game trailers .
Art associated with personal video files on a portable device will now be displayed.
Easier to use media areas and improved metadata .
Improved source selection for video, picture, and music libraries, making it easier to switch between console/digital camera, computer, portable device or disc.
New "Suggested Items" link for downloaded movies.

Feature Details:

Media - All

Added more user friendly text for various error related messages
Added Shortcut keys from Remote Control: Pressing Play on a Video/Song/Picture will immediately start playback of that item from the list (pressing Start from gamepad does the same thing)
Added support for Album/Video artwork larger than 500kb
Added support to enumerate metadata in the background and not just when selected by the user
Added support to make sort options sticky across console reboots
Added support to show all available Media Sharing Servers on the local network and allow automatic re-affiliation
Automatically delete older versions of Optional Media Update package when new ones are downloaded
Improved consistency in storage naming across all areas
Improved performance for displaying Album Art when connected to remote sources
Improved text messaging when connection to PC is lost when streaming Music/Photo or videos
Improve boot speed with media when console startup is to boot-to-dash

Media - Music

Added support for CD Playback from music area in Xbox 360 Guide area
Added support for listing multiple computer sources in Xbox Guide music sources
Added support for Y button to toggle full screen on and off for music visualizer
Disable 'play all' button when folders only contains playlists (with no audio files)
Disable Y button when no list items selected in Music player
Improved device support for new iPods (classic and 3rd gen Nano) - iPhone and iPod touch are not supported
Improved error handling for mixed encoded playlists (aac,mp3,wma)
Improved handling for MTP Music devices with >200k entries
Improved handling of game background music after playing videos in Dashboard
Improved handling of music playback over games (if music source terminates or has errors, background music returns to game background)
Improved performance for "Play All" with attached MTP devices
Improved performance of music enumeration via Guide
Improved robustness when playing back HFS+ formatted iPods
Improved support for returning to game background audio when user's music player session terminates
Improved support for scrolling song lists while listening to music during game playback
Improved support when ejecting game disc while selecting music source through Guide

Media - Pics

Added support to display PNG files when streamed from Windows Media Player 11 on Vista
Improved enumeration for PTP cameras including Cannon Powershot SD 630 and Apple Iphone
Improved playback performance of "Play All" when PC source has 1000s of photos and subdirectories
Support Folder view of Photos from MTP Portable Devices
Media - Video
Added 2 line support for entries in the Video Area of the Media Blade
Added ability to recognize Colorspace attribute for Video Marketplace Content
Added fade in transition for start of video playback
Added full screen buffering animation for streaming videos from Xbox LIVE
Added Suggestions scene for Video Library area in Media blade of the Dashboard
Added support for 16x Fast-forward/Rewind
Added support for AC3 embedded audio (see video faq for full information)
Added support for enumeration of video files from Zune 2.0 devices
Added support for Left Shoulder button on controller to chapter skip backward
Added support for Left Trigger button on controller to rewind
Added support for moving past the point user has viewed when doing progressive downloads of Video Marketplace videos
Added support for MP3 embedded audio (see video faq for full information)
Added support for Mpeg-4 part 2 video files in AVI containers
Added support for Right Shoulder button on controller to chapter skip forward
Added support for Right Trigger button on controller to fast forward
Added support for Zune Podcast video playback from Zune device
Added support to display metadata and thumbnails embedded in video files
Added support to enumerate .divx video files
Added support to group TV shows by Series in Video Library of Media Blade
Added support to group Video and Game Trailers into same area of Video Library of Media Blade
Added support to sort Movies or TV Shows by Title or Download date in Video Library of Media Blade
Added top level support to show expired or soon to expire information for purchased movies from Video Marketplace in Media Blade
Improve support for "Play Now" calculations with ISP that boost download for the first 20MB of a file
Improved accuracy of bookmark positions when video player abnormally ends
Improved accuracy of download progress bar after chapter skipping operations
Improved auto resizing experience for small (under 100x100) video files
Improved Bookmark / Resume experience with 60fps Interlaced WMV videos
Improved bookmark support while progressively downloading videos from Marketplace
Improved calculations for "Play Now" for Video Marketplace downloads
Improved deinterlacer support for video playback
Improved enumeration speed for user-generated video content in Media Blade
Improved error message support when playing back video files without valid licenses
Improved error message support when pulling USB drive while playing back video files
Improved handling for USB memory stick removal while on Video device selection list in Media blade
Improved handling of video playback when transitioning from 4x FF to Play with MP4 video files
Improved handling of WMV bookmarks when rewinding and shutting down video player
Improved info pane timer when playing back DRM's WMV content from Windows Media Player 11 from Windows PC
Improved message support for progressive video playback
Improved overall UI, content descriptions and navigation of Video Library of Media Blade
Improved performance during Fast Forward to Playback transition when playing back MP4 content
Improved performance for buffering and playback of streaming videos from Xbox LIVE
Improved performance for low bandwidth streaming of MP4 videos from Zune PC software v1.0
Improved performance of skip forward/backward with WMV video files
Improved performance of trick modes when streaming videos from Zune PC client
Improved performance of WMV playback for WMV7 & WMV8 encoded video files
Improved playback experience after extended pauses of video files from Marketplace
Improved playback experience when resuming from a stopped/paused state
Improved playback performance for h264 720p .MOV files
Improved playback performance with 1920x1080 MP4 files
Improved playback performance with 5Mb h264 encoded video files
Improved playback performance with 60fps 720x480 MP4 content
Improved playback performance with h264 files in .m4v containers
Improved quality for upscaled user videos when played back full screen
Improved quality of MP4 decoder: Global Motion Compensation and VMX optimizations
Improved quality of MP4 decoder: improved Interlaced Support
Improved quality of MP4 decoder: Out of order frame output, bidirectional motion vector handling, etc.
Improved quality with non-square pixel video files
Improved responsiveness of trick mode controls for video playback
Improved robustness during chapter skipping of h264 video files
Improved robustness for streaming problematic video files from Zune PC Software 1.0 or Windows Media Player 11
Improved robustness of video player when playback catches up to downloads in progressive playback scenarios
Improved robustness of video streaming when network congestion / stalls occur
Improved robustness when closing video player after attempting to play a video file that would not open
Improved robustness when entering and exiting video playback on a portable device repeatedly
Improved robustness when exiting video files encoded in h264 and playing back from attached USB HDD
Improved robustness when playing back Mp4 video with consecutive bad aac samples encoded into it
Improved robustness when shutting down console during h264 video playback
Improved robustness when trying to play a video recently moved from MU to HDD or vice versa
Improved robustness with video player when exiting player via Xbox Guide button -> Y
Improved support for AAC-LC 2 channel encoded audio in MP4 video files
Improved support for chapter skipping during progressive downloads of Marketplace Video content
Improved support for MP4 video files with discontinuous time stamps encoded in
Improved support for MP4 video playback from burned optical dvd-r's
Improved support for resuming downloaded videos after reaching end of an uncompleted download
Improved support for resuming partially downloaded videos from Marketplace
Improved support for using Big Button controller during video playback
Improved support for Video bookmarks when playing MP4 videos from USB portable hard drives
Improved sync of video display and info pane display when rewinding
Improved text for Windows Media Center setup instructions
Improved Trick mode support when streaming videos with AAC embedded audio
Improved video performance for 60fps interlaced WMV videos
Improved Video performance with 15Mbs 1080i 24fps WMV video files
Improved video playback for Fast-forward and immediate exit usage with h264 video files
Improved video playback of MP4 content from Zune PC Software v1.0
Improved video playback when source content has incorrect sync samples encoded
Improved video quality for SD Composite AV pack displays of the on-screen display for video controls
Improved video support for chapter skipping of MP4 videos
Improved Videotrick mode support with 24fps 1080i WMV video files
Improved visual display of WMV video files while rewinding
Improved WMV Playback performance for 60fps and 1080i 30fps videos
Improved WMV7 performance with VLC encoded content
Removed occasional purple flickers in video playback when transitioning between FF and RW
Removed potential 9 second delay when rewinding WMV video files

System

Added fade out transition when powering down console
Added fade out transition when launching games
Added support for browsing XNA games within the Games blade
Added support for video playback from UDFS formatted USB devices
Added support for XNA Game Studio Express V.2
Added support to connect to Apple Extreme routers in 802.11a/n mode
Added support to pause background downloads when streaming full screen videos or ads
Added support to retrieve game thumbnail directly from XNA game package
Added system wide support for Simplified Chinese language
Added text to explain flashing LED in the Ring of Light during background download low power mode
Addressed rare case where game disc would spin in the DVD drive while playing HD-DVD Movie in external HD-DVD drive
Disable Optical audio output when in low power background download mode
DVD player no longer converts to YCbCr709 when output is over HDMI
Improved auto sign-in to Xbox LIVE with Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter
Improved clock accuracy for S/PDIF optical streams
Improved compatibility with NEC WR8400N WiFi routers
Improved download speeds when in low power background download mode
Improved DVD Tray State notifications immediately after application of System Update
Improved Forced Aspect Ratio Changes via HDMI output (including DVI)
Improved handling when ejecting game disc during game start
Improved handling when removing MU after sending Arcade game recommendation to friend
Improved localization text for Wifi setup in German
Improved performance for Game Titles to reboot in backcompat scenarios
Improved performance of Xbox Guide during Messenger signin
Improved robustness when ejecting game disc when prompted for game title update
Improved robustness when inserting two MU's at the same time on the device selector scene
Improved support for 3rd Party Controllers
Improved support for Buffalo WiFi routers
Improved support for Creston AV receivers with HDMI
Improved support for JPN Corega CG-BARFX network router
Improved support for signing into Xbox LIVE with Big Button Controller
Improved support for starting console with Big Button Controller when console is charging attached Wireless Controllers
Improved Xbox guide performance ~2x
Removed "Windows-based PC" from Computers area in Systems blade
Removed option to "Turn off Controller" when using Big Button Controller
Resync the Ring of Light pattern to the boot audio/animation
Updated copyright dates for 2007

A Legendary Deal

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:41:38 GMT

Halo fans, you're never going to believe this one; Amazon.com has a Legendary deal going right now.

Halo 3 Legendary Edition, yes the one that comes complete with the spartan helmet game case that's regularly $129.99 is on sale for $59.99!!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/discussion/16759/ref=xs_gb_20_center-2_rw_uk_16759

[update] This deal ended only a few hours after it was posted. [/update]

- Jay

Thanksgiving Treats for Guitar Hero 3 owners!

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:03:38 GMT

I just wanted to let everyone know that right NOW, Thursday November 22nd, Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock owners can find two free downloads on the Xbox Live Marketplace that should make them extremely happy.

The first is my personal favorite; Neversoft, Bungie, Activision/RedOctane and Microsoft have come to gether to bring us the HALO Theme (MJOLNIR Mix).... FOR FREE! The second free download is called "Boss Battle Track Pack". Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock owners can FINALLY play Devil Went Down to Georgia, the original songs composed by Slash and Tom Morello with thier friends; not just during boss battles.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

- Jay

Rockband.Guitar Problems

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:00:20 GMT

If you just dropped $160.00 of your hard earned cash to pick up your copy of Rockband Special Edition, you might be in for a couple of surprises. Upon opening the gigantic Rockband box, you'll notice a bright pink note from the developers asking you not to return any of the instruments to the store in the "unlikely event" you receive a defective device.... Well, the odds were definitely against me because my guitar is defective right out of the box; both the strum bar and the tilt sensor don't work 100% of the time, and the effects switch doesn't allow me to choose the 'wah-wah' effect. (the switch won't stay in the top most position.) It reminds me of when Guitar Hero II first hit the Xbox 360 and I had to return six different guitars until I got one with both a functional whammy bar and tilt sensor.

One HUGE problem is the fact that the Guitar is not compatible with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Wired Guitar Hero II & wireless Guitar Hero III guitars work just fine with Rockband, but since you don't have the five extra colored fret buttons at the base of the neck and no effects switch, you'll have to strum through bonus sections and won't be able to chance the sound of the guitar; neither of which are really a big deal.

Now don't get me wrong, Rockband is amazing... I actually find myself enjoying it far more than Guitar Hero III. I honestly think it's due to the fact that it's not focused around competition / out playing your friends, but more on playing / enjoying the music with your friends. If you're a Guitar Hero veteran, the colored rectangular 'notes' may take a little getting used to, and the "hammer-on's / pull-off" aren't as easy to spot / perform, but you'll adapt quickly and be rockin' through expert mode in no time!

I've put together a "Pros / Cons" list for Rockband .....

Pros:

4 Player Co-Operative
Excellent online multiplayer modes.
The Fender Guitar has an extremely quiet strum bar.
Guitar feels / looks more authentic.
Drums are cool.
You don't HAVE to hear yourself sing.
Player and band creation / customization are awesome.
(Remember the custom decals in Forza racing? Yeah, it's just like that.)
Custom quotes are a nice touch.
Extremely fun.

Cons:

Guitar not compatible with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
Guitar reliability / durability sucks.
Fear of snapping Kick Drum pedal.
Repetitive band tour mode.
(Having to play the same songs over and over and over again to progress in Band Tour gets old quick.)
Hammer-on & Pull-off's not as fun / smooth feeling as Guitar Hero III.

Video Games & TV

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:16:43 GMT

For some reason video game refrences, and popular gaming consoles, seem to be popping up more and more often in our favorite TV shows. I'm not complaining... I LOVE pop-culture refrences to video game "nerd humor"!!

The November 5th (2007) episode of CBS' new series The Big Bang Theroy, featured Halo 3 and the Xbox 360.

The Big Bang Theory (Nov. 5th, 2007)- The Dumpling Paradox

In a 3 episode series of South Park called Imaginationland, Wario, Mario, Link, Gannondorf, Akuma, Sagat, and a handful of other video game related characters were all spotted. (Watch them here: Episode 1, Episode 2, Epsiode 3)

South Park - Imaginationland

South Park - Make Love, Not Warcraft

This week, South Park will feature the ever popular Guitar Hero..... I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Guitar Queer-o:

Stan and Kyle are hooked on Guitar Hero.
But Stan's superior skills on the video game damage his friendship with Kyle.

- Jay

Street Fighter IV Officially Announced.... Finally!

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:26:20 GMT

Just when you thought all was lost and the Street Fighter series was dead forever, Capcom drops this on us:

It's been FAR too long since Street Fighter III: Third Strike was released, and the last time I heard even the slightest whisper about Street Fighter IV was when I attended E3 2005! Needless to say I've experienced the biggest nerdgasm ever... Thank you Capcom... thank you!!!

Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero III

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:17:18 GMT

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted... I've been unbelievably busy with work; I haven’t wanted to do anything after work but relax with the family, watch some TV and play Halo 3. (Regardless of what anyone says, it’s NOT Halo 2.5!)

I just returned from Fort Lauderdale Florida last night; I had to work our booth at a trade show for Best Buy on Sunday. I thought my weekend would be ruined by having to work the show, but since I was able to get away from the booth every now and then to get a little gaming it, it wasn’t a total loss! I spent just about every minute away from our booth over playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. I’m honestly impressed by both games. The graphics and presentation aren’t what impressed me, it was the quality of the instruments and how smooth the game play was.

First off, allow me to address everyone who has been worried about the possibility of Guitar Hero III not being the same since Harmonix jumped ship to do Rock Band with EA… From what I played if GH III, we can all stop worrying; it’s essentially still the same Guitar Hero we’ve all grown to love with some welcome improvements added! Simply put, Guitar Hero III for the Xbox 360 looks amazing. Characters definitely have “Neversoft” / “Tony Hawk” looks about them, but it works well. The improved graphics, the note streak notifications that pop up, and the smoother game play are all very welcome additions, but the massive improvement in overall guitar quality is what really got me excited. It’s heavier, sturdier, the button response & movement are smoother, the strum bar is a bit stiffer, and the whammy bar is very responsive! Did you notice how I failed to mention anything about the guitar being wireless? That’s not only due to the fact that I was playing on a wired version of the guitar, it’s also because the improved quality is FAR more impressive than having a wireless version. If the current “Xplorer” guitar was wireless, I’d happily trade it in for a wired version of the new guitar…. it ROCKS! [Pardon the pun.]

Now on to the challenger; Rock Band. This game had me both curious and extremely skeptical since I first heard about it, but after picking up the guitar and playing Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden) and Vaseline (Stone Temple Pilots), I was amazed! Of course, I wasn’t able to play by myself so I have no idea how this game will play if you’re doing it solo, but simultaneously rockin’ out with 3 other people was an all out blast.

The Rock Band guitar is quite different from its Guitar Hero counterpart in several ways. The first, and possibly the most noticeable difference, is the lack of color-coded fret buttons on the neck of the guitar. The colored fret buttons do exist; however, they don’t protrude from the neck of the guitar. Instead, five of the frets on the neck are press inward, and the five colors are only viewable from the sides of the neck. This subtle, yet quite ingenious design change helps keep the Rock Band guitar looking more like a real Fender Stratocaster. The moment you pick the guitar up you’ll notice an additional five “fret buttons” at the bottom of the neck, near the base of the guitar; these are for rockin’ out during your guitar solos. During these solos there’s no need to strum the strum bar, simply press the buttons and make it up as you go along… it’s pretty entertaining, and can earn the band some extra points.

Speaking of the strum bar; that’s another difference between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars. Rather than being triangular and pointed, it has a nice lip on the top and bottom sides. This is extremely nice if you’ve ever experienced a “phantom strum” or have missed a strum during a jam session on Guitar Hero. The little nub at the end of the strum bar is handy for gripping with your index finger and thumb for rapid up / down strumming.

The final major difference between the Rockband Guitar and the one for Guitar Hero III is the “Effect Switch.” I quickly learned that the switch wasn’t placed there merely for looks, it actually has a pretty cool function. I didn’t play around too much with it, because a few of the settings sounded a bit strange for the songs I was playing, but basically its function is to change the sound of the guitar while you’re playing a song. (If you play a real guitar you probably would have known that, but I’ve never even attempted it before, so I had no clue.)

The Rock Band drum kit that Microsoft was using to demo the game is NOT the retail version of the kit. The drum kit used at the show was made of translucent blue plastic, had the Rock Band moniker on the face of every drum, and each lit up internally via color-coded LEDs when they were played. (I wasn’t a huge fan of the translucent blue plastic, however, the colored LEDs were a pretty slick feature.) I was told that the drums shipping with Rock Band were black, did not feature the Rock Band moniker on the drum faces, nor would they light up; although one spokesperson did mention that the LED option could possibly make it into a “special edition” or “premium” drum kit in the future.

Overall, both games were extremely impressive. I think Guitar Hero III will be the game to get if you don’t have three other people to play with, or enjoy rocking out by yourself. Rock Band, on the other hand, will be the must have for anyone who wants a sure fire party hit, or want to start a band over Xbox Live. Both games are great and I can’t wait to see which one comes out on top.

One thing’s for sure… I'm happy that I pre-ordered both games; I have a feeling that they'll be hard to find this holiday season!

- Jay

Microsoft Claims CORE / PRO / ELITE Migration Incompatibility

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:40:13 GMT

As many of you already know, I’ve been complaining about the Digital Rights Management (DRM) issues experienced when migrating any Xbox Live Arcade / Marketplace content from one Xbox 360 console to another.

In a previous post I stated; “So, what must we do to have our voices heard? Do we contact the Better Business Bureau, file a class action lawsuit, or continue to beg Microsoft for a solution?” Well, I’ve tried begging Microsoft for a solution and that didn’t work, so I decided to contact the Better Business Bureau.... Here's the complaint that was filed and the correspondences that followed:

Consumer's Original Complaint:
I've been a member of the Xbox Live online gaming service since Nov. 2002 and I purchased an Xbox 360 Premium (Pro) console on Nov. 25th, 2005; I've been a loyal Xbox customer for many years.

Since November of 2005, I have purchased hundreds of dollars worth of "Microsoft Points" and have used them to purchase various arcade games, themes, and gamer pictures from the Xbox Live Marketplace for my Xbox 360.

In an interview regarding the Xbox 360's HD capabilities, when questioned about HDMI output, a Microsoft spokesperson stated:
"We are watching the market closely and will continue to evaluate our solution, in the face of consumer demand." Recently their 'solution' was made public; consumers would need to purchase another Xbox 360 console.

On April 29th, 2007 I purchased an Xbox 360 Elite console for $479.99 to replace my previous Xbox 360 console. The $199.99 HD DVD add-on I purchased for the Xbox 360 Pro would not display in 1080p because it did NOT have an HDMI output. (I tried numerous times, but 1080p was not compatible on my HDTV using VGA or component cables.)

On April 30th, 2007 I downloaded the "Microsoft Xbox 360 Data Migration Kit Order Form" and supplied both the Pro (old) and Elite (new) serial numbers as requested. Upon receiving the migration kit I 'migrated' all of the content from my old Xbox 360 console hard drive to the new 120 Gig hard drive of the Elite.

All of content that I had purchased / downloaded through Xbox Live Marketplace cannot be accessed on the new Xbox 360 Elite console. When connected to Xbox Live, only I am able to access the content when logged in with my "Gamer Tag". If my wife or my son attempt to access any of the content it's either not accessible, or the game is in 'demo mode'. (The same thing happens when I use my gamer tag and my internet connection is down due to the severe storms here in Florida.)

I contacted Microsoft support when the problem first occurred and I was instructed to download the content again onto the new console. This did not fix the problem, so I called again the following day. This time I was told I would have to purchase ALL of the content a second time with a different profile to resolve the matter. This is unacceptable. I have already paid over $300 for this content, an additional $479.99 for the Elite console for HDMI, and followed their steps explicitly regarding the data migration kit. I was never informed that Xbox Live Arcade / Downloadable content for Xbox 360 titles would be "temporary" and NOT function fully on a replacement Xbox 360 console before the purchase was made.

I purchased 8 Microsoft point cards totaling 44000 MS Points; however, I have not entered them into my 360 console. I will most likely return these point cards if this problem cannot be rectified because I do not want to waste my money on games that may not be compatible with my current Xbox 360 console or a replacement Xbox 360 console.

I have already experienced the 3 flashing red lights issue on a different Xbox 360 and was given a replacement... Thankfully I did not purchase any content on that machine. I fear that if my current Xbox 360 eventually proves to be defective I'll encounter the exact same problem with downloadable content.

Consumer's Desired Resolution:
I do not wish to receive alternative games / content to be given to me in their place; I merely wish to have full access, both on and offline, to all downloadable content I originally purchased / downloaded. Another possible solution would be to implement licensing protection similar to iTunes or SONY's PlayStation 3; they allow up to 5 devices to be fully authorized to access purchased content. I believe these are all fair solutions.

BBB Processing:
08/28/2007 BBB Complaint Received by BBB
08/28/2007 BBB Microsoft Complaint Validated by Operator
08/28/2007 EMAIL Microsoft - Inform Consumer
08/28/2007 EMAIL Inform Microsoft of Complaint

09/05/2007 RECEIVE BUSINESS RESPONSE : 5 September 2007
RE: Your complaint to the Better Business Bureau

Dear Jason,
A copy of your report filed with the Better Business Bureau of Oregon & Western Washington regarding your Xbox Video Game System has been forwarded to Microsoft.

We spoke to you on the 2nd of September in regards to your complaint concerning the transfer of points and content from one console to another. Unfortunately content transfer can only work from same model consoles to another. You happened to purchase a new Elite model which is different from your previous Premium model. Due to our policy we unfortunately cannot migrate the content as the content has to be like for like.

We apologize but unfortunately we cannot comply with your request. I understand that this issue is now resolved.
Thank you for your continued support of Microsoft Xbox gaming platform.

If you have any further concerns regarding this issue, please contact 1-800-4-MY-XBOX and use ticket number: [xxxxxxxxxx]. Otherwise we will consider this issue closed.

Sincerely,
[ XXXX XXXXXX ]

Xbox Customer Support
Microsoft Corporation
cc: Better Business Bureau of Oregon and Western Washington

BBB Processing:
09/05/2007 EMAIL Forward Member Response to Consumer
09/07/2007 BBB RECEIVED CONSUMER REBUTTAL :
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)

09/07/2007 BBB RECEIVED CONSUMER REBUTTAL : 7 September 2007

As I stated during the phone conversation on the 2nd of September, the policies currently in place seem to change each time I call, and this response is unacceptable. On one occasion I was told to simply re-download the content and the problem would be resolved, the following call I was told that I would have to provide a receipt proving I traded in my pro console for the elite to receive a refund from the "points department", and during my third call to customer service I was told that I would have to purchase all of the downloadable content a second time; now I'm being told that content transfer can only work from same model consoles to another.

If content transfer is only possible from the same model console to another, why does Microsoft provide a free Xbox 360 Data Migration Kit to any consumer owning a CORE or PRO series console upon purchasing a new Xbox 360 Elite?

http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/B4E8A2D6-2DEB-46DF-A292-8D83454D62F9/0/MigrationorderformincludingEuropewithfax.pdf

The above URL is the order form I used to obtain the free Data Migration Kit after purchasing the Elite console. The order form requires the serial number from the old CORE or PRO series console as well as the new ELITE model in which a customer desires to migrate the data to.

People constantly ask me why I continue to press this issue and why I care so much. My answer is this; I believe this problem goes far beyond Xbox Live Arcade and downloadable content. If we, the consumer, continue to allow corporations such as SONY, Microsoft, Apple, 2k Games, and Nintendo to restrict the usage of content we’ve legitimately purchased, we’ll eventually lose every right we have to use that content.

Here are a few examples of what I’m referring to..

BioShock (PC):
If you purchased the game BioShock for your PC, you may or may not be aware that it contains SONY’s “SecuROM” copy protection. This “protection” scheme requires the user to “activate” the software via internet connection. Once you install the game, and have activated it, you only have a single installation / activation remaining before you’ll have to contact 2kGames’ support staff to play it. If you replace your mother board, hard drive, or reinstall Windows, or try to run the game using a different log in account, you must reactivate the game. (You only get a total of 5 reactivations; 2 online activations and the remaining 3 via contacting customer support.) Yes, the “game” you purchased for $49.99 will eventually become merely a box containing an instruction manual and shiny disc that does nothing more than sit there and look pretty.

Fairly good news: The BioShock game creator did apologize in an interview with joystiq.com for the “screw-ups” and mentioned that the company would move back from online activation at some point, but since you’re limited by the number of activations, you’re basically giving 2kGames $49.99 to borrow BioShock.
Virtual Console:
If you’re a proud Wii owner, you’re probably familiar with Nintendo’s “Virtual Console” games. Virtual Console games are classic Nintendo 64, TurboGrafx-16, Genesis, NES, and Super NES games that can be purchased and downloaded through the Nintendo Wii console. Once a Virtual Console game has been purchased and downloaded, it’s forever locked to the console it was purchased on. You cannot move the games to a different Wii console and play them, period. If your Wii console is defective, needs to be repaired, or it just dies of old age in the next 10 years, every virtual console game you purchased is gone forever. If you happened to back-up your Virtual Console games to an SD memory card, you’ll only be able to copy them back to the system they originated from.

Fairly good news: Several people who have had their Nintendo Wii console replaced or repaired have been pleased at how the company is handling the refund of their Wii Points. Once the new console is received, the customer contacts Nintendo and provides them with their new console information. Codes for refunded Wii Points are then sent via Wii-mail to the new console and the Virtual Console games can then be repurchased.
iTunes:
If you purchase music through iTunes, not only are you purchasing music that’s far from CD quality, you’re agreeing that the PC you purchased it on will be the only one that is allowed full access to that song. Sure, you can burn the music off to a CD, then rip it back into iTunes to remove their Digital Rights Management (DRM), but you’ll lose even more of the audio quality in the process. Did I mention you’re only allowed to burn iTunes music 5 times, and you’re only allowed to authorize 5 PC’s to play iTunes purchased music?

Fairly good news: The “up-side” to Apple’s DRM is that some of the content can have the DRM removed if you pay an additional $1.00, you can deauthorize every PC that had previously been authorized and start process all over again. You can also put purchased music onto as many iPods as you’d like. All of this makes iTunes the most tolerable DRM scheme out there.

So, as you can see, we as consumers are far too tolerant of these companies and their drastic methods of controlling the digital media that we've purchased. Does any of this prevent piracy? No. Firmware mods for the Xbox 360, mod chips for the Wii still allow pirated games to fully function. There are torrents and peer to peer software that allow people to obtain pirated music and movies. DRM merely strips the rights from the honest customer while companies hide behind the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the false claim that they're merely protecting their software.

I honestly believe that more people should contact the Better Business Bureau, write to these companies, boycott their DRM'd content, speak out against overly strict DRM methods, and stand up for the right to freely use and own the media / content / software they've rightfully purchased. Until then we're at the mercy of the large corporations and we'll never truly own what we've purchased.

I feel that Microsoft has been misleading Xbox 360 owners, and until they change their policies, fix the Xbox Live Marketplace / Arcade DRM, or give me every single point back.

So now I ask you all for you feedback....

Do you agree / disagree with me?

Do I have a valid argument here? Should I just give up?

Do you feel like you truly own the digital content, music, videos, etc that you've been purchasing?

Do you feel like your rights are being violated?

PLEASE post a comment here with your thoughts, or Sign the Online Petition.

- Jay

Wii Power Save - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:04:19 GMT

For anyone who's into Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and the Wii Power Saves, you'll be happy to know I just released the 1st power save for it... don't worry, I'll be releasing more for M.P.3 soon; I need to finish Tiger Woods '08 first.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Power Save in Action)