Here is the upcoming downloadable content “Stimulus Package” for Modern Warfare 2. Provided for you in High Definition (HD). There are 3 new maps, Bailout, Storm and Salvage. Then also 2 old maps from Call of Duty 4 (COD4), Crash and Overgrown.
This map pack is exclusive to Xbox Live for the first match and will be out on March 30th, 2010. After the exclusive month is up, you will be able to grab them on PS3 or PC. This map pack on Xbox Live is 1200 MSP.
On Saturday, August 29th, 2009 my Xbox 360 Pro Launch Console received the dreaded E74 error message. Which is basically right next to the RROD error. My Xbox 360 Launch Console is obviously out of warranty and I was not going to pay $99 to get rid of the launch console to only get a refurbished one sent back to me that could possibly get this again. Plus, the launch console is too valuable to me for various reasons.
Anyways, here is what I have noticed with the Xbox 360 Elite Fall 2009 build. The console is obviously quieter, without a doubt. I forget it is on, which is even better when you are using it to play movies. I never really had a problem with it while playing video games. I also noticed that game discs load much faster than before with the launch console. Then there is the Jasper CPU which you will not really notice but it is better than the Falcon CPU they used in the launch and early on system consoles. These 360’s should not be prone as much to the RROD’s or E74 error messages either.
If you are looking to get an Xbox 360, definitely by the Fall 2009 consoles or any other ones with later build dates. If you some how have waited this long to get an Xbox 360 because of hearing people with RROD/E74 problems, then you should not of waited but no need to wait any longer now either.
MajorNelson made a post a few days ago on how you can turn off automatic renewal of your Xbox Live Gamertag. This saves you so much time since you will not have to call Microsoft/Xbox Live Support. So forget canceling, turn this off and what will happen is that your Gamertag will just turn into a Silver membership instead of Gold.
Sign into Xbox.com and click “My Account Section” then from there click the “Membership Level link“. You will then see text saying “Automatic Renewal: ON”. Now click the “ON” link and it will bring you to a page where you can turn it OFF. Select off and click next to finish the process. If you would like to turn them back on, just click the OFF link and go through the process again.
My suggestion? Just pay for the yearly membership no matter what you are doing. Unless you are using cards or cards from others there then sure, turn off automatic renewal so it does not charge your card. Otherwise, to those paying monthly fees, even if you barely game, in the long run you save. But hey, do what you want in the end, not my money.
Source: MajorNelson.com
Last.FM integration is also coming to Xbox Live but is not shown in this video.
Did you know that Xbox Live has never given its Gold Subscribers nothing over Silver members? Well finally that day has come and even later than it was suppose too. Back when the NXE update came out in November 2008, a new feature was to come to Xbox Live called 1 vs 100. Now finally, it is coming this Spring.
Do not count on them giving you more though now over Silver members. While Xbox Live is not too expensive and other consoles do offer it for free, Xbox Live is still the best experience. But when you really think about Xbox Live and nit pick at it, it really sucks sometimes minus being able to play online with friends of the features that Silver members do get still, even if they have to wait a day to get some of them (like demos).
For you Fallout 3 fans out there, get ready for May 5th as the third final part of the announced DLC content comes out, Broken Steel. This is a much larger DLC than from the past 2 DLC releases. This not only fixes the main story line allowing you to continue from the ending rather than not but it also gives you a level cap increase from 20 to 30. Yet alone, many more hours of Fallout fun, more main quests and side quests along with a bunch of new perks to choose from when leveling up with to 30. Enemies will be much harder to defeat too with this.
Source: Joystiq
Bethesda’s new DLC for Fallout 3, The Pitt, will be released on March 24th, 2009 at a Microsoft Points price of 800 just like its previous release of Anchorage at that same price.
The Pitt takes place in Pittsburgh, this is the second of three DLC announced for Fallout 3, the next one should be arriving sometime next month. Check out more information on The Pitt at the source link.
Source: Neowin.net
I decided to pick up Halo Wars, especially since it is an RTS and I like a new RTS from time to time. I am not a huge Halo fan but here it can easily be ignored. If you do not know if it has a story to it or not, it does when playing campaign mode and so far it seems to be great as well as they did a great job with the videos. From what I understand it takes 20 years before Master Chief.
After putting about 5 hours into it already and nearly done with ACT 2. I decided to take a break and write a review on it. This is a cut down RTS in my opinion compared to the Command and Conquer series on Xbox 360 and Civilization Revolution on Xbox 360. But if this scares you, it should not, there is little worrying to do here unlike in both of those games (I know there are a few more RTS on 360 but I have yet to play them) where you have a lot to do, control, build, defend, etc.
There is a lot here not only in Single Player but in Multiplayer as well, so if you are worried about putting this game away on the shelf after becoming bored of it, you should not worry unless you are that type of person then maybe you will just want to rent it. Online will give you many more hours to play out of this once you are finished with playing Campaign. You obviously can play Campaign further more on the harder difficulties like Legendary.
You also have Skirmish mode as well, very popular in RTS’s so nothing new there, I have yet to try that mode though, still playing through the Campaign. As long as people buy and continue to play online, online should be fun for those people that are into it. I doubt I will venture off into it yet alone play it a lot, I have many other games to play before this online anyways.
The menus and online (matchmaking) is just like Halo 3, so those that are coming from the Halo series to this, especially to try out this RTS because remember, Halo 3 is a FPS and this is an RTS. Totally different games if you did not know this yet.
Controls are and work great. I have no problems with them as I know many people always are fearful about how the controls for an RTS are on a console. They are much better and not as many either compared to the Command and Conquer series and others. You have your simple controls here like LB to select all units anywhere on the map and RB to select only units shown on screen. You press A or hold A to select a number of units, I am not too happy with when you hold A to select units as it creates a large circle after holding it more than about 2 seconds. Press B to not select anything, move your units with X and Y to use the units special ability.
There are not many problems I have come across except that sometimes your units block your path, I have had this happen a lot especially when you set down Cobras and clearly other units would be able to get past but they do not. They sometimes eventually find an alternative (takes a while) if there even is one. There is not much else I have run into that bugs me.
I love when you are given Spartans to control, they are awesome to have especially when you have a large group of them. They can not, they will go down as will Forge but as long as you have other units to go by him when his health is halfway again then you will never fail a mission unless you are trying to protect or accomplish something or whatever else going on.
To end this now, I am really enjoying the game. I think if you are new to RTS games and really want to try one out, this is definitely the game for you. I give it 4/5 stars.
Before a lot of games were already overpriced at 800 MS points. Now it seems that rate is jumping to 1200 MS points. I just checked out a game called Death Tank, just a game to play for a little bit, different and some fun. Yes, I could play the trial but why bother? I am limited with no achievements and pretty much, fuck that.
But there is no way in hell I am paying 1200 MS points for a fucking arcade game. Are you nuts? I do not get it. I have not looked into who makes the pricing for these games, if it is part Developer, All Developer, part Microsoft, all Microsoft, I have no idea but why? You literally would see an increase of money yet alone people purchasing the game if you priced this game at either 200 or 400 MS points (at most).
A lot of these arcade games are not worth more than 400 MS points. There are many reasons to this, a lot of these games are just flash games you can play online for free. Now obviously there are many reasons as to why some do not want to do this and what not, to each there own. I am not saying they need or should be free on Xbox Live either but lower the pricing and you will still make money. Do not be greedy because that is what you are being right now.
I would of bought Death Tank for 200 or 400 MS points. But sadly you priced it at 1200 MS points so you will not be getting a sale from me. Even if it were 800, sadly, not, even though you have made it multiplayer, I can not justify the purchase myself. This sadly goes to other unnamed arcade games out there that are overpriced. I do not buy many arcade games not just for this reason but just because I have many regular Xbox 360 games to play already. But every now and then, it would be nice to play an arcade game and/or with friends.