Matt Gerlach : Xbox360 Marketplace

Me, My Blog, Why I haven't Blogged, and Rock Band

gerlach — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:04:53 GMT

Wow...it has been a WHILE since I have blogged. There are multiple reasons why:

School just takes up time
I don't want to blog unless I contribute at least an opinion, or if I give a heads up that not many will see. I am NOT here to post press releases. To me...that is pointless, I'll just head to the gamerscore blog for that.
I kinda got tired of it. I was at the point where I felt the NEED to blog. It got to the point where I didn't want to. So I didn't.
Swimming. I swim here at Syracuse. Coming back from practice all tired and such, and then having to do work was...too much.

Do I want to contribute more? Absolutely. Do I hope people at least kept me near the feed list? Yea, I hope they did. So here goes. This is something that has been on my mind since I read about it last week.

Rock Band and Nine Inch Nails: More Content to Come

Be Aware that the videos embedded below may contain profanity. I am 99% sure the profanity will not be in Rock Band.

First off I am a pretty big Nine Inch Nails fan. I own all (need to check that) 5 major releases from 1989's Pretty Hate Machine to 2007's Year Zero (with songs from Broken, The Downward Spiral (full), The Fragile (full), and With Teeth (full)). So to hear that February's OXM has news about a new Nine Inch Nails track pack I was extremely happy. That is probably going to be the first pack for Rock Band that I will purchase. But...I still have issue with the song choice. Note: It is guarenteed that I am buying these tracks the minute they release.

March of the Pigs: There will need to be alot of vocal editing for this song. Will they utilize a radio-friendly version that may be in existance? I would hope because in the explicit album version there are many foul words. Also, there aren't always heavy instrumentals. Yea, near the end there is but...the song seems a little unbalanced.
The Collector: This song will probably be good for the average person to like. It has more of a mainstream sound...but isn't that pre-fab Fallout Boy material. My issue is that it kinda lacks guitar. It has a nice base and drum track but the guitar seems stale. It may be different when playing but I feel there are better songs. More on that later. The video will showcase how the song is going to be played. You get a clear view of the drummer (Jerome Dillion) as well as Trent singing and playing guitar, with Aaron North also playing. Playing Bass is Jeordie White (aka Twiggy Ramirez with Marilyn Manson).
Perfect Drug: This song, I feel, may be the hardest for people to get used to. It has a unique sound, which I like. The song is catchy, im just not sure how it is going to play. It will be a little weird. Take a look at the video to get an understanding.

What I think Should have been included:

Getting Smaller (With Teeth, 2005) - It is a face paced song with a good balance of guitar, bass and drumming. A good amount of vocals as well. The unofficial video (Fight Club dubbed with "Getting Smaller") can give you an idea as to what the song sounds like).
Last (Broken, 1992). Overall a good rock song. Again, a good balance of the 4 parts. Video again is unofficial with the song dubbed over. Quality of the video is...meh.
Head Like a Hole (Pretty Hate Machine, 1989). The Live version would be even better, since the original has a bunch of synths but still a great rock song.

These are just a couple of ideas for me. Hopefully, ill be posting a bit more.

Wednesday's new live arcade title, Scamble, has been delayed! Official!

gerlach — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:40:00 GMT

Just got word from Microsoft that Scramble, the Xbox Live arcade title that was supposed to be released tomorrow is actually going to be delayed. Here is the official statement:

As part of our Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday’s program, “Scramble,” the classic arcade side-scrolling, space shooter from Konami, was slated to go live tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6. However, during the final testing and certification of the title, we discovered some minor issues that should be addressed. Therefore, we are going to take an extra week and fix these items to ensure a high quality game experience for all when the title does launch on its new date of Wednesday, September 13. Until then, we have a new bonus release going live tomorrow - the new Project Gotham Racing 3 theme deck for UNO will making its debut.

I understand that the PGR3 deck for Uno isnt as good, but just take this time to realize that they are making an effort to:

1) Make sure quality goes out.
2) Give the community something.

Ill see what the pricing will be for the PGR3 Uno Deck

Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1 releases on September 5!

gerlach — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:07:00 GMT

Just got this from Microsoft:

Microsoft announces the global retail launch of new Xbox Live Arcade compilation for Xbox 360 gamers

Microsoft today announced the worldwide launch of Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1, a new disc compilation of hit Xbox Live Arcade games plus a free 1 month Xbox Live Gold subscription and downloadable Xbox Live Arcade demos. Priced at $39.99 Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1 arrives in stores worldwide on September 5, 2006.

Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged provides a taste of the Xbox Live Arcade experience for gamers everywhere, with a great collection of new and original casual games that are fun, engaging and easy to learn and pick up and play.

Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1 includes:

· 6 Xbox Live Arcade hit titles:

1. Geometry Wars® Retro Evolved

· One of the most popular games on Xbox Live Arcade, Geometry Wars Retro Evolved is a space shooter with a frenetic, high-definition twist

2. Wik: Fable of Souls™

· Wik’s beautifully mysterious world of fairytale charm unfolds as you swing by your tongue through 120+ single player levels and 7 modes of play, including same-console multiplayer!

3. Outpost Kaloki X™

· Solve challenges, entertain visiting aliens, and rake in the money in Outpost Kaloki X, the light-hearted space station tycoon game

4. Bejeweled® 2 Deluxe

· With awe-inspiring planetary backdrops, explosive new gems and dazzling special effects, Bejeweled 2 is more wildly addictive than ever before!

5. Hardwood Backgammon

· Play a game of classic Backgammon against the computer, against a friend on a single console, or against on online opponent over Xbox Live

6. Texas Hold ‘em

· This poker title simulates the tournament setting right in your home, and with Xbox Live Vision, you’ll feel like you are in Las Vegas

· Free 1 month Xbox Live Gold subscription

· 3 downloadable Xbox Live Arcade demos:

o UNO ®

o Marble Blast® Ultra

o Feeding Frenzy™

With the accompanying free 1 month Xbox Live Gold subscription Xbox Live Unplugged gamers can sample all of the benefits the world’s largest online gaming and entertainment network has to offer. Connect to Xbox Live and join more than 3 million gamers across 24 countries across the globe; enjoy free game demos, movie trailers and music vides and get together with friends to play in fun, new ways.

Check out Xbox Live and Xbox.com for continuing updates on exciting new Xbox Live Arcade content available to Xbox 360 gamers.

Xbox360 news straight out of Germany.

gerlach — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 18:15:00 GMT

Was reading Trixie's post about the news out of Germany regarding the Xbox360 and Games for Windows.

Microsoft announced that they will be expanding into Eastern Europe adding 4 countries (Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland) this Autumn.

Microsoft also announced pricing and availability of some accessories for your Xbox360 console. Taken from the Press Release:

Xbox Live Vision camera for the Xbox 360 system
Chat via video, send photo messages, put your own face in a game, and customize your gamertag on the Xbox Live network. The camera will be available in the U.S. on Sept 19 and in Europe on Oct 6 in two packages:

Xbox Live Vision: This package includes Xbox Live Vision camera, one-month Xbox Live Gold Membership, Xbox 360 Headset, and free* downloads of two full-version Xbox Live Arcade games: the popular UNO® card game and TotemBall, the new 3-D platform game from Freeverse and Strange Flavour Ltd. that is a mixture of platform skills and puzzles (estimated retail price (ERP) $39.99 U.S.).
Xbox Live Video Chat Gold Kit: This package includes the Xbox Live Vision camera, a 12-month Xbox Live Gold Membership, an Xbox 360 Headset, free downloads of three full-version Xbox Live Arcade games—the popular UNO card game, TotemBall and the classicRobotron 2084 action shooter—and 200 Microsoft Points (ERP $79.99 U.S.).

Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel
For true racing enthusiasts who demand unparalleled driving realism at home, this innovatively designed wheel combines form and function with the latest technology in wireless and force feedback. Purchase the wheel and get a limited-edition force feedback version of Project Gotham Racing® 3 while supplies last (ERP $149.99 U.S., available in November).

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
Providing the ultimate wireless experience, this headset integrates seamlessly with the Xbox 360 console to provide wireless voice chat capabilities, stylish design and superior voice quality over the Xbox Live network (ERP$59.99 U.S.**, available in November).

Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows
By plugging the compact receiver into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 port on a PC, use Xbox 360 wireless accessories on your Windows-based computer (ERP $19.99 U.S.**, available in late December).

Xbox 360 Faceplates
Customize your consoles with one of three new special-edition faceplates featuring images from your favorite games, including the Halo® franchise,Viva Piñata™, and Forza Motorsport™ 2 (ERP $19.99 U.S.**, available in early November).

Remember to download Texas Hold Em.

gerlach — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:20:00 GMT

Download Texas Hold 'Em for the Xbox360 for a limited time. The download is free for the first 48 hrs, so act fast!...(read more)

Xbox Live Wednesday rolls on with Cloning Clyde

gerlach — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:27:00 GMT

Today at 12:01pst, Cloning Clyde was released:

Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays continue with the launch of ‘Cloning Clyde’ the wacky action adventure / puzzle game. Created by Wahoo Studios / NinjaBee, developer of the popular ‘Outpost Kaloki X’ for Xbox Live Arcade, Cloning Clyde puts the ‘z’ in zany in this classic-animation style world.

GAME FOCUS: Clyde is a cloning experiment gone awry, and now it’s up to you to help him escape from Dupliclone, Inc.’s building filled with mazes, hazards and platforms. Play as Clyde or one of his many mutant clones – a chicken, a monkey, a sheep, even a frog – as you fight, fly and bomb your way to freedom.

GAME FEATURES: With local and online multiplayer via Xbox Live, co-op mode, vs. mode, achievements and an assortment of wacky characters, ‘Cloning Clyde’ provides hours of fun in a visually stunning cartoon world filled with hilarious action and crazy adventure.

‘Cloning Clyde’ boasts:

Create your own Clyde clones! Play as Clyde or other wacky mutant characters
4 person online multiplayer play through Xbox Live
Toggle between the different Clyde-clones to attack security systems, escape through ventilation shafts, collect Killer Kenn action figures, and solve challenging puzzles.
Combine your DNA with other critters’ to gain special attack powers
More than 45 unique single player and co-op levels for hours and hours of fun
High definition graphics
Exciting and addictive puzzles, mazes and platform-based action
Enjoy Leaderboards, Achievements, gamer pictures, and other Xbox Live exclusive features
Play ALL of the levels in the game in multiplayer mode – either local split-screen or online!
6 additional Vs. Mode levels where players can duke it out
Wacky Clyde antics and hilarious messages from other Clyde clones
Custom soundtrack

WHEN CAN I GET IT: Download ‘Cloning Clyde’ tomorrow, Wednesday, July 19, at 1am PST on Xbox Live Arcade. Are you ready to get cloned?!

Cloning Clyde (Wahoo Studios/NinjaBee): 800 Microsoft Points

For more information please visit Xbox.com

Did you hear about the new Ghost Recon: AW Content?

gerlach — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:37:00 GMT

I have been reading about this new content. Let me tell you, as of right now, it could be the best content released on the 360 via the marketplace. Possibly even the best via XBL ever.

- Continuation of Co-op Campaign with 4 All New Missions in Chapter 2:
Coffee Plantation (Day) Obviously, this takes place on a coffee plantation embedded deep in Nicaragua. The map is littered with good cover options that appear in the form of a centrally located plantation house, coffee processing
equipment, growing coffee plants, and stacked bags of coffee beans ready for transport. The Ghosts overall goal of this mission is to eliminate the arms
dealer and shut down his operations.

Shipping Port (Evening) The next mission takes place at a shipping port and the Ghosts objective is to stop the enemy from smuggling weapons into the
country. The player will interact with rebel troops through warehouses, decks of ships, and on massive shipping cranes. This night mission provides an eerie
backdrop for Ghosts to move in take out the weapon shipments and ensure that the illegal smuggling of arms will stop.

River Depot (Dawn) This map puts the Ghosts in a jungle area that the Rebel forces have infiltrated and are using for storing and shipping out illegal
weapons. The goal of the Ghosts is to secure the warehouse facility that holds crucial information concerning the placement and shipment of weapons. As the
player weaves through the jungle and eliminates the patrols of enemies, they must also destroy all the weapon shipments and keep the Rebels from extracting
from the area. Massive trees, loads of weapon shipments, and enemy transports are unique characteristics of this mission.

Jungle Mine (Day) The last mission in this co-op campaign chapter takes place in a mine that is vital to the Rebel forces regime and the Ghosts are
tasked with securing the area, destroying the weapons, and eliminating the Rebel leader. The central location on this map is the mine itself and it provides a
place for multi-tiered gameplay surrounded by good cover. This mission provides a new gameplay experience for Ghost Recon fans and it will surely be one of the
more memorable missions in GR history.

8 Revisited; Relit MP Adversarial Maps: 8 of GRAWs favorite MP maps are revisited and relit for a new gameplay experience.
Fishing Village (Dusk)
Wharf (Late day)
Old Town (Morning)
Nowhere (Evening)
Coffee Plantation (Evening)
Shipping Port (Sunset)
River Depot (Day)
Jungle Mines (Evening)

2 New Game Types with 1 Game Mode - Team Battle: 2 all new game types add upon GRAWs long list of available game types.
Team Blind Siege
Team Battle

2 New Camouflage Patterns: 2 all new camo patterns give new selections to further customize your character.
Canadian CADPAT
British DPM

4 New Character Customization Faces: 4 all new character faces with new camo patterns give new selections to further customize your character.
4 new faces with new camo

5 New Weapons: 5 new weapons give you even further selection on how to take out your foes.
SR-25 SD (Marksman)
Description - "7.62x51mmSS - Combining the power of the SR-25 rifle with a suppressor, the SR-25 SD Sniper rifle is lethal, accurate, and quiet."
Game Info - Silenced, 20 rounds per mag, 10 mags (increased for marksmen), Single Shot, 8x and 16x Zoom

M468 (Rifleman)
Description - "6.8x43mm - This updated version of the standard US carbine uses a larger round to provide greater lethality against both armored and unarmored
targets."
Game Info - 28 rounds per mag, 10 mags (increased for grenadiers), Single Shot and Full Auto, 3x Zoom

M468/M320 (Grenadier)
Description - "6.8x43mm/40mm - The standard M468 with attached M320 grenade launcher provides a versatile dual-purpose firing platform."
Game Info - 28 rounds per mag, 10 mags (increased for grenadiers), Single Shot and Full Auto, 3x Zoom

AK-47 LMG (Gunner)
Description - "7.62x39mm - Modified from the classic AK-47 the AK-47 LMG includes a 75 round drum magazine, and shares most of the characteristics of the
AK-47."
Game Info - 75 rounds per magazine, 6 mags (increased for gunners). Fully Auto Only, no zoom

SCAR-H SV (Rifleman)
Description - "7.62x51mm - This version of the SCAR-H rifle comes with a standard barrel and improved optics, making it better for long-range shooting."
Game Info - 20 rounds per mag, 10 mags (increased for riflemen), Single Shot, 2x and 4x Zoom

Thanks to Xbox365.com for the information. You can read their full article here.

Xbox news for the Month of May.

gerlach — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:20:00 GMT

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Less than a month after E3, the buzz about Microsoft gaming continues to gain momentum. While others in the industry are clearly focused on launching computers, we are squarely focused on delivering next-generation games and entertainment. And with a growing list of games awards, coupled with our recent Xbox Live spring platform features update, the Microsoft gaming story is top of minds this summer and beyond.

Awards: Recognizing Gaming Excellence

Not only will Xbox 360 feature 160 games by the end of the year, those games– and their counterparts on Games for Windows – represent the finest gaming experiences available on any platform. Windows Vista and many of the showcase titles from first- and third-party publishers had an incredible showing, garnering a flood of awards and nominations.

For the full list of the awards and accolades received at E3, please check out. http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2006/06/09/535618.aspx.

Windows Vista Beta 2 Release and Spec Information

On May 23 at WinHEC, Microsoft took one step closer to final Windows Vista code with the release of Windows Vista Beta 2 for IT professionals and developers with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions. Windows Vista Beta 2 is a significant milestone for Microsoft and gamers, as the new operating system will offer innovative gaming features and an incredibly immersive entertainment experience for everyone from casual gamers to hardcore enthusiasts.

Microsoft also recently announced Windows Vista’s hardware specifications so that consumers can prepare for the launch of the celebrated operating system. "Vista-capable" machines must have at least an 800MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and a graphics card that can run DirectX 9. "Premium Ready" machines will need a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and a graphics card that supports the new Windows Display Driver Model in order to run Windows Vista’s high-end features such as Aero-glass.

Spring Platform Features Update Brings New Features and Fixes

Earlier this week, Microsoft deployed its Spring Platform Features Update, a massive overhaul of Xbox Live features and other Xbox tools. While a complete list of updates is online at xbox.com, a small sample of the most popular features includes:

New background download manager gives gamers the ability to queue up and download six high definition items at a time including playable game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, music videos and movie trailers while actively playing games or browsing the dashboard. As an added benefit, if gamers engage in multiplayer gameplay while downloads are in process, the new background download manager will automatically pause the download queue until the multiplayer session is complete ensuring a continuously optimal gameplay experience.
Custom background music now continues to play without interruption during game loads and when transitioning from game to game or disc content.
During music play, the music playback screen now showcase the artist, song title and time remaining on the song along with a visualizer showing which song on the playlist or album is currently playing.
DVD movie bookmarking now allows gamers to pause a movie at any point, put in a game for gameplay and return to the movie at the exact point it left off.
Improved DVD movie playback for a smoother, higher quality viewing experience, including additional VGA support.

Xbox Live Marketplace Updates: From Cards to Pirate Ships

During E3, "UNO" (MGS) hit Xbox Live Marketplace, and has since become the single-most successfully-demoed game on the service. Its demo-to-purchase rate is between 40-45% (depending on the day), beating "Geometry Wars'" (MGS) previous record of 39%.

Two major game updates hit Marketplace in late May. Racing enthusiasts can now download a free "Project Gotham Racing 3" (MGS) expansion that adds several Cadillacs from the popular V-series to their racing stable, including the CTS-V, the XLR-V, and the STS-V. Meanwhile Bethesda added the Thieves Den content to their "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" offerings, allowing stealth-based characters to take over and command a pirate ship and crew!

Hot Summer Games

Gamers know a good thing when they see it, and they are turning out in droves to get their hands on the latest high definition games on Xbox 360. The top five selling Xbox 360 games sold in the United States in May were:

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Take 2)
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (Ubisoft)
Fight Night Round 3 (EA)
Battlefield 2: Modern Kombat (EA)
Major League Baseball 2K6 (Take 2)

The overall software attach rate for Xbox 360 is still a record-breaking 4.5 titles per console in the United States, and accessory attach rate remains at a record-breaking 2.9 units per console as well. As we head into the summer months, Xbox 360 gamers can’t wait to get their hands on upcoming favorites like "Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2" (Electronic Arts), "NCAA Football 2007” (Electronic Arts), the Xbox 360 exclusive "Chromehounds" (SEGA), the Xbox 360 exclusive "Dead Rising" (Capcom), "Madden NFL 2007" (Electronic Arts), and the Xbox 360 exclusive "Ninety Nine Nights" (MGS).

Additionally, the NPD Group released the findings of their PC Game Revenue survey which revealed that total U.S. consumer spending on Games for Windows Games reached $1.4 billion in 2005. Online subscriptions to specific Windows titles, such as "World of Warcraft" (Blizzard), and gaming web sites accounted for $344 million of the total. NPD's Anita Frazier stated, "The big message from this study is that as many have suspected, the decline of retail sales of PC Games does not fully reflect what is going on in that segment of the games industry. The total PC games market is approximately one-third larger than what pure retail sales have suggested."

As we head into summer and holiday, it is clear that the Microsoft gaming story has become the measuring stick for the gaming industry – and it's only getting better.

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Special Thanks to Tony Hynes. Happy (late) Birthday again Tony!

Microsoft's E3 Keynote!!!!!

gerlach — Tue, 09 May 2006 20:03:00 GMT

Just too much to handle. Check out Joystiq.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/engadget-and-joystiqs-live-coverage-of-microsofts-xbox-360-e3-ev/

Marketplace Content Timeline

gerlach — Mon, 08 May 2006 13:36:00 GMT

Xbox.com has a content timeline for the week of E3. Now, it does not include the not announced material that you see in this list.

Personally, when I get home from school, I am going download crazy (got some good broadband at home). I am in love with the way that Microsoft has decided to use the marketplace. Forget about reading trailer reviews, or getting low quality video. I am getting HD videos that I can play on my HD TV at home. Rock on Microsoft!

[Xbox.com, Bring E3 Home]