Microsoft Launches Xbox Live November Update November 1, 2010

The November update for the Xbox 360 is being sent through Xbox Live to all Xbox 360s that log in today and every day past that.  The new desktop update brings an overhaul to the Xbox 360’s Graphic User Interface and brings support for the Xbox Kinect perphial which is coming out Friday.  The update is required to access Xbox Live.

The November Update requires three different download procedures, none of which should take more than 5 minutes each to download and install.  You will also need to agree to a NEW Xbox Live terms of service before logging back in to play online.

With the update also comes the new ESPN software which is free to download and weighs in at about 40MB.  You will also need to download a new version of the Zune Marketplace which weighs in at about 35MB.  I haven’t tested if a lot of the other software requires an update as well but I do know the Halo Waypoint is continuing on it’s current version without need of an update.

Also since it is November 1st, today is the first day of the 10 dollar rate hike of the yearly Live subscription, anyone wishing to renew their Xbox Live account for another year will now have to pay $60US instead of the previous $50 US.

No More Heroes Coming to the PS3 and Move October 27, 2010

My favorite game series on the Wii is making the move to the Playstation 3 and it’s getting HD graphics in the settlement.  The first game of the series is being ported to the Playstation 3 with full Move Support, HD graphics, and extra features like a Cutscene Viewer (my favorite special feature games can have) and a seperate boss fight mode.  I am curious if they’re going to keep the mode in the Japanese release which puts all the female characters in sexy(er) outfits, but there’s no mention of that.

No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise is coming to the Playstation 3 in 2011.

PSP Go Drops Price in US to $199 October 25, 2010

The PSP Go, considered by many internationally as a complete failure, has gotten a price drop in the US from the original $250US launch price to $199US, putting the PSP Go at the same price as a PSP-3000 bundled with a game and memory stick.

The PSP Go was really a bad idea all around, however some good did come of it.  The reason why the PSP Go did not do so well is likely because of the price premium and the incompatabilty with PSP games that came on discs (which was the whole PSP AAA market pre-Go).  People didn’t want to pay an extra-fifty dollars for a PSP that wouldn’t run most games, regardless of how “cool” it looked.  They also knew that current PSPs, as long as you had a high enough capacity Memory Stick Pro Duo, would be able to run any games downloaded off the Playstation Network just as well as a Go would, making the higher price a complete waste.

That said, it is nice that a lot of games that are no longer manufactered on UMD format have migrated to digital versions for download on the Playstation Network, allowing me to play a lot of games on my regular PSP that are no longer on store shelves like Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.  I wish Infected would make the jump to the digital platform as that is still my favorite PSP game and it’s so unfortunate most people have not been able to play Planet Moon Studio’s masterpiece since the game has been out of print for a few years.

BlizzCon Begins Today October 22, 2010

BlizzCon 2010 has begun today and most of the first day’s news has been about the highly anticipated Diablo III, the sequel to 2000’s Game of the Year Diablo II.  Diablo II is considered by many still to this day to be the finest Role Playing Game ever made, and it defiantly plays like a father to the system that would become World of Warcraft’s interface.

The new World of Warcraft expansion is expected to also be previewed, as well as some other goodies, all ending with a performance by Tenacious D.

Video Game Voters Network Day of Action October 19, 2010

I’m a member of the Video Game Voters Network, as I’m sure plenty of you who view the website are as well.

Today, in anticipation for the November 2nd Supreme Court review of the unconstitutional California Video Game law, the VGV Network is holding a day of action.

Their request of their members is to simply pledge this:

I pledge to support video games

That’s it.  You can check out their website and sign up for their newsletter if you wish.  Other members of the organization who have written newsletters in the past include Stan “The Man” Lee and Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Launch Trailer October 18, 2010

It’s ten days away from release, and it’s demo is just fantastic, Lucasarts has released a launch trailer for Star Wars : The Force Unleashed II.

The trailers for this game have all had great CGI cutscenes, and it seems to partially explain how a game that kind of wrote itself into a corner at the end of the first game could have a sequel.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II is coming multiplatform October 26th, 2010.

Bungie Raising Halo Reach Level Cap When 117 Million Challenges Complete October 16, 2010

Well the title of this article is pretty much self-explanitory.  Currently there is a level cap in place for all players of Halo Reach, preventing them from going past the rank of Lt. Col Grade 3.  This is still the highest level cap needed to get an achievement in the game, but not the last possible rank one can reach by far, according to the Prima Game Guide, that rank is Reclaimer.

Bungie announced in their weekly update this week they will remove the current level cap when all Halo Reach players can complete a total of 117 million daily and weekly challenges, something that is expected to be reached by November if current trends hold.

Me, I’m still stuck in the Warrent Officer muck, unable to get to Captain, no matter how many daily achievements I get.

Uncharted 2 One Year Anniversary 24-hour MP Spree October 16, 2010

To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the release of Uncharted 2, last year’s must-own PS3 game (and a sequel to 2007’s must-own PS3 game), the Naughty Dog developers are planning a 24 hour multiplayer spree which is going on right now as I post this.  To get in on it, just load up Uncharted 2 any time before Midnight PST tonight and join the “Best of The Lab” playlist before matchmaking.

Anyone who participates will have a special anniversary skin unlocked for them next week.  Uncharted 2 is a Playstation 3 exclusive.  You can find a copy of it on shelves right now, but be aware a Game of the Year Edition chock full of DLC goodies and a reduced price is out now and it’s a much better deal than a regular edition.

If you want to see the review of Uncharted 2 I did shortly after it’s release last year, take a look.

Dead Space iPad Confirmed October 16, 2010

EA held a press conference recently to show their latest wares in the iOS department.  Among other games promised which mostly look to be handheld versions of well known series, a nice gem was in the pile.  Dead Space was announced to be coming to the iPad and iPhone some time in December 2010.  They did say it was going to be a third person non rails game which will bridge the story between Dead Space 1 and 2.  It will be enhanced for the iPad with better visuals.

It seems to be a common thread recently that games that I have an interest in just at the time of release or just around the time of release get an iOS version announced.  I’m not complaining mind you, I’ve been wanting to play a Dead Space game on my iPhone since my first playthrough of Dead Space Extraction.  I’m glad EA is taking their two newest properties (Mirror’s Edge and Dead Space) and really shining them up.  Releasing them in Holiday 2008, one of the biggest seasons for game releases in a long time, they suffered on shelves for months until price drops and positive reviews brought people to pick them up.  Mirror’s Edge for the iPhone (and iPad) is probably one of the best games on the platform, certainly one of the most addictive.  I can’t wait to see how Dead Space plays on my iPhone.

Dead Space 2 Collector’s Edition Confirmed October 15, 2010

Retailers like GameStop and Amazon have started listing a Dead Space 2 Collector’s Edition on their websites, and have included with those listings a complete specifications as to all the goodies that are coming for the edition, along with a picture of what the CE is going to look like.

A bit of disclosure here, EA had been teasing doing a Collector’s Edition for Dead Space 2 since they announced the game and had been taking a list of possible goodies to include from the Dead Space community through different means like Facebook.  This is why you’ll notice in my “What Makes for a Good Collector’s Edition” video I call out the developers of Dead Space 2 directly because I remembered that promotion.  Most of what the developers were getting for ideas in goodies were actually pretty terrible, ranging in mostly fluff pieces with no substance.  I think if I remember correctly a pretty highly desired item was a scale replica of The Marker from Dead Space.  Sure it would’ve looked pretty, but honestly it only serves a purpose as a paperweight.  Fortunatly that’s not what’s coming with this edition.

The real goodie included in the CE will be a replica Plasma Cutter with functioning LED lights.  There will also be a soundtrack CD included (with a “Scoring of Dead Space” featurette, no idea how they’re doing that), a DLC code for a special suit and matching weapon, and a special lithograph.

The Dead Space 2 Collector’s Edition will retail for $79.99 US and will release for the Xbox 360 and PS3 on January 25th, 2011.  Also remember that all PS3 versions of Dead Space 2 will include an HD version of Dead Space Extraction for the Playstation Move.