Halo Waypoint Updated for Halo Reach Beta! April 28, 2010

When I went into the Halo Waypoint tonight to watch the first in a series of Halo Reach live action movies (because they haven’t been uploaded to Xbox Live for download yet) I noticed the waypoint was recently patched. When I checked to see what was new I noticed a new avatar award.

All Halo Reach beta players will be given an exclusive avatar item from the Halo Waypoint just for playing. If you want to play in the Reach beta, buy a copy of Halo ODST, if you’ve already got one, pop in disc one to download the Reach client when it becomes avalible.

Once the beta goes live you should get the item by simply logging into Halo Waypoint after playing some. If you haven’t downloaded the Halo Waypoint and you’re a Halo fan, get to it and greatly enhance your Halo experience!

Halo Reach’s beta will go live May 3rd, 2010 for all owners of Halo ODST with an Xbox Live Gold account (naturally since the Beta is MP only).

The History of Remedy Part 2 April 27, 2010

Machinima.com has released the second part of their history series on Remedy Entertainment, the makers of Alan Wake.  since this is a machinima.com video, it’s recomended that you disable annotations or you won’t be able to see half the screen.

New Steam Client Released! Mac Version Soon? April 27, 2010

Valve has released their much anticipated updated Steam client.  For those of you running the older versions of Steam, make sure to check for updates and make sure that the update installs, or you could just download the client through their website.  Steam is required to run games like Team Fortress 2, Portal, and Left 4 Dead, and enables achievements, friends lists, and online server lists.

This new version is expected to be compatable with Mac, although Valve hasn’t announced the release of a dedicated Mac client yet.  However it was promised for this month, and it’s almost over.

Bright Falls is Live on Xbox Live April 26, 2010

For those of you who have been waiting all day (and yesterday) for the first two episodes of Bright Falls, the live action Alan Wake prequel series, the gaming gods have finally smiled and released these episodes to Xbox Live to play on your TVs and HDTVs.

The series will follow a regular weekly release schedule for the six episode miniseries, which will culminate in the final two episodes being released the night before Alan Wake’s release.

Alan Wake will be released on May 18th, 2010 for the Xbox 360.  If you don’t have an Xbox 360 and want to watch the series, they will be released online on their official website.

Of course, if you prefer since you’re here already, you can watch the first two episodes here.  I don’t mind.

Playstation 3 Preps for 3D Today! April 23, 2010

Sony has released Playstation firmware version 3.30 this morning in the US to all model PS3s.  The required update offers some enhanced trophy and add on organization options, but the big news is that the update also includes the code for native 3D support, something that will be released alongside the new Sony 3D Bravia TVs.

Effectivelly the PS3 has done it again with being a forward-reaching Blu-Ray Disc player, and is still supporting new features that earlier players just can’t.

3D Blu-Ray support has still not officially started yet.  You will likely still need a 3D HDTV and a compatable HDMI cable, as well as a 3D capable disc and the required glasses to have full 3D support.  Sounds like a lot huh?

Bungie Releases New Halo Reach ViDoc! April 22, 2010

Bungie has released a new multiplayer behind the scenes ViDoc to YouTube, probably in anticipation for the Halo Reach MP Beta, which is coming out May 3rd, and gameXcess will be reporting on.  Currently it’s strictly on their YouTube channel, but you can be sure it’ll probably be uploaded to Xbox Live in HD pretty soon if it hasn’t already been.

Alan Wake to Recieve an Xbox Live Mini-Series April 22, 2010

In a post from the completely awesome department, Kotaku is reporting that Xbox Live is preparing to release a six episode live action mini-series that will serve as a prequel to Alan Wake.

The series will be released weekly, every Sunday (starting with this one) for Xbox Live Gold members and the day after for Xbox Live Silver members.  The episodes will then appear on brightfalls.net the following day.  Two episodes will kick off this Sunday, with one episode released weekly.  It will lead up to the final two episodes being released on May 17th, the day before the release of the game.

This is without a doubt the most awesome news I’ve read in a long time.  I have been waiting five years for the release of Alan Wake, and this is a definate sign that the hype machine for the game is starting.

I can remember only a few times a live action prequel miniseries has been released to promote a game.  F.E.A.R. had a miniseries which was only concluded in the Collector’s Edition.  Halo 3, since they weren’t getting a Halo movie made, had a live action miniseries (but was only three parts) directed by what would become the team that made District 9.

Halo Reach Coming in 3 Editions (2 Special) April 22, 2010

Bungie.net officially announced today that their newest game, Halo Reach, will have not one, but two special editions.

Following in the footsteps of Halo 3, Halo Reach will feature a Collector’s Edition and a Legendary Edition.  The CE will cost 80 dollars US, and feature a special case, downloadable exclusive elite armor, and a box of behind the scenes material.  The LE will cost 150 dollars US and feature everything the CE has, as well as downloadable Spartan armor and a 10 pound diaorama of the entire Noble Team as done by McFarlane toys.

I can still remember thinking that Halo 3’s Legendary Edition at it’s 130 dollar price point, was going to sell out immediatly.  Months later the retailers were trying their best to offload the giant packages and I saw prices for it as low as 30 dollars.  I do think that Bungie is repeating a mistake here, what made the Legendary Edition good was not the helmet, but the exclusive third DVD with the extra documentaries and paticularly the Halo 1 and 2 commentary.  It doesn’t look like any DVDs will ship with these editions, begging the question as to why bother picking them up.  I am curious however what is in the box of behind the scenes material.

The History of Remedy Part 1 April 21, 2010

Machinima.com, famous for posting user’s movies rendered by game engines, is doing a multi part series on the history of Remedy Entertainment, better known as the fathers of Max Payne and Alan Wake.

I am a student of the history of video games, since G4TV no longer has their Icons show I’ve been missing these kinds of documentaries tremendously.

Trust me, since this is machinima.com’s video, make sure to turn off annotations when watching it, or you won’t be able to see more than 30 percent of the screen.

More parts coming soon!

Splinter Cell Conviction USB Content Released! April 16, 2010

For all of you who bought the defective Splinter Cell Conviction Collector’s Editions (IE, all of you who bought the Splinter Cell Conviction Collector’s Edition), the meat and potatos of the CE, the USB content, has been officially released on their website.

I’d like to directly link it, but I couldn’t get the direct link to the content.  However, here’s the link to the page where you can directly get the content.  A selection of wallpapers, the comic, some concept art, and the making of documentary should be in there, and it’s all nicely wrapped up in a quaint little zip file, gosh does anyone remember zip?  Kind of retro.

Enjoy everyone.