Saw this in the Sunday Circuit City flyer - both Call of Duty 2 and Ninety-Nine Nights for the Xbox 360 are on sale for $34.99. While I'm not crazy about N3, and this news certainly won't be enough to make me want it, if you don't have CoD2 yet, there's now no excuse to go pick it up.(beyond, "but I don't have an Xbox 360")

While you're there, be sure to give them crap about their backwards compatibility "installation" service... even if it is Labor Day.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:32 AM EDT

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Yes, it's Labor Day - the day when most of us get to sit back, barbecue and enjoy an extra day off from the hell that most of us call work. I don't know about your plans, but mine involve quite a bit of sleeping in, some grilling and lethargy in general. Here's to hoping yours goes as well as can be too - and for those of you stuck working the holiday, let me be the first to say the it's ok to think that the people making you work (both employers and customers) are bastards.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:28 AM EDT

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So last weekend I decided it was finally time to install Windows Media Connect on my PC so I could stream some music to my 360. Let me tell you this - I swear I've had easier times washing motor oil off a cat than I've had trying to get this cursed piece of software up and running.

Since the time I made that decision, I had to upgrade to XP Service Pack 2 (queue total system crash, a call to Microsoft support and reinstallation of Windows), was unable to get the WMC software to install (Queue another call to Xbox support with a referral to Microsoft support), am still trying to configure my router to allow the damn thing (queue that scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Chewbacca is pounding on the hyperdrive with a tool) and am just about at my wits end. This evening's final straw was when I broke down and posted the problem on the Xbox.com forums just to be told that the question won't even be posted until a moderator approves it. So much for getting that problem fixed anytime soon.

So after an entire wasted day (again) with nothing to show for it but the fact that my jaw is aching from how long it's been clenched. In short, here's a big F.U. to Windows Media Center. Hey Microsoft, if you want the 360 to really be the central hub of an entertainment center, why don't you make some software that's actually SIMPLE to use. A USB plug & play connection certainly would help.

For those wondering how far I finally got, I can get the connection to complete if I connect my PC directly to the 360, but can't get anything to recognize if it's running through my router. I configured all the port forwarding addresses, adjusted my firewall, disabled my anti-virus software, etc - nothing seems to work.

Oh, and as for the cat, stop your letter writing now - It's a long story, but no, I did not put the oil on the cat - the little bugger jumped into a pan of it.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:28 AM EDT

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Despite my love for the series, I missed out on picking Soul Calibur III up at release as I was too busy saving money for the Xbox 360 launch to buy just about anything. Well, it looks like I'll finally be grabbing this one as I noticed that most retailers have recently dropped the price of the game to $19.99 - that's just too tempting to pass up.

As soon as I get a chance - and some free cash - I'll have to make a point of grabbing this along with the also recently dropped to $19.99 Shadow of the Colossus. I've also noticed that for some reason, EB and Gamestop are selling the game through Amazon.com for $16.99, so if you've got some deals with Amazon, that may be the way to go.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:22 AM EDT

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While there are a lot of releases this week, there really isn't much to get excited about. Playstation 2 owners get Yakuza, PSP owners finally get Loco Roco, Xbox 360 owners without Xbox Live finally get a shot at playing Geometry Wars and quite a few systems get the thrill of driving in a never ending sequence of left turns with Nascar '07.

If I had to pick a "Worst name for a game" of the week (or even year) award, it would have to go to "3 Great Games for Girls" - ladies, don't bombard me with e-mails, I sure as hell didn't name the damn thing, and find it just as insulting as you probably do. In my little fantasy world, that title would probably include Soul Calibur 2, Halo 2 and ESPN NFL2K5, because they're just great games and any woman who could kick my ass in all three would probably get a marriage proposal on the spot. Until then, I'll just have to hope that the college student who managed to down a 6 pound burger is still single.

Aaanyway, here are the week's scheduled releases;

• Perimeter: Emperor's Testament - PC - 9/05/06
• The Secret Files: Tunguska - PC - 9/05/06
• Backyard Baseball 2007 - PC - 9/06/06
• Guilty Gear: Judgment - PSP - 9/06/06
• Harlem Globetrotters World Tour - GBA - 9/06/06
• Loco Roco - PSP - 9/06/06
• Pro Stroke Golf: World Tour 2007 - XBX - 9/06/06
• Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots - GBA - 9/06/06
• Scramble - 360 - 9/06/06
• Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run - PS2 - 9/06/06
• Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run - XBX - 9/06/06
• Test Drive: Unlimited - 360 - 9/06/06
• Uno/Skip-Bo- GBA - 9/06/06
• World Championship Poker: All In - PSP - 9/06/06
• Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged - 360 - 9/06/06
• Yakuza - PS2 - 9/06/06
• Bad Day L.A. - PC - 9/07/06
• D.I.R.T.: Origin Of The Species - PC - 9/07/06
• NASCAR 07 - PS2 - 9/07/06
• NASCAR 07 - PSP - 9/07/06
• NASCAR 07 - XBX - 9/07/06
• Brain Food Games - PC - 9/08/06
• Scrabble Complete with Clue - PC - 9/08/06
• 3 Great Games for Girls - PC - 9/09/06

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:13 AM EDT

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You know, I'm not really sure what to think about Capcom's upcoming title Okami - on one hand, the game's beautiful and distinctive visual style makes me think that the game is going to be a must have for me, and most of the things I've seen of the game certainly seem to bear that out. Then there are other times when I see something in the game that just make me go "meh". I'm hoping that some of the lamer elements of the game I've seen (such as dodging giant rolling boulders) are going to be the exception and not the rule.

Rather than rambling on about this point, I'll let you see what I'm talking about - here's the E3 trailer for Okami - you'll probably come away with the some of the same thoughts I've expressed here.

Here's to hoping the game is as distinctive as it's art style. Okami is currently scheduled to be released exclusively for the Playstation 2 on September 20th, 2006.

As usual, no dice on getting the embedded video to show in the archives, so click here to see the video. 

Posted by nylatenite at 1:04 AM EDT

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Just when you thought retailers couldn't get any more sleazy, a story like this comes along. Kotaku is reporting that Circuit City is currently offering to "install" backwards compatibility on the Xbox 360 for the low, low sum of $28.99. Even worse, the in-store advertisement for this "wonderful" service is misleading as well - just take a look at some of the text;

"• Every game* will be playable in high definition.
• Every original Xbox game* will be upscaled to 720p and 1080i, and will take advantage of Xbox 360's anti-aliasing capabilities, delivering a picture that is clear and crisper than anything available on Xbox.

*Refer to the original Xbox games list to ensure compatibility on the Xbox 360." -Circuit City in-store ad for Xbox 360 backwards compatibility installation

Now then, for those of you who aren't familiar with the Xbox 360 backwards compatibility feature, here are some facts...

1. First and foremost, Xbox 360 backwards compatibility is FREE. Let me repeat this, Xbox 360 backwards compatibility is FREE. That's right, you log onto Xbox Live (or request the free disc from Microsoft if you don't have access to Live, or go to Xbox.com, download the files and burn them to CD/DVD yourself), put a supported original Xbox game in your 360, automatically get prompted for the BC emulator, download it and play. It's not hard and it sure as hell shouldn't cost $28.99.
2. "Every game will be playable in high definition" does not mean "Every Xbox 360 game is playable" - in fact, most Xbox games are NOT playable via backwards compatibility at this time.
3. Last time I checked, Circuit City wasn't Xbox.com - It seems pretty sleazy to make those kind of promises and then advise that the only way to get all the details is to access a website later. If you're not in the know, I'm quite sure you're not going to want to go home, read up on BC and then come back to the store to buy your 360 - and they know it.
4. Many games on the backwards compatibility list work, but do not work properly.

I can't wait for the consumer lawsuits to start rolling in on this one, because if ever there's been a case of deceptive advertising, this is it. Check out the original Kotaku article here for more details and click here for the official instructions on how to obtain and use the backwards compatibility feature on the Xbox 360. Oh, and if you work for Circuit City... shame on you!

Posted by nylatenite at 1:02 AM EDT

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ArsTechnica is reporting that Sony has officially confirmed what people have been saying all along about the low-end Playstation 3 model, namely that it will not be able to play most movies in the much hyped 1080p format. Here's why;

"As a result of Sony's decision to keep HDMI off the $499 PS3 model—likely as a cost-savings measure—those opting for the less-expensive console will effectively be left out of the 1080p goodness altogether. According to Sony, "copy-protected Blu-ray video discs can only output at 1080p using an HDMI cable connected to a device that is compatible with the HDCP standard." No HDMI cable, no 1080p. Sony here is not referring to the controversial Image Constraint Token for Blu-ray and HD DVD movies. Rather, they are referring to a provision in the AACS licensing agreement that strictly forbids 1080p output over anything but HDMI." - ArsTechnica

So just as it was for the "core" Xbox 360 and the "premium" model, there are plenty of reasons to shell out the additional $100 and go with the higher end model if you're going to be grabbing a Playstation 3 this holiday season. Check out the ArsTechnica article here for all the technical details.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:01 AM EDT

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In an interview with Gamespot, Ubisoft finally dropped the charade and officially confirmed that Assassin's Creed will be coming to the Xbox 360. According to Gamespot, the 360 version will be released simultaneously with the Playstation 3 version which should prove once and for all that the game has been in development on the 360 for some time, and thus validating many of the early reports from other sources that stated they had seen builds of Assassin's Creed on the 360.

For that reason, I don't think this bit of news can be taken as a sign that third party developers are abandoning the Playstation 3 or even a weakening in how third party developers view Sony - it's pretty clear that Assassin's Creed was supposed to be on the 360, and has probably been in production since before all of Sony's recent press fiascos. In other words, Assassin's Creed coming to the 360 isn't new, there was just something behind the scenes that was preventing the announcement - what it was is anyone's guess. (Though I'm guessing that somewhere along the way, money for an exclusivity window was mentioned and for whatever reason the deal fell through) For more details on the announcement, head over to the Gamespot article by clicking here.

Posted by nylatenite at 3:42 AM EDT

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After a few uncertain moments where Capcom hinted they could port Lost Planet over to other systems, Gamespot is reporting that Capcom has officially announced that Lost Planet is, and will remain, an Xbox 360 exclusive. Here's what Jun Tekeuchi, the producer of the game, had to say;

"Lost Planet is an exclusive Xbox 360 title. Typically when the development team sets out to create a game, we focus development of the title on a single platform and for Lost Planet that platform is the Xbox 360. We have no plans at this time of porting to or developing for another console as this would potentially dilute the final product." - Jun Takeuchi, Capcom

The big news comes a few questions later in the same article - apparently Capcom has been so startled by the sales of Dead Rising that they basically said they don't care if the 360 doesn't have a huge installed base in Japan.

"I think that the real concern is not the size of the Xbox 360 user base, but rather the close-minded tendencies of Japanese developers. Especially in recent years, many publishers are focusing their game development efforts more on the Japanese market with fewer and fewer publishers creating global development strategies.

Even with Japanese games released abroad, many publishers do not take those territories into consideration, even if the game has a very Japanese feel to it (we ourselves have been guilty of this until recently). This is often perceived as the developer just trying to reduce the amount of effort spent on development and forcing a game onto an unsuspecting market.

So, within this current industry atmosphere, we are looking at the global market and making decisions about what games to make based on the tastes of the consumers and gamers across the globe. Of course we wish there was a larger installed user base domestically in Japan, as do all Japanese developers and publishers. But the success of Dead Rising in America is proof that a Japanese developer/publisher can succeed globally with an Xbox 360 title." -- Jun Takeuchi, Capcom

When a Japanese developer comes out and says they don't care about the Japanese market, you know things are changing in the industry. Check out the Gamespot article here for more details on what Takeuchi had to say about Lost Planet.

Posted by nylatenite at 3:41 AM EDT

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