This spring, buy an Xbox 360 Elite and get “Halo 3: ODST” and “Forza Motorsport 3”

Today, Microsoft is shipping the new Xbox 360 Elite Spring Bundle, which offers more value than ever this spring. For the same price of $299, the Xbox 360 Elite console now comes with two highly acclaimed Xbox 360 exclusives: “Halo 3: ODST” and “Forza Motorsport 3.” The Xbox 360 Elite Spring Bundle is perfect for those who want a premium gaming and entertainment experience.
Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” lets players experience the fateful events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as well as play the new “Firefight” cooperative multiplayer mode. Additionally, “Halo 3: ODST” contains the complete “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a separate game disc, including all 24 multiplayer maps. As an added bonus, the “Halo 3: ODST” game disc grants access to the upcoming “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE, which begins May 3. Anyone who purchases the Xbox 360 Elite Spring Bundle will have the opportunity to join in this highly anticipated beta test on Xbox LIVE and experience a sampling of the multiplayer modes in “Halo: Reach,” which launches this fall.

The highest-rated racing game of this console generation, “Forza Motorsport 3” makes it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world’s most exotic and exquisite cars. Live the most realistic racing experience ever as you take the wheel of more than 400 of the most beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. The “Forza Motorsport” online community is also alive and thriving, as players compete on Xbox LIVE, sell and swap their custom Liveries and tuning set-ups via their personalized Storefronts and the Auction House, and share videos, photos and paint designs with friends. And with new Game Add-ons releasing every month, this award-winning driving experience is only getting better in 2010.

The Xbox 360 Elite Spring Bundle includes a 120GB Hard Drive that offers the storage to download games, the latest demos, TV shows, movies, music and more straight to your Xbox 360 console through Xbox LIVE, and is available while supplies last.

number of view: 38

Hustle Kings is an amazing online pool simulation that has given a lot of PSN network users a real buzz. As of today Sony has issued on their Playstation.Blog that Hustle Kings will be updated with video & voice chat as well in-game launching.

Since the game launched, the Hustle Kings team has been watching with interest how the game has been received and where you guys think it can be made even better. After weighing up a lot of commentary from the community and how we’ve seen the game played online, we’re gearing up to release our first title update for the game. First out of the gate, we’ve added some amazing new features that will greatly enhance your experience with Hustle Kings, as well as some general updates to the game as listed below:

• General improvements to game stability
• In-game Voice Chat
• In-game Video Chat
• Game Launching from PlayStation Home
• More stats for the loading screens
• The sound effect for the chalk has been turned down
• Chalk can now be used by pressing the R3 button as well as shaking your SIXAXIS
• Free Play mode
• Blue chalk only online rooms
• Online: Opponents are now allowed to change view while watching the player at the table
• Online: The player that breaks is now randomly chosen
• A new, “minimal” aim line
• Dampening effect on the pockets, to stop accurate high powered shots from always bouncing out of the pockets
• Small adjustments to the fine tune aiming to make it easier to use

Soon after this update is out and you’ve had a chance to experience it all, we have more features coming via the PSN Store. First up will be the Time Saver Pack which is aimed at the Hustle Kings player who wants to experience everything the game has to offer, but doesn’t have the time to unlock all the items. This pack unlocks all the cues, avatars, balls, and the unlock packs from the in-game Hustle Kings Store.
If that weren’t enough, we’ve then got not one, but two awesome freebies to give away! Two bizarre and challenging Crazy Tables Packs are heading your way soon, adding a whole new dimension to your game when you want a fun challenge aside from regular pool. To whet your appetite check out these pics of the tables.

Crazy Tables are coming soon and they’ll be absolutely free! We’re already hard at work on even more exciting content for Hustle Kings for release later this year. If you haven’t already downloaded Hustle Kings, be sure to grab it today and start enjoying first-ever billiards simulator made exclusively for the PlayStation 3.

(Source)

number of view: 44

The FINAL FANTASY franchise has long been synonymous with the PlayStation brand – who could forget FINAL FANTASY VII on PSone and FINAL FANTASY X proved to be a landmark achievement when it launched on PS2. And, now we have the highly-anticipated FINAL FANTASY XIII for PlayStation 3 hitting store shelves today.

For those of you headed out to pick up your copy, we’re happy to announce that FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 offers an exclusive bonus offer for FINAL FANTASY XIV. Some of you may remember the announcement we made at our E3 press conference last June, but just a reminder that PS3 will be the only console you’ll be able to play FINAL FANTASY XIV when it launches in 2010.

Players who purchase a copy of FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 will receive a FINAL FANTASY XIV secret in-game item and be able to enter for a potential opportunity to become a beta tester for FINAL FANTASY XIV for PS3.

Included inside copies of the initial production run of FINAL FANTASY XIII for PS3 are Campaign Codes printed on a special SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS Point Card. Players can register at SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS and receive a code to unlock the special FINAL FANTASY XIV limited offer.

For additional details on FINAL FANTASY XIV, check out the official website and be sure to stay tuned to the PlayStation Blog for much more to come on the game this year.

Source

number of view: 59

A lot of viewers around the world have been watching as Valve hinted towards adding Steam support for mac users. Well guess what folks it’s official. Valve announced today it will bring Steam, Valve’s gaming service, and Source, Valve’s gaming engine, to the Mac.

Steam and Valve’s library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life series will be available in April.

“As we transition from entertainment as a product to entertainment as a service, customers and developers need open, high-quality Internet clients,” said Gabe Newell, President of Valve. “The Mac is a great platform for entertainment services.”

“Our Steam partners, who are delivering over a thousand games to 25 million Steam clients, are very excited about adding support for the Mac,” said Jason Holtman, Director of Business Development at Valve. “Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks APIs, and we have added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge. For example, Steam Play, in combination with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac. We expect most developers and publishers to take advantage of Steam Play.”

“We looked at a variety of methods to get our games onto the Mac and in the end decided to go with native versions rather than emulation,” said John Cook, Director of Steam Development. “The inclusion of WebKit into Steam, and of OpenGL into Source gives us a lot of flexibility in how we move these technologies forward. We are treating the Mac as a tier-1 platform so all of our future games will release simultaneously on Windows, Mac, and the Xbox 360. Updates for the Mac will be available simultaneously with the Windows updates. Furthermore, Mac and Windows players will be part of the same multiplayer universe, sharing servers, lobbies, and so forth. We fully support a heterogeneous mix of servers and clients. The first Mac Steam client will be the new generation currently in beta testing on Windows.”

Portal 2 will be Valve’s first simultaneous release for Mac and Windows. “Checking in code produces a PC build and Mac build at the same time, automatically, so the two platforms are perfectly in lock-step,” said Josh Weier, Portal 2 Project Lead. “We’re always playing a native version on the Mac right alongside the PC. This makes it very easy for us and for anyone using Source to do game development for the Mac.”

Support for the Mac in Source and Steamworks is available to third parties immediately. Interested developers should contact Jason Holtman at jasonh@valvesoftware.com.

number of view: 49

A Nintendo executive has ruled out the need for any imminent price cuts on the Nintendo Wii.

Speaking to Gamebeat, Nintendo of America’s Cammie Dunaway said that a reduction in price isn’t necessary due to high demand for the console.

“Right now, we continue to see demand at very strong levels. It’s tough to find a Wii now. If we hit 100 stores in the area, we would find Wiis in only 20% of them today,” he explained.

“That tremendous strength we had in December really wiped the pipeline clean. Our pipeline, the retailer pipeline. And so with that kind of demand, it doesn’t suggest the need for any pricing actions.”

Dunaway added that Nintendo’s new Vitality Sensor, as well as the upcoming Zelda, will help the company put on a decent show at this year’s E3.

number of view: 134

Dear Xbox LIVE members,

Since the beginning, Microsoft has made an investment in the security and safety of Xbox LIVE and created tools and monitoring practices to ensure it is a fun and welcoming entertainment experience for people of all races, nationalities, religions and sexual orientations. And thanks to this investment and the enthusiasm of community members like you, we’re proud to be the strongest and most diverse online community of its kind at 23 million.

The Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct are designed to create a place where people can safely enjoy all of the ways to interact on our service, be it online multiplayer gaming, photo sharing, Netflix parties, or social games such as 1 vs. 100, without fear of discrimination or harassment. As the service evolves and our customers provide us with feedback, these rules evolve to incorporate new features or changes in how people wish to interact.

With that in mind, I’d like to announce an update to the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct which will allow our members to more freely express their race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation in Gamertags and profiles. Under our previous policy, some of these expressions of self identification were not allowed in Gamertags or profiles to prevent the use of these terms as insults or slurs. However we have since heard feedback from our customers that while the spirit of this approach was genuine, it inadvertently excluded a part of our Xbox LIVE community. This update also comes hand-in-hand with increased stringency and enforcement to prevent the misuse of these terms.

I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us strong: diversity in gaming and entertainment options, and diversity in the people that make up this amazing community. I look forward to seeing you on LIVE soon.

Jump in,

Marc Whitten
Gamertag – Notwen
www.twitter.com/notwen

number of view: 43

So, everyone has been anxiously waiting on what this sequel could be for Sony, well here it is ladies and gentlemen Socom 4. Here’s what “Zipper Interactive” had to say about it!
“I wanted to drop in and deliver some truly exciting news – on behalf of everyone here at Zipper Interactive, I’m pleased to announce that SOCOM 4 is indeed in development and is slated for release exclusively on PlayStation 3 this fall’.

Of course, as with any new announcement, what you really want to know are the details: Who’s in your squad? Where have they been deployed? What kind of threat are they up against? Though we’ll be revealing the answers to all these questions and plenty more throughout 2010, we don’t want to leave you completely in the dark, so what we will tell you is that a militant revolutionary has unexpectedly seized control in an important South Asian country. As the Ops Com, your mission is to command an elite five-man squad charged with stopping his aggressive agenda before it’s too late. In only six days, you must lead your team through a hostile jungle and urban environments against an army of well-armed rebel insurgents that completely outnumber you.
If that setup doesn’t whet your appetite enough, you should also be pleased to know that in addition to the SOCOM’s single-player operation, players will also be able to enjoy a 32-person multiplayer mode that boasts more Special Forces units than ever before!
If you crave even more information, then the guys at IGN have you covered with their exclusive first-look preview at what we’ve shown so far. Editor and shooting game fanatic, Ryan Geddes, dropped by our studio earlier in the week to check out SOCOM 4 for himself, so be sure to read the full IGN article to find out what he thinks.

But wait! There’s more! As part of our continued announcement celebration, the folks at GameTrailers TV will air the world premiere trailer for SOCOM 4 tonight at 12:30 am EST/PST. All you have to do is tune in to Spike TV when the time is right and let your eyes and ears do the rest. Don’t miss it!
Oh, and before we let you go, we wanted to send a message to our SOCOM and MAG fans all over the world. First, if you play MAG and wonder what this means for the game’s future, wonder no more – we’re still fully committed to supporting MAG for a long, long time and the addition of another game in our lineup doesn’t change that. Second, it’s been great to hear from SOCOM fanatics located in every corner of the globe as we led into today’s announcement. We’re extremely excited to be attached to this beloved franchise again and knowing that so many people wanted us to return to something that already meant so much to us has been both inspiring and touching – so thank you to all of you who wanted it to happen! We look forward to living up to your expectations.

Here’s some screenshots. We will try to get as much info on this subject during the next few days so please check back here at D-GU.com!

number of view: 101

If anyone has played EA’s stunning GOWIII action-adventure game, we are sure you are ready for some new awesome downloadable content! As of March 4th, 2010 EA will be releasing a new DLC entitled “Dark Forest”. This news was presented on the Dante’sTeam facebook page earlier today. Dark Forest will enhance the game by adding new relics, a new costume, and hopefully a lengthy prequel level that will tie us over until the second pack which is entitled The Trials of St. Lucia which is set to be releasing on April 29th, 2010. Here’s some screenshots that was taken of the new pack “Dark Forest’ today.

number of view: 49

Today Microsoft and Turn 10 announced the widespread availability of four “Forza Motorsport 3” Game Add-ons, previously available only to those who purchased new standard and Limited Collector’s Edition copies of the game. Mobilizing millions of “Forza Motorsport 3” fans, Turn 10 is calling on all racers, tuners and artists to assist in the global relief effort for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. For every purchase of the “VIP Membership Car Pack” during the month of March, Turn 10 pledges to donate $10 to Save the Children up to $100,000. So now you can enjoy more of the “Forza Motorsport 3” content you’ve been asking for, while also donating to an important cause.

Now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft points, the “VIP Membership Car Pack” gives you exclusive access and visibility in the “Forza Motorsport” community. You’ll receive special recognition on scoreboards, in multiplayer lobbies, on ForzaMotorsport.net, in the “Forza Motorsport 3” Storefront, and it places your VIP auctions at the top of the “Forza Motorsport 3” Auction House. VIP membership also includes these five must-have VIP Cars: 2008 Aston Martin DBS, 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 2007 Ferrari F430 Scuderia, 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997). (IMPORTANT NOTE: VIP Membership is also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in new Limited Collector’s Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

Additionally, starting today on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, you’ll find other great “Forza Motorsport 3” track and car packs, previously only available to those who purchased a new copy of the standard or Limited Collector’s Edition of the game. These include:

“Sidewinder Proving Grounds Track Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Download and race on the updated classic Sidewinder Proving Grounds from “Forza Motorsport 2.” This track pack includes 18 challenging courses, designed with various levels of difficulty and set to test your technical driving mettle. Think you can top the leaderboards on Sidewinder? Prove it! (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in new standard and Limited Collector’s Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

“Benchmark High Speed Ring Track Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Download and race on the Benchmark High Speed Ring environment. This track pack is a veritable race day playground! Test and tune your favorite rides on the four-mile Benchmark Speedway oval or create epic Xbox LIVE multiplayer games of “Tag” and “Keep It Clean” on the massive wide-open Benchmark parking lot. (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in new standard and Limited Collector Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

“Motorsport Legends Car Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Fans of classic cars will be able to collect, customize, and race 10 of the most revered roadsters: 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale, 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage, 1981 BMW Motorsport M1, 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi, 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth, 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400, 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R, and the 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in new standard and Limited Collector Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

number of view: 27

Scinto submitted this news on the BC2CC tool:

After several weeks in development we are finally ready to unveil the first public beta (Beta 0.8 of the Bad Company 2 CC tool.}After several weeks in development we are finally ready to unveil the first public beta (Beta 0. of the Bad Company 2 CC tool.

This version is only compatible with the R1 version of the game (release version). We will have a patch available by the time R3 (The day 1 patch) version becomes available that fixes the majority of bugs and adds a large amount of new features.

Here’s an overview of what our tool is capable of in its limited R1 state:

BC2CC Admin tool features:

Multiple server support: working

Playerlist: working but not split by team (information isn’t returned in R1)

Serveroptions: only used to set a game password right now

Map list: working, next map is still wonky in R1, occasionally works, other times it doesn’t it also loads a random map in the maplist instead of the nextmap. (+ the list currently doesn’t update when switching gamemodes, that’s our tool, patch for that tomorrow)

Reserved slots: fully working

Banlist: Working, but gets cleared after a restart, haven’t tested with R3 yet. Removing individual bans doesn’t work in R1. Should work in R3. To remove a ban now you’ll need to clear the entire banlist.

Ingame commands: Fully working, you can whitelist players to use specific ingame commands. (@kick, @ban, @unban (doesn’t work at the moment), @restart map, @nextmap (wonky doesn’t always work))
Known bugs:
- unbanning individual players doesn’t work (you need to clear all bans to remove them)
- Maplist doesn’t update properly
- nextmap doesn’t always work
- Playerlist doesn’t show teams
- Ingame commands currently only work when SOMEONE has the tool opened, they aren’t shared between tools (Won’t be supported till we build the serverside daemon)
- Occasional crash bugs
- Ingame vars cannot be set till R3
- Only set password is supported on the serveroptions page
- Punkbuster cannot be set yet (will be supported shortly after the R3 release through an additional tab with all pb options)
- Updater always prompts that there is an update (semi bug, we have a higher version number listed already, will ask the guys to remove this for now)
We hope this tool gives server administrators the tools they need for the first few days of launch till the R3 patch is released. After this we will release a more extended toolset that allows for full server control.

Visit our download section to download beta 0.8.
Be sure to check this out for those getting their servers ready.

UPDATE: Version 1.0 will be out tomorrow following the Day 1 patch. Be sure to check back.

number of view: 35