The B.P.H.P.

The Official Dashboard will be out on Monday, just a few days from the official launch of Kinect. Those who were in the preview program can now talk with their friends in Party chat again with the new audio codec and a slew of new features. Check out more below:


On November 1, 2010, there will be a mandatory service update to Xbox LIVE. This update will both add new features to your service and also enhance the interface, navigation, and responsiveness of Xbox LIVE.

Full details of the new features being added to your service can be found on xbox.com.

To prepare you for the update, here are some Frequently Asked Questions and resources you can refer to as needed:

Q: Is there anything I need to do to start the update?
A: Beginning on November 1, 2010, you will receive a notification that an update to Xbox LIVE is available as soon as you start your Xbox 360 console. Use your controller to accept the update according to the on-screen instructions.

Q: What if I decline the service update?
A: If you decline the update, you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE until the update is accepted. You will still be able to use all of the offline features of your Xbox 360 console. Xbox LIVE features will be unavailable until the update is complete.

Q: How long will the update take to complete?
A: The time required to complete the update will vary based on your Internet connection speed. However, for most users, the update will require between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. You will not be able to use your Xbox 360 console while the update is processing.

Q: How will I know that the update has completed successfully?
A: Once complete, your Xbox 360 will restart as usual. You will notice a change to the layout of the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, a new color scheme, and new fonts being used.

Q: What do I do if the update does not complete successfully?
A: In the unlikely event that the update does not complete, please visit www.support.xbox.com for information. This is the best resource for resolving any issues with your Xbox 360 console or LIVE service.

Thank you for being a valued member of Xbox LIVE. We hope you continue to enjoy the best in games, entertainment, and fun, brought to you by Xbox LIVE.

The Xbox LIVE Team

Halloween is a great time for kids to safely traverse their neighborhood in hopes of scoring the best candy, and also a great time to play scary games. I'll never forget the moments I had with Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 that entertained and freaked me out, alongside recent games like Dead Space and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.

Another week is behind us, so its time to enjoy the weekend! This is what I'll be playing:

This weekend I will be playing in the world of Albion, New Vegas, and Reach. I just reached (haha!) the Major rank and am slowly making my way towards Lt. Colonel, hopefully before the Noble Map Pack releases later in November.

For Fable III, I've mostly been going quest to quest and will probably take a small break from that to travel around and purchase more property and gain some guild points.

Fallout: New Vegas seems to be a bit improved with the patch, so I'll probably dive back into that some more.












Have a great weekend of gaming!

Fallout: New Vegas



Fallout New Vegas is going to take me quite some time to review as it's a huge game full of things to do, but I wanted to write a bit about how the game has treated me so far. Haven't run into the really bad bugs the game has been dishing out to some, but the game has frozen on me on three occasions which is pretty unpleasant. As I write this, a patch should be out for the console version, and the PC users should already have one to remedy the game breaking bugs. I wish they would have taken a bit more time to find and fix the bugs, but Fallout 3 originally had the same problem, but I still loved that game. It's like you have to almost look past the bugs and realize that the developers have crafted a massive world full of plenty of quests, weapons, and items to discover.

Ok, enough on the bugs, I'll talk about the game itself now. New Vegas plays almost exactly like Fallout 3 did in 2008, albeit some minor changes to the gameplay formula. It seems like you're able to explore the desert wasteland pretty quickly and there is no real tutorial since Obsidian seems that if you're playing New Vegas, you probably played Fallout 3, but there is information that recaps how to lock-pick, heal your limbs, use V.A.T.S, and the overall flow of the game.

Bugs aside, it seems to be a good follow-up to Fallout 3, so look out for a review for that in the near future

Fable III



Originally I was on the fence about getting Fable III. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed every game in the series so far, but all have always come short of the promises that were made from each game. The main feature that I was so excited to delve into with Fable II was it's co-op, and instead I was restricted to one screen and forced to play as a henchmen despite playing with a friend on Xbox Live. Well it seems Lionhead heard our cries and all of the has changed with Fable III, and overall so far the game seems to be the best in the series.

The great elements from the series are still here with a great world to interact with alongside the cheeky British humor, but now it's backed with a great storyline and simple controls.

I'm only a few hours in right now, but I hope to have a review in the near future, hopefully before Black Ops releases.

This week the Sequel to 3D Ultra MiniGolf arrives to the marketplace alongside Pinball FX 2. While Pinball is a free download, the tables inside the are all priced at 200 MSP each. Check out more below:

"Swing back into action with 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2, jam-packed with more holes, more fun and more minigolf hysteria! Score perfect hole-in-ones as you putt through 54 mind-bending holes in three outrageous themes. Play through the Haunted Manor, Manic Museum, Winter Wonderland or dare to create your own wacky course. Use a variety of silly power-ups to sabotage your opponents as you tee off in 4 player matches. It’s game time as you customize your character with over-the-top accessories including a diving helmet, elf ears, Roman sandals and more!"

Link To Trial- 3D Ultra MiniGolf 2 trial (94 MB)

Link o Full Game- 3D Ultra MiniGolf 2 (800 MSP)







"Pinball FX is back, and it is better than ever! Pinball FX2 offers brand new tables and a host of new features and improvements: new state-of-the-art physics model that surpasses anything available so far, full compatibility for Pinball FX owners, online races, hotseat and split-screen multiplayer modes, Operators Menu with custom settings and advanced play info."

Link To Content- Pinball FX 2 (FREE)

Even in the Western times the Undead have become a threat. But don't worry as Gunslingin' expert John Marston is ready to take them on. Check out the Undead Nightmare Pack!


"Unleashed upon the world of Red Dead Redemption. The Undead Nightmare Pack features an entirely new single-player campaign that follows John Marston as he tries to find a cure for the highly-infectious undead plague spreading across the frontier. In addition to this epic single-player adventure, the Undead Nightmare Pack also features a brand new multiplayer mode in addition to new gameplay mechanics, weapons, undead animals and mythical creatures."

Link to Content- Undead Nightmare Pack (800 MSP/ 1 GB)

Loved playing Red Dead Redemption's free roam, but grew tired of players constantly killing you? Well all that trouble is over with a new update just in time for tomorrow's release of the Undead Nightmare Pack. Players can now choose a free-roam environment where it is no longer possible to kill other players so you can explore the western area in peace of others seeking to kill you.

The Update is available now, and you must simply boot up either the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 version of the game.

The Noble Pack will be released on November 30th for 800 MSP ($10). Check out the maps in action below:

Last Week saw Vanquish, Fallout: New Vegas, DJ Hero 2 and more being released, and things don't slow down either this week.

Today you can pick up Dragon Age Origins: Ultimate Edition, and tomorrow will consist of the following: Fable III, Rock Band 3, The Force Unleashed 2, Smackdown vs. Raw 2011, and the Red Dead Redemption Addon the Undead Nightmare Pack.

Lots of games! After playing the Force Unleashed 2 demo, I'm really excited about that as well as Fable III.

What are you looking forward to?

Four new Arcade games are now available to check out on XBLA. Super Meat Boy and Pinball FX2 are apart of the Game Feast promotion, alongside Costume Quest and Dream Chronicles. Pinball FX2 is a free download where the individual tables will cost about 200 MSP each. Check out more on these games below:



"Super Meat Boy is a tough as nails platformer where you play as an animated cube of meat who's trying to save his girlfriend (who happens to be made of bandages) from an evil fetus in a jar wearing a tux. Our meaty hero will leap from walls, over seas of buzz saws, through crumbling caves and pools of old needles. Sacrificing his own well being to save his damsel in distress. Super Meat Boy brings the old school difficulty of classic retro titles we all know and love and stream lines them down to the essential no bull straight forward twitch reflex platforming. Ramping up in difficulty from hard to soul crushing SMB will drag Meat boy though haunted hospitals, salt factories and even hell itself. And if 300+ single player levels weren't enough SMB also throws in epic boss fights, tons of unlock able secrets, warp zones and hidden characters."

Link To Trial- Super Meat Boy (90 MB)

Link To Full Game- Super Meat Boy (800 MSP until Nov.)





"Rediscover Halloween in this imaginative RPG from Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions. Explore the monster-filled neighborhood of Auburn Pines, Autumn Haven Mall and Fall Valley Carnival. Collect magical costumes with super powers, unique weapons and special items as you hunt down quests. Level-up your heroic warrior and battle the evil overlords in this epic adventure to save Halloween!"

Link To Trial- Costume Quest trial (308 MB)

Link To Full Game- Costume Quest (1200 MSP)















"Welcome to a realm where fantasy meets reality. In "Dream Chronicles™", help heroine Faye rescue her husband and reverse the enchanted sleeping spell that has enveloped the town of Hope. Travel through a magical world as you find hidden objects and solve puzzles to unravel the threads of the mystery. Enjoy "Dream Chronicles™" alone or invite a friend to join in Co-Op mode."

Link To Trial- Dream Chronicles (129 MB)

Link To Full Game- Dream Chronicles trial (800 MSP)









"Pinball FX is back, and it is better than ever! Pinball FX2 offers brand new tables and a host of new features and improvements: new state-of-the-art physics model that surpasses anything available so far, full compatibility for Pinball FX owners, online races, hotseat and split-screen multiplayer modes, Operators Menu with custom settings and advanced play info."

Link To Content- Pinball FX 2 (FREE)

Xbox.com is a great site, in fact I use a lot for my posts and it's nice to see that it will be getting more user friendly in preparation for the Kinect Launch in about 2 weeks. Major Nelson has all the details as usual, and here are a few:

*Browser based Avatar editor: Edit your avatar and preview avatar items before purchase

*Combined views for messages, friend and game requests

*Improved notification of your account subscription

*Leverage Family Reports to understand what your family is doing and how they are using LIVE

*Play web games with your Xbox LIVE friends on the web or on Windows Phone 7

*Marketplace: More powerful search and more intuitive ways to browse and filter




Source- Major Nelson's Blog

From the previews I have read about Super Meat Boy, it seems to be described as a fun yet difficult game that will test your platforming skills. The good news is that we will to get to check it out tomorrow and if you purchase the game between Wednesday and sometime in October, you can purchase the game for 800 MSP instead of the regular 1200 MSP price originally slated for the game.






"Super Meat Boy is a tough as nails platformer where you play as an animated cube of meat who's trying to save his girlfriend (who happens to be made of bandages) from an evil fetus in a jar wearing a tux. Our meaty hero will leap from walls, over seas of buzz saws, through crumbling caves and pools of old needles. Sacrificing his own well being to save his damsel in distress. Super Meat Boy brings the old school difficulty of classic retro titles we all know and love and stream lines them down to the essential no bull straight forward twitch reflex platforming. Ramping up in difficulty from hard to soul crushing SMB will drag Meat boy though haunted hospitals, salt factories and even hell itself. And if 300+ single player levels weren't enough SMB also throws in epic boss fights, tons of unlock able secrets, warp zones and hidden characters."

John Marston has had it tough. First he was forced to track down his former gang members, and now he has to clear the west of the living dead. See how it goes in the Undead Nightmare DLC expansion, coming Oct. 26th for 800 MSP.

Coming November 30th for Halo Reach will be three new maps in the form of the Noble Map Pack for 800 MSP. The three maps will be Anchor 9, Tempest, and Breakpoint. Check out more below:





Anchor 9

“Orbital dockyards provide rapid refueling and repairs for a variety of UNSC vessels.”

Within the confines of this low orbit dry-dock, UNSC craft undergo rapid repair and rearmament in support of the enduring war effort. But for the small squads of infantry who now fight over the mirrored interior hallways and open central hangar bay, this platform no longer provides any safe harbor whatsoever – whether the close quarters combat is occurring inside or out of its artificial gravitational field.








Tempest

"Though we may never fully understand these devices, it is not our nature to leave ancient stones unturned.”

This abandoned shoreline facility bends both sea and sky to an unnatural purpose, but the ground itself has quickly become another all too familiar battlefield. Though the two opposing symmetrical bases may never reveal their ancient purpose, both now offer makeshift shelter and access to strategic routes perfectly suited for small and large scale skirmishes alike.








Breakpoint

“ONI officials believe the data buried within this artifact is key to our survival.”

Atop this icy precipice, the Invasion continues. These modular archaeological labs were never intended to withstand such a large scale onslaught of Covenant military power, but the information being extracted here may prove vital to humanity’s survival. In response to the imminent Covenant threat, UNSC ground and air assets have been deployed to bolster entrenched Spartan countermeasures. This site must yield salvation, or it will become a grave.





Source- Bungie.net

The Dragonball Z games have gotten better and better over the years, and Raging blast 2 looks like it will continue the trend. Check out the demo and see what they have so far!


“Unleash the Rage Within! The powerful Dragon Ball Z fighter returns with even more fast-paced, hard-hitting versus battle action in Dragon Ball®: Raging Blast 2! Download the demo and freely command either Super Saiyan Goku, Kid Buu, Demon King Dabura or Ultimate Gohan in the ultimate battle of strength and stamina. Feel the power of your bone-crushing blows as you square off in VS. Mode using tons of special moves to dominate your rival in two of the game’s large-scale, 3D environments. Download the demo now to test your skills in this exhilarating fighting demo. Full game available November 2010!”

Link To Demo- DB: Raging Blast 2 (300 MB)

The Sonic game we've wanted for a long time is finally here. Well, at least the 1st episode. The other release for today is Dead Space Ignition, a interactive story that will give you a some goodies for Dead Space 2, and a story that fills the gap between the original game and the upcoming sequel. Check them out below:


"The sequel you've waited 16 years to see, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG™ 4 Episode I. Get ready for an all new 2D adventure!"



Link To Trial- Sonic 4 Trial (191 MB)

Link To Full Game- Sonic Ep. 4 (1200 MSP)











"In Dead Space Ignition you must survive the initial Necromorph outbreak on the Sprawl. The game blends an interactive comic presentation with three unique hacking games: Hardware Crack, System Override, and Trace Route. You’ll receive unlocks in Dead Space 2, including an exclusive suit. Can you survive the events leading up to Dead Space 2?"

Link To Trial- Dead Space Ignition (2 GB)

Link To Full Game- Dead Space Ignition (400 MSP)

The first of a few packs for Dead Rising 2 has been released on Xbox Live. Originally pre-order items from various retailers, these packs feature a new outfit with various skills. Once all become available, you can wear a piece from each one and improve the ability of Chuck. Check out the first one below:

"Wearing this special costume gives Chuck all the shockingly disturbing abilities of a deranged homicidal psychopath! Actually, that's quite handy if you're surrounded by a horde of zombies. Some of the special abilities Chuck's costume-enhanced psyche affords him include better resistance to damage due to his deranged state, stronger attacks with some classic killing implements such as the chef knife and chainsaw, as well as truly sick new attacks for weapons loved by murderous maniacs everywhere, including the machete, mining pick and meat cleaver!"

Link To Content- Skills Pack - Psycho (160 MSP /7 MB)

Just in time to play some Black Ops online!

Coming Novemeber 10th, Xbox Live will be available in Russia, Poland, South Africa, Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, countries previously unavailable with an account from another region. Users who were playing from a different country can now migrate their account to their home country too.

Source- Xbox.com

19 Multiplayer Maps for use with Both Horde and Matchmaking and the deleted chapter from the campaign can be yours for only 400 MSP ($5). In other Gears 2 news, The game will become on Demand Title, and will receive 4X XP up until the Halloween XP event featuring 31 XP and A Horde change titled "Chainsaw Massacre".


"This content pack features all 19 downloadable Gears 2 multiplayer maps and a bonus deleted single-player chapter, "Road to Ruin," from the Gears of War 2 campaign. For multiplayer fans, this pack brings together the complete set of Gears 2 multiplayer maps: Allfathers Garden, Canals, Courtyard, Flood, Fuel Depot, Fuel Station, Gold Rush, Gridlock, Grind Yard, Highway, Mansion, Memorial, Nowhere, Sanctuary, Subway, Tyro Station, Under Hill, War Machine, and Way Station—everything in the Flashback, Combustible, Snowblind, and Dark Corners downloadable packs combined."

Link To Content- All Fronts Collection (400 MSP/ 766 MB)

Alan Wake's first downloadable add-on the Signal was a great extra hour of content, and now we can experience the second, titled Alan Wake: The Writer. Will Alan ever get a break? Find out with this download!



"Our second downloadable content pack, "The Writer," finds Wake in strange circumstances; now fully aware of the thing that opposes him, he must survive one increasingly nightmarish situation after another."

Link To Content- Alan Wake: The Writer (560 MSP/ 477 MB)

The Force Unleashed II will be coming out pretty soon, so check out this demo until then! The original TUF was a great game, and I'm sure this one will be too. Check out more below:

"Betrayed by Darth Vader for the last time, Starkiller has escaped and faces a new journey to find his true identity. Unleash fury – wield dual lightsabers and new force powers to crush your enemies. Unleash truth – sequel to the award-winning story, continue the epic Star Wars saga."

Link To Demo- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (704 MB)