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Gaming Life - October 2006

Xbox Live Dashboard Update Today

October 31st 2006 00:58
Microsoft will today release its fall update for the Xbox 360. Downloadable free for anyone with a live connection (silver or gold account), the update makes numerous adjustments and improvements to the overall Xbox 360 experience.

Microsoft has promised to make one of these mass updates every six months, and so far they're on track. Improvements in this update include 1080p upscalling, support for the wireless racing wheel and the wireless headset, the ability to stream wmv files using windows media connect (or using windows media center), and the ability to play movies on CDs, DVDs (yes, even burnt ones) USB drives and even the upcoming Zune devices (MS's i-pod competitor, the first of which is due for release this Christmas in the States).


Here's the full list of improvements:

Complete Dashboard Update Feature List

New Features

HD 1080p video mode support over VGA and component cables.
Xbox 360™ HD DVD Player support.
Stream WMV video from a Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11, Zune software, or Windows Media Connect.
Play video from storage devices such as USB flash drives, Xbox 360 Memory Units, etc.
Play video from CD or DVD data discs.
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset support, including battery level indicator in the Xbox Guide.
Video support for 50 Hz HDTV modes (DVD and HD DVD only).
Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel support.
Set up automatic downloads of newly released Xbox Live Arcade trial games.
Support for upcoming release of XNA Game Studio Express (separate download and subscription required.)
Stream music, pictures and video from a Zune device.

Xbox Live Arcade

Lightning-fast enumeration and listing of all Xbox Live® Arcade games on the console.

Find games quickly with two new sort options: Recently Played and By Category.
Have all new Xbox Live Arcade games at the ready with auto downloads. Auto downloads optionally adds newly released trial versions of games to active downloads when you enter Xbox Live Arcade.
View full achievement info in Xbox Live Arcade, including icons, achievement point details, and descriptions.
Friends leaderboard: Compare yourself with friends and view leaderboard details right from the Xbox dashboard.
Tell a friend: Send a message to a friend about your newest favorite Xbox Live Arcade game.

DVD Player

Optionally disable notifications from Xbox Live while watching DVD movies.
Improved support for audio streams on incorrectly authored DVDs.
Better handling of unreadable discs.
Updated count-down timer.
HD DVD player support.
Added zoom support for non-anamorphic content.
Added support to Family Settings to block Unrated Content

Video Player

Improved support for extended all black scenes in WMV content.
Added support for Windows Media Video 9 Advanced profile video.
Screen saver now becomes active when videos are paused.
Now shares UI and player controls with DVD player.
Improved video playback while downloading from Xbox Live.
Added skip controls (forward approx. 30 seconds, back approx. 7 seconds).
Improved messaging around unplayable video content.
Added time elapsed and time remaining displays.
Improved playback of high bit-rate HD content on fragmented hard drives.
Improved visual quality of video playback.
Added selectable display modes: default and letterbox zoom.

Localization

New locale setting for China
Improved German translations in console settings.
Improved German translations in memory area.
Improved Japanese translations in Family Settings.
Added localized text for all supported languages in pictures area
Improved Spanish translations in camera effects.
Improved locale-specific decimal denominators.
Added localization support for title menu and main menu in the DVD player.
Added localization support for “Attempting to Read Media” system message.

Memory Area

Added support for Xbox 360 HD DVD Player content..
Added new page for viewing content size by category.

Other System Improvements

Updated support for new Daylight Savings changes coming in 2007.
Improved support for games to better handle host migration in multi-player matches.
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support for changing room lighting while zooming.
Background downloaded videos appear in video area
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support while using VGA.
Playing photo slideshows from PC now maintains picture folder hierarchy.
Improved user experience when playing and deleting videos from the Games or Media areas.
Improved handling of invalid characters during Xbox Live signup.
Better handling of watermarks in gamer cards.
Improved text for Windows Media Connect..
Improved UI performance in Media Center Extender
Improved connection support for Buffalo WZR-G108 wireless router when using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Redownload of deleted Arcade Games no longer re-enumerates all games on the Arcade page.
Improved visual display of text in themes.
Improved support for CD playback after signing up for Xbox Live and losing network connectivity.
Improved support for long names of items memory area.
Improved handling of gamer pictures downloaded from Xbox Live.
Improved background download notifications when downloading many small items from Xbox Live.
Improved support for custom backgrounds after returning to the Xbox Dashboard from the Account Management area.
Improved network reliability between Windows Media Center Extender on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 consoles using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Improved voice chat quality in Xbox Dashboard and in-game chats.
Improved messaging when failing to connect to Windows Media Center Extender.
Improved USB keyboard support when using a USB hub.
Improved consistency of user experience when deleting various types of content.
Improved handling of low storage space for background downloads.
Improved handling of Picture streaming from attached Digital Cameras over MTP protocol
Improved error messaging for optional iPod support download when storage devices are full.
Improved handling of multi-key repeating for USB keyboards.
Expanded Family Settings to include support for blocking unrated DVDs and videos.
Added ability to clear space from storage devices in download areas.
Added support for low-speed and full-speed USB keyboards.
Improved CapsLock behavior for USB keyboards.
Improved look and feel in Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox Live Arcade areas.
Added redeem code option to Xbox Live signup.
Removed system message at the start of new downloads. Messages will be displayed for completed items.
Added support for CCV credit card validation field in Xbox Live Marketplace purchase areas.
Updated “More Information” instructions in the Xbox Dashboard for connecting an Xbox 360 console to a Windows PC to stream digital media content.
Added auto-scroll to long text descriptions in Xbox Dashboard UI.
Improved support for DVD insertion while playing a video file.


Now that's a pretty comprehensive list, I know, but where is the group private chat function? Where is the ability to remove titles and achievements from the "games played" category? Despite the impressive efforts MS are constantly making to improve the quality of the experience on Xbox Live, and the likely advantage it will have over its competitors in this area, I wish more time was spent on improving major things, rather than focusing on a massive slew of minor ones.

Guess we'll just have to wait another six months!
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The Next Gen Console War Part 1

October 30th 2006 08:00
So I've been thinking...

The Xbox 360 has been out for a while, and its great. The Playstation 3 is due out in Australia early next year, and whilst the early line-up of games are not looking staggering, the console obviously has potential, especially when you couple its power with the nous of the Sony marketing department. Then there's the Wii (pronounced wee) which despite its inferior technical capabilities, will cash in on both the younger market and the nostalgiac element (with its slew of downloadable classic games). Which of these super consoles though, is going to come out on top?

Everyone has a different opinion, and of course all are extremely subjective, but personally I feel certain that Microsoft is heading for a serious upturn in terms of its hold on the market. This is because more and more, consoles are becoming personal computers. They have evolved into glorified laptops. The only thing that differentiates them are their architecture, on the hardware and software side, and in terms of their use.

With the exception of the Wii, which aims to focus on ease of use and ingenious gameplay, rather than spectacular graphics or rip-roaring sound, next gen console and game developers want their offerings to look and sound better than the rest. That is what consumers want. Sure people might enjoy a smart, original and addictive Wii title more than a Fight Night Round 4 on a Xbox 360 or a PS3, but people will buy more copies of Fight Night, simply because it is a lot more attractive in terms of what it presents aesthetically.

With this increasing shift towards a PC like experience, only in the living room, its difficult to deny Microsoft's knowledge and experience, especially when it comes to software. The Xbox 360 operating system, and MS's success in introducing the micro-transaction and all forms of downloadable goodness to the console space says a lot about the terrain with which this thing is going to play out.

To be continued...
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Madden 07 Review (Xbox 360)

October 27th 2006 02:16
I’ve never really been a big fan of NFL football. Sure I’ve watched a few Superbowls in my time, but the lack of coverage of the sport in Australia has ensured my knowledge of the game is fairly slim. What I do know about the game, I have learnt from many hours spent playing Madden games over the years. I always found it to be somehow enjoyable to spend all day trying to get a touchdown. To run around on defence trying to hit everyone, leaving space open for opposition receivers, but not being able to resist. To try hail mary after hail mary instead of punting. The deeper aspects of play I always found too difficult to fathom, but I always had some pretty good fun just mucking around. So with the release of Madden NFL 07, the first non-launch Madden game for the 360, I was hoping for a real treat. In some ways, I have been satisfied, but in others, I’ve been left wanting.

The core gameplay is as fun as it was last year, and the year before that, albeit with some neat little additions here and there. The highlight stick, a complement to your offensive arsenal, is a great example, allowing you to spin off defenders and juke your way out of trouble using the right analogue stick. After a short amount of time using it, you’ll be busting moves with an ease and fluidity which is particularly satisfying. The myriad of plays, set-pieces and audibles are as confusing as ever, but super rewarding once you start figuring them all out. As always, fans who understand the nuances of NFL football and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different teams and players will get infinitely more out of the experience.

Madden 07 is a good looking game too. The animations are fantastic. Sure there is some weird collision detection going on from time to time, and the crowd looks absolutely shocking, but there’s no mistaking it’s the best looking Madden game yet. Players’ faces are so close to lifelike it’s ridiculous, and when this is coupled with the excellent use of vocal sound, it brings the field to life. Players are always yapping away and smack talking at ground level, and it adds a real atmosphere for all the players to look and sound so believable. The sound department does have its drawbacks though. I found the commentary to be particularly stale, devoid of any real emotion, and the crowd noise is pretty disappointing. Sure there is constant input and a bit of cheering, but I wanted to be enveloped in the crowd. I wanted to be surrounded by the sounds of the stadium in every 5.1 speaker. But all I got was some lame announcer who gave me the impression he was trying not to sound bored, and that’s when he wasn’t mysteriously absent all together.

Franchise mode returns in all its glory, and is still one hell of a beast. You manage, coach and field your team through 30 NFL seasons, trying to build a lasting dynasty. Tough trading decisions, positional changes to get a tougher guy at half back, and injury difficulties. These must all be contended with. Only three games into my first season my star quarterback broke his ankle and was out for the season. I threw money at just about every decent QB in the league, but no-one was interested. Eventually I decided to develop my second string guys, and it was time to get them on the track. Actual training mini-games have been added to keep things fresh. Pick a player, decide which stats you want to increase and by how much, then get them out there doing the hard yards.

If superstar mode get s bit repetitive for you, it may be time to try out the new Superstar mode, which allows you to create, develop and play as one particular player, as opposed to the whole team. So that means no play calling, no coaching or managerial decisions, just career management for your main man. You must train him, sign him up, trade him if necessary, conduct interviews, keep his ego in check, and then on game day you control him and only him. Depending on which position your guys plays in, you’ll get a camera angle aimed at allowing you to maximize his input in the game. Although it takes a while to adjust to the different style of play, this is an excellent feature, which has been all too often overlooked in sports games of years past. Kudos must go to EA for this inclusion, as it’s the freshest thing that’s happened to Madden in years.

The hit stick is a new addition to Madden this year, and allows you to smack the living &#^* out of someone with a flick of the right stick. Whilst little additions like this have often been poorly thought out in other EA Sports games recently, in Madden 07 it works an absolute treat, and it is one of those rare opportunities to live out in a believable way those bone-crunching collisions that are so hard to reproduce in a sports video game. What’s more, you have never heard collisions till you’ve heard them in Madden 07. The sickening sounds of body on body are recreated in cringe inducing glory here.

As always seems to the case these days in EA Sports games, the presentation, options, and unlockables are top notch. The actual menu screens don’t work that well, unfortunately, and you’ll find yourself lost in there for a while stuck amongst the clutter and a silly tiered system, but once you know your way around it won’t be an issue. The solid licensed menu music is here too, which is pleasant.

The online side of this year’s Madden will be a disappointment for many Australian gamers though. Although the features are there, including the new ‘Live Opponent’ option, which allows you to find a human online to play as your opponent during franchise matches, the lag is juicy on your average connection. Hooking up a few locals to play with is the key, but the performance is still not going to be perfect.

Overall, Madden is a disappointment for me because I’ve been waiting for the next level of immersivity in football games. Where’s the stable net code? Where’s the online leagues? Nevertheless, it’s still as enjoyable as the best versions of years past and is a big improvement on last year’s shocking effort. The new superstar mode introduces a real fresh approach that you may just find to your liking. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy this title (but then you already know that don’t you?). If you’re not, be prepared for a steep learning curve, followed by a quick upswing toward enjoyable gaming, followed by a plateau that never really gets you inside the game, excited and enthused by what is happening on the field. All along though, you’re going to have a heck of a lot of fun smacking the crap out of everyone you can.

Score: 7.9/10
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GRAW 2 Announced, Ubisoft in the Money

October 25th 2006 09:08

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter did for the Xbox 360 what toasters did for bread. It showed everyone that better things were possible. It had some fantastic graphics, a great control scheme, and an immersive and believable campaign. Most early adopters of the system ate it up. Fans, and even those of you who prefer their rolls fresh, will be glad of the news Ubisoft dropped overnight. It's sequel time.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is well under way, and is scheduled for release in the 2nd Quarter of 2007. Whilst Ubisoft didn't go into much detail, it would be fair to presume that the game will ship for Xbox 360, PS3, and current generation consoles. Why? Because this is Ubisoft we're talking about here. They have the money and the manpower to develop a lot of games, and a lot of them across platforms.

Profits in the first half of the 06/07 fiscal year were US$218.4 million, up thirteen percent on the first half of last financial year. That is a significant earnings increase, and according to Ubi, an unexpected one. With titles like Splinter Cell Doube Agent (released last week), Rainbow Six Vegas (released later in the month) and now GRAW 2, you can bet your bottom dollar that their next earnings statement will be even more impressive.

Sure Ubisoft are one of the biggest players in the business, but heck if these kinds of profits are anything to go by, the video game industry really is making inroads. Makes you wonder what things will be like in forty or fifty years when today's youth are the pillars of society. Makes you realise how tough its going to be to halt the obesity epidemic too!

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MS Shrugs Off Sony's Online Plans

October 24th 2006 02:05
If Microsoft are worried about Sony's PS3 online service, they're definitely not showing it. In an interview with Gamespot.com, Xbox Live honcho Aaron Greenburg pointed gamers to what Sony's service doesn't offer, as opposed to what it does:

"... we're flattered that we've created a service that is breeding yet another knockoff. That said, it's still hard to comment in much depth around their online announcement since there are still a lot of details that haven't been made clear and there are a lot of unanswered questions. Is this a fully connected service with one identity across your entire gameplay experience? Is every game online with voice chat integration? Do they have Achievements and Gamerscore? How are they handling safety, security, hacking, viruses, and parental controls?".

Sony seem in no hurry to reveal too many details about the Playstation Network. Whether this is to quell launch hype to reduce dissatisfaction (a risky tactic, as a certain amount is necessary to sell the PS3 itself), or whether the service simply doesn't offer all that much, we will soon find out.
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The Xbox Live Juggernaught

October 23rd 2006 09:49
Being the first unified gaming network to grace gamers' lounge rooms is no mean feat. Actually providing a quality experience and some truly innovate features is not bad either.

But Xbox Live has done more than that. First on the original Xbox, and now on the Xbox 360, this thing is like one of those giant boulders Indiana Jones found chasing him out of a temple. It has gone from strength to strength. Microsoft recently released some statistics on just what their service has accomplished in its short life


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Still More PS3 Launch Details

October 20th 2006 07:53
At yesterday's Sony Gamer Day in Europe, Sony dropped more about the specifics of the upcoming Playstation 3 launch. Firstly, they gave gamers and the media a new, freshly updated list of "launch window" release titles. Be aware that this term tends to indicate "within six months" of the console's launch these days, which is a bit of a worry. Nevertheless, there are some quality titles here, even if none of them are exclusive to the PS3.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (Ubisoft


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Splinter Cell: Double Agent Hits Australian Stores

October 18th 2006 06:42
Ubisoft's new stealth action title, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, was released today for the Xbox 360. Over the next few weeks it will be released on all the other currently available consoles too (including PC). I had a chance to sit down with the single player this afternoon, and I found myself very impressed.

Not only does Splinter Cell Double Agent offer subtle improvements to the already stellar gameplay of the franchise, and up the graphical wizardry considerably, but it introduces in earnest something that developers have "claimed" to be putting into their gamers for years. True, meaningful choice. In this game, you make the decisions


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Still Got Time for Old-School Action

October 17th 2006 07:25
You may have read a review I posted a few days ago on Marble Blast Ultra for the Xbox Live Arcade. Well, guess what? Last night I finally finished the damn thing. I had to complete the final level in under three and a half minutes, and I spent hours over the course of the last week or do trying to whittle down my time. It frustrated the life out of me. I yelled. I screamed. I may even have stomped my feet a couple of times, but you better keep that quiet.

Perseverance did win out though, and I finally got the job done. With glorious satisfaction too, I might add. In the final level you must navigate over a series of very, very thin planks, whilst small moving objects race up and down the length of each plank. You’ve got to hop, skip and bounce your way from one side to the other, all the while keeping an eye on the clock, and trying not to look down. Eternity sweeps below, and if you fall, you start over


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More on Sony's PS3 Online Plans

October 17th 2006 07:02
So we know Sony is offering an online service for its new console, the Playstation 3. We know that gamers will be able to play online, against each other, for free. They'll also be able to download game demos and video trailers direcly from Sony's online servers, chat with their friends via the Playstation 3 headset, and even use their Eye Toy to share their personal pictures with friends online.

Well Sony have also reported of how gamers will be able to direct download cheap, niche market titles over the online service, in a similar vein to the way Xbox 360 gamers can download smaller budget games from Xbox Live Arcade. A number are already in development, we're told


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PS3 Pre-order Madness Begins

October 12th 2006 09:41
A lot of people have been waiting a very long time for Sony's new gaming console, the Playstation 3. It's been five years since the Playstation 2 hit store shelves, and over the past year, as more and more has become known about this expensive (but ridiculously powerful) beast, anticipation has risen ten fold.

Although the machine will not see a release in Oz until early next year, this November the PS3 will be launched in the US and Japan. Earlier this week, major gaming stores in North America began taking pre-orders on the console. Now Sony has stated that only 400,000 of these beauties will be available at launch in the States, and therefore lines were pretty darn large trying to throw down a deposit at major US chains Gamestop and EB Games. To put it in perspective, that's about eight consoles per game store


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Microsoft Sets Out to Stop Boosters

October 11th 2006 09:22
You may have read my posts earlier in the week about the problems of lag, glitchers and cheaters in online gaming. Well, one problem I failed to mention is boosting. Boosting is basically the practice of one person deliberating losing so that someone else can win, hence 'boosting' their rank in a particular game. Some people will go to all sorts of lengths to be on top of leaderboards or rankings, and are prepared to boost over and over again, to make their rank that much higher. This practice can, and often does, make leaderboards virtually pointless. Well Microsoft has finally decided to do something about it.

With the release next month of their massively anticipated third person shooter Gears of War for the Xbox 360, Microsoft has told developer Epic Games that they cannot allow players to play ranked games with their friends. They have even stated that they plan to disallow gamers playing with friends in ranked games, on any game. They can still play together in unranked games, but in ranked games must join random groups of people if they wish to play


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Review: Marble Blast Ultra (Xbox 360)

October 10th 2006 08:57

The Xbox Live Arcade has been a huge hit with gamers since the Xbox 360's launch last November. Whilst popular titles from renowned developers, such as Geometry Wars, Street Fighter and Doom, have seen the most downloads, there is one title which has gone against the grain. Marble Blast Ultra, from the small studio Garage Games, has proved a smashing success, and after just a short playtest with this gem, it is easy to see why.

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Sony Announces Six Axis Controller

October 9th 2006 09:16
Well, although you may have known about it for a while now, Sony last week officially named the new Playstation 3 controller. Exit the Dual Shock. Enter... Six Axis! Why the name change, you ask? Well, the new PS3 controller will not have a rumble feature (therefore it would be pretty stupid to call it the Dual Shock, let alone just The Shock!), and will focus instead on a tilt based control function inspired by Nintendo's new Wii-mote.

Using motion sensing technology, gamers will be able to tilt the controller in six different directions during gameplay. Whilst this may seem a little non-sensical at first, it does introduce some interesting possibilities. In Activion's upcoming World War Two shooter, Call of Duty 3 (available at launch), tilting the controller forward will direct a melee attack at any foe unlucky enough to be within range, giving them a taste of your rifle butt. As long as developers integrate Six Axis movement into their games in a way that feels intuitive and doesn't become labourious, the new controller could be a big hit


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Oblivion to launch with PS3

October 9th 2006 08:59
Bethseda Softworks recently announced that its critically acclaimed Xbox 360 and PC game, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, will launch with the Playstation 3. This is huge news for Sony fans anticipating the new console, as Oblivion pretty much redefined the concept of an RPG when first released back in March.

It set new standards in terms of AI, story, graphics and gameplay, and was a huge system seller for Microsoft, being the first true 'must have' next gen game. Similarly, it could boost PS3 sales into the stratosphere. With such a big price tag, gamers looking to outlay up to $1500 AUD for the console, accessories and a few games, need to be convinced that PS3 games will offer an experience impossible on the PS2. Oblivion will fit the bill nicely, make no mistake


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Lag, Glitchers and Cheaters in Online Gaming: Part 2

October 6th 2006 09:23
Yesterday I discussed the major issues facing online gaming. The problem is that as we move further into the age of technology, more and more people are going to be learning how coding and networking works, and the instances of issues like these will skyrocket.

One of the main things console game developers and publishers can do is host games on their own servers. This makes this a lot more difficult for cheaters, as they are not handling everyone's else's data as hosts. This has already been done with games like Battlefield: Modern Combat and Fifa 06. It is no coincidence that both of these games are made by EA. If your going to be hosting people from all over the world, you're going to need infrastructure, and EA has more dollars than any other publisher, by a fair stretch too


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Lag, Glitchers and Cheaters in Online Gaming

October 5th 2006 09:14
Each new 'next generation' console is going to enable players to play online against other people. Each manufacturer, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, is investing massively in this component of gaming, as it represents the future of the industry. The rewards to the gamer will be great. Microsoft's Xbox Live service is a shining example of this, but it is only the beginning. Downloadable game episodes, video chat, internet fuctionality, are just glimpses of the future.

However, there are a number of aspects of the online gaming space that are in dire need of attention. Recenlty, I have been playing Volition's Saints Row on the Xbox 360 (the game is coming to the PS3 next year too, for all you future PS3 owners). The single player experience is quality stuff, and to an extent so is the multiplayer. In theory, it's a relatively original and thoroughly enjoyable slice of online gaming. It is being hampered though, by three things I have termed 'The Great Dangers of Online Gaming


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Sony Shares Drop

October 4th 2006 07:53
Sony's shares dropped 2.75 per cent this morning after some extremely worrying media coverage. Apparently, PS3 units were constantly overheating and crashing during the Tokyo Game Show last week. Analysts have been jumping on board and slamming Sony, and it appears this has made a significant difference on the stock price today.

Whilst Sony reps were quick to assure onlookers at the show that the problems were caused by the units being enclosed in kiosks, and that with sufficient ventilation in users' homes there would be no problem, the exact same thing was happening with early Xbox 360 units last year. You'll probably remember that despite Microsoft's assurances that the units wouldn't have overheating issues on launch, they did. Big time. The problems were caused by faulty manufacturing of specific parts used for ventilation


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Game1 set to storm Australia

October 3rd 2006 08:35
Each year, there are scores of major gaming expos around the world. Major developers, publishers, the press, and often the public, get to try out the latest and greatest games, get a peek of the new ones on the way, or compete in competitions and game tournaments.

Up until now, Australia has never had a major game expo. However, all that is set to change this year, as Game1 hits Melbourne on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of November in Melbourne, and the 2nd and 3rd of December in Sydney


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X06 News: Assasin's Creed

October 2nd 2006 05:44
Well X06 is all over now, and although Day 1 produced plenty of big announcements, surprises and excitement, it must be said that the rest of the event was a little so-so. Although it was promised that there would be some big news regarding Halo 3 before the end of the show, no info was forthcoming.

However, Assassins Creed was shown behind closed doors and this game is looking nothing short of amazing. Ubisoft Montreal have really tried to create something that feels considerably next gen, and appears as if so far they are suceeding. A massive looking city was shown off, and the players can explore every inch of it. Anything that looks like it might be able to be climbed, can be climbed, and the swordplay animations look fantastic


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