Xbox Live Arcade prices

Thursday 13 Jul 2006 : 13:55 PM



Microsoft has announced the prices of it's upcoming Live Arcade games and they seem pretty fairly priced.

New games and big classics will be $10 and smaller games will be $5. Here's the full list of prices and release dates.

Frogger - July 12 - 400 points ($5/£3.40)
Cloning Clyde - July 19 - 800 points ($10/£6.80)
Galaga - July 26 - 400 points ($5/£3.40)
Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting - August 2 - 800 points ($10/£6.80)
Pac-Man - August 9 - 400 points ($5/£3.40)




Tags: Cloning Clyde , Frogger , Galaga , Microsoft , Pac Man , Street Fighter 2 : Hyper Fighting , Xbox Live Arcade

Formats: Xbox 360

Street Fighter 2 : Hyper Fighting and more release dates

Tuesday 11 Jul 2006 : 23:54 PM



Street Fighter 2 is set to hit Xbox Live Arcade at long last on 2nd August as part of Microsoft's new promotion - XBLA Wednesdays.

Every wednesday for the rest of the summer we'll be treated to a new XBLA game every wednesday, starting tomorrow with the classic Frogger. The following wednesdays will bring Cloning Clyde, Galaga, Street Fighter 2 : Hyper Fighting and Pac-Man.



Tags: Microsoft , Street Fighter 2 : Hyper Fighting , Xbox Live , Xbox Live Arcade

Formats: Xbox 360

Microsoft handheld before the end of the year ?

Thursday 06 Jul 2006 : 15:25 PM



Rumours of microsoft entering the handgeld gaming market with an 'xboy' have been refuelled by a Bloomberg story yesterday that MS is planning to release an "ipod-killer" before the end of the year which will play music and video.

The device will be wireless compatible, users will be able do download music as long as they are within range of a wireless router, meaning that downloads could be sold in shops, hotels, petrol stations etc. At the moment the ipod can only download music by connecting it to a pc/mac with iTunes on it.

There is no word on whether you will be able to play games on it but given that they are hell-bent on being number 1 in the video games market it would make sense for them to release a handheld at some pointas it's crucial to strengthening the xbox brand.

The xboy is only a matter of time, you'll see.

Tags: Microsoft , Microsoft Handheld

Formats: Multi Format

How much is a Microsoft point worth ?

Thursday 06 Jul 2006 : 15:11 PM



Finally, what we've all been waiting for, somebody to tell us what we're actually spending on our downloadable Xbox 360 content.

Now you'll know exactly how much you've spent on that Downloadable horse armour, if those big guys battering down your front door and taking your furniture away last week hadn't already given it away.

Check out the converter at Steve Hunters website.

Universal Microsoft Points Converter

Tags: Microsoft , Xbox Live , Xbox Live Marketplace

Formats: Xbox 360

New Alan Wake screens, no new details.

Thursday 06 Jul 2006 : 00:38 AM



Microsoft has released some new screens of it's 360 exclusive game "Alan Wake".

For those of you that don't know, Alan Wake is a survival horror game, not unlike the resident evil games but with what sounds like a deeper plot and amazing visuals. The trailers and screens have been wowing us since this time last year but the game has already been put back and very few details have emerged. Either developer Remedy is being cagey or it's nowhere near finished. We think it look like it'll be worth the wait though.

Screen 1
Screen 2
Screen 3
Screen 4

Tags: Alan Wake , Microsoft , Remedy Entertainment , Survival Horror

Formats: Xbox 360

Microsoft rubbishes Xbox 360 internal HD DVD drive

Monday 03 Jul 2006 : 22:15 PM



Rumours circulating the web earlier this week that Microsoft were to include an internal HD-DVD drive in the Xbox 360 are definitely not true according to Microsoft.

The rumours surfaced after a top brass at Toshiba made comments about the possibility of MS including an internal drive in future models but it was only ever speculation and a microsoft employee has rubbished the claims saying,


"Saw a few stories online about an Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD drive: not true. We have no plans to release an Xbox 360 with an internal HD DVD. What we showcased at E3 was an external HD DVD drive, and we're sticking with that.

We've always had a games-first emphasis with the Xbox, but some consumers can build on the platform - like by adding a Windows Media Center Edition PC. By keeping the drive external, we're offering consumers a choice in creating their own hi-def experiences. So: no plans for an internal HD DVD."


An internal HD-DVD drive wouldn't be a good move for Microsoft, Sony has been criticised for the high price of the PS3 and it's attempts to force it's Blu-Ray technology on gamers. A seperate drive makes sense and will probably still work out cheaper than the PS3.


Tags: HD-DVD , Microsoft

Formats: Xbox 360

Xbox 360 Price slash rumours

Wednesday 21 Jun 2006 : 12:42 PM



Rumours of an Xbox 360 price slash to coincide with Sony's launch of the PS3 just before christmas are cirulating after a report by BritXbox claimed that they were preparing to drop the price, possibly to £200 for the core system and £220 for the Premium.

We can forsee two problem with this strategy though.

Firstly, the 360 will already be considerably cheaper than the PS3 and the worry for MS is that people will perceive their console to be less powerful, those with money to spend will assume they are getting the best console by buying a PS3. Wouldn't this be a bad move in terms of peoples perception of the 360's power ?

Secondly, if you're going to lower the price of both the core and premium units then at what point does it become pointless to have two price points (some would say from launch day!) , if there's only going to be £20 difference then surely they would drop the core ?

As one BritXbox user has already pointed out, MS could just bundle more good software with the machine to make it look more attractive but still make it look like it's in competition with the PS3 price/power wise. We agree.

Tags: Microsoft

Formats: Xbox 360

Doom3 and 26 others added to Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

Tuesday 13 Jun 2006 : 22:23 PM



Having clarified their position on backwards xbox backwards compatibility this MIcrosoft have added 27 games to the list this morning. Most notable additions are Doom 3, Lego Star Wars and Amped 3.

They've still got a fair few games to add to the list but this is definitely welcome news. Here are the latest additions.

4x4 EVO 2
Amped(R) 2
Bad Boys 2
Big Mutha Truckers
DOOM 3
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Fatal Frame
FlatOut
Grabbed by the Ghoulies
Intellivision Lives
LEGO(R) Star Wars
Minority Report
MLB SlugFest 20-04
The Punisher
RalliSport Challenge
Silent Hill(R) 4: The Room
Spawn(R) Armageddon
Spider-Man
Star Wars Battlefront
State of Emergency
Zapper

along with a further 6 that have only been released in Japan.

Bistro Cupid 1
Flight Academy
Othello Seminar
Igo Seminar
Shogi Seminar
Mahjong Seminar

For a full list of backwards compatible xbox games visit xbox.com

Tags: Doom 3 , Microsoft , Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility

Formats: Xbox , Xbox 360