Tag Archives: Xbox Live

A Microsoft representative has issued a statement to Electronic Theatre regarding the ongoing PSN issues, which are plaguing users worldwide.

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An 360 business exec has found himself on the wrong end of a hacker who didn’t like being banned repeatedly from Xbox Live.

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A new UI? Meh. ESPN? No thanks. Zune Music? Not interested.

Wait, you say our Avatars have longer legs now? Is this… is this what the future feels like?

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Amazon.com is no longer selling Xbox Live titles via its website after the service was cancelled.

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We’re glad we threw away our coffee before walking into Nintendo’s E3 conference, because if we hadn’t, we would’ve spit it out the second we spotted the Saint’s Row logo among the parade of games announced for Nintendo’s latest handheld.

Turns out, though, that THQ didn’t just figure, “Hey, you know what’d not be the worst business decision of all time? A game full of thugs and prostitutes for Nintendo’s primarily child and grandmother-based audience!” In actuality, it all began with an Xbox Live downloadable title. Take it away, core games VP Danny Bilson.

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When we think of a good day-one launch, we generally picture the opposite of what happened to Modern Warfare 2′s Stimulus Package. Instead of landing gracefully on players’ Xboxes, the DLC crashed and exploded, and Microsoft spent hours scrambling to pick up the pieces.

So, you’re probably hoping for some kind of apology, right? Too bad.

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Retro fans who – somewhat perplexingly – bought a new console to play old games, prepare to be disappointed.

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As much as we loved our original Xbox and its Tonka-tough, bullet-deflecting exterior, we jumped ship to the Xbox 360 seconds after it launched.

Some people, though, aren’t so fickle. “Loyal” is what Microsoft’s calling them, and we agree. But Microsoft’s officially declared it curtains for the original Xbox’s Live service on April 15. The console maker isn’t, however, callously bulldozing players’ online homes and leaving them high and dry. So, what’s up for grabs?

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Microsoft’s formally announced Windows 7 for mobile at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The good bit? The OS’s latest iteration will incorporate Xbox Live.

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As noticed by The Telegraph, Microsoft is staffing up to finally bring Xbox Live to Windows Mobile.

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We’ve always wished the giant robot that appears in the background of our XBL friends list could be our avatar, but this is the next best thing.

CVG‘s reporting that your Avatar can now disguise itself as a robot in disguise. Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee helmets are available, as are a number of Transformers-themed shirts. Do not, however, mistake this for good news. All of this shiny new gear is stamped with Michael Bay’s assuredly ostentatious signature. No retro-chic here.

Which is really a shame. The lack of an 80′s-style Optimus Prime helmet is the only thing keeping our Avatar from perfectly resembling its creator. Oh well. Maybe next time.

European Xbox Live boss Jerry Johnson has seen what streaming videogame services like OnLive and Gaikai have to offer, but – despite their potential ability to send his main moneymaker packing – he’s not too worried.

“Streaming technology is something that the industry is betting on longer term… right now I don’t believe that technology can scale out against the experience we can offer on a local machine,” he said during the London Games Conference.

“The technology will continue to improve. As an industry we’ll have to accept that and move with it – but I don’t think it’s on an accelerated timeline for the foreseeable future,” he added.

Thanks, TechRadar.

More through the link.

Microsoft’s Major Nelson has sent word (via Twitter, naturally) that invites for the New Social Networking Experience preview program will be along shortly.

“The preview schedule: We close sign ups later today and (if all goes well) send first wave of notification emails Friday,” he said.

And that’s all he wrote.

DO NOT PIRATE VIDEOGAMES.

Ok, with that out of the way, here’s an after-school-special-friendly example of why pirating’s for suckers. See, if you somehow managed to nab an illegitimate early copy of Forza 3 or Borderlands, you’re cruising for an Xbox Live permaban.

“You know, when you play a pre-release title on LIVE when I know you shouldn’t have it, it’s not hard for me to figure out,” tweeted Xbox Live Director of Policy and Enforcement Stephen Toulouse.

Now, if your retailer of choice merely broke the game’s street date, that’s another story. Toulouse explained:

“Don’t worry folks, anyone who bought a copy early is ok. In general, if you got a receipt, play away. These are illegit copies we’re hitting.”

He said nothing, however, about people who stole either game from a retailer. Our guess? You scoundrels are probably in the clear. Well, online anyway. But the police probably won’t touch your precious Gamerscore. Probably.

When is L4D’s Crash Course DLC hurtling onto our gaming systems? No one knows. But a recent Xbox Live Game with Fame announcement might be dropping hints about the DLC’s drop date.

“If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold Member, and you want a chance to play the new Crash Course add-on for Left 4 Dead, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (5:30 P.M. Central Time) the Game with Fame session starts on Wednesday, September 23, at 6:00 P.M. CT,” says the announcement.

September 23, eh? Granted, “a chance to play” seems to suggest that it might just be a preview event, but the DLC is supposed to be out before September ends, so anything later would be cutting it close.

We should mention, however, that – if you choose to partake of Crash Course as part of this promotion – you’ll be staving off the zombpocalypse with pop-rock group Paramore.

Are we wrong in having our worlds turned upside-down by the idea that there’s apparently audience overlap between teeny-bopper bands and Left 4 Dead? Seems like a bit of an odd mix to us.

Halo fanatics rejoice! Now, in addition to your Master Chief cat helmet, Cortana action figure, Halo: Fall of Reach book, and Halo-themed Slurpee cup, you’ll soon be able to bring some Halo action to your Xbox 360. Said the Halo Waypoint Twitter feed:

“Nov 5. Mark it on your calendar. That’s when you will get your hands (or controllers) on Halo Waypoint.”

Hands or controllers? Is this a hint that Project Natal’s also coming out on November 5, and will be compatible with Waypoint? Hey, we can dream, can’t we?

Hey Mr. or Ms. Popular, is the inability to have more than 100 Xbox Live friends the only fly buzzing around the delicious cake that is your perfect life? Well, we can’t help you, but we can give you something to blame: Halo 2.

Speaking with a “high level source,” G4 discovered that Halo 2′s still-active community is the main reason you can’t complete preparations for your 101-person online orgy.

Since Halo 2 is an original Xbox game, it adheres to the original Xbox’s technical limits. The exact specifics of why Microsoft can’t just patch the whole darn thing weren’t given, but suffice it to say, they can’t. Otherwise, they’d have already done it.

So that’s that. G4 recommends that you pester Microsoft until they cave and find a way to up the friend count. We think that’s a good idea. So then, get to it!

GamecinemaHD has received some pics of what appears to be the new Xbox Live Dashboard update.

Shots show the arcade rating system, multiple menus for Avatar Awards, Props, and Games on Demand.

Looks rather neat. Go have a look, but keep it in your head as a rumor until an official announcement.

Update – The originals linked here have been removed. CVG has them, though. Thanks, Blerk.

Apparently, Microsoft doesn’t take kindly to Xbox 360 users logging into Xbox Live in Columbia. Those who do get their console warranty voided.

Since XBL is not official in Columbia, users that log in to the US version aren’t allowed to get repairs performed by tech support.

Engadget has more info on their site and Gamers.co have a recording of a call made to the support center. You’ll need fluent Spanish to get the most from it.

You can thank Babel Fish for the lovely translation.

Looks like the usual suspects rounded out the top five Live titles this week.  Whatever would we do if Call of Duty or Halo missed the list?  Check to make sure the earth was still rotating, most likely.

1. CoD: World at War
2. Halo 3
3. Call of Duty 4
4. Gears of War 2
5. Left 4 Dead
6. GTA IV
7. Fallout 3
8. FIFA 09
9. Guitar Hero World Tour
10. Madden NFL 09

Top Arcade Titles (purchased)

1. The Maw
2. Castle Crashers
3. Worms
4. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
5. UNO
6. A Kingdom for Keflings
7. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
8. Braid
9. Banjo-Kazooie
10. Bomberman Live