WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 community event recap

You can’t see me, my time is now!  That seems like a fitting thing to say about this year’s WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011...

WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 community event recap

Xbox Live Arcade no longer a casual play

When the Xbox Live Arcade was introduced, Microsoft presented it in such a way that it was to be about casual play.  It was for the people...

Xbox Live Arcade no longer a casual play

Kinect price $149.99, Kinect games $49.99

Well after all the speculation, Microsoft today announced what it had so vehemently denied over the last few weeks….Kinect really...

Kinect price $149.99, Kinect games $49.99

Happy Anniversary, U360 celebrates 4 years!

Wow.  Has it really been four years since the debut of Unscripted 360?  Yes it has!  I’m not sure of what to say beyond THANK...

Happy Anniversary, U360 celebrates 4 years!

Kinect versus PlayStation Move

Remember that one time when most of you said that the gaming world wasn’t ready for the “motion era”?  Well, a few million Wii’s...

Kinect versus PlayStation Move
Xbox Live increases price of 12-month Gold to $59.99

Xbox Live increases price of 12-month Gold to $59.99

Well it was a good run wasn’t it?  Those of you who are Xbox Live Gold subscribers will notice a $10 increase on your credit card bills coming on November 1.  Major Nelson let the cat out of the bag on new prices for Xbox Live subscriptions to affect US, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.  [...]

Best Buy gets into the used game business

Best Buy gets into the used game business

GameStop does it.  Amazon does it.  So why not Best Buy?  The electronic giant is now handing out store credit and checks for your used games.  They even have a pretty convenient online trade-in tool for you to use that shows you the estimated trade-in value of your game, console or whatever else you can [...]

Flashback - Blinx: The Time Sweeper

Flashback – Blinx: The Time Sweeper

I like to say that Blinx was the original cat of chaos on the Xbox when Blinx: The Time Sweeper released.  It touted some pretty cool time manipulation elements that were a lot of fun.  He was the cat that the Prince of Persia should consult when looking to go back and forth through time.  [...]

Flashback - Panzer Dragoon Orta

Flashback – Panzer Dragoon Orta

Now this is a game that I really enjoyed on the original Xbox.  There was a problem with getting used to how the controls were set up but overall the game was a lot of fun.  It was one of the best looking games on the Xbox.  The creatures (dragons) that you rode were very [...]

Neighbors from Hell Trivia Swag!

Neighbors from Hell Trivia Swag!

Let’s face it…we’ve all had them.  We’ve had those people across the street or next door that had to be the spawns of Satan.  I know I have.  I’ve had plenty of neighbors that I thought were from Hell.  In thinking about that, I thought this would be a cool chance to dish out some [...]

Happy Anniversary, U360 celebrates 4 years!

Happy Anniversary, U360 celebrates 4 years!

Wow.  Has it really been four years since the debut of Unscripted 360?  Yes it has!  I’m not sure of what to say beyond THANK YOU to everyone who has come and gone since it all began.  I started this place on a whim and never thought it would gain much of a following.  I’ve [...]

Borderlands DLC Claptrap's Robot Revolution in September!

Borderlands DLC Claptrap’s Robot Revolution in September!

2K Games and Gearbox Software are returning to Pandora!  I’ve enjoyed most of Borderlands’ DLC and this one looks like it will be no exception.  Are you ready for more leveling up! Titled Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution, players will be taking on an army of Claptraps as they revolt against the Hyperion Corporation.  Our four vault hunters [...]

Mafia 2 demo available

Mafia 2 demo available

Gangsta, gangsta…that’s what they’re yelling!  2K Games released a demo for Mafia II today so head out and get ready to bring some tommy gun action to your Xbox 360.  Who doesn’t want to pretend to be a wise guy?  I’m a big fan of the Godfather series so Mafia fits right into my inner [...]

Hotwave Games Developer Q&A

Hotwave Games Developer Q&A

I recently sat down with Xbox Live Indie Games developer, Hotwave Games.  They’re the makers of the hit game, Avatar Wave: Snowball Fight and one of a handful of developers who actually give you something to do with your Avatars.  It’s only 240 Microsoft Points so pony up and fire off those snowballs. Where did [...]

Dante's Inferno, Tour of Hell With Jonathan Knight

Dante’s Inferno, Tour of Hell With Jonathan Knight

Are you ready to burn in Hell?  No, not literally of course but instead with Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno.  I had a chance to work with EA again on an awesome Q&A session covering Dante’s Inferno with Executive Producer, Jonathan Knight.  I tried to get in some really good questions because this game is high [...]

Call of Duty: Black Ops, inside its multiplayer

Those of you interested in Call of Duty: Black Ops better be glad that the rumors of it charging for its multiplayer were false.  The reason for being glad is that the multiplayer looks like it’s going to kick as serious amount of hindparts.  You’ve got contracts to buy, more perks to gain, a One in the Chamber mode that sound ridunkulous and a theater system that rivals that of Bungie?

In a recent event in Los Angeles, Activision unloaded lots of details on its multiplayer for Black Ops.  You should read up on a few tidbits at that link because Treyarch is pulling out all its tricks (that it learned from Infinity Ward).  Add to all of that the return of Zombies and you have yourself a recipe for win.

What say you?

Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, an XBLA prequel on Marketplace

If you simply can’t wait to dig into Capcom’s Dead Rising 2 next month and you need your Dead Rising fix right now, then I think you’ll like the latest Xbox Live Arcade release.  Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is set two years after the Willamette incident and three years before Dead Rising 2.  It introduces main protagonist and former motocross champion Chuck Greene providing a link between the original game and the events that await players in the gambling paradise of Fortune City.

How much: 400 Microsoft Points
Queue it up: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/00000001-0000-4000-8000-000058410a8d?cid=SLink

New Xbox 360 controller is the hot, $64.99 November 9

I’m a big fan of the Xbox 360 controller.  In fact, the controller on the Xbox was one of the biggest reasons I got into the Xbox to begin with.  The Xbox 360 controller is easily the best controller on the market.  I’ve never had an issue with the D-pad like some have but I suspect that’s because I don’t use it that often.  Those of you who do use the D-pad, you should pay particular interest to the D-pad on this new controller.  It transforms!  It can go from a plus to a disc they say.

You can check out a video of the new controller right here and get a glimpse of how awesome it is.  The new controller also has a mixture of gray, silver and black buttons.  This thing is hot I tell ya!  It’ll be available in November for $64.99 because it’s only being bundled with a Play & Charge cable. 

I don’t care…I want it!  What say you?

Xbox Live increases price of 12-month Gold to $59.99

Well it was a good run wasn’t it?  Those of you who are Xbox Live Gold subscribers will notice a $10 increase on your credit card bills coming on November 1.  Major Nelson let the cat out of the bag on new prices for Xbox Live subscriptions to affect US, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. 

The price for a 12-month subscription to Xbox Live will increase from $49.99 to $59.99 beginning on the first day of November this year.  The price of a 12-month appears to only be changing for the US and Mexico.  In Mexico it goes from 499 Pesos to 599 Pesos.

Other regions (Canada and United Kingdom) will notice a change in 1-month prices only.  Who cares about 1-month subscriptions eh?  So you folks in Canada and UK should relax.  There are also changes in the 1-month ($2 increase) and 3-month ($5 increase) subscriptions for US customers but as I said who cares about those.

They are offering current customers a chance to grab an additional year of Xbox Live Gold at a discount ($40) so you may want to go ahead and renew now if you want the discounted $40 Xbox Live 12-month price.  It’ll expire after one year and you’ll be forced into the current annual price but hey we can’t have roses and ice cream.  Lock in your price here!

What say you?

Unscripted Nights return with Halo 3, Friday!

Remember the greatest night of all time when we sat around Elephant Pimpin’ during the first Unscripted Nights Halo 3 event?  You knew the return would happen at some point and what better way to celebrate the latest chapter of Halo than revisiting Halo 3!  

With the launch of the most anticipated game (Halo: Reach) this year drawing closer, it only made sense for the most anticipated gathering on Xbox Live to return.  Unscripted Nights is on this Friday!  I want to invite everyone to an Unscripted Nights event with me and the U360 community. 

When: Friday, September 3
Time:
7PM PST / 9PM CST / 10PM EST
Game: Halo 3

How do I join?

Simple. Send me a message via Xbox.com or Xbox Live with “Halo 3″ and I’ll get you in the game. Or heck…if you see me on…just join my session.  I’ll be posting a number of Gamertags in fact to look out for during the event this Friday.  You’ll be able to message any of them to participate. 

If you want your Gamertag listed, let me know.  Having it listed means you’re okay with hosting during the event.

Unscripted Nights Halo 3 Gamertags

DeaconBlade 360

Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition

More zombies are coming..more dead zombies.  (yeah what other kind are there right?)  Capcom unveiled the Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition today with details on the goodies inside.  The game ships next month on September 28 so start saving your pennies now.  It’ll cost you $89.99.  You can pre-order the High Stakes Edition right here only at the Capcom store.

The Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition Includes:

- Dead Rising 2 Game (Xbox 360 or PS3)

- Poker set in a black high-impact case sporting the Fortune City logo and including (100 poker chips- 4 different colors featuring the Fortune City logo, 2 decks of ‘blood-stained’ custom playing cards featuring character art, 5 green dice, 1 ‘blood-stained’ dealer chip)

- Fortune City Visitor Map featuring the game map and ads for Fortune City locations and attractions

- Terror is Reality XVII admission ticket with redemption code for the unique Psycho costume and skills downloadable content

- One Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition will contain the ‘Golden’ Terror Is Reality XVII admission ticket, which is redeemable for Burt the Zombie, a 6’ Dead Rising 2 zombie replica