The fifth anniversary of the Xbox 360 is speeding our way this year and with the pending release of Project Natal (and several new Xbox 360 bundles), one has to wonder if the console is just hitting its stride.  Having already outpaced its predeccesor, the Xbox 360 is showing no signs of a slowdown.  Can Microsoft really stretch this puppy to ten years?

If you recall, the original Xbox was soon an afterthought nearly 4 years into its life.  Some would argue that Microsoft pulled the plug much sooner than that but as it stands, it only lasted 4 years.  It debuted in November 2001 and in November 2005, the Xbox 360 took over.  Microsoft has stated that the Xbox 360 won’t suffer the same fate as the original Xbox and it will last much longer than most anticipate.  All signs point towards that being true if even for only the one additional year it has already lasted.

It’s probably inevitable that at some point a new Xbox will emerge from the shadows.  But when…where…and what will it be?  What do you want it to be?  What do you want it to be called?  My personal opinion is that we won’t here anything about another Xbox until the end of next year and possibly into 2012.  I don’t think it will be dubbed the Xbox 720 either.  Could the name of the next Xbox be right in front of our eyes?  Xbox Natal anyone?  Will Microsoft risk quality again to get a head start over the competition?

It’s fun to speculate on these things and bring out all of the conspiracies.  We’ve already heard about a possible Xbox 360 Slim in production.  I just don’t know how much more these console makers can do to impress us.  Hell, I’m already impressed enough.

If you were in charge at Microsoft, what would you put inside the next Xbox to make it the most attractive console to purchase?  How much would you price it at?  What would you name it?  What exactly do you want to see in the next Xbox that would get you to stay with the Xbox family?

Building your perfect successor to the Xbox 360 starts now…begin!

Happy Monday everyone!  Well perhaps that was a little presumptious of me considering the news running around the web about the price on Inifinity Ward and Activision’s Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package.  It appears the price has been set for the 3 new maps and 2 remake maps.  That price is 1200 Microsoft Points.  On March 30th you’ll have to decide where your allegiance lies.

Here are the maps:

Bailout – An “overrun apartment complex”
Storm – An industrial park “in the middle of a rainy downpour, tense thunderstorm”
Salvage – An abandoned junkyard”, with a “snowy terrain”
Crash – Urban map with a downed heli, one of the classics from COD4
Overgrown – It’s “wide open, great for snipers”, the other map from Modern Warfare 1

What say you?  Naturally there are a few people saying the price is too much but for every few of those people there are thousands (maybe millions) more who will purchase the maps.  What will you do?

Well where to start, for some time the community has dealt with the unwavering opinion of some who are never wrong…. I feel it’s time to accept the challenge so to speak. So haters, in the immortal words of Doc Holiday “I’m your Huckleberry!!!”

I have always taken pride in reporting accurate information that leaves room for expansion and growth based on the further understanding of subjects.  So it may come to no surprise that I have taken offense to a comment posted on my article written on FFXIII.

I wrote the article with wiggle room intentionally, things may change, but “AS OF NOW” it is where we stand….period.

So let’s delve into the world of someone who is never wrong and see what we can find… the response below screams break me down point by point so come with me while I respond… The italicized text is the comment my remarks will be in a bold font. Read more »