Recently released Xbox 360 exclusive, Blue Dragon, has done the impossible it seems in Japan. According to the latest Media Crate Japanese chart, the Mistwalker RPG has managed a #4 showing in the top selling titles in Japan for the week of December 4 - 10. It’s sold 80,000 copies in the country already giving it the #2 all-time Xbox 360 sales record behind Dead or Alive. Sales of the bundle have reportedly been sold within minutes. It’s clearly a title that the crowd in Japan are eager to play.
If the Xbox 360 can manage more games like Blue Dragon, may we see a smile on Peter Moore’s face afterall at next year’s E3 when he addresses the state of the 360 in Japan?
Isn’t that hot? (the news about the game not the girl)
The 2006 Xbox Community Awards Show was just released by GTR today and the nominees and winners were announced in the show. It’s early so enjoy. It looks like you all, the community, selected me ‘Community Member of the Year’! I was really shocked about it and I want to send a shout to litheon, PMS Kitty and the other nominees. They all do great things for the community. It’s an honor to be selected amongst my peers for this award. It was a great show to listen to so be sure you check it out.
The award was presented by my favorite Xbox girl, TriXie! Thanks lady! She was the winner of the same award last year so it’s great to get the handoff from her as I run the second relay. I also have to say that it was great just hearing ‘Unscripted 360′ be said by Natalie to open the show. It sounded so perfect. I’ll be taking auditions for a lady to join me on Unscripted 360 now. (haha) The award is presented at 37:33 into the show for the impatient ones.
Again, congratulations to everyone who took part in the awards and I’ll do my best to continue representing the community as best as I can. You guys and gals made me blush.
-edit- I just wrapped up an interview with GhostRider over at the GhostRider’s Zone. Check it out if you have the time. Thanks for the interview Ghost!
Welcome to another Unscripted 360 Showcase! Don’t get confused with the name…it’s not Snoopy. Sit down, get your eyeglasses on and enjoy a little sloopiness.
Tell us a bit about the person behind the console?
I’m a longtime gamer, having gamed pretty hardcore since the Atari 2600. In my free time I work as a Help Desk Team Manager for an insurance company. The best thing to happen to me all year was in June when I asked my girlfriend of two years to marry me and she said, “Yes.”
Well, that and earning the “Karate Champ” achievement in Dead Rising.
You guys and girls ready for another Showcase? Ofcourse you are! Response has been great so I should’ve known.
It’s close to midnight…and something evil is lurking in the dark. It’s a thriller!
Tell us a bit about the person behind the console?
Well, I’m an average guy. I’m 35 and have been playing games since the Atari 2600 so games have always been a part of my life. They are pretty much my main form of entertainment. I don’t watch TV shows but do enjoy movies and have a large DVD collection. I’m not sure what the attraction to games is.
I guess I love computer art/animation, I love doing something interactive as opposed to just watching something and I really like getting into and being a part of a fantastic story. I’m also a big music fan. My music collection currently contains over 700 albums and I listen to everything from Johnny Cash to Korn.
I know many of you have been wondering about the Video Marketplace in other places besides the US. Many of you have gone to great lengths trying to enjoy what the Video Marketplace has to offer while wondering why it’s not in your local region.
Well the VM team has listed a few reasons as to why the decision was made to currently have it available in the US only. I wanted to share those reasons so that you all can hopefully understand that some decisions are more complex than you think.
Here are a few of the reasons listed here on the Xbox.com message boards:
-While MSFT is a big company, but we don’t have unlimited resources to do whatever we want, we have to prioritize where and how we do things.
-The US is the biggest market, I think you would all agree that makes it a priority
-Most US content that is licensed digitially is produced and distributed by the same company - think about South Park - Comedy Central produces and distributes it. This makes it MUCH easier to license it because it is the same company and they aren’t going to fight about who gets the proceeds from the digital sale.
-Almost all US content distributed abroad is distributed by local companies that are seperate from the producing company, increasing the complexities and basically requiring that the producer and the internatioanl distributor amend their deal before they can do something with us.
-Securing local content would deal with that, but then you have the fact that we only have so many people working on this and the time and resources it takes to do 1 deal with a US partner for 700 hours of content for the US market is about the same as it would take to do a deal with a local partner with probably less content for a much smaller market - so the math clearly points you to focusing on US first.
-Lastly, there are more infrastructure requirements you need to have in place to do international well and we felt it better to get everything straight in the US before we add complexity with other markets and languages.
It makes sense to me. I hope it helps those of you in Canada, UK and other markets understand why it’s not currently available.
Remember me mentioning the Xbox Community Awards 2006? I was nominated for Community Member of the Year and Unscripted 360 was nominated for Podcast of the Year and Blog of the Year remember? It was a real shock to be nominated for three categories. Maybe I’m just really that cool huh? lol
Godfree and the crew have wrapped up the award show and will be releasing it this Friday, December 15. I’m eager to find out who won and I know you all are too so be sure to hit up the show. Good luck to all the nominees.
I want to say thanks to the GTR crew for nominating me and thanks to those who listen, read and comment here on Unscripted 360 or in the 360 community itself for making my nominations possible. I truly appreciate the support. If I manage to secure a win, it’s free pizza for everyone. (well everyone who can make it to my place in Dallas that is)
Here’s some love to the latest Showcase entries. If you haven’t stopped by yet, look who’s on tap below. To get to the latest Showcases, fix your mouse right here and click.
-edit to add 2 additonal Showcases (Udder Juice & Sloopydrew)
As I mentioned in Episode #23, Microsoft continues to unload the punches this holiday season with another original Xbox Live Arcade title this Wednesday and a new program, Xbox Live Arcade Challenge.
Non-stop vehicular combat action at its best is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday with “Assault Heroes“. Developed specifically for Xbox Live Arcade, this fresh, innovative action combat game from Wanako Studios and published by Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, is read ready to assault the Xbox Live Arcade.
Key feature:
Multiplayer co-op mode – Two players may play co-operatively online via Xbox Live or offline (same screen) with enhanced weapons and special attacks to encourage team-based campaigns.
How much: 800 Microsoft Points
When: Wednesday, December 13, after 0800 GMT (1:00 a.m. PST)
Xbox Live Arcade Challenge is a brand new program featuring fully integrated global tournaments designed specifically for all people playing Xbox Live Arcade games. The program is for all levels of gamers – those who like to compete and win, and those who simply want to play and join in with friends. Gamers can play for points, prizes, and fun.
The first two events feature the recently released Xbox Live Arcade titles “Lumines Live!” and “Small Arms”. So get your skills tuned because I’m coming after that 42″ Plasma! Registration has already begun and ends December 22. Don’t say you weren’t informed if you miss out. Get all the Xbox Live Arcade Challenge details here.
A few days ago I gave you my reasons to own an Xbox 360. I ended the list with a not-so official reason (Xbox 360 Laws) but a bonafied reason in my opinion that truly separates the Xbox 360 from others. That reason was the Xbox 360 community. I’m one of the people who believe that a strong community matters just as much as any technical reason for the success of the Xbox 360.
So I decided to list 5 reasons why I think the Xbox 360 community is the roxxors. (yes I said that just now)
DeaconBlade’s 5:
Members (you guys/gals) - I really can’t point out enough of you that make doing what I do personally here at Unscripted 360 any more enjoyable than it already is. I’m sure I speak for those who work for Microsoft as well when I say that each of you is as critical to the success of the product as you are to the community itself. Hey you all have some pretty interesting conversation and threads to read…that’s why I post so much.
TriXie - She’ll probably kill me for listing her in any type of list but I think in a one on one battle I’d take her so I’m not too worried. TriXie’s involvement and passion throughout the Xbox 360 community sometimes scares me as she puts more of herself into what goes on than you guys and gals probably understand. Plus she’s everyone’s favorite icon girl right? Having someone like her to define and sculpt the relationship between Microsoft and community is a real inspiration. Every community needs a TriXie. I loves me some her…ok I said it.
Gamerscoreblog Crew - What is there to say about Tony, John and the crew? Well for starters they’re about as goofy a crew as you’ll probably find on the web. They know they have tons of information that the community needs and while providing that information, they do an excellent job of maintaining humor instead of the corporate boredom. They’ve brought their jobs straight to the community really as they solicit feedback and act on several opinions right from Gamerscoreblog. I’m still waiting on that thing you mentioned during the Lost Planet dinner Tony.
Major Nelson - It’s not easy being as open to the community as Major Nelson is. What better place is there to get up to speed on everything happening with the Marketplace and the Xbox 360? The community can always tune in to one of his shows to get some official scoop. Beyond the suspect shirts he often wears, his drive to get you the information and response you need is another important community piece.
Blogs - I’m listing this because there are a ton of people from the Xbox team who maintain blogs filled with information as well as inside looks into their personality. There are also community members who are doing their things to give the community yet another component that makes us different. MVPs, on10.net, Wildchicken…there are way too many to list but the 360 community has definitely given new meaning to blogs.
Behind the scenes - Yeah okay so this is a 6th reason. I didn’t want to forget the people that you often don’t see but are always there. I know I’ve personally worked with some people on the Xbox team to solve issues and well they deserve a spot in this list as well. There are even Xbox.com personalities that you may have missed who have some cool articles for the community to read.
So go ahead and get on board this fantastic community train!
Welcome to another episode of Unscripted 360. As you can tell from the title of the show, the results of the Gears of War Idol contest are revealed (sort of) and your favorite guest, the PS3 guy, is back. Everyone who participated in Gears of War Idol have my thanks and appreciation. There were close to 200 hundred entries. It took some guts I’m sure. It just really makes being in this community and being a gamer a lot of fun. To have so many willing to let their hair down with fun like this is amazing.
There are some secrets revealed about another contest soon so you might want to pay close attention. I hope you all enjoy the show and as always, thanks for stopping by and tuning in.
Format:
48:50, 22.3MB, mp3
Show files:
mp3 - Get the show in mp3!
iTunes - Subscribe to Unscripted 360 in iTunes
Show outline:
PS3 Guest - 23:50
