Truth Serum is when I give you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help my Xbox 360 controllers. I’ll inject truth serum into a variety of topics I come across to hopefully help you make sound decisions in your gaming world. The first topic to be injected is one concerning the new Xbox 360 Pro console equipped with HDMI and just how you may not have a true digital experience out of the box.
It turns out that the AV cable/adapter that comes packaged with the Pro restricts you from connecting the HDMI cable. Bottom line is that the component cable included with the Pro has a connecting end that’s just too big and it covers the HDMI port making it impossible to connect the HDMI cable when you want to use your optical cable for 5.1 Dolby. So it’s either utilize the HDMI or 5.1 Dolby but not both.
This applies to those of you who have A/V receivers without an HDMI connection like myself. I only have a receiver with optical ports for 5.1 Dolby so this would definitely bite the big one. The solution is to purchase the $49.99 HDMI cable with the smaller end. If you add that up though, an Xbox 360 Pro is now $400 when purchasing the HDMI cable thus making it only $50 cheaper than the Elite.
It makes sense then to simply spring for the Xbox 360 Elite no? Fifty extra dollars would get you 100 more gigs of hard drive space and the cables necessary right out of the box. Is this a Microsoft treat or trick? It’s Halloween today so you decide.
I’ve received quite a few emails and messages throughout the existence of Xbox Live and the introduction of gamer cards concerning inappropriate mottos as well as inappropriate gamertags. I’ve had a few shows in fact with many of you voicing your concerns about using the report system and how effective it really is.
Well the system has been updated to deal with these complaints a lot faster. So if you come across a disturbing motto or an offensive gamertag, use the in-console complaint system. I expect everyone to help police Xbox Live so that we can all enjoy a better online environment.
Here’s what you do for those unaware:
- go to your recent players list (previous players)
- select the gamer card you wish to file a complaint on
- go to File Complaint > File Complaint > Profile & Content > Gamertag or Motto > File Complaint
- when you see the little gavel icon, you’re finished
I told you I’d be giving more coverage of the 360’s little musical cousin, the Zune. If you remember, the new 80 gig and 8 gig models are due next month and before their release, these new accessories will be available. I’m already debating on shattering my daughter’s piggy bank to grab one so I can finally get my taste of Zune and these new goodies.
The list of new partners providing accessories for the Zune include 3rd-party entries from Altec Lansing Techologies, Agent 18, Belkin and many more. And the new goodies include a new AV pack ($99.99), Altec Lansing Speaker Dock ($99.99), and a Belkin Sport Armband ($29.99) for the runner in you. You can check out the entire list of new digs coming at the official press release here.
“Zune is committed to providing customers with choice,” said Scott Erickson, senior director of product management for Zune. “In addition to offering choice among Zune media players, we have also enhanced our accessories program to ensure that Zune users can choose from a robust line of high-quality accessories.”
I’m off now to see exactly how much little piggy has on the necessary $250 I need for the 80gig Zune.
There are some goodies hitting store shelves this week so get your paychecks and lunch money ready. Pinatas, Bees and time-bending soldiers are at your disposal.
TimeShift - Developed by Saber Interactive and published by Sierra Entertainment, TimeShift, allows players to control time and use it as the ultimate weapon in a fierce battle against the neo-fascist regime of Dr. Krone. $59.99
Bee Movie Game - Bee Movie Game offers a one-of-a-kind gameplay experience with more than 15 levels, compelling side-quests, amusing multi-player mini-games and a wide variety of never-before-seen content co-created by DreamWorks Animation and Activision exclusively for the game. $49.99
Viva Pinata Party Animals - Microsoft Game Studios and Krome Studios present the latest party gaming extravaganza developed exclusively for Xbox 360. $49.99
Punk tried to kill the metal! I’ve been shredding guitar for the past week or so and having this as the Play of the Week was a no-brainer. If you have it, make sure you set some time aside to rock out this week especially during the Guitar Hero 3 Play & Win weekend coming up.
While you’re preparing to rock, check out the launch party that went down here in Dallas this past weekend. There was a 4-year old throwing down on expert that literally blew my mind. Witness his rock below!
If I didn’t have the press release to prove it, I may not have believed this but it’s true. I suggest you get your skillz up ladies and gents.
The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) is hosting a million dollar Halo 3 competition at the Extreme Winter Championships taking place Tuesday, December 18 to Saturday, December 22, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas, Texas. Yes, it’s going down in my town so you know I’ll be there.
The $1,000,000 Halo 3 competition is being organized by X Factor Tournament, a new e-sports management organization in exclusive partnership with the CPL. The winner of the $1,000,000 competition will receive a $250,000 instant cash payout at the CPL Winter event. Other prizes will be paid to at least 64 places. The competition is open to gamers worldwide and does not require pre-qualification or previous tournament experience.
Angel Munoz, Founder and President of the CPL said, “We are thrilled to host this enormous $1,000,000 Halo 3 open competition and to announce it on the tenth year anniversary of our first event. X Factor Tournament has deposited $1,000,000 to a designated bank account for prize payment, making it the largest videogame competition ever.”
The online registration is now open. There’s more tournament, prize and registration information available at www.halo3competition.com.
Breathe in…breathe out and enjoy the sweet smell of U360! Now that you can sniff the place again allow me to share with you tomorrow’s Xbox Live Arcade release, Mutant Storm Empire.
Just in time for Halloween, “Mutant Storm Empire” is packed with sci-fi action as players crush gangs of robots, smash swarms of UFOs and demolish massive enemy bosses. It features 16 unique levels spread over four richly detailed and varied worlds. The game offers a seamless experience where players move from room to room without having to enter a loading screen, in addition to offline co-op and multiplayer LIVE support for two people.
When: October 31, 2007, at 9 a.m. GMT (2 a.m. PDT)
How much: 800 Microsoft Points
Here it is ladies and gentlemen. The final Monday in October and you all should know what Monday’s mean around here. For an entire month, U360 has made one of you a winner on each Monday in October. Who will be the last one to win? Today’s Monday just so happens to be a birthday Monday for me. Will that make it different? I suppose you’ll all have to wait to find out.
Until then, welcome to the final Monday FTW Ultimate Sports Giveaway! I want to again give a big thanks to EA Sports for taking care of the U360 community with the great games to giveaway and thanks to all of you for the support.
What is this Monday FTW Ultimate Sports Giveaway?
Each Monday in October I’ll have a Monday FTW post up. Just post a reply to it or send me a message on Xbox Live each Monday that it goes up. At around 8PM Central Standard Time I’ll pick a winner.
I’m only taking entries on each Monday. Here’s the breakdown of what’s still available and on what day. Last week Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 fell into the hands of a young lady and today a double dose of football is on the clock. Get your posts and messages in before 8PM CST tonight!
October 1 - NHL 08 (Sirharper wins)
October 8 - NBA Live 08 (Souf Centrol wins)
October 15 - NASCAR 08 (IRISHprik411 wins)
October 22 - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Mak wins)
October 29 - Madden NFL 08 & NCAA Football 08 (King Fraz wins)
As usual, this is the latest live episode from the weekend for all you feed and iTunes subscribers. I want to apologize for the problems with the site and hope you enjoy a little getaway from that with this latest show. I had a lot of fun with this one.
Format:
43mins 01secs, 19.7MB, mp3
Show files:
mp3 - Listen to the show in mp3 format
Subscribe:
iTunes - Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast Only Feed - Subscribe to Podcasts Only here
U360 General Feed - Subscribe to all U360 news here
This weekend is the weekend when legends will be born. Next weekend is the weekend when those legends will have a chance to win some awesome prizes with a Play & Win event and a coveted Achievement during “Meet Your Maker”.
To kick off Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend, fans will have the coveted opportunity to secure the rare and elusive “Meet Your Maker” Xbox Live Achievement, where axe-shredders can beat the creators at their own game, while competing online against the developers from Neversoft on Friday, November 2 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm EST. Be on the look-out for the following development team Gamertags:
- GH DesLead, Alan - Design Lead
- GH AsstProd, Lee - Asst Producer
- GH SrProdTech, Clive - Sr. Producer Technology
- GH OnlineEng, Mario - Online Engineer
- GH OnlineEng2, Tim - Online Engineer
- GH MidiDes2, Chris - Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes3, David - Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes4, Geoffrey - Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes5, John - Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes6, Brian - Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes7, Kyle - Midi Designer
More details on registering for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend are at the official event page: www.xbox.com/gh3weekend. Open registration has begun and will end at 11:59pm (EST) on November 4, 2007. On top of this the Play & Win will be going on from November 2 - 4. Play Guitar Hero III online during this time and you’ll have a chance to win some awesome swag including an Xbox 360 Elite and an accessory kit previously unveiled here at U360.
Don’t say you weren’t told. See you guys and girls online. Let’s rock!
... pens are numero uno any day of the year
