No I still don’t have one but I know a lot of you out there listen in to U360 via your Zune so I wanted to share the news that TV shows have made their way to the Zune with the latest Spring update. You can now choose from more than 800 episodes of popular television series to download and watch on your computer or Zune, including COMEDY CENTRAL’s “South Park,” FUNimation’s “Afro Samurai” and “Witchblade,” MTV’s “The Hills,” NBC’s “The Office,” “Heroes” and “30 Rock,” and much, much more!
Each television show will be priced at 160 Microsoft Points per episode (approximately $1.99) at launch. With more than 3.5 million tracks, two-thirds of which are available in pure MP3 format, 800 television shows, 4,800 music videos and 3,500 audio and video podcasts, the Zune online store is a great place for consumers to find the entertainment content they want.
“Partnering with Zune will allow us to develop innovative content offerings for their customers, including flexible pricing and packaging options beginning this fall,” said JB Perrette, president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution. “NBC Universal is excited to offer our hit television shows to Zune customers.”
I’m going to get a Zune Original at some point so it’s good to see the Zune Marketplace expanding especially when it includes one of my favorite TV shows, Heroes. It’ll be great watching Peter lay the smack down on Sylar while I’m riding the train home or flying out to an event. Anyone have a spare Zune Original?
With the release of Grand Theft Auto IV and all of the attention it has been receiving about its content, I wanted to visit the ESRB rating system to help shed some light on the uninformed. There are quite a few different ratings a game can receive. E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature) and a few more. I’ve had a few parents approach me asking for my opinion on buying the game for their 13 or 14 year old kid and I was really surprised at my response. I told them that I wouldn’t recommend it. I wouldn’t allow my daughter to play it even if she were 13 or 14 so I responded with that in mind.
There are some things in the game that even I had to ask if it was too much. Controversy is what this game has been about and apparently that’s not going to change. GTA IV is rated Mature. Let’s look into the game and break down its rating shall we?
Sometimes life is like a box of chocolates and you never know what you’re gonna get. It seems like Sierra and Radical Entertainment are taking more time to fine tune their ambitious little project. What was once an expected Fall 2008 release, is now a 2009 sighting instead.
To be honest, I’m very happy about this because the last gameplay video I was sent didn’t exactly motivate me to run to the end of the continent like Forrest Gump. Hopefully with an extended window Radical Entertainment will be able to deliver on the scope of what Prototype was to be.
Happy Monday. It’s Cinco de Mayo. Today is the day to celebrate our friends of Mexican heritage and to celebrate the return of Monday FTW! You’ve been waiting for Mondays to have meaning again since the last Monday FTW here at U360 and today is the day that they do once more! Thanks to another sprinkling of TriXie Dust, there’ll be ten (10) Xbox Live Arcade redeem codes for Sierra’s Lost Cities up for grabs.
What is this Monday FTW Lost in the City Giveaway?
Each Monday in May up until May 26th, someone will win an Xbox Live Arcade redeem code for Lost Cities! It’s really simple to enter. Each Monday 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. On each Monday at around 8PM Central Standard Time I’ll pick a winner. It starts today!
I’m only taking entries on Mondays. It ties in to the whole Monday theme of course. Here’s the breakdown of what’s available and on what day. I know I’ve spoiled you ladies and gents here but what the hell…who doesn’t like being spoiled?
May 5 - Lost Cities x2
May 12 - Lost Cities x2
May 19 - Lost Cities x2
May 26 - Lost Cities x4
Prepare to head back to saving the galaxy in Rocketmen: It Came from Your Uranus, an expansion to the original digitally-distributed title, which will be available through Xbox LIVE Arcade on Wednesday, May 14 for 400 Microsoft Points. Rocketmen fans will have access to new maps, weapons, and enemies. Players must have already purchased Rocketmen: Axis of Evil in order to play It Came from Uranus.
3 New Weapons
• Blobber: Shoots blobs of goo at enemies, does damage over time in the part of the ground that it covers.
• Beamer: Shoots lighting at enemies, does high intensity damage.
• Bomber: Shoots grenades instead of bullets; grenades explode on impact doing damage.
2 New Secondary Weapons
• Falcon: Robotic falcon that attacks enemies automatically
• Screw bomb: Rocket that turns into a proximity mine on impact
3 New Levels
• Level 11 - Finding Jane: The player must escape the Saturnian prison mine and reclaim Nick’s ship, the Icarus Jane.
• Level 12 - Clear the Asteroids: The player must clear a path for the ship through Saturn’s rings.
• Level 13 - The Plan: The player must make his way through the Saturnian palace and convince Angelica, leader of the Saturnians, to join the Alliance.
New Enemies
• Saturnian Marine
• Saturnian Elite
• Heavy Mining Terra Scientists
• Terra Rocket Marines
• Saturnian Pit Boss
• Saturnian Asteroid Demolition Machine
• Lord Angelica
Dead Space will scare the hell out of you! Or at least that’s what EA is aiming for. You’ll be hearing about this title quite a bit over the next few months. I posted a Developer Diary of the game a little over a month ago and now I’m here to share more from EA’s latest new thriller that aims to scare the bajeebus out of you. (literally) It features more of the designers and producers talking about the story of Dead Space along with some gameplay. I’m loving the look of the main weapon. Let’s hope this one continues on the right path and gives us all a treat when it releases this year.
There’s a lot of new content going on at the official site for Dead Space so if you’re not afraid and you want to know more. You can even peep the Dead Space comic written and illustrated by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Anthony Johnston (Wasteland) which kicks ass so be sure to check it out. In the meantime, check out the developer diary below.
Exactly 6 years ago, Interplay Entertainment and High Voltage Software gave original Xbox owners a chaplain, a biker, an ex-cop and rave girl. Spencer “Deuce” Wyatt, Samantha Alexander, Kassandra Cheyung, and Father Esteban Cortez. The four of these characters starred in one of the best top-down action games on the console, Hunter: The Reckoning. They each had their own class; Avenger, Defender, Martyr and Judge. They were hunters in search of destroying all evil. (naturally)
It is with great sorrow that I write the latest entry into the Flashback feature because I really loved this game. I was always Father Cortez because of his really cool bow/gun and his wicked trench coat. It looked good, the powers (called Edges) were great and it was 4-player co-op! I really wish the Xbox 360 would find a way to convince some developer to re-visit this particular genre of game. We need another Hunter, another Baldur’s Gate or something. I hear there’s a new Golden Axe remake but for some reason, that title is dated to me.
It was really the first time that you saw a lot of enemies onscreen at the same time on the Xbox. I had tons of fun with friends on this game. Powering up, leveling up and even changing costumes was a blast. The story for its time was also pretty darn good. There was a sequel to this game called Hunter: The Reckoning Redeemer that I also enjoyed. Overall, both were just damn good games that lead to Hunter: The Reckoning getting a “Hell Yeah” on my next-gen meter. I’d love it or a game similar to it.
Flashback Game: Hunter: The Reckoning
Released: May 1 2002
Platform: Xbox
Next-Gen Meter: Hell Yeah
“To create the most intense racing experience, Codemasters consulted with the only people to have that experience.”
GRID is coming this Summer to the Xbox 360 with a challenging career mode to thrilling, incident-packed online races featuring up to 12 players. Codemasters shared the latest media on the game featuring Felipe Ortiz and Stuart Hall of the Creation AIMS Le Mans team. Do you feel the need for speed? Or perhaps just another competent racer? It looks as if GRID is shaping up to be just that.
Video: GRID Interview & Gameplay
Ever since Microsoft decided to hand out some rather embarassing punishment for those out there who have cheated the Gamerscore system, it’s been a stir across the internet. If you remember an earlier post here at U360, cheaters were branded with a virtual Scarlet letter “C” for their cheating ways. I don’t understand the need to cheat at games or boost your score. Virtual bragging rights on who has the biggest virtual set of “pecans” is nothing of interest to me so you’ll never find me cheating. I can haz gamesaving skillz?
If you’ve ever wondered how this whole thing erupted, then prepare to wonder no more. I was sent this story by JD Buck a few weeks ago of an admitted cheater who contacted JD. It’s a story of a gamer surrounding his involvement in “gamesaving”. He drops dimes on other cheaters and the process behind the cheating. I thought it would be an interesting read for you guys and girls. I’m sure Microsoft is well aware of the “circle” and if not, then I hope this does some good to rid the Xbox 360 of this gamesaving nonsense.
GamerchiX continue to take over the world reaching the 5,000 member mark recently in under 2 years. I want to send a big shout out to TriXie, DirtyDiva and PMS Kitty for bringing an amazing mixture of gamers together. I’ve been a big supporter of the GamerchiX and for those of you who don’t know, they’re responsible for creating the “Velvet Voice” tag that you’ve heard from time to time. They also inspired one of the 360 Laws and its subsequent Gamerpic in Picture Pack #2. (TGR #17)
I’ve been a big supporter of the program and the ladies involved. You can listen in on the GamerchiX before the huge success on Episode #50 here at U360. They’ve been on several shows and places here, especially TriXie, as I hold a special place in my gaming heart for them. (drops tear) Again, big shout out to the ladies and I hope at some point you find a chiX in Antartica to make it a complete worldwide sweep!
... pens are numero uno any day of the year
