It’s a lot of fun here at Unscripted 360.  Being able to attend the events that I do and being able to meet some very cool people along the way are highlights of my days.  But the best part about doing what I do is being able to give you all a lot of free shit!  I could keep it all to myself of course but what’s the fun in that especially considering you all are the biggest part of why I continue doing what I have done here at Unscripted 360.

The results of hard work and a community as passionate as you all are allows me to present The Box of Points!  I received this from my publisher friends before I left for the Mercs 2 event.  Details on the contents and how you can win are coming soon so stay tuned.

Are you ready for yet another wild giveaway here at U360?

Here’s a look at the final box art for Mercs 2 as well as a few of the unlockable costumes you can come across for Mattias, Chris and Jen.  I like the costume unlock for Mattias even better than the regular costume he wears.  I’m not sure what you have to do to unlock them though.  And yes, there are more costumes to unlock beyond these few.

Screenshots: Unlockable Costumes & Box Art

I’m going through all of the media in my inbox while I was out in Los Angeles and I thought this was something cool to share.  I like seeing the different box art designs for games so when I see a cool one, I share it.  I even went ahead and loaded the PS3 box art shot for ya because I’m nice like that.

This game will probably retail (with instruments) for a little under $200 so I’ve started to save up already because I enjoy the Guitar Hero series moreso than Rock Band for some reason.

I’m back and I know you all are happy to hear that right?  Of course you are.  I had a wonderful trip out in Los Angeles visiting with Pandemic Studios and EA.  I managed to grab some interviews with the Mercenaries 2: World In Flames team that I’ll be posting sometime this week.  But before I do that, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t give you images of the pimped hotel room along with images of the Mercs 2 Community Space where all the action went down.

Screenshots: Mercenaries 2: World In Flames Community Event

I must say that Mercenaries 2: World In Flames was everything you loved about Mercenaries but multiplied with more bad ass.  If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll be in Mercs heaven with the sequel.  I didn’t get into the first one much and World In Flames was more than I expected so I consider that promising.

I’ll have a recap of the event this week along with the audio from the interviews if I can manage to edit it all properly.  There were some “secrets” revealed that I can’t share.  Enjoy the photos!

Last night we had a fantastic show to send yours truly off on my journey today to visit with Pandemic Studios and get some hands on time with Mercenaries 2: World In Flames.  Big thanks to everyone who called in, listened in and participated in the chat.

Silent October even managed to win a potential 500 Microsoft Points courtesy of BostonPimpDaddy.  One thing to note about this who is that the usual player at the end of the post will not be there.  There are some issues I am waiting to get resolved with the player so you will have to simply download the show.  I will try to get the quick play option back as soon as possible.

Enjoy the show and I will see everyone when I get back.  I will hopefully have some time to post while I am at the Mercs 2 event.

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58mins 40secs, 26.9 MB, mp3

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There aren’t many games that can manage to satisfy a man’s thirst for mutilating zombies and watching women in bikini’s until now that is.  Well, I have a game for you that appears to be every gaming nerd’s fantasy.  Who doesn’t want to fight zombies while controlling a woman in her bikini?  Half-naked women and zombies anyone?  Yes, please!  I’ll take two.

D3Publisher of America is bringing that action right into your living room (2009) with Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad.  They didn’t waste much creative thought with the name as you can see.  It features Aya and Saki, sisters with a passion for obliterating zombies, and an equal enthusiasm for showing off their assets, as they battle hordes of enemies in their skimpiest outfits in an effort to save their city.

The sisters join together to draw their swords and rid the city of evil.  Gamers can play with a friend in Co-op Mode or switch between any of the three beautiful playable characters in single player.  Each character has a variety of unique moves that can be mastered during combat to destroy enemy zombies.  Get too much blood on either sister and be driven into Rage Mode and gain more power and agility to destroy enemies faster and deadlier.

There’s even a Wii version called Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers.  Developed by Tamsoft, both Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad and its sequel Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers for Wii will release in early 2009.  They’re two complete stories in the Onechanbara series.  You can check out the first screenshots of Bikini Samurai Squad and get a taste of the “assets” here.

So Tamsoft thinks they can just throw some sexy women into a game and mix it with a little zombie killing action to please me huh?  Ok, well that’s not fair because I’m easy.  How about you?

My general reaction with the announcement of Xbox Avatars at E3 this year was mixed.  However, since then I don’t know if there’s a feature I’m more excited about than this.  I’m really looking forward to making the coolest virtual Deacon possible.  Somehow, someway I will either be in full Star Wars Jedi clothing or pimped out in Dragonball Z attire.  Details on what you’ll be able to do with your Avatar have been minimal, but that has changed with a bit of news on the game content in which these Avatars will be used initially.

Xbox LIVE General Manger, Eric Kilgore, explained at Microsoft’s Gamefest 2008 that Xbox Avatars will only be featured in ESRB E10+ rated games.  “We are still developing the final policies,” he said, adding that “The final guide we have this year is to think of them in an ‘E10’ context. That doesn’t mean it won’t change – but this Fall they won’t be able to blow each other’s heads off.”  This of course is initially so perhaps at some point T-M rated titles will be allowed.

If you’re like me and totally clueless to what people could do with Nintendo’s Mii, then this isn’t a problem.  But apparently some thought that these Avatars would allow you to blow them up or use them in titles like Gears of War 2 etc.  Who would want to do that?  I only anticipate using my Avatar in the Dashboard.  I had no idea that they fully intended for these to be used across games.  More on what was said about Xbox Avatars can be read here.

What say you?  I couldn’t care less really because all I want my Xbox Avatar to do is look awesome when I visit the Dashboard.  I’m not at all interested in carrying it with me in a game of Gears of War 2 or Dead Space.

I’ve been fortunate enough during my time with Unscripted 360 to meet a lot of great developers and publishers.  Plenty of these guys and girls support what I do here and for that I have perhaps a better respect for the “other world” in gaming than most of you do.  I tend not to shout off about how crappy games are (most of the time) because I know what these guys and girls go through to make these games.

There are a rare few that truly manage to separate themselves from being just another developer dishing out games to people that they couldn’t care less about as long as the $ was in.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting one of the rare few who have separated themselves from the norm.  I give you Strange Flavour’s Aaron Fothergill or as you may know him around these parts, Zwilnik.  He’s part of team behind a series of Xbox Live Arcade titles including Totemball, Spyglass Board Games and the upcoming Airburst.  Totemball is still the only game that truly makes use of the Vision Camera for whatever that’s worth to ya. (smile)

I wanted to mention Zwilnik to everyone because he’s quite honestly an incredible guy whose actions I didn’t want to go unseen.  For a developer to do the things that he does for a community that doesn’t have his games on their brains constantly, it is quite remarkable.  For those of you who don’t know, Zwilnik donated to both the U360 Care effort and here recently, to the Power of 360 effort.  Beyond that he’s constantly mixing it up with everyone here with comments, advice and general banter.

He is an anomaly in the usual world of the selfish and unattached developer.  For many of these reasons, I’m proud to drop whatever amount of Microsoft Points on his Xbox Live Arcade titles that they require.  I support what he does because of his choice to simply “fit in” amongst us normal geeks.  Had I not pointed him out, I’m sure a lot of you would think he’s just another guy in the community.  And you’d be right because that’s just how he wants it.

When I told you he was an anomaly, I meant it.  You don’t see many developers maintain their sense of community, regard or even humanity the way that he’s has managed to maintain.  So I’m calling on all of my peeps to get behind Strange Flavour when Airburst releases on Xbox Live Arcade.  If there were an option to pay and download twice, I’d do it because a guy like this deserves it after giving so much of himself in an industry that doesn’t require it.  It’s just how Zwilnik rolls and I’m hoping everyone rolls with him to show him some love with his new release.

Thanks for being a genuine friend, developer and example for people to follow Zwilnik!  I wish you nothing but success my friend because the gaming world is better with developers like you in it.

It’s been on the minds of nearly every Battlefield: Bad Company player and it’s time for it to become a reality.  Conquest Mode is coming and it will be a free download!  The content will include the traditional Battlefield multiplayer game mode, Conquest.  Conquest focuses on the capture and control of flags; once a team captures a control point, its members can re-spawn in the area. When a team loses control of all their flags or control points, they cannot re-spawn.

Four existing maps have been redesigned along with all new lighting and weather effects, to give players a great battlefield on which to play Conquest. Upon entering one of these maps, the U.S. ARMY will face off against either the Russian or Middle Eastern Coalition forces and the battle for control of the territory will begin. Look for more information soon from DICE on the release date and more details on Conquest Mode.

Conquest Mode will be available this Thursday, August 7.

Summer of Arcade continues this week with an offering from independent developer, Jonathan Blow.  Do you think you’ll have more fun with Braid than Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2?  If so, then the 1200 Microsoft Points pricing won’t be much of an issue for you.

You can manipulate time to navigate your way through the game but perhaps it would be more fitting to manipulate the price?  Oh how I used to love you 400 point titles but you are slowly fading away.

When: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT)
How much: 1200 Microsoft Points