GDC Castle Crashers Walkthrough

Halo 3 Foundry Map Trailer

Halo 3 Rat's Nest Map Trailer

XBOX 360 Fall Update: 1UP brings us a lovely video

Check out this HDCGAMER Podcast for Thanksgiving! Episode 5!

Head over and listen to our Turkey Day podcast. The podcast has a review of Super Mario Galaxy and some news stuff. Look for Newsstand feature next week as I didn't get all the magazines in time for this podcast. This one is short and sweet so enjoy.

Child Neglect grows into a Lawsuit aimed at XBOX LIVE fees!

"InformationWeek reports that a Georgia resident is suing Microsoft for consumer fraud because he claims his underage son used his debit card to subscribe to Xbox Live and automatically renewed the subscription without authorization.

In a class action suit, Georgia resident Francisco Garcia claims that in October 1995 his son, Silvario, used his debit card to buy a $49.99, one-year subscription to Xbox Live. The service lets Xbox owners play games like Halo 3 against each other over the Internet.

A year later, Garcia claims, Microsoft automatically billed him for an additional year of Xbox Live without his knowledge or consent. He contends that the charge sent his checking account into overdraft, and that his bank slapped him with a $35.00 penalty.

By accepting a subscription from a minor and automatically renewing it without consent, Microsoft "fraudulently induced a contractual relationship for Xbox Live services," Garcia claims in his suit."Teamxbox...

First and foremost there was no XBOX or XBOX Live in 1995? So I think they probably meant 2005? Looks like a typo to me. But let's assume it's true... So it's Microsoft's fault this father can't keep track of his debit card? And it's Microsoft's fault that the father is TOO STUPID to cancel his kids XBOX LIVE account after the first time it happened? Perhaps Family services should get involved and find this kid a parent who isn't as irresponsible and stupid as his kid.

Need for Speed Pro Street not even on store shelves and there is all ready DLC on XBLM?

There are three or four car packs. Each cost 500 points. This seems really strange considering the game doesn't even hit store shelves until the 15th. Even Gamestop shows this as the ship date. To say this is a little early is an understatement. Also it is unclear if these packs are unlocks from the game like in Need for Speed Carbon or if they are additional cars added to the game through DLC. Problem with either thing is that if they were ready to ship DLC before the game even comes out, then why isn't it in the game? Heaven forbid they are unlocks, because that would mean that just like in Need for Speed Carbon you are paying to make progress. Which isn't playing a game, it's paying to cheat.

XBOX 360 will download old XBOX games from XBLM in Fall Update! OK...

"Microsoft Bringing 'Xbox Originals' to 360
Halo, Psychonauts, Fable and more available in December.
By Steve Watts, 11/13/2007
Nintendo has their Virtual Console that goes back five generations of company history; Sony reaches back two generations with their PlayStation Network downloads offering PS1 games. As the newest entrant in the console race, what does Microsoft have?

Starting December 4, the 360 will host "Xbox Originals," the name given to original Xbox game downloads for the 360. Teased in the press release are Halo, Psychonauts, Crimson Skies and Fable, so those titles are likely to be in the first wave of releases. The games will cost 1200 Microsoft Points, or about $15 USD. There's no word yet on how frequently the catalog will be updated, or if the downloads will offer any new feature enhancements like upscaling or Achievement Points.

The new download service is set to launch alongside the Fall firmware update just after the Xbox Live service turns five years old. As part of the celebration, users will be able to download a free XBLA game November 15 and 16. Further, any active member who joined up in 2002 will get 500 free Microsoft Points."1UP...

OK, why is this a big deal? I can easily get all those games except for Psychonauts for less than $15 from my local Gamestop and let's not even get into Ebay.
I want to see Panzer Dragoon Orta and Oddworld Stranger backwards compatible rather than this stuff that is all ready BC.
I don't fault Microsoft for trying something new and getting paid for it. But they really could have made these games less expensive. Like 800 points. After all, this isn't an XBLA that isn't available anywhere else.
I would like to congratulate Microsoft for their bringing such a great service to consumers for 5 years and into the future. I can't remember if I was a member in 2002, but I hope so. I could use the 500 points. Now that the service is five years old and there are plenty of revenue streams accessible to Microsoft. Like themes and gamer pics. You think that they could finally make the service free, right?
Back in 2002 there was a reason it was a pay service. All that R&D costs money and all that equipment and so on. I understand... But there aren't dedicated servers, there are MANY pieces of content on the service that didn't cost more than a penny or two to make and are at least a $1 for a customer to buy. If one million people download the $1 piece that's how much? Listen, I understand this whole thing is expensive and Microsoft does have the premier online service out there. But guys haven't we been paying, in various ways, for long enough?

Happy 5th Birthday XBOX LIVE!

Timeshift goes all Multiplayer in new Demo on XBLM

Want to play Timeshift multiplayer for free? Well head over to XBLM and download this puppy. It will hit your hard drive for around 900 MB but as you probably all ready know, there was a reason they made that 120 GB hard drive.
I'm still downloading but should have impressions by podcast time. So check that out...

Hear it Here first! VF 5 gets DLC on the XBOX360

Hey folks,
Head over to XBLM if you have Virtua Fighter 5 and download the new item pack with 3 new items per character. This will set you back 300 microsoft points. I know this might sound a little steep. But look at it this way. There aren't any new items being added to the PS3 version, are there?
I have to hand it to Sega for supporting what is so far the best version of VF5. My review on this title is coming, but let's just say that if you are a fighting fan, this is the definitive version of Virtua Fighter.

Rock Band DLC first Wave Revealed!

Head over to XBOX 360 Fanboy for the article. The question here is why are there so many multi-packs when supposedly the game was supposed to be like Itunes and you could pick and choose the songs you want. Also isn't this whole prepackaged thing the whole problem with Guitar Hero that everyone has been complaining about?

Guitar Hero 3 gets some DLC! Same Expensive Packs as GH 2

OK, now everybody who is mad about the fact that these song packs cost 500 points a piece. DO NOT BUY THEM! If no one buys the packs at the current price the price WILL GO DOWN. If you buy them, don't complain about the price; because you are part of the problem not the solution!

XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE: Stop Hiding Content!

First off I just want to say that I LOVE XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE. I am on there just about every night looking for new content for games, videos, free gamer pics and themes, and of course any other goodies that might be up for grabs. Problem is this, the content can be REALLY hard to find. It also changes not only the place where it is at but what is in those places often. The last straw was today when I heard that a new Halo 3 Short Film had popped up on the service and I went to look for it. I couldn't find it. So I had to go to the internet, specifically to XBOX360fanboy.
These folks had actually explained where exactly to go to find this video because it was THAT hard to find. All this would mean for the service would be to simply actually put the new videos on the front pages rather than just everything that came out in the last two weeks for one area. I wish they would actually cut up the content not directly put up with a game in a separated form rather than just all clumped together and shoved somewhere. I'm sure most of these videos have little to no download rank. I hope for the Fall update they decide to properly categorize these ridiculous general areas. No more clips, Community Game Videos, and the ever elusive Game Videos.
All of this was fine when there were a couple of hundred of pieces of content on the service but as Microsoft says, "There are over a 1,000 pieces of content on XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE." Well, that's great guys, now make sure everyone can find all of it.