Sid Meier’s Pirates, Black and Ninja Gaiden Black will arrive on the Xbox Originals service on February 11 in North America, for the standard cost of 1200 Microsoft points. No word on European or Australian release dates.
via MCV
If there’s one thing our server stats tell us every month, it’s that you all love to know about the achievements in Xbox 360 games before they hit shelves - and we hate to disappoint. With 600 Gamerscore just from finishing the game, Lost Via Domus could be a hit with the achievement whores.
Hit the jump for the complete list of achievements.
When you’ve got a problem, it definately helps to get snooty and demand to speak to the supervisor in charge. And if they’re not available to take your call, perhaps you should try the CEO. Like this guy:
I was one of the first to get an Xbox 360 when they came out, paying way more than I should have. I had problems with the console right out of the box and after weeks of haggling with their normal customer service department, I was contacted by their escalation department. Within a week, my problems were solved and they sent me a bunch of free stuff (games & controllers). Fast forward two years, and I’m having the same problem. I emailed both Bill Gates and Kathleen Hogan(Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Customer Service, Support and Customer and Partner Experience) yesterday…
I was contacted within twenty-four hours from the escalation department and a new console is on its way.
In doing a little bit of research, I figured out the email addresses for both and am providing them for your loyal readers. The link I am including will also provide the entire corporate teams names and titles.
khogan@microsoft.com
billg@microsoft.com
Make of this what you will…
via Consumerist
Time to let your hair out and start rocking hard because Activision have just released three new classic rock songs for Guitar Hero III download. The tracks on offer are Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero,” Journey’s “Any Way You Want It” and Boston’s “Peace of Mind“. I’m sure it’s pretty safe to say that Any Way You Want It will be blaring from dorm rooms for some months. The Pack is going for the usual Xbox Live for 500 points, or US$6.25.
via Joystiq
The hour is upon us… well not quite, but at least we know the date when the hour will be upon us. That’s right people: Grand Theft Auto IV had been dated to be released April 29th. The reason the game is taking so long is all thanks to the PS3, as Rockstar’s Jeronimo Barrera pointed out in an MTV interview:
“It’s really no surprise to anybody that the PS3 was definitely a contributing factor to [the delay].”
Thankfully now the progress on both systems are “neck and neck”, and the experience on 360 and PS3 has been quoted as “identical”.
via MTV
Oh Atari, what are you doing? Is Alone in the Dark 5 an urban exploration game? Okay - maybe that’s a bit harsh - there are a few monsters near the end of this visually stunning video, but the part where the protagonist hacks up a table out of sheer boredom is very worrying. On the upside, the look down at your belt inventory system is a brilliant idea that should have been used years ago. Let’s just hope Atari rushed this video out, and the final game won’t be quite so sparse.
Sega has announced a North American release date for their zombie-hobo-killing Condemned 2: Bloodshot, along with some information about 2 unusual multiplayer modes. On March 11, 2008, up to eight players on Xbox Live/PSN will be able to experience the “Bum Rush” - a 3 minute survival mode, or “Crime Scene” which sounds a little like capture-the-evidence. Of course, there are also the standard deathmatch modes for the less adventurous types. Click the pic for a full gallery or check after the jump for a video showing off the single-player mode.
“Forgive me father, for I have sinned.”
“What did you do my child?”
“I spawn camped in a ladder match.”
“Ohh, a very serious crime my child. As penance you must watch what could have been, but never was - Goldeneye on the 360.”
*weeping* “Thank You father.”
A Microsoft insider has talked to 8Bit Joystick’s Jake Metcalf about the Xbox 360’s hardware failures. The insider is reported to be someone who was part of the consoles development and testing throughout its conception.
According to the anonymous source, the 360 was rushed out in order to get the drop on the PS3. The reason for the high failure rate was an under resourced development which resulted in ultra cheap heat sinks being used, incompatible hardware and poor construction. Worst of all, Microsoft may not have enough Xbox 360s to cope with returns this year.
He has some moderately comforting news that the current generation Xbox have a failure rate of under 10% compared to the old generation failure rate of 30%.
via 8Bit Joystick
If you can’t get enough of teaser trailers that show nothing but CG animation, then the first video from Command and Conquer’s first foray into the FPS world will be right up your ally. With today’s graphical horsepower, let’s hope what we see here isn’t too far from what the game will really look like.
