xbox live Archive

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Microsoft Releases Xbox LIVE iOS App

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on December 7, 2011Posted in: Mobile, Technology, Video Games

I’ve been playing with the new Xbox LIVE iOS app this afternoon and have to hand it to Microsoft – this thing looks slick. It’s got the new Metro UI that’s on the new Windows Phone and now the Xbox 360. The app looks and performs wonderfully even in iOS, especially on the iPad where it literally turns your iPad into a mini Xbox 360 dashboard. If you use Xbox Live with any sort of regularity, there’s no reason not to get this app asap.

Currently, it’s got the basic functionality of things you’d want to do away from your Xbox, like check/send messages, achievements, and friend activity. You can even check out some streaming video content from the Xbox LIVE team. You can’t, however, browse the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and make downloads or purchases. This would be the logical next feature add and I’d be surprised if Microsoft didn’t implement this sooner rather than later. After all, allowing players to impulse purchase content on the go can only do good things for Microsoft’s bottom line.

Here’s a list of features from Major Nelson:

Some of the features include:

Read and send messages to friends
Manage your friends list, invite new friends
Read and Edit your full LIVE profile (name, bio, motto)
Change your avatar features/items with the avatar closet
View and compare your achievement progress with friends

Download the iOS app here for free

via Xbox Live’s Major Nelson

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Xbox Live Cloud Storage

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on September 26, 2011Posted in: Video Games

So I’m 4 months late on this news tidbit, but holy crap, why is this not touted more? Cloud storage for game saves and anywhere login with my LIVE profile is something I would pay good money for and apparently Microsoft is bringing it to us gratis. (Playstation Plus can go finger itself.)

Anyone who’s ever played on LIVE at a friend’s house can attest to the onerous process of signing in under your profile to earn those previous ‘cheevos or accessing your unlocked songs in Rock Band.

I personally just keep my profile on a USB drive attached to my own Xbox 360 so I can just grab it and go if I’m headed over to a buddy’s house. Heaven help me if i get pushed into a pool or if I manage to lose a tiny thumb drive, though. That’d be weeks of my life gone.

“We are making it easier for you to sign into your Xbox LIVE account from any console at any time to access your game saves and full profile, including items such as Microsoft Points to make purchases, Achievements and friends,” explained Marc Whitten, VP of Xbox Live. “Cloud storage will allow you to enjoy the same great Xbox LIVE gaming experience even when you’re not in your own living room by giving you the option to store your ‘game saves’ securely in the Xbox LIVE cloud instead of on a portable memory unit or your console’s hard drive.”

E3 2011: Xbox Live Gets Cloud Storage – IndustryGamers.

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ESPN on Xbox Live updated for the ‘College Bowl Showdown’

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on December 16, 2010Posted in: Sports, Technology, Video Games

I would totally be excited about this if I cared at all about college football. Sounds like a fun way to watch the games on the Xbox 360 – by competing with your friends and winning some stuff.

ESPN on Xbox Live updated for the ‘College Bowl Showdown’ | Joystiq.

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PlayStation Rewards Program Quests

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on December 8, 2010Posted in: Video Games

As silly as these “Quests” sound, I found myself reflexively mentally sorting out which tasks I could do easily. Something about “Quests” or “Achievements” or “Badges” just gets my goal-oriented brain going.

Unfortunately, there’s no metric for tracking what exactly you get for completing each quest – we’re supposed to just trust that their completion helps some arbitrary progress bar fill up and that we will be somehow rewarded at an unspecified time.

At least these tasks seem more novel than Microsoft’s own Xbox Live Rewards program. Their idea of rewards only apply if you buy stuff that generally is cheaper elsewhere. (Seriously, if you’re paying full price for an Xbox LIVE renewal, you’re not doing enough shopping on Amazon)

Completing Quests isn’t mandatory to earn progress, they’re just another way (on top of the existing ways) for you to have fun with the program.  Stay tuned because we’re rolling out new Quests on an ongoing basis. And most importantly, go have fun.

Here are the Quests we are starting with:

Speak Your Mind – Review 5 games on PlayStation.com

Share the Play – Place your portable ID on 5 websites

No Place Like Home – Go to PlayStation Home and visit the Central Plaza

Demo Down – Download 5 game demos from PlayStation Store

Check Your Pulse – Download PULSE in HD on your PS3 system

Read it and Reap – Read 10 emails from PlayStation

Click It – Learn more by clicking through in 5 different emails from PlayStation

Movie Maniac – Rent or buy a movie from PlayStation Store

Move It – Play any eligible PlayStation Move game (see FAQ for list of eligible games)

Read: Announcing Quests – PlayStation.com Forums.

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Xbox Live Subscription Prices Set To Increase

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on September 1, 2010Posted in: Video Games
US
Current

1M Gold:  $7.99

3M Gold:  $19.99

12M Gold:  $49.99

 Starting Nov 1, 2010

1M Gold:  $9.99

3M Gold:  $24.99

12M Gold:  $59.99

A couple of days ago, Microsoft announced an across the board price increase for its Xbox Live service that will go into effect on November 1, 2010. You can check out the price increase for the US in the handy table above. Basically it means a $10 increase in the yearly price (because if you use your Xbox with any degree of frequency, it’s silly to pay the inflated rates for anything but the 12 month rate).

Now, get up in arms about it if you want, but there’s really nothing much you can do about it other than stock up on 12 month Gold cards if you see them at a deal. Diligent bargain hunters have never had to spend more than $39.99 for 12 months of LIVE. In days past, $29.99 12 month card deals were more common than not.

Maybe this whole thing is a stunt to get a whole bunch of people to pay up front for multiple years of LIVE because Microsoft has so magnanmously set up a page where you can lock-in a $39.99 rate through them directly.

There’s no two ways about it, it sucks. And having a price increase on Xbox LIVE isn’t exactly a good way to ingratiate yourself back in the good graces of the gaming community after the debacle that was the Kinect pricing announcement.

But at the end of the day it’s $10. We’ll have to just deal with it and move on. Maybe take some mental notes like Lebron James.

Don’t worry, MSFT, your day will come.

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Monday Night Combat Looks Kind Of Fun

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 6, 2010Posted in: Video Games

I’ve really come around on the developer walkthrough video as my pre-game release promotional content consumption of choice.

It offers these two simple, yet crucial, elements:

1) Real gameplay footage without bullshots/cutscene smoke and mirrors.

2) Informative narration straight from the game creators on how the game plays.

Unfortunately, dev walkthrough videos tend to run on the long side, so you have to have a little interest in the title before you commit the time to view them.

Let’s take care of that little detail for Uber Entertainment’s first title, Monday Night Combat.

It’s a class-based third person shooter. Focus is obviously on the 6v6 multiplayer and creating a “Monday Night Football” feel to each match. There’s a rewards and upgrade system where you can level up certain skills in the middle of the match and also on a meta-level between games too. From the looks of things it could be to the Xbox 360 what Team Fortress 2 is to the PC/Mac, especially at the $15 price point.

Sound interesting? Check out the two developer walkthrough videos below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

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Your Chance To Teabag Death Cab For Cutie In Call Of Duty 4

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on May 14, 2008Posted in: Music, Video Games

death cab for cutie pew pew pew

If you think Death Cab For Cutie is too “emo” for this world, now’s your chance to virtually teabag them after shooting them to death online!

Nick and Jason from DCFC will be playing Call of Duty 4 against any and all thirteen year olds opponents this Friday, May 16th from 7:30-9:30 EST. You’ll only be able to play against them if you have the Xbox 360 version of the game, though.

If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Death Cab for Cutie, send a friend request to the following Gamertags and be online half an hour before (7:00 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts at 7:30 P.M. ET on Friday, May 16:

  • GWF DCFC Nick
  • GWF DCFC Jason

It’s too bad there’s no extra in game challenge XP awards for killing indie rockers, that should be good for at least 1000xp in game.

Game With Fame: Death Cab For Cutie [xbox.com]

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