New Xbox 360 Chips coming this Fall

After months of waiting, Microsoft finally confirmed Xbox 360's will start being manufactured with the new smaller, cooler, and more efficient 65nm chip size beginning this fall.

The news here is that the core is not the only thing getting the 65nm makeover. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is also moving to the smaller 65nm form factor.

Will this mean the end of the Red Ring of Death once and for all?

I love my Xbox 360 and I believe it's the best gaming platform currently on the market as far as the gaming value you get for the money. However, if you're just now considering purchasing your own new Xbox 360 or Elite, I would have to advise you to wait for fall to buy it at this point.

Xbox 360 Laptop - Another Heckendorn UberMod

Ben Heckendorn has done it again. Our favorite modder has made a Xbox 360 Laptop, repleat with Xbox 360 logo and stylish black and green color scheme. The video below shows the 360 Laptop in all it's glory and takes a humorous stab at the PS3.

All I can say is if this thing were available for purchase I'd plunk down $500 right now. It is a thing of beauty.

Way to go Heck! Where do I order?

Will Apple supplant Sony, MS and Nintendo to become the dominant video game console maker in 2015?

With the well documented problems facing Sony in attempting to retain it's market dominance in the video game console space, I got to thinking about past trends in the gaming industry and where we might find ourselves in the not so distant future.

The console industry has always been very cyclical.

If you go back 30 years (has it really been that long?) to 1978, Atari was the dominant game console manufacturer, having replaced Pong as the console of choice for consumers with their Atari 2600. After two generations of hardware, they were defunct as a viable console maker and in 1983 the industry as a whole imploded as a result of willy nilly licensing and a string of monumentally bad titles. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial takes most of the blame for this, but in reality that title was just the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

In 1985 the industry was resuscitated when Nintendo hit it big with the Nintendo Entertainment System and soon "Nintendo" became as synonymous with Video games as "Coke" is for soda pop. At one point, one in three American homes owned a NES. For over a decade Nintendo ruled the console world through two generations of systems with some mostly light competition from Sega's Genesis.

Sony first entered the console market space in 1988 when they partnered with Nintendo to create a new NES that would feature both NES cartridge functionality and CD-ROM multimedia technology, but after a series of questionable moves by both companies well documented here, the hybird NES was dropped, Sony's now forgotten Play Station (space intentional) was never released and the two companies became eventual rivals instead of partners.

Steve Race, Sony Computer Entertainment Of America's (SCEA) then CEO, stated, "Since the deal with Nintendo didn't come to fruition we decided to put games on a back burner and wait for the next category. Generally, the gaming industry has a seven-year product life-cycle, so we bided our time until we could get in on the next cycle."

In 1994 Sony did release the first "Playstation" in Japan and by the end of 1995 Nintendo had fallen prey to changing market conditions, and some say to it's own hubris, in being usurped by relative newcomer Sony as the king of console gaming.

In 2001 Microsoft released the first Xbox and although Sony overwhelmingly dominated that generation of hardware sales with it's own Playstation 2 which came out a year earlier, Microsoft impressed many gamers and game developers with their hardware and commitment to quality games and the universally praised Xbox Live. Microsoft sold only a fraction of the consoles Sony did, but they made invaluable in-roads and had cemented a place in the console game industry.

Then in 2004 Microsoft dropped a bomb on their competitors when they announced the Xbox 360, catching both Sony and Nintendo completely off guard. With a planned November 2005 Launch in North America and worldwide by the end of December, Microsoft virtually assured themselves of at least a one year headstart on either of their competitors possible Next-Gen offerings.

Which brings us to the present. Despite some hardware issues, Microsoft has done an excellent job selling Xbox 360's around the world, except in Japan where it continues to stagnate. Worldwide, more than 10 Million 360's have been sold. Nintendo's Wii is currently selling out everywhere it is released, and our last Gen leader, Sony is struggling mightily to sell PS3's, which come with a pricetag a full $200 higher than the Xbox 360 Premium system.

So, if things actually remain on course for Microsoft and they parlay their success with the 360 into a true market dominator with an Xbox 720 in the next "Next Generation" due sometime around 2010-2011, who will enter the fray then to dethrone them? History says it will happen. So far NO console manufacturer has managed to dominate beyond two generations.

Apple has made it clear they have an interest in gaming with the recent release of games for the Ipod Video. Rumors have floated around for the better part of two years about a possible Apple Handheld gaming console, and now with their Apple TV hardware, they have entered the digital delivery space previously dominated by Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace.

Are these moves the portent to more grandiose Apple gaming plans down the road? In 2015 will we all be playing Apple Igame consoles? Is Sega a sleeping giant waiting for the right time to be awakened? Will someone else emerge from the ether and surprise us all? Or will Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft be the only players in this game for another 10 years?

Microsoft has big plans for Xbox 360 Successor

Microsoft has made no secret of the fact that they are already hard at work on the Xbox 720, or whatever they plan to call the successor to the Xbox 360. A filing to the U.S. Patent Office may reveal what Microsoft has planned for its next gaming platform and it describes a multi-component gaming system that incorporates both handheld devices and console devices by wired and wireless connections.

The patent’s abstract describes the system as a process "to take advantage of another gaming component's processing capabilities and memory capacity, each gaming component is capable of utilizing another gaming component to process gaming applications."

Hardware permitting, each gaming component would be capable of rendering audio and video information provided by another gaming component. Also, any single gaming component is capable of utilizing another gaming component as an adjunct processor to increase system speed. System memory may also be shared among the devices.

In english, if I'm on my Xbox handheld I could use the processing power of my Xbox 720 or PC to make video content, games, or other applications run faster through my handheld. Sounds intriguing.

The fear from early commenters around the net has been that this would cause console developers to have to program to the lowest common denominator as they do currently with PC's. However, if Microsoft does go this route, I would think it more likely that all console software would be made only assuming the power and system specs of the console it is designed for and that anything outside those parameters would be clearly designated as such. In other words, my version of Mass Effect 720 isn't going to look any better than yours just because I have the processor of a more powerful PC to leverage than you.

Of course this whole thing could just be smoke and mirrors intended to throw off the competition and get them chasing shadows or just an opportunity to sew up a possibly lucrative future idea.

Who knows? We'll keep our collective ear to the ground on this one.

Halo 3 Video Leaked

This video features a map based on Halo 2's Zanzibar map. You can tell by the generator in the middle of the map seen in other parts of the leaked video which are available with a little searching.

The shield bubble is looking mouth-wateringly sweet. I did notice quite a bit of texture draw-in when crossing the steel grate flooring, but otherwise the game is shaping up very nicely. Enjoy this video as you can bet it cost (or will cost) someone their job.

Wanna be the "EA Sports, it's in the Game" guy? Learn how here!

Andrew Anthony, the official voice of EA Sports' tagline, presents this short and very enthusiastic tutorial on how to properly say the line, "EA Sports, It's in the game!" Very funny!

The movie voice guy should do something like this next.

Girls Gamers: They exist and are growing

I've noticed over the past year while playing Gears of War and Ghost Recon 2 and even Counter-strike online, I've been meeting a lot more female gamers playing the games traditionally only thought to be enjoyed by guys. These ladies aren't just fodder for sexist comments either, some of them kick some serious jibooty.

Amber Dalton is a member of PMS Clan, a professional gaming clan comprised completely of women that had been competing for over 5 years. In an interview with Steven Wong of GameDaily, Amber shares her insights into competitive gaming, the role women have in gaming and the responsibility girl gamers have to attract more women to gaming.

It is very easy to maintain anonymity while gaming, but that is not the way Amber sees it. When asked how important it is for more female gamers to step out and become known, she had this to say:

(Amber) I say greatly. While some women want to be known as a "gamer" and not a "girl gamer," I do not agree. Until women are common representatives in gaming, we need to represent greater diversity in gaming. We owe it to other women to help blaze a path that will make it easier for future women in gaming to follow. Take pride in who you are, don’t hide it. The same can be said for people like Rafik "Lost Cauze" Bryant, one of the only top African American male gamers in the PC community. To me, he has a greater responsibility than his male counterparts in the fact he needs to provide a good example for minority pro gamers. He seems to take that responsibility very well, and I think he is a wonderful representative for all gamers.

It is a short interview, but it gives some insight into the minds of female gamers. With the numbers of female gamers growing each day, as men playing these games we need to recognize the value women can bring to our gaming experience in terms of skill and community.

Jack Thompson blames Bill Gates for VT Massacre

Jack Thompson wrote an open letter to Bill Gates yesterday, blaming him for the Virginia Tech Massacre. I don't find it necessary to debunk Mr. Thompson's "reasoning", I think his letter says plenty about his state of mind and motivation.

Below is a copy of Thompson’s letter to Mr. Gates.

April 18, 2007

Bill Gates

Microsoft

1 Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA 98052

Via Fax and e-mail

Dear Mr. Gates:

On Monday, April 16, at 3:10 pm, I was a guest, as I often have been in the past, on the Fox News Channel. News anchor Bill Hemmer asked me to profile the Virginia Tech rampage killer. I did so, noting that until that day the worst school massacre in world history was at the hands of Robert Steinhaeuser, who literally trained on the Microsoft on-line, hyper-violent shooter game, Counterstrike. I mentioned your company’s game by name. I explained that the rehearsal for such a massacre is key to being able to pull it off, as efficiently as Cho, whose name we didn’t even know at the time. Cho and Steinhaeuser were able to do what they did the first time because it was not the first time. This is why the military uses this same virtual reality simulation to train soldiers to want to kill and how to kill calmly, as the witnesses of Cho said he did.

Sure enough, last night I was doing a west coast radio interview when the host said to me, "Mr. Thompson, you are right. The Washington Post is reporting right now the following:
‘Several Korean youths who knew Cho Seung Hui from his high school days said he was a fan of violent video games, particularly Counterstrike, a hugely popular online game published by Microsoft, in which players join terrorism or counterterrorism groups and try to shoot each other using all types of guns.’"

I thus went back on the Fox News Channel, and Bill Hemmer and I explained not only that I was right about your game figuring in the Virginia Tech massacre but also that the Washington Post excised the above excerpt from the story this morning. That is yet another story. The bad news for the Post however is that you can still get the excised excerpt at [hyperlink removed, Washington Post has since removed the article]. Thus, the cat is out of the bag, and his paw prints are still on the bag. Is this a great Internet, or what?

As you know, I similalry [sic] went on NBC’s Today Show with the DC Beltway Sniper still unidentified and at-large a few years ago and told Matt Lauer and the nation that the triggerman would most likely be a teen video gamer trained on a sniper video game. The tarot card was a clue, but there were other clues. I was right, as Malvo trained on your Microsoft game, Halo. NBC reported that three months later, and it was part of the criminal trial of Malvo.
Mr. Gates, your company is potentially legally liable the harm done at Virginia Tech. Your game, a killing simulator, according to the news that used to be in the Post, trained him to enjoy killing and how to kill. You knew five years ago that your on-line game, Counterstrike, so clearly figured in the massacre by a student in Erfurt that the event and the game impacted the race for Chancellor in Germany at the time!

Yet, here you are, five years after "Erfurt," still marketing Counterstrike. having done nothing to disable the server(s) for this mass murder simulator, and it looks like "Virginia Tech" is a consequence. There’s more going on in the world than Vista. Just ask the bereaved Virginia Tech families.

Mr. Gates, pull the plug on Counterstrike today, or do we need more dead to convince you? "Virginia Tech" was the 9-11 of school shootings, and it appears Microsoft is in the middle of it, in more ways than one.

Regards, Jack Thompson

Howard Stern smarter than Jack Thompson and Dr. Phil?

With his family counseling show, Dr. Phil is the latest media darling to come from no where and invade our group conciousness. Jack Thompson is the attorney loved by Fox news and anti-gaming politicians everywhere for his ludicrous and boisterous attacks on our favorite past-time. Howard Stern is an over the top shock jock widely seen as a pariah by the mainstream media but loved by tens of millions of listeners that tune into his sirius radio show every day.

Now, if you had a serious subject to discuss such as the possible causes of the tragic Virginia Tech massacre, would you trust the judgment of the Attorney, the Family Therapist or the Shock Jock?

I'll take the Shock Jock, thank you very much!

Jack Thompson wrote an open letter to Microsoft founder Bill Gates this week calling for Microsoft to put an end to one of the most popular online video games on the planet, Counterstrike. He blamed the Virginia Tech massacre on Mr. Gates and Microsoft for not shutting down the servers for what Thompson calls a "killing simulator".

Unfortunately for Mr. Thompson, he doesn't understand the industry he would so dearly love to legislate well enough to even know that he wrote his sarcastically toned and poorly reasoned letter to the wrong person. Microsoft only published the Xbox version of Counter-strike back in 2003. Valve Software originally developed Counter-strike and Vivendi Universal handles the publication of the game on the PC, which is the only version that’s played on a large scale these days. So, even if he were right, which I STRONGLY disagree with, Thompson was wasting his ink on a letter to someone who had zero influence on the future of Counter-strike.

Monday night Dr. Phil made the following statement on Larry King Live on CNN about the connection between video games and the VT tragedy:

“The problem is we are programming these people as a society. You cannot tell me - common sense tells you - that if these people are playing video games where they’re on a mass killing spree in a video game, it’s glamorized on the big screen, it’s become part of the fiber of our society. You take that and mix it with a psychopath, a sociopath, or someone suffering from mental illness, add in a dose of rage, the suggestability is just too high. And we’re going to have to start dealing with that. We’re going to have to start addressing those issues and recognizing that the mass murderers of tomorrow are the children of today that are being programmed with this massive violence overdose.”

Enter the voice of reason, Howard Stern. Wait, Howard Stern as the voice of reason? I know I know, sounds ludicrous, but it's true.

On his sirius radio show this morning, Stern lambasted Dr. Phil for his comments and said, "he's a f***ing ***hole!"

Stern ridiculed the idea that video games could have caused the VT shootings, pointing out that plenty of the world’s greatest tragedies happened in environments devoid of video games, sarcastically suggesting that “Hitler played Donkey Kong” and “Osama Bin Laden played Grand Theft Auto.”

Stern went on to explain why he thinks so lowly of Dr. Phil saying, “You know the reason why Dr. Phil is an ***hole? Because whenever something like this happens he wants to play the blame game.”

Stern commented that he has either played or knows people who play video games “all day and all night” and do not act out violently. He pointed out that blame is always put on “the movies or something” and finished the conversation expressing the sentiment that most gamers have known all along:

“This is so stupid.”

Amen brother, amen!

*Complete transcript of Dr. Phil's appearance on CNN.

More PS3 Woes: Sony cutting jobs in struggling games division

Amid intense competition in the video game console market, Sony is planning a restructuring of its games division that will include job cuts in Europe and possibly in Japan and the U.S.

Sony used to welcome competition when it came from the Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast. However, with financial behemoth Microsoft steadily growing their Xbox brand and a resurgent Nintendo printing money with their Wii, Sony is feeling the pressure from stagnant PS3 sales worldwide and the latest result is the elimination of 160 jobs, which translates to roughly 10% of their entire European workforce.

According to Forbes, a Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) spokeswoman said the job cuts in Europe are under negotiation with employees and she declined to confirm numbers.

“In order to maintain our healthy business operation, we need to make structural changes,” she said, adding that it is needed to better reflect the convergence of different forms of content.
She said the business model would be very different from that for the previous two generations of its PlayStation games console, she said.

The move follows the reorganization of the executive team at the game division last November which saw Kaz Hirai, former president and chief executive of the Sony’s American gaming unit, replace Ken Kutaragi, the father of the Playstation, as president of the international group. Kutaragi was named chief executive and chairman of the unit, allowing him to save face while essentially stripping him of any real decision making power in regards to the Playstation brand's future direction.

Anyone who thought Sony was going to repeat the success of the PS2 and walk all over Microsoft and Nintendo in this generation of console hardware was sadly mistaken. Sony has made one mistake after another so far with the PS3; from marketing blunders to supply chain issues and a lack of games for launch. At the same time, Microsoft and Nintendo have both capitalized by making great strides with their own gaming divisions. Nintendo has deep pockets thanks to it's overwhelming domination of the handheld market and Microsoft continues to work the three step plan they've touted ever since they entered the market with the original Xbox. Step one was get in the door even if it meant losing money. Step two was making a profit while increasing market share, which they've done with the Xbox 360. Step three is to dominate the market in the 3rd generation which will begin in or around 2010-2012.

So, what will Sony do now to spur sales of the PS3? A price cut is the obvious quick answer, but with the amount of money Sony has gambled trojan horsing Blu-Ray players in the PS3 they can hardly afford to cut the price and take on even larger losses. Unless of course they offered a PS3 model without Blu-Ray. They would have to restructure some game manufacturing processes to allow for such a move, but it is not impossible.

Sony’s chief executive, Howard Stringer, told reporters this week that it has sold close to 800,000 units of the machines in Europe since its release in March, but the company has yet to confirm whether it met its target for global sales of 6 million units by the end of the fiscal year in March. Stringer's silence is as good as an admission that they have not met that goal. Global sales figures seem to indicate they are no where NEAR 6 million units sold.

I wouldn't count out Sony or the PS3 as dead in the water...yet. But clearly, they need to make some major moves to convince gamers to buy into the PS3 and it's games in a big way before they dig a hole so big they can't climb out. With Bioshock, Mass Effect and Forza Motorsports 2 right around the bend, Microsoft isn't going to stop to let them catch up. Things will come to a head this holiday season when Halo 3 hits. Sony will have to have one of their BIG guns like Metal Gear Solid 4 loaded and ready to counter it or this could very well be the end of a long era of Sony console domination.

Guitar Hero 3 will feature online multiplayer

Speaking to Pro-G, Kai Huang, President and Co-Founder of RedOctane, has confirmed that the upcoming Guitar Hero 3 will feature online play.

So, the one feature that Xbox 360 Guitar Hero fans have been wishing for will be coming eventually. It is possible online multiplayer may be added to the 360 version of Guitar Hero 2, though nothing has been confirmed at this point.

You won't have to wait very long to get your online rock fix. Guitar Hero 3 is scheduled for release on all major platforms this winter and is in development at Neversoft.

Disney wants Michael Bay for Prince of Persia film

Film site IESB reports that Disney is lobbying Michael Bay to direct the film adaptation of Prince of Persia. Bay's friend and frequent producer Jerry Bruckheimer has already signed on for the project, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Armageddon director takes the job. The Bruckheimer-Bay duo that brought us Bad Boys and The Rock is also responsible with inflicting us with Pearl Harbor. The film version of Prince of Persia, a game franchise heavy on explosive action and light on character development and plot, is expected to be a Summer 2009 release. Disney plans to make it an ongoing franchise if this first film is successful.

Sony considering 80GB PS3 after all

In a reversal of Sony's March assertion that they "don't have plans" to increase the PlayStation 3's hard drive size, Sony spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka now says the company is "considering" a version featuring a drive bigger than the 60GB existing model. This tidbit comes just days after the announced discontinuation of the 20GB PS3 everywhere except Japan.

So, will this news precede an impending price drop for the 60GB PS3? Or will Sony challenge our minds and bank accounts with a new $700 SKU?

Sixaxis Xbox 360 Controller - Heck yeah!

It's no secret that many people prefer the Xbox 360 controller to the SIXAXIS controller for the PS3 for its comfortable, ergonomic design.

Since Sony making a Xbox 360 SIXAXIS controller is about as likely as you dating Tyra Banks AND Salma Hayek, our favorite modder, Ben Heck, has made his own; and it is pretty sweet!

Fanboyism aside, regardless of what you think of either console or their respective controllers, there is no doubting the quality of Heck's work. Heck is the MacGyver of modding. I'm pretty sure he could solve global warming and the energy crisis using only a broken PS2 controller, a rubberband and the guts from an old casio calculator watch. Nice job! See more pics and read exactly how the surgery was performed.

Sony pulls the plug on 20GB PS3

After months of slow sales and rabid speculation Sony officially dropped the hammer on the 20GB version of the PS3 yesterday, announcing that they will no longer offer it in North America.

This news comes as absolutely no surprise to me as I predicted a year ago that Sony would eventually move to a single SKU. The only reason they ever released the smaller 20 GB model was to demonstrate that they were offering a "choice" like Microsoft had with two different versions of the Xbox 360. However, when the two models and their respective features were announced, it was clear to me the little brother would get its ass kicked by its bigger brother. Sony didn't really offer a choice to consumers at all. They made sure the 20GB version was crippled enough to ensure consumers would have no good justification for passing up on the $600 version. Funny thing is, the speculation of this move started a few weeks ago when JOystiq revealed an internal Best Buy document showing the 20GB PS3 as "discontinued" but I've never ever seen a 20GB PS3 in my local Best Buy stores since the launch; and I live in Minneapolis, where Best Buy is headquartered. So, either Best Buy saw the writing on the wall, or they did the writing themselves by simply not ordering 20GB machines from Sony. Seeing as the profit margin is larger on the 60GB version, this would not be at all surprising.

This news comes just weeks after Microsoft introduced a third SKU for their Xbox 360 with the announcement of the Xbox 360 Elite with a 120GB hard drive and HDMI outputs. One company says they offer consumers choices, and one actually does offer choices.

Microsoft says they have no intention of discontinuing the no-hard-drive Core Xbox 360, but you have to wonder how long they'll stick to that story now.

Sony has had a rough time of it so far with the PS3, but analysts don't think the discontinuation of the 20GB model is any reason to be pessimistic about the PS3's future. So far they all say it's about games, and eventually Sony will have some compelling games. When? I'm looking down the road and I don't see anything compelling before 2008 that I can't get on Xbox 360. Am I missing something?

So, do you think the nixxing of the 20GB PS3 is another sign of trouble for Sony or simply a shrewd business decision?

FYI, if you are really desperate for a 20GB PS3, you can always import one from Japan as they will still be sold in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Top Ten Games of 2007

2007 has a chance to go down as the single greatest year in the history of gaming. That's not hyperbole, it's simple fact. Don't believe me?

First of all, 2007 is already off to a nice start with Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, God of War 2 and Motorstorm. Now, consider the short list of games coming later this year. With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV, 2007 was already poised to rock our worlds. Now, add Mass Effect, Bioshock, and Assassin's Creed along with a new Forza, Mario and Metroid to that list and 2007 is truly poised to be remembered as a new golden age of gaming.

GameTrailers has their list of the Top Ten Games of 2007 and I agree with most of their choices, if not the order. Check it out below and let the debate begin!

Halo 3 Beta opens May 16th

You've got your copy of Crackdown ready and you've been chomping at the bit for this news to arrive. Well, finish whatever you have to get done now and clear your calendar because the Halo 3 beta is coming, and it's coming on May 16th.

Bungie made the announcement today and Halo players around the world wept in gratitude.

The announcement squashed rumours that there would be two different beta start dates for those who had got their beta keys either through the Rule of Three promotion or through purchasing a specially marked copy of Crackdown. Access to the beta will be rolled out simultaneously worldwide at 1 p.m. GMT (5 a.m. PDT) on May 16, and will end on June 7 at 7:59 a.m. GMT (June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT). Those who have not yet obtained a Halo 3 beta key can still sign up by buying a copy of the Xbox 360 game Crackdown.

There will be three maps available to play--Snowbound, High Ground, and Valhalla--which will "represent a mixture of large- and medium-scale combat environments." New vehicles will include the nimble Mongoose all-terrain vehicle, and new weapons will be available, such as the "new and improved" Assault Rifle, the Brute Spiker, the Spartan Laser, and Spike Grenades.

For those who absolutely can't wait for May 16 to see the game in action, Bungie has released a "Vidoc" titled "Is Quisnam Protero Damno" that shows off the multilpayer portion of Halo 3 in action. The video is now available at Bungie.net and on Xbox Live Marketplace

The game will be releaseed in three different versions in November. The Legendary edition is going to be $129.99, the Standard will retail at $59.99; the Limited edition will be $69.99.

So, which version of the full game do you plan to buy in November? For $130 you get a plastic helmet! wOOt!

Lose Weight the Wii Way!

So we know the Wii is a great way to keep seniors moving and active and it certainly seems to appeal to a diverse range of people, but can it really help change your life for the better?

Well yes, it seems maybe it can.

After being inspired by the Wii Sports Experiment, J.R. (last name not given) who goes by the online name "Eldorian" has created his WiiWeightLossPlan, incorporating the Wii along with some mild lifestyle changes to create a weight loss plan that seems to be working for him. He has tracked his progress over the past six weeks and he claims he is the lightest he's been in eight years. He started at 270 lbs and now weighs 254 lbs. Not bad. His goal is to lose 80lbs and get down to get down to 190lbs. That's a lot of Wii Bowling and Wii Boxing!

Keep it up J.R., maybe you'l'l inspire some of us to get up off our duffs and sweat to the Wii.

Gears of War "Annex" Update This Week

With all the matches being played on Live each day it sounds pretty strange to call multiplayer a "weakness" for Gears of War. But even the most avid of those players recognize that the basic team deathmatch variants available only graze the surface of the team-play potential of the game. This week Epic plans to release Annex, a new game mode that steps up in a big way to fulfill more of that promise. And we're not just saying that; we've played it, and afterward it left no doubt that once released this is the new mode of choice everyone will be playing.

Aside from the new game mode, it seems the Lancer has gotten a little boost to it's stopping power; a welcome change to everyone sick of being run down by enemies with shotties.

1UP has all the details from their exclusive hands-on time with the new game mode. It sounds very exciting.

I'll see everyone online once it hits!

China imposes 3 hour time limit on Internet players

China is taking a major step to address the growing problem of cyber addiction among its youth. China's growing band of young internet gamers will face virtual penalties if they stay online for more than three hours, under a new set of rules designed to "only target minors who lack the self-discipline to control their playing time," according to Kou Xiaowei, an official with the Chinese State Press and Publication Administration.

Chinese authorities have voiced increasing concern in recent months about the number of teenagers who spend hours and sometimes days in internet cafes playing games.

In the latest measure to combat the problem, eight government departments have issued new rules that will force internet gaming companies and operators to install and run "anti-addiction" software, the China Daily reported.

The software is supposed to discourage marathon play sessions by cutting the amount of points earned in games the longer they are played. Gamers under the age of 18 will receive full points in their online world only for the first three hours of play, which the Chinese government has deemed as the limit for a "healthy" amount of time to be glued to the internet. If young gamers choose to stay on-line, they will get half the normal points for the next two hours. Any gaming after five hours of play will not recoup any points.

The official Xinhua news agency said that most online games encouraged players to play longer by rewarding them with more credits and virtual goods.

The new rules will come into force on April 15, with games to be closed down from July 16 if they are not installed with the anti-addiction software, according to the China Daily.

Under the new rules, all gamers will have to register with their identity cards to prove their age. If they are aged over 18, they can play for as long as they like.

China has about 137 million online users, according to the latest official statistics. Of those, 31 million are internet gamers.

Can someone educate me? Do the Chinese play shooters of any kind or are they not permitted in the country? It seems this kind of measure would only affect MMORPG players.

WOW and Guitar Hero 2 added to World Series of Video Games

The world of competitive gaming has traditionally been the realm of the first-person or squad-based shooter, but the World Series of of Video Games is changing that by adding World of Warcraft and Guitar Hero II to this year’s competition.

The addition of Guitar Hero really opens the competition up to a much wider audience, and should also make the event much more watchable for casual gamers–it can be hard to track the action of a fierce round of Counter Strike, but anyone can tell if you’re screwing up "Crazy On You." The PvP action of WoW will get a slight tweak for the sake of the competition: teams will be 3-on-3, as opposed to the usual 5-on-5.

Also on the roster are Quake 4, Fight Night Round 3 (o…kay….), and the obligatory Halo 2, Counter Strike, and Call of Duty. Here’s hoping they skip the ungodly stupid Miss WSVG contest this time, although it certainly did provide some amusing controversy and comedy last year.

Windows Live Messenger coming to Xbox 360 in May

Your Xbox Live friends list is about to expand exponentially. Beginning May 7th, Microsoft is going to offer Windows Live Messenger to Xbox Live users.

“Bringing the largest IM community in the world, Windows Live Messenger, to Xbox 360 makes sense, as Xbox Live has really become the largest social network on television,” said Jerry Johnson, product unit manager of Xbox Live at Microsoft. “For our growing community of 6 million on Xbox Live, using Xbox 360 is a very social, connected experience. They are using Xbox 360 to play games, music and movies while simultaneously communicating with one another through video, voice and text chat. With this announcement we are simultaneously expanding the access of Xbox Live users to existing friends and family while introducing Windows Live Messenger users to the benefits of Xbox 360.”

Users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.

I'm definitely looking forward to the qwerty add-on. Microsoft continues to expand Xbox Live's functionality. Sony needs to pay attention to this, but of course they won't. I'll gladly pay $50 a year to get the kind of stability and features I get with Xbox Live. Sony's HOME may be free (for now), end up being an improvement over their current online offering (it HAS to be an improvement) but until they iron out the basics such as universal online standards and friends lists in EVERY game, Microsoft will own the online gaming space.

Update 4/10/07 - 1:00am cst

Plenty of other new features are included, ranging from enhanced family settings, better Achievement notifications, an improved Xbox Live Marketplace blade, updates to the Xbox Live Arcade, an auto download of trial versions of Xbox Live Arcade games, better progressive download controls for video downloads, an option to automatically switch off the Xbox 360 after downloads are complete, if desired.

The Xbox 360 Dashboard also gets a range of mini updates, ranging from the name of the game in the tray being displayed on the dashboard, a progress bar showing download completion, better fast forward and rewind functionality when watching video, switchable aspect ratios and more. See Microsoft’s announcement for all the additional details.

PS3 gets (emergency?) price cut from UK retailer

It's only been two weeks since the PlayStation 3's launch, and UK retailer Play.com has already given the system a price cut of around $50. Sweetening the deal is the inclusion of a free HDMI cable and a Blu-ray copy of Adam Sandler comedy, Click, all for £399.99, which is £25 less than the current MSRP for the console.

Normally, I would just think this was a promotion by Play.com to increase traffic or move some excess stock, if not for a recent 82% UK PS3 sales drop reported by Chart-Track. The tracking group later made efforts to downplay the importance of the statistic, but this price cut seems to confirm its validity.

While not necessarily a harbinger of doom for the console's future in the UK, it's at least a good deal for our oft-snubbed friends in the UK; though, at nearly $800, it's a veritable gouging compared to what US consumers pay for the thing.

"Game On" - HP Shows Amazing New PC Gaming Technology

HP isn't exactly known as a hip and cool company. In fact their image is probably more conservative IBM wannabe than cutting edge visionary. Well, they are about to pack that image up, pour some gas on it and burn that mother to the ground!

With the recent surge in popularity of console gaming brought about by this latest generation of hardware from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, HP is planning to seize what it sees as a golden opportunity to take PC gaming to unprecedented heights while fundamentally changing the way we play games on computers. During HP's Gaming Summit at Dogpatch Studios the company announced "Game On", the company's HP Labs research center that is developing technology that could be incorporated into next-generation personal computers that play interactive video games designed for the broadband era.

We're not talking your standard Next Gen shooters or racing games either. Oh no, what HP has planned are some pretty amazing gameplay technologies. The prototypes they showed included computers with curved screens so someone playing a racing game can see the track they're driving on ahead and to the sides for an incredibly immersive experience and a touch-screen computer built into a coffee table so players can sit on all sides and participate. HP also played a video in which a teenage boy is walking through a big city with his handheld game player. He points the device at a portion of the city's skyline and the device scans the outline of the buildings in view, creating a game scene from that image. Very cool indeed!

During a panel discussion, Rahul Sood, chief technology officer at HP Gaming, and founder of Voodoo PC which HP acquired in the fourth quarter of 2006, said that next generation PC games based on Microsoft's new DirectX 10 technology will do more to drive sales of Vista than anything else. He said, "DirectX 10 is going to provide a dramatically improved gaming experience that will drive adoption of Vista."

Sood also said he sees HP offering a premium line of gaming PCs priced higher than its current line of HP and Compaq branded PCs, but lower than VoodooPC's custom-made models, which can sell for $8,000. When asked specifically if HP plans to soon introduce a line of PCs such as that, Shane Robison, executive vice president and HP's chief strategy technology officer said, "I am not allowed to go there."

While impressive, HP has a steep hill to climb. Sales of gaming consoles grew 33 percent in 2006 while sales of gaming PCs grew by only 1 percent, according to the retail sales tracking firm NPD Group Inc. There are reasons to be optimistic though. Sales of gaming software that runs on PCs reached US$6 billion globally in 2006 and are forecast to hit $12 billion by 2010, said Rick Wickham, director of games for Windows for Microsoft, citing figures from IDC.

HP's move into gaming could be a "game-changing" one, said Rob Enderle, lead analyst with technology research firm The Enderle Group. HP could try selling high-margin gaming PCs to escape from the low-margin PC market it competes in with every other PC maker. But he explained it could also be a risky move. "The buyer may say they don't want one and that is the risk when you make a game changer. You make a guess at where the market is going and you get there first," Enderle said. "If you guess wrong you're there all by yourself"

RedOctane denies Guitar Hero 2 X360 Controller Recall and addresses 'issues'

Reports of a Recall on Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 Controllers at Target stores were erroneous. Turns out it was just a big misunderstanding. However, that doesn't mean there aren't necessarily real issues with the controller.

Red Octane responded to reported issues with said guitar controller to Joystiq. Red Octane states, "In regards to the controller, we're currently in the process of having our internal QA and production teams look into this possible issue, and are working to quickly isolate this if there is one. In the meantime, we suggest our fans try to replug in their guitars without holding down any buttons or the whammy bar, and that may help immediately resolve the issue."

In regards to the Target "recall," Red Octane confirmed that there never was and still is no recall. The Target street date lock out caused the system to ring up as "Recall for Sale." As things stand currently, there is no recall and Red Octane is looking into the issue of possible faulty Xbox 360 guitar controllers.

We'll update you when RedOctane gets some answers.

Read the full story here.

UK PS3 sales plunge 82% this week.

After reports of record first day sales in Europe, PS3 reality has set in in Europe and it seems consumers over there feel the same way they do in North America; it's too expensive, nobody cares about Blu-Ray and there aren't enough original games to make it compelling.

From Joystiq:

"After obliterating records upon its launch in the UK last week, PlayStation 3 sales have come down to Earth with all the grace of a skydiving walrus using an anvil for a parachute. Citing the latest Chart Track data, a GamesIndustry.biz report discloses that sales for Sony's system have dropped by 82% in the last week. Having sold an estimated 165,000 units before, the percentage represents a drop of 135,300 units, resulting in total sales of 29,700 systems for the week."

Read the full story from GamesIndustry.biz.

Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 Metareview

Guitar Hero 2 hits stores tomorrow for the Xbox 360 promising better graphics, a bigger collection of songs and a better guitar controller than it's PS2 cousin. Does Guitar Hero 2 deliver the rock of ages on the 360? According to reviewers around the net the answer is a resounding YES!! The 360 version goes to eleven!

Check out the reviews below for the nitty gritty.

GamePro 95/100 - Consider this setlist of new additions: 10 new rocking songs, the X-Plorer controller, which puts the PS2's stubby Gibson to shame, the Xbox Live Leaderboards, which separates the rock gods from the garage band wanna-bes, and downloadable content that ranges from gamer-profile picture packs to new songs. Anyway you add it up, the Xbox 360 version is the only one to own.

IGN 94/100 - If you haven't already played Guitar Hero II on PS2, this is a must own game. Even if you already have done all of this before, you may yet find a reason to grab the Xbox 360 re-release. With reworked graphics, sound, new songs, downloadable content and more, this is easily the best Guitar Hero game yet.

Games Radar 100/100 - Buy this game. The content is plentiful (and crucially, more is en route) and the fantasy experience is pure rock and roll excess. Your personal stairway to heaven awaits.

Yahoo Games 100/100 - Guitar Hero II finally reaches the next generation. And while we're sad to be saddled with a wired controller, the other changes are pure gold: better graphics, ten new songs, online leaderboards and the promise of a steady stream of downloadable content. Even as we wait for that online content to materialize, this edition of Guitar Hero II is a chart-topper.

Team Xbox 93/100 - The Xbox 360 gets what’s probably the best party game ever, because GHII is compelling for anyone who’s into music, not just to hard-core gamers. It’s that rare title that doesn’t become boring with repeat plays. In fact, I played it so much the first day I had the game that the tips of two fret-flicking fingers went numb on me.

"Win a Wii for a buck" or "Luckiest Kid in the World"

The following video is of the luckiest kid in the world. He actually won a major prize from a Stacker machine, you know those games you see in the mall, restaurants, arcades and movie theaters. And this kid didn't just win the biggest stuffed animal in the machine, he won a Nintendo Wii! Unbelievable.

Warning, the video is most definitely NSFW or school...the kids with him drop 20 megaton f-bombs in celebration of their friend's victory...and rightly f'n so!



I want that kid to come rub me for good luck! Wait, what I mean is...oh, never mind.