GamerNode: Latest Xbox 360 News

Halo: Reach to air on Spike TV's VGAs

Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers TV has announced that the world premiere of Halo: Reach will air on Spike TV's 2009 Video Game Awards (VGAs). Keighley made the announcement through his Twitter account. This premiere will be the first showing of Halo: Reach since the vague teaser trailer for the game back at E3 2009.

Voting for the fans' choice VGAs is now open. There are 28 total categories for people to cast their vote on, from Best Voice and Best DLC, to Best Soundtrack and Game of the Year. Spike's 2009 awards show will air live at 8pm on December 12th.

 [Twitter] 

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Facebook and Twitter coming to Xbox on Nov. 17

If you feel that your precious Twitter and Facebook time is wasted by playing videogames, or you have the need to keep tabs on all your friends all the time, then you're in luck. Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten has officially announced that the long-awaited Twitter and Facebook integration will arrive on November 17.

Microsoft has previously shown the update as being released on November 17 on their Xbox.com UK site, but the announcement was quickly removed and shown as "to be announced," leading many to wonder when the features would be available.

The update will be available to all Xbox Live subscribers and will download automatically. Now if only we could get an update that clothes and feeds us, we'll never have to leave the house.

[Fast Company]

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Xbox 360 sales jump 400% at Walmart

This shouldn't be a surprise to those who got wind of Walmart's epic one-day sale that was held this past Saturday. For the unaware, Walmart had priced the Xbox 360 Arcade at a meager $199, but with the alluring addition of a $100 gift card to enhance the deal. As a result of the retail giant's shenanigans, Xbox 360 sales have surged to nearly 400% of projected sales calculated by website VGChartz.

As an initial estimate, VGChartz plotted the sale would pull in roughly 90,000 units sold during the week of the sale. Walmart shoppers outdid themselves (or were swayed by the admittedly clever marketing campaign) by blowing away the estimate with an amassed total of 170,000 units sold, a 90% increase from the previous week's sales.

Apart from being the highest aggregate total of console units so...

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1 vs. 100 second season starts Nov. 19

Xbox Live gamers who have been without their trivia fix since the end of 1 vs. 100's initial season won't have to wait much longer to get it. The popular Xbox Live game show will be starting its second season on November 19. The game show's return will be at 8:00 EST on November 19 and will go on for the following 14 weeks.

Becoming a member of the Mob or The One will be solely based on score, which is determined by correct answers, streaks of correct answers, and speed. Extended Play will also see a return this season as there will be sessions of it every single night.

New themes for Extended Play will include "Finish the Lyrics," "80's Night," and even "Vampires."

[Joystiq]

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Xbox 360 Arcade $199 sale at Walmart confirmed

As an attempt to alleviate the onslaught of shoppers that bombard stores during the dreaded Black Friday, retail giant Walmart will hold weekly and one-day sales of certain products leading up to the holiday shopping season -- starting with the Xbox 360 Arcade priced at a tantalizing $199 on November 7. Too good to be true? Evidently not.

Confirmed earlier today, the price-cut of the console will hopefully alleviate expensive or out-of-stock console shopping woes that betide upon parents and other holiday shoppers. A $100 gift card is also thrown in to sweeten the deal.

If gaming consoles aren't on your list this holiday season, consider the additional electronic items that are discounted this coming Saturday -- TVs, a Blu-ray player, a DVD player, and a laptop.

Check out Walmart's official s...

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Rare sets sights for Natal

Rare has expressed interest in developing for the upcoming Natal technology during a recent feature run by industry magazine MCV UK. What kind of game, you ask? Nothing official...but it could be along the lines of a FPS.

Promising a higher degree of interaction between gamers and their games than ever before, Natal looks to be gaining enough momentum to even oust the Wii as the premier motion-capture technology.

Throwing in their hat along with the multitude of developers seeking to work with Natal may be a critical move for Rare who wishes to garner a unique blend of existing game genres into something special that Natal can utilize.

Rare head Mark Betteridge says:

"Right now our sights are trained on Natal, which is a great opportunity to break new ground with content and gameplay. It's...

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Fable III to have in-game 'shop' for microtransact...

Support for Project Natal wasn't the only announcement Peter Molyneux had for those attending the BAFTA Annual Video Game Lecture in London regarding Fable III. The well-known game designer also revealed a microtransaction system for the game.

Speaking of his vision of the future of videogames, Molyneux announced that the next game in the Fable series would have an in-game shop where microtransactions can take place. He proposed the shop would include special items such as weapons that would be offered for a fee of around $1.70 USD.

The store will also sell access to DLC areas, such as Knothole Island from Fable II, for a higher fee. Molyneux stated he was looking for a more harmonious way of merging a game with its DLC.

[That VideoGame Blog]

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Fable 3 Natal support confirmed

To the (un)surprise of everyone, Fable series designer Peter Molyneux has announced that Fable 3 will support Microsoft's Natal technology during a lecture at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Gamesbrief founder Nicholas Lovell was on hand at the lecture to tweet about the announcement:

"Fable 3 will have Natal support. Is that an announcement? #molyneux"

Short, sweet, and to the point. No official word from developer Lionhead Studios yet, but expect one soon.

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Mass Effect 2 dated, pre-order gifts detailed

Rejoice, Mass Effect fans, BioWare has pulled back the curtain on when you will take the reins of Commander Shepard again. The second installment of the space saga will hit shelves on January 26th, 2010 in North America, and three days later in Europe.

Pre-order bonuses include weapons and armor, one set solely for GameStop, one set for the rest of the retailers. The GameStop-exclusive Terminus Armor increases running speed and personal shields, as well as adding extra ammo to every gun in your arsenal. GameStoppers will also get the M-90 Blackstorm heavy weapon, which "generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to infinite mass" according to the press release.

All other retailers will get the Inferno Armor, which increases Shepard's negotiation skills, running ...

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Left 4 Dead 2 demo arriving early for pre-orders

Anyone who has pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2 will be getting the demo for the game a week earlier than everyone else, as Valve announced the details for the demo today.

The demo will become available for everyone on November 10, with Xbox Live Gold members getting access to it on November 3, and anyone who has pre-ordered the game being allowed to get their hands on it on October 27.

The upcoming demo will include gameplay from The Parish campaign, which is set in New Orleans' French Quarter. It will allow one to four players to play together both online and locally for both the Xbox 360 and PC versions. The demo will include all the new boss infected and melee weapons, with the Xbox 360 version also offering split-screen play.

Left 4 Dead 2 is set for a November 17 release.

[Kotaku]

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Xbox 360 Twitter and Facebook update accepting pre...

If you can't wait to get to tweeting and updating your Facebook page right from your 360, Microsoft is offering players the option to preview the new Dashboard update. Major Nelson updated his blog saying the signup process for preview access has opened and is looking for "multiple thousands" to participate.

If you want to participate and throw your name in the hat, head over to Microsoft Connect and complete the survey. Keep in mind you need a Windows Live ID to participate. If you are selected, you will receive an email in about a week and Microsoft will push the update to your system.

[Major Nelson]

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Twitter/Facebook update date removed from Xbox UK ...

If you've been waiting with bated breath for the Xbox 360's Fall Dashboard Update, which brings Facebook and Twitter functionality to the system, it seems the release date has become ambiguous once again. The Xbox UK site had listed the update for a Novemeber 17 release previously, but now the date has been removed and replaced with "service launches Autumn 2009."

The update will release this year, but we have to wait in secrecy for the time being. It may still drop on November 17, but until then, you can enjoy GN's very own NodeBar with its Twitter functionality. It's just as awesome.

[Joystiq]

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Epic VP: We will support Natal

In a recent interview with the Official Xbox 360 Magazine, Vice President of Epic Games Mark Rein stated that the developer will have all its future Xbox 360 titles support in some way Microsoft's Project Natal, set to launch next year.

"Actually, we're just sitting down with them in the next two weeks I think, to bring our studio guys in to have a look," said Rein. "I have no idea what we're going to do from a game standpoint, but from an engine standpoint, it's definitely cool stuff and we will support it. I think any future Xbox games we make will have some Natal support. We always want to have something that exploits the unique capabilities of a platform."

He then went on to add that the support of Epic and its Unreal Engine will help to fuel further Natal support for developers looking ...

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Project Natal will start high, drop eventually in ...

At Microsoft's "Open House" in New York yesterday, a roundtable discussion with Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, produced some new bits of information surrounding Project Natal and its pricing structure when it launches.

Bach stated that the strategy with Natal will mirror that of the Xbox 360 console, where the price will start off high and eventually drop over time. "Relative to Natal, we'll see how the pricing cost works out," he said. "But people should expect that it will go through the usual price curve."

Along with the pricing, Bach was asked when the media can stop referring to Natal by its codename. In a joking manner, Bach simply answered with, "When we tell you to call it something else."

[Variety]

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GTA IV: Ballad of Gay Tony achievements strut in

Developer Rockstar Games has released the Xbox 360 achievements list for its upcoming GTA IV expansion, The Ballad of Gay Tony.

The list potentially reveals certain key plot elements of the new content, so avert your eyes if you wish to experience Ballad unfettered. Netting the entire gamut of achievements will gain you a total of 250 Gamerscore points.

Without further ado, the achievements:

Gone Down - 5

Complete all base jumps.

Diamonds Forever - 5

Complete the Trinity.

Four Play - 10

Hit a flag with a golf ball four times.

Bear Fight - 15

Win the L.C. Cage Fighters championship.

Catch the Bus - 15

Dance perfectly in both Tony's nightclubs.

Snow Queen - 20

Complete 25 drug wars.

Adrenaline Junkie - 25

Freefall for the longest possible time.

Maestro - 30

Finish the Ballad.

Past the Velvet Rope - 45

Score 80%...

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Molyneux hints at Natal in Fable 3

The man in charge of the Fable series and creator of the Project Natal program "Milo" has hinted that the Xbox 360's motion device will be used in the next Fable game. Peter Molyneux said when talking about Fable 3 he is "leaving the most exciting gameplay stuff for later." He then added, "I am going to say it's going to use a controller, but I've never said it's not going to use Natal."

The man behind the series then gave a hint of just how tight-lipped anything involving Project Natal is. "And obviously what would probably happen if I started talking about this is you would see a little red dot appear moving on my forehead," said Molyneux. "And then as I would start to speak the words then there would be a shotgun fire, and I would be assassinated. Quite clearly, it is that sensitive."

Tha...

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Achievements for Modern Warfare 2 released

Developer Infinity Ward has obliged the Call of Duty community by releasing the achievements list for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

The list is comprised of the typical gamut of single-player and multiplayer achievements with a few creative gems hidden throughout; the "Unnecesary Roughness" achievement, for example, rewards 10 Gamer Points for bashing an enemy's skull in with the new riot shield. No word yet on whether this is accomplished through brute strength or by attaching some sort of glinting metal spike onto the shield, as giant hunks of metal are notoriously difficult to bludgeon your foe to death with.

For those who wish to partake in the metagaming madness of achievements, the list can be found here.

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Subject Zero unveiled as Mass Effect 2's newest ch...

A new character was recently revealed for Bioware's Mass Effect 2, in addition to Thane and Grunt.

According to the trailer, her name is Subject Zero, and she appears to be an aggressive character in almost every way, including sexually.

"She's dangerous, powerful, and extremely violent... exactly what I'm looking for," says Commander Shepard in the trailer.

It's hard to tell if the foul-mouthed and volatile Subject Zero is a human character or not, but she looks to make an interesting addition to Shepard's party, regardless.

Also interesting at the beginning of the trailer is a "Mission Roster" screen, with ten character slots. The three new characters for Mass Effect 2 (Grunt, Thane and Subject Zero) are displayed in their respective slots, leaving the seven other slots empty and "classifie...

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Xbox 360 Elite to have $50 rebate offer

Microsoft is now offering a $50 rebate for all Xbox 360 Elites in an announcement made by the console manufacturer. The promotion will be for consoles purchased from today until October 5, but the mail-in rebate form can be sent out with proof of purchase until November 20.

This will make the Xbox 360 Elite just $250 given the recent price cut and will give the console a momentary $50 price edge over the $299 PlayStation 3. It will also make the Elite the same price as the Nintendo Wii during the promotion. However, the Wii is heavily rumored to have its price dropped after this coming weekend to $200.

[1UP]

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G4TV.com: Halo: Reach Bungie's biggest game yet

G4TV.com staff writer Patrick Klepek is reporting that after speaking with Bungie community manager Brian Jarrad at the Penny-Arcade Expo about the developer's upcoming game Halo: Reach, the game is going to be much bigger than some people may have expected.

"To be honest, I thought it was a small, focused spin-off, ala Halo 3: ODST," said Klepek in the piece. "It's not. Halo: Reach sounds much bigger than I'd ever imagined."

Halo: Reach will be its own big release title and is going to give Halo fans an upgrade. Unlike Halo 3: ODST, which is a main series spin-off expansion set to hit stores on September 22.

"Reach is going to be a tough project for us to wrap just because the scope is really big -- it's up there," said Jarrard in the interview. "It'll probably be our biggest game ever just...

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