Gamernode: Latest Xbox 360 News

Next Halo 3 map revealed, another remake

Bungie has finally figured out what it takes to keep fans happy. Additional content is always great, but it is even better when the nostalgia factor is thrown in. The Halo following is incredibly loyal, with players dating back to 2001 when the original Xbox was released. We love all the maps we've played with over the years, and sometimes we want to revist those late nights with two TVs, three couches, oatmeal cream pies, and cold pizza. For some it was rough. Maybe they sold their Xbox, or couldn't find a big enough following to set up an old LAN for friends. It's sad but it happens.

Luckily, Bungie has recognized this and has been making sure to include fan favorite remakes of old Halo/Halo 2 maps for Halo 3. The poster children for this design movement are Blackout and Avalanche, remak...

• (6)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Info on Gears of War 2 and host advantage

The original Gears of War is still one of the more popular games being played on Xbox Live to date, and those that stuck around with it after Halo 3 came out love every second of it, for the exception of one thing, host advantage. If you are one of the many games who play Gears of War online, you know what I mean. If you are a guest to the host server, there is a second delay that gets your teeth crunching and stomach to lift when you wonder whether that shotgun shot registered as a hit or not.

They call this host advantage because even though the guests of the server have this problem, the host plays the matches flawlessly, giving him the advantage over other players. In Gears of War 2. CliffyB hopes to annihilate this problem, so all players can have a flawless, seemless experience onlin...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Forza 3 to have 2 discs plus 400 cars

With the Microsoft information leak still fresh in our minds, one portion of news stands out amongst the others. Along with the Microsoft Avatars, and numerous games mentioned, one of the biggest titles in this leak was Forza 3.

Remember, this is a rumor.

Sources say Forza 3 is going to come packed with over four hundred cars, one hundred tracks, and realistic car deformation. But the biggest shocker has to be Forza 3 is going to ship with two disks instead of one. Along with Lost Odyssey, Forza 3 may be another game to suffer from the storage limitation of the Xbox 360 disk.

While this may not seem important to some, try to imagine Forza 3 with two disks. How does one separate an experience like Forza where the majority of the decisions are up to the player?

Tweak a car, run a race, compet...

• (12)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

M$ wants Xbox 720 to be first next gen machine

Some have questioned the wisdom of Microsoft launching its Xbox 360 so soon in order to get a lead on the competition. That was in November of 2005. The debut of the game console proved to be rather dubious as there were less than enough machines to go around.

People have accused Microsoft of launching a game machine that was not fully ready to be released. Case in point: the ubiquitous occurrences of the dreaded Red Ring of Death, which stops the Xbox 360 dead in its tracks.

Robbie Bach, boss of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, not only defended his company's former position, but also added that he would love to see Microsoft launch its next Xbox ahead of the competition once again.

All we can say is that if Microsoft plans on being first to launch again, we hope they'll...

• (10)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Apparently, 360 owners don't care about the RROD

Xbox 360 fans are loyal. So loyal, in fact, that they've cared little about the Red Ring Of Death (RROD) issues that seem to be an ailment for almost every 360 out there. Or so Microsoft says.

Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Group leader, Robbie Bach, stated in an interview with VentureBeat that the RROD issue, while costly, did not disrupt customer loyalty. He stated that, throughout this whole process, preference, willingness to recommend, and satisfaction has not faltered.

"The number-one complaint I get from people is that it is taking you too long to fix the console," Bach stated, and although some have gone through three or four consoles, they still remain loyal to Microsoft's services, happy to hear that Microsoft is aiding those who are suffering. All still according to M...

• (11)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

New Bad Company trailer mocks, blows up Snake

Gotta love it when one game pokes fun at another. In the latest Bad Company trailer, the guys poke fun at one of gaming's most beloved characters, Solid Snake. Check it out below, and feel free to post your positive (or negative) fanboy reactions for all to see.

• (9)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Xbox 360 making a motion sensor controller

Unless you live on the far ends of the Earth, you know that the Nintendo Wii has proven itself a successful console because of its innovative and unique motion sensoring system.

Even though the Wii doesn't have an overflowing library of great games yet, what makes playing the Nintendo Wii fun for many people is the intuitive Wii Remote.

We reported a few weeks back that Sony was looking into creating a similar motion sensor control for the PS3. So what is stopping Microsoft's Xbox 360 in doing the same thing?

What once was considered pure rumors, SeattlePi.com is confirming that there is indeed a Wii-mote equivalent coming out for the Xbox 360. Microsoft is calling the project "Newton". With more and more Family Orientated disc-based games hitting the 360, as well as the huge array on XBLA...

• (8)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Last Remnant getting Xbox 360 release first

Square Enix recently had an event in Japan showcasing all of the Xbox 360's upcoming RPG lineup for the next couple of months, as was written about previously on GamerNode. Now the list wasn't all too big, but some of the games did look fairly interesting. With Microsoft struggling in Japan to secure a name for themselves there, they would need to appeal to the Japanese audience. What better way to show how much they care than with a special event dedicated to RPGs for the 360 from the leader in RPG design?

Now the interesting thing about this whole news post is a game called The Last Remnant. Originally shown in TGS last year, it was advertised to be multiplatform (360/PS3) with a simultaneous release date, plus the added bonus of it being sold to Japan, North America and Europe with a ver...

• (1)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Square Enix Announces Xbox 360 RPG Line Up

We've mentioned earlier how the RPG genre isn't the best on the Xbox 360, so we won't bore you with the obvious details.

Square Enix, being smart, is attempting to make themselves the premiere provider of RPG content on the Xbox 360 and with their lineup for Microsoft's console now revealed, it looks like they are making a decent attempt.

The three games to be released in the 2008 to 2009 window are Star Ocean: The Last Hope, The Last Remnant, and Infinite Undiscovery. Star Ocean will be another installment in the popular franchise, while The Last Remnant is the first in a new IP Square Enix is developing. The same can be said for Infinite Undiscovery which is a team crossing project between Square Enix and tri-Ace Inc.

RPG fans finally have something to look forward too. Here's hoping they ...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Microsoft squashes Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors...again...

The idea of a Blu-ray equipped Xbox 360 just won't die. It seems like every week a new insider from Microsoft is leaking the same information, only to be squashed by the higher ups at Microsoft.

This week is no different with the latest speculation being that Microsoft was going to announce an Xbox 360 equipped with Blu Ray in order to take the steam away from Apple's WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference).

As Robbie Bach has said, "That is so far out that there isn't anything to talk about." As everyone knows now this rumor has been proven false and Bach nailed it. What is funny though is how people believed that Microsoft would announce a new Xbox 360 to counter Apple. Apple and Microsoft are not in direct competition when it comes to console games or consoles. There is no reason Micros...

• (4)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Rumor: Metal Gear Solid 1 coming to XBL Arcade

I guess it's only fitting that this rumor surfaces mere days before MGS4's release. According to Ripten's sources, the seminal MGS game is set to hit Xbox Live Arcade.

They say this due to a report coming in from a reliable individual noticing the game on a "certain pre-release network." They didn't say much more except that there are some problems in the conversion process.

I would assume so--the original MGS' filesize was over 1GB. It must be quite a painful process to shrink the game in order to meet XBLA's current file limit of 150MB.

Remember this story is a rumor right now. Ripten isn't exactly known for being the most reliable site but let's keep our fingers crossed anyway. I know I'd want to see this game hit XBLA. I haven't played a single MGS game and what better way to start than...

• (16)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Man pawns his friend's Xbox 360 while he's away

You can probably file this story in the "This is not your friend," bin. According to press-citizen.com, a man was arrested last week for allegedly pawning (not pwning) his roomie's Xbox 360 while his buddy was serving time in rehab.

A report filed with the Iowa City Police department stated that the Xbox 360 was pawned at Money and More for $230. The original value of the 360 was $453.59.

After the police questioned the man on the phone, he denied that he ever pawned the 360 but later agreed to turn himself in and plead not guilty. The charges, if they stick, would be considered forth-degree theft, which is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to a year in prison.

The accused man was convicted of prior fifth-degree theft incident in 2001.

Moral of story? The Xbox 360--don't leave home witho...

• (6)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

June 9th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

My Pokémon Ranch (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The Pokémon phenomenon debuts on WiiWare with My Pokémon Ranch, a game that lets you watch as Pokémon and Miis interact with each other for the first time. Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon ...

• (1)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Aces of the Galaxy "Not for Tourists" giveaway

Sierra Online and Artech Studios' Aces of the Galaxy hits Xbox Live Arcade today, and in honor of that, GamerNode wants to give you free stuff! We're going to hand out a free Xbox Live Arcade token for Assault Heroes 2, Boogie Bunnies, Commanders: Attack of the Genos, or Sea Life Safari to the most skilled (and fastest) Aces of the Galaxy players at GN.

Choose your own adventure in Aces of the Galaxy. A warp icon is hidden in each level, so you'll need to maneuver wisely to visit them all. The first three people to earn the "Alien Eradicator" achievement by earning 5 stars on all levels in Aces of the Galaxy will be awarded a free XBLA game code from Sierra Online's catalog of games.

Once you've completed this challenge and earned the Xbox achievement, send an email to contests {at} gamern...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ninja Gaiden II demo by the end of the week

Today was the official release date of Ninja Gaiden II, and while hordes of cheering fans will likely be heading out to their local videogame retailer to cash in on their preorders, some may still remain on the fence about the title before taking that $60 plunge.

Luckily for them, a demo version of the game will be available in the U.S. and Canada by the end of this week, although Major Nelson has been unable to provide the specific day and time. For all other regions (except India and Germany), the demo is already available for the low price of zero MS points.

If you have any reservations about this game, I would recommend trying out the demo. If it's anything like the first game it will prove to be worthy of a purchase.

[via MajorNelson]

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Resident Evil 5 is 60% complete, says Capcom

According to producer Jun Takeuchi, the next installment in Capcom's survival horror franchise is more than halfway through the development cycle. At Capcom's Captivate 2008 event last week, he had this to say to members of the press:

"Right now, in the development process we're about 60 percent of the way through. We're figuring that the total play time in the game will be over 20 hours. As you can probably see from the trailer there's a lot of different content and materials in the game for you to enjoy."

The trailer he is referring to hit the internet last week, and certainly reveals many more aspects of the game than earlier clips did. We now know for certain that the game will take place somewhere in Africa, and that Chris will at least be in contact with a new leading lady, if not wo...

• (1)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Saints Row 2 delayed till October; PC release?

Previously holding an August 26th release date, THQ and Volition, Inc. confirmed that its upcoming openworld action sequel Saints Row 2 has been delayed till October 14th for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

According to a THQ representative, reasons for the delay were attributed to "marketing and issues and products quality." The representative also confirmed that they're working with a PC SKU but didn't comment further.

In related news, this product page on THQ's website notes that a PC edition of Saints Row 2 will be released in October, perhaps on the same date with its console brethren? The original Saints Row was only released for the Xbox 360 back in 2006.

[Via mcvuk.com]

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Cole Train alludes to November 16 Gears 2 release ...

Mark this as just a rumor for now, but Lester "Mighty Rasta" Speight, better known as the voice of Gears of War's "Cole Train," may have just unofficially announced the release date of Epic Games' upcoming Gears of War 2.

The charismatic actor was recently on hand at the Wizard World convention in Philadelphia, where he spoke at the TriForce panel about the company's life-sized Gears of War replica weapons. Members of the press questioned the panel about the sequel's release date, and while TriForce representatives refused to comment, Speight volunteered that they might consider asking him again on November 16.

This comment was overheard by David Hinkle from DS and Wii Fanboy, and while it was by no means an official statement, the date sounds very believable. Lead designer Cliff Bleszinsk...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Gears of War 2 will have flamethrowers

Yes, Gears of War 2 is on its way, and if CliffyB delivers on his promise it will be more badass than anything the original Gears threw at us. While the environments are going to be grander, the enemies meaner, and the story more epic than ever before, the biggest selling point for some gamers is the new arsenal Marcus and crew are going to wield. Just how will we take out the new Locust and our rivals online?

How does a flamethrower sound? While it took Halo close to three iterations of the franchise before gamers finally got the chance to burn away their enemies on consoles, Gears is only doing it in two. With the brutality Gears is known for, we can only imagine how the flamethrower will handle.

[Via Xbox360 Fanboy]

• (6)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Still no date for next Splinter Cell

It's been a while since we last saw the gruff yet stealthy agent Sam Fisher, and it seems like it is going to stay that way for some time. While Ubisoft recently held their Paris games showcase, Ubidays, fans were disappointed to see that Sam Fisher was absent. Even more odd is that Splinter Cell: Conviction was on display in 2007 at various events. Has Ubisoft gone back to the drawing board? All indications point to yes.

Realistically, this isn't such a bad outcome. The last Splinter Cell, even though it had amazing multiplayer, lacked the spark of Sam Fisher's previous games. Playing both sides of the coin was cool, but ultimately fumbled in its execution. Splinter Cell: Conviction was a step even further away from what made Splinter Cell a stealth genre contender.

With a release window no...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
•