Category Archives: Xbox / 360

Xbox / 360 / Live

2007 proves a Blockbuster Holiday Season for Xbox 360

Default 2007 proves a Blockbuster Holiday Season for Xbox 360
    2007 was a blockbuster holiday season for the gaming industry, and Xbox 360 has hands-down emerged as the industry leader. Consumers spent more holiday dollars on the Xbox 360 total gaming experience: a great variety of consoles, the best games and a unique online community with Xbox LIVE.

Here are some breaking sales figures:

  • Microsoft has sold more than 17.7 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide
  • Microsoft has sold more than 8.1 million copies of “Halo 3” since its launch on September 26 2007
  • “Mass Effect” reached 1.6 million units sold, in just six weeks since it went on sale on November 20 2007
  • Consumers spend more on Xbox software and accessories, with a record-high software attach rate of 6.9, according to NPD

Microsoft is proud of the contributions Xbox 360 is making to the gaming industry, and looks forward to an even more successful 2008.

First New Halo 3 Content “Heroic Map Pack” Arrives

Default First New Halo 3 Content “Heroic Map Pack” Arrives

    LONDON, 11th December, 2007 — The international award-winning “Halo 3” gets even better as the “Halo 3” Heroic Map Pack launches today on Xbox 360’s Xbox LIVE Marketplace. After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, more than five million “Halo 3” players worldwide can now enjoy a package of three all new multiplayer maps. The Heroic Map Pack is the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map offers a unique experience. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

As if the legions of “Halo 3″ players needed more reasons to stay logged on to Xbox LIVE, Forge also allows players to edit and customize all three maps, keeping “Halo 3’s” multiplayer experience fresh, exciting and evolving. In addition, ongoing updates to “Halo 3’s” matchmaking playlists ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive.

The maps of the Heroic Pack are available in matchmaking today to those who have purchased the download. All three maps will become available as a free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of all new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps.

More Warner Bros Films Confirmed On Xbox 360 This Christmas

Default More Warner Bros Films Confirmed On Xbox 360 This Christmas

    LONDON, 11th December 2007: Microsoft® Corporation today affirmed its place as global leader in downloadable high-definition gaming and entertainment content, as its Xbox LIVE®™ Marketplace Video Store service launched in five new countries – Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Following a highly successful launch in the United States last year, all Xbox 360™ owners connected to the internet in the above countries can now download to rent both high definition and standard definition movies direct to their console using Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store.

Following last week’s launch announcement where Microsoft revealed partnerships with Warner Bros and Europacorp in Europe to bring exciting films to rent on Xbox LIVE including 300, Zodiac, Harry Potter and The Good German, Xbox 360 owners can also expect to download to rent additional Warner Bros films such as Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Analyze That[1], by the end of the year. Cost per download for a catalogue film is from as little as 250 Microsoft Points (*ERP £2 [2]) for Standard Definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (*ERP £3.20 [3]) for High Definition movies.

Robin Truchy, Director of Xbox LIVE for Europe, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division commented: “We are firmly committed to providing the best high definition entertainment experiences for our consumers. We feel great about the enthusiasm created last week around HD movies in the Xbox LIVE community. The good news is that the movie industry seems excited as well about this launch: we look forward to additional partners and content coming in 2008, alongside Warner Bros and Europacorp.”

Marc Gareton, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution Senior Vice President International said: “We’re excited to be helping to launch this new service in Europe, and to be bringing top Warner Bros. film titles like 300, Batman and the Matrix Trilogy in both SD and HD formats to people at their convenience in their own living rooms through Xbox LIVE. We Xbox owners are in for a treat over the holiday period and on into 2008.”

If all these film titles that we’ve got lined up aren’t enough to whet the appetites of Xbox consumers, then we’ve teamed up with Warner Bros to give eligible Xbox customers a special Christmas treat. From 00.01a.m. on Friday 28th December until 11.59 pm the same day (24hrs only), people will be able to download a mystery title in HD for 99p in the UK. Stay tuned for more information on this soon.

Xbox 360 gamers in the launch countries can access Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store with both an Xbox Live Silver or Gold membership and a broadband connection.

More information about the content available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store can be found at: Xbox.com | Xbox.com Home

Xbox LIVE Arcade adds “Arkadian Warriors” and “GripShift”

Default Xbox LIVE Arcade adds “Arkadian Warriors” and “GripShift”

    LONDON, 10th December, 2007 – Prepare for an action-packed dungeon crawl with Sierra Online’s “Arkadian Warriors” and experience the innovative cross genre gameplay of “GripShift®,” by Sidhe Interactive, this week on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360™. Both games launch on Wednesday, 12th December, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. GMT.

Three heroic shape-shifting warriors fight to release the Land of Arkadia from the evil Gorgon’s stony gaze. In the uniquely expansive “Arkadian Warriors,” randomly generated dungeons and cooperative multiplayer hack & slash action enhances a deep single-player campaign. The robust cooperative multiplayer mode is available for two players both locally and over Xbox LIVE. Upgrading is key as players hone their skills, acquire loot and master powerful magic spells and numerous deadly weapons in a journey of mythical proportions.

Through a mix of sky-high platforming and stunt driving, “GripShift” combines automotive and puzzle solving skills across 120 challenging levels, 25 rubber burning race tracks and 20 deadly deathmatch arenas across four themed worlds. Zoom to victory with four players over Xbox LIVE or race solo, all while enjoying a customisable music experience! Choose your driver, unlock faster vehicles and customise your ride with new skins. Developed by Sidhe Interactive, “GripShift” is a gravity-defying thrill ride every racing fan must experience!

Arkadian Warriors: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

GripShift: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

Both are rated 12+.

More information is available at:
Xbox.com | Xbox LIVE Arcade – Classic and New Games on Xbox 360.

Downloadable Content and Enhancements Released for BioShock

Default Downloadable Content and Enhancements Released for BioShock

    New York, NY – December 4, 2007 – 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that BioShock, its top-rated title exclusively available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows®, has released new downloadable content for players on both platforms. The content includes new Plasmids and Tonics, achievements and interface upgrades, and is now available as free downloadable content from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, through an Xbox 360 Title Update, and as part of a PC patch.

“As one of the highest rated games of the year, we wanted to continue to connect with the fans that made BioShock such an overwhelming retail and critically-acclaimed hit,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “We are excited to offer new downloadable content that will extend and enhance the replay value of this title.”

New downloadable content includes:

Four Plasmids and Gene Tonics:

  • Sonic Boom: Hurls creatures and objects back with a blast of force
  • EVE saver: Enables Plasmids to use less EVE
  • Vending Expert: Reduces prices in the vending machines
  • Machine Buster: Increases the amount of damage players deal to cameras, bots and turrets

Achievements (exclusive to Xbox 360):

  • Xbox 360 players can gain 100 points for “Brass Balls,” by beating BioShock on the “hard” difficulty setting without dying

In response to gamers’ requests and feedback from the Cult of Rapture (www.CultofRapture.com) community forums, fans of BioShock now have a widescreen option, granting a wider horizontal field of vision, as well as additional enhancements to the game. The Xbox 360 Title Update will be automatically applied at the game’s startup when users log into Xbox LIVE. PC owners can access both the additional content and gameplay improvements via a downloadable patch, available at www.2Kgames.com/bioshock/support.