Living LIVE News Report 10.10.11

Posted by Trace Aber on 10.10.2011

News and thoughts on Gears of War 3's first DLC pack, cable TV and UFC PPVs coming to the Xbox 360, Kinect possibly leading to automatic parental control, Battlefield's high-resolution textures option and more!



Welcome everyone to another issue of the Living LIVE News Report, and as always, I'm your host for the evening, Trace Aber.

Cable on Xbox Official
Over the last few weeks we have been covering the ongoing rumors about cable television running from your Xbox console. Each week more and more details would slip out, leading up to last week where an unspecified source claimed we could be hearing details are early as the following week. Just a few days later we got the official announcement thanks to Major Nelson, and it turns out Microsoft has paired with over 40 TV and entertainment providers to bring content to Live.

Microsoft got some big-name providers on board, including HBO, Bravo and SyFy. It's still unknown how the content will arrive to the console, but you'd have to imagine there would be an app or something of the like.

Verizon's Bobby Henson says the deal is in line with their plan to break down "old technology boundaries to create a borderless world." "What really makes this exciting is that this innovative, new service will integrate live, multi-channel streaming HD TV and Kinect voice and gesture commands via the Xbox." Because everybody knows that cable TV has been missing Kinect.

Verizon should have the service up for purchase by holiday season, though exact details aren't known except you'll need an Xbox Live Gold membership.

"By bringing the technologically advanced Verizon FiOS TV service to Xbox 360 and Kinect, we are advancing our vision to provide the best in entertainment in extraordinary new ways," said Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president of the TV & Service Business for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "Xbox 360 brings all your entertainment, friends and family together in one place, and we look forward to introducing Verizon FiOS TV to the console this holiday."



Comcast, another partner in the deal, said their offerings will be similar to what they provide on iPhone, iPad, and PCs through the Xfinity app.

Members of AT&T's Uverse package will be completely transitioned to Xbox Live and will receive a $60 credit to purchase a Live subscription. Uverse will be transferring over in November, which is when the credit will be applied. No word on if existing Live members will receive the credit or not, so there's a chance some people are going to get $60 to spend on whatever they want.

Below is a full list of international TV providers:

• ABC iView – Australia
• AlloCiné – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.
• Antena 3 – Spain
• Astral Media's Disney XD – Canada
• AT&T** – U.S.
• BBC – U.K.
• blinkbox – U.K.
• Bravo – U.S.
• BSkyB** – U.K.
• Canal+* – France, Spain
• Channel 4 – U.K.
• Channel 5 – U.K.
• CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.
• Comcast – U.S.
• Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.
• Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets
• EPIX – U.S.
• ESPN** – U.S.
• Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
• FOXTEL** – Australia
• GolTV – Spain
• HBO GO – U.S.
• Hulu – Japan
• Hulu +**– U.S.
• iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.
• Last.fm** – U.K., U.S.
• LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.
• Manga Entertainment – U.S.
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada
• MediaSet – Italy
• MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.
• MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.
• Netflix**– Canada, U.S.
• Rogers On Demand Online (RODO) – Canada
• RTVE – Spain
• SBS On Demand – Australia
• Syfy – U.S.
• Telefonica – Spain
• Televisa – Mexico
• "The Today Show" – U.S.
• TELUS** – Canada
• TMZ – U.S.
• Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
• UFC – Canada, U.S.
• Verizon – U.S.
• VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.
• VimpelCom** – Russia
• Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal
• YouTube – Available in 22 markets
• ZDF – Germany
• Zune** – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain
Xbox LIVE Gold membership and/or other subscriptions/fees required. ** Denotes existing partners on Xbox LIVE available today.

UFC on Live Launching December 1
After announcing the channel back at E3 earlier this year, Microsoft has finally set a date for when you can watch UFC in the comfort of your…video game console. Starting on December 1, 2011 fight fans will be able to check out all the action from the octagon with a few new cool features thrown in to boot.

When the app (or channel or whatever they call it) is released you'll be able to check out all the pre-fight action for UFC 140, which takes place on December 10 and features Jon Jones taking on Lyoto Machida for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship. This means you can stream the weigh-ins, event previews, interviews, press conferences and even share your prediction with other Xbox fans around the world. Hell, they even have leaderboard stat tracking for your predictions.

For a full list of content on what to expect the first of December, check it out below:

-Live and On-Demand Video– Event previews, UFC Countdown, press conferences, weigh-ins, interviews, workouts, highlights, and more, together for the first time on your big screen.

-Streaming HD Quality in 720p – UFC fans demand stunning HD viewing, and Xbox LIVE brings the most premium streaming HD to the big screen.

-Pay-Per-View with Ease – The biggest pay-per-view fights available to all Xbox LIVE members in HD and SD pricing options. Purchase directly with your credit card, Microsoft Points not required.

-Interactive Fight Card with Predictions – Size up the fighters with the tale of the tape and view their past fight results. Predict upcoming fights, compare results with friends for points and bragging rights, and see where you stand against them on the leaderboard, all accessible while watching the fight so you'll never have to leave the excitement of the Octagon.

-Control the action with Kinect – Focus on the fight instead of looking for the remote. Navigate through the video content, bring up the Interactive Fight Card, or play, pause, and rewind that big punch, kick or submission…all with the magic of Kinect.

Gears of War 3 DLC Announced
Gears of War 3 is getting its first DLC on November 1, and it will set you back 800MP (or $10).

Titled the Horde Command Pack, it'll add three maps to the game's Horde and Beast mode, three new characters, and two new weapon skins. The maps are Blood Drive, Rustlung and Azura and will be playable both online and local multiplayer. The new characters are Onyx guard, Big Rig Dizzy and Bernie Mataki while the weapon skins are Team Plasma and Jungle Camo.

Interestingly, there are also four fortification upgrades for the game's Horde mode. One, the Command Center, calls in snipers, mortars and Hammers of Dawn. Players can also upgrade decoys into Onyx bots that will defend your base, and you can upgrade regular old boring sentries into fire bolt sentries, which sounds pretty awesome. Finally, regular Silverback exo-suits can be upgraded to fire rockets. I mean…rockets!

If you purchased the Season Pass you'll be getting this DLC for free, but otherwise you'll need to pony up $10 for it. Microsoft announced that they will be releasing at least three more add-ons in the future as well, so you might want to save your points.

Kinect Could Lead to Automatic Parental Control
Originally filed in March 2010 by Microsoft but only recently made public, a patent suggests that Kinect might be used to determine parental settings on the fly. Angrily entitled "PARENTAL CONTROL SETTINGS BASED ON BODY DIMENSIONS," tech like Kinect could be used to automatically restrict content on a PC or 360 depending on what the camera sees.

It's not perfect, however. It solely bases the determination on the size of the person standing in front of it. If the console determines the person is "adult size" then they get all content, but if they're kid size they're getting restricted content. If it detects adults but then kids walk into the room, it can switch over on the fly.

Now, while this technology could be helpful, I think it'll cause more problems than it's worth. When Kinect detects a child as an adult (and it will) and that kid gains access to some "unsavory" content I can just see some parent making a huge deal out of it, saying that the machine forced their kid to watch violent TV. Sure, it sounds stupid, but come on. If you're going to let a camera decide the content that your kids can watch, you're already stupid.


Battlefield to Include High Res Texture Option
For those of you who enjoy a little extra resolution on their battlefield you might be happy with the latest on Battlefield 3. EA has confirmed that on the second disk of the 360 version (which will also include multiplayer while the first disk holds the single player campaign) will feature an optional install for a high resolution texture pack. I haven't seen any actual screen comparisons, but you'd have to imagine it would be somewhat significant if they're including it on the disk. No word on the install size, either.

I think it's interesting that EA is doing this, and I wonder if we'll be seeing more options like this in the future. As the current generation begin to reach their limits, developers are finding more and more ways to work around the technical limitations. It happens every console generation, and this one is no different. Unfortunately, I also see companies selling texture packs like these as DLC, which I'm sure would be welcomed with open arms. *cough*




The Digital Downloads
Arcade Games
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition (1200MP)
Orcs Must Die! (1200MP)
Sega Bass Fishing (800MP)
Space Channel 5: Part 2 (800MP)

Games on Demand
Crysis ($19.99)
Shift 2 Unleashed ($39.99)

Demos
Forza 4

The Theater
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4: Redemption Trailer

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Redemption Trailer, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Need for Speed The Run: On the Edge Trailer

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Need for Speed: The Run - On The Edge Trailer, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record – Frank West Returns Trailer

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Dead Rising 2: Off the Record - Frank Returns Trailer, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Sonic Generations Modern Era Trailer


Self-Defense: Training Camp Debut Trailer





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Signing Out
That does it for me this week. Be sure to check back next week as we discuss all of the latest Xbox 360 news, including releases, rumors and reviews! Also, don't forget to bookmark 411Mania! And a note to all of the Indie Game developers out there – if you have an upcoming title that's going to be released soon drop me a line at [e-mail] and let me know. I'll write a full review of your game to be posted on 411Mania.com, which is a great way to get your game promoted!

Screenshots
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