Living LIVE News Report 12.28.11
Posted by Trace Aber on 12.28.2011
News and thoughts on the Gears of War 3 re-up system, Xbox LIVE banning guns from avatars, the new dashboard preventing users getting online, the latest on special Xbox LIVE discounts and more!
REPLY POSTED
Some of our readers are not fans of indie games, it would seem. In regards to the indie games section deserving more exposure
No they don't, as 99% of them are garbage. For every Cthulu Saves the World there are 9 'massage' games.
It's a way for people to try their hand at game making, but it's populated by retards. They should be grateful they have a spot on the dashboard at all.
In any case, if they're smart they'll just use a unique name so people can use the Bing search to find it. Of course if they were smart they'd find ways to advertise their games on their own...
Posted By: lol (Guest) on December 19, 2011 at 11:04 AM
While I do agree that there are some rather awful indie games out there, that doesn't mean all of them should be ignored. In fact, I think those awful games, or "games" that are more akin to apps, should be purged from the system as I doubt they make money (anymore) and are only clogging up the system and Microsoft's servers.
Personally, I think Microsoft should try to weed these games out, or institute stricter guidelines for their indie section or at least the games that get placed up front. At the very least they should allow you to properly search for the games instead of scrolling through a giant list.
As far as the developers advertising their games, they try. And some of them succeed but sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good the game is, marketing doesn't work out. Some just aren't good with it, others just don't have the exposure. It simply being a good to great game doesn't guarantee success or visibility, unfortunately.
I'm not saying the indie games should be the focal point of the dashboard or anything like that, but they should try to promote a few here and there to remind people, maybe even give them their own square. I realize no Xbox Live indie game is going to make Microsoft millions of dollars, but I don't see the point of even having the channel if they're going to hide and bury it while they constantly remind me that I can search on Bing. Seems like a waste of resources.
The biggest problem with all the video apps for the Xbox is that they all seem to work on the premise that the Xbox is tied to the 2nd tv in the house. Most people I know, this gameer included, hook up their Xbox to their main (or only) television. So why would I ever watch ESPN, Fios, or HBO through my Xbox when I simply just turn off the Xbox and watch it normally?!?
This model makes no sense in terms of how many people have their Xbox connected. What they need to do is allow me to subscribe to the full Fios service through my Xbox, or the same with HBO, and so on. Until then, it will still feel like a beta.
Posted By: Wii60 (Guest) on December 23, 2011 at 06:35 PM
I completely agree with you here, but I think that's the bigger picture. The 360 wasn't built to be a cable box (as far as I know, anyways), so they're kind of shoehorning it in late in the game. I imagine with the next console iteration we will see full service integration, but for now it's seen as a "cool thing on the side." I never use ESPN or HBO, nor will I use Fios, but I still use it for Hulu/Netflix, so at least they have that going for them.
Welcome everyone to another issue of the Living LIVE News Report, and as always, I'm your host for the evening, Trace Aber. I hope everyone had a nice holiday season, as well as Boxing Day to our Canadian readers. Due to it being the holidays, not a whole lot of big news came out during the last week, but that's fine as it's better to spend time with your family than read video game news. Or so they say I never bought into that.
Xbox LIVE Featuring Decent Deals until January 02, 2012
As Microsoft is apt to do towards the end of the year, Xbox Live is featuring another sales promotion, this time with each day featuring a new special discount on top of special offers on a variety of goods lasting until next week.
While you'll have to check your Xbox to see the daily discount, some of the long-term specials include Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Plans Vs Zombies, BloodRayne Betrayal and Portal: Still Alive at 600MP (50% off), while Peggle and Peggle Nights receive 50% discounts as well at 400MP and 200MP, respectively. A bunch of avatar items are also on sale, but you can check the full list out at the link above.
We've already seen the likes of Bastion, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Mortal Kombat, Halo: Reach, and Forza 4 receive discounts, so who knows what will be offered as we draw near the end of the promotion. On top of this, they're honoring their normal Deal of the Week exclusive to gold members, which includes the following games, all for 400MP (and a 50% discount) with the exception of Full House Poker, which will set you back 480MP.
Full House Poker
Connect 4x4
Jenga
Pictureka
Sorry! Slider
Sorry!
Boggle
Battleship
Yahtzee
Connect 4
Scrabble
Hopefully you have some points to spare, as it looks like Microsoft wants any remaining cash you may have after the holiday season.
New Dashboard Preventing Some From Getting Online
While there have certainly been mixed reviews on the new dashboard, our readers included, a select few have a very good reason for hating the new design they can no longer access their Xbox LIVE accounts. Microsoft is hoping to resolve the issue "as soon as possible," which is another way of saying, "whenever we damn well please."
"We have recently identified an Xbox Live profile data error that results in Error Code '801540B7' for a small number of Xbox Live members", an Xbox representative told Joystiq. "The error instructs users to attempt to re-download their Xbox Live profile and directs them to customer service support for further assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to our loyal Xbox Live members and are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible."
So not only are they no longer permitted to play multiplayer games, they can't even access certain purchased content, and if they have Hulu Plus and Netflix accounts they are useless on their 360 as well.
This comes off the heels of a Eurogamer report that the dashboard forced videos to display at limited-range RGB levels and decreases video quality. I have personally noticed quality issues despite having an otherwise perfect internet connection, so while I like the redesign overall, it's certainly not without its flaws.
Have any of our readers been having these troubles or noticed anything else? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
New Gears of War 3 DLC Allows Gamers to Prestige
While GoW's latest DLC will feature the normal new maps and skins, it'll also introduce the new Re-Up system, which is similar to Call of Duty's prestige system. After you hit the level cap of 100 you will gain new rank icons and start the process over again, which you can do three times. Each Re-Up will also unlock an exclusive weapon skin glowing plasma, Crimson Omen, and electrical sparks.
Per usual, the pack will set you back 800MP ($10), and feature five maps along with four skins. Full descriptions can be found below:
Maps
- Academy The lineage of the Fenix family can be traced back along a distinguished line of military officers. Officer training at the Oracle Academy was simply the expected path for Marcus, and he had visited the grounds many times in expectation that he would walk the same path as his ancestors. But it was not to be, and Marcus broke with tradition to be with his best friends Dom and Carlos. Like any number of fine Seran traditions, the Academy is now lost to the invasion of the Locust Horde.
- Anvil The fortress of Anvegad was called Anvil Gate because its impenetrable walls were forged in the fires of war. Huge cannons sat atop battlements that guarded sprawling walls running the line of the UIR borders. Marcus went there to find Hoffman, and they both thought that Anvil Gate would offer protection from the incoming forces of Locust and Lambent. They were wrong, and little remains other than the ruined shell of a once mighty fortress.
-Depths The excessive opulence of Azura defied all normal reasoning. But Adam Fenix could see the cracks in the veneer of splendor from the moment he arrived at this underwater processing center. And all that beauty mattered not at all once he was held captive by the Locust. Out of options, he had to find a way to contact Marcus, and finally reveal the truths he'd been keeping to himself for all these many years
-Escalation Haldane Hall has been the home of the Fenix family for countless generations. But the only history that matters to Marcus's are his memories of warm summer evenings spent with his mother, Elain, relaxing in the estate's gardens. Sadly, all the estate's history and beauty was lost when the Locust destroyed it in an attempt to kidnap his father. The Slab Convicted for insubordination and treason, Marcus was incarcerated in Jacinto Maximum Security Prison. Known as "The Slab", this prison is not a correctional facility - it's a place where Sera's worst offenders are locked up and forgotten. The inmates are brutal, parole is not an option, and the average life expectancy is about two years. But that was before the Locust showed up, and what couldn't get worse, suddenly did. Now your life expectancy there is around 2 minutes.
Skins
COG
-Recruit Clayton Clayton was born a Gear, grew up a Gear, and on the very day he became eligible, he signed himself up to become the capable, confident, and devoted Gear he'd always known he could be.
-Thrashball Cole (Limited Edition) The Cole Train prefers to take the most direct path to the Locust Horde in any situation. What he lacks in finesse, he makes up in raw energy.
Locust
-Savage Marauder Locust Marauders were the first to form any sort of organization outside of the Hollow if their brutal infighting and bloodthirsty raiding parties could truly be called organized.
-Savage Kantus (Limited Edition) The Savage Kantus were profoundly impacted by the loss of the Hollow. They have reverted to a primal, shamanistic state, and their battle cries have taken a dark, melancholy turn. Few sounds are as terrifying to human ears.
First DLC for Modern Warfare 3 Coming in January
Can't get enough of the latest Call of Duty game? I personally picked it up last Friday and while I'm not as into it as I have been in the past, it's still a pretty fun game and I imagine I'll be getting Elite soon enough, which is great as members of Elite on the 360 will be getting the game's first DLC first, and theoretically speaking, "free."
While we can typically assume the standard map pack, nothing has been absolutely confirmed. Elite members were notified that the "DLC season" starts on January 24, and in the past Robert Bowling (Infinity Ward creative strategist) revealed their plans to release more than just map packs.
It should be interesting to see what exactly Infinity Ward plans to release and whether or not they want to "prove" to gamers that the DLC will be more than just the standard map pack. I think the best bet would to release a mixture of multiplayer maps, Spec Ops missions, and maybe something a little extra like weapons or game types. Maybe I'm just getting my hopes up. Yeah, probably.
Microsoft's New Year's Resolution: No More Guns
No no, this doesn't mean that Microsoft is banning all guns from video games, because that would wipe out about 80% of the market. But Microsoft is banning all "gun-like" items in the avatar marketplace effective January 1, 2012. So if there are any "gun-like" items you feel your avatar would be incomplete without, you better purchase them soon.
Thankfully, it does appear that any items you've purchased prior to the cut-off date, such as the Gears of War Lancer or Hammerbust props, can still be used as normal. I can't imagine this effecting a lot of people, but I'm sure somebody will be upset about this. Oh wait some people are claiming this takes away their Second Amendment right. #areyouseriousbro
The Digital Downloads Arcade Games
Trine (1200MP) Games on Demand
Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($59.99)
Wipeout: In the Zone ($49.99)
Resonance of Fate ($24.99)
L.A. Noire ($39.99)
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 traceaber@gmail.com 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!
