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December 30 Back On My Travels And Offline For A Few DaysJust to let you know that I'm off to visit family for the New Year break and won't be online at all for the next few days. Hopefully the Xbox LIVE issues that some of you are suffering from will continue to clear up - apologies again for this, I've reported all the issues I have been messaged about and I know the technical teams are working on it. If you are continuing to suffer from problems please get in touch directly with Xbox Support. I know I say that a lot but they really are the best people to deal with any issues you are facing, and also to report those issues to the technical teams who can deal with them at the source.
Have a wonderful New Year and I'll see you in 2008! Xbox LIVE Status UpdateI've been getting hammered with messages and questions about Xbox LIVE over the past few days, and I've noticed some slowness myself. Major Nelson looked into the problems overnight with the technical teams over in the USA and he posted the following:
"You may have noticed that the LIVE service has been having a few issues over the past few days. This includes things like signing in, matchmaking and account recovery. Not everyone has had problems, but I know some of you have and I wanted to give you and update. While the service was never completely offline, problems like this are not acceptable. The entire LIVE team has been working day and night to ensure that you can have a great LIVE experience. While we’re not done yet, I wanted to let you know that things are getting better each hour and that no one on the team is going anywhere until the job is done. Thanks for your patience."
I would like to reiterate Major's comments that this is not acceptable and we're very sorry for any inconvenience it has caused you. Thanks so much, as always, for raising the alarm and letting us know that things are not quite right, and thanks for your patience while we sort these problems out.
December 29 Marketplace Update - 29/12Ever left your GamerTag on a memory unit at someone else's house? I did that the other day, and unfortunately the other house was at the other end of the country. Not such a big deal as I could have easily recovered it from Xbox LIVE, but the problem was that I had gathered about 400 GamerPoints worth of Achievements from Guitar Hero III, Scene-IT? and Viva Pinata Party Animals over Christmas day. If I had recovered the GamerTag I would have lost them all - so I got my pals to send the memory unit via special delivery! It arrived this morning, so that's good, and it means I can finally play some games on my brand new Xbox 360 Elite! Thanks Santa!
While I'm here I wanted to apologise again for the problems with the 300 special offer yesterday. It is now available in HD for 100 MS Points and we've extended the offer until midnight tonight, but we're really sorry that it took until last night to fix the pricing. Thanks for your patience and for letting us know about the problems you were having. As always, if you're having continued problems with downloading the flick please get in touch with your local Xbox Support.
One other Video Store issue a lot of people have been asking about - in Inside Xbox last week we promoted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as being live on Video Store when it, er, wasn't. And then for a short period on last Thursday's Inside Xbox we promoted a new batch of Warner Bros. movies which, er, weren't available. These movies are coming (before the end of the year according to the press release we issued on December 11) and I'll let you know when they actually do go live. I'm really sorry for the confusion - I was caught out by this - and I'm going to do my best to ensure it doesn't happen again. Hopefully once the Christmas break is over everything will get back to normal...
 Couple of quick Marketplace updates from the last couple of days. Have a great weekend and I hope you've got some great plans for Hogmanay (that's what we call New Year's Eve in Scotland).
300 Special Offer - Pricing Issue Resolved, Offer Extended Until Midnight on Sunday December 30Thanks so much for your patience everyone, we're all really sorry that this has been a bit of a saga. However, as initially promised, 300 is now available to download from Xbox LIVE Video Store for 100 MS Points - in HD - and will be until midnight on Sunday December 30 (ie a midnight past 11.59pm today, Saturday December 29).
This offer applies to Video Store in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland.
Apologies once again for this. I really hope that you still get the chance to enjoy the movie! December 28 UPDATED: 300 Special OfferI'd love to be reminding you that 300 is available in HD for only 100 MS Points from Video Store in the UK, France and Germany until midnight tonight, but unfortunately there's an issue with the offer. It seems that the SD version has been reduced to 100 MS Points instead. We're currently trying to get this sorted out, but in the meantime I'd like to apologise.
I'll try to update you when I can. Thanks for your patience.
UPDATE: Quick update - "The Xbox live team are aware of the issue and working to resolve. We apologies for any inconvenience."
Will continue to update when I can. Apologies again. December 24 Marketplace Update - 24/12Here's your Christmas Eve round-up. Have an amazing Christmas - I really hope you have a great one and get all the Xbox 360 presents you were hoping for :)
Sensible World of Soccer is Back!Aren't holidays great? First I miss that SWOS has been pulled, then half an hour after I post a message about why it's missing I get an email telling me that it's back up. Of course, that was Friday and today is Monday...
Anyway, if you were looking for the return of the classic footie game to XBLA...
"After an unfortunate, but thankfully brief delay we are delighted to confirm that Sensible World of Soccer is available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.
Any users that downloaded Sensible World of Soccer early on 19th December will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again, without charge, following the discovery of an issue affecting connection to Xbox LIVE. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to those users.
Sensible World of Soccer retains all the classic elements that make the game one of the most influential of all time and introduces a new HD mode and LIVE play bringing the title bang up to date."
If you had previously downloaded the game please delete it from your HD and redownload it. You won't be charged again. Merry Christmas! December 21 BUMPER Marketplace Update - 21/12Yikes! You wait all week for Marketplace content and then, er, loads comes along at once! Apologies I've been offline for a couple of days, off on my Christmas holidays so I won't be posting too often. Was really bummed out to hear about the SWOS problems, especially as I was already out of the office and couldn't really help out.
Anyway, I'm up in Aberdeen now. Was at Pittodrie last night for Aberdeen FC's big UEFA Cup showdown with Copenhagen, and it's fair to say that we HORSED them 4-0! I was sitting right behind the goal where we scored all ours too, so it was extra sweet! And then this lunchtime I was eating in a wee cafe in the city centre and Scott Severin - one of our best players - was sitting right next to me! Properly starstruck - what a loser!
Anyway:
Hope you got the chance to see the new edition of Inside Xbox too - as always I'd love to hear your thoughts. Once we're back in the new year we'll be able to start working on some more original content for it. Have a great Christmas weekend and thanks for all your kind words in my 'Off on My Christmas Travels' post! Frontlines: Fuel of War Special EditionIf you haven’t already done so, you really should consider downloading the Frontlines: Fuel of War demo and discover what inhabiting a world on the brink of running out of oil feels like. Probably a lot like queuing up for petrol every Monday morning.
It’ll also make this next bit of news all the more exciting as THQ has given me a wee sneak peek at the special edition version of the game that will be available at launch in February. The Games for Windows special edition will be available in the UK, Germany, France and Spain, while the Xbox 360 special edition will be available in the UK, Germany and Italy. Here’s the scoop straight from THQ:
"Frontlines Fuel of War: Special Edition features an exclusive hardback art book. You will also receive a limited edition t-shirt as well as the official Frontlines: Fuel of War soundtrack which lends its individual sound from a mash up of New Metal, Electro beat and orchestral tones. Just when you thought that was enough, you get a poster thrown in for good measure.
Additional Content
– Exclusive Art book
– Limited edition T-shirt – Official Soundtrack – Poster The Xbox 360 Special Edition will be exclusively available for pre-orders from amazon.co.uk; PC Special Edition will be exclusively available for pre-orders from Play.com"
Quick! Get it before the oil runs out! Sensible World of Soccer UpdateI'm sure you're all aware of the issues with Sensible World of Soccer, but thought I'd post the statement since this is the first time I've been online for a couple of days. Apologies - I've been travelling and I'm on my Christmas holidays, and I was as disappointed as you when I heard about the problems...
"It has come to our attention that an incorrect version of Sensible World of Soccer was made available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft which has since been taken down. This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox LIVE.
We are currently investigating the issue and will have a correctly functioning version of Sensible World of Soccer available soon.
Any users that have already downloaded Sensible World of Soccer will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again when the correctly functioning version is available in order to enjoy online play via Xbox LIVE. Following this process does not incur any additional charges.
Please look out for the fully functional version of Sensible World of Soccer soon. We thank you for your patience."
I don't have any other updates I'm afraid, but I know the teams are working hard to get this sorted out. Keep an eye on the Codemasters website and forums for the first word and thanks for your patience. December 18 Off On My Christmas TravelsHmmm... It's been a bit quiet around here lately, eh? You'd think everyone was disappearing off on their Christmas holidays or something.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING! Yup, I'm off as of tomorrow, travelling up north home. I'll still be around online and posting from time to time, but things will be a bit quieter as I get stuck into Mass Effect and turkey and crisps. Have an amazing Christmas and new year, thanks for all your enthusiasm and support, and I'll see you in 2008! December 17 Sensible World of Soccer and Tempest on XBLA This WeekI thought it was sort of funny last week when I mentioned that Sensible World of Soccer would be out this Wednesday. Despite the fact we gave the confirmed release date to the Xbox Community Network at the start of December, and that it had subsequently been confirmed by Codemasters, some games websites ran 'confirmation of confirmation' stories using my quote - which was something pithy and erudite like "Next week is Sensible World of Soccer woot woot woot woot woot woot" etc.
So here, just to ease any suspicions you mat still have, is 100%, absolute, solid-gold, back-of-the-net confirmation that Sensible World of Soccer will be available on Wednesday for 800 MS Points.
"Sensible World of Soccer draws on the 96 / 97 original to re-create one of the most influential games of all time for the first time in HD. Challenge friends over Xbox LIVE, kick it solo in Career mode or flex your managerial muscles by leading a team to the Champions league! The game also features a helpful tutorial mode to bring players up to speed on the most popular sport in the world."
You should really check out the SWOS minisite on the UK edition of Xbox.com too - it's ace and there's a competition in there too.
Also available on Wednesday is the point-attack arcade classic Tempest for 400 MS Points:
"A true classic, “Tempest” is an intense shooter game requiring skill and lightning quick reflexes. Players must harness their firepower to shoot and destroy enemy hordes in a desperate fight for survival across fluorescent geometric battlefields. “Tempest” contains both the original and enhanced gameplay modes."
What a nice pair of early Christmas presents! Another Video Store UpdateJust wanted to let you know that the team has been continued to work hard over the weekend on Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, and any reported issues should be all but cleared up. If you do continue to have any problems please call your local Xbox support team and they’ll be delighted to help you out. Also, I’d love to hear your experiences of Video Store over the weekend – if you’ve been using it please let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Thanks again for all your patience and great feedback. It’s so helpful to everyone at Xbox when you tell us your experiences and thoughts, so keep ‘em coming! Fallout 3: Best Christmas Card Ever...But are they snowflakes or particles of radioactive dust?
 Fallout 3 - currently in development at Oblivion geniuses Bethesda - will be out in 2008 on Xbox 360. Merry Christmas! December 14 Marketplace Update - 14/12Hey! How are you getting on with the Video Store? I watched The Matrix the other night - I'd forgotten how good that film is, especially in HD - and I'm downloading Three Kings at the moment. I really want to see 300 in HD, but I have a suspicion that I'm getting it for my Christmas so I don't want to ruin that... Don't tell Santa I know...
This weekend Call of Duty 4 is getting it. Then I might move onto Ace Combat 6 or Mass Effect - isn't it ace when you're on the verge of a free weekend with plenty of time for gaming? December 13 Marketplace Update - 13/12Couple of brilliant demos available today - Frontline: Fuel of War and Burnout Paradise. Both demos are cracking so you should definitely check them out - and remember that the new edition of Inside Xbox is available on your Xbox LIVE blade now which points you towards all the best new Marketplace content.
Also available is the launch trailer for Kingdom Under Fire: Cricle of Doom. It's free and available everywhere. Inside Xbox - 13/12: New Edition Up!Well, we got there! Today marks the first full edition of Inside Xbox for the UK, and it's live now on your Xbox LIVE blade. Just click on the flashing icon and check it out - I'd love to hear what you think. If your icon is not flashing try running a network test to flush your cache.
Few of things to note:
As always, your feedback is HUGELY important - this is an ongoing process and we want to make Inside Xbox what you want it to be. Thanks! December 12 Video Store UpdateHi everyone - wanted to let you know that we're aware of the problems some of you are facing while trying to use the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, and also wanted to reassure you that we have a dedicated team working hard to fix these problems. Your response to the launch of the service has been amazing and we're doing our best to make sure the service is as smooth as you expect.
If you are having continued problems please get in touch with your local Xbox Customer Support, or head to www.Xbox.com/support for more information.
I also wanted to point out that all other aspects of Xbox LIVE like online gameplay are unaffected by these reported problems. Thanks for your patience! Marketplace Update - 12/12In all the excitement of the Video Store launch yesterday I clean forgot to mention that the Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack was finally available! It's 800 MS Points and features three new maps - Rat's Nest, Foundry and Standoff.
Also available today are two new XBLA games: Arcade racer GripShift (800 MS Points) and hack-and-slasher Arkadian Warriors (800 MS Points). More details here.
I was up a bit late last night, trying to finish CoD4. I LOVE that game, although I just about stuck a fork in my eye during the bit in Chernobyl as I was stuck behind the ferris wheel for ages. Now I'm stuck right at the end of the game - I did get to the control room once with time to spare but couldn't find the right computer to enter the codes! DOH!
Once I'm done with that it's on to Mass Effect... December 11 Getting An Error Message From Video Store?A few people have told me that they're getting an error message (Status Code: 8015000a) when they try to preview or download content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store. I've asked our support team about this - they know about it and it's being worked on. Here's the word:
"Xbox LIVE users may experience intermittent issues while attempting to access content on the Video Marketplace. This issue is currently under investigation and we apologize for the inconvenience."
Keep an eye on http://www.xbox.com/en-gb/support for the latest info. |
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