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April 30 Xbox Live Arcade Hat Trick: Catan, Centipede and Millipede!First two Xbox Live Arcade games at once, and now three! This Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday you'll have a triple threat choice of new games to play: The strategy classic Catan, and Atari's legendary arcade games Centipede and Millipede! Catan will be priced at 800 MS Points, while Centipede and Millipede will come together in one download for only 400 MS Points. That's an old-school bargain if ever I've seen one. All three will be available for download across Europe from 9am GMT on Wednesday May 2.
No disrespect to Centipede and Millipede, but it's Catan that I'm most excited about. An adaptation of a board game that is apparently huge all across mainland Europe and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, Catan sees you founding a new settlement on an uncharted land, then vying for resources and territory with your opponents. Up to four players will be able to screw each other over thanks to Xbox Live, and the creator of the borad game himself has been personally overseeing the AI to make sure it's just as Machiavelian as a human. Plus (PLUS!), Catan is developed by Big Huge Games and Brian Reynolds, who happens to be the bloke who designed two of the best strategy game EVAH: Civilization 2 and Rise of Nations.
I'm already addicted. Here are the details from the press release:
"Catan for Xbox LIVE Arcade puts players in the role of colonists on a newly discovered island, where they vie for control of valuable territory and resources through strategy and trading. The game can be learned in just minutes, but will challenge players of all skill levels, even the experts!
Klaus Teuber, creator of the original Settlers of Catan board game, had this to say about the collaboration with Big Huge Games: "I had no doubts that Brian Reynolds would do a great job, and the first version of the game exceeded my highest expectations. The AI is so clever that I even lost several games in a row! Hands down, this game for Xbox LIVE Arcade is an amazing achievement.
Catan Game Features:
You can also get more info at Big Huge Games' official Catan website - www.CatanLive.com.
Then there's the creepy-crawlie coin-op fun of Centipede and Millipede:
"The classic version of “Centipede” challenges gamers to defend their villages against an onslaught of centipedes, spiders, army ants and more. Xbox LIVE Arcade gamers will also have access to an “Evolved” version which features pre-rendered, high definition graphics, special effects like motion blur, trails and particle-based explosions that make this classic as enjoyable today as it was in the arcade decades ago.
In “Millipede,” the primary challenge is to obliterate chains of arthropods that creep down from the top of the screen. Scattered mushrooms are the gamers’ main tool to shoot, destroy and redirect the menacing millipedes. “Millipede” also offers Xbox LIVE Arcade gamers an “Evolved” version of this coin-op classic.
“Centipede” and “Millipede” Game Features
Screens for Catan, Centipede and Millipede below and in the Gallery, and they'll be available from Wednesday at 9am
GMT. April 29 Hands-On With the Text Input Device - And the Spring UpdateLet's be honest - sending text messages to your friends through your Xbox 360 isn't the easiest thing to do with a joypad. And if you do plug in a USB keyboard it just makes the place look a bit untidy. I know most people just resort to using My Xbox on Xbox.com to send messages, shuttling between their Xbox and PC.
No longer. You'll remember that we announced the Text Input Device (or TID, both of which are just working titles and likely to be replaced by something altogether more fancypants) a few weeks back with details of the Spring Dashboard Update, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one for the first time the other week.
In case you haven't seen one, this is what it looks like:
And this is how it connects onto the Xbox 360 controller:
When I saw the first photographs of the TID my initial thoughts were a: It might unbalance the controller a bit by making it bottom heavy, and b: It might upset my sensitive gaming digits by forcing them out of the position they normally assume when I'm holding the pad. While that would give me plenty of excuses for not getting to the top of the Gyruss high score charts, it wouldn't really help anyone.
However, I was wrong on both counts. Doesn't happen often, but hey. Once the TID has been attached to the bottom of your controller (wired or wireless, doesn't matter, and it connects via the headphone port - more on that in a bit) it's pretty stealthy in terms of its presence - until you look down to see all those lovely buttons. In terms of weight it adds only a little (didn't actually weigh it, although that would have been the scientific thing to do) and you don't really notice the different. As for your fingers, it doesn't really change the way you hold the pad. The bottom is nice and sculpted to keep the original linesof the controller, and unless you grip the controller like some kind of freak (or maybe have a few extra fingers) you'll probably be quite happy.
Observe the controller with attached TID being held by my glamorous hand model Indy Saha, who neither holds it like a freak or has any extra appendages (that I know of): 
Next on my list of worries was how the buttons on the TID would feel, and how easy it would be to tap out a message while holding the pad. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. The buttons are small and tidy, but they have a nice tangible click as you type and since the whole keyboard (which is QWERTY by the way, rather than the kind of text pad a mobile phone uses) is quite compact, you don't have to stretch your digits to nail the space bar or type words like QUARANTINE or PORTALOO or SASQUATCH. The keyboard also has all the features you'd expect from a regular keyboard like SHIFT, CAPS LOCK and so on, and there are two secondary function keys that open up all sorts of weird and wonderful characters so you can send elaborate smileys to your mates.
So, if you're an inquisitive type you'll be thinking, "How many meerkats would it need to take down an elephant?" Yes, it troubles me too. But you might also be wondering "If the TID plugs in where my headset goes, where does the headset go once the TID's in?" Well, it goes in the hole in the bottom of the TID. Easy. It's a slightly different jack so you'll need a new headset, but thankfully it comes bundled with the TID. I haven't seen it, but apparently it's the same as the one you know and love except for the jack.
MESSENGER IN A BOTTLE (OR A SPRING UPDATE)
Of course, when you combine the TID with the forthcoming Spring Dashboard Update (due in May), you really put the chat amongst the pigeons (pun copyright Alan Partridge 1994). That's because Messenger is coming to Xbox! Hooray! That means there'll be even more of your mates showing up on your Messenger list when you're trying to do some work! Basically, your Messenger list will be merged with your Xbox Live Friends list. You'll still be limited to 100 Xbox Live Friends, but you'll be able to see the status of up to 600 Messenger contacts on your Xbox 360. And you can message any of them, at any time, from Xbox 360 or PC. There's no escape!
I had a wee play around with an Xbox 360 that is testing the Spring Update out, and the Messenger stuff is really cool. You can open up a blade to have a Messenger chat with one or more of your friends - like Messenger on PC, you can have multiple people in the same chat. Or - and this is the best bit - if you press the Messenger button on your TID a little overlay sits at the bottom of the screen. It doesn't pause the game you're playing or interupt anything, and since the TID can be used while you're gaming you could conceivably enjoy a text chat while exploring Oblivion or pacifying Pacific City. Here's an example of how it looks, featuring a chirpy chat between two Xboxers you might recognise:
UP THE UPDATE
I also had a snoop into some of the other additions of the Spring Update. I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say about them so I'll keep it short and if I suddenly disappear, don't forget about me. Keep the dream alive. So, first up is the new Marketplace blade. It sits to the left of the Xbox Live blade (the one that you're on when you start your Xbox 360) and means you can navigate straight to the content you want. Yup, that means there will now be five blades, but Dashboard Themes won't need an extra picture from now on - the Marketplace blade won't take on your Dash Theme. The navigation under the Marketplace blade is now much easier to use, but the best bit is a new one-button (I think it's Y) shortcut back to Marketplace home. Dunno if it annoys you, but I hate having to B my way out of all those menus.
Couple of other cool things I saw - you now get a synopsis of your GamerPoints and Achievements when you look at your played games. The Arcade section is much easier to use and gives you more options. And there are some new audio/visual options for you AV heads. No doubt there'll be more info on all this soon and I'll bring you the full list of all updates when I can.
Right. The Spring Dashboard Update will hit Live in May and you can read more about it here. The Text Input Device will be available later this summer, and there's no word yet on how much it will cost. I've stuck some more pictures below and in the Gallery, and if you want to ask any questions type them into the comments box using your fingers. Laters :) I Am Guitar Hero!At work on Friday my Xbox team had an all-day meeting in a stifling hot room that was more like a tropical hothouse than an office (glass windows + sun = sweaty pits and tired mind). But it was worth it, because we knew when the meeting wrapped up we were all going to play Guitar Hero II on a ridiculously big projector screen with the volume turned up to 11. Rock and/or roll!
The idea was to have a straight knockout competition on the Pro Face-Off mode. Rock god moves and pouty posturing would get you bonus points with the crowd, but at the end of the day (song) the highest score went through to the next round. I'll give you one guess who won...
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME! Not sure if I'm prouder of anything else in my life. Honestly, as I was scraping through the quarters and semis against strong opposition I was absolutely crapping myself - and when I won those face-offs I was literally shaking with adrenlaine. What a stupidly brilliant game it really is.
When the final came around I was matched up against my mate big mo diggity, another GHII fanatic. Obviously, the only choice was Free Bird at the Henge. It will be discussed in the history of rock for ever more. There were shimmies. There were struts. There were back-to-backs. There was a horrible moment when I pulled my guitar out of the Xbox as I tried to show off to the crowd. But the show must go on, and it did. In the end I nicked it from mo by about 10,000 points, and the guitar glory was mine.
Although, I do think mo diggity topped me for sheer rock and roll extravagance. Since he had scootered into town he needed to strap his guitar to his backpack, making him look like a thrash metal He-Man. On a scooter:
Funnily enough, I'm still waiting for my groupies to turn up and the record company to start ringing... US Says 'Ello to Elite
The US has just woken up to a new Xbox 360 - and this time, it's back in black. Yup, the Xbox 360 Elite console went on sale in the US today, bringing a whole new world of black console, HDMI port and 120GB hard drive to the Xbox experience. Yowzer, that little monkey would definitely look nice nestling under my black Samsung HDTV... Here's the details from the US media alert:
"Shellacked in black with metallic detail, the ultimate console features a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, HDMI and component cables, Xbox LIVE® headset, and an Xbox 360 wireless controller. For a great estimated retail price of $479.99 (U.S.), Xbox 360 Elite offers extensive storage room for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE, the number one online distributor of high-definition television and feature film content.
For existing Xbox 360 owners looking for greater storage capacity, the 120GB hard drive will also be sold as a stand-alone accessory for a suggested retail price of $179.99 (U.S.). Coordinating Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 wireless controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately as well."
I know, I know. That's all good and well, but when do we Europeans get our hands on one? And for that matter, when is Video Marketplace coming out over here? Well, I can exclusively reveal... nah - you didn't think it would be that easy, did you?
The situation at the moment is that while we'd love to have the Elite console (and Video Marketplace) available in Europe right now, it's simply not possible for a bunch of reasons. Some of them are dull, some of them are frustrating, but they're all, unfortunately, valid. When I spoke to Mike Newey, Xbox Europe's Platform Marketing Manager, a few weeks back at the Elite announcement, he told me:
"While I know it’s not much comfort for European Xbox 360 fans, we’re introducing the Xbox 360 Elite console into North America first because there is already a large base of Xbox LIVE customers there who are already downloading HD games and entertainment. Because of that it makes more sense for us to introduce the Elite console in the US before Europe. That said, we know that gamers in Europe and around the world will be desperate to get their hands on the Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories. I wish I had better news for you, but all I can tell you right now is that we’re working very hard to bring the Elite console and accessories to Europe as soon as we can, and I’d like to thank European Xbox 360 fans for their patience and support."
Unfortunately, that's all there is to say at the moment. I can't wait until I'm able to bring you more news on this, so thanks for your patience - and your enthusiasm to keep telling us what you want!
Enjoy Elite Day, America!
EDIT: Just noticed that GamerScore Blog has a brilliant Q&A about the Elite and the 120GB HD. An interesting read - check it out. Marketplace Update - 29/4Ahoy hoy! Been away from the blog for a couple of days in meetings/in the sunshine, so sorry for the radio silence. Here's what I've missed on Marketplace...
Anyone picked up Tetris Evolution? Snuck up on me, but now it's out I quite fancy it - especially as it's only £19.99. Think TraceyBongos might even get into it. Haven't heard anything about it though... April 26 Forza 2 Turns Ignition on June 8Right. As soon as I get home tonight I'm going to set up my gaming corner so that it resembles (loosely, mind) the interior of a Lamborghini Gallardo, then make myself a papier mache crash helmet. Why? Because we've just announced the offical launch date for Forza Motorsport 2 in Europe: June 8.
From the press release:
"The second game within this driving franchise provides you with even more choices, right through from the selection of 300+ cars to the new and improved customisation levels that allows you to express your creative flair to make your car really stand out on the track. By using the upgrades garage and new-and-improved Livery editor, gamers will have more freedom than ever to create and personalise their favourite rides and make them truly unique.
Game Director Dan Greenawalt says, “The added horsepower of Xbox 360 has allowed us to redefine what it means to be a racing simulator with Forza Motorsport 2. We’ve turned mountains of real world raw data into a living, breathing simulator where the only difference between the game and reality is that you’re racing from the comfort and safety of your living room.” So whether you are into your Porsches or your Peugeots, your Bentleys or your Beemer’s, Forza Motorsport 2 has everything you could possibly want from a top racing game! So speed on down to the shops today and pre-order your copy!" Can-not-wait. Need to sort myself out with a force feedback wireless wheel before this little monkey hits. Marketplace Update - 26/4: Marvel Ultimate AllianceSMACK! KER-POW! Those were just some of the comic book noises that are emanating from Marketplace today as the eagerly-awaited Marvel Ultimate Alliance Heroes and Villains packs go live. Full details on the downloads below, and you can get more info and screenshots of the new characters at the Marvel Ultimate Alliance website.
Marketplace Update - Gears of War COG Tags VideosIf you haven't tracked down all the COG Tags in Gears of War these videos might be a sound investment - there's GamerPoints in them thar hills! Each one costs 100 MS Points and is available in all Xbox Live regions except Germany.
April 25 Thinking Outside The Xbox: Belgium's Amazing Custom Case CompetitionYLA G, Xbox.com moderator and member of the Belgium Xbox Elite Team, got in touch with me yesterday to tell me about a brilliant competition Xbox has been running in Belgium. It's a custom case compo, with entrants submitting their dream Xbox 360 console design. And, clearly, some of those dreams were pretty far out there...
YLA G's brilliant Need for Speed: Carbon design has reached the final shortlist. CRUNCH!:
And some of the entries are just plain mental:
But, obviously, this one's my favourite. Wonder if they do it in Boyd tartan?
You can see all of the finalists and vote for your favourite at Xbox.com Belgium. Give YLA G a vote, will ya? You can also swing by his Space to read more about his entry.
Which one do you like most? Eets Chowdown Problem FixedFor the benefit of those of you who get your Bongos via RSS:
This problem has now been fixed. Eets has been re-uploaded to Marketplace and you should be able to download both the trial and full version without any trouble. If you had already downloaded the full version just re-download the new version over the top of it, or if you've deleted your original version you should be able to download the new version without paying again. Does that make sense? Basically, re-download it. It'll work!
Thanks for all your feedback on this and letting us know about your problems. As always, when you tell us what's wrong it helps fix the problem sooner! UPDATED: Eets Chowdown Problem - Read This If You've Downloaded It/Plan to Download ItUPDATE NOTE: This problem has now been fixed. Eets has been re-uploaded to Marketplace and you should be able to download both the trial and full version without any trouble. If you had already downloaded the full version just re-download the new version over the top of it, or if you've deleted your original version you should be able to download the new version without paying again. Does that make sense? Basically, re-download it. It'll work!
Thanks for all your feedback on this and letting us know about your problems. As always, when you tell us what's wrong it helps fix the problem sooner!
ORIGINAL POST: I've just been speaking to the Marketplace team and it has come to our attention that there's an issue with Eets Chowdown, one of today's new Xbox Live Arcade game. We're investigating the problem now and it should be fixed soon, but in the meantime the team is going to pull both the trial game and the full download from Marketplace.
Should be able to update you on this soon. Sorry for the hassle and thanks for your patience! Eets Chowdown and Pinball FX Out Now!It's Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday! On the menu today are Pinball FX and Eets Chowdown. They're both live now, they both cost 800 MS Points, and there's info and screens for both here. Actually, screens at this link.
Definitely getting Pinball FX. Fancy myself as a bit of a pinball wizard like. I'll be checking high scores obsessively once I get it... Major Nelson Tries Out Halo 2 On Games For Windows LiveStill a bit confused about how Games For Windows Live will actually work? Me too, but Major Nelson has put together a great little blog post about his experiences firing up Halo 2 on PC for the first time, logging into Live, and then doing all the things we know and love on Xbox Live through his PC. Makes the whole thing a lot clearer.
The Major unlocked his first Halo 2 Achievement (Cairo Station for 30 GP - click here for a full list of Halo 2 PC's Achievements courtesy of Achieve360Points.com), connected his wireless Xbox 360 controller and headset to his PC, had a voice-chat with someone on his Live friends list who was playing Gears on Xbox 360, and all manner of other exciting cross-platform trickery.
Halo 2 will launch on PC on May 18. To play it on Games For Windows Live you'll need to have Windows Vista installed on your machine. I haven't had a chance to play it unfortunately, and even if I do get my hands on a copy I think my laptop would take one look at it, cough up some circuit boards, and then collapse. April 24 Marketplace Update - 24/7: Command & Conquer 3 ContentStill loving the C&C3 demo. Can't wait for the full game to hit on May 11...
Might need to get back on Live tonight and cane the multiplayer in the demo a bit more. Pains me when I know I can't unlock any Achievements though... April 23 UPDATED: All Your European Xbox Warranty and Repair Questions Answered (Hopefully!)Recently I've been getting a lot of questions from people asking what the deal is with Xbox 360 repairs in Europe and what kind of warranty you get for your repaired console. I've also seen quite a lot of confused or just plain wrong information on forums and message boards, so I thought it would be worth finding out exactly what's going on with Xbox 360 repairs and warranties.
I've had a chat with the Xbox Support team, and as it turns out we've just introduced a new repair and warranty procedure for Europe. The (hopefully) easily digestible version is: From now on we're giving you a new 12 month warranty on a repaired console if you pay to have it repaired after your warranty has expired. The repair cost is 105 Euro + tax or the GBP equivalent. However, if your console’s warranty has not expired when you get your console repaired you will get a new 90-day warranty or the remainder of your existing warranty - depending on which one is longer.
Check out the Q&A below for more details on how this might affect you. But remember - this policy is only applicable in Europe and is different from the policy in the US. Certain aspects of the US policy are not applicable in Europe, and vice versa.
Q: What is the current situation with warranties on repaired Xbox 360 consoles?
A: Xbox now has a new post-service warranty, which is applicable as of now. If we repair your Xbox 360 within the original warranty period, you will receive either the balance of your original warranty, or 90 days, whichever is longer.
If we repair your Xbox 360 after the warranty period has expired, while you will be responsible for the repair costs (105 Euro + tax), your repaired console will be returned to you with a new, one year repair warranty.
Q: What if I sent you my Xbox 360 for repair a few months ago – how is my warranty affected?
A: If your console was out of warranty and you paid for the repair, under the old policy you would have received a 90 day warranty on that repair. However, we have automatically increased all warranties on out of warranty repairs carried out before the new policy came into force to 12 months.
Therefore, if you paid to have your out-of-warranty console repaired a few months ago, you will now have a 12 month warranty on the repairs starting from when you received the repaired console. You don’t have to do anything to activate this – our systems will do it automatically.
Q: I have heard that there's an extended warranty program in place for Xbox 360 launch consoles in the US - does this apply to Europe?
A: There is no such extended warranty on console in EMEA. In North America last year, as part of our standard and ongoing process of analyzing repair data, we noticed a higher than usual number of units coming in for repair. Upon further investigation, it was further discovered that the bulk of the units were isolated to a group that was part of the initial manufacturing run of the console. Returns for repair were coming in for a variety of reasons and it was a higher rate than we were satisfied with. We made the decision to comp repairs for consoles manufactured before January 1 2006 in North America for a limited time, and provide refunds to the small group of customers who have already paid for repairs. Europe was not impacted.
Hope that helps and makes sense. If you have any more specific questions stick them into the comments below and I'll try to get them answered, but I can't guarantee anything.
IMPORTANT EDIT: The North American support team has been in touch with me to clarify one point - the policy of covering repairs for consoles manufactured before January 1 2006 in North America was a limited time policy, and no longer applies unless there are special circumstances. Here's the word:
"For a limited time, Microsoft offered to repair consoles that were manufactured before January 1, 2006. At the outset of the repair period, Microsoft stated that this was for a limited time only. At this time, Microsoft is no longer performing free of charge repairs for all consoles manufactured before January 1, 2006. The only exclusions to this would be consoles that are still within their warranty period or for customers who have Service Contracts in place." Pinball FX and Eets Chowdown ScreensScreens, as promised, for Wednesday's Xbox Live Arcade games Pinball FX and Eets Chowdown. Both games will be 800 MS Points and you can get all the good details here.
I've stuck 'em in the Gallery too if you fancy seeing them bigger. Another 2 XBLA Games This Week: Pinball FX and Eets ChowdownPlenty more choice for you on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday - we're launching another two Arcade games, Pinball FX and Eets Chowdown! Pinball FX is a (guess?) pinabll game with three huge tables, flipper-flippingly realistic ball physics, 4-player Xbox Live multiplayer and the opportunity to control the flippers using your Xbox Live Vision Camera. I've given it a shot and if like me you used to pump the coins into pinball machines it'll definitely bring back some happy memories.
And Eets Chowdown is a 2D puzzle game that recalls games like Lemmings. You use a selection of mental animals to manipulate your Eet through the levels and make it scoff all the food. One of the guys in the Xbox office described it to me today as "good because it makes you use your brain," which normally isn't too much of a recommendation, but in this case I think it's a winner.
Both games will hit Marketplace at 9am GMT on Wednesday and both will be priced 800 MS Points.
Details on Pinball FX from the press release:
"Zen Studios’ new “Pinball FX” offers a unique pinball experience for novice and expert gamers. It combines the arcade thrills of traditional pinball with enhanced gameplay and exciting, innovative features not found in any other pinball game. Gamers may control the flippers with their hand or arm motions using the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera or simply use the standard Xbox 360 controller. Pinball FX sets a new standard for realistic ball physics and graphical detail in pinball video games.
“Pinball FX” Game Features
And here's the lowdown on Eets Chowdown: "“Eets: Chowdown” from Klei Entertainment Inc. is a visual feast for the eyes and a treat for the brain, combining 2D puzzle game elements with a surreal sense of humor. Gamers must use colourful and whacky items like spouting Prankster Whales, vengeful Marshomechs, Radioactive Ginseng and more to manipulate Eets’ emotions and safely guide it through myriad hazards to each level's exit. “Eets: Chowdown” offers a slew of new items, 120 levels and the exclusive debut of Marsho Madness, a high-adrenaline action game in which players must keep the impending evil marshmallows at bay. “Eets: Chowdown” Game Features
Sorry, but I don't have screenshots for these games yet. Maybe tomorrow. Remember they're both out on Wednesday at 9am for 800 MS Points, or you can download the trial versions for free. Guitar Hero 2: 100% on Expert?I've been keeping a lookout for videos of ridiculous Guitar Hero 2 skills, and it looks like they're starting to appear. Check out this effort from YouTuber wulFE79, a 100% demolition of My Chemical Romance's DEAD! on Expert. Apparently it's one of the game's easier Expert songs, but still...
Actually, I've just checked his YouTube profile and he's got loads of Expert videos up there! LEGEND!
WOAH! Just checked his Xbox Live account and it turns out he has 5 stars in every Expert song, and I've heard he might actually be number one on the leaderboard. This bloke is my hero... His GamerTag is the same as his YouTube account, wuLFe79. Beautiful Katamari Rolls Onto Xbox 360You might have heard the rumours or seen the news break over the weekend, but it turns out that Namco's happier-than-a-cat-in-a-hammock Katamari series is finally coming to Xbox 360! If you've never tried the game out before, you basically play a tiny alien who lands on Earth and must roll around using the analogue sticks, gathering up objects to grow his stature until he's eventually gobbling up cruise ships, volcanos, and whole continents. It's not especially realistic (!), but it is an amazing laugh. The Xbox 360 version will also have Xbox Live multiplayer, which is great news if you ever played the split-screen mode on the PS2 version.
Here are the details on the Xbox 360 version from Namco's press release.
"The newest installment in the insanely popular and highly captivating Katamari series will be rolling into the next generation world with Katamari-style quirky and unique high-definition graphics, an unforgettable new soundtrack, and a new online multiplayer feature that will have old and new players alike spinning when the title hits store shelves.
Experience the new high-definition, next generation sights and sounds of Beautiful Katamari™ as the Prince takes on a new high-rolling adventure, with his famous cousins in tow, to save the Katamari universe once again after the King of All Cosmos has a very un-royal and unfortunate accident…As usual, the King of All Cosmos demands the service of his son, the Prince, to roll anything and everything up into massive clumps and set things right, bringing harmony once again to the Katamari Cosmos.
Take the Prince for a spin in astounding 720p next-gen graphics, that stay true to the quirky yet captivating art direction the series is known for, but glistening with a new coat of paint in high-definition, as the Prince is tasked to roll up bizarre objects in brand new environments. To keep his son inspired, the King of All Cosmos will provide another fresh and memorable soundtrack that will have players moving and grooving to the beat as they roll through the absurd, yet wonderful world of Beautiful Katamari.
One is a lonely number, but thankfully the Prince can humbly ask the aid of over 50 of his cousins to get the ball rolling through his quest. The cousins have discovered new games to play since last time out, and love to compete with friends in multiplayer Katamari rolling games either together or online over Xbox Live®. The Prince and his cousins’ online adventure won’t end there as a variety of future downloadable content will become available, continuing to expand on the amazing world of Beautiful Katamari, long after the game has launched. More online features will be rolled out at a later date."
Looking forward to this. Beautiful Katamari will be available on Xbox 360 later this year. Let me know if you have any favourite Katamari memories - I'm a big fan of the original game's intro song. "GO GO KATAMARI, DO YOUR BEST!"
Marketplace Update - 23/4: Bullet Witch SpecialStacks of Bullet Witch content today. Remember, if you want to check out what Alicia's new outfits look like (or just want to perv over some tasty pictures of a virtual fittie) you can click here.
Good work on the Bullet Witch pricing Atari! |
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