AceyBongos' Xbox Life: August, 2008

AceyBongos's profileAceyBongos' Xbox LifePhotosBlogListsMore

Tools

Help

<< First < Previous Next > Last >>

August 31

New Xbox.com UK Community Section

It's been a long time coming, but we've just launched the brand spanking new Community section on Xbox.com UK! There's plenty to check out - we've got a raft of new downloadable wallpapers from games like Fable 2 and Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, our all-new XCN Site of the Month section which will feature a hot XCN site each month, our Gamer of the Month section which turns the spotlight on an important member of the Xbox community, and a new online archive for the greatest hits from Inside Xbox!

We're testing the new section out in the UK first and we'll look to roll it out in other European countries soon. Your feedback is not only welcome but requested - I'd love to hear what you think!

Check the new Xbox.com Community Section out at www.Xbox.com/en-GB/community.

Marketplace Update - 31/8

Well, it's happened again. I got a copy of Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise late last week and TraceyBongos is hooked as bad as she was last time. The good thing with TIP though is that with the new co-op mode we can actually play it together, and that means I can take over every time she's doing my nut by not being able to see a Pinata or move the camera properly! We're really enjoying it - it's not especially different from the first game, but all the additions are positive, all the annoying wee things have been fixed, and all the stuff you had to tolerate to enjoy the experience in the first game has been patched up. I really hope it sells better than the original - I really believe it's one of the most under-rated and criminally ignored games in history...

It probably helps that we're playing on my new 37" Samsung LCD, which I finally got on Saturday after a heartbreaking original delivery on Thursday morning - I opened the box to find a deep 12" scratch right in the middle of the screen! Is there a sadder and more painful sight in the world than an LCD screen with a big scratch in it? Anyway, it's amazing, especially when I've got Sky HD on, which is probably the best thing I've ever seen in my life. I honestly love it. I find myself watching stuff I'm not even interested in just because my eyes are so intoxicated, and the footie in HD is just... beautiful. Happy, happy days...

I haven't forgotten about the green controller giveaway - I'll post about the winner tomorrow, thanks for all your entries! I've had a lot of fun reading them. And just so you know in advance, I'm all over the place this coming week so there probably won't be that many posts. As always, Major Nelson has your Marketplace needs covered.

Oh, and thanks to those of you who have voted for my Xbox Gig, Sleazy Does It! If you fancy organising your own gig and being in with the chance to win £50k to host it, visit www.XboxMyGig.com.

The Jace Hall Show - Episode 13 - SEASON 1 FINALE!: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Locksley Pack [Track Pack]: 240 MS Points and available everywhere
Rock Band - Locksley "She Does" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere
Rock Band - Locksley "Don't Make Me Wait" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere
Rock Band - Locksley "All Over Again" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere

Locksley are an unsigned band making big waves in the US, apparently.

One other thing - how tough is the Wax Off Achievement in Geo Wars 2? It's driving me mental...

August 28

Marketplace Update - 28/8

So Castle Crashers is amazing too - it's been a cracking few weeks for Arcade, and it's sod's law that I'm off Xbox LIVE at the moment so I can't play any of the games properly at home! Should be back on this weekend. Loads of interesting things up today, including a stack of free videos from the Way Out West music festival.

Battlefield- Bad Company Snake Eyes Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Battlefield- Bad Company Bad World Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Battlefield- Bad Company Rainbow Sprinkles Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
FIFA 09 Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
NHL 09 EA Sports Hockey League Video Game Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
NFL Head Coach 09 Demo: Free and available everywhere.
Infinite Undiscovery Picture Pack B (Female Cast): 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Shred Nebula - HD Shred Nebula Gameplay Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Xbox Tent w/ The Goonies at Bonnaroo: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Tegan & Sara at Bonnaroo: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Les Claypool at Bonnaroo: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West Overview video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West Four Tet video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West Henry Fiat's Open Sore video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West Jose Gonzalez video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West The Buzzcocks video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West The Dodos video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West The High Hats video: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Way Out West The Sonics video: Free and available everywhere.

August 27

Marketplace Update - 27/8

Castle Crashers is your XBLA game today, 1200 MS Points for the full thing or you can try it out for free.

Disruptive Art: Serenity Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Disruptive Art: Glass Fusion Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Tanya Gamerpics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Tanya Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Soul Calibur IV Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Top Spin 3 Attitude Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Castle Crashers - The Cyclops Picture Pack: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Castle Crashers - Knight Picture Pack: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Castle Crashers - Theme Pack 1: Free and available everywhere.

August 26

Marketplace Update - 26/8

Good morning! Hope you had a good long weekend if you live in the UK - I was finishing up getting the house sorted out so not much time for Xbox, but everything's almost in place now so I can get back to chasing that 25k Gamerscore.

Team Fortress 2 - Meet the Sniper Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
TNA iMPACT! Head to Head Trailer #2: Free and available everywhere.
Tiger 09 Bay Hill Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.

EDIT: Removed the Rock Band Rush album PDLC as it is not available today as planned. Apologies.

August 22

New Green Xbox 360 Controller - Win One to Try Out!

If you've been keeping up with the news coming out of Leipzig this week you'll have heard the reports of a new green Xbox 360 controller spotted in the wilds of Konami's booth. You may also have heard that it has an enhanced D-pad, that has been developed in line with community feedback in order to offer an improved experience for gamers who like to use the D-pad for games like PES and Street Fighter.

In fact, the pad has been specially optimised for use with PES2009, hence the reason Konami was using it on their booth to demo the new game. The pad itself is a limited edition that will be available soon, and the reason it's green is that the community has requested this colour more than any other! Apparently it is easy being green, Kermit obviously didn't know what he was on about.

More pics down in the Gallery. It's really nice too - I know because I've got one sitting right here on my desk, and I used it to play PES2009 last week. Since I'm an old-school PS2 PES fan I always used the D-pad to play the game before it came to Xbox 360, and I'll be honest and say that it took me AGES to get used to using the stick on the Xbox 360 version. So the new D-pad was pretty special for me - it feels a lot more connected, a lot more reactive, and less clicky-clacky - you can change directions more quickly and combine movements in a much more fluid way. Good work, D-pad development fellas!

In fact, I like it so much that I'm going to give it away. If you love it, set it free and all that. So, if you would like to try out the new green controller for yourself all you need to do is send me an email to AceyBongos@AceyBongos.com with 'I WANNA GREEN CONTROLLER' in the subject line telling me why you think you're the ideal person to test out the new D-pad. Be funny. Be daft. Be scientific. But be interesting, because I'll pick the reason that intrigues me the most - and then I'll ask you to write me a short review of what you think of the controller and I'll post it on the blog.

Couple of rules: This is open to anyone in Europe only. My decision, which will be made on Friday September 29, is final. And I'll delete all your emails as soon as I've picked a winner - they won't be stored or used for anything else.

Don't say I'm not good to you...

The New Lara Croft is Alison Carroll...

And she's got some pretty nifty moves...

Tomb Raider Underworld hits Xbox 360 in November.

August 21

Marketplace Update - 21/8

Good day for demos today - check out The Force Unleashed AND NHL 2K9 for free! Also, if you're as good as this bloke at Through The Fire and Flames from GH3 then you should definitely chek out the Dragonforce Track Pack - serious turbo-charged noodling for true fret masters.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo: Free and available everywhere.
Star Wars The Force Unleashed The Apprentice Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Star Wars The Force Unleashed Characters of TFU 1 Gamer Pics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Star Wars The Force Unleashed Characters of TFU 2 Gamer Pics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
NHL 2K9 Marketplace Demo: Free and available everywhere.
Midnight Club LA Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Vidzone - Armin van Buuren - Shivers: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - Feeder - Buck Rogers: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - Freemasons - When You Touch Me: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - Lightspeed - Midnight: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - Go Team - Bottle Rockets: 200 MS Points and available in the UK and Ireland.
Vidzone - Go Team - Milk Crisis: 200 MS Points and available in the UK and Ireland.
Vidzone - The Kills - No WOW: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - The Kills - Love is a Deserter: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - The Kills - The Good Ones: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Vidzone - The Kills - Last Day of Magic: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Infinite Undiscovery Picture Pack A: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Infinite Undiscovery Theme A: 150 MS POints and available everywhere.
Guitar Hero 3 Dragonforce Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Guitar Hero 3 Dragonforce Track Pack: 500 MS points and available everywhere.

August 20

Marketplace Update - 20/8

Another cracking XBLA game today to keep up the heat during Summer of Arcade - Galaga Legions is a turbo-charged and amphetamine-soaked upgrade to the classic shooter created by the same team that worked their magic on Pac-Man Championship Edition. It's available now for 800 MS Points or you can get the trail version for free.

And you can also get this wee lot:

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Talent Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Talent Gamerpics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
FaceBreaker Audition Video #1: Free and available everywhere.

Still haven't got my Xbox hooked up properly at the new house but will get it sorted over the next couple of days. Should be back online next week too - sorted that out last night and I'm well excited because I'm getting Sky HD! Can't wait...

August 19

Marketplace Update - 19/8

It's fair to say my posting has been a bit erratic lately, sorry about that. But I have good reason! You know I was on holiday and things have been well busy since I got back, and then I decided to move house this past weekend! Good things: New house is ace and I'm turning the spare bedroom into an Xbox gaming den. Bad things: I'll be without broadband and Xbox LIVE until I get it hooked up...

Quick Marketplace update - I'm sure I'll find the time to write something (anything) different at some point soon. Just not from home!

Too Human Gamer Themes Set 6 - Concept 1: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Too Human Gamer Themes Set 5 - Classes: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Too Human Video Diary #5: Free and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Duran Duran “Rio"[Track]: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Duran Duran “Girls on Film"[Track]: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Devo “Through Being Cool"[Track]: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Devo “Girl U Want"[Track]: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - The Janitors “Get Your Rock On"[Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Star Wars: The Force unleashed Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
ConsolAT Ep4 Video ConsolAT: Free and only available in Austria.
Summer of Music Metallica, Minus The Bear and Against Me! at Bonnaroo Video Summer of Music: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music The Raconteurs and The Sword at Bonnaroo Video Summer of Music: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Death Cab For Cutie and O.A.R. at Bonnaroo Video Summer of Music: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Mastodon at Bonnaroo Video Summer of Music: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music My Morning Jacket and Widespread Panic at Bonnaroo Video Summer of Music: Free and available everywhere.
Summer of Music Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, Money Mark, Stephen Marley and Zach Gill at Bonnaroo: Free and available everywhere.

August 14

Marketplace Update - 14/8

So yesterday I mentioned that there was a stack of Tiger Woods 09 content up on Marketplace - turns out there isn't. Well, there is, but it's hidden for the moment until the game comes out on August 29. It's all in-game stuff anyway so you're not missing anything until you have the game. Sorry for the confusion!

HOWEVER! As of now you can download a Tiger Woods 09 demo, so if you're jonesing for some clubbing then you will get a fix.

Also available today:

Dead Space Animated Comic #4: Free and available everywhere except Germany.
Dead Space Dev Diary #5: Horror: Free and available everywhere except Germany.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Gemma Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
SBK08 Demo: Free and available everywhere.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 Demo: Free and available everywhere.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 Course Pack: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Radio Soulwax - Any Minute Now Music Video: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.
Radio Soulwax - Conversation Intercom Music Video: 200 MS Points and available everywhere.

August 13

Marketplace Update - 13/8

Another quick update, sorry, really struggling to get back into the flow of things! Remember that your Xbox LIVE Arcade games today are Bionic Commando Rearmed (800 MS Points) and the Fable 2 Pub Games (800 MS Points). You get three pub games for your money and when you buy Fable 2 you'll be able to transfer over money and objects that you earn in the game. Pretty sweet!

Couple of things to note - the Marvel Ultimate Alliance content has been available everywhere else for ages but has just become available in Austria and Switzerland. And there's also loads of Tiger Woods 09 content gone up (too much to list out!) and a demo goes live tomorrow, so swing by there if you're interested.

Battlefield Bad Company - Conquest Mode Trailer: Trailer for the new multiplayer Battlefield mode that you can download now for free. Free and available everywhere.
Disruptive Art: Fracture Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Disruptive Art: Think Pink Theme: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Theme 1: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Theme 2: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Theme 3: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Theme 4: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Evolution Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
Bionic Commando Rearmed Gamer Pics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
Fable II Pub Games Xbox LIVE Registration Gamer Picture: Free and available everywhere.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Playable Hero/Villain Pack Combo Deal: 800 MS Points and available in Austria and Switzerland.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Playable Hero Pack: 500 MS Points and available in Austria and Switzerland.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Playable Villain Pack: 500 MS Points and available in Austria and Switzerland.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Playable Character Teaser Pack: Free and available in Austria and Switzerland.
Soul Calibur IV Customization Equipment 2: 200 MS Points and available everywhere. Apparently lets you turn your characters into a maid (?).

11:13 AM | Add a comment | Read comments (13) | Permalink | Blog it

August 12

Marketplace Update - 12/8

HELLO! Back from hols, had an ace time! Sorry I couldn't get on yesterday, I got back to an inbox bursting with emails and straight into loads of meetings... I'll post a proper update later but int he meantime here's the latest Rock Band content going live today. It's all proper heavy and you can bhuy the tracks singly or compiled in the Roadrunner Pack. MEEP MEEP!

Rock Band - Roadrunner Pack 01 [Track Pack]: 480 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Megadeth "Sleepwalker" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Machine Head "Aesthetics of Hate" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Killswitch Engage "My Curse" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Dream Theater "Constant Motion" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - DevilDriver "Clouds over California" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
Rock Band - Airbourne "Runnin' Wild" [Track]: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.

And thanks to everyone who posted updates while I was away!