AceyBongos' Xbox Life: Xbox Peripherals

Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player - Further Price Drop

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:27:06 GMT

After Toshiba's decision to withdraw from the HD-DVD format and the statement from Xbox that I posted yesterday, I thought you'd like to know that from today the estimated retail price for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive will be only 49.99 Euro or £39.99. We won't be manufacturing any more and retailers will only be selling the stock they have, so if you want one at this ridiculously low price get your skates on. You will still be able to receive support and service for your HD-DVD drive.

At that price it's a bit of a bargain - there are currently over 500 HD-DVD movies available and there are plenty still scheduled for release in the coming weeks. To be honest I'm looking forward to building my collection if and when retailers start dropping prices on the flicks themselves...

Xbox's Latest HD-DVD Statement

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:58:32 GMT

I'm sure you've heard plenty about the HD-DVD situation over the past week. To clarify things from Xbox's point of view, GamerScore Blog has posted a new statement:

"As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market.

As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own."

Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive Offers Even Greater Value

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:05:57 GMT

If you love movies then you’ll want to enjoy them in crystal clear HD – and for that you’ll need the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. The good news is that it’s now even better value than ever, as we’ve lowered the price in Europe from 179.99 Euro to 99.99 Euro (or if you’re in the UK, £114.99 to £74.99).

I just picked one up for myself and I’m well excited, especially because I’ve got the HD-DVD Heroes boxset and the new Bladerunner Final Cut version to watch. Good work, affordable high definition drive!

Wireless Steering Wheel European Price Drop

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:38:30 GMT

In case you haven't noticed, we've dropped the price of the wireless steering wheel in Europe from 129 Euro to 99 Euro. not sure exactly how this affects the price in the UK but I'll get confirmation tomorrow.

If you haven't tried the wireless wheel I can highly recommend it - it's particularly cool when twinned with Forza 2, and at this price it's a bit of a bargain.

Xbox 360 Controller Enlists in the British Army

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:31:57 GMT

This is funny - I was watching one of those British Army recruitment adverts last night and spotted an Xbox 360 controller on the front line! The advert is all about a Lance Bombardier piloting a UAV - an unmanned airborne reconnaisance vehicle like the ones you get to use in GRAW - to give British infantry troops cover, and he's using an Xbox 360 controller to fly the thing!

Check the advert out here at the Army's ArmyJobs website - it's the third filmstrip from the left. Beat that, PS3 controller!

Reminds me that I posted some photos a while back of the US Army trialling a new unmanned recon vehicle that would accompany infantry troops on urban operation - and they were using the Xbox controller too. Good to know that it's obviously of such high standard that people entrust lives to it - but I think I'll stick to PES...

How Do I Get a 120GB HDD Transfer Cable?

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:29:14 GMT

It’s Friday, August 24, and that means that the Xbox 360 Elite console is now finally available in Europe. I know lots of you are planning to upgrade your existing console to a slick new Elite, and I’ve been getting loads of questions about how you’ll be able to get a hold of the transfer lead that lets you move all the content on your current 20GB hard drive to its cavernous new home on the 120GB Elite.

Well, here’s the answer. Once you get your Elite you’ll be able to download a form from Xbox.com which you then fill in with your details and your new console’s serial number. Then you put that in an envelope and send it to us, at which point we send you the wire.

Easy! Sort of. One little problem at the moment is that while the form is available on Xbox.com in the UK, it’s not yet up on Xbox.com in any other European country. The team are working double-time to get this done and it should be ready very soon. Apologies for the delay!

BUT: if you definitely can’t wait and you can read English, then you can always just download the English language version from Xbox.com UK, fill that in, and send it to us. This will work fine since the wires are being held centrally, so you’d be sending your form to the same place anyway.

If that’s not an option you could call your local Xbox Support Team and they’ll be able to help you. Contact details are on your local Xbox.com.

I’m told the process of moving your data is easy-peasy and the transfer cable itself comes with instructions. And don’t forget that until you get a wire you can always stick your 20GB HDD onto the Elite console...

Now, the only thing you have to worry about is how to fill up 120GB of space...

Important Wireless Racing Wheel Info

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:21:26 GMT

Take a good read of this if, like me, you've got an Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel:

"MICROSOFT TO PROVIDE RETROFIT FOR XBOX 360 WIRELESS RACING WHEEL

Action is Precautionary and Voluntary Following Reports of Component Malfunction

August 23rd 2007 – Microsoft Corporation announced today the company is taking a precautionary measure and voluntarily providing customers with a free retrofit to the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel.

The action is being taken after Microsoft was informed of a very small number of incidents of a malfunction in the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel, where a component in the Wheel chassis may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel. There have been no reported incidences of fire, personal injury or property damage due to the component failure in the Wheel.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should stop using the AC-DC power supply until they have obtained their retrofit. Owners may continue to operate the Wheel using battery power.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should visit www.xbox.com/support or call your local Microsoft Support Centre to register for the free retrofit and protect against the potential hazard described above. Instructions, if necessary, will be provided with the retrofit. We are notifying and will be coordinating our response activities with the relevant regulatory agencies such as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. This may impact delivery dates."

US HD-DVD Drive Price Drop - What Do You Think?

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:20:03 GMT

The US announced a price drop for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive today - it'll be dropping from $199 to $179. Even better, purchasers will be able to choose 5 free HD-DVD movies from a selection of 15, courtesy of Toshiba.

Read the full announcement and press release on GamerScore Blog.

At the moment there are no plans for a similar price cut in Europe, but I'm interested to know what you think of this cut and the 5 free movies offer? I don't own the HD-DVD drive myself but I think I'd definitely be tempted by this kind of deal.

So, do you own an Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive, and if not, what would it take to make you buy one? Within reason, obv...