AceyBongos' Xbox Life: Xbox.com News

Win A Limited Edition Xbox 360 Console With Xbox.com

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:27:28 GMT

Nuff said really. It's black, it's got the GTAIV logo on the side, and it's slicker than a Liberty City sidewalk in a downpour.

Head to www.xbox.com/gtaiv/en-gb/competition/ to enter the competition - it's open to most European countries too, so try changing the 'en-gb' bit to your local language (for instance France would be 'fr-fr').

Thanks NakedAssassin for pointing out!

Release In Your With Ninja Gaiden II On Xbox.com

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:10:23 GMT

Ninja Gaiden II is slicing and dicing onto Xbox 360 on June 6 but it's never too early to start practicing your ninja moves. That's where Xbox.com comes in - if you head to www.Xbox.com/ninjagaiden2 (UK, FR, ES, IT and NL only) you can enter the NGII dojo to hone your skills and take on your friends in combat! The Release Your Wrath minigame lets you unleash ninja attacks on your mates and the coolest this is that as you defeat your foes you can collect a memento of your victory and show it off on a specially created screensaver, desktop wallpaper, social network widget or Facebook application!

It's pretty sweet, so go and take a look. If you want to challenge me my ninja name is AceyBongos - bring it on, but watch out for my Violent Wind attack. I had chilli for lunch.

World Cyber Games On Xbox.com US

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:34:17 GMT

Wanted to let you know that the US version of Xbox.com has some fantastic World Cyber Games content up, including photos and the videos that will feature on Inside Xbox later. Check it out here and let me know what you think!

New - Update Your Profile Details and Bio On My Xbox

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:38:16 GMT

Major Nelson brings the good news that you can now updae your Personal Profile details and Xbox LIVE Bio on My Xbox rather than just on the Dashboard. This makes things a lot easier - especially if you're planning to use all 499 characters for your Bio!

Just sign into My Xbox, go to Manage Profile, then head to Edit Personal Profile.

Are you using your Bio?

Create Your Own Halo Images - The Use Them On Your Website!

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:22:33 GMT

Isn't it ace when you find a really cool image for your profile pic on Spaces, Messenger or your Facebook, Bebo or MySpace page? And wouldn't it be even cooler if you could design your own, totally unique picture without having a degree in computer art?

Well, GUESS WHAT? Yes, I've set you up for the news that Xbox.com in the UK has launched a brilliant Halo 3 Image Creation Kit that lets you put together totally customised and personalised Halo images that you can then use on your website or computer. It's ace - you just drag the background you want onto the palette, add in some characters, then overlay some text if you want - so it'll be great for creating Clan logos and stuff like that.

Check out the Halo 3 Image Creation Kit here on Xbox.com UK. My effort is below

Behind the Scenes of the John 117 Monument

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:26:28 GMT

Hot on the heels of the Halo 3 diorama advert comes the John 117 Monument, an amazing look behind the scenes of how the diorama was created for the Museum of Humanity. Love it.

The John 117 Monument video is available now on Xbox.com.

Halo 3 TV Ad Live Now On Xbox.com

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:33:53 GMT

See the world premiere of the Halo 3 TV Ad - Diorama - now on www.Xbox.com across Europe.

Looks amazing, don't you think? Imagine the work that went into all those models... Here's some more details on how it was all put together:

"Every so often individuals are called upon to rise above themselves and act in a selfless manner – to help, to protect, to defend those in need. We call these people, who rise up in the face of great adversity, heroes. One such individual’s story is about to be told worldwide. On Sept. 25, “Halo 3’s” epic hero Master Chief will rise once again – he’ll face seemingly insurmountable odds with the entire fate of the galaxy riding on his shoulders.

In memory of this hero, and helping build to what promises to be the largest entertainment launch in history on Sept. 25, a series of dramatic and evocative communications elements, created by McCann San Francisco, T.A.G., AKQA, and Microsoft Global Marketing will offer a stirring look at the “Halo” universe and Master Chief.

The first of the films, entitled “Museum,” premieres today on www.xbox.com and provides consumers everywhere with a reason to “Believe” in the amazing stories and action within the Halo experience, bringing the epic battles to life in the style of a museum “diorama.”

Certain to catch the imagination of audiences around the globe, the ads are unlike any video game advertising ever created, and offer a powerful look at the world of “Halo”. Uniquely, the campaign experience does not focus on “Halo 3’s” graphics or gameplay, but instead looks at the themes that lie at the heart of the tale that spans the entire “Halo” trilogy: duty, sacrifice, and most importantly, heroism.

Through the eyes of celebrated Hollywood creature designer Stan Winston, known for his landmark work on Aliens and Jurassic Park;, as well as New Deal Studios, model creators for Spiderman 3, 300 and Superman Returns, and acclaimed director Rupert Sanders, people will experience a dramatic and moving look at mankind’s struggle against our future enemy, the fierce warrior force known as the Covenant.

The central element that much of the integrated marketing campaign centers on is a painstakingly accurate replication of a key moment from a climactic battle set in the "Halo" universe. At over 1200 square feet, reaching a height over 12 feet above the ground and with each handcrafted human and Covenant figure standing eight to twelve inches high, the diorama was large enough to fill an entire studio.

Filming the Experience

Shooting the campaign took several days as the individual soldier's stories were told, and as the camera spanned the landscape, finally resting on the mountain top where Master Chief appears to have been conquered by the Covenant enemy…or so it would seem. Viewers quickly realize that there is much more of the story that’s yet to be told – and the game will tell all.

The story of the diorama and the battle that day has been told through films that will be shown in 27 countries around the world on television, in cinema and on the web. But the Halo 3 experience is much larger than that, with future testimonial films depicting soldiers’ third-party accounts of their experience in the battles, and with the hero that is Master Chief.”

And remember that a making-of movie for the ad will go live on www.Xbox.com from 6pm UK time, 7pm CET. Let me know what you think of the ad!

Goal-Scoring Superstar Heroes Hit Xbox.com

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:46:30 GMT

Sensible World of Soccer is coming, and to get you in the mood Xbox.com UK has just launched an amazing SWOS portal complete with the legendary theme tunes and plenty of little blokes wearing footie kits. Check it out here.

No official release date for SWOS yet - will keep you posted!

Get Inside E3 With Xbox.com

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:25:30 GMT

Given that E3's in full swing now there's loads of great content popping up on www.Xbox.com. If you're in the UK, France or Germany you'll have your very own Xbox.com E3 page stuffed with news and features - enjoy!

And I don't normally point to the US Xbox.com, but they've got a big team out at the event and the content they're producing is great. Check out the barrage of videos and snazzy panoramic photographs here.

Finally, Major Nelson and the GamerScore Blog team are both out on the ground at E3, so swing by their blogs for the latest.

Xbox.com Gets a Makeover

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:16:43 GMT

Have you swung past www.Xbox.com today? You should, because it's looking good. The team have just pushed a makeover live and - while it's not a complete overhaul - it's a really nice start. The background looks a bit slicker and the navigation is much better.

This is just a small step in a long journey to make www.Xbox.com even better. Check it out and let us know what you think!

This Week on Xbox.com - Me Getting DiRTy...

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:41:03 GMT

For some reason they've decided to let me have a go on Xbox.com again, so this time I figured I'd get a bit filthy and wallow in the glory of Colin McRae DiRT. The game's out tomorrow (or today if you're on the mainland) so I've stuck up my impressions about why DiRT is definitely the grittiest racing game available on Xbox 360.

Check it out if you fancy it - click here to read my Colin McRae DiRT edition of This Week on Xbox.com.

Weirdly, I'm randomly wearing the same shirt today that I was when that photo of me on the homepage was taken. How's that for a coincidence?

This Week On Xbox.com: What's in Your Pile of Shame?

Fri, 04 May 2007 00:09:08 GMT

Look at that! It's me on Xbox.com again! Yup, I've been at my old This Week on Xbox.com tricks again, this time turning my attention to the dark little secret of all gamers: THE PILE OF SHAME!

You know you've got one - it's stacked with all those games you could have/would have/should have played but never got around to for one reason or another. And it probably has a few games that you played for a little bit but never finished, or never juiced all the GamerPoints out of, teetering around the top.

Thanks to word limits and other dull complications I could only manage to mention a few games currently residing in my Pile of Shame in the article, so I thought I would list the whole lot right here. It's like therapy - it'll make me feel better. You should do the same. Let's start the Pile of Shame Support Team (PiSST) a place where dirty secrets can be aired and shared.

I'll go first. My name is AceyBongos and I have a big Pile of Shame. This is it:

Dead Rising: Considering I love zombies more than anything except meerkats (zombie meerkats!) it's a crime I haven't played this more.
Battlefeld: Modern Combat: Struggled for ages to get the kill four people with one clip of a sniper rifle Achievement then surrendered.
Saints Row: Still got loads of Achievements to unlock, but it's hard.
Amped 3: Loads of powder left to carve through in this sleeper launch game.
GRAW 2: Love the multiplayer - haven't played it as much as I should. And since the single player is quite short I should really nail it.
Gears of War: Haven't finished it on Veteran or got the Dom Achievements. What kind of loser am I?
LEGO Star Wars 2: Played it once. Nuff said.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Sure, it's big, but I need to spend more time in Cyrodiil. And the Shivering Isles now too...
Burnout Revenge: Love Burnout, never played the Xbox 360 version. D'oh!
Virtua Tennis 3: Remember the Dreamcast version as if it was a hazy, carefree summer day. Got to get around to the Xbox 360 job.
Viva Pinata: Built a lovely garden. Filled it with lovely Pinata. Bonded with TraceyBongos over a videogame. Then ignored them all for months (except TraceyBongos, obv). They're probably all dead by now, hollow papier-mache husks littered across an overgrown wasteland. Sorry!
Boom Boom Rocket: Guitar Hero II distracted me from Bizarre's awesome rhythm action pumper. Forgive me!
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved: The most hardcore game on my list - took me ages to break the 1,000,000 million score barrier and I haven't really been back since. It pains me that I've never unlocked the 500,000 Points Without Dying Achievement.

When I look at that list I honestly wonder what I've been doing with my life.

Post your Pile of Shame in the comments below, and check out my This Week on Xbox.com column here (available in all European languages, thanks to my extreme linguistic skills (ie localisation))!

Thinking Outside The Xbox: Belgium's Amazing Custom Case Competition

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:01:46 GMT

YLA 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?

This Week On Xbox.com - Me! (And Halo 3)

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:03:49 GMT

PARP! That's the sound of me blowing my own trumpet. Yes, I'm back on Xbox.com again - you can read my latest This Week on Xbox.com column here, featuring all the exciting Halo-related things we've got to look forward to until Halo 3 is finally unleashed. Give it a read, if you fancy it. Honestly, you might like it!

Listen Up: Xbox Soundtracks Revealed

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:53:18 GMT

You'll be aware that some of the world's hottest musicians and snowboarders are currently doing their thing out at the Xbox Big Day Out in Val D'Isere, and last night we announced a program that will bring music and Xbox 360 even closer together. Pop superstars Scissor Sisters were at the event to announce that they have been inspired by Halo Wars to create a remix of their single 'She's My Man' and launch Xbox Soundtracks.

Over the next few months Xbox Soundtracks will bring you Xbox 360-inspired music from some of the world's biggest artists. But it's not just about musicians who already have recording deals - from May 1 any aspiring musicians from across Europe will be able to add their original music to a selection of Xbox 360 game trailers. We'll all be able to check these creations out and vote for our favourites, with the best combos from across Europe in with the chance to win studio time with Universal Music!

From the Xbox Soundtracks press release:

"The Xbox Soundtracks programme is about all creating music inspired by next-generation high definition games on the Xbox 360. Xbox is working with artists across Europe inspired by games to create new music to help find up and coming artists who have also been moved to create new tracks by games.

Xbox Soundtracks is also looking for up and coming artists to create their own music to a range of Xbox 360 trailers. Entrants to this competition will be able to download and score music to a range of Xbox 360 trailers when the consumer contest goes live in May this year. Aspiring musicians then simply have to upload their track and video back to the site where anyone can view and rate their efforts. The favourite track in each country will then win time in the studio with Universal Music, to lay down their track for real with the help of a professional production team. For more information visit www.xbox.com/music."

And I know what you're thinking - what do Scissor Sisters know about gaming? I thought the same thing, but turns out that they know their onions:

"Jake Shears, from the Scissor Sisters said “It’s such a cool project to be involved in. Babydaddy and I are massive gamers so it was a great experience reworking our mix to the Halo Wars game. I’m really looking forward to seeing some of the other tracks people create. The games on the Xbox 360 are so intense and emotional that they can be just as inspiring as sitting down and watching a movie.”"

They also talk about games in this Xbox Soundtracks announce video, which also includes other big names form the music industry like Dizzee Rascal, Fabio, The NME's Conor McNicholas, Bungie's Marty O'Donnell and Universal Music's Max Hole:

Video: Xbox Soundtracks: Announce Video

And check out the Halo Wars inspired remix of She's My Man put to the Halo Wars trailer here:

Video: Scissor Sisters: 'She's My Man' Halo Wars Remix Video

Crunchy!

You can get more information about Xbox Soundtracks and Xbox Big Day Out at Xbox.com, and remember that the Xbox Soundtracks competition opens across Europe on May 1.

I'm off to work on my ukelele skills...

Ready For a Big Day Out?

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:28:27 GMT

The biggest snowboarding and music blowout of the year has just kicked off in Val D'Isere, and Xbox is there to sponsor the event, put you in touch with some celebs in multiple Game With Fames, and generally make it even cooler. Check out www.XboxBigDayOut.com for all the details.

Making Sparks is out there on the scene and will be bringing you all the latest on Xbox.com (and possibly some snippets for me too!), including interviews with the stars and breaking news. In the meantime, you can visit Xbox.com's Big Day Out Game With Fame page to see how you can play against some of the world's top snowboarders and musicians over Xbox Live.

For the record, I am stuck in the office and definitely not enjoying the winter sunshine as I carve through some fresh powder. *Sniff*.

This Week On Xbox.com - Crackdown Special

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:41:03 GMT

Not that I'm one to blow my own trumpet or anything (PARP!), but if you head over to Xbox.com right now you'll be able to read the latest This Week On Xbox.com, penned by own fair hand. It's a Crackdown special since the game is out tomorrow, so if you're in Germany I'm afraid you won't have the 'pleasure' of reading my lovely words.

Click here to read the Crackdown Special Edition of This Week on Xbox.com.

Some other bloke's picture is on the page at the moment but I've thrown a suitably diva-ish strop about that. My weird cartoonified mug should be up there soon enough.

And remember that you can get loads more gang-banging goodness on Xbox.com's brilliant Crackdown page.

Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 4 Live NOW!

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:22:18 GMT

It's that time again - time for me to sneak inside your iPod, slither up your earphone wires and batter your eardrums with Episode 4 of the Xbox.com Audiocast! It sounds a bit sinister, but honestly it's absolutely fine.

In the special Crackdown launch week edition of the world famous Xbox.com Audiocast:

Phil Wilson, Producer at Realtime Worlds, on Crackdown.
Frank 'Frankie' O'Connor from Bungie on Halo: Past, present, future, Beta, and the rest.

No offal, no gristle, just lean, mean chat direct from the developers. Both the interviews are really good and Frankie in particularly has some VERY interesting things to say about Halo.

Unfortunately my language skills are restricted to English, Doric (Aberdonian) and a hybrid form of Central Scottish gabbing, so the Xbox.com Audiocast is only available on Xbox.com in the UK. If you want to download it and listen use the following link to go straight there:

Click here to download Episode 4 of the Xbox.com Audiocast!

There are back issues of the first three Episodes available on that page too, so have a dander at them too. Remember that you can also find the Audiocast in the Podcast section of the iTunes Store, and that you can subscribe to the feed there to so that you never miss out on a new Episode.

Right - here's the important bit: I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK! Please have a listen and then please, please let me know your thoughts. Be honest. I can take it. Th epoint is to make the Audiocast better and more in line with what you actually want to hear. You can stick a comment here so we can have a discussion, or drop me an email at AceyBongos@Aceybongos.com if you're shy.

Now go listen!

Live Life In High Definition on Xbox.com UK

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:43:33 GMT

I've been meaning to point you in the direction of this for ages, so if you haven't seen it - or if you want to find out more about how the power of Xbox 360 and high definition could change your life - check it out. It's called Life in High Definition and it's a beginner's guide to HD and how it will transform your home entertainment.

But most importantly, it's funny and looks cool. If only all education was like that...

Check out Life In High Definition on Xbox.com UK here.

Design Your Own Xbox Snowboard - And Then Win It!

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:36:51 GMT

Here's a cool competition that Xbox's Newsletter guru and my mate kingkatt has put together - it's your chance to design your own Xbox-themed snowboard, and then win it!

The competition isn't open yet, but if you want to get involved you need to be subscribed to the Xbox Newsletter. If you're not signed up already, head here to get exclusive Xbox 360 info and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox.

Don't forget that the Xbox Big Day Out music and snowboarding event kicks off in Val D'Isere next week. Check out the official Big Day Out website here for all the details and info on how you can play some of the world's hottest snowboarders over Xbox Live.

Xbox.com Goes Crackdown Crazy

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:08:53 GMT

Only five days to go until Crackdown fills your life with free-roaming, crime-fighting goodness, and Xbox.com is getting into the spirit of things with some top quality Crackdown content. Head to your local Xbox.com (not Germany) for a cool Crackdown game homepage containing videos, screenshots, an interview with the game's creator at Realtime Worlds Dave Jones, and a picture of the sticker you need to look out for to make sure you get your invite to the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta. Also, you'll soon be able to get an exclusive look at the Crackdown TV ad too.

Crackdown rules. I've juiced about 600 Points out of it now and I've loved every minute. 4-Star Agent, thanks very much!

Stuck For Valentine's Day Ideas?

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:31:33 GMT

Happy Valentine's Day! It's the one day of the year when you probably shouldn't totally ignore your significant other by picking up the joypad and zoning out, but that doesn't mean to say that Xbox 360 gaming can't be part of your amorous activities. Over on the the US version of Xbox.com they've taken this idea and run a marathon with it, offering advice on how to woo the love of your life using your Xbox 360.

On the Let's Play on Valentine's Day page TriXie and her Gamerchix pals have put together their thoughts on what you can and can't get away with on Valentine's Day, tips on how to get the woman in your life into Xbox 360 gaming, and there are loads of other fun articles musing on Valentine's Day gaming.

Bah. The whole thing's a commercial invention designed to make money anyway. I passed two card shops today and they were both HEAVING with numpties buying overpriced teddies and plastic flowers that play a bleepy version of "My Heart Will Go On". Think I'll stick to my love of GamerScore, thanks very much...

Ain't No Party Like an Xbox Live Party!

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 22:09:37 GMT

What are you doing on the evening of February 9? Whatever it is, cancel it, because you're invited to the biggest party on Earth - and it's all on Xbox Live!

The Xbox Live Party is a one night blowout with millions of gamers all across Europe getting together on Live to have the most sizzling soiree in history. Get your mates in, grab some joypads, and you could win some quality goodies or even party with some of the world's biggest celebrities. How about smack-talking hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes as you powerslide past him in PGR3? Or talking footie with Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero? There's a ton of celebrities taking part on the night, so this is sure to be the most star-studded bash since the big bang.

And if you want to make sure that your party is the envy of the millions of other gamers across Europe on February 9, why not enter Xbox.com's competition to have your party pimped? You and up to seven friends could be in with the chance of getting whisked away to an exclusive venue stuffed with Xbox 360s, HD screens, food, drink, and major celebs! If you win, remember to invite me. I'm free that night. I'm free all week actually. Doing anything this weekend? Fancy a pint?

There's also the chance to win an Xbox Live Vision Camera for nothing more than getting all your mates into a photo or dressing up like an eejit, and we'll have so many Game With Fames happening that your game lobby will need a red carpet!

Head to Xbox.com for all the details including how to enter our competitions and the full list of participating celebrities, and start planning your Xbox Live Party now!

As I said, I'm open to invites. I'll bring the crisps and some Asda Farm Stores Lager.

Hold the Presses! News and Features Section Launches on UK Xbox.com

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:06:38 GMT

Thirsty? Have a drink of water. Thirsty for news? Then head to the spanky new News and Features section on Xbox.com UK and slake away! This treasure trove of the latest announcements, impressions and interviews is now live on the UK site, complete with RSS feeds (as featured on AceyBongos.com!) so that you need never be disconnected with the Xbox.com experience.

Head to the News and Features section on the UK Xbox.com here. This section will be appearing on Xbox.com in other countries soon - I'll keep you posted.

And if you want to find the section on Xbox.com for yourself go to Games and then News and Features. Sweet news of life!

Find Lost Planet On Xbox.com and The Xbox Community Network!

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:19:59 GMT

Is it getting chilly in here? Or is it just that Capcom's sub-zero shooter Lost Planet is only a few days away from freezing your fingers to your Xbox 360 joypad?

Lost Planet is out across Europe at the end of this week and to celebrate Xbox.com and the Xbox Community Network have lowered the temperature with a blizzard of cool content. If you head to www.Xbox.com in the UK, France, Germany, Italy or Spain you'll come face to face with our amazing Lost Planet site takeover which not only looks sweet but harbours a ton of exclusive content like a hands-on feature, plenty of videos of the game in action, and downloadable wallpapers to cool down your desktop.

And if you want to chill your bones even further (I'm running out of cold references here) you should head to your local Xbox Community Network sites for loads more Lost Planet content, including an exclusive interview with the game's Producer Jun Takeuchi.

I'll stick up my impressions of Lost Planet in the next couple of days. BRRR!

Meet Xbox Dad!

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:30:35 GMT

Xbox 360 isn't just about hardcore gamers any more. Honest! It's about little kids and old people and whole families sitting together around the TV and playing games. And we've found proof!

Just in time for Christmas, the latest edition of This Week on Xbox.com is hosted by Xbox Dad - a game-loving bloke who has to fit his joypad sessions in amongst looking after his two sons and keeping his missus happy. Yikes! You should definitely get Achivements for that.

In his column, Xbox Dad looks at the troubles and joys of being an Xbox fan with a family. The bits about his kids loving Viva Pinata particularly warmed my cockles, but to be honest I'm glad there's not any other competition in my house for the joypad - especially now that TraceyBongos is a Pinata fiend.

Read Xbox Dad on Xbox.com here.

Right. I'm off to ask Xbox Dad for some pocket money and a lift to the youth club.

"Do you think we'll ever meet them?"

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:15:58 GMT

It's ready. No words are necessary. Get to Xbox.com now, watch the Halo 3 video, then let the dissection of every last juicy Halo 3 morsel begin...

Ready to See Master Chief As You've Never Seen Him Before?

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:22:23 GMT

Staying up late then? Got some strong coffee on the brew and some super-strength Gears of War to keep your adrenaline up?

Yup, it's Halo 3 night, and if you can make it through to 2.15am GMT (3.15am CET) without falling asleep on your wireless controller you'll be among the first people in the world to see the all-new and totally amazing Halo 3 TV advert. It's airing on Xbox.com in Europe at the same time as on US TV, so head to your local Xbox.com to prepare yourself for the big event at 2.15am on Tuesday morning.

On top of that your local Xbox Community Network websites will have a stack of new Halo 3 content, including a few things you might find extremely interesting...

Trust me, you won't be disappointed...

Listen Up: Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 3 Available Now On Xbox.com AND iTunes!

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:42:04 GMT

Open up your earholes and prepare to have them filled with gallons of fizzy Xbox 360 fun, because Episode 3 of the (not quite) world famous Xbox.com Audiocast is now available for your listening pleasure - and it's now on iTunes!

In Episode 3:

Gears of War Create a Nightmare Competition: I interview Russ Leach, one of the winners of the Create a Nightmare competition, to find out about his experience meeting Cliffy B and playing the game before anyone else. Lucky lad.
Call of Duty 3: I speak to Rich Farrelly from CoD3 developer Treyarch to find out why the series still has a lot of stories to tell.
Xbox 360 External HD-DVD Drive: Xbox Platform Marketing Manager and HD-DVD expert Harvey Lee confuses me with acronyms and technological terms, before explaining them all in lovely simple English.
Rainbow Six Vegas: Talking tangoes with J-P Cambiotti, the Lead Multiplayer Designer on Ubisoft's tactical shooter. Find out what happens if you try to scan your cat into the game here!

You can download the Audiocast - which this time weighs in at a packed 42 minutes in length and 30MB in width - direct from the UK Xbox.com now. Click here to head to Xbox.com UK and download the Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 3. Episodes 1 and 2 are still available if you're looking to complete your collection of me talking.

OR - if you have iTunes installed on your computer and want to make your life easier, you can now find the Xbox.com Audiocast in the Podcast section of the iTunes Store! Just head there and search for Xbox.com, then subscribe to the feed. That way every time we put up a new one it'll automatically be downloaded to your computer and synchronised with your portable music device if you have one set up. Imagine that! Even if you don't want me in your ears I'll automatically be there!

Give it a listen and please let me know what you think. We're still working hard to make the Audiocast what you want, so your feedback is greatly appreciated. Remember that you can also leave reviews for the Audiocast on iTunes - I think you could still be the first...

The Pinatas Are Here!

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 17:30:35 GMT

After the glory of the Xbox.com Gears of War takeover comes an altogether sweeter form of internet goodness - Viva Pinata has showered Xbox.com with a sugary coating of fun!

Not only does the Xbox.com homepage look cooler than a chocolate-coated ice cube, there's also a decicated Viva Pinata page stuffed with enough quality candy content to give you toothache for a year. You can read our hands-on verdict of the game, find out more about the Xbox 360's parental controls, and download Viva Pinata goodies like wallpapers.

But best of all, you can watch the Viva Pinata TV advert. It's so funny you'll possibly release a small squirt of widdle.

If that gets you all fired up you should then head over to the superb www.VivaPinataForum.com to chat about breeding Pinatas and garden maintenance to your heart's content.

Viva Pinata will be available on December 1, at which point it will beat you with a gameplay stick until you crack open and unleash your sugary funbugs.

Gears of War Invades Xbox.com

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 16:23:12 GMT

Emergence Day is only six days away and Xbox.com has already been invaded byt the Locust Horde. Busting out of the screen like the Locust Horde spilling forth from the bowels of Sera, the Gears of War Xbox.com Takeover not only looks awesome but is stuffed with enough Gears of War content to make your nipples hard.

There are screensavers and wallpapers to download, hands-on reports and an interview with Cliffy B to read, the Gears of War TV ad and trailer to watch, and much more. you can even buy the game if you haven't got your pre-order in yet!

Gear up for Emergence Day at www.Xbox.com now!

Score the New Pro Evo Ad - and More!

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:21:26 GMT

There's a superb new page up on Xbox.com in the UK that compiles all the latest Xbox adverts - including the new Pro Evo ad, Cops and Robbers, and some cool European ads - into one place. Stuff it all into your eyeballs here (UK link only).

Gears of War: Create a Nightmare Winners Up on Xbox.com

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:18:15 GMT

Hey! More Gears of War fun! Remember I told you about the Gears of War: Create a Nightmare competition winners and their amazing trip to Epic Studios? Well, I'm pleased to announce that their creations are now up for you to see on Xbox.com - if you've got the guts!

Click here to fill your eyes with horror and your mouth with sick - although this link will only work in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland (German). Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland (France) should be available tomorrow.

Which one is your favourite?

Xbox.com Downtime Thursday

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:22:24 GMT

Quick heads-up that Xbox.com won't be available from 8am tomorrow morning until around 12 noon (both GMT). This downtime applies to all countries. So if you need to do some My Xbox tinkering or want to catch up with the latest Xbox 360 news, make sure you do it before 8am.

The Xbox.com team sends its apologies for the inconvenience!

Gears of War Nightmare Winners Have Dream Weekend

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:26:12 GMT

While we were all dreaming about Gears of War this weekend a group of very lucky and extremely talented Europeans were experiencing it for real. That's right, the winners of our Gears of War: Create a Nightmare competition flew out to Epic Studios in North Carolina to last Thursday to play the game, meet Cliffy B and the rest of the development team, and live it up at the Xbox Gold Experience Party on Saturday night. Alright for some, eh?

I'm waiting on some photos coming through from the event and I'll get them up as soon as I can. Likewise, we're about to post the winning entries on Xbox.com so you can check out the winners' nipsy-clenching creations, and I'll let you know when it's ready to go.

As for Gears itself, only 232 hours until Europe is rocked by Emergence Day...

Scoring With This Week on Xbox.com

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:42:49 GMT

GET IN! I've hit the 'net like an Adriano thunderbolt with the latest This Week on Xbox.com. The Xbox team needed someone to speak about Pro Evolution Soccer 6 and FIFA 07 - both of which are out on Xbox 360 tomorrow - and since I'm the resident football crazy they had to settle for me. HOORAY!

Read all about the only next-gen versions of both games you'll play in Europe for months and learn more about the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world's biggest videogame football tournament powered by Xbox 360. It's got more bite than Jermain Defoe, fnarr.

Click here to read the latest This Week on Xbox.com and let me know what you think. Only one day to go - my weekend is pretty much written off for non-stop Xbox Live footie fun, possibly going into extra time in the early hours of Monday morning...

And I'm still not sure about that picture of me. What's with the big nose? And do I really look that old? My cartoon age must be about 73.

My Xbox and Xbox.com Forums Back to Life

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:28:54 GMT

Morning! Quick heads-up to let you now that My Xbox and the Xbox.com forums are back from their little holiday, feeling fresh as daisies. Everything is pretty much back to normal now, so enjoy!

Xbox.com Back in Business

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:08:31 GMT

Good news - Xbox.com is back online. My Xbox and the forums are still offline while the final touches are, er, touched, but stick with us and it'll all be back to normal soon.

I've heard that some people are having problems with Xbox Live too but the team is working as hard as possible to ensure everything's plain sailing as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience!

XBox Live/Xbox.com Downtime Update

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:10:28 GMT

Just a quickie to let you know that Xbox.com and Xbox Live are still down for maintenance. Rest assured that everyone involved is working their cotton socks off, and it turns out that there will be a cool new addition on Xbox.com...

I'll fill you in on that the minute the service comes back online.

Xbox Live/Xbox.com Downtime Reminder

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:45:53 GMT

Lots of reminders tonight - I feel like I'm yer mum or something. So, just to remind you that Xbox Live and Xbox.com will be down for maintenance and upgrades tomorrow morning from 0700 GMT to Wednesday morning at 0700 GMT - or thereabouts.

It's all for the best so just chill out and rack up some Achievements so your GamerScore is inflated when you sign back in on Wednesday.

More info here.

This Week on Xbox.com - Going Undercover with Splinter Cell

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:30:44 GMT

How are you getting on with the Splinter Cell Double Agent Multiplayer demo? If you didn't know, it's available for free download on Xbox Live Marketplace now, letting you live out your espionage fantasies until the full game comes out in Europe on October 20.

If you've been enjoying the sneaky action then you'll be pleased to hear that Xbox.com editor Making Sparks has gone undercover with the finished version of the game and has filed his top secret report in this week's This Week on Xbox.com. He's got the lowdown on the new features in the single-player game as well as some impressions of the refined multiplayer modes.

Check out the latest This Week on Xbox.com on the UK site here, or head to your local Xbox.com for your localised version.

Create A Nightmare and Win a VIP Trip to See Gears of War at Epic!

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:33:22 GMT

As promised, there's a Gears of War competition live on Xbox.com now that offers you the opoortunity to win a VIP trip to Epic Studios in the USA to meet Cliffy B, play the game before anyone else and generally act like a big dog.

All you need to do is create your own nightmare creature inspired by the Locust Horde and send it to Xbox.com. You can get some inspiration by downloading the Gears of War Locust Horde Theme from Marketplace - it's free, it's available now, and it's exclusive to Xbox Live Gold members in Europe!

The competition is available on Xbox.com in the UK, Ireland, France, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

Click here for all the details on the Gears of War: Create a Nightmare competition (UK link)!

Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 2 LIVE!

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:00:34 GMT

Gird your loins and grease your ears, because Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 2 presented by yours truly is now live on UK Xbox.com! It's a bumper X06 special recorded at the event in Barcelona and features interviews with some of the biggest names in the Xbox universe!

Xbox.com Audiocast Episode 2 Contents:

X06 News Round-Up
OXM360 UK Editor Steve Brown Interview
Global Xbox Boss Peter Moore Interview
Xbox Community Network VIG Mirik Smit Interview
Xbox Team Roundtable - Mark Maslowicz and Mike Newey Interview

It's 31 minutes long, 10.9MB wide and free for you, my friend.

You can download the Audiocast at our new Xbox.com Audiocast archive page, and don't forget to let me know what you think. While you're there, check out the Leipzig one too...

Rumblings of a Gears of War Competition

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:25:04 GMT

Seen the competition to win a trip to Gears of War developer Epic Studios that's running in the US and Canada? I've noticed a lot of people getting upset because it's not open to gamers outside of those countries.

My tip? Don't get too upset... Stay tuned for more.

This Week on Xbox.com - X06 Redux

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 18:50:09 GMT

Another week, another This Week on Xbox.com - and this one is extra special. With X06 slowly fading into history Xbox.com Europe Editor Making Sparks decided to round up some of the biggest and most influential names in the Xbox team (and me, but someone had to make up the numbers) and ask them what stood out for them at the show.

It's a great read - check out the This Week on Xbox.com X06 Special here (UK link). The photos are quality. I especially like the one of Chris Lewis. Look for the mysterious man in black lurking in the background. What's he up to? Shifty...

You know, I think I'm only just catching up on my sleep from X06. On the Wednesday night I got two hours kip - ROCK AND ROLL!

Get The Latest Direct To Your Space With Our X06 Hot News Gadget!

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:36:05 GMT

There’s so much news fizzing out of X06 that keeping track of it all should be an 100 point Achievement in itself, but we’ve just made it easier by launching the X06 Hot News Gadget for Windows Live Spaces! It automatically pulls all the latest X06 stories from Xbox.com and displays them right there on your Space! You can check it out for yourself here on AceyBongos, and if you want to add it to your Space it’s as easy as clicking the button below!

Click the button below to add the X06 Hot News Gadget to your Space.

[note: you will be taken to a new page, follow the on screen instructions, you may need to log into your own space]

And it won’t just be around for X06 – we’ll be updating this Gadget so that it continues to bring you all the hottest Xbox news stories from here on in! Don’t hang about – ride the announcement avalanche by adding the X06 Hot News Gadget to your Space now!

X06 At Your Fingertips on Xbox.com

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 02:07:42 GMT

With all the big X06 announcements coming out of X06 it's hard to keep on top of them all. Luckily, Xbox.com has a chocka line-up of fresh X06 news stories to give you all the info you need on our dedicated X06 page. Check it out at www.Xbox.com.

Watch Cops and Robbers on Xbox.com

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:25:48 GMT

Have you had the chance to se Cops and Robbers yet? It's the latest television and cinema advert for Xbox 360 in Europe and the Xbox Community Network had the exclusive first showing of it over last weekend. Now you can see it on Xbox.com before it's even on the TV in most countries!

Click here to watch Xbox Cops and Robbers on Xbox.com.

You'll notice the url is a little familiar - it's the same numerical code I kept dropping last week as a hint. If you listen closely to the advert you'll hear it's the numbers counted by the character at the end.

Live X06 Press Conference on Xbox.com

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:52:59 GMT

What's the difference between GMT, BST and CEST? About two hours, although it's taken me most of the day to work it out!

We've realised that some of the timing information for Xbox.com's LIVE video coverage of the X06 press conference tomorrow night has been a little confusing, so to make it totally clear here's the time you need to settle down in front of your computer:

If you're in the UK (BST): 6pm

If you're in Central Europe (CEST): 7pm

If you're in Eastern Europe (EET): 8pm

And if you want it in GMT it's 5pm, but that's just confusing.

I really hope that helps, because I'd hate anyone to miss the chance to see some of the biggest Xbox announcements ever being made LIVE on Xbox.com. For more information check Xbox.com's X06 section here, and remember to get online in plenty of time tomorrow night!

For the record, I blame the farmers for all this confusion.

Tokyo Games Show Says Sayonara

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:21:59 GMT

The Tokyo Games Show is coming to a close for another year, but it doesn't need to be over yet - if you head over to Xbox.com's Tokyo Games Show page you can get a cracking round-up of all the big Xbox 360 announcements including 1080p, the Japanese price for the HD-DVD, an in-depth look at Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's Xbox 360 exclusive Blue Dragon (which was wowing the punters all weekend, with queues of up to 90 minutes just to see it!) and a cool interview with the ex-editor of Famitsu Xbox 360, Japan's biggest Xbox 360 games magazine.

And don't be too upset - X06 starts on Wednesday!