Word Has It: Bungie splitting from Microsoft

It seems a very Crazy Rumor has been spreading all over the internet. What is the Rumor? Bungie is leaving Microsoft Game Studios. Microsoft is staying very tight lipped about this rumor. I don’t know the logistics of the Bungie/Microsoft contract but this could be just an internet rumor which has snowballed into MEGATON news. We’ll keep you updated.

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-

Will the Next Xbox be more like the Wii?

After months of high sales on games like Gears, 10 million 360’s sold in a little over a year, and the over hyped, over the top release of Halo 3 you would wonder why I am writing a post with such a title. It would seem as though everything was fine in Xbox land. Although I have been feeling this coming on for a while. It all started with Diddy Kong racing on DS, a game that you would expect to be coming to DS but not developed by a company owned by Microsoft. They made some money out of this Mario Kart clone but it only wet the appetite of the software giant.

Viva Pinata, an exclusive that has been framed as the franchise to win the little ones to the white concave box called Xbox 360, flopped with the kiddies but was a sleeper hit with the hardcore. Now it has been announced for the DS and is rumored to hit the Wii. Although the main focus is a control scheme everyone can use. If Viva on DS or Wii sells what will become of the next Xbox?

You may not understand my concern but lets play with some numbers. This summer was set to be that time when the Xbox team makes some money. They had lowered the cost to make the 360 and it was making them money with each console sold; but Microsoft had to eat a 1 billion dollar hit because of Red Rings and is fighting a class action suit over scratched disk’s due to faulty hardware. Halo 3 is set to stop this money bleed by selling games and consoles a like. But what will do it for Microsoft next year? We need games that will sell hardware to make it to J. Allard’s 1 billion units (I think the 360 will only hit 40 million at the most). Reality is sinking in though and it bites. The Wii is selling to people who don’t play games, which is who both Microsoft and Sony want to hit.

So, will the next Xbox be basically the same box but with a radically new controller? Casual games are the future, and if Microsoft doesn’t accept this then they will be left behind as the industry moves forward. Although I don’t think any gamer wants underpowered consoles with simple casual games your mom will play (except the 10 million that have been buying the Wii and are grabbing them the day they arrive).

-Matthew “Webnet” Moore-

World in Conflict Delayed to 2008

According to a report on Team Xbox; Sierra has announced that the Xbox 360 version of World in Conflict has been delayed to 2008. Originally scheduled for a November 13th release it now has a more distant release.

If you were one of those gamers that thoroughly enjoyed Command and Conquer 3, another real time console strategy game; this will certainly not disappoint. It is interesting how developers are able to bring RTS’s to consoles.

Jereme “Restless Devil” Puik

Tetris Splash to grace XBLA this Wednesday

Tetris Splash is up next on tap for Xbox Live Arcade this week. If you didn’t bite on Tetris Evolution, then you’ll have another chance to pick up another form of Tetris this Wednesday (10-3-07) for 800 points.

[Via Major Nelson]

-William “thewilleffect” Bell- 

Duke Nukem Forever already out, who knew?

Some have finished the fight, some haven’t quite finished it yet, and some are just plain sick of just hearing about it. No matter which way you fall, nostalgic fan’s of wanting to chew bubble gum only to find out that your all out it will certainly get a chuckle out of this comic from God Mode Online.

It turns out that Bungie got the ending all wrong. You sly 3D Realms dogs!

[Via God Mode]

-William “thewilleffect” Bell-

Falcon Xbox 360’s coming to the rescue? About Time!

The Bird The Falcon has landed. Updated Xbox 360’s named “Falcons” which include 65 NM CPU’s are finally hitting stores. These Falcon systems will supposedly not break down the same way as every other Xbox 360 which was priorly released on the market. It’s good to see that for the 2 year anniversary launch some of these Falcons will be released in stores. You see Microsoft rushed to release the Xbox 360 in 2005 but with their 1 Billion Dollar Plan to fix Xbox 360’s and now these Falcon systems Microsoft is putting bandages on the wounds.

[Via Engadget]

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-

Thrillville: Off the Rails Demo

Thrillville: Off the Rails demo is now available on the marketplace as reported by Major Nelson.

Content: Thrillville: Off the Rails Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+) FANTASY VIOLENCE,MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Download the demo.

[via: Major Nelson]

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Some gold skull goodness

If you’re still searching for those gold skulls after finally beating Halo 3 on Legendary, this might give you some help. Here is a video showing you exactly where all 9(Fixed) gold skulls are and their effects on the game. Pretty interesting I must say, considering there are videos that show you each one individually and this is something that has everything nicely wrapped into the one video. Enjoy.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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