Archive All consoles;
Banned Xbox Live Users Class Action Investigation
19th November 2009 - Abington IP, a law firm specialising in consumer class actions posted this on their website
[QUOTE]
An investigation is currently being conducted regarding business practices of Microsoft with respect to its recent cancellation of certain modified Xbox consoles for use with Xbox Live.
As has been reported widely in the media, tens of thousands of Xbox owners have had their modified Xbox consoles banned from Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live. Although modification of Xbox consoles is against the terms of use for Xbox/Xbox Live, Microsoft "conveniently" timed the Xbox console ban to occur just after the release of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game and less than two months after the release of the very popular Halo 3: ODST game. This "convenient" timing may have resulted in more Xbox Live subscription revenues for Microsoft than it would have generated had these Xbox console bans taken place at some time before the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3: ODST. Additionally, sales of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (published by Activision) and Halo 3: ODST (published by Microsoft Game Studios) would likely have been greatly diminished had the Xbox console ban occurred prior to the release of these games.
If you are an Xbox Live subscriber, had your modified Xbox console banned from Xbox Live, were not refunded a prorated sum for the time left on your subscription, and would like to participate in a class action against Microsoft, please submit your information below.
[/QUOTE]
See the full story at abingtonlaw.com
Rumour: Insider says MS Plans to Ban 1M Console
11th November 2009 - From pinoycosplay.blogspot.com: QUOTE A conversation with a friend who works for a call center that handles an Xbox 360 account has yielded a disturbing truth: Microsoft has started its annual Xbox Live banning spree and it has disabled 600,000 accounts so far in the US and Canada.
The target of the banning spree are mainly people who have modified their consoles to play pirated games. My trusty source says that they have been given instructions to push for a million banned accounts by the time the holidays are over.
"Our office has gone to hell," says the source. "People have been calling in around the clock and most of them are screaming teen-agers who don't understand the terms of use that comes with the console they bought."
There you have it. If you're a big Mininova fan like GamerTotoy, stay away from Xbox Live until after Christmas to continue playing online. QUOTE
Note: This is just a rumour and there's no real way to check or confirm this kinda information. But it points out an interesting discussion, how many consoles do you think MS banned? The site claims 600k are banned already just in US and CA. If we know MS sold about 19M consoles in that region to-date it would mean they already banned about 3.16% of their user-base ...
MS could also be up to there old tricks in getting some new sales with the banned consoles.. Just a thought. It is funny though how the ban wave is always just before Christmas - Good timing M/S.
Microsoft Confirms LIVE Console Ban Wave to IGN
31st October 2009 - As of last night Microsoft has started on with the banning of Xbox consoles they believe are modded and users have been playing pirated or modified games online. This has been confirmed in an interview with IGN. Quote "We have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs," a Microsoft spokesperson told IGN. "In line with our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community, we are suspending these modded consoles from Xbox LIVE."
Microsoft also added this is a standing policy and isn't tied to any specific time-frame.
iXtreme v1.61 FW for Samsung and BenQ Drives
A new version (v1.61) of the iXtreme DVD Firmware for both Samsung and BenQ DVD drives has been released. A Lite-on version is still in development and will be released later (NO ETA).
so to play all the new Wave 4 games this is the firmware you will need and its just been released.
Xbox LIVE BanHammer for Playing Forza 3 Early
It looks like Microsoft started banning users from Xbox LIVE for playing leaked versions of Forza 3 early. Every now and then Microsoft puts out the BanHammer from playing leaked games and it will certainly not be the last time. For now it seems to be an Account BAN and not a Console BAN so you could logg in with another account on the same console. This is a bit different from what M/S has done in the past with the console being banned and not the account.
Here a quote of the email sent to banned users from MS:
[QUOTE]
Notification of Permanent Suspension: Pre-release title play
This email is to notify you that your Xbox LIVE account privileges have been permanently suspended due to illegitimate pre-release title play.
Your conduct was brought to the attention of the LIVE Enforcement Team through the course of our operation of the service. The LIVE Enforcement Team has reviewed the complaints and other evidence regarding this content and determined it violates the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and/or Code of Conduct. Because your conduct is in violation, the Xbox LIVE Enforcement Team has enacted this permanent suspension against your gamertag.
During your suspension, you will not be able to log into Xbox LIVE. Your Xbox LIVE privileges will not be reinstated.
Customer Support is not able to modify or provide any further details about your suspension.
Microsoft expects that all customers abide by the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct provides guidelines for appropriate behavior while using the service.
[/QUOTE]
Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Public Beta Coming This Month
7th October 2009- [QUOTE]
The next Xbox 360 dashboard update, which will include Facebook, Twitter and Last.FM integration, is going into public beta later this month, according to a Microsoft representative at today's Microsoft Open House event in New York City.
Jennifer Puzio-Brookes, an Entertainment Manager for Xbox, showed off the update in a behind-closed-doors session, and it seemed to include all of the major features promised in Microsoft's E3 press conference. Puzio-Brookes mentioned that a public beta will be released "middle-towards-end of October."
[/QUOTE]
Hitler gets banned from Xbox live
Must have played some pre-releases on live. Just had to share this.
New PSP Hacked Firmware
2nd October 2009 - Looks like its time to leave the old M33 based firmware for the PSP and move on to XGen 5.50.
As most of you PSP owners know by now the recent games have not been working on the 5.00M33 firmware due to the games needing to install the updates of 5.50 and higher. With M33 not being updated for sometime now we now have a new new stable firmware 5.50 XGen which will play all the new games which require this new firmware. Games which are higher then 5.50 can now be patched using Yoshihiro’s Games Decrypter V2 so that they will work on 5.50 without the update. So no more are the new games such as NRL, AFL and Grand Turimo PSP no longer playable.
Microsoft: Patching Xbox 360 Games for Project Natal Not Likely
31st Sept 09 - From Gamedaily [QUOTE] So can we expect more Xbox 360 games to be patched to support Natal in the future? Not so fast, says Microsoft Game Studios GM and Natal creative director Kudo Tsunoda. Speaking to Destructoid, Tsunoda explained that although Microsoft was able re-engineer older Xbox 360 games to make them compatible with Natal, a hefty chunk of code had to be altered. As such, simply "patching" the game over Xbox Live would not be enough to make older titles work. A publisher would most likely have to completely rewrite the code and then re-release the game. [/QUOTE]
More on LIVE Bans, HDD Crippling, Possible Ban Causes
8th November 2009 - >> Kushan wrote a nice little article on #FW@EFnet summarizing all kinda info we have about the current (still ongoing) Console Live Ban Wave:
[QUOTE]
- What does this mean for you and what can you do about it?
Firstly, and most obviously, you cannot connect to Xbox Live on this console any more. This means no more game updates (aka title updates), XBLA games, marketplace content, netflix/sky player and so on. There is no way around this, all online capabilities are now disabled PERMANENTLY.
In all likelihood, your gamertag has NOT BEEN BANNED. When your gamertag gets banned, Microsoft sends you an email detailing why, if you have not recieved this email then your profile should be ok, to a certain extent.
Hard Drive installs are now disabled on the banned console. This means any disk-based games you have will no longer play off of the hard drive. If you attempt to play a game, it will tell you that it was installed on a different 360 and needs to be deleted/installed again. When you delete the game and attempt to install it, you are given a message telling you that it is not supported. There is no way to fix this, that functionality is simply gone from the banned 360.
The hard drive itself is left untouched - you can place it in another 360, even an unbanned one, and it will still work just fine. You do NOT need to reformat it to regain any kind of functionality. Any installed games will need to be reinstalled for the console you want to play them on. This is normal behaviour and happens when swapping HDDs on unbanned/legit 360's.
Windows Media Centre functionality is disabled. It is still possible to stream video/music content via the video library.
Your Gamertag may be corrupted. This does not mean your gamertag has been banned, you can recover it using any live-capable 360, however ANY ACHIVEMENTS YOU HAVE EARNED SINCE BEING BANNED WILL BE LOST. Your gamertag will be corrupted EVERY SINGLE TIME it is used on a banned console. This means you cannot use your banned console to play backups offline just to get achievements - it wont work, the second you put your profile back on a good 360, it will be corrupted and all progress lost. There is no way around this.
The same applies to game saves - if you access a game save on a banned 360, it too will be corrupted when accessed on a legit/unbanned 360! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! There is no way around this, either.
Your XBLA games and DLC will still be valid, however to play them on a different 360 you will need to be signed into Xbox Live. This is normal behaviour on unbanned/legit 360's as well. They may be corrupted and have to be re-downloaded if you attempt to access them on a banned 360. You can transfer all of your downloaded content to a new 360 here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/default.htm however note that you can only do it once every 12 months.
So, in summary:
Your Banned 360:
* Cannot go on Xbox Live
* Cannot install games to the HDD
* Cannot use Windows Media Centre extender
* Cannot be used to get achievements from backups without corrupting your profile
You cannot do anything about this, short of buying a new 360.
There may be more functionality disabled than mentioned here, things are still being discovered.
- So what caused my ban?
There are MANY theories as to what is causing so many consoles to get banned this time, however as of yet there is nothing concrete, just a lot of circumstantial evidence and speculation.
Please do not add to this, a full investigation is under-way.
c4eva, the main guy behind iXtreme, had this to say:
<+c4eva> fw itself not detectable
<+c4eva> suspect they are going hard on warez releases and incorrect use of abgx!
He also added the following:
<+c4eva> just to let you know that im looking into the current ban wave. I am currently running several brand new xboxs on live! These xboxs are in various configs. All are running ixtreme 1.61
<+c4eva> One is running original discs, another is running on xbl (no discs) , another is running a backup from my region!
<+c4eva> until tests are completed, no eta on liteon fw!
When we know more, YOU'LL no more, so please do not ask for updates!
A full transcript is available here - http://pastebin.ca/1660777
Remember, if you really want to blame someone, blame the person that decided to modify your 360 in the first place - most likey, that would be you ;
[/QUOTE]
Being banned from Xbox live what is it? How does it happen?
6th November 2009 - The banning that has been getting done is due to people playing pirated games online (Xbox live). The way M/S finds this out is if you are playing illegal copies of games before the release date. This includes getting achievements on games and then going online to play other games or just on the dashboard with the achievements on your system.. This then alerts M/S to the possiblity of pirated games being played. M/S also finds out that pirated games are being played on Xbox live if games which are not stealthed correctly. So the next time you play your backed up games online make sure you're extremely careful. Do not go on live to be safe if you have anything done to the firmware on your machine and you don't want to be banned.
Major Nelson Talks about Latest LIVE Ban Wave - More Bans Today
[QUOTE] As you may have read online, we've been actively banning consoles from Xbox LIVE that have been modified to play pirated games. Our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority. All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them. This would also be a good time to remind you that the warranty on an Xbox 360 console is not transferrable and if you purchase a used console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE. [/QUOTE]
New Grand Theft Auto Game Ballad of Gay Tony debut trailer released!
5th September - A couple of days ago Rockstar release something for the lovers of the Grand Theft Auto Series take a look.. Ballad of Gay Tony.
This new games is avalible for download on Xbox live as an add on like Lost and the Damned.. or you get get a disc of it which will include both the Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and the Damned. This disc will be called Episodes From Liberty City and will be out at the end of October 2009. The good thing is you won't even need a copy of GTA IV if you just want to play Episodes From Liberty City if you have the disc rather then the download.
PSPgo Gutted and Splayed Too
29th August 09 - A couple of days ago the guys at levelup got their hands on a PSPGo. And whats the 1st thing you would want to do when you get your hands on the new PSPgo? Play games? No way you want to pull it appart to see how it works.. Well maybe not everyone wants to do it but at least its a start to finding out how it works to get it modded. Here are the Pics.
Some hardwork lay ahead to get this one hacked..
Microsoft Xbox 360 price cuts to come later for Asia
29th August 09 - From ITWorld: [QUOTE]
People in most of the Western world will start seeing price reductions on Xbox 360 game consoles Friday, but Japan and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region will have to wait.
Japan, home to Microsoft's biggest rivals in the game console wars, Sony and Nintendo, may see price cuts to Xbox 360 consoles next week, but Microsoft is keeping the official time quiet. The company plans to hold an Xbox news conference in Japan next Wednesday, according to Julie Leong, at Microsoft in Hong Kong.
Other parts of Asia-Pacific will begin enjoying lower priced Xbox 360s on Sept. 10, the company said Friday.
The suggested retail price of an Xbox 360 Elite console with a 120GB hard drive will be lowered by around 28 percent to US$305 in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Microsoft has taken the HDMI cable out of the Xbox 360 Elite, one of the reasons for the price reduction. Amazon.com lists a number of HDMI cables for sale for between $10 to $20.
[/QUOTE]
Xbox 360 with 250GB HDD on Amazon Germany
28th August 09 - From Engadget : Amazon Germany, who previously listed the PlayStation 3 Slim a good 20 days before the official debut, has gone ahead and posted a new Xbox 360 model, ASIN in tow, with a 250GB HDD, two wireless controllers, and Forza Motorsport 3. Price is listed at 279 euros ($397), a good 30 euros over the current Elite price. No release date, but Forza 3 isn't due out until at least October 23rd so we'd say you got awhile to wait and see if this pans out.
Analysts split on chance of slimmer Xbox 360
26th August 09-[QUOTE]
"I think it is a question of when not if. However, the when part is a big uncertainty ... rumors have been going on for a long time. I think people were asking me the same question last year at this time," David Cole of DFC Intelligence told IndustryGamers. Others are less convinced, like Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee who said, "It would be nice but I don't think they have to. I think Natal will be killer app that will help keep the momentum for the 360 next year. I do think they need to cut the price by at least $50."
[/QUOTE]
New Wii Consoles with D3-2 Drive Are Unmoddable
Wii consoles with a revised drive version has been spotted in the Netherlands, Canada, and Korea. These consoles cannot be modded by any known method, including all chips and softmods. They have not been seen in Australia as of yet but will filter through soon when current stock is sold.
The drive itself looks identical to the D3 with only a different serial number to tell them apart. The normal D3 start with ''E'' and the D3-2 starts with ''F''
Expect a new wave of modchips soon.
Elite 360 Dropping In Price, RIP Pro Model
13th August 09 - [Quote] Looks like we have an execution date for the Xbox 360 Pro model, with this shot from a Meijer catalogue due on August 30 indicating the 360 Elite is in line for a Pro-sized price cut.
This appears at this stage just to be in the U.S. but will filter through to Australia and the price of the Elite should drop by Approx $120.
Free60: Dangerous Xbox360 Update Killing to-be released Homebrew Hack
12th August 09 - We received this news from Felix Domke and Michael Steil at the Free60 Project:
[QUOTE]
On Tuesday, Microsoft has released an Xbox 360 software update that overwrites the first stage bootloader of the system. Although there have been numerous software updates for Microsoft's gaming console in the past, this is the first one to overwrite the vital boot block. Any failure while updating this will break the Xbox 360 beyond repair. Statistics from other systems have shown that about one in a thousand bootloader updates goes wrong, and unless Microsoft has a novel solution to this problem, this puts tens of thousands of Xboxes at risk.
It seems that this update is being done to fix a vulnerability already known to the Free60 Project. This vulnerability has been successfully exploited to run arbitrary code, and a complete end user compatible hack has been in development for some time and is planned to be released on free60.org shortly. It will allow users to take back control of their Xboxes and run arbitrary code like homebrew applications or Linux right after turning on the console and without the need of a modchip, finally opening up the Xbox 360 to a level of hacking as the original Xbox.
Because of the dangerousness of the update and the homebrew lockout, the Free60 Project advises all Xbox 360 users to not update their systems to the latest software version. The Project website at http://free60.org/ will provide the latest information on this ongoing topic, including the final hack software.
Free60 (www.free60.org) is a project that aims to enable Xbox 360 users to run homebrew applications and operating systems like Linux on their consoles. The effort is headed by Felix Domke and Michael Steil, who have a background in dbox2, Xbox and GameCube hacking, and who have spoken at various conferences about their findings. Two years ago, Free60 released a hack that allowed arbitrary code execution using a game ("King Kong Hack") as well as an adapted version of Linux, but this possibility has been disabled by Microsoft in subsequent updates of the Xbox 360 software.
Felix and Michael have repeatedly argued that game console manufacturers should open up their platforms to Linux and homebrew, similar to what Sony has done with the PlayStation 3.
[/QUOTE]
Xbox 360 System Update now available
11th Aug 09 - From Major Nelson[QUOTE]
The team released a system update (aka Dash update) to all Xbox Live members. Over the next few hours - or the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE after that - you'll receive a prompt to accept this mandatory update. If you participated in our Preview Program, you already have the update and will not be prompted. Hit Xbox.com for a list of what the update includes. A couple of things to point out:
* While you can browse and purchase Avatar items and full Xbox 360 games in the console with this update, the ability to add these items your Xbox 360 download queue from Xbox.com will be available this Thursday.
* Xbox LIVE integration with Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM will be available later this year.
* Zune Video Marketplace will also ship later this fall when it will replace the current Video Marketplace.
This update will be rolled out to all Xbox LIVE members around the world over the space of a few hours, so you may not get prompted for the update immediately. Thanks for your patience and have fun.
[/QUOTE]
Xbox 360 Pro Being Phased Out Pretty Soon?
7th August 09 - The staple Xbox 360 - the Xbox 360 Pro - looks set to march straight off retail shelves and into the history books, if new console packaging is anything to go by.
First hinted at by Ars Technica's ever-reliable mole in June, then further hinted at by new 360 packshot renders later that month, photos sent to us by GameStop employees earlier this week seem to offer proof that Microsoft will soon go from offering three Xbox 360 consoles to just two.
Sony Ramping Up PS3 Production For...Something
5th August 09 - According to Taiwan's DigiTimes, Sony have recently "placed significant orders for key Sony PS3 components" from local manufacturers, waaaaay above the quantities they normally source. Interesting.
They say it's enough parts to produce one million PS3 consoles in the third quarter of 2009, which is apparently twice as many as were manufactured last quarter.
DigiTimes' sources then specifically mention that alongside those "key components," shipments of time division synchronizers, also used by Sony in the PS3, are waaaayyy up as well.
What does this all mean? Well, either Sony are expecting a significant increase in demand for the currently not-that-in-demand PS3, or...well, they're building an all-new PS3.
I know which of those two scenarios I think is more likely.
LiteOn 83850c Now Flashable
6th August 09 - The new liteon drives that have been turning up in Xbox 360 machines returning from repair are now able to be flashed. The drives had the new 83850c firmware on them causing issues that up to now made them unflashable. If you have recently got your Xbox 360 back from repair and couldn't get it flashed... now you can.
Xbox Live Preview Dropping Game Install Sizes
4th August 2009 - From Kataku.
Good News: The new NXE produces smaller install sizes for disc based games. While you still need the disc to play the game from the HDD, the amount of space taken up by the installed game is smaller than before. Aside from The King of Fighters XII, the following were tested out for this quick evaluation:
-Street Fighter 4 - 4.6GB
-Raiden Fighters Aces - 484MB
Bad News: This change in installation size means that almost every game will have to be re-checked on the new NXE. Over 400 games being checked again doesn't exactly spell fun.
Good News: From what I could tell, the reduced file sizes don't seem to change the performance ratings from before. While this may mean that Halo 3 still runs poorly off of the HDD, it also means that not all 400+ games have to be checked for performance again. Raiden Fighters Aces and Street Fighter 4, for example, had the same performance ratings as before.
Natal Xbox 360 in 2010 rumor is back on - Aptina to Supply 1.3M CMOS
Aptina has won exclusive rights to supply 1.3-megapixel CMOS image sensors (CIS) for a new version of the Xbox 360 console under Microsoft's Project Natal technology, and shipments of the new Xbox 360 are slated for the second half of 2010, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
Xbox Live Dashboard update arrives Aug. 11
Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Xbox Dashboard update will be hitting Xbox Live on August 11. The update is set to include many new features, including Games on Demand, improved Netflix performance (along with Movie Parties), Avatar Awardables, Avatar Marketplace, the ability to rate games, new Friends list sorting options and more. The announcement also mentions that previously announced Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm support is slated to arrive this fall.
Xbox Live update details announced
18th July 09 - Microsoft announced the details of the next Xbox Live dashboard update, which should be released later this summer.
--Netflix Updates
Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.
* Movie Parties - Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.
* Manage Your Queue - Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch - no computer required.
* Enhanced Playback Experience - Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.
* Friends Info - Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.
--Avatar Marketplace
Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises. Please note that only limited content is currently available in the preview.
--Clothing
Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."
* Props - You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
* Awardables - The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.
--Games on Demand -- Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.
Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.
* Purchase Options - Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
* Game Manuals - Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
* It's Yours Forever! - As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased
to the same console or another console.
--User Ratings
User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!
* Rate it - You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
* Sort and Find it - Now you can easily find the games that everyone's been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.
--Xbox LIVE Parties
Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.
* Party Reconnections - If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
* Streamlined Party Invites - Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.
--Video Display Options
We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.
* Display Discovery - Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats
independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.
--Other Improvements
We're always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.
* Gold Member Veterans - Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you've been a Gold member.
* Indie Games - Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
* Achievement Browser - We've revamped the Achievements browser so it's now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
* Achievements Tracking - A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
* Streamlined Navigation - Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.
* Voice Messages - No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
* Friends List Sorting - It's now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
* Memory - Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.
--Account Management
We've made some changes to make your life easier.
* Subscription Notification - If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
* Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs - If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
* Account recovery - We've enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.
--What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?
The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we'll be sure to let you know about.
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Zune video and 1080p Instant On
* Last.fm
LiteOn 83850c Solution
12 July 09 - The LiteOn revision 83850c that has been mainly coming out of repair centers in europe and in small numbers in Australia has been fully dumped. More details will come as the firmware is fully decrypted, but at the very worst we have a work-around if all known backdoors are disabled. A solution for this model will NOT be released to public until this version becomes mainstream. E.g. is being shipped commercially with new xbox360's. As of May 2009 drives that have been purchased from Shops they still do not have this new firmware.. only drives from repair centres seem to have them.
PlayStation Store Blocked on Custom Firmware 5.00 M33; Continues Working on 5.50 GEN-A
People who have had their firmware update to the 5.00M33-6 firmware have just been blocked by Sony the PlayStation Store. We have tested this with a couple of PSP's all running 5.00 M33 firmware and it seems to be the case that they are blocked. In order to bypass this problem we used a PSP-2000, which is running 5.50 GEN-A and it was able to access the PSP Store.
So with the following firmware we have tested:
5.00 M33-6: It’s true. You are now prompted with, “A system software update for the PSP system is required. For update methods, refer to the instructions for the PSP system.” And even with spoofing your version using the ol’ version.txt method — you’re still denied access.
5.50 GEN-A: Keep on… You’re still in business.
Silly move on Sony’s part… Why deny money from custom firmware users? Many of these users purchased downloads, and still do.
If you have 5.00M33 and want to use Sony Store you will have to upgrade to 5.50 Gen-A unless there is a M33 upgrade.
If you own a PSP3000 you still need to stay on 5.03GenA for custom firmware.
Activision's Bobby Kotick on the PS3
In recent interview with The Times Bobby Kotick said: “I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform. It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation,” "They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates [the number of games each console owner buys] are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony." "When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console - and the PSP [portable] too."
Major Nelson on Xbox 360 Natal in 2010
20th June 09 Quote From Major Nelson
" A few people have emailed me regarding something Steve Ballmer said earlier today about a new Xbox coming in 2010. As the Xbox team stated at E3 two weeks ago, we are not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade. Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time."
Microsoft confirms 512MB X360 Arcade
19th June 09 - Microsoft has confirmed to Eurogamer that Xbox 360 Arcade models are now shipping with 512MB of onboard memory as standard.
"The Xbox 360 system software uses some of the included 512MB memory; less storage will be available to users."
Microsoft debunks Xbox Natal rumor
16th June 09 - The Internet is abuzz with a rumor that Microsoft's Project Natal add-on for Xbox 360 actually is the company's next video-game console.
But according to one Microsoft spokeswoman, that's not the case.
Quote- As I reported last week, Project Natal - which allows players to use their bodies to control a game, without a hand-held device - is hardware designed to extend the life of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 was released in 2005 and Microsoft is hoping its lifespan will stretch into 2015. The spokeswoman said Natal is not about a new console.
abgx360 corrupt DMI with some ISOs
Note: If you have recently AutoFixed "UFC 2009 Undisputed", "Red Faction: Guerilla" or "Up" using abgx360(info), it may have patched a corrupt DMI to your ISO.
How can you tell if your ISO or Burned DVD has the bad DMI? Simply check the game with abgx360 on medium or high verbosity and look for "DMI CRC = XXXXXXXX".
For "UFC 2009 Undisputed" the corrupt DMI CRC = 46C162C8
For "Red Faction: Guerilla" the corrupt DMI CRC = 580B3E16
For "Up" the corrupt DMI CRC = F9F50C0F
To be safe do not play these games online until you check them.
Rumor: Xbox Natal is Actually Microsoft's Next Console
13th June 09 - From 1up.com: On this week's Listen Up podcast we discussed Natal, and David Ellis and I talked about what we've been hearing regarding the new technology -- and how it's actually the cornerstone of Microsoft's next evolution of the Xbox. Microsoft will not only release Natal as an add-on for the Xbox 360, it will come standard with the next Xbox console.
Yes, there will be a new Xbox console next fall.
However, the new console won't just be an Xbox 360 with a camera, though -- we've heard it will be considered a new platform and carry a new name (Xbox Natal?). It's not clear what sort of upgrades we might see, but some have suggested it will be an slight upgrade of the current Xbox 360 technology. Current Xbox 360 games would be playable on it, but future games would be able to take advantage of the added muscle. Similar to what we see in the PC space, games played on the more advanced Xbox would look or perform better, but publishers will still be able to support owners of both systems. Some developers have complained that they've already maxed out the Xbox 360; perhaps this will give them room to expand.
New LiteOn Revision - 83850c
11th June 09 - There appears to possibly be a new firmware/hardware revision for the LiteOn drive that was originally posted on some German forums. It is being discussed on many of the online forums.
So far,it is just speculation at this point. It appears that users are claiming the key's are coming back all 00's. We are unsure if it is user error, or a new protection.
These drives appear to be in Xbox 360 dated after March 2009 with the new revised liteon drive H/W Version A0A2 along with Firmware Version 83850c. To date Australia does not appear to have recieved these drives but this may change.
PSP3000 Hacked and now supported with custom firmware 5.03
PSP3000 Owners have to wait no more. There is now a hacked firmware for the PSP3000 enabling custom firmware like the PSP1000 & PSP 2000 owners enjoyed. ISO & UMD support, homebrew and custom firmware suuport. Contact admin@moda4gamers.com for more info.
Video: Xbox 360 Games on Demand service
Here is a quick look at what the new games on demand service will look like on your dashboard. There are going to be actual Xbox 360 games that are now downloadable. Sounds like we need allot bigger harddrive. I better start looking into a way to exploit this new service.
We've 'Maxed Out' Xbox 360, Says EA Games VP
6th June 09 -
Patrick Soderlund, senior VP of EA Games Europe, claims that the company's developers have "maxed out" the Xbox 360.
"Sony has a lot of good games this year. If you go to their [E3] booth, there's a very consistent, high quality product line-up and that will help them. I do think that we'll see developers inside the organisation getting to understand the PS3 better and I think that we're getting more power out of PS3 right now... I think that we've maxed out the 360 but we haven't maxed out the PS3."
Tony Hawk new add on
4th June 09
For the fans of the Tony Hawk games there is a new add on about to hit the xbox that allows you to get up off the couch and actually ride a skate board.
Tony Hawk is currently at E3 to promote this skateboard-centric peripheral. In an interview Tony Hawk was asked if was worried that his new “Tony Hawk Ride” would be made obsolete due to Project Natal which Microsoft is working on. Microsoft’s experimental tech promises to rid the world of controllers, and even showed off a kid playing a skateboard game by just standing on his carpet. Yep, no expensive gear required! So does this mean Hawk’s game will be obsolete?
It’s pretty shocking that Microsoft would cannibalize a game that was so heavily featured at their own press conference, but considering Project Natal isn’t supposed to drop until 2010 at the earliest, you should have plenty of time with your skateboard controller before you may have to trash it. I don't know how much this skateboard is but my guess is its more expensice then a real one.
E3 2009 Halo 3 ODST Footage
Halo Fans here is the new instalment
E3 2009 Xbox 360 Motion Camera
Somethings on the way for the Xbox 360 to keep the fans of motion controllers happy... looks very cool..
Confirmed - Microsoft and Sky strike TV On Demand deal
28th May 09 From play:tm:
Confirmation that the service will be made available to Xbox 360 owners follows rumours and speculations about an impending deal between the two companies, which we reported on yesterday.
The Sky Player will be accessed from the 360s NXE dashboard and will feature On Demand content that can be streamed via any broadband connection. The service will also make use of NXE avatars.
Pricing and specific details will be unveiled closer to the launch this autumn alongside details of the available packages and subscriptions.
Xbox Linking Up With Sky TV?
A new report claims Microsoft will this week reveal details of a new partnership set to bring Sky TV content to Xbox 360.
Microsoft is to host a press event this Thursday in London, and Rapid TV News suggests that "the long-awaited link up between BSkyB and Microsoft's Xbox is at last going to happen."
Call of Duty 4 reaches 13 million players on Xbox Live
27th May 09 - With the release of the recent full-length trailer for Modern Warfare 2, the gaming populous' attention has been turned away from the original Modern Warfare (considering the game's getting a follow-up, we think its Modern-ness could be disputed by this point, but we digress). However, Infinity Ward community commissar Robert Bowling (a.k.a. fourzerotwo) recently stopped by Major Nelson's podcast to explain why CoD4 shouldn't be ignored quite yet -- it just hit the remarkable 13 million player mark on Xbox Live.
This number is impressive for two reasons: First, it's two million more players than the last Xbox Live total we heard for Modern Warfare back in March. The second reason has been mentioned by a few gaming blogs already -- it's surpassed the total number of World of Warcraft players. Impressive? Well, yes -- though nobody is forced to subscribe to Call of Duty 4. As far as pure, lucrative retention is concerned, we think WoW still takes the cake.
Is Microsoft's ZuneX Really Their Portable Xbox Phone?
Added 26th May 09 - These leaked photos of the ZuneX (ZX-1000) may or may not be Microsoft's handheld device that combines the Zune with the Xbox. But we do have specs. And it may be a phone
Mimbee.tv's got a grainy shot from a conference that may or may not be real, a shot of a guy holding a ZuneX in his hand that looks more photoshopped than not, and a list of specs:
• 4-inch display at 640x363 resolution
• Custom Intel LV Atom DualCore 733MHz processor
• Custom Nvidia BLowFish chipset
• 128MB RAM
• 40 hour music, 14 hours of video, 9 hours of gaming and 6 hours of gaming with the wireless on
• 4 analog buttons, 2 shoulder buttons, an analog stick attachment
• 32GB flash storage
• Support for Bluetooth headphones
• SIM Card tray (it's a phone! Maybe!)
• Xbox Live Arcade Games
• ZuneX Originals
• OnLive Ready game streaming (now we're just getting a little ridiculous)
• WMV, H.264, MPEG-4 and DivX support
*****UPDATE ON THIS STORY ITS A FAKE*******
IXtreme 1.6 Firmware is out now- Team HyperX
May 15th 09
What's new/fixed in v1.6:
- Updated all firmware to iXtreme v1.6
- 0800 Mode for Samsung/BenQ/Lite-On (thanks to iXtreme v1.6)
-Strict Wave 3 compliance! hybrid (modified disks) will not boot!
-Strict drive speed compliance - 12x only for game discs!
-Support for SS V2!
-Integrated 0800 for game dumping including SS v2!
-Full support for all known game exceptions! eg ddr etc!
-One shot boot mode! - allows a one off boot of gamedisc without -stealth/partition checks (will still use stealth), use activate.iso disk to activate each time!
-Support for easy drive key/version info cmd, same as liteon!
-Strict stealth/wave checking, one shot boot mode will boot wave(x)
Xbox Tester: Secret Xbox Suicide Command and MGS4
From 8bitjoystick.com: Yesterday I had a very long interesting conversation with a recently laid off Xbox 360 hardware/software tester who had some very interesting things to say to me.
1st. Interesting Thing:
There is a super secret kill-switch remote suicide self-destruct command that if Microsoft really wanted to they can remotely trigger and tell an Xbox 360 to fry itself and die. This was intended to be a last resort option if a fight against Xbox Live cheaters or major league professional game piracy ever got big. To their knowledge it has only been done in test situation in the lab but if they wanted to they could have the regular system security sweeps over Xbox Live activate a kill command when it found a compromised hacked Xbox 360 system. It works by having the Xbox overload a fuse and "pop" the fuse. The Xbox 360 will then crash and then will get an "Red Ring of Death Core Digital" error when the boot-up test comes back with a major component hardware failure. This is not the same as bricking or crashing a system since this will actually do physical damage to the motherboard.
2nd. Interesting Thing:
Microsoft is currently software testing Metal Gear Solid 4 for Xbox 360. They might announce it at E3 but Konami likes to make money and Metal Gear Solid 4 was very expensive for them to make. Microsoft and Konami will not admit it before they are ready to but secretly builds of Metal Gear Solid 4 for Xbox 360 started being tested late last year. Konami want to make back their software development costs and they need to get it on the Xbox 360 to do it.
3rd. Interesting Thing:
Microsoft makes a lot of hardware prototypes and very few hardware projects actually make it to market. They probably did start to build a Blu-Ray player and a motion sensitive wand controller but they never got close enough to making it to market.
WSJ 'Confirms' Xbox 360 Full Body Motion Sensing Controls
Microsoft Corp. is developing a new videocamera for its Xbox 360 videogame console that will allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies, according to people familiar with the matter.
Unlike the Wii, the Microsoft camera won't require users to hold any hardware in their hands to control in-game action, people familiar with the matter say.
The device could be shown as early as the E3 game industry conference in Los Angeles in early June, though it likely will not be released until next year, these people say.
Rumor: New PlayStation 3 Design to Debut at E3
Soft SailorRumor: New PlayStation 3 Design to Debut at E3? A new rumor coming out of PlayStation LifeStyle is that not only will Sony debut the "PSP Go!" debut at E3 this June, but "another new hardware redesign" would appear there as well. And since the Go! would take up one slot on Sony's card, ...Sony To Reveal "Redesigned" playstation 3 At E3? Its just a rumour but would be interesting if true.
Pachter: Next-gen consoles not before 2013, if at all
You can take this with a grain of salt sand or what ever you take your "yeah maybe..." news with.
In a recent industry newsletter Patcher sent to our in-boxes.
Pachter reiterated what he told us at GDC that this current console generation is the last, and if not - it's going to be a while.
"We do not expect a "new" console in 2010 (other than the long-rumored high definition Wii, which is likely to upgrade the Wii to current console technology)," he wrote. "We do not expect the 'next' generation to begin before 2013, if at all."
"We remain convinced that the publishers will resist the introduction of any video game hardware technology that requires a refresh of software, as the publishers have as yet to capitalize on the immense investments made in being competitive in the current cycle."
Doesn't take a Genius to figure this one out with the current economic crisis..
Rumor: Xbox 360 to get motion-sensing add-on with full body game control?
Here's a wild one. We just got a tip from someone who purports to be in the know on Microsoft's efforts to beat the Wii at its own motion-sensing game, with some of the details lining up with what we were hearing last year along these lines. The word is that Microsoft is building a "sensor bar" of sorts, but instead of detecting the waggles of Wiimote-like controllers, it detects full body movement and sound, sans controllers. There are two sensors on the bar, along with a mic and a camera, and while our tipster has "no idea" how it actually works, it sounds pretty impressive. Here's a quick rundown of capabilities mentioned:
* Full body and hand gesture control of games / characters.
* In fighting games you kick, punch, duck, dive, jump and so forth with your body.
* It also picks up small hand gestures like pinching, grabbing and scrolling.
* There will also be video conferencing and games with video.
* Trivia game over the internet with live images of each person playing. When a question pops up, they can clap to buzz in.
* You can "move objects on your screen" and the other party can see what you're doing in real time.
* Sensor detects only the person playing, not folks observing on the couch.
Gears of War 2 Achievement Hacking: Banning has begun...
From majornelson.com: As you know, we are committed to keeping Xbox LIVE a safe and fair place to play for the more than 17 million active members. As part of our regular safety monitoring we have pinpointed a group of players who have unlocked specific Gears of War 2 Achievements through an unauthorized hack. Deliberate cheats like these are in direct violation of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and will not be tolerated. As I post this, we've begun taking steps to reset the Gamerscores of the offending players. As I have mentioned in the past, this is something we do occasionally to keep the service free of cheating in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for everyone. If you play fair and earn your achievements without glitching or cheating, you have nothing to worry about. Read my original post that shows what a cheater looks like and head over to Xbox.com to read the Gamerscore correction FAQ that may answer some of your questions.
Free Live Gold membership this weekend
Microsoft is offering Xbox Live Silver users the chance to try out Gold membership for free this weekend. From 1st - 4th May, everyone gets an automatic upgrade so they can enjoy a bit of multiplayer gaming.
Rumour: Xbox Live V.I.P Membership
According too a customers survey done in France, Microsoft is considering a new level of Xbox Live called the VIP service. Now with this upgraded version, users will be able to get online storage for their content, a brand new matchmaking option, a option that allows the user too send free invitations to silver members, and better connectivity. It's no denying that Xbox Live's gold members are reaping the awards that Microsoft has provided them and with this optional addition it can't do anything but expand on this already great feature.
Microsoft explains the E74 code, well sorta
From: Kotaku interview
* Kotaku: Is the e74 code a replacement for the red ring of death?
* Microsoft: No. The E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console. This issue remains relatively narrow in scope and a very small percentage of our customers have contacted us about this issue. Again, we have already made improvements to the console that will reduce the likelihood of an occurrence of this issue.
* Kotaku: But wait. What's with the contradiction? How can an E74 error message apply to the same hardware failures that are associated with a red ring if they're not the same?
* Microsoft: "In some cases there is no difference. As we said, the E74 error message and three flashing red lights can in some cases indicate the same general hardware failure. However, it is not the same failure mode in all cases and there is no single root cause for these malfunctions." Click for full story
Gears of War boss on Xbox 360's limits: 'There's still more it can do'
From vg247.com: Gears of War 2 executive producer Rod Fergusson has told VG247 that innovations in both games software and Microsoft services mean we've yet to see the limit of what can be achieved with Xbox 360. Fergusson was quoted previously as saying the box had been maxed out, a comment he told us was taken out of context. "I think there's still more it can do," the developer said, talking at GDC. "Hardware, in some regards, always has limits, but it's the software that takes advantage of that. "The [Unreal] engine is evolving - it evolved dramatically from Gears 1 to Gears 2 - and I think you'll see people continue to push that envelope about how they use the memory, and how they use the hard drive, and all those sort of things."
Nielsen report reveals average game console usage
In a recent report from Nielsen the research firm said Wii owners used their consoles 6.8 percent of the total amount of time that they could have used the system during Nielsen's measurement period during December 2008. This compares to Xbox 360's "Active User Percentage" of 10.2 percent and PS3's 10.6 percent, which both led the way amongst current and last-gen consoles. In average usage days, Wii trailed all other consoles except for GameCube with five days (GameCube had 4.5 days). PS3 and Xbox 360 were used 6.8 and 7.1 days average, respectively. Wii also was last in terms of daily average number of sessions with 1.78 sessions, versus 2.42 for PS3 and 2.15 for Xbox 360.
2,500,000,000 Achievements have been unlocked
Reported by oxm.co.uk: Xbox 360 gamers have unlocked a grand total of two and a half billion Achievements, according to Xbox boss Aaron Greenberg, earning 52 billion Gamerscore in the process.
Update for Xbox 360 2nd Aril 09
MS has just release an update for the Xbox 360 via the live network. There are no new feature on this update but it does fix some of the bugs relating to online gameing issues with some games. Released on the 2nd April 09 the update is being rolled out over live. So the next time you log into live it should ask you to do an update.
Microsoft Claim: US market is already decided
Microsoft's European VP for interactive entertainment, Chris Lewis, has said the battle between the PS3 and 360 in the US is over, with the company now focusing its attention on Europe. When asked if the battle between the PS3 and the 360 was now decided in the US, Lewis said Microsoft has "done the job we need to in North America", and that the company would focus more effort on increasing the 360's lead over the PS3 in Europe.
Xbox 360 Falls Behind PS2 in Japan
QUOTE]Sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 continue to decline, as the system manages to sell a mere 4,849 units for the week ending March 29. Just over a month ago the console had managed to sell over 25,000 units across the region, in line with the release of Square Enix's Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope. By mid march it was discovered, however, that the system's weekly unit turnover was at 15,000. One week later the console was selling 8,378 units, before falling to 5,441 last week. The Playstation 3 has now outsold Nintendo's Wii for a fifth successive week. Though Sony's system had at one stage managed to double the Wii's unit turnover, today the gap between the two is a little more slender. The Wii continues to sit around the 17,000-18,000 mark, but the PS3 has consistently dropped ground and is now only 5,000 units ahead. [/QUOTE]