Xbox Jedi

Update: Shacknews reports World at War's Map Pack 1 DLC has sold over 1 million downloads across both the Xbox 360 and PS3 since launch.

According to a press release, DLC for Call of Duty: World at War has set a first week sales record on Xbox Live Marketplace. Proving you don't need a marketing team to dream up whimsical names to sell product, Map Pack 1 has been downloaded ... well, the exact number is unclear, but it's apparently a lot. In fact, since the DLC's release, over 150 million multiplayer sessions have been played.

The Call of Duty franchise isn't new to the Xbox DLC record book, as Modern Warfare's Variety Map Pack previously shattered records with over 1 million downloads within the first 9 days of release. World at War - Map Pack 1 (which leads us to believe more is on the way) is available now for the Xbox 360 and PS3 for 800 / $9.99.

World at War DLC sets first week sales record on Xbox Live [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 has passed the milestone of one million units in the land of the rising sun.

Brand new Avatar threads are now available for your virtual-selves. This week's additions include business clothes for men and women ... just in case your Avatar was planning on attending a job interview or something. One thing to note before you dress up for that next online date, change your shoes. Business suits and sneakers don't work.

Male Business Attire

• Blue Formal Shirt
• Moleskin Pants
• Waistcoat and Shirt
• Suit and Tie (pictured)
  

Female Business Attire

• Pencil Skirt
• Slacks
• Pinstripe Blazer
• Twin Set

Avatars go professional, get business gear originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockstar wants to go cruisin' down the streets in their 6-fo' and they want you to come along for the ride. On April 4, members of the team that brought you Midnight Club: Los Angeles are inviting players to join in an online session in celebration of the recently released South Central DLC.

Beginning at 4pm until 7pm ET, key members of Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar New York will be connected to Live waiting for multiplayer action. If you want to roll with the big dogs, check out the listing of Gamertags to look for this Saturday.

Continue reading Midnight Club: LA devs wanna roll with you over Live

Midnight Club: LA devs wanna roll with you over Live originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's another year, it's another Madden. The best only NFL game in town will make its return this year on August 14th, promising "all-new animation technology." The Madden line follows EA's newfound love for Nintendo, as the Wii version gets special attention this year with a "unique, genre-defining art style" that "epitomizes what fun looks like on the Wii." Cel-shaded Madden, perhaps?

We don't know much more about this year's iteration of the Madden series, except for details garnered from the game's only screenshot. The infamous cover athlete is also currently unknown and will be revealed later this year on April 24th.

Madden NFL10 will be available on Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP and Wii. Update: Big Download has confirmed that no PC version is in the works. "We have no plans to release Madden NFL 10 on the PC this year."

Madden NFL 10 tackles retail on August 14th originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fable II's canine companion was introduced as a means to connect gamers to the world of Albion, and although players could interact with the four-legged friend at the touch of a button, Lionhead initially tested microphone interaction as well.

In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Peter Molyneux said the team behind Joystiq's GOTY tested voice commands in the game but ultimately found them to be too gimmicky. Had the feature been included in the game, players would be able to whistle into their headsets to call on their loyal pet -- a concept Molyneux didn't criticize, but felt wouldn't add to Fable II's overall gameplay experience. Besides, wasn't including the dog revolutionary enough for you?

Fable II tried 'gimmicky' voice controls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week it’s time to get down to business for your Avatars. The following business wear is now available for your avatar:

 

Male

Blue Formal Shirt

Moleskin Pants

Waistcoat and Shirt

Suit and Tie

Female

Pencil Skirt

Slacks

Pinstripe Blazer

Twin Set

 
All clothing choices are free, and will remain available. It is easy to tell what is new when you are in the avatar editor, just look for the gold star. Any item of clothing with a gold star is new since the last time you signed in to the avatar editor.

Sam borrows Dena's dog to see if she's nurturing enough to be a mother; Regina starts taking pilot lessons; Andrea continues to "date" Tony Dane.

Crews (Damian Lewis) and Seever (Gabrielle Union) investigate the death of a California State Representative who is shot and killed in her home. The detectives discover the representative was the force behind a political initiative that would put a comprehensive ban on handguns and cost a gun manufacturing company millions in profit. Crews and Seever work to prove that the representative’s political ambitions may have gotten her killed. Meanwhile, Crews questions what Reese might be doing with the FBI. Adam Arkin, Donal Logue and Brent Sexton also star.

Frustrated by the arrogance of the interns, Elliot and Turk turn up on their young charges when a full moon strikes.

The Griffin family heads to the annual Quahog “Star Trek” convention, but Stewie blows a fuse when he doesn’t get a chance to ask his favorite “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast members any questions. He devises a plan, builds a transporter and beams the entire cast to his bedroom so they can spend a fun-filled day together in Quahog.

Sawyer and Juliet deal with a dire medical situation, but Kate takes matters into her own hands and saves a controversial life; Kate’s years off the Island are revealed including why she left Aaron behind.

When rebel soldiers took over the Governor's residence in Grenada in October of 1983, the Navy SEALs were dropped into enemy territory, outgunned and outnumbered. They swiftly secured the Government House and found the Governor, his family and staff.

Frank Martin has been pressured into transporting Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Ukraine, from Marseilles through Stuttgart and Budapest until he ends up in Odessa on the Black Sea. Along the way, with the help of Inspector Tarconi, Frank has to contend with the people who strong armed him to take the job, agents sent by Vasilev to intercept him, and the general non-cooperation of his passenger. Despite Valentina’s cynical disposition and his resistance to get involved, Frank and Valentina fall for each other, while escaping from one life-threatening situation after another.

Chief’s been hiding his enormous earwax ball from everyone. And when Tak and Jeera discover the nasty thing, they know they have to get rid of it. Jibolba forgets about his annual Shaman’s Test because Tak didn’t give him the reminder letter.

Admit it, you've snuck a peek at least once or twice. Maybe on occasion you've checked it out even more than that. But imagine living with a compulsion to watch or even engage in pornography all the time. On this episode of True Life, you'll meet three young people who feel they're actually porn addicts.

Ask Joystiq Xbox returns this week with another (mostly) knowledge-filled installment. This week, we take a look at profile corruption issues, the hazards of gamertag linking and the intricacies of managing all your SpongeBob episodes. We also discuss some theories regarding the next round of LEGO games and shed some light on the fate of I Am Alive. Find it all after the break.


Got a question for Ask Joystiq Xbox? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [att] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.

Continue reading Ask Joystiq Xbox: I Am Alive is alive edition

Ask Joystiq Xbox: I Am Alive is alive edition originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you bored of only using one foot in your music games? Did you decide not to slap down the cash for a Guitar Hero: Metallica pre-order? If you answered yes to both of these question, then this post is for you! Nyko announced today that it has released its Metal Pedal, a replacement bass pedal that's compatible with all Rock Band and Guitar Hero drum kits on all platforms. Sure, the pedal's metal-plated construction should make it attractive to all the leadfoots out there, but there's another addition worth noting. The Metal Pedal comes with a splitter that allows players to hook up two bass pedals to either Rock Band or Guitar Hero drum kits.

A quick note on compatibility: According to Nyko, the Metal Pedal splitter can be used with the standard bass pedal for Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero drum kits. The splitter functionality does not work with Rock Band 1 drum kits. Keep in mind that this only applies to the splitter, the Metal Pedal by itself is still compatible with all existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero drum kits.

The Metal Pedal is shipping now and will retail for $19.99.

Nyko's Metal Pedal now available, includes splitter for double bass originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The first-person shooter genre has grown pretty formulaic. Due mostly to the outstanding sales success of the Call of Duty franchise, most FPS games follow the same rote formula without any innovation, clinging to the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But that also means as soon as a game's announced, you can already predict exactly how the game will look and feel. Though, after watching a demonstration and playing a short bit of Wolfenstein, I have five reasons why you shouldn't file Wolfenstein away as just "more of the same."

1) It feels like Wolfenstein

Ok, Wolfenstein does bring back some of the same, but it's returning with the good stuff. This is a direct sequel to Return to Castle Wolfenstein after all. Heck, it takes place almost immediately after the end of that game (when hero BJ Blazkowicz killed the recently-resurrected-via-dark-magic Heinrich); Blazkowitz then zips over to the fictional town of Eisenstadt to take on more Nazi goons. The first mission -- which takes place at a train depot guarded ferociously by Nazis -- plays like pretty much every other Wolfenstein (or World War II) shooter: scripted events, claustrophobic corridors, loud Nazis -- the works. Familiar weapons, such as the MP40, the Kar98k, and the ubiquitous grenade, are all present and useable. The controls feel like the expected variation of most every post-Halo console shooter.

According to Enterbrain figures, the Xbox 360 and PS3 have both achieved milestones in Japan. As headlines would have you believe, the Xbox 360 has surpassed the one million mark for consoles sold, whereas the PS3 has done much more admirably, pushing over three million systems on the populace. The Xbox 360 achieved this after almost four years on the market (it released in Japan in December, 2005), wheras the PS3 claimed its figure nearly three years after launching in November, 2006.

Clearly, both consoles are big in Japan. Mostly because they're huge consoles.

[Via Kotaku]

Big in Japan: Xbox 360 cracks 1 million, PS3 just over 3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First things first: Mike Tyson, where's your face tattoo?! Second: We've got a load of new screens from semi-perennial pugilist Fight Night Round 4, presented in a gallery just a few inches down. Do the shots look good? Just as good as when we saw the game in action earlier this month.

With Fight Night Round 4 still months away from any formal release (the game's slated to come out swinging "this summer"), we suggest you check out the trailer in the meantime. Hopefully we'll have some hands-on impressions for you sometime in the near future.

New Fight Night Round 4 screens look great, face tattoos absent originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Command the conflict on every level. A change is coming to RTS on console. STORMRISE Check out the launch trailer now!

Locusts and gentlemen, COGs and girls, the Gears of War 2 Snowblind Map Pack is now available. The pack contains four new maps: Grindyard, Under Hill, Courtyard and a remake of Fuel Depot from the first Gears. If you'd like to make some red snow in online multiplayer -- or mow down Locust scum in Horde mode -- the maps will set you back 800. For those who'd prefer not to make a blind purchase (get it?), you can check out lots of screens in the gallery below. Even better, watch Joystiq Xbox's hands-on preview video after the break.

Continue reading PSA: Gears 2 Snowblind Map Pack out now

PSA: Gears 2 Snowblind Map Pack out now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PopCap Arcade Vol. 2 is hitting stores across North America today for slightly under 20 bucks. This new compilation includes three games from the PopCap library: Peggle, Heavy Weapon and Feeding Frenzy 2.

While all three titles are already available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 ($10) each (2,400/$30 for all), this new retail package will save gamers some cash. The discount seems rather tempting, especially if you haven't yet experienced the magic of Peggle.

PopCap Arcade Vol. 2 includes three games for $20 originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Call of Duty: WaW
2    Halo 3
3    Call of Duty 4
4    Gears of War 2
5    RESIDENT EVIL 5
6    GTA IV
7    FIFA 09
8    Left 4 Dead
9    Halo Wars
10    Fallout 3

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)

1    UNO RUSH
2    Peggle
3    Castle Crashers
4    Worms
5    UNO
6    CRYSTAL DEFENDERS
7    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
8    3 on 3 NHL Arcade
9    A Kingdom for Keflings
10    Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.

 

Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Halo 2
2    Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3    Fable
4    Counter-Strike
5    Splinter Cell Chaos
6    Conker: Live Reloaded
7    Doom 3
8    Star Wars: Battlefront
9    Call of Duty 3
10    SW: Republic Commando

 

Top Community Games NEW! (Full Versions purchased)

1    RC-AirSim
2    Solar
3    Rumble Massage
4    Aquarium HD
5    DrumKit
6    ZP2K9
7    Remote Masseuse
8    NextWar: The Quest for Earth
9    Little Racers
10    A Fading Melody

 

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Community Games, full versions purchased during the week.

We really hope the new Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts DLC, "L.O.G.s Lost Challenges," sells a lot of units. No, we don't have any financial stake in Rare or Microsoft, we just hope they can afford a better trailer than the one we've embedded just above.

Honestly, with that font and those production values, it looks more like an Olive Garden training video on making the perfect pasta than an advertisement for a game published by the world's largest company.

So, on April 7th, won't you please spend 400 MS points for 250 achievement points, 12 new challenges, 7 new multiplayer games and the satisfaction of knowing an up-and-coming studio won't have to post such a depressing trailer ever again? We think it's well worth it.

Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts DLC trailer is bumming us out originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking up duties as the face of the DiRT franchise, popular rally driver Ken Block tells us why he wanted to be involved in Codemasters' racer in the video above. Taking inspiration from the late (and sorely missed) Colin McRae, the new kid on the block regales his story of getting involved in the sport of rally racing and how he hopes to fill the gigantic shoes left behind. The video isn't all sitting around and talking, however, as it also shows Ken's influence in the sequel, with some brief snippets of gameplay. Expect plenty of big air opportunities in DiRT 2, as is Ken's style.

DiRT 2 is drifting toward a Fall release on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, ColecoVision, DS, Virtual Boy, and PC.

Codemasters signs Ken Block for DiRT 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel with the Ghost Hunters to Tampa, FL and watch as they investigate El Círculo Cubano de Tampa—the Cuban Club of Tampa. A social hub since 1918, the club seems to have earned some lifelong patrons. There have been repeated sightings of a female apparition in a white dress and red high heels wandering the staircases, as well as reports of moving furniture and heavy footsteps echoing throughout the grand ballroom. Then, join the TAPS team as they travel to Ybor City, FL to investigate the abandoned operating rooms of Trelles Clinic, a facility that once offered ‘cradle to grave’ care to its patients. The clinic houses its own disposal room where employees would grind the organs of lifeless patients. Developers who have entered the property have heard sounds of screaming coming from the once busy room and have experienced slamming windows and other phenomena.

New content is set to pull up alongside Saints Row 2, flashing gang signs and a new set of platinum rims. Developer Volition revealed that it is working on three new downloadable packs for the game, with the first, Ultor Exposed, set to arrive April 16 on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for 800 Microsoft Points or $10.

Players expecting something comparable to last month's Lost and the Damned, however, will need to seek the comfort of fellow gangstas after learning that this initial pack adds just three new missions, a competitive co-op "metagame" and porn star Tera Patrick as a homie to watch your back. Some new vehicles, weapons and maps are also promised. Still, compared to last month's GTA IV update, this downloadable comes off as lacking, but at just a tenner at least you won't have to sell your real gold grills to play.

Volition prepping new Saints Row 2 DLC for April 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Morgan (guest star Armie Hammer) tells Andi (Missy Peregrym) that Sam (Bret Harrison) is the Devil’s (Ray Wise) son. An escaped soul leaves her baby behind, causing Sam, Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez) to turn to Tony (Ken Marino) for help.