Brotherhood Gaming News

Additional Halo 3 Beta Qualifications Announced

2007-01-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

There are new details on additional methods to get into the Halo 3 Beta posted at Gamerscore Blog. This sounds pretty cool, any Bros up for the challenge?

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all gamers need to do is participate in at least three hours of “Halo 2” multiplayer sessions, via Xbox Live, before Feb. 3, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. EST and then be among the first 13,333 to register at http://www.halo3.com. The “Rule of Three” program is currently planned for gamers in the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) age 17 years and older who have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive, a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and the “Halo 2” game. Gamers around the world are encouraged to visit http://www.halo3.com in the coming weeks for more information on the “Rule of Three” program in their region.

Virtua Fighter 360

2006-12-21T17:52:00.000-05:00

GameDaily Biz: Virtua Fighter 360

Sega's latest fighter is PS3 exclusive no more

Sega announced today that Virtua Fighter 5 will be coming to the Xbox 360. Sega's seminal fighter will be coming to PS3 on February 20, 2007 in North America and in time for the European PS3 launch in Spring 2007. Virtua Fighter 5 will release on Xbox 360 in Summer 2007 in Europe and North America.

New Halo2 Maps this spring ... and Halo 3 public beta!

2006-11-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

Bungie Announced today that this spring XBOX 360 owners can look forward to new maps for Halo 2!

Also, in the same update they announced that Halo 3 will be available as a public beta on 360 as well.

Assault Rifle and Battle Rifle in Halo 3

2006-11-03T21:38:00.000-05:00

Episode 53 of the 1up show has unique insight on Halo3 multiplayer to share. Their impressions and descriptions of shield doors, man cannons & warthogs, how cool the levels are with specific stories from the matches they played.

Bungie's weekly update mentions that both the Assault Rifle AND Battle Rifle will be in Halo 3 as well as improved grenades. They also tease that fans of the original Halo gameplay are going to be very happy with 3.

A year away and specifics are materializing for the public.

Phantasy Star Universe Open Beta

2006-10-09T18:58:00.000-04:00

Starting on October 11th, Xbox 360 owners can check out the online multiplayer mode of Phantasy Star Universe for free in an exclusive Open Beta release. This limited time event will allow all Xbox Live Gold Subscribers to download the beta build on October 11 and October 12. Once they've downloaded the beta, Xbox Live Gold Subscribers will be able to play from 11 until October 18th . Depending on how many people are playing at once, server availability may be limited

For even more information about Phantasy Star Universe, check out the official website! www.phantasystaruniverse.com

Update: EgoDogg pointed to an additional release today Oct 11th:

"We apologize, but the BETA release dates have changed. The release date will no longer be Oct 11th, but should see release very soon after. Please watch this page, as well as our Official Phantasy Star Universe forums for more information. Thank you for your patience, we look forward to seeing everyone online very soon!"

http://www.phantasystaruniverse.com/news_beta.php

Halo RTS Announced

2006-09-27T17:48:00.000-04:00

Halo Wars, a Real Time Strategy game was announced as an XBOX 360 exclusive. Designed from the start with the 360 controller in mind.

E3 scales back for 2007

2006-08-01T14:59:00.000-04:00

Rocky Mountain News: : "The New E3"

E3 will no longer be the 60,000 + in attendance at a convention center. It will now be invitation only (around 5,000) and is likely to be held in a hotel.

Additional Articles:
NextGen: 10 Reasons for E3's Collapse
GamesIndustry: Lowenstein reveals name, date and venue change for E3

Xbox.com | Xbox Live Marketplace - Try the Free Table Tennis Demo

2006-07-28T02:50:00.000-04:00

Xbox Live Marketplace - Try the Free Table Tennis Demo

"The free demo features one- and two-player modes, but no online play via Xbox Live. The demo is available to both Silver and Gold subscribers—as long as you have a broadband connection to the service, you can download the demo to your hard drive and check it out."

Fuzion Frenzy 2 Coming This Holiday

2006-07-28T02:47:00.000-04:00

Gamerscore Blog : Fuzion Frenzy 2 Coming This Holiday

"Fuzion Frenzy 2 will have variety of 40 mini games that a wide audience can play. Players battle new tournaments on seven different planets by competing in games such as the Collision Collusion, Turbine Jumper, and Super Slam Dunk which is a advanced slam dunk shootout played in low gravity where players try to steal the ball from their challengers to score a slam dunk."

Castle Crashers Xbox 360

2006-07-25T17:53:00.000-04:00

1up: Castle Crashers Xbox 360 Preview. This is from the same guys that brought us Alien Hominid ... Coming to XBOX Live Arcade 2007. Check out the video of level 1 also: here.

360 Dashboard Update Released Today!! 6-6-06

2006-06-07T01:07:00.000-04:00

Taken from www.majornelson.com

Xbox 360 Dashboard release schedule

I am happy to inform you that the highly-anticipated Xbox 360 Dashboard update will be released tomorrow morning beginning at 0200 PT (See what time this is in your time zone.) This free update contains some of your top requested features including background downloading, boot to dash and others for a total of over 125 new features and enhancements. Read more details from the press release on Xbox.com or see the complete list of features here. Xbox.com's Elle also has this story on the update.

While the update is being released at 0200 PT not everyone will receive it immediately. It can take up to four hours for a user to be prompted to receive this update, so please be patient. There is no way to speed up the process, every Xbox 360 will receive the prompt to upgrade sometime between 0200 and 0600 (or the next time you sign in to Xbox Live.)

In addition to playing on Xbox Live, here are some things to do while you are waiting for the update to appear on your Xbox 360:
Read the Dash update story on Joystiq and Kotaku
Or you can listen to my recent podcast with Xbox PR manager BIGVIP where we go through some of the new features
Look at some new screen shots of the new features that will soon be on YOUR Xbox 360.

DS Lite on streets early

2006-06-01T08:41:00.000-04:00

DS Lite on streets early - Joystiq

Some area walmart and Target stores have placed the DS out for sale 11 days early. If you find a stockpile, add it to the Frappr Map of DS Lite availablility.

IGN is relaunching the Sega Dreamcast site

2006-06-01T08:32:00.000-04:00

IGN: IGN is relaunching the Sega Dreamcast site - IGN:

"The Dreamcast tallied roughly 250 games released in the U.S. We're going to play every last one of them and provide you with new impressions, screens and videos"

The new reviews will also list the current rarity, going price, and determined value.

The Merc: Microsoft Portable News

2006-05-30T19:34:00.000-04:00

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2006/05/microsofts_port.html#trackback

Microsoft's Portable Game Plans: Report From the Diffusion Group

Dean Takahashi, 01:04 PM in Dean Takahashi, Gaming

You read about it here first. But the Diffusion Group put a report out today that discusses Microsoft's plans to enter the portable games market in late 2007 or early 2008.

The press release is here. Here's an excerpt from the release. I got several no comments from Microsoft executives at E3, but this report is consistent with what I've heard.

May 30, 2006 (Dallas, TX) - New research from The Diffusion Group suggests that Microsoft will likely leverage its Xbox franchise to enter the portable game console (PGC) market in late 2007 or early 2008. According to TDG's latest report, On the Future of Portable Game Consoles: Analysis & Forecasts, Microsoft is expected to embed a portable multimedia player in a handheld gaming platform similar in many respects to Sony's PSP.

"Microsoft has been waiting on the sidelines until its gaming console and software business reached sustainability, all the while watching closely how Nintendo and consumers in general would respond to Sony's PSP," said Thomas Wolf, a portable media analyst and co-author of TDG's latest report. "With global PGC revenues expected to reach $3 billion annually by 2008, and with only Sony and Nintendo active in the PGC space, Microsoft has before it an incredible opportunity. It has a critical brand presence in the console space, the breadth and depth of gaming titles, and the marketing clout necessary to enter this space and win decent market share."

Microsoft has been evaluating two options regarding its portable gaming strategy: licensing a version of its Xbox OS for others to build portable hardware designs upon, or introducing its own branded PGC. "While licensing the software is consistent with Microsoft's larger strategy, and no doubt Microsoft has endured many failures in regard to hardware plays, the success of the Xbox presents Microsoft with a unique opportunity," said Michael Greeson, CEO of The Diffusion Group and co-author of the report. "Microsoft owns an established and highly-regarded hardware brand, meaning that they can enter the PGC market from a position of strength, a privilege not enjoyed by any other player except those already active in the PGC space."

Press Release from Diffusion

Xbox Live Vision Camera Launch Date Revealed

2006-05-30T17:57:00.000-04:00

Shutter opened on 360 camera - News at GameSpot

"Microsoft has been busy making sure that its Xbox 360 is up to speed. The most recent evidence of this is the massive dashboard update announced last week, which includes Web-cam support. Though the update will mean Xbox 360s are ready for the camera, it doesn't mean that the camera is necessarily ready for the Xbox 360.

The camera will be ready in September, however, according to Aaron Greenberg, group marketing manager of Xbox Live. On a podcast hosted by coworker and director of Xbox Live programming Larry Hryb, better known as Major Nelson, Greenberg said the camera will be released simultaneously in North America and Europe on September 19."

North Carolina Wants in on the Game

2006-05-30T15:50:00.000-04:00

IGN: North Carolina Wants in on the Game

"In a time when states are trying to regulate video games left and right, you may be surprised to find out some states are actually offering tax breaks for game companies to set up shop within their borders.

North Carolina is the latest state attempting to woo developers with tax credits. Rep. Pryor Gibson (Dem.) recently introduced H2157, which would provide eligible firms a 15% break on their taxes just for making games. 'Eligible' means companies who aren't developing games with obscene content. (States all over the country have been trying to enact legislation which would classify games with sexual content as 'obscene.')

North Carolina is already home to Epic Games (Gears of War, Unreal) and Virtual Heroes (America's Army)."

Star Fox DS gets new name

2006-05-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

Star Fox DS gets new name - News at GameSpot

"When Nintendo named the first DS installment of its 3D space-based shooter series as Star Fox DS earlier this month, it appeared the company was tapping into the same well of creativity that produced titles for Tetris DS, Super Mario 64 DS, and Mario Kart DS. Now it appears that the Star Fox DS moniker was only temporary, as Nintendo's Web site now lists the game as Star Fox Command."

Infinium Labs to become Phantom Entertainment?

2006-05-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

Infinium Labs to become Phantom Entertainment? - News at GameSpot

Infinium Labs has endured no small amount of criticism for its choice of "Phantom" as the name of its yet-to-materialize gaming console. Originally announced in 2002, the Phantom has been subject to endless delays, false starts, numerous changes to Infinium Labs' executive roster, and even a scandal or two.

But now the company has told investors that it plans to change its name...to Phantom Entertainment, Inc. Infinium has called a special stockholders' meeting for July 13 in Tampa, Florida, where the company hopes they will vote in favor of the name change. In the SEC filing detailing the meeting, the company gave the following reasoning for the switch:

"The Board of Directors believes that the name change would be in the best interests of the Company because the new name better reflects the long-term growth strategy of the Company."

The filing also mentions another development in the Infinium Labs saga, a lawsuit brought against the company by its former CEO Kevin Bachus. According to the filing, Bachus sued the company in March for almost $51,000 in "unpaid wages and accrued and unpaid personal time off." Infinium Labs said it "plans to defend itself vigorously in this matter."

Pimp My Ride and Harley Davidson revved up for Xbox 360 and PS2?

2006-05-30T15:43:00.000-04:00

Pimp My Ride and Harley Davidson revved up for Xbox 360 and PS2? - News at GameSpot

"The Retail Radar has picked up a handful of incoming bogies from Activision on EBgames' Web site today. Online retailers have a history of leaking publishers' announcements, putting up product pages for games that haven't yet been confirmed to exist. While these listings should not be taken as official confirmation about which games are coming out for which platforms, they are frequently an accurate indicator of what might be coming just over the horizon."

June declared Ratings Awareness Month

2006-05-30T15:42:00.000-04:00

June declared Ratings Awareness Month - News at GameSpot

As politicians across the country attempt to pass laws that give parents the tools they need to keep violent games away from their children, the industry is trying to make parents more aware of the tools already at their disposal.

June has been declared Entertainment Ratings and Labeling Awareness Month by the Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA), a group including the newly formed Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA). This is the third consecutive year CERTA has pegged June as the month "to increase parents' awareness of the ratings and labeling systems for movies, music, and video games and let parents know that stores, online services, and movie theaters are committed to helping them control their children's access to entertainment that is inappropriate for minors."

PS3 Pricing Could Spell Trouble for Publishers

2006-05-28T01:22:00.000-04:00

Next Generation - PS3 Pricing Could Spell Trouble for Publishers

"David Cole from strategic market research firm DFC Intelligence documents the events leading up to the PlayStation 3's final pricing, and suggests that the $600 price tag could leave PlayStation-dependent game publishers in a tough position."

The World's Most Expensive Game

2006-05-26T22:54:00.000-04:00

QJ.NET - The World's Most Expensive Game

"Promoting its game for the Xbox360, 2006 FIFA World Cup Soccer, Electronic Arts will be giving away what it says in the world's most expensive game. If you're in the U.K., visit one of the stores listed below, and you'll have a chance to win a replica of the game created in Sterling Silver, 18 karat gold and cut diamonds.

The game replica is valued at over £20,000 (about $37,000 USD).

EA is touring the locations listed below. In addition to showing the Grand Prize, they will be running mini-tournaments, giving gamers chances to win some other prizes."

Maryland Game Law Finds Industry Support

2006-05-26T12:39:00.000-04:00

IGN: Maryland Game Law Finds Industry Support

"The world of recent game legislation is populated by the fast and the dead. Bills to limit or ban sale of violent games have burst up, fungus-style, across the country, where each is met with ovation and outcry, and nearly each is eventually struck down in court.

The pattern may not continue, however. A Maryland bill addressing mature games content was signed into law by Governor Robert Ehrlich on May 2 -- and unlike similar legislation elsewhere, the bill is receiving game industry support.

According to GameDaily BIZ, the Entertainment Software Association is supporting Maryland's HB707 because the law does not impose a new rating system, nor does it levy fines for selling violent games to minors. Rather, the bill effectively includes sexually mature or explicit games in the wider group of media deemed illegal to show to minors. The law does not single out game violence for such inclusion, however, which the ESA would see as a double standard for games (violent books and movies are not considered "obscene")."

Mercenaries 2 Draws Fire from Venezuela

2006-05-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

IGN: Mercenaries 2 Draws Fire from Venezuela

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, the yet-to-be released shooting-and-exploding game in development at Pandemic Studios, is under attack by Venezuelan lawmakers as being what they decry as instruction on how to violently overthrow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

According to Associated Press reports supporters of President Chavez, a vocal and unreserved challenger of American policy, are up in arms about about the game's overarching mission objective simulating a military invasion of the oil-rich South American nation. According to Pandemic's website, the premise of Mercenaries 2 involves "a power-hungry tyrant [that] messes with Venezuela's oil supply, sparking an invasion that turns the country into a war zone."

SiN Episodes Coming to Consoles?

2006-05-26T12:36:00.000-04:00

IGN: SiN Episodes Coming to Consoles?

"Monday in an interview with notoriously entertaining chatter website Ain't It Cool News, Tom Mustaine, Vice President and Director of Development at Ritual Entertainment, candidly spoke about plans for a version of the SiN Episodes for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

Mustaine spoke at length about the first installment of SiN's Episodic series, Emergence, as well as the history of the SiN games. In the transcribed interview Mustaine then answered a question regarding the SiN Episodes remaining a PC exclusive, saying, "We're gunna [sic] do a 360 version at some point in the future. We haven't finalized those plans yet so I haven't really announced it yet. But we will be doing it. We also are hoping to be doing a Playstation 3 version as well. We were looking at Marketplace for the 360 because episodic on Marketplace would make a lot of sense."

IGN contacted Ryan Bowling at Sony who said that no plans to bring SiN Episodes to PS3 have been announced. Requests for comment from Microsoft had not been answered at this time."