Xbox 360 now supports USB storage

A recent update to the Xbox 360 firmware now enables the console to use USB flash drives as a method of storage.

A minimum of 1GB of storage must be available on the USB flash drive for it to function properly. A flash drive with a capacity of up to 16GB will be supported; however two may be used simultaneously for up to 32GB of storage. Anything higher than a 16GB capacity will only have that amount recognized, while all other space is simply ignored.

Visit www.xbox.com/en-US/storage/default.htm for more information.

The history of Hacky Sack

The footbag, or “Hacky Sack,” has cultural origins from nearly every country, including China, Thailand and Native America. The modern sport was invented in 1972 by John Stalberger and Mike Marshall. Marshall had made a small bean bag and was kicking it around while Stalberger was recovering from knee surgery. Recognizing a new way to exercise his knee, Stalberger joined in on kicking the bag and invented a game they called “Hackin’ the Sack,” and eventually marketed the product under the name “Hacky Sack.”
When Marshall suffered a fatal heart attack in 1975, Stalberger took over the business and started the National Hacky Sack Association. Stalberger later sold the rights to Wham-O, Inc. to produce the footbag.
Since the games invention, various different versions have come about including “Footbag Net” with a similar style to volleyball, and the more commonly played “Freestyle Footbag” where players do tricks while passing the bag around in a circle without using their hands and not allowing the bag to touch the ground.

Peter Steele dead at 48

Type O Negative front man and bassist Peter Steele passed away April 16 at age 48. The cause of death is unknown, but it is believed Steele passed due to what appeared to be heart failure.

A statement written by band members Josh Silver, Kenney Hicky and Josh Kelley has been posted on the band’s official site, www.typeonegative.net, and reads as follows:

“It is with great sadness that we inform you that Type O Negative front man, bassist, and our band mate, Peter Steele passed away last night of what appears to be heart failure.

Ironically, Peter had been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was due to imminently begin writing and recording new music for our follow up to “Dead Again” released in 2007.

The official cause of death has yet to be determined pending autopsy results. The funeral services will be private and memorial services will be announced at a future date. We’d like to share our thoughts and those of Peter’s family below.
We are truly saddened to lose our friend and appreciate the tremendous outpouring today from around the world.

Sincerely,
Josh, Kenny and Johnny”

Steele had been working on music for the follow up to the “Dead Again” album at the time of his death. More information will be posted following autopsy results as it becomes available.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ a ‘mad’ sensation

“Curiouser and curiouser,” Alice says in disbelief after falling through a hole to Wonderland. However, there is nothing “curious” about the success of Tim Burton’s version of “Alice in Wonderland.” The reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale definitely lives up to, if not surpasses, standards set by previous Burton films.

Mia Wasikowska plays the lead role of Alice, with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. The movie also utilizes the voice talents of Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Christopher Lee, just to name a few.

When Alice falls into the hole after escaping an engagement party, she ends up in Wonderland. There she meets the characters of the fairytale land: The rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, The blue caterpillar, and Cheshire Cat. They then reveal to her the destiny she is to fulfill: to slay the Jabberwocky, a large dragon like creature. Alice must then retrieve the sword “Vorpal” from the Red Queen’s palace, return it to the White Queen and become the champion of her court. However, this is not Alice’s first time in Wonderland as it would seem. She went there as a child as well, but passed it off as a reoccurring dream.

Burton’s 3-D film opened March 7 and grossed $116.3 million opening weekend. This shatters the record set by James Cameron’s “Avatar,” which earned $73 million for its opening weekend Dec. 18, 2009.

“Alice in Wonderland” is available in both a 3-D and 2-D version, though the 3-D format of the film is far superior in terms of entertainment. The 3-D version does cost more, but is well worth the extra money. The soundtrack, composed by Danny Elfman, is remarkable, making audience members feel the emotion of the scene. All in all, “Alice in Wonderland” is definitely one of Tim Burton’s finest films to date. “Alice in Wonderland” gets a 10 out of 10.

‘Green Day: Rock Band’ to hit shelves later this year

“Green Day: Rock Band” will be the fifth installment in the “Rock Band” franchise to be released later this year.  The exact date of the game’s release has not yet been announced. 

The game will feature virtual simulations of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, performing on guitar, vocals, bass and drums respectively.  All previous peripherals designed for the “Rock Band” games will be compatible with “Green Day: Rock Band,” however no indication of specially designed instruments to resemble those of the band members has been announced like those of “The Beatles: Rock Band,” though the idea remains plausible.

No specific tracks have been formally announced, but “American Idiot” was seen being played during the announcement trailer for the game leading to speculation that the track will be available in-game.  Previous Green Day songs made available for download in previous “Rock Band” games, such as “¡Viva La Gloria!” and  “21 Guns”, will be compatible with “Green Day: Rock Band”. Also, all tracks in the game will be made exportable to other “Rock Band” titles except “The Beatles: Rock Band.”

New feature added to ‘Ubisoft’ games

Game developer Ubisoft has created a new community and rewards system called Uplay. Uplay lets players join a community for their favorite Ubisoft games and earn in-game rewards just for completing certain tasks that are already part of the game’s plot. Currently, Uplay is only available for “Assassin’s Creed 2,” but will also be implemented for use with “Splinter Cell: Conviction” and “R.U.S.E.” in 2010.

Uplay is definitely a value to the games because it lets players unlock in-game rewards for free as opposed to paying for them through the game console’s server, thus saving players money or “points” that could be used for something else not available in such a way. Similar ideas to “Uplay” will hopefully be used by other developers as well and let players unlock more game features without paying out-of-pocket expenses to to do so.

New update for Xbox 360 available today

A new update for the Xbox 360 consoles is now available via Xbox LIVE. The new update allows users to access Facebook, Twitter, Zune and Last.fm through their Xbox 360 consoles.

Twitter works relatively the same as it normally would on computers, but Facebook has a feature that allows gamers to check updates, post in-game achievements to their news feed, view photos and even invite Facebook friends that are not already on the gamer’s Xbox LIVE friends list.

The new Last.fm feature adds the capability to stream music and lets gamers create their own “stations” similar to the way Pandora internet radio does. The Zune player is a more hi-definition version of the media player Xbox LIVE had already employed. This means users still must pay to view content, but can get it in a much higher resolution.

The only downside to this new update is that users must be signed up under an adult account, meaning users ages 17 and under will not be getting this particular update until a “safer” version is created.

Sony has also released information that limited Facebook integration will be available in an upcoming Playstation 3 firmware update. So PS3 users will not be missing out on this feature, they’re just going to have to wait a little longer.

‘Halo Wars’ takes a ‘Risk’

The popular video game “Halo Wars” has been combined with the classic strategy-based board game “Risk.”  Players can take control of  the UNSC, the Covenant or the Flood, each with its own objectives and game play.  The UNSC is the human army, while the Covenant and the Flood are of alien descent.  Whichever side is chosen, players fight for control on a board version of the “Halo” setting Arcadia.  The game comes with over 290 custom figures including UNSC fire bases, scorpion tanks, Spartans, Covenant command centers, Arbiter, and Flood juggernauts.  A custom game board and seven dice are also included. 

“Risk: Halo Wars” is approved for players ages twelve and up and accommodates up to three players.  For the latest news about the game,  go to www.thestrategicconquest.com

‘The Beatles: Rock Band’ just short of Beatlemania

‘The Beatles: Rock Band” follows the Fab Four through their music career from their beginnings at the Cavern Club to their final performance atop the Apple Records building rooftop.  The game features 45 songs from The Beatles’ catalogue including “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “I Feel Fine,”  “I am the Walrus,” “Back in the USSR,”  “Here Comes the Sun” and “Octopus’s Garden.”

Players are able to play guitar, bass, vocals or drums just as in previous “Rock Band” titles.  In celebration of The Beatles, however, special versions of the instruments are available for the game inspired by the instruments played by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.  The instruments are sold separately from the game or can also be purchased in the special edition box set for $249.99.

“The Beatles: Rock Band” should definitely be on the “To Buy” list for both “Beatles” lovers and “Rock Band” fans alike.  The game lives up to standards set by the previous two “Rock Band” titles in terms of game play.  However, one downside is that players cannot use downloadable content from other artists as can be done on the previous games.  The game play, therefore, can become somewhat boring if the player is not a “Beatlemaniac.”

The price of the special edition box set is relatively high compared to that of the standard version priced $100 less.  A positive side is that the game does not feature opening bands making it focused and original. Also, the likenesses of Lennon, Harrison, Starr and McCartney are astoundingly uncanny to the musicians.  This game gets an 8 out of 10.

“The Beatles: Rock Band” is rated “T” for mild lyrics and tobacco reference

Official websites: www.rockband.com www.thebeatlesrockband.com

‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ sets high standards for franchise

The latest addition to the Batman franchise is the video game “Batman: Arkham Asylum”, which was released on Aug. 24.  The action takes place in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, the holding place of some of Batman’s greatest adversaries including Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc and, of course, The Joker.  The game begins with Batman returning The Joker to Arkham, only to have him break loose and take control of Arkham Island.  As the Dark Knight, players use a dynamic free-flow combat system and the skills of the world’s greatest detective to take down the Clown Prince of Crime and regain control of the facility.

The game also includes a challenge mode with varying requirements to complete each level ranging from achieving a given score to performing certain moves on enemies.  One disappointment of the game is that when a character is defeated they go into the ragdoll effect, meaning their bodies flail uncontrollably as they fall to the ground.  Making the defeat of characters more realistic would make the game more engaging.  Also adding more key, but omitted, villains of the series, such as Mr. Freeze, would make game play more enjoyable to the hardcore Batman fan.  Nonetheless, the overall story and game play lives up to, if not surpasses, the previous Batman standards. This game gets a 10 out of 10.

Batman was created by Detective Comics, more commonly known as DC, in 1939 and has since been the basis for several more comic book series, animated series, movies, videogames and a live action television show.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum” is rated “T” for alcohol reference, suggestive themes, tobacco reference, violence and blood

Click here for “Predator Mode” gameplay footage from comicbookresources.com

Official website: www.batmanarkhamasylum.com