Happy Birthday Grant!!

It’s your <insert made up age here> birthday!

This is just a little reminder to everyone that today, yes today, it’s Grant’s *cough* Birthday. So if you frequent Xbox.com, go easy on him and if you don’t, well why aren’t you?

From all of his minions here at XboxOZ360-Gamer, we’d just like to say Happy Birthday and all that jazz. So without further ado, here is your e-birthday song!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Grant…
Happy Birthday to you!

So from all of us, have a good one!

F1 Codemasters secure licence to develop F1 series

CODEMASTERS® SECURES OFFICIAL FORMULA ONE VIDEO GAME LICENCE – PRODUCT LINE TO BE JEWEL IN RACING GAME CROWN

Codemasters Studios to drive new generation of FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games across multiple formats.

Press Release: “`Monday 12th May 2008– Codemasters®, developer and publisher of award-winning racing video games, has secured the exclusive video game rights to FORMULA 1 it was announced today. In a worldwide licensing agreement with Formula One Administration Limited, Codemasters will develop a new generation of the multi-million selling FORMULA 1 game franchise across multiple platforms.

“`Codemasters Studios, creators of genre-leading racing titles Colin McRae: DiRT™ and Race Driver: GRID™, will lead the design and development of official FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games for home console, handheld and PC gaming formats. “FORMULA 1 is ambitious in expanding its reach with more circuits planned beyond recent additions in the Middle East and China. It is also ambitious in expanding its reach via technology.

The digital communities that computer and video gaming creates will play a key role in further growing the FORMULA 1 audience and connecting them globally,” said Rod Cousens, chief executive officer, Codemasters. “As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with FORMULA 1 is the jewel in Codemasters’ racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion.

FORMULA 1 has gone with the best, the segment leader. It has gone to the home of the EGO Engine for quality; it has gone to the company that can host FORMULA 1 Online, to the company that is streaking away from the pack.” “Codemasters’ success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge,” said Chris Deering, chairman, Codemasters.

“The combination of FORMULA 1’s new momentum of expansion and Codemasters’ contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen.” The worldwide deal provides Codemasters with rights to feature all Grand Prix circuits, FORMULA 1 teams, cars, and driver likenesses.

The FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games will be developed using the evolution of the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Codemasters’ highly versatile cross-platform middleware technology. Its advanced graphics and physics technology brings an unmatched cinematic quality and realism to interactive entertainment.

The EGO Engine is currently being deployed in the creation of Race Driver: GRID™, the latest in Codemasters Studio’s international circuit-based racing series. Set to be a landmark release when it launches on May 30th, Race Driver: GRID was recently hailed as “The driving game of the summer” by BBC Top Gear magazine.

Codemasters expects the first game based on the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to launch in 2009. Atari Australia are the exclusive distributors of Codemasters Games in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information on Atari’s entire product line-up please visit www.atari.com.au and log onto the Atari Trade Site for all box shots, demos, trailers and online screenshots.

Gamers Guide to Shopping in Australian Game Stores

A Gamers Guide to Shopping in Australian Game Stores

The Rules of my store . . .

By Sith Lord Jim

© Jim McIntyre

“`We have all seen or been it. An angry customer, crying kids and time wasters, but is the customer always right? Is it just me or do games salespeople have feelings too? Next time your trying to get your local retalier to match an online special while trading in a game that looks like it has been through the blender for a game that is a week before it’s street date, take a read of this and have a laugh at yourself!

“1. You are not as important as you think.
Yes I see you there, but as you can see I am currently serving someone else. Clear your throat one more time and I will clear it for you. “Accidently” kick the counter one more time and I will be forced to kick you. I value my job more than I value you as a customer, so no matter how much you lie and threaten to go elsewhere I still will not sell you games before they are released. If you could actually obtain it early from elsewhere I am sure you already would have done so.

“`2. It is not my responsibility to look after your kid for you.
I am a salesman, not a babysitter. If you leave your kid here understand that I could not care less if a random stranger takes them to their van, or they choke to death on the ice cream they are currently flinging around my store.

“`3. Just because you think you are a gangster…
I am not scared of you nor will I ever be. In fact I find the whole persona you are attempting to project quite laughable. I am not going to give you free stuff, no matter how cool you think you are, or how much you threaten me. Straighten up your hat, get a belt, put on a shirt, and remove yourself and your “homies” from my store.

“`4. Control your kid.
If your kid continues to throw games around the store, while screaming at the top of their lungs, I may be forced to throttle them for you. You may be able to stand there pretending you don’t see/hear what they are doing, but I can not and as I am going to have to clean up after them, I strongly suggest you deal with the kid before I do.

“`5. Bartering is not socially acceptable in Australia.
If it is $0.50 per card sleeve then you can pay $0.50 per sleeve, not 20 cents, 30 cents, or even 45 cents. It is not negotiable. It may have been had you not been so damn rude and I swear that if you utter “Oh well no harm trying” there will certainly be harm for your trying. I am not going to do you a deal simply because you are buying two $9.95 games. There are only 10 bucks each. Deal with it.

“`6. If the store’s front door is closed you can safely assume I am not open.
Do not pull the door open and ask if I am open. Obviously I would have the door open if I wanted people in the store. Do not send your child in to ask if we are open. They are going to get the same response you just got yourself. Kicking the door “accidently” will not cause me to open faster, but may in fact cause me to delay my opening.

“`7. I am not here to hear your life-story.
I will talk to you because A. I want your sale and B. I am a polite person at heart. Yet that does not entitle you to tell me everything about yourself. I do not want to know what you had for breakfast. I do not care that you got new insoles for your shoes. If I am not responding to anything you say it is safe to assume I stopped listening, as I do actually have better things to do than listen to you prattle on for an hour.

“`8. It is not my fault you are stupid.
If you are so dumb as to give you child money and allow them to buy whatever computer game they wish, then it is not my fault if it does not work on your system, it’s yours. Either get a better PC, a brain, or a better kid. I am not going to give you a refund on the grounds that your child is just as stupid as you, no matter how you word it, so do not try that line of argument.

“`9. There is a reason I don’t wear a nametag.
I do not know you, and you do not know me. I am your local games salesperson and lets leave it at that. I do not wish to go out for a drink with you, nor do I want for you to create “hip” nicknames for me. I’d rather if you didn’t say my name at all, but if you must then use my actual name. To you I am James, not Jim, Jimmy, Jim-Jams, or any variation thereof, unless I say otherwise. Just because you buy stuff from me does not make me your buddy. Yes I am friends with some customers and they may call me whatever they feel like, but that does not oblige me to be friends with you.

“`10. While you are welcome to have an opinion, I do not wish to hear it.
Unless you are a friend of mine (See rule 9) or someone I respect I do not actually care what you think. About anything in fact. If you do not like the music I have playing, feel free to not inform me of your dislike. If it happens to be Christian music and you have a problem with that belief system, then that is your issue and not mine, so feel free to not verbalise that. Unless I asked for your thoughts on a particular game, I do not want to hear it. I am aware that some stores do offer cheaper prices. There is no need to stand there and point out things that are overpriced. I can also hear you when you decide to loudly express your opinion to someone else while standing in the store. If you do need to discuss how much of a “cheapskate” I am, I would advise waiting till you were outside the store to do so.

Thank you in advance for your compliance.

© Jim McIntyre 2008

Mad Max: The Game Begins - or is it just far too late ?

“Apocalypse Now: Mad Max Just Plain Mad?”

by dkpatriarch

©2008 David Hilton

“`“We don’t need another hero!” screams Tina Turner in her song for Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Maybe we also don’t need another Mad Max game? After all the NES had one based on the second Mad Max film, The Road Warrior. And post-apocalyptic nuclear wastelands are so 1945-1980s aren’t they?

“`When I first learned that Mad Max filmmaker George Miller was collaborating with God of War 2’s Cory Barlog to make a Mad Max video game I arched my eyebrow in amazement. Could the Mad Max post-apocalyptic universe, with pitched battles over limited oil resources between thrifty but desperate survivors of a nuclear war and gangs of opportunistic punks, be a great game?

Fall Out 3

I am a child of the Cold War, when everyone grew up with the doomsday scenario of nuclear war between the West and the Soviet Union. Post-apocalyptic media was common during my childhood; along with Max there were movies like Terminator and The Day After. But then the Soviet Union dissolved and other threats came along to make us afraid. So would this game appeal to those who didn’t grow up under the cloud of nuclear proliferation?

Doomsday scenarios are always popular but recently nuclear destruction seems somewhat out of fashion: terrorism, bird flu and other pandemics, environmental disaster, and even asteroids have plagued our hopes for the future of humankind. Still, games like Resident Evil which used bio-weapons and pandemics instead of nuclear war and were only localized outbreaks do create a similar end of the world scenario where only a few remain to struggle to survive.

The recent game Bioshock used an almost post-apocalyptic claustrophobic utopia-gone-wrong caused by competition for scarce resources and the dark side of human nature. But it too was isolated to an underwater city. You knew the world was still alive out there; your goal was to get out and find safety.

Gears of War was definitely post-apocalyptic, but the world, though like our own, was not earth, and humans didn’t destroy it. Half Life 2 also had humanity struggling post-disaster; but this was an occupation by aliens.

Still, recent zombie films Resident Evil: Extinction, where the world has been over-run by the undead and looks very Mad Max-like, and 28 Weeks Later (spoiler) which sees the rage virus spread beyond Britain, make the destruction of humankind their biggest scare. In games like Resistance: Fall of Man 2 the destruction unleashed on Britain will reach the U.S. and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl had nuclear accident consequences coupled with experimentation. The threat to the world and everything we hold dear (or not in some cases) still captivates.

My initial skeptical reaction to the Mad Max game announcement may be wrong. A post-nuclear world game, if as George Miller promises, focuses on story as well as gameplay, can very much succeed. Maybe nuclear destruction can be a modern game’s backdrop instead of just a ubiquitous ‘threat’, especially as nuclear devastation was so effectively illustrated in one short passage of Call of Duty 4.

As far back as 1997, the game Fallout explored a world destroyed by nuclear war and soon Fallout 3 will bring our destroyed world to life (or actually is that death?) again this year. Though the game’s nuclear destruction takes place in 2077, the world environment is more as it was during the paranoid Cold War years of the 1950s. I very much look forward to exploring what is left of earth when it is released and I believe a great many others will too.

“`After all, a game centred around a nuclear-destroyed world with a lone hero protagonist who is alone and alienated, who is trying to re-connect with others who survived, may strike a cord with members of today’s fearful society that are said to be increasingly lacking in a sense of community and suffering a sense of isolation from others.

WTF? Okay, how about: Mad Max the game should simply strike a cord with any gamer who likes dune buggy car action, shooting, and a chance for great heroics bashing greedy wacko gang members’ skulls in. Here’s hoping Miller and Barlog can make a great post-apocalyptic game. If so, then to use another line from a song: “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine!”

©2008 David Hilton

• Additional Information:

Level Up Interview w/ Geaorge Miller Part 1

Level Up Interview w/ George Miller Part 2

:

Xbox 360 Harley Chopper Prize on Tour

Game™ & Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Chopper finished and on Tour.

Ready for one ‘very’ lucky 360 owner in June.

by XboxOZ360

©2008 Grant Smythe

“`Come the second week in June, some ‘very’ lucky so-n-so (yes, bloody jealous I am, so what he says) will be riding around on this *$AUD80,000 900cc Harley powered and meticulously handcrafted Chopper built by Dave Harvey of GLH Customs. I attended the “Official” unveiling of the bike last night at its first public outing at the Chatswood branch of Game™. To say it looks great, nay, awesome is an understatement. Damien Leigh was also there signing away to the crowds near the Chatswood Game store, and latter plonked his rearend on the chopper for a quick pic.

It really needs to be seen in the flesh to really appreciate the huge effort and immense talent that has gone into this creation. The paint work is superb to say the least (I used to do custom painting many yes ago, and know what to look for) and is just the right mixture of “wow appeal”, with the addition of just enough subtle pinstripping to set the green candy style paint off just right. Oh - and yes, the Guide Button and A-B- X and Y buttons also have functions such as Lights, and basic bike electronics, and are ‘backlite’ what else would you expect from something like this.

Chatswood store is managed by a very friendly staff, headed by Derick who definitely knows how to look after his customers and also ensure staff do to. It’s like a happy family affair, with staff answering many a gamer and non-gamers questions with ease. And when the odd occasion arose where one didn’t know the answer, they simply said so and asked for help. Much better than rolling out some half-baked “idea” that really is far from reality, as some stores do.

As you can see by the pick, the bike speaks for itself, and it will be appearing in several locations over the following weeks around the Sydney and Newcastle areas. You’ll find the locations below, although, as of last night, one of the dates has been moved around due to an additional promotional item not mentioned.

“`We’ll be covering the bikes various appearances to show the different stores and crowds and how they take to the chopper. Last night, almost all of the onlookers were suitably impressed, with many a camera-phone taking snaps and sending it on to their mates. Game and MS PR people were there to talk with the general public about the bike and the promotion, as well as hand out some little bits of info on it as well.

“`The bike took a solid 3 months of 60 hour weeks to build from scratch, the only items that weren’t custom built were the basic motor, wheels and smaller items. Everything else was ’scratch-built” see the video for a little show of its construction to get an idea of just what went into this great looking bikes birth.

It’s a typical “chopper” of course, sporting a “ridged-arse” frame and raked handmade forks, which give it the whole low-slung look of a chopper. While not suited for your trip down the supermarket, or zipping in and out of the city’s peak hour traffic, it certainly is built to roll and turn heads while still remaining quite maneuverable on the street. Something that many custom choppers lack at times. And forget about slingin’ the misus on the back, (or the boyfriend), it’s a One-Person-Ride . . and just the way it should be.

We will be doing an interview with creator and builder Dave Harvey of GLH Customs soon, so stay tuned for that during one of the following updates of the Choppers tour of Sydney and Newcastle areas. Yes yes, what about Melbourne, Perth etc etc, well, given there’s just a few weeks before it’s drawn, and Sydney having the highest population in Australia, it makes sense to show it off locally rather than add days to travel time shipping the bike around the country.

All you need to do to win this excellent statement of handcrafted metal work and paint, is just spend $499 on the Xbox360 GTA:IV bundle and you automatically go in the draw, plus you get a “Scratch-N-Win” ticket to enter into the additional draws for products such as Samsung LCD TV. And at that price, well below normal retail, you’d be made not to grab a 360 from Game right now. That’s $499 for console and GTA:IV, try grabbing the same from anywhere else, I doubt you’d find the same deal anywhere.

The 360 Chopper will be appearing at the following locations:

For more info visit http://www.game.com.au/chopperprizes.

During May the Xbox 360 Chopper Bike will on show at various locations around Sydney and Newcastle, including those listed below:

• Westfield Chatswood Thursday 8th May 08 5pm to 9pm
• Windsor-Riverview Shopping Centre Saturday 17th May 08 9am to 5pm
• Westfield Miranda Thursday 22nd May 08 5pm to 9pm
• Westfield Kotara- Kids Precinct Saturday 24th May 08 9am to 5pm
• Blacktown WestPoint Shopping Centre Thursday 29th May 08 5pm to 9pm
• Rouse Hill Shopping Centre Saturday 31st May 08 9am to 5pm

Click any image on page for Full View:

* Estimated value when completed

GTA:IV - Aussie gamers make Xbox 360 their Grand Theft Auto IV platform of choice

Aussie gamers make Xbox 360 their Grand Theft Auto IV platform of choice

Press Release

“`Thursday, 8 May – Xbox 360 is the lead platform of choice for Grand Theft Auto IV after Gfk statistics show copies of the game on the 360 outsold those of its rival platform.

The release of the popular crime epic described by the New York Times as ‘a new level of depth for an interactive entertainment experience’ helped dramatically push sales of the Xbox 360 console in Australia.

“We believe the exclusivity of the downloadable content combined with our excellent Xbox LIVE online experience drew more Australian gamers to the Xbox 360 to play Grand Theft Auto IV,” said Jeremy Hinton, Australian Xbox Product Marketing Manager.

Australian Xbox 360 owners will be able to enjoy the multiplayer version of the game using the Xbox LIVE service which allows them to play against over 10 million other Xbox LIVE users globally.

Grand Theft Auto IV owners will be spending the next few weeks attempting to complete the full game but Microsoft believes the Xbox LIVE numbers will increase significantly as more players move from the singe-player campaign to multiplayer mayhem on Xbox LIVE.

“Already our global Xbox LIVE statistics show that gamers played over 9,700,000 hours of Grand Theft Auto IV online multiplayer within the first week of launch with your average user playing for 239 minutes,” added Hinton.

“Our Xbox LIVE marketplace is a fast, effective and easy to use feature of the console. Only the Xbox 360 version will allow Grand Theft Auto IV fans to get their hands on downloadable content in the coming months.”

Global Xbox LIVE statistics show that on the first week of launch:

• More than 2.3 million people have played “Grand Theft Auto IV” on Xbox LIVE
• Xbox Live has reached one million concurrent users.
• The average gamer is spending more than four hours playing “Grand Theft Auto IV” in the first week.
• More than 12 million Achievements were unlocked
• More than 111,000,000 million gamerscore unlocked

“

“Click to Return to main page:

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Mirrors Edge: a reflection of where gameplay might be heading

Mirrors Edge, a new approach to FPS/P gameplay by Digital Illusions.

You run rather than gun in this FPS/P game (part 1)

by XboxOZ360

©2008 Grant Smythe

Updated Info - Game play footage and Developers Interview videos: See below:

“`As more new IP’s hit the pages of mags across the globe, you would have to of been living under a rock if you have not yet noticed a certain change in the way developers are dealing with gameplay in their new IP ventures. A change that will hopefully be altering the way we interact will the games of the future.

“`Gamers have been calling out for ages for new innovations in games, but, innovation from a developers standpoint means huge risks factors, and usually will not get the financial support from the all important publishers who will basically be funding the developers of said new IP.

Unless it is run by an in-house development and publishing firm, which can usually absorb the lose if it goes south. However, many 3rd party developers have to rely on their publishers NOT putting the thumbs screws on them to make the game more accessible for all players. Basically meaning, keep it simple, like the rest before it, and don’t go out on a limb with new ideas that could possibly turn sales off, rather than on.

Publishers know that the devil you know is the devil you love, and the one that gamers buy time after time. It’s why sequels, while hated everywhere, are the most popular sales figures in all gaming circles. They require little risk, and the game can basically be shitte, yet it will sell by the container load. It’s a no-risk situation for most publishers. Backing a new IP, let alone one with a new gameplay element, is not what most publishers look for when scouting a new title, or when one is being “pitched” to it for consideration.

As Patrick Soderlund, General Manager of EA DICE, commented about the games concept: “We are a studio that believes in taking risks and taking games in new directions. We made the sandbox experience viable and enjoyable in Battlefield and now, we are looking to do something radical with the traditional established mechanics of first person movement.” Senior producer, Owen O’Brien, also commented that: “We want to change the way that players are able to move in first person. No more restrictions, no more being blocked by simple barriers such as walls and fences. We want to enable the player to move like a real person, with the ability to run, jump, vault and slide in a way that has never been seen before in a first person game.”

Continued with Video and full media blowout after the jump:

XBLA Tiqal Review

Tiqal - XBLA Review

The Mayans Tetris unraveled

by darkmurder

©2008 Noel Schneilder

“`The Mayans were one of the Earth’s great civilizations during their time period on Earth. Tiqal is a puzzle game that bases its main story line on a young warrior who is on a quest for glory and who along the way gains special power-ups from pleasing Mayan gods. Now before you get all excited, remember this is a puzzle game, so don’t expect a gory hack-and-slash cannibalistic game based on the Mayan civilization.

“`Tiqal in essence is a game that plays a hell of a lot like and even looks like the most addictive puzzle game ever, Tetris. Its core gameplay is clearly derived from Tetris and the rules simple and easy to follow. The aim of the game is to destroy all of the blocks on the screen, or just hold out until the block based timer runs out.

Tiqal makes its gameplay very addictive and is aimed at the casual gamer with the simple philosophy; make 2×2 blocks of the same colour for them to collapse. You start with a select amount of lives and should your screen fill up, you’ll lose a life and the blocks will retreat. Run out of lives and you can kiss your game goodbye as it’s then game over. Sound easy so far? If so then you will find this very easy.

The game constantly employs the use of power-ups to try and freshen up the rather bland gameplay. As the game progresses, you can obtain new power-ups by following your warriors progress (after each level you gain a new mission to the story) and every second level in each chapter grants you the abilities to new power-ups.

Some power-ups that are commonly featured are Spears of Mixcoatl which collapses 3 random columns, Jaguar’s Strike which removes all blocks of the same colour and Gift of Tohil which destroys a certain area in an engulfing burst of flames. As you delve deeper into the storyline you can also gain new shapes which can make building your blocks higher and wider for more combos much easier. As you progress the levels will become far longer and the chance for higher combos makes your scores go up insanely quickly.

Click any image for Full View:

Tiqal features many interesting facts about the Mayan civilization and looks to employ the same tactics that were introduced by Age of Empires (even the music has a very Age of Empires feel to it, shame the gameplay doesn’t!). By passing each level you will learn something new about the Mayan culture and what your warrior’s mission was about generally relates to the fact.

Continues & heaps of pics after the jump:

Vodafone Australia gets the iPhone DownUnder

iPhone in Australia goes to . . Vodafone

not Telstra or Optus . . . thank goodness.

by XboxOZ360 (thanks Ben)

©2008 Grant Smythe

“`After months of speculation, debate, internet skuttle-butt, the hammer finally dropped today with the announcement that Vodafone Australia will be the carrier for the iPhone in the Australian territories. So finally, all those bricked iPhones sitting around can finally have a local carrier service

Expect a huge lift in sale for Vodafone, and personally, I think Apple has made a wise move choosing Vodafone over the two main competitors here in Australia. I sure as hell didn’t want Telstra grabbing hold of our “Precious”, as once in its grip, it would make life for any iPhone owner pure hell . . Optus on the other hand would have been my second viable choice, and seeing that Vodafone have nabbed the deal, then it ‘might’ be time to start looking at a new mobile carrier for yours truley.

Press Release:

Australia officially welcomes you iPhone, let’s have a barbie shall we.

Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in Australia.”The iPhone will be the perfect addition to Vodafone Australia’s mobile handset range. The iPhone’s Australian launch is well-timed to coincide with our plans to deliver an enhanced mobile internet and entertainment experience to customers,” said Russell Hewitt, chief executive officer of Vodafone Australia.”The iPhone has already proved to be extremely popular with customers in other parts of the world and Vodafone is confident that today’s announcement will be well received by all Australians who are keen to get their hands on their own iPhone.”

In addition to Australia, Vodafone customers in the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will also be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network



There is no news on what model iPhone will be available when it released, with much anticipation surrounding the rumoured release of a 3G model in June.

Vodafone and Apple also couldn’t confirm whether or not the Vodafone deal was exclusive, amid rumours that the iPhone will be available on multiple networks in Australia. In the US, the iPhone is exclusively locked to the AT&T network.

Click here for more Apple news…

OzBoxLive Radio Episode #030

OzBoxLive Radio Episode #030 up now!

“OzBoxLive Radio #030 - GTA Special

“`Just a reminder to all those who listen to Australia’s leading Xbox Radio, this weeks session is available for download or listening live now. We here at X360 want to support all Australian based gaming sites, and helping both Mark and Kane out is one way of doing that, so please support them as well as us.

In this weeks episode of OzBoxLive Radio…

- News and Announcements with Kane
- Review - Grand Theft Auto IV
- Interview - Customers at Midnight Launch
- Xcessory of the Week - Wireless Racing Wheel
- Group Discussion - The GTA Frachise
- Competition - Visit site for details

Do check in with OzBoxLive, especially for this week competitions and prizes