Xbox 360 – Page 5

New Xbox 360 controller to fix the mushy D-pad

August 31, 2010 Doug Groves controller, Microsoft, Microsoft Canada, Play And Charge kit, transforming D-pad, Wireless, Xbox 3602 Comments

Microsoft has announced an updated wireless controller for the Xbox 360, which should fix the problems with the original controller’s D-pad. Although it functions just fine, the design of the original left a lot to be desired, as it can be somewhat mushy and imprecise in regular usage. I got accustomed to it fairly quick, but it has nothing on either Sony or Nintendo’s D-pads. Of course, I’d argue that the PS3 controller is an anachronism from controller days gone by, and is only barely more ergonomic than a Colecovision…

At X’10 – Fable III interview with Josh Atkins

August 31, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves fable 3, Fable III, interview, josh atkins, lionhead, Microsoft, PC gaming, preview, Show, x10, Xbox 360, Xbox Live3 Comments

In our final interview at Microsoft’s X’10 event in Toronto, we talk with Design Director Josh Atkins of Lionhead Studios about what to expect in Fable III, and the importance of storytelling in video games, from the writing to the voice talent. One of the goals was to engage the player enough to actually put down the controller and think about the moral decisions they make. “For us, the idea of a choice, it really has to make you care. It can’t just be so good/evil. It’s got to be…

Fan Expo 2010 – The Big Crunch

August 30, 2010 Doug Groves Anthology Project, Comics, Fan Expo, Fan Expo 2010, Film, PC gaming, PS3, Pure Pwnage, Xbox 3601 Comment

With the end of the last weekend of August comes the end of Fan Expo, by far the largest gathering of fans from across the geek spectrum in Canada, and third largest in North America. 2010 also marks the third year that we at RGB Filter have stormed the gates with video cameras and mics in hand to interview artists, writers, game designers and the occasional geek celebrity, meaning that I’m personally looking at about 6 hours of footage to pour through. One of the consistent highlights of Fan Expo…

At X’10 – Fallout: New Vegas

August 29, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks, Fallout, Fallout New Vegas, interview, Matthew Perry, PC gaming, PS3, x10, Xbox, Xbox 3609 Comments

Taking place about 3 years after the events of Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas spans an area about the size of the Capital Wasteland, but it’s not quite the post apocalyptic environment. Since Vegas wasn’t directly targeted in the attacks of the Great War, they still have power, which means there’s going to be a lot more colour in the new game. You can expect about the same amount of game play as in the Fallout 3, but they’ve introduced a few new elements, such as the Companion Wheel, which…

At X’10 – Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

August 28, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves Autolog, Criterion Games, EA, Hot Pursuit, Microsoft, multiplayer, Need For Speed, racing game, taunt wall, x10, Xbox, Xbox 3601 Comment

Dana Sissons, Public Relations Manager for EA, talks to us about the latest version of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, developed by Criterion Games, makers of the Burnout series and set in the fictional Seacrest County, based on the California coastline. This offers up a variety of racing environments, with the four major variants being forests, mountains, desert and ocean. As Dana explains, the new Need For Speed aiming to provide short burst, intense racing, focusing on the thrill of the chase. He also mentions that the developers took inspiration…

At X’10 – Halo: Reach sneak peak

August 27, 2010August 28, 2010 Doug Groves Bungie, co-op, event, Forge, Forge World, FPS, gallery, Halo, Halo: Reach, multiplayer, sneak peak, video, x10, Xbox 360, Xbox Live0 comment

One of the closed door events at X’10 this year was for the highly anticipated final chapter of Halo, at least from Bungie. Unfortunately, once we were ushered behind the heavy curtains we weren’t allowed to actually record anything, but we did get to see the first single player missions, Noble Actual and Winter Contingency in action. The single player gameplay was exactly what one would expect out of Halo, with even more polish put on the engine itself. While Reach introduces squad play, there’s no real squad mechanic in…

At X’10 – Microsoft Kinect

August 27, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves Dance Central, Dashboard, Kinect, Kinect Adventures, Microsoft, motion control, x10, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live4 Comments

One of the highlights of X’10 was getting a chance to go “hands on” with Microsoft’s controller-free controller Kinect. The various mini games in Kinect are actually quite the workout (see about 1 minute in the above video), and though there is lag, it didn’t seem to affect gameplay. We also got a sneak peak at the Kinect friendly version of the Xbox Dashboard, which allows you to navigate the console with either gestures or voice commands. Both features were working spot on, and it seems that Microsoft’s goal of…

Halo: Reach – Deliver Hope live action trailer

August 26, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves Bungie, Halo, Halo: Reach, Hybrid long, Microsoft, trailer, Xbox 360, Xbox Live0 comment

With less than a month to go until Halo: Reach hits store shelves, wrapping up Bungie’s involvement with the seminal Xbox franchise, new live action trailers have been coming out on a regular basis. Besides making a great game in its own right, the live action trailers are effective at delivering an emotional impact, and for me, always leave me saying… “Movie please?” Catch the earlier Hybrid live trailer after the break…

At X’10 – Assassins Creed Brotherhood brings new multiplayer mode

August 26, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, interview, multiplayer, Show, Ubisoft, Ubisoft Montreal, Wanted Mode, Xbox 360, Xbox Live0 comment

(or hit the YouTube version) Aleissia Laidacker from Ubisoft Montreal takes us through some of the opening of Assassins Creed Brotherhood, and chats with us about some of the new features in both single and multiplayer modes. Ubisoft appears to have further refined and added new elements to the engine, which includes a lot more horseplay (literally), some new mission variety, and at least one multiplayer mode that they’re openly talking about. There ARE some spoilers in the video above, and after the break, so keep that in mind.

At X’10 – Rock Band 3, keyboard and up to seven players

August 25, 2010September 20, 2010 Doug Groves All Instruments Mode, harmonix, keyboards, Marc Nesbitt, Microsoft, MTV Games, PS3, Rock Band 3, x10, Xbox 3602 Comments

The keyboard isn’t the only thing new about the latest iteration of Rock Band, as it also rolls in the harmonies introduced with the Beatles version. At Microsoft’s X’10, we had a chance to talk with Marc Nesbitt, Senior Producer of MTV Games about some of the features and philosophy in bringing Rock Band 3 to market. Harmonix also found a way around the 4 player maximum on the console. By enabling an “All Instruments Mode”, up to 7 people can play at once (4 instruments, up to 3 singers). …

Left 4 Dead’s Sacrifice not written in stone

August 23, 2010August 23, 2010 Doug Groves DLC, L4D, L4D2, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Mac gaming, PC gaming, Steam, Steam powered, The Sacrifice, Valve, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Zombies2 Comments

When Valve released “The Passing” DLC for Left 4 Dead 2, it was the first time that we got to see the cast of the original L4D in the new game. We also saw the ultimate fate of one of the original characters, but I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen it yet. The newest DLC for the franchise is called “The Sacrifice”, and will finally fill in that bridge (no pun) between the two, as it will tell the story leading up to “The Passing” from the…

Windows Phone 7 launch games announced

August 19, 2010 Doug Groves bing, Bing maps, Crackdown, Microsoft, Microsoft Canada, Project Sunburst, Star Wars, THQ, Windows Phone 7, WP7, x10, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live2 Comments

In anticipation of the international fall launch of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft has announced the starting line up of games, clocking in at over 60 titles. This includes some casual mobile classics like Uno and the always addictive Bejewelled, and mobile interpretations of console titles such as Guitar Hero 5, Halo: Waypoint, and Assassins Creeed. For Star Wars fans there’ll be a couple of games developed by THQ – Cantina, which puts you in the role of a Tatooine bar owner, and Battle For Hoth, a tower defense game set…