The Gaming Vault » Major Nelson

Current 360 D-pad sucks, Microsoft releases new one

Jens Erik Vaaler — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:40:24 +0000

It’s about fucking time, am I right? Major Nelson confirmed today that a new 360 wireless pad will be released on November 9.

What’s new about it, you ask? Well, apart from being dull and silvery grey, it’s got a D-pad that should actually work. With a mere turn of the wrist, you can switch between a disc to a raised cross.

“In addition to the new d-pad, the matte silver controller also features concave analog sticks and gray A,B,X,Y buttons for added style. The controller will only be available with the new Play & Charge Kit that will launch on November 9th for US $64.99,” said the Major on his blog.

Vanquish demo out now

Jens Erik Vaaler — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:28:35 +0000

SEGA and Platinum Games present Vanquish, the ultimate in blue blooded American wish fullfilment fantasy, in which an all American main character gets to shoot up Russian robots and soldiers alike on a space station.

And now YOU can fullfil that fantasy too, as the Vanquish demo hits US Xboxes today. Europeans will have to wait until tomorrow, sadly. This news comes courtesy of the good Major Nelson.

So go suit up in your Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS, get it? *snigger*), and shoot up some ruskies.

Boost into the ultra-fast and frenetic third-person-action-shooter, Vanquish. Boost from cover point to cover point blasting robot enemies with your transforming weapon pod. Use the high-tech Augmented Reaction Suit to amplify your senses to a critical state and get the drop on your opponents, thrashing before they ever knew what hit them. If enemies get too close, punch, kick and pummel them into scrap. See what the “action” in third-person-action-shooter is really all about. VANQUISH OFFICIAL DEMO – VELOCITY ATTACK is set in the landing bay of the Providence Space Colony in a desperate fight to gain control of the facility. But the enemy has more in store as the massive Argus robot emerges to dominate the battlefield.

Xbox Live Gold gets a price hike

Jens Erik Vaaler — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:26:52 +0000

Hurray for capitalism! Time for gamers to get prissy again.

Microsoft announced today that as of November 1, 2010, the price of Xbox Live Gold will increase in Canada, the US, UK and Mexico. The annual price for Xbox Live Gold increases with $10 in the US, with appropriate price hikes in the other mentioned countries as well.

If you want to, the good Major has offered to let you renew your 12 Month Gold membership and get 30% off the new price for Xbox Live.

“Since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same. We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry.

However, we do want to thank our loyal members and give you the opportunity to lock in your current price with an additional discount, so now would be a good time to renew your subscription.”

So that’s it. If you want to play games online, it’s going to be more expensive than it already was. I only have one question, though. Is “UK” synonymous with “Europe”? If it isn’t, I might manage to dodge this price hike.

10 XBLA games on sale starting today

Jens Erik Vaaler — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:25:58 +0000

Microsoft is having its first ever “Inventory Blowout Sale” on Xbox Live Arcade games starting today through April 7th. This was confirmed by Major Nelson

This means 10 XBLA games are on sale for up to 53 percent off its original price. And you can’t really beat bargains like that, can you?

The sale will be available to both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members. Full list of games on sale can be found after the cut.

Games that were 800 MS Points that are now 400 MS Points:

* South Park
* Defense Grid
* Rocket Riot:
* Mad Tracks
* Lumines Live
* Age of Booty
* Schizoid
* Wallace & Gromit Episode 1
* Super Street Fighter II HD Remix: was 1200, now it’s 560
* Track & Field: was 400, now it’s 240

Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction Special Edition Bundle announced

Jens Erik Vaaler — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:17:14 +0000

Bundles, bundles, bundles, bundles. With the huge amounts of greatly anticipated games coming in 2010, Special Edition Bundles seem to be coming out of the woodworks.

Microsoft announced today an Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction Special Edition Bundle. Try saying it five times fast.

The bundle will be available in North American, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for $399 in April. It contains a standard edition copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction, a 250Gb hard drive and two Wireless Controllers.

This was confirmed by the good Major himself

Perfect Dark Live and Game Room confirmed for March release

Jens Erik Vaaler — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:46:14 +0000

Microsoft’s confirmed during their X10 event that Rare’s Perfect Dark Live revamp will launch this March, alongside the XBox Live Game Room.

This was confirmed by Major Nelson himself

“Perfect Dark, Scrap Metal and Game Room will launch this March as a part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party”

Xbox Live for original Xbox closing down on April 15th

Michael O'Connor — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:20:06 +0000

Remember the Xbox?

No, not the current one that dies if its out in the sun too long, the old bulky giant that kick-started Microsoft’s entrance into the console market. Remember how it was online enabled and everybody loved playing Halo 2 online as if it was the second coming?

It’s time to say your goodbyes and final farewells, as Major Nelson announced today that Xbox Live and online titles on the original Xbox will finally shut down on April 15th.

“We did not make this decision lightly, but after careful consideration and review we realize that this decision will allow us unprecedented flexibility for future features,” Nelson explained in regards to the closing of the service.

Rest in peace, you big hunk of metal you.

Brutal Legend demo available for all

Jens Erik Vaaler — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:47 +0000

[UPDATE] It looks like this is finally available to download in Europe. It’s about damn time…

Our good friend Major Nelson has just confirmed that the demo for Brutal Legend has hit the Xbox Live Marketplace, available to everyone, even those without a preorder code.

From the marketing blurb:

Brütal Legend is an action game from the mind of Tim Schafer. Eddie Riggs, a roadie chosen by the Rock Gods and played by Jack Black, must battle through a heavy metal fantasy world to save humanity and slay demons — using only a broad axe, his guitar Clementine, and an army of metal heads.

So go get it. It’s out on October 15 for PS3 and 360

New 360 dash out later this year; will be faster

Michael O'Connor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:03:49 +0000

Chatting to us all in his weekly podcast podcast, Xbox Live’s personal legend Major Nelson has said that the next system update will make the dashboard fast, and is due out later this year.

“We are making the guide faster,” he said. “The team has done some really good stuff around making performance enhancements,” he added.

“[However,] ‘Performance enhancements’ doesn’t sound right because it sounds like we’re going to give the guide a little blue pill, and we’re not doing that.

“Whatever we call it (and it’s not going to be called the NNXE), but whatever the next version of the dashboard is called, it’s better with a lot of very cool new features. That update will be out later this year,” he said.

Fallout 3: Broken Steel out now

Jens Erik Vaaler — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:44:14 +0000

That sure was fast, wasn’t it? Major Nelson has confirmed on his blog that Fallout 3′s final piece of DLC has gone live on Xbox Live Marketplace.

From the entry:

You may have dealt the Enclave a serious blow at Project Purity, but their forces are still out there, and still pose a grave threat to the people and security of the Capital Wasteland. In Broken Steel, you’ll continue your current Fallout 3 character past the events of Project Purity, and work with the Brotherhood of Steel to eradicate the Enclave threat once and for all. You’ll travel to new locations like the Olney Powerworks, wield destructive new weapons like the Tesla Cannon, fight powerful new creatures like the Super Mutant Overlord, marvel at the destructive power of Liberty Prime, earn new Perks like the devastating Nuclear Anomaly… and play Fallout 3 all the way to level 30!

It’ll set you back 800 points, but it’s worth it. As long as it’s not as broken as The Pitt was.

Avatar’s get business clothes

Jens Erik Vaaler — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:10:04 +0000

Have you ever looked at your Avatar’s clothing and thought: “Y’know, they could use some business clothes..”

Well now they have, and it’s free to boot! Thanks Major Nelson.

Male

* Blue formal shirt
* Moleskin pants
* Waistcoat and shirt
* Suit and tie

Female

* Pencil skirt
* Slacks
* Pinstripe blazer
* Twin set

New Xbox Experience Avatars video

Michael O'Connor — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:23:35 +0000

The always lovable Major Nelson has just released a new video as part of his development diary, which shows out how Avatar creation will work in the upcoming Xbox Experience update.

It doesn’t look half bad.

The Xbox Experience will hit 360s sometime in November. Are you prepared?

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:af0e0dcd-5cff-43a2-bd32-4841fe6a89d1&showPlaylist=true&from=shared" target="_new" title="Avatars in the new Xbox experience">Video: Avatars in the new Xbox experience</a>

The Gaming Vault » Major Nelson

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