Thoughts On The Next Xbox

With this current generation of hardware getting close to end-of-life, within 2-4 years I'd say, I thought it would be a good time to look ahead and do some wishing. The original Xbox was clearing a stepping stone to the Xbox 360, and while I don't believe a third console to be such a dramatic change there is lots of improvements I would love to see come forth.

I would like to see:

Hardware Upgrades

- Graphics
- RAM
- Processing power
- Manditory, user replaceable HDD
- A 'Legacy' DVD drive (more on the in a bit)
- Clickable buttons (power, open tray). I hate the touch sensitive ones on the new slim 360's
- I love the 360 controller. But how about adding a slide-out keyboard or 2-3" touch screen.

Software

- Online Status: So I can let people know I'm busy, or I'm looking to play Halo, or that my kids are watching Netflix not me.
- Friend List Organization: Let me filter my friends list into groups: SSG, IRL, GGN, family, work, etc... Also included is a higher cap, say 200. 500?
- Notification Filtering: With that many friends I don't need to see notifications from all of them. Let me choose by group (or individual) if/when I receive notifications from them.
- Notification Flexibility: Let me choose notification sounds, position, color, for each person/group. Also how about smartphone apps? Let someone ping my smartphone to let me know they want to play a game with me if I'm away from my console.
- Chat: Upgrade cha audio quality. Also add universal filtering (team/party) so I never have to hear timmies again, no matter what game I'm playing.
- Party Up: Show me, via my friends list, whom is partied together. So if I have 10 friends playing CoD show me that they are partied up 6 and 4, or 8 and 8 even showing the full party including people not on my friends list. A la Halo Reach.
- Games: No more discs. Screw DVD. Screw Blu-Ray. I want day-and-date on-demand online delivery. Imagine this: You can buy games directly from your console via your broadband, or if you'd rather head into Best Buy/GameStop and buy games there via a kiosk that transfers to your own USB device, which is then transferred to your console at home. (Credit: CodeMonkey) Make a 'legacy' Blu-Ray/DVD drive that is an external excessory to the console for old 360 games and movies. New games can also come out on discs for physical media lovers/collectors but digital and physical copies launch at the same time.
- Kill The Cable Box: Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, YouTube, HBO. Give me these services and more, so I don't need my cable. Also these should all be "free" or included with the third tier XBL (see below)
- XBL Tiers: Keep Silver and Gold, add Platinum.
- Silver Tier: ($0/year) Gets you matchmaking, but more advanced features are restricted and premium services are a la cart.
- Gold Tier: ($50/year) Gets You matchmaking and all the advanced features but premium services are a la cart.
- Platinum Tier: ($150/year) Gets you matchmaking, advanced features, and all premium services.
- Day Pass: Let users pay for a day/week pass to Gold or Platinum.
- Premium Services: Netflix, Hulu, HBO, CoD: Elite, ESPN, EA Sports Season Pass, Pandora, etc.
- Social Media: Better, full, integration with social media. Facebook, twitter, G+ and any new hotness that comes out. Let me customize which services I used and customize which and how I receive notifications from these services.
- Web Browser: Let me get on the web. I should be able to "click" on URL's within messages and bio's.
- User Ratings: Give me a rating system that works. Currently everyone on XBL has 5 stars, the system is broken and never worked. Make feedback relevant. Let douchebags play with douchebags.

'Recon' Q & A With Bungie.

On Bungie's latest Weekly What's Up Date (WWUD) they answered some burning questions about Halo 3: Recon:

Update: There is also a great interview over at 1up that got some really good details as well.


Adrift in Tokyo

Since Brian is still wearing his Sailor Moon costume and having his picture taken at the show and Shishka is overcome with jealousy at the costume’s authenticity, here’s a bit of information in yet another slow newsweek for Bungie.

Bungie happily announced Halo 3: Recon, earlier this week at TGS during the Microsoft Keynote speech to attendees of the Tokyo-based show. In the keynote’s wake there’s been a whole mess of questions about Halo 3: Recon that we’re going to clear up below.

What is Halo 3: Recon?

Halo 3: Recon is a standalone, disc-based campaign expansion to Halo 3. It will be available at fine retailers around the globe in Fall of 2009.

I read on some Liveblog that Master Chief got out of the drop pod?

Negative, ghost rider. Instead of playing as the Master Chief (like players did in Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3) in H3: Recon, players take control of an ODST (an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) who entered orbit just after the slipspace rupture on New Mombasa (that event, you recall, took place as Regret left the planet – and in Halo 2, you followed him as the Chief). Now, players will learn more about what happened on New Mombasa during some of the events of Halo 2.

Is Halo 3 : Recon a 3rd person / squad based shooter?

Nope. "Recon" is definitely first person and it's definitely still a Halo game as you've come to know it. That said, playing as an ODST in this new setting will bring some new twists to the gameplay.

How much will Halo 3 : Recon cost?

The price point has not yet been determined. While there will be a lot of content to enjoy and a great deal of replayability, this is still viewed as an expansion to Halo 3 more so than its equal.

We saw Assembly at PAX 2008, when will we get more downloadable content for Halo 3?

The Mythic Map Pack will be made available via Xbox Live Marketplace in early 2009. “Winter,” as they say. As soon as we have more details we will certainly share them.

Will the Recon campaign content or the other multiplayer maps be available through Xbox LIVE Marketplace?

Beyond the Mythic Map Pack early next year, there are no plans to release other portions of the Recon package outside of the retail box.

Is there a multiplayer component to Halo 3: Recon?

There are multiplayer maps that will appear as a part of the Halo 3: Recon package. This includes the aforementioned Mythic Map Pack in addition to a few others. You can also experience the entire Recon campaign cooperatively with up to 4 players.

Will we get to play as ODSTs in multiplayer now?

No. The multiplayer maps included with the retail package are straight up Halo 3 multiplayer maps. The ODST and other components that make up the Recon campaign are in a separate bucket and not crossing over into the competitive multiplayer realm. Think of it as two games in one.

Will the Halo 3 : Recon multiplayer maps work with "regular" copies of Halo 3?

If you purchase the Mythic Map Pack early next year via Marketplace and your friend waits and gets them with the Halo 3 : Recon retail package next Fall, you can still play together. The multiplayer maps are all part of the Halo 3 "title ID" family, regardless of where or how you get them.

What about other features from Halo 3?

Halo 3: Recon will still make use of Screenshots, Forge and Saved Films just like Halo 3 does.

Will Halo 3 : Recon have new achievements? Are these the same as the ones already "leaked" online?

There are actually two separate buckets for new achievements. The multiplayer achievements will be considered additive to your existing Halo 3 gamerscore. Some of these will be available when the Mythic Map Pack is released on Marketplace early next year. The Recon campaign will include a complete set of unique achievements and a full bounty of 1000 gamerscore to obtain.

This dude at 7-11 told me that there’s a new Campaign version of Forge coming?

Get your Slurpee somewhere else. The maps included with Halo 3: Recon certainly support Forge and the functionality it affords players. But, there isn’t a new Campaign Forge being added to the Halo 3 experience.

I read somewhere that this is the last Halo game Bungie is making. Say it isn't so!

We're not ready to discuss the other projects underway within the studio right now but Halo 3 : Recon does represent the final basket of goodness that we will be delivering for the Halo trilogy. There are no more offshoots or side stories in the works.

Is this the game that Bungie was intending to announce at E3?

Yes, we are happy to finally be able to pull back the curtain and share our latest project with our fans.

Will Halo 3 : Recon still use the Halo 3 engine?

Yes, this is very much an extension of the Halo 3 you have come to know and love complete with all the features included with the original game.

Is this all Bungie has been working on since becoming independent last October?

"Recon" represents one of several projects that we have underway within the Studio but it's the nearest to release and the only one we're able to talk about for now.

If this is an expansion built on top of the existing Halo 3 engine, why will it take two years to create?

Development of "Recon" actually just began in earnest this past Spring. This project is in the hands of a small team and represents our most ambitious release cycle yet as a Studio.

Analyzing The Halo 3: Recon Trailer.

The amazing crew over at Ascendant Justice have done it again, they have a very detailed break down of the new trailer.


Head over and read their piece titled The Golden Hour , to get your latest Halo fix.

Halo 3: Recon

Microsoft held a press conference late last night at the Tokyo Game Show '08 and talked about a little game called Halo 3.



First off, no Master Chief.  This story takes place right before the events leading up to Halo 3 and the Chief's landing on Earth.  You play as an elite unit of Marines known as the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) which is about as close as you can get to being a Spartan without, you know, being half robot.

This is a full-on expansion set so we're looking at new campaign levels, new multiplayer maps, and everything you've come to expect from Halo 3: Saved films, Forge, Co-op, etc...  It looks like the game will be distributed via disk if the image below is any indication.

This still doesn't explain the mysterious new achievements that have shown up in Halo 3 after the newest update, so it looks like the "normal" version of Halo 3 is still in story for at least one more map pack "Mythic".  Specifically six new levels are mentioned in the achievements: Assembly, Citadel, heretic, Longshore, Orbital, and Sandbox.  I've already talked about Assembly here, but Bungie has been mum on the other five maps so far.



A few things I've noticed in the trailer (below) that I find interesting are: the Brutes (pictured above) seem a little different, smaller, less shielded, somehow.  Also it looks like the weapon that your ODST Marine is holding looks like a SMG but with a silencer on it?  Thought?

Update:  Official box art below.

Below is the description that Xbox.com has listed about Recon:
* All-new campaign content: The Halo 3: Recon campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in Halo 3. Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter greatly resembles that of previous Halo experiences, Halo 3: Recon will require you to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
* Prepare to drop: Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these "Hell Jumpers" more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
* Expanded multiplayer collection:No Halo experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content, and Halo 3: Recon gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and expanded Forge options, Xbox LIVE® Gold members will find more multiplayer content than ever before with Halo 3: Recon.
* Ever-growing community options: Enjoy all the great Halo 3 technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring, and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities.

Halo 3: Keep It Clean.

Update:  For a really, really, really in depth look into this trailer and Halo mythology be sure to read the Ascendant Justice article.

Today Bungie revealed the next part in their plan for world domination, a teaser trailer for what is being called a "New Campaign Experience" for Halo 3.

Everybody is speculating as to what Bungie is going to bring to Halo 3, rumors from new campaign levels where you play as a Marine (and not the Chief), to more multiplayer levels, or even both. Bungie, so far, has released maps in three waves so far: Heroic, Legendary, and Cold Storage. With the previous three maps releases there has never been this amount of hype nor something to the magnitude of a teaser trailer. So what I'm betting on is a full out Halo 3 Expansion, Halo 3: Mythic. You can either buy this on a disc or as a full download strait to your Xbox 360 hard drive.

This is a picture that was taken at PAX '08 where Bungie first revealed the new map Assembly. At the time no one knew what Mythic was, and Bungie just brushed it off as a "PAX version"

As you can see since the update to Halo 3 a few days ago, some interesting achievements have popped up in reference to the Mythic Maps.

Confused? Me too. At this point there seems to be multiplayer "Mythic Maps" coming at some point, but if you download the new Halo 3 video from your Xbox 360 on the Marketplace, the describtion does say, "New Campaign Experience". So it seems that we have multiplayer and singleplayer content coming. But just as with any Bungie products we won't know anything until Bungie wants us to know something.

Bungie Day 07.07.08 Brings Gifts.

As any loyal Halo fan knows Bungie is obsessed with the number 7. in all of Bungie's mythologies, and all the games the number 7 always plays a big part. Being as such, July 7th has been declared Bungie Day. Be the great guys that Bungie is they are giving us a free map on Bungie Day, Cold Storage.

If Cold Storage looks familiar, that's because it should. It's a remake of Halo 1's level 'Chill Out' (Dude, you really need to.). So after you're long holiday weekend (here in the USA) be sure to pick up Cold Storage for free in the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Here's two Chill Out screen shots for those with a foggy memory.

(Via: Bungie)

Drinking The Kool-Aid.

So by definition I'm a Windows guy. I grew up with MS DOS, evolved to Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP, and finally Windows Vista. Hell, I even own my own computer business repairing/fixing Windows computers. So how did I end up with a Mac?

Steve Job's has a plan, and it's working.

The iPod was Steve's Trojan Horse into the Windows users hearts. They took something everybody likes (music) and applied the Apple formula to it: ease of use, beauty, simplicity. It gave Windows users just a taste of how Apple works, but some people still weren't convinced.

So Jobs took it to the next level and took a device that everyone uses and everyone hates... Their cell phone. Most people can't/don't use 80% of the "features" built into their cell phones, not to mention 'smart' phone users. Then comes along the iPhone, and it just made everything so easy, so Apple.

So with Apple's market share up and with Windows looking so tired and outdated, it's only a matter of time.

So now when people ask me, "What's a Mac", I tell them it's their next computer.

Sidewider Remake For Halo 3: Avalanche.

Bungie released some new details about the upcoming Lendary Map Pack that is set to XBL on April 15th for 800 MS points.

Out of the three maps that are set to be released we now know about two of them: Ghost Town and Avalanche.

Avalanche is a remake of the classic Halo map, Sidewinder. Sidewinder was fan favorite from back in the day, but saw little play time due to it's massive size. Unless you had a huge LAN party rockin' you couldn't get enough people to fill the map.

So be on the lookout for Bungie to give us the last piece of the Legendary Map Pack puzzle soon.

Halocaust.

J Allard for president!

How Microsoft Can Recover From The Death Of HD DVD.

When HD DVD died a lot of people (including me) were stuck with a bunch of movies for a format that is no longer being produced. So from this point forward, if I want to buy (true) HD movies I have to buy Blu-Ray. Decisions...

I could buy a stand-alone player and spend $400 - $1,000 dollars. Just what I want, another component under my TV... I could spend $400 - $500 dollars and get a PS3. The PS3 is one of the better Blu-Ray players on the market, combined with the fact that it can be upgraded (due to the fact that it can be connected to the internet) makes it the more attractive choice.

But I don't really want a PS3, what if I had another choice... What about a Trojan Horse product that was cheap, didn't take up anymore space in my entertainment center, and did more than just play Blu-Ray disks... What if it played HD DVD's too? Who has the means, market share, resources, and technology to make this happen?

How about Microsoft.

Think about it. If Microsoft came out with a $200 dollar Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo drive add-on for the Xbox 360 it would be a win/win scenario.

• Microsoft could 'save face' by saying they still support HD DVD and now Blu-Ray.
• It would be the cheapest way for the 10+ million Xbox 360 owners to go Blu.
• If you already own the HD DVD add-on (and movies) you still have one drive to play all your content, new or old. Give your 'old' HD DVD drive to a friend that doesn't have one, or hook it up to your second 360 to play HD DVD's or even regular DVD's.
  
• The 360 would be (back) on par with the PS3's HD capabilities, and fully upgradeable too; due to the 360's standard ethernet port. Unlike most stand-alone Blu-Ray players out there...
• It would cause a resurgence in HD DVD disk sales. People would no longer avoid the HD DVD section like the plague, because their combo drive plays everything. Retail wins because they get rid of their HD DVD stock, and consumers win because they get HD movies on the cheap.

Sound off in the comments about your thought and ideas.

Microsoft To Buy Yahoo! Microhoo! Yahosoft!

It is cold here is St. Louis but I didn't know Hell froze over... Microsoft has offered to buy Yahoo! today, here's the scoop:

"Microsoft on Friday startled the industry by offering to buy Yahoo, potentially creating a major shift in online business. The proposal would see Microsoft pay $31 per share in a deal worth a total of $44.6 billion. This is 62 percent higher than Yahoo's closing stock price on Thursday, Microsoft observes. The latter argues that an acquisition would help both companies compete in web services and that about $1 billion per year could be saved between the two by eliminating overhead."

The Halo Cover - Remastered.

Someone went to a lot of trouble to get this right. I can't even imagine how long this took to setup.

Xbox 360 Fall 2007 Update.

Here's a great video walk-through of all the new features of the dashboard update that's coming December 4th.

Now if you're really into bullet points here's some for you:

• Xbox Originals – With this new service, announced on Nov. 13, consumers can download-to-own full original Xbox games that were previously only available at retail. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as “Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge,” “Halo,” “Fable,” “Fuzion Frenzy,” “Psychonauts,” and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.
• Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits – On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off where some of the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games will become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be “Bankshot Billiards 2” and “Lumines LIVE,” which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and “Marble Blast Ultra,” “Small Arms” and “Zuma Deluxe,” which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.
• Inside Xbox – A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing members an easy, predictable entry point where they can discover what's new in game releases, events, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers. (It will also feature brief weekly segments from myself, TriXie, Games Editor Denny Atkin, and SoozyQ.)
• Enhanced online profile – Members interested in sharing a few more details about themselves will have the option to go beyond their motto and further personalize their profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to “Friends Only” or the entire Xbox LIVE community.
• Expanded Friends List access – A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox LIVE, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.
• Enhanced Parental Controls – Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.
• New video features – The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.
  Easy-to-use navigation features – With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it.
  

Now if you want more of a geek list with specs and detailed info check out this list here. One omission from the list above is the much asked for DivX support. Microsoft's big reason for never including this before was because they said that DivX was mainly used for 'piracy'. Now the only reason us 'pirates' use DivX is because it's one of the best video codec's around.

Halo 3 'Heroic Map Pack' Announced.

Bungie announced on Monday (after weeks of taunting) that three new maps will be hitting Halo 3 on December 11th for 800 MS points ($10 dollars).

The first map above is Standoff, "We wanted a small, outdoor, vehicle map. It started out simple enough. 2 relatively small bases seperated by a landscape of hills and rocks. Good visibility and quick access to the Warthog parked right out front. And a turret on top for defensive types. After that, the rest just built itself."

The middle pic with the Pelican is Rats Nest, it looks to be my style of map due to it's got a lot of smaller, tighter combat spaces. Perfect for the shotty...

The last map is Foundry and I'll let Bungie tell you about it:

Q: Foundry is completely different from any map Bungie has made for a Halo game, how so?

CB: Foundry was designed from the beginning to be a Forge level. There is an almost limitless amount of potential map designs that can be made by arranging objects in different configurations.

You can remake Hang ‘Em High out of crates. Kind of.

SC: The second you see someone delete the entire level in Forge, you realize the potential a space like this has. The default layout Tyson put together is great, but the possibilities are definitely greater.

(Via: Bungie.net)

Bungie Leaves Microsoft.

What? Didn't Microsoft just make $300 million in one week from Bungie? Sounds like a good time to drop your only Ace in the hole right? Well don't worry, Microsoft owns Halo so that's not going anywhere. Also, Bungie is still contracted to do more 'Halo' games for Microsoft, Xbox or otherwise.

What will Bungie do? Go back to making games for the Mac? Finally make Pimps At Sea? No one know, but as long as Bungie is still making Halo games for (only) Microsoft I'm cool with the split.

Halo, Unboxing The Legendary Edition.

Yes, I'm a true Halo fanboy and I did buy the Legendary Edition that comes with lots of cool stuff that most of you don't care about: behind-the-sceens at Bungie, directors commentary of Halo and Halo 2's cutsceens, an audio and video calibration tool, gamer pics and themes, art book, and of course... the Cat Helmet!

As a bonus the outside box can be a poster! That's going above the bed...

The two cases that somehow hold three discs... Technology.

Hum, what's under there?

Bam! It's Master Chief's helmet! If only it fit...

19 friends online at 12:42am and every last one of 'em playing Halo 3. Still as I write this every friend of mine that has been online, has been playing Halo 3. Microsoft's money maker has arrived.

Spidy Gets His Ass Kicked By The Chief.

Halo again reins king, topping Spider-Man 3 in the box office and netting $170 Million dollar, in one day... Halo 2 had the top spot with $150 million, until Spidy 3 came along at around $165 mill. But the Chief is once again on top, thanks in no small part to all the Legendary Editions that were bought.

B.net Is Live And Full Of Halo 3 Surprises!

Halo 3 gives you the opportunity to upload screenshots, game variants, and Forge maps, strait to B.net and these are all publicly available for all to see. These screenshots were taken from Bungie's own Ske7ch. He's the Transformer looking MC on the left, on the Right is Luke Smith or Lukems if you prefer.

Here's one of Ske7ches Co-Op screenshots, man this game looks amazing. Through-out the entire single player campaign it will keep track of ever enemy you kill, and give you a list of how many you killed per level, and life time. I hope Bungie has a lot of hard drive space...

Ryan Block Is One Lucky SOB.

So Ryan Block, Engadget's head honcho, got what we call in the tech industry a "swag bag". Normally this is filled with stuff you would get from a medical rep: pens, notepads, lanyards, keychains, maybe a USB thumb drive if you're lucky. What does Bungie/Microsoft give out? How about:

• Xbox 360 Halo 3 Edition, with your fricken' name ingraved on it!
• The Brute and Master Chief Limited Edition Controllers
• The Limited Edition Halo 3 Wireless Headset.
• HDMI Cable.
• 2 Halo 3 Dolls Figurines
• 2 Xbox Lie Gold Subscription Cards.
• 2 1600 Point MS Cards.
• 1 Press Kit.
• 2 Dogs Tags.
• 1 First Aid Kit.
• 2 Rations.
• And Of Course: Halo 3 Legendary Edition.

The infamous, 'Cat Helmet'.

And a bag with your name on it, saying you're a Master Chief!

MS sure knows how to hand out bribes...

Come on, they even put his name on the console... How sweet is that, until it Red Rings!