VampireG’s Blog

Football comes home as Sensible World of Soccer returns to Xbox LIVE Arcade.

“SWOS has currently been pulled from Xbox Live Arcade due to some issues, Apparently it will be available again at 9pm GMT on the 19th December 2007″ 

“Update: Apparently SWOS should be online today 20th December 2007, I am not too sure about this ‘Massive’ advertising engine that is built into it however, apparently takes anonymous information from your console whilst you play the game and the game also has in game marketing and adversts. Surely if there are ads within the game then the game should be cheaper for us to buy”

Codemasters Online have today announced their football game that shaped an entire generation Sensible World of Soccer has been re-released on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Sensible World of Soccer brings with it all the classic elements to a new generation of players across Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360. The game keeps all of the original touches that made it such a genre defining title, as well as introducing all-new optional enhancements to bring the game bang up to date. Sensible World of Soccer introduces players for the first time to all-new online multiplayer modes allowing players globally to take up the challenge and compete in intense online football matches in true Sensible Soccer style. The game also includes both original & updated custom graphics modes from the original designer of SWOS allowing players to experience the game in all-new High Definition.
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GripShift®, the award winning racing platformer developed and published by Sidhe Interactive is now available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade (XBLA), the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games.

Featuring an extensive single-player experience, two multiplayer modes, stunning visuals and amazing sound, GripShift is available for 800 Microsoft points under the Games tab on the XBLA Dashboard.

“Bringing GripShift to the Xbox LIVE Arcade gives a whole new audience the chance to experience some frantic racing fun,” said Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive. “We think 360 owners will get a lot for their money with this game, as it offers a ton of content which can be played repeatedly for those who are intent on topping the leaderboards.”

Sidhe has also made available a list of Xbox LIVE achievements along with two new trailers from GripShift, showing fly-throughs of two intense Challenge courses.

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Welcome to Paradise! EA today released a fully explorable slice of the award-winning racing game, Burnout Paradise.

Available now at the PLAYSTATION®STORE and XBOX LIVE™ MARKETPLACE, the downloadable demo will allow players to experience a piece of Paradise City before the game hits retail stores in the UK on January 25, 2008.

Discover jumps, billboards and smashable targets all over Motor City, Big Surf Beach and Ocean View in search of the fastest Burnout Route in the Hunter Cavalry car. Also, attempt your shot at a race and check out the all-new Stunt Run mode. If you’re online, invite up to three friends into your game and connect with them instantly using the EasyDrive online system. Once online, players can work cooperatively to complete three FreeBurn challenges or simply smash each other up and grab their Burnout Mugshots with the PLAYSTATION®Eye and Xbox LIVE™ Vision cameras.

The development team at Criterion pushes the boundaries to make each Burnout game stands on its own – reinventing the franchise with every iteration. The Paradise experience is all about freedom and exploration. The game has been designed to embrace speed, freedom, social online play and spectacular crashing, but now with all new modes, a completely open world and events at every intersection.

So make action your middle name and take to the streets of Paradise City.

Microsoft® today affirmed its place as global leader in downloadable high-definition gaming and entertainment content, as its Xbox LIVE®™ Marketplace Video Store service launched in five new countries - Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Following a highly successful launch in the United States last year, all Xbox 360™ owners connected to the internet in the above countries can now download to rent both high definition and standard definition movies direct to their console using Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store.

Following last week’s launch announcement where Microsoft revealed partnerships with Warner Bros and Europacorp in Europe to bring exciting films to rent on Xbox LIVE including 300, Zodiac, Harry Potter and The Good German, Xbox 360 owners can also expect to download to rent additional Warner Bros films such as Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Analyze That[1], by the end of the year. Cost per download for a catalogue film is from as little as 250 Microsoft Points (*ERP £2) for Standard Definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (*ERP £3.20) for High Definition movies.

Additional Films coming to Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store UK before 7th Jan 2008:
TMNT
WE ARE MARSHALL
BATMAN & ROBIN
BATMAN FOREVER
BATMAN RETURNS
WILD WILD WEST
US MARSHALS
DEEP BLUE SEA
SPHERE
UNFORGIVEN
MAVERICK
CONTACT
CONSPIRACY THEORY
OUTBREAK
LAST BOY SCOUT
MISS CONGENIALITY
ANALYZE THAT

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Found some cool GTA IV images on the press release site I use hence the “GP” stamp on them, as I am far to tight to pay for their premium service to get rid of watermarks just to upload images to a hobby site!

The images show a little more of the game also, more boats etc.

Anyways thought I would share them with you, you may have already seen them, but hey! This game is really starting to make me feel  like it is a must buy when it finally comes out.

Image below!

• GTA IV Image 1
• GTA IV Image 2
• GTA IV Image 3
• GTA IV Image 4
• GTA IV Image 5
• GTA IV Image 6

Prepare for an action-packed dungeon crawl with Sierra Online’s “Arkadian Warriors” and experience the innovative cross genre gameplay of “GripShift®,” by Sidhe Interactive, this week on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360™. Both games launch on Wednesday, 12th December, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. GMT.

Three heroic shape-shifting warriors fight to release the Land of Arkadia from the evil Gorgon’s stony gaze. In the uniquely expansive “Arkadian Warriors,” randomly generated dungeons and cooperative multiplayer hack & slash action enhances a deep single-player campaign. The robust cooperative multiplayer mode is available for two players both locally and over Xbox LIVE. Upgrading is key as players hone their skills, acquire loot and master powerful magic spells and numerous deadly weapons in a journey of mythical proportions.

Through a mix of sky-high platforming and stunt driving, “GripShift” combines automotive and puzzle solving skills across 120 challenging levels, 25 rubber burning race tracks and 20 deadly deathmatch arenas across four themed worlds. Zoom to victory with four players over Xbox LIVE or race solo, all while enjoying a customisable music experience! Choose your driver, unlock faster vehicles and customise your ride with new skins. Developed by Sidhe Interactive, “GripShift” is a gravity-defying thrill ride every racing fan must experience!

Where can I get “Arkadian Warriors” and “GripShift “ from?

Arkadian Warriors: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

GripShift: available for 800 MS Points from 9:00 a.m. GMT, Wednesday 10th December 2007

They are rated 12+.

 PS: Don’t forget that today you should now be able to download movies to your XBox as the Video Marketplace should be switched on today! I will confirm this when I get a chance.

I am now officially excited about this game after seeing the latest trailer!

If they keep the free roaming and the game looks and plays as good as the trailer it is going to be amazing.

Shame we have to wait until April next year for it. I know the debate will begin soon on whether to buy it on PS3 or Xbox 360?

Apparently the UK will finally get Video on Demand through their Xbox 360’s. On December 11th 2007 Microsoft has confirmed it will be launching the UK version of the Video Marketplace.

Intial reports state that a Video once purchased will stay on your HD for 14 days, however if you start to watch the Video then you basically have 24hours before it self deletes.

Below is the initial list of movies that will be available:

Available in standard and high definition:
300
Zodiac
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone
The Matrix
The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Reloaded
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
The Perfect Storm
Swordfish
Three Kings
Training Day
The Fugitive
Risky Business
Space Cowboys
Eyes Wide Shut

Standard definition only:

Analyze This
Demolition Man
Eraser
Executive Decision
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Mars Attacks!
Clash of The Titans
Superman III
Dead Calm

Estimates on cost currently are being quoted that a SD movie would set you back 250 MSP and a HD version of the movie will cost 380 MSP. I don’t have a Microsoft Point Convertor to hand, but I make that about a couple of quid for the SD and three quidish for HD? Which is not bad considering the cost of DVD rentals.

I know this is probably old news by now, but I have been busy so out of it for a bit. As most Xbox 360 owners will know there is going to be a Dashboard update on December 4th 2007 which will include some new features. Microsoft are keeping quiet about most of the new features but have released a press release about one of them.

It basically allows your friends to see your friend list, I guess what are trying to expand the friends list to allow more people to contact each other. Press release below:

Friends of Friends Coming to Xbox LIVE

Published November 26, 2007

Microsoft is making it even easier to expand your Friends network on Xbox LIVE®, starting with the Fall Dashboard Update on December 4. You’ll be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox LIVE members right from the Dashboard. With this new feature, members can find old friends or connect with new ones within the community of more than eight million people on Xbox LIVE around the globe and send messages and game invites, as well as compare games and Achievements.

With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox LIVE continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in free enhancements made available through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.

Friends List Settings
When the Fall Dashboard update is distributed on December 4, the new default setting on Xbox LIVE will be active, enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members. If you’d like to keep your friends list private, you can take the following steps to change your settings beginning today:

Log in to www.xbox.com/fof and select one of the three options available for your Gamertag:

• Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
• Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
• Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)

Stay tuned for more information about the Xbox 360 Dashboard Update later this month!

Ok Mass Effect has arrived in my life, it has been over a year and half since I first heard that BioWare where going to be creating a game within their own universe.

A whole new universe with new races, characters, ships and planets. Knights of the Old Republic was one of my favorite Xbox games and to know that BioWare where going to release a game on 360 got me excited.

Well the game arrived Friday and so far I have managed to invest 8 hours of time playing it, and I have to say it does not disappoint. The game is amazing! The story is interesting, the characters I actually care about, the dialogue system is very fluid and every damn line of speech in the game is actually voice acted.

There a couple of niggles with it however, I mean it is not a perfect game but it is the most enjoyment I have had playing my 360 for a long time, and for me so far this has to be the game of 2007.

I am sure I will write more babble when I get further into the game, however for those of you that own a Xbox 360 and like RPG/FPS games then this has to be in your collection.