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Video Game Florida Anti-Tobacco Ad

I think this is one of the best “Stop smoking” Ads I have ever seen.

Xbox Originals Plagued with Problems

Microsoft announces ‘Xbox Originals’ the 2nd wave to the ‘Xbox LIVE is 5IVE‘. As the Xbox Live membership hits over the eight million mark, Microsoft unveils the new download service for full Xbox games. Allowing you to download full Xbox games such as Halo, Psychonauts, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fable among others directly to your Xbox 360 for 1200 MS Points ($15). One small catch they hmmm don’t work correctly.

All ‘Xbox Originals’ game titles the publisher logos at the start of a game can be choppy. Any additional content within a game (such as a demo or trailer) is not supported by ‘Xbox Originals’ titles and selecting those options may result in crashing the game.

Here are the issues unique to the specific game titles:

• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge: There is some minor flickering at the top of the screen that happens very rarely. The “Press A to Continue” message is missing when the host player leaves a multiplayer game. Additional content within the game (such as demos & trailers) are not supported and selecting those options may result in crashing the game (requiring a restart of the console)
• Fable: There are some random bursts of audio static and some minor texture issues and a short hang up when removing tattoos. Additional content within the game (such as demos & trailers) are not supported and selecting those options may result in crashing the game (requiring a restart of the console)
• Fuzion Frenzy: There are some minor frame rate issues. Additional content within the game (such as demos & trailers) are not supported and selecting those options may result in crashing the game (requiring a restart of the console)
• Halo: There are some very mild frame rate drops.
• Psychonauts: HDMI 720p is not supported for PAL users. Running the game in 720p over HDMI will result in the game locking up for PAL users. If you are using HDMI output, set the resolution to 1080i or 1080p (anything but 720p)

Full ‘Xbox Originals’ Press Release after the Jump Full Story »

“Xbox Originals” added to 360 dashboard update

Microsoft has confirmed that classic Xbox games such as Halo, Psychonauts, Fable and Burnout 3 would be available for about 1200 points on Xbox Live Marketplace starting with the Dec. 4 dashboard update, next-gen.biz reported Tuesday. It is unclear from the post whether some of the games Microsoft has confirmed to be released via these “Xbox Originals,” including Psychonauts and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, would be available with the update. Microsoft also said they’re trying to release as much of the original Xbox catalog as possible to the Marketplace.

“This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games,” reads Microsoft’s statement.

Also in the update will be a movies-on-demand service for Europe similar to the one already available for U.S. gamers. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed when the service will begin, but next-gen.biz said users will download the movie to their hard drive and then have 14 days to watch the movie before it is automatically deleted. One they’ve begun watching, they have 24 hours to finish.

6 New Halo 3 ScreenShots

Halo 3 or As some would called it “The second Coming Of Christ”

Halo 3 Believe the Hype?

We should demand something new, something different in our games. Don’t just add a number to the title, change the graphics and the maps and maybe adding a new weapon or two, and then call it “NewOldGame 3” **cough, Halo 3**. It’s almost like what is going on with the movie industry now days. How many remakes or sequels have you see at the box office in the last 5 years? (Way to many to even count)

I just don’t think the game has changed from halo 1 to halo 3 that much too even warrant having a halo 2 at all. Halo was never the First at anything in the game world, other than one of the first FPS games on Xbox. That was the ONLY reason it was one of the top selling games 4 years running was due to the fact it was also only 1 of 5 launch titles for the Xbox.

Halo 1 is well just a good game and not the end all be all in the FPS market, as a Xbox exclusive yes, the gaming world No. I just see little if any advancement in the game to justify a new Halo about every 2 - 3 years.

• HALO 1 Xbox was released November 15, 2001 | Windows on July 12, 2002 *Update* September 30, 2003 Thanks to spiffv2
• HALO 2 Xbox on November 9, 2004 | Windows Vista May 29th, 2007
• HALO 3 Xbox 360 September 25, 2007 | Windows ???? Someday

If you look at Halo Wars it is a RTS not a FPS and I think pushes the title in a new and refreshing direction. I think it would have been great if you could have played an alien in Halo3. But noooo it looks to be the same old game play, just with a new suit on. My overall point is that so many games are going down the same road of “let’s keep pushing out the games to keep the buzz until we can really make something good” I just don’t think they will be able to make a game to live up to the hype they have built around HALO Brand. I sit and hope and pray to be impressed for my 60.00, but some how I KNOW I will be sorely disappointed.

Behind The Scenes Shots and Short Film for ‘Halo’ Live Action Movie

The short film “Combat: Part I,” is available now, and will take viewers deeper into the “Halo” universe for a firsthand look at mankind’s struggle against the Covenant, a religious coalition of aliens that threaten the very existence of humanity. In Blomkamp’s interpretation of “Halo” you’ll see for the first time real UNSC soldiers piloting a Warthog in throes of combat, “Halo’s” most fearsome warrior caste, called Brutes, and weapons like the Plasma Rifle in action.

“Combat: Part I” is the second of three live-action short films that will be directed by Blomkamp, showcasing his vision of the now iconic “Halo” world. “Combat: Part I” will be available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Tuesday August 28 in high-definition.

20th Century Fox to Sell Halo stuff

As seen on Variety.com

Less than a year after its plans to co-produce with Universal a movie based on Microsoft’s hit videogame franchise were abruptly canceled, 20th Century Fox has signed a deal to become the primary licensor for “Halo.”

That means the studio will handle worldwide merchandise licensing for “Halo” on behalf of the tech giant.

Though the unsuccessful film development helped bring the two companies closer together, Fox’s licensing division has a longer relationship with Microsoft. It handled similar duties for “Perfect Dark Zero” and “Kameo: Elements of Power,” two Microsoft-published games that came out in late 2005 in conjunction with the launch of the Xbox 360.

“Those two games established our relationship with them as a licensing agency, and those conversations continued during the same time that a ‘Halo’ film was in development here,” said Elie Dekel, exec VP of domestic licensing for Fox.

He added that Fox’s licensing division focuses primarily on teens and young adults instead of kids, as some other studios do, which makes “Halo” a good fit.

Fox is aiming to launch a broad array of products, from books to apparel to collectible merchandise, in conjunction with the release of “Halo 3″ in September. But given the huge popularity of the vidgame series, Dekel said he’s confident his division can continue to sell licensed products in the next few years until a fourth “Halo” game comes out.

“Halo” is one of the videogame industry’s most popular franchises. Original game and “Halo 2″ have sold more than 14.5 million units.

Fox is already in various stages of discussion with several dozen licenses and will be talking to potential partners at this week’s Toy Fair in Gotham.