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See http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/xbox360/hardware/warranty/warranty/ProductWarrantyNew.aspx

Specifically "(three years for conditions that either cause three lights on the ring of light on the front of the Console to flash red, or display an E74 error code on the video display connected to the Console)"

if thats all you want, go for:

PS3
or
Xbox360

The story has two links. One doesn't mention gender, the other one does. Agreed, "gender expression" is totally off.

Curiously, the TOS seems to be confused as well, since it says "You may use the following terms to express your relationship orientation in your profile or Gamertag" and "Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed", which means this is only about orientation, not gender... but then it includes transgender as an orientation.

The story has two links. One doesn't mention gender, the other one does. Agreed, "gender expression" is totally off.

Curiously, the TOS seems to be confused as well, since it says "You may use the following terms to express your relationship orientation in your profile or Gamertag" and "Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed", which means this is only about orientation, not gender... but then it includes transgender as an orientation.

Original Xbox Games Playable on Xbox 360

A Catan board costs over $33, while the Xbox 360 version costs $10.

Unfortunately the mp4 playback on the XBOX doesn't have 5.1 stereo. If you want 5.1 then you have to use AVI.

http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/xbox360/gamesandmedia/movies/videofaq/viewvideoplaybackfaq.aspx

Microsoft implies that the format support is quite a bit broader than that:

http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/GamesandMedia/Movies/VideoFAQ/ViewVideoPlaybackFAQ.aspx

Is there something they aren't saying that makes DivX better than other stuff?

That's not even to mention the Xbox 360 has parental controls for this. No one had commented because it is beyond stupid to the point of being retarded. Before parental controls parents usually physically took the console away, anyway.

Forgot the link: https://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/

I was at I/ITSEC today. ( Interservice/Industry Training Simulation & Education Conference ) It was completely off the hook. There was an entire section devoted to what they called "Serious Games" and a few of them were actually fun to play and educational at the same time.
 
    Of course a lot of the other stuff was quite a bit like a game as well, just involving high dollar hardware that most gamers could never afford. They had a simulator for dismounted troops that involved wearing VR gear inside what was basically a giant hamster ball set up on a frame that allowed it to roll around while staying in one place. I saw a number of demos for what they called organic tracking I think. Imagine something like Natal but in a large area with cameras overhead, all around. They seemed to be pushing it as less expensive as sensors were not required on each individual. Still didn't look cheap. And of course there were tons of simulators for flying and driving that looked pretty typical. Still very cool.
 
It was wall to wall military folks and defense contractors and pretty much anyone looking to sell to the military or related type stuff. I saw a simulator for law enforcement that was pretty slick. It was all CGI so unlike the type that use film, the person in the simulator could affect the outcome. Pretty wild.
 
I think the game thing has been going on for some time and will continue to develop inside and outside the military. One game I looked at was for teaching Information Security. They said most threats were physical and so the game focused on that. The dude telling me about it claimed that people would finish the training but continue to play the game on their own. He said retention of skills and information went up with each repetition. It was interesting but I am somewhat skeptical on how much someone would play it. It looked a bit boring.

Those online games will still operate just fine, on an unmodified console. Just use the standard tool at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/ and move the licenses to a valid, connected console. They haven't taken anything away permanently here, you still own licenses to use the games you've paid for, you just can't use them on a modified device.

The Service may only be accessed with an original Xbox, an Xbox 360 console, a personal computer, or other device authorized by us, or by logging into your account via Xbox.com . You agree that you are using only authorized software and hardware to access the Service, that your software and hardware have not been modified in any unauthorized way (e.g., through unauthorized repairs, unauthorized upgrades, or unauthorized downloads), and that we have the right to send data , applications or other content to any software or hardware that you are using to access the Service for the express purpose of detecting an unauthorized modification. Any attempt to disassemble, decompile, create derivative works of, reverse engineer, modify, further sublicense, distribute, or use for other purposes the Service, any game , application, or other content available or accessible through the Service, or any hardware or software associated with the Service or with an original Xbox or Xbox 360 console is strictly prohibited and may result in cancellation of your account and/or your ability to access the Service, and the pursuit of other legal remedies by Microsoft. Microsoft may take any legal action it deems appropriate against users who violate Microsoft's systems or network security ,this contract or any additional terms incorporated or referenced in this contract, and such users may also incur criminal or civil liability.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/legal/LiveTOU.htm

Pretty clear to me what they intended. Even if you didn't pirate, xbox live is only meant for unmodified machines. Play at your own risk if you fussed with the innards.

Right here : Console ban info

But the demo videos at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/ strike me as extremely weird and creepy.

Yeh, making me install Silverlight to see a video is totally creepy.

There are some very funny, outraged posts regarding this in the official xbox live forums. Microsoft has also banned players for a number of other offenses, including obscenity and racism, and these posts are great. My favorite: http://forums.xbox.com/29600400/ShowPost.aspx#29600400

Very carefully, though, they still keep your xbox live account active and charge you the subscription fee.

For those who want to cancel, check out http://www.xbox.com/accounts, change your subscription by clicking the link after subscription renewal (the link says "ON"). Then continue to click through the 5 or 6 pages detailing all the reasons you should stay. Click "Next" through all of that, and you're set.

I haven't tried it.

But the demo videos at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/ strike me as extremely weird and creepy.

I play games on my Wii almost every day, and didn't have the same problem with it. Maybe it's just having used a physical controller for 30 years seeing people play without one at all strikes me as wrong.

Maybe it's that, while I'm comfortable with manipulating controllers I'm not comfortable with manipulating my body. Insert the standard nerd jokes here, but it's true: I'm not good at sports or exercise and tend to injure myself rather than getting better or more physically fit.

Setting my personal problems, who is going to get this that doesn't have a Wii already? If someone has neither a 360 nor a Wii, would this really make them pick the 360? I honestly can't picture someone who doesn't have a 360 or a Wii but will get a 360 now because of this thing at this stage of the game. I'm also having a hard time imagining a large number of people who have a 360 who will want this thing.

I just don't get it, at all, except as a yet another lame "me too" from Microsoft.

I love posts like this, and must admit that I've been guilty of the same thing.

"In it's current state, this technology is clearly outclassed by other technologies on the market. They're wasting their time. I'm not buying it."

Yeah, in it's current state, it looks retarded. But what will it develop into?

A lot of people thought the Eyetoy was stupid and motion control video games would only be a passing fad. Further development of motion sensing technology pointed to using a controller rather than a camera, which was then masterfully executed by Nintendo. Did the tech suck when it first came out? Absolutely. Was it worth forging ahead into the arena of motion control? Indeed.

Actually, now, there's a renewed interest in using cameras to control what's going on in the game.

In review: Yes, new technology is often outclassed by other alternatives before it matures. If you give it time, though, it can develop into something really cool.

Its been available since November of 2008 (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/netflix/default.htm). It was updated to additional functionality in August of this year. From the Xbox 360 site I see lots of mentions or partnership, but not with the word exclusive in front of it (bottom of page for example http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemupdates/default.htm)

It was my understanding that "unauthorized" meant "bootleg" in this case. There do exist authorized peripherals, which bear the logos found at this link, and while it's still a bit of a cash-grab on Microsoft's part (licensing), it likely has more to do with anti-cheating than anything - In other words, removing the ability to crack open an SD card on your PC and modify your save files, so as to prevent things like the CoD4 UFO hack and other exploits.

But don't let me stop the mindless bashing - It's MS, after all, and they deserve it no matter what, right?

Right?

Feh.

Microsoft launched Games On Demand (Downloadable versions of full Xbox/Xbox 360 games you could buy in stores) a few months ago, so I don't expect that they'd put any games on sale through it quite yet.

Having said that, the Xbox 360 titles on it are usually $19.99-$29.99, cheaper than you find them in stores. They also have the old Xbox original titles on it for $15 or so.

For that matter, nearly everything in the Xbox Live Arcade is between 400 ($5) and 1600 ($20) MS Points.

When's the last time you got an XBox360 game brand new for $10?

You mean like Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, which costs 800 MS Points ($10) on the Xbox Live Marketplace?

Or did you mean other than the Xbox Live Marketplace? Of course, that would make the comparison unfair, since XBLM is the 360's Digital Distribution system.

So you got a new 360? Use Microsoft's license migration tool, which you can do once yearly to fix the exact problem you're having.

This was the state of affairs last year, unless you called customer service and waited about 3 weeks for someone with the power to make those changes to come back to you. Since, they've released an a license migration process that will make that work:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/

You can only do it once a year, and it's a bit of a hassle, but it should help you out with Castle Crashers.

You don't need one website group in charge od all updates. Just a UI spec that everyone who does updates is required to keep to. Or a CMS that enforces a company theme and standard navigation on every page.

Can the XBOX pages really be consistent with Office and Windows sections? Did this guy even think about what he was comparing?

No they can't. And that's why (quite rightly) Xbox stuff is on http://xbox.com/ not http://microsoft.com./ And hence Xbox content was not considered a point of inconsistency in the review. The pages that ARE on http://microsoft.com/ should be consistent, and they are not. That's the point. So yes, this guy thought about what he was comparing rather more thoroughly than you did.

Well, I was actually talking about the component video cables for televisions that don't support HDMI at all, just component video.

The kit you are talking about is something different and costs $45-50. If you don't care about optical audio, I think you can just use the RCA cables that come with the system for audio and your own HDMI cable.

Well, I was actually talking about the component video cables for televisions that don't support HDMI at all, just component video.

The kit you are talking about is something different and costs $45-50. If you don't care about optical audio, I think you can just use the RCA cables that come with the system for audio and your own HDMI cable.

Nope, it's true. Not only does the 360 not have wireless built in, but the wireless adapter has a list price of $99.99.

Despite this recent price drop, I'd say that for most people the PS3 is cheaper. The 360 base console console is cheaper, but when you factor in wifi, xbox live, ridiculously overpriced hard drives, etc....

are you all forgetting that MS will send you a new XBOX if yours breaks?

If it's still under warranty.

They came clean (after a while) with the ring of death, and said that they would replace XBOX's within warranty that had the issues.

As long as your XBOX is within warranty, you can just ship it to MS and get a new one without buying a new one.

The warranty is only one year. Do you really think it is unreasonable to want your gaming console to last more than a year? Especially since the hardware cycle is probably going to be about five years?

Maybe that 3.8% is of the group that had it long enough to be out of warranty and thus had to buy a new one when it failed.

Yes, perhaps so. And if a year is all you should expect a $400 device to last, then there is something extremely wrong with our expectations as consumers.

Looking at the XBL Marketplace for ToB http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024541080f/ there are no $5 updates available. So what's this slew of $5 add-on charges for TF2 the OP mentions?

Having enjoyed TF2 on both PC and XBL, I can say that they are almost different games. They play differently, and have a different feel to them on each platform. XBL you get plopped into a match with a bunch of random people. PC you get to pick and choose servers with maps and mods that you like.

To simply pop in and play, XBL is better. To enjoy a broader experience with more variety and longer life, PC will always reign king.

Well, I do remember a little MS side project that probably hasn't done sales of gaming PCs any good; but I suspect you are right with respect to boring business boxes and servers.

Now that MS, once primarily an OS developer, is seriously in hardware business, Creative needs to think about a graceful exit strategy from the MS Windows market. Just look at what happened when MS decided to sell software. Previous partners like Lotus and SSI saw what happens when MS want market share.

They're also competing against Microsoft, who's technology easily looks the most impressive ( even with my I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it glasses on. )

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/

considering their competitor did this a few days ago

  http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/

Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram is being released tomorrow on XBLA, complete with network multiplayer, and based on the last arcade version(5.66).

Unfortunately, there's been no official word on a 360 Twin Stick controller outside of some hints on the Japanese dev blogs(the feeling is that they're trying to make them cost-effective).

Not that it's stopping us.

You may want to tell him to use this site to transfer his licences, so he no longer has to be signed in.

I'm not just the owner, I'm a client!
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550178/

D

"For Windows game development, XNA Game Studio Express is completely free and built on top of the popular and powerful Visual C# Express. For Xbox 360 game development, you'll need to subscribe to the Creators Club and have a retail Xbox 360 with a hard drive." -- XBox Registered Developer Program

"As a Premium member in the XNA Creators Club, youll be able to submit any complete Xbox 360 game youve created in XNA Game Studio to the Creators Club community at http://creators.xna.com/ for peer review. Other Premium Creators will check to make sure your game is safe to play. If it is, youll set a price point between 200 and 800 Points that people will pay to download your game.

Once the game is reviewed and the price point set, youre done. The game is listed on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and youll get an electronic payment every quarter, for up to 70% of the games total revenue in your own currency. Depending on your games success, you may even have your game advertised on Xbox 360 and other Microsoft online properties.
...
If youre going to develop games for Xbox 360 and want to sell your game on Xbox LIVE Community Games, youll need a Premium membership. Its just $99 per year or $49 for four months." -- XNA Creators Club Online

In short, not exactly free. Nor entirely open. And it includes XNA lock-in, which seems to be more horizontally oriented. How about Apple and Microsoft work together towards a standard, open API and a standard, peer-review based store?

2/ Lock all downloadable content to the individual console giving purchases a very limited lifetime.

While downloaded content is console-specific, MS does offer two ways to transfer the license to a new Xbox. If your console dies & is replaced in-warranty, they do it while it's in their hands. Otherwise, you can get all the licenses transferred by hooking up the new console to Xbox Live & going here.

it also can be a real pain in the ass getting DLC stuff back if your console breaks or gets stolen. I know why the DLC model exists, I just wish us backwards types could get it on physical media.

If I could post a picture of a dog cocking it's head in confuzzlement, I would.

Console broken? Mail it in, it gets repaired, your DLC is transferred. Done.

Don't want to mail it in? Buy a new one. Log in with your Xbox Live account. HoLY CRAP all your DLC works.

Don't want to need to log in? Use the handy dandy once-per-year arbitrary relicenser to tranfer all the licenses to your new console.

Xbox stolen? A combination of changing your Xbox Live password and the above relicensing. Though I'm willing to bet that if you contact Live Support they'd help you out as well.

As a personal anecdote, I replaced my xbox about a year ago. I haven't even bothered relicensing; I turn on the Xbox, it logs into Live, and there's all my stuff. No fuss, no muss.

Then you may appreciate this:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/1/1942jointstrikexboxlivearcade/default.htm

Xbox live arcade has exactly what you're after ;)

They should be after the NXE bugs, not chasing baskets full of shit like this. http://forums.xbox.com/24355681/ShowPost.aspx

HDD Upgrade Program

Puzzle Pirates. Play puzzles to bilge, sail, build clothing, etc. It's a (vaguely) player driven economy with a mostly laid back group of people. And, of course, there is Viva Pinata.

I think the original poster's goals are unreachable with current technology and techniques. You can't befriend a game in any more substantive a fashion than you can befriend your television... lots of games have tried various ways of simulating human interactions, but humans are notoriously complex. Emotional simulation systems quickly break down into either simplistic grinding or laughable parodies of humanity. If you attempt to replace those computer entities with actual other online human beings... Let's just say that you can't rely upon other human beings in online games to act like human beings.

The closest thing to what the grandparent poster asked for is the sims. It's a good example of how simplified human interactions have to be made in order to work in a simulated environment.

I wouldn't be surprised to see free discs & downloads of games where a car company makes a racing game

You wouldn't be surprised to know that Toyota did this with their Yaris game. It is a free download on Xbox Live.

The problem is that if you got it for free you still paid too much. I'm not saying that this type of thing can't work, I'm just saying that this particular example was a bad game.

For the record, Microsoft recently added a tool to transfer licenses between system serial numbers. This was a major issue with their DRM early on (especially with all the system failures), and it is nice to see it being addressed.

Hopefully Sony didn't tie their hands with licensing, and can make some similar improvements of their own.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/

I like how neither Microsoft nor Apple talk about games in their commercials. Well, we know why Apple doesn't mention it... ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiAgrrwL_mk . But seeing as how it's really the only thing Windows is good for, I don't know why Microsoft doesn't even mention it. ( http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ ) Nope, no idea whatsoever.