GTG's Blog - Windows Live

This 50-foot Ethernet cable snaking all the way through my apartment from the router in the bedroom to my Xbox 360 in the living room? That's how I used to play videogames online. The Xbox doesn't come with wireless capability built in, and I didn't want to shell out the extra $100 -- a third the price of the console itself -- for Microsoft's wireless adapter. Third-party wireless bridges cost a bit less but are still pricey. Finally, though, I found a way to ditch the giant wire with a solution that cost me only 40 bucks. If you already have a wireless network set up in your home, you can make a second, cheap router function as an Xbox adapter by replacing its firmware with free software called DD-WRT. As long as you download the right version, almost any brand of router will work. I bought an older model on Amazon, but you can get a used one on eBay for $15 or less -- well worth it for the pleasure of blasting annoying teenagers in Denmark in Halo 3.

DIY Wireless for Your Xbox

Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $15-$50

dd-wrt: courtesy dd-wrt.com

Before buying a router for this project, check dd-wrt.com to make sure the specific model is supported. If so, download the right version of the software to your computer.
Follow the installation instructions on dd-wrt.com for your specific router model. This may require you to change your computer's network settings. Connect the router to your modem and your computer with Ethernet cables. Update the router's firmware with the DD-WRT software.
Enter the router's IP address in your computer's Web browser, which should now bring up the DD-WRT interface. Change the router's settings to "client mode." This enables it to receive an Internet signal from your original router.
Disconnect the cables, and restore the original network settings on your computer. Place the router near the Xbox 360 console, and connect it with a short Ethernet cable. Turn on the console, and connect to Xbox Live.

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December 29

Soulja Boy diss Chris Hamilton With NXE XBOX 360 Dashboard Music Videos

Funny and Genius

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November 26

Seadragon Ajax

Seadragon Ajax brings Deep Zoom technology right to your own web page or blog, even if you're not a software developer. You may already be familiar with Deep Zoom technology--it's used in Photosynth and in Silverlight. It enables you to smoothly zoom into extreme close-ups of your images, regardless of the size of the screen or bandwidth of the network you're on.

Seadragon Ajax makes it easy for you to embed Deep Zoom Images right on your site or blog. Or, you can download the free Deep Zoom Composer to create a Deep Zoom Image that you can store on your own site. See how easy it is......................Continue At Source

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November 20

New Premium Themes for NXE

A few weeks ago I posted a Developer Diary about the new Premium Themes coming to Xbox LIVE with the New Xbox Experience. Well, now that NXE is here, I wanted to share some of the Premium Themes available for download. There are a ton of great ones up, from the Fable II Albion Theme to Castle Crashers and more. Check out the list below for many of the Premium Themes that you can download today, and go browse Xbox LIVE Marketplace to see all of the great content we are offering and quickly add them to your download queue.

Gears of War 2 - Bare Your Teeth (went live 11/7)
Gears of War 2 - Hope Runs Deep (went live 11/7)
Gears of War 2 - Last Day (went live 11/7)
Halo 3
Halo Wars
Fable II Albion
Castle Crashers
The Last Remnant
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
Forza 2
Call of Duty: World at War
Sonic Unleashed
Guitar Hero World Tour
Rock Band 2
Tomb Raider: Underworld

Also, NXE Ships with a couple of new (free) themes. You can get details from the Top 10 list I posted earlier this week. Don't forget, all of the Themes you've already downloaded will work in the New Xbox Experience, so you don't need to worry that your Kameo Themes from 2005 disappearing.

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October 10

NXE - What You Want to Know: Xbox LIVE Marketplace

Does this sound familiar? You are sitting at your computer, most likely at work or school and you check out Xbox.com (I won't tell, or will I? MUAHAHA), to see what new content is up on Marketplace. Maybe you see a new Theme you want to download, or notice that the map pack you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.

So, you sit there and let the profanity fly (hopefully in your head) because there's nothing you can do, but wait until you get home. Those sexy Gamerpics, movies and additional levels just sit there and mock you saying, ‘I know you want me, but you’ll have to wait to queue me up for the download.’

Guess what? Not anymore.

Once the New Xbox Experience launches you will be able to browse Xbox LIVE Marketplace on your PC (even using text search) – and if you see something you like, you can add it to your queue and even purchase it right there and then. As soon as you get back home to your Xbox 360 and turn it on, the content will begin to download. Think about it – by the time you finish getting out of your shirt and tie, or skirt, or pajamas, or pink fuzzy bunny outfit, you will have a new Xbox LIVE Arcade game to play or a new TV show to watch.

Check out the screens of Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web, coming November 19when the New Xbox Experience launches.

As always, click on any of the photos for a larger version or visit our flickr set.

Search Results for "Halo":

Game Detail Page:

Purchase Confirmation:

Download Queue:

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September 30

How to use Custom Windows Visual Styles

Customizing the appearance of your Windows installation can be frustrating, because both Windows XP and Vista are limited to the Microsoft's default themes out of the box. However, with a bit of tweaking under the hood, your Windows setup can try on a wider range of looks than come pre-installed. Let's take a look at how to patch your Windows installation to allow customized styles, and a few places to find new and interesting styles online.

Vocabulary and Methods

When talking about the physical appearance of Windows there are two terms that are distinct but often used incorrectly in place of each other. Visual styles, which have the .msstyles file extension, are the files which supp;y all the information about how the interfaces within Windows should look. The toolbar skin, start button skin, borders, buttons, etc. are all stored in the visual style. Themes contain a visual style along with additional settings such as icons, wallpaper, etc. Later, when browsing for goodies, keep in mind that a theme pack will have further customization than a visual style pack.

Throughout the tutorial you'll need to be able to access the menu within Windows where you can chane your themes and visual styles. The following screenshots are from Windows XP but the essential menus are nearly identical in function in Vista, too. For reference, here is how to access both:

XP: Right-click Desktop -> Properties -> Themes Tab (or Appearance Tab for Styles)

Vista: Right-click Desktop - > Personalize -> Themes

First, Back Up Your Current Theme For Safe Keeping

Although you'll most likely find a new style that you really enjoy, on the off chance that you don't, make a backup of your current theme for you to restore later if necessary. Backing up only takes a moment and will allow you put things back exactly as they were before you started customizing, right down to the wallpaper. From within the Themes tab click Save As and name your theme whatever you'd like. Save it in a safe place.

Second, Patch Your Windows Install

Patching your system for themes allows you to use non-Microsoft approved visual styles. At the very root you're simply replacing the Uxtheme.dll with a modified version that doesn't verify if the style has been signed by Microsoft. It used to be that patching your Windows installation was a hassle, a small one, but a hassle nonetheless. Now both Windows XP and Vista have patching programs available that make it no more hassle than clicking a button and rebooting. There are various programs that can do what the free patches do with some additional functionality thrown in, but they are hardly worth the $20 and up fees they command.

For Windows XP, download the Uxtheme Multi-Patcher. Run the file, click through the prompts and reboot.

For Windows Vista, download VistaGlazz. Run the file, click through the prompts and reboot.

Both patching programs will allow you to reverse the process should anything go wrong by simply running the program again. (However, I've been patching Windows installs for years without a hitch.)

Finally, Download and Install Custom, Third Party Styles

The best way to verify if your patch job has been successful is to browse some of the great repositories of visual styles and select a few to try out. Below are some samples of the most popular styles at DeviantArt.com. Before you begin downloading through, a quick overview of where the files go is in order.

If a style pack is zipped up properly then installing it is as simple as unzipping the files into the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes directory. Check when you open the zip file if the files have nested directories. If you install a visual style or theme and something is amiss, check the following list to ensure the files ended up in the right place:

.Theme files must be in the /Themes/ folder, not within any subfolders.
.MSStyles files must be in their own sub-folders. If the style name is NewStyle.msstyles, then sub folder in /Themes/ must be /Themes/NewStyle/
If your style pack came with a shellstyle.dll, that also goes within it's own subfolder, i.e. /Themes/NewStyle/shell/
If you have any problem with loading a style or theme, go back and double check for spelling and capitalization. The names are case sensitive. If a file has a combination of upper and lower case letters, the folder name you place it in must be spelled exactly the same.

Now let's take a look at some popular third-party visual styles in action.

Luna Element 5.0.5 by tornado5

Pristine OS 1.2 by MohsinNaqi

Sentinel Beta - 1 by chaninja

For more visual styles, check out the following resources:

Deviant Art - Windows Vista Styles / Windows XP Styles
ThemeXP - Most Popular XP Styles

If you have a little bit more time and would like to grab a theme hot off the press, check out the active forums where style designers throw up their newest work:

JoeJoe.org - Vista Visual Styles / XP Visual Styles
NeoWin - Vista Visual Styles / XP Visual Styles

What's your favorite Windows theme? Tell us about it in the comments—or show off your customized Windows in the Lifehacker Desktop Show and Tell Flickr group.

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September 20

Fable 2 Achievements

The Pooch Pamperer
Play fetch with your dog, or see another Hero's dog play.
5

The Archaeologist
Dig up something the dog has discovered, or see another Hero do so.
5

The Dog Trainer
Teach your dog a trick, or see another Hero's dog learn one.
5

The Persuader
Convince a villager to give you a present, or see another Hero do so.
5

The Show-off
Impress a villager with a perfect expression, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Romantic
Take a villager on a perfect date, or tag along to one. Location and expressions are all-important.
10

The Spouse
Marry a villager, or attend the wedding of another Hero.
10

The Parent
Have a child, or be there for the birth of another Hero's child.
10

The Hunter
Kill a sweet, innocent, fluffy bunny rabbit (remember, safety's off!)
5

The Gargoyle
Find the gargoyles' legendary treasure.
25

The Chicken Kicker
Kick a chicken a good distance, or see one getting kicked.
5

The Cliff Diver
Cliff dive 500 feet, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Workhorse
A Hero must achieve a high-enough chain while performing a job.
10

The Hero of Many Names
Change your Hero's title, or see another Hero change theirs.
5

The Teaser
Make bandits respond to expressions with fear, anger, mirth, and confusion... during combat!
5

The Property Magnate
A property must be sold for twice the price it was bought for.
10

The Rogue
Steal something undetected from a building while there are people nearby, or see another Hero do so.
5

The Illustrated Hero
Tattoo every part of your Hero's body, or see another Hero do so.
5

The Executioner
Sacrifice ten people in the Temple of Shadows, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Gambler
A Hero must win 500 gold at a pub game in one sitting, having tried each game type at least once.
10

The Bigamist
Get married a second time, whilst already married, or attend the second wedding of another Hero.
10

The Swinger
Take part in a debauched bedroom party with several participants.
5

The Pied Piper
Start a party where at least five villagers are dancing, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Party Animal
Get five villagers drunk in under three minutes, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Menace To Society
Commit an act of public indecency, or see another Hero commit one.
5

The Black Knight
Shoot the weapons from a hollow man's hands, blow off his head and then kill him for good!
10

The Duellist
String together a full-speed chain attack, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Sharpshooter
Hit three enemies with one shot, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Archmage
A Hero must kill five human enemies with one spell.
10

The Ruler of Albion
Amass a 2.5 million gold real estate empire, or be there when another Hero does.
100

The Hoarder
Collect every silver key, or see another Hero do so.
25

The Goth
A Hero must dye their hair black, and wear a black outfit and black makeup.
5

The Completionist
Get all expressions, pet tricks and abilities, or see another Hero do so.
50

The Paragon
Reach 100% good or evil, or see another Hero do so.
15

The Extremist
Reach 100% purity or corruption, or see another Hero do so.
15

The Celebrity
Reach 50,000 renown, or see another Hero do so.
50

The Artisan/td>
Succeed at one job to Level 5, or see another Hero do so.
10

The Dollcatcher
Collect all the Hero dolls, or see another Hero collect them.
10

Inspire the Bard to compose songs celebrating your great deeds.
5

The Companions
Perform a perfect co-op expression.
10

The Double Threat
Get a co-op combat bonus.
10

The Philanthropist
Send a gift to an Xbox LIVE friend, or watch another Hero send one.
10

The Whippersnapper
A child Hero must collect five gold pieces.
25

The New Hero
The terror of Bower Lake must be defeated.
50

The Hero of Strength
Complete The Hero of Strength.
100

The Hero of Will
Complete The Hero of Will.
100

The Hero of Skill
Complete The Hero of Skill.
100

The Sacrifice
A Hero must choose 'The Needs of the Many'.
25

The Family
A Hero must choose 'The Needs of The Few'.
25

The Egomaniac
A Hero must choose 'The Needs of the One'.
100

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September 17

Cheap, refurbished game systems seem too good to be true

8:02 AM, September 17, 2008

Adhering to an old saying -- "If it's too good to be true, it probably is" -- might have saved money and prevented headaches for hundreds of people who are unhappy with websites claiming to offer irresistibly priced video game systems.

The premise was innocent enough: a factory-refurbished Wii for $19.99, or an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 -- including a one-year warranty and free shipping -- for $34.99. That's less than the price of a game remote.They were offered on several related websites, such as PS3-Bargains.com (pictured above) and RefurbishedWiis.com. The websites' lists of frequently asked questions say the "slightly worn" systems are offered at such a low price — more than $150 less than anywhere else — because the site gets paid by sponsors "for every survey you fill out."

But customers are complaining that although their credit cards were billed, they never received the game consoles, let alone any surveys to complete.

According to analyst Aaron Naternicola of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (a collaboration among the FBI, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance), 18 related websites have generated hundreds of complaints about unfulfilled game console orders, and four other websites -- apparently connected to the first group -- generated more than two dozen complaints about software related to the World of Warcraft game that didn't work as promised. (The 22 websites are listed after the jump.) Efforts by The Times to reach the proprietors behind the websites were unsuccessful.

As of Tuesday morning, the IC3 had received 324 complaints from consumers about the game console websites since August 2007, which the IC3 says amounts to about $17,100 in lost money. The magnitude is rare, reaching a level hit by only a dozen or so cases a year, Naternicola said in an e-mail.

"Any time you have double-digit complaints, that's considered more than just noteworthy," said Craig Butterworth, spokesman for the National White Collar Crime Center. "The higher those numbers go up, the more serious it becomes."

The Better Business Bureau also has received a series of complaints claiming "delivery issues." (A spokeswoman said the bureau doesn't disclose the specifics until after cases have been resolved.)

Thanks to Better Business Bureau reports, the IC3 was able to draw connections among ...

... the 22 websites, which are advertised through Google AdWords, from patterns in names, addresses and e-mail handles, Naternicola said.

Sony Playstation The IC3 fielded eight complaints last year and 18 more in the first half of this year against sites related to the $24.99 World of Warcraft Gold Duplicator. The sites pitching the software, which buyers complained didn't do what it claimed to do, were advertised in the Warcraft world by characters who would spam in-game chat rooms.

Then in July, grievances about undelivered game systems began rolling into the IC3 with more frequency. Just last month, the group of sites attracted 215 complaints.

Irate buyers congregated on Internet message boards, attempting to have the sites shut down and calling for legal action. "I was tricked," a user who went by the name hatesbeingrippedoff wrote on a forum on 419Legal.org. "This is a total fraud and I hope we can get a class action lawsuit." Many said they were concerned about identity theft and canceled their credit cards. "Although it's just $35, that doesn't mean he's not going to use all the credit card information he's acquired so far for his dirty little self," wrote a user posting under the name NessaLee.

Although the federal agencies aren't saying who they think is behind the offers, the websites appear to be based in Pensacola, Fla., and Atlanta, according to investigations by The Times, Internet message boards and an anonymous sleuth. Accounts registered with fake names and periodic expirations of domain names have helped conceal the sites' proprietorship.

One unlikely target of citizen investigators: a Catholic-goods reseller who says he has nothing to do with the case. Amateur sleuths discovered that, on its FAQs page, the Online Catholic Store lists the same phone number that's on the refurbished console sites (it lists a different number on its contact page). The number sends callers to a voice-mail box for a company calling itself Consoles for Less.

Ken Fabrick, owner of the Catholic-goods website, said he had previously registered the toll-free number with Internet calling service Vonage but no longer owned it. He said he had forgotten to update his site's FAQs page with the current phone number. When asked about the game console websites, he said, "We're not associated with them at all."

A Vonage spokesman said he couldn't disclose information about who currently owned the account because of federal privacy laws but said, "It's ours, and it's active."

Butterworth says the IC3 is assisting authorities with an investigation, and Vonage says it will fully cooperate with a government subpoena if one is filed.

-- Mark Milian

Sites that users have accused of not delivering game consoles and World of Warcraft software, according to the IC3:

consolesforless.com
consoles4less.com
gaming-plugins.com
gaming-strategies.com
refurbishedxbox360.com
1cheapps3.com
35dollarxbox360.com
360sforcheap.com
buyaxbox360online.com
buyxbox360s.com
cheapestplaystation3.com
cheapestwii.com
getacheap360.com
ps3-bargains.com
refurbishedxbox360s.com
refurbishedwiis.com
waycheap360.com
wiisforless.com
powerleveling-wow.com
wow-powerleveling.com
wow-advantage.com
wow-toolbox.com

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September 10

October Release Date: Xbox 360

October 1, 2008
Mobile Ops: The One Year War
Bandai
Shooter

October 6, 2008
Monopoly
Electronic Arts
Board

October 7, 2008
Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant
Vivendi Games
Platformer

October 7, 2008
Disney Sing It
Disney Interactive Studios
Music

October 7, 2008
Fracture
LucasArts
Action

October 7, 2008
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Rockstar Games
Racing

October 7, 2008
NBA 2K9
2K Sports
Sports

October 7, 2008
NBA Live 09
Electronic Arts
Sports

October 8, 2008
Meteos Wars
Q Entertainment
Puzzle

October 13, 2008
Blitz: The League II
Midway Games
Sports
Action

October 14, 2008
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2 (game & dance pad)
Konami
Music

October 14, 2008
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3
Konami
Music

October 14, 2008
Dead Space
Electronic Arts
Action
Adventure

October 14, 2008
Deer Hunter Tournament
Atari
Hunting

October 14, 2008
FIFA Soccer 09
Electronic Arts
Sports

October 14, 2008
Golden Axe: Beast Rider
SEGA
Action

October 14, 2008
Rise of the Argonauts
Codemasters
Action
RPG

October 14, 2008
Rock Revolution
Konami
Music

October 14, 2008
Saints Row 2
THQ
Action

October 14, 2008
Saints Row 2 (Collector's Edition)
THQ
Action

October 14, 2008
SCORE International Baja 1000
Activision
Racing

October 19, 2008
Rock Band 2: Special Edition
MTV Games
Music

October 19, 2008
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
MTV Games
Music

October 21, 2008
Fable II
Microsoft
Action
RPG

October 21, 2008
Fable II (Limited Edition)
Microsoft
Action
RPG

October 21, 2008
Far Cry 2
Ubisoft
Shooter

October 21, 2008
Far Cry 2 Limited Edition
Ubisoft
Shooter

October 21, 2008
Hei$t
Codemasters
Action

October 21, 2008
Legendary
Gamecock
Shooter

October 21, 2008
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Activision
Action

October 22, 2008
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Make the Grade!
THQ
Trivia

October 26, 2008
Guitar Hero World Tour
Activision
Music

October 26, 2008
Guitar Hero World Tour (Complete Band Game)
Activision
Music

October 26, 2008
Guitar Hero World Tour (Complete Guitar Game)
Activision
Music

October 28, 2008
Fallout 3
Bethesda Softworks
RPG

October 28, 2008
Fallout 3 (Collector's Edition)
Bethesda Softworks
RPG

October 28, 2008
Fallout 3 (Survival Edition)
Bethesda Softworks
RPG

October 28, 2008
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance
Disney Interactive Studios
Music

October 28, 2008
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance (Dance Pad Bundle)
Disney Interactive Studios
Music

October 28, 2008
Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, The
Vivendi Games
Platformer

October 28, 2008
MotoGP 08
Capcom
Racing

October 28, 2008
PES 2009: Pro Evolution Soccer
Konami
Sports

October 28, 2008
SBK-08: Superbike World Championship '08
Conspiracy Entertainment
Racing

October 28, 2008
Scene it? Box Office Smash
Microsoft
Trivia

October 28, 2008
Scene it? Box Office Smash (Game & Controller Bundle)
Microsoft
Trivia

October 28, 2008
Ski-Doo Snowmobile Challenge
Valcon Games
Racing

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September 05

Retailers clearance price 20GB Xbox 360s

With Microsoft's official confirmation of the Xbox 360 price cuts that puts Arcades at $199, 60GB Pros at $299 and 120GB Elites at $399, it looks like retailers are moving quickly to get the old Xbox 360 20GB models off their shelves by resorting to some old fashioned clearance pricing.
The recently discounted to $299 20GB Xbox 360 models are now showing up at retailers across North America at even lower price points due to the fact that the 60GB model also dropped its price to $299. Essentially making the 20GB a bad deal. As a result, Best Buy and Amazon.com are currently selling the 20GB 360 model for $259 while Futureshop in Canada has discounted the 20GB model to $199 and is bundling it with Gears of War and DOA: Xtreme 2. Happy shopping!

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September 04

XBOX360 PRICE DROP

Xbox 360 $299.99
price effective 9/5/08

Jump into the next generation now.

Buy Now

Xbox 360 Arcade $199.99
price effective 9/5/08

Experience Xbox 360 with five full Arcade games included.

Buy Now

Xbox 360 Elite $399.99
price effective 9/5/08

The premium system has a massive hard drive and high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) .

Buy Now

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September 01

PAX 2008: Gears of War 2 Multiplayer

It's official -- kids love the chainsaw duels.

by Levi Buchanan

August 31, 2008 - One of the most popular games at PAX is Gears of War 2 at the Microsoft booth. The booth featured ten stations set up for five-on-five multiplayer. And these stations were not only never empty, but the line to get some face time with the Locust was consistently four or five deep. On tap at PAX this morning was the Guardian multiplayer game where two teams of five set upon each other to hunt down the single Guardian, a designated player that -- while alive -- allows his teammates to re-spawn when killed. Should the Guardian fall, team members only have one life. Once everybody on a team falls, the Guardian status shifts to the best player from the previous match.
The map for our session was Security, an outdoor station full of giant blocks to use as cover while closing in on the Guardian. While playing, I was happy to see the game running so smoothly. Of course, this wasn't being played over the Xbox Live with players across the country, so who knows yet how lag could possibly affect the game. But as I moved in on the Guardian with teammates, I noticed their clothes fluidly rippling as they dropped into the groupie run to dash from wall to wall.
In Guardian, the leader must be taken out via execution. You cannot simply pop the Guardian with a torrent of bullets and then let them bleed out in a corner. You must smash skulls or cleave them in two. This really inspires teamwork. At least one player always stuck to the Guardian not only to ward off incoming attacks, but revive a wounded Guardian before a finishing move could be executed.
Cliffy B has pointed out that the violence in Gears of War 2 tends to veer toward "slapstick" instead of gruesome, kind of like the bloodbaths that spill all over "Evil Dead 2." He's right on this count. As I watched other players engage in chainsaw duels and carve COG warriors like Thanksgiving turkeys, the screen ran red with blood. But it's not like entrails and muscle chunks are flying everywhere. The goal here is not shock-horror -- it's over-the-top lunacy bathed in a fair amount of crimson.

The chainsaw duels look cool from a third-person perspective. When I spied one going down in our game, I'd purposefully close in to watch the animations. Even in a multiplayer game with so much going on, the animations looked smooth as sparks flew and eventually meat was flayed from the bone.
Watching other gamers play Gears of War 2 was interesting, too. Seeing Gears of War 2 in-person is not exactly new for many people at IGN due to events like E3 and GC. But it was obviously something very special for the PAX attendees. They were genuinely eager to get their turn. They'd point out things from the line, such as the chain saw duels. And when you step back and see the game from their perspective, you understand the value of a show like PAX. I'm sure all of those gamers were going to buy Gears of War 2 anyway, but getting to play it early like that probably guaranteed quite a few more Day One purchases.

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August 30

Gears of War 2 Achievements

Green as Grass
Train the rook (any difficulty)
10

It's a Trap!
Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 2
10

Escort Service
Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 4
10

Girl About Town
Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 6
10

That Sinking Feeling
Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 4
10

Freebaird!
Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 5
10

Heartbroken
Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 6
10

Longitude and Attitude
Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 3
10

Tanks for the Memories
Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 4
10

Water Sports
Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 6
10

There's a Time for Us
Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 2
10

Better Wrapped in Beacon
Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 3
10

Have Fun Storming the Castle
Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 6
10

And the Horse You Rode in On
Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 1
10

You Are the Support, Son
Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 2
10

Brumak Rodeo
Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 4
10

Does This Look Infected to You?
Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 5
10

Tourist of Duty
Complete all campaign acts on Casual Difficulty
25

Guerilla Tactician
Complete all campaign acts on Normal Difficulty
50

Artist of War
Complete all campaign acts on Hardcore Difficulty
75

Suicide Missionary
Complete all campaign acts on Insane Difficulty
150

Collector
Recover 5 collectibles (any difficulty)
5

Pack Rat
Recover 20 collectibles (any difficulty)
15

Completionist
Recover all 41 collectibles (any difficulty)
30

One-Night Stand
Complete 1 chapter in co-op on any difficulty (Marcus or Dom)
10

Open Relationship
Complete 10 chapters in co-op on any difficulty (Marcus or Dom)
30

Friends with Benefits
Complete all acts in co-op on any difficulty (Marcus or Dom)
50

Once More, With Feeling
Perform 30 perfect active reloads (any mode)
10

Takes a Licking
Melee 30 Tickers (any mode)
30

Organ Grinder
Kill 30 enemies with a cover mounted Mulcher (any mode)
10

Shock and Awe
Kill 30 enemies with the heavy Mortar (any mode)
10

Said the Spider to the Fly
Kill 10 enemies with a planted grenade (any mode)
10

Crowd Control
Melee 10 enemies down with the Boomshield equipped (any mode)
10

Smells Like Victory
Kill 30 enemies with the Scorcher Flamethrower (any mode)
10

Variety Is the Spice of Death
Kill an enemy with every weapon in the game (any mode)
30

Seriously 2.0
Kill 100,000 enemies (any mode)
50

Standing Here, Beside Myself
Win 3 matches of Wingman (public)
10

Beat the Meatflag
Capture 10 meatflags in Submission (public)
10

It's Good to be the King
Win 10 rounds of Guardian as the leader (public)
10

You Go Ahead, I'll Be Fine
Win three matches of King of the Hill (public)
10

Back to Basic
Successfully complete the 5 lessons of multiplayer Training Grounds
10

Party Like It's 1999
Play 1999 rounds of multiplayer (any mode)
30

Around the World, Again
Win a multiplayer match on each map (any mode)
30

Dirty, Dirty Horde
Survive the first 10 waves of Horde (any difficulty, any map)
20

Hoard the Horde
Survive all 50 waves of Horde (any difficulty, any map)
30

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August 22

Fable II Pub Games News Flash, Tips and Tricks!

Published Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:55 PM by Sam

Here are some gameplay tips and tricks for the Fable II Pub Games, as well as more info on debt in Fable II and the Pub Games. If you are wondering about a 'much talked about' exploit, just ignore it (and know that a patch is on the way). I've got about 800 gold now, managed to build up to 2100 but paid off some debt. Could just as well have taken it on the chin and do community service for that crime... Surprise [:O]

Some general tips:

Better tables, better odds: While all of these games have a slight long-term advantage for the house, you might easily win money in the short term. But if you don’t, there’s no need to despair. Once you unlock the higher-limit tables, you’ll have a better chance to earn back your money in a few lucky hands. Or, if you’re a conservative player, you can earn money by playing in tournaments.
Tournaments: Every tournament is a “rich” game, meaning that on average, players will win more gold than they put in. This is because, along with the tournament buy-ins, the house adds extra gold to the tournament prize! In addition, you can win unique items by placing “in the money” in each of the 15 tournaments: this is an even greater value in the world of Fable II.
Tournaments: Tournaments are played against computer opponents. You can win gold in tournaments, even free tournaments, because the house always adds a little extra gold to sweeten the pot. In addition, you can also win amazing items that you can’t buy anywhere else in Albion.

Game tips that might help:

Free Money: The house always adds money to the prize pool of a tournament, which means you have a chance to come out ahead.
Play a Tournament: The top five finishers in any tournament get a cash prize... and a unique Fable II item!
Borrowing Chips: You always borrow chips when you join a game. If you win, you cash out with your winnings. If you lose, you add to your debt.
Debt: Having a large debt in the Fable® II Pub Games won’t hurt you, but owing too much money is considered a crime in Fable II. Nothing too nasty or annoying when you play the game...so don't panic!

KeyStone:

Improve Your Odds!: The odds in Keystone are better at the high-limit tables. Unlock new tables to improve your odds.
Odds Chart: You can see the odds of every bet on the table by holding down the left trigger.

FortuneTower:

Improve your Odds: For better odds, look for the decks with fewer number cards; this makes the Heroes more likely to be dealt!
Taking a Loss: As painful as it feels, sometimes cashing out with a slight loss is the best play.

SpinnerBox:

Bonus Symbols: Some machines have bonus games: free spins, payout multipliers, or a hidden fourth switch!
Free Spins: In a Free Spins game, you’ll win a free spin for every bonus symbol that appears. These spins are made at the same initial wager, and can even win more free spins!
Payout Multiplier: In a multiplier game, each bonus symbol adds to a growing multiplier. This grows spin after spin until a round with no bonus symbols.
Fourth Switch: In a Fourth Switch game, a spin with three bonus symbols opens a secret fourth switch. This single switch always pays like three of a kind!
Improve your Odds: Higher-limit Spinnerbox games usually have better odds for the player. When you play at higher limits, you’ll win more for every gold you bet.

Oakfields - a place in Albion with a great pub!

When you do build up debt in the Fable II Pub Games and merge these characters, your debt will be outstanding with the Pub Games Masters at one of Albion's many different pubs. It won't affect the wealth of your Fable II Hero character in a negative way, but owing too much money in Albion is considered a crime, for which you will need to pay a fine - or do community service.

We've given away one token code to download the Fable II Pub Games to one lucky comments poster on this blog entry. Our member Valku can now start betting!

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Microsoft demands Xbox LIVE iPhone app to be set free

People seem to really like this App Store thing we keep hearing about, and apps are selling for the iPhone and iPod touch like hot cakes. One too-descriptively-named app, 1337pwn XBOX Live Friends Application (iTunes link), may soon enjoy even greater success, thanks to Microsoft.

For iPhone-slinging Xbox owners, 1337pwn XBOX Live Friends Application lets Xbox LIVE users view their friends' online status, what games they're playing, view various profile and game stat information, send messages, and even integrate with Twitter and Google Maps location information. It sounds like a handy app for just about any Xbox LIVE gamer, but Microsoft apparently wasn't happy with 1337pwn's previous prices of $8 and $5, so as iPodNN pointed out, 1337pwn XBOX Live Friends Application is now free. Guess you just can't please every customer no matter how hard you try.

More accurately, according to 1337pwn's blog post we found, "Microsoft is halting the sale of any XBOX Live-related applications in the iTunes AppStore." Apparently, Redmond isn't happy to see developers build applications that make its platform and services easier to use and more appealing to a broader range of users. Fancy that.

As you can see from the iTunes Store link above, 1337pwn XBOX Live Friends Application is fortunately still standing, and is now available for the liberatingly low price of free.

By David Chartier | Published: August 21, 2008 - 09:13AM CT

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August 15

$100 Off Xbox 360 Elite

You could buy a new 60GB Xbox 360 for $350. Or, if you are reading this post right now, you could buy a new 120GB Xbox 360 Elite for $350 and get two bundled games free. We'll let you decide whether the 60GB version's tweaked RAM placement is worth $100 and a few games. (But just so you know, it is not.) Available at Dell until August 20th, enter V8Q199$GCXJWL$ at checkout to get the savings. Oh, and free shipping, too. [Dell via Fatwallet Thanks James!]

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August 03

Mole attack: 360 price cuts on all hardware in September

Posted by Sumeeth Evans August 1, 2008 11:40 PM with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Xbox

Arcade (no hard drive) to $199
Pro (60GB) to $299
Elite (120GB) to $399

We should also expect hardware and game bundles for all hardware versions coming in the fourth quarter, just in time for the holidays.

In addition, the mole revealed that the upcoming release of Forza 2 Platinum Hits will include all the DLC tracks that were made for the title, which is a good way to add value to the game.

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Source: arstechnica.com

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