Microsoft to close Ensemble studios when Halo Wars is finished.

What is going on here, first they close the doors to FASA Interactive, than Bungie is allowed to buy their “freedom” back, and now this. Ensemble Studios will be closed once Halo Wars is finished. As one from the outside I can only guess as to the thinking behind these decisions. It has been confirmed by Microsoft, their reason was a simple one. Read the rest of this entry »

EA gets more from gamers with DLC.

EA has once again started rocking the boat with their money grab. This is the 5th time (by my count) EA has gone above and beyond to get any extra cash you have from Xbox Live Marketplace.

This current issue is from the BETA of Battlefield: Bad Company. EA is offering, for purchase, 10 extra weapons. They do say that this will not impact gameplay at all but is mearly an extra “skin” if you will. The extra weapons are intended for more variety. If they are there for variety that changes balance, if its not worth it, than why are you charging for it?

This bad habit was started about two years ago. We have seen this kinda of DLC from EA in Need For Speed: Carbon, Tiger Woods ‘07 & ‘08, and in the Godfather. All of the items for “sale” were available through normal gameplay. EA was selling cheats and unlocks that when totaled up cost the same as the retail copy you bought at (insert vendor here).

As I recall, developers can not charge for content that is on the disk UNLESS you can earn it by playing the game. EA has used this loophole countless times before. It has only been magnified by the recent announcement of the Battlefield: Bad Company DLC. You have to a) Buy the “Special Edition” for an extra $10.00 B) Pay for it with Microsoft Points in the Marketplace or C) Play special events held by EA over a course of a couple of weeks.

XBLRadio ver 64.5 “Title Updates/DLC & Gamesaving Cheaters!”

WITH

Guests this week include:

Also including the audio that corresponds to a Previous Posted News Story…

 

 XBLRadio ver 64.5 "Title Updates/DLC & Gamesaving Cheaters!" [1:56:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

BREAKING NEWS!!! Next set of Gamersaver’s Found!!! Listen to XBLRadio 64.5 For More Info!

This just in to the XBLRadio News Room:

Actually while recording the other night Mr. B4 and I were sent a Press Release identifying another set of Gamesavers have been found and this time…

IT EFFECTS PLATFORM NATION!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Cheaters don’t prosper, they get their gamerscore set to 0

It seems as though the number 1 gamerscore whore has been busted for cheating. Part of the Terms of Service for LIVE, you are not allowed to artificially boost your score. This includes using game saves to get achievements. StripclubDJ has had his gamerscore set to 0 and a permanent tag of cheater attached to his gamertag.

This just goes to show that Microsoft will not allow you to take advantage of their system. There has been some uproar in the community about this. Some say it good that Microsoft is punishing them, others say it too harsh and Microsoft should just lighten up.

Personally, I’m with the punish them. Most of us have heard from StripclubDJ in the past, and could have (if he did, I don’t remember) used that extra press from official Microsoft employee’s and features to boost site visits or downloads. This is a good thing; hopefully Microsoft won’t stop with gamerscore hacks, but will soon target the lag switchers and other vagabonds on LIVE.

Source

Kemanswar

XBLRadio ver 63.7: “Mr B4’s Wii Corner & Forceman4077’s TV/Moive Cast”

Well as the title implies this episode is full of Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Lost Talk and a little wager on summer movies…

And un-knowingly I assembled the Platform Nation PR Team as guests:

Fatal45:

F and A Eternal:

Forceman4077:

Also Steve519 joins us to give a first hand review of Rainbow 6 Vegas: 2.

Pretty sure not many of you have it and won’t till probably tomorrow, but there is a written review here and a audio review of the single player on this podcast.

Not to mention a flurry of other great announcements for Platform Nation and those affiliated with it…

Little sneak peak here:

but your going to have to listen to the show for all of them.

Read the rest of this entry »

 

 XBLRadio ver 63.7: "Mr B4's Wii Corner & Forceman4077's TV/Moive Cast" [1:47:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

XBLRadio ver 59.25 - Public Service Announcement (Xbox Live Account Hijacking)

Hello XBLRadio Listener’s and Everyone At Platform Nation

This is a special interview that I did, with Chiahippo (PSHRadio), about the recent issues of Xbox Live Account Hijacking. We interview Skullus vBi and Arctic vBi, from Team vBi, about this issue because it has happened to both of them. You can check out Team vBi at their website www.team-vbi.net.

You may remember Skullus from this:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=qXfwd4_ydLM[/youtube]

Which he received the highly coveted Halo 3 Recon Armor for!!

Well give it a listen, PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNT!

Please let me know what you think about the interview on XBLRadio.com or Platform Nation.com !

Thanks, Infected!

(Direct Download, Right Click - Save As..)

p.s. Be at AllGames.com Tuesday January 15th @ 8:30pm EST/5:30pm PST for the PREMIER of…

XBLRadio Live on Live! ver 59.5 with the return of Rusty Ranchero and special guest THE OTHER GUY!!

 

 XBLRadio ver 59.25 - PSA: Xbox 360 Live Account Hijacking [00:23:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We neeeds owr Muney, not a Fhree game!

This has just recently been brought to my attention from INFECTEDPB503, one of the hosts at XBLradio. Apparently, Microsoft is supposedly being sued by a group of three texans who filed a 9-page lawsuit against them claiming a breach of contract in regards to the services they receive on Xbox Live.

Here are some of the details as to what was filed in this complaint(I’ll give you the highlights):

1. It describes the December outrages from Blog posters about them not being able to access online play for several weeks, and talks about Microsoft’s failure t correct their server problems.

2. It also says that many of the plaintiffs have experienced interruptions in play, and have been kicked offline for it, as well as received message such as Server Error, etc.

3. Some could not et online, or use matching making or recovery features despite paying for these services when they subscribe to Xbox Live every year. And many of them just recently purchased subscriptions so that they can play online during the holidays.

4. It also alleges that Microsoft new increased holiday Xbox sales would lead to a bump in Xbox Live subscriptions and game-play on its servers, but the company failed to provide adequate access and service to Xbox Live and its subscribers.

5. And finally, the plaintiffs say that the outrages in December constitute a breach of contract for Xbox Live Subscribers.

Here is my interpretation of this whole thing. Honestly, I do agree that Microsoft is having problems with their Xbox Live service, and they havent really put as much effort into fixing it as they should, but these three guys from Texas want nothing more than publicity and money, thats it. Think about it, if you take that money away from them, how are they going to fix all of those problems for you, they are not. You take away their resources, and you will still be experiencing the same problems with your service.

I’ll put it to you like this my friends, we all have a voice, and that voice needs to be heard. If you want better service, fine, but do not ask for money if you really care about the gaming community as a whole, because then everyone thinks you are just pleading your case to make yourself famous, and that you are a fake.

Until next time gamers, this is B4 signing off

Take Care,

B4

Link to story:

http://www.destructoid.com/parasites-sue-microsoft-for-xbox-live-failures-62938.phtml

I’m having a very…Red christmas!

What’s up everybody, it is B4 here again with a very sad story to all of you. What a time of year for something like this to happen to me. The worst part about what happenned is that most of the presents I wanted this year were some kind of accessory for my 360. Let me give you the low down as to what I am talking about.

Just a couple of days ago I bought myself a brand new 26′ Vizio LCD HDTV from Wal-mart for my room so I can play games and watch movies in High Definition. On Saturday I was setting up my 360 to it so I could play the Simpsons Game with my GF, and what does my 360 do to me?, it gives me the three red rings of death. The whole time my GF and I thought that there was something wrong with the HD cables since no image was projecting on the screen, I look down and there are those ominus lights blinking at me going “ha, ha, ha, not this time jerky”.

I cant beleive now I have to wait close to a month to get a new 360 sent back to me from microsoft, and of all times of year that it could happened to me, it had to happen now. Oh well, guess its time to play the Wii and the PS2 for awhile. I’ll get a chance to check out the Wii zapper with some more games, and im telling you right now, the zapper rocks. Either way, this is bad news, but I will still try to make the best out of my holiday experience. Take care everyone, and have a Merry Christmas,hannukah, kwanzaa, etc., and also have a happy new year.

Until next time gamers, this is B4 signing off

Take Care,

B4

When can I pick up my canceled game?

I could not beleive this story the first time i heard it, and I thought I should share it with you.

According to this article I found on gamerevolution.com, the creators of the game “Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising”, Perpetual Entertainment, made the announcement for the cancellation of this game on Oct. 9th.  And by doing this they put the game on “Indefinite hold” (or canceled) due to prolonged development and realigned studio goals.  And exactly a week after its cancellation, a website named the Consumerist reported on Oct.16th that Gamestop and EB Games were still taking preorders on this game.

Does this mean that we should trust our local Gamestop and EB Games stores on knowing the release dates of upcoming games, or should we seek another source?  Could this have just been a mistake made in either stores database, or are they secretly trying to take your money, even with the knowledge of a game being canceled?  I will leave the decision to you.  But I am just giving you something to think about the next time you visit a video game specialty store and want to reserve a game.

Until next time my friends, this is B4 signing off.
Take care,
B4

Links to Sources:
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/view.php?id=3319
http://consumerist.com/consumer/gaming/ebgames-taking-permanent-pre+orders-for-canceled-game-311532.php