“Would you consider buying a service that allows downloading Xbox LIVE Marketplace content faster than your current experience?”, asks question six.

If you subscribe to the Xbox Flash Newsletter, the latest issue (9-18-2007) will invite you to take a survey to “Let [them] know how you feel about Xbox LIVE Marketplace*.” First, commendation goes to MS for being very sharp about the agenda of the servey. There is no beating around the bush or any masks behind the questions at all. Now with that said, shall we continue?

The final two inquiries of the survey blatantly ask “How much” would you spend, either for a monthly subscription (from $2-or-less to $4-or-more) or a per-download use (from 10 cents to 25 cents)? Taking note that there is no option for zero dollars and zero cents. Now at this point, am I really the only one asking, “shouldn’t this be free?” And who in their right mind would pick the more expensive answers in this survey?

“But Rusty, we live in a democracy where free trade and capitalism is not regulated. Businesses and corporations have the right to charge whatever they want for any porducts and services they offer. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.” Thank you. You are very educated.

I’m saying consumers have a voice and the Xbox Live Team asked to hear our voices by publishing this questionnaire and then sending out an email asking gamers to take the survey. Please let me help spread the word. I encourage everyone who may have recieved the latest Xbox Flash email to take the survey. Let them hear your voice by clicking your mouse. That’s all. And you know, some surveys ask for comments and feedback right before you hit the submit button; this one does not.

Join Carps and TOG as they ponder on the past weeks in gaming…

TECH NEWS:
-Gaming is not a spectator sport.
-PS3 and Back Compat.
-Getting to the Core of Apple’s Rebate.

GAME NEWS:
-Is that WiiDom ROCK? Turn it up!
-THQ can’t pull off the Stunt of selling games.
-HALO3. Less than 2 weeks away. The Hype Continues…

GAME REVIEWS:

-STUNTMAN IGNITION: Howie would be proud as Carpal tries to manage all the director’s cues. -MADDEN 08: TOG tackles his first Madden game. Will it surpass his NCAA addiction?

ALL THIS PLUS:
-Squidpunch and the 360 Friendspot “SPOT”™ -GUI J’s final Marketplace Minute™ -Useless Tips™ -Console Crimes™. And the usual banter from those Southern Boys of Gaming.

Direct Download ver 52.0*,
Right Click here (and save as… for best download experience).
-Duration 01:27:15 (60.20MB) 96Kbps-

Subscribe now! It’s free! You must act fast…

*Leave us comments on the show; It’s not like we’re asking for a PayPal Donation.

EDIT: We have learned that the feed is downloading the wrong show (42.0, that’s twenty weeks ago!) It is now corrected and may take time to update.

Now as most of you know, this is not the type of post you usually expect from me. The truth is, I have a problem and I need some help.

As the screen shot above illustrates, this is a test for your Xbox Live connection using a wireless network adapter. The fourth option down is called the DNS test. When I test my wireless connection, the network adapter, wireless network, and IP address all check out fine. The problem I have is that the darn DNS test keeps failing.

I have one idea of what it could be, let’s hope I’m right. Maybe the type of router I have is not compatible with Xbox Live, or at least not this version of it. When I checked on the Xbox.com website the other day, it told that me that versions 2, 3, and 4 of Linksys routers are compatible. I found out that I have version 6 of this router, with the same model number (WRT54G), but no Xbox Live connection.

So as you can already tell, this is a situation that stresses me out. So before I buy a new router, I thought I’d extend my plea to this great community of XBL Radio (and now Platform Nation) to see if any gamer out there can help me out. Leave me a comment if you have some idea of what to do, I’d certainly appreciate it.

Here is Xbox.com’s solution. See if it makes sense…
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/live/con-power.htm

Thanks gamers, I appreciate your help and I’ll see you again, right here, next week with a news story.

Take Care,
B4

Check out this sweet video from 360style.net. It’s a seven minute PAX-u-mentary showing off some cool games, gamers and gaming. It’s got more game than MJ. Also, keep an eye out for some familiar faces in this wonderfully edited presentation.

Length: 7:23
Edited: Chubby McCarlson
Filmed: Avid X3ro & GodfatherX360
If you’re gonna digg it, please use this link.

This is routinely done on the forums, but I felt like indulging this time around.

LIVE on LIVE version 52.5 will be recording on Friday, September 21, 2007. This will be done on Xbox LIVE in a Gears of War lobby. These six gamers listed below are the next in order on the waiting list. They have been contacted and I’ll update this post as they reply.

GROMekstrakt - CONFIRMED - “Im there boss. cheers, GROMekstrakt”

PimpMethod - CONFIRMED - I got Gears and I’ll see you Friday.

Jeremiah Night - PENDING - “dont have gears ill see if I can rent a copy”

ABACAB72 - STILL PENDING - YET TO RESPOND

Tel Prydain - STILL PENDING - YET TO RESPOND

BrokenTaco 09 - UNABLE - “I apologize, I will be working that night.”

Now I need YOUR help. What shall we talk about during this roundtable? Please comment and suggest any topics you think gamers will find interesting. Catch you L8ER, -Rust.

While in class yesterday, I was introduced to a toolbar expansion for Firefox called Stumbleupon, which based on the interests you choose, will send you to website pages with said criteria. As I went through the customization process for the toolbar, I found gaming was one of the interests, so I check marked it to see what cool things might come up. Within about 10 minutes of use of Stumbleupon I found this amazing video for San Andreas, that helped me figure out something I could do to pass time until Halo 3 or GTA4 arrives.

I’m quite excited now to go back an venture the streets of San Andreas, searching for things I had never thought of doing. Should keep me plenty entertained ’til the big titles drop.

And speaking of biding time until Halo 3, what are you doing during the wait? Diving into Skate or Stranglehold? Re-playing through Halo 2 on Legendary? What has your attention off of the week and a half wait?

First off let me say Congrats to Steve519. He is expecing a new addition to his gaming clan. It seems like a lot is changing for our Steve. Earlier this week he announced a new cast called “The Gamer’s Pub”. Now we find out that his wife actually does like him. Or does she?

I’m not saying anything here (one knows I’m not one to gossip) but…

After PAX Steve leaves Rusty and LIVE on LIVE. Rusty was the only one who ventured around the apartment the night I was there. He left evidence in the restroom sink. So without getting to much into the C.S.I. area… I have to go Hmmmm

I’m just messing with ya Steve519.

Congrats and welcome to the new age of less free time from the Staff of XBL Radio.

achievement -
1 : the act of achieving : ACCOMPLISHMENT
2 a : a result gained by effort b : a great or heroic deed

We are going into the 3rd calendar year with the Achievement system, which Microsoft implemented along with their XBOX 360 console. So I took time to reflect back on my past achievements that I have won. WOW! Were they all over the place! They were from 50-200 to 600-900 point per game. With that said I don’t know what that means. Am I a quitter when it comes to playing all the way through games or are the Achievements to hard to get.

It seems that gaming companies follow a trend with the achievements they put into their games: Sport games seem to be easier in achieving your goals. Racing games I find myself on the short end of the stick. First Person Shooters I’m landing right in the middle of the achievement grade card. Then there’s the arcade, which to my surprise looks to be the most consistent over all.

But you have to ask yourself: Is this because the arcade is where I go to get my quick fix? Therefore you don’t play those games long enough to get all there achievements? I don’t know the answer.

But there is one thing I do know; that your gaming skills don’t reflect your Gamer score. This score is to be a reflection of games you have played on the Xbox 360. But it seems the mirror is cracked.

I wish we all would be able to look at our True Skill stats. This would reflect a truer depiction of your gaming skills. As of now the current Achievement system is an indicator of who has a Gamefly membership and who doesn’t.

TOG out!

Dear Friends,

It is my sad duty to announce that FASA Studio has officially closed its doors. Today was the official last day of employment for those of us who had not moved on to other positions within Microsoft Game Studios. While the rumors have been circulating forever, we chose to wait on an official announcement because we didn’t want people’s attention distracted from our last product, Shadowrun, a game we love.

As a testament to the team’s commitment to Shadowrun, we released three title updates to improve the product even after the team learned we were losing our studio. We have kept our Community Manager and Technical Support Manager on the job to aid and support you and will continue to do so while people continue to play our game. I am pleased that about half of us have found great positions elsewhere in MGS and Microsoft where they can share their experience and passion with the great people there.

But now, as the last of us say our goodbyes to each other, I’m saying goodbye to you on behalf of a group of talented and dedicated professionals who busted their humps for the love of the game. I am proud to have worked with and represented them to you and know that wherever they go, they will continue to kick a#$.
Link to their forums

The Wii is for casual gamers? If you only play the Wii, you’re not a hard core gamer? Who knows? But those type of statements have crossed gaming sites, podcasts (including ours) and print all over the gaming world. But there is one thing for sure. The Wii makes money.

“Today, the Financial Times reported that the three-way race between the next-generation consoles has a new frontrunner. Citing cumulative sales data through the end of July, the British newspaper’s Japanese correspondent is claiming that the Nintendo Wii has now sold more units worldwide than the Xbox 360, despite the latter’s year-long head start.

According to the Times, approximately 9 million Wiis were purchased across the globe as of July 31, just barely overtaking the 360’s 8.9 million units sales during the same period. Both platforms were far ahead of the PlayStation 3, which sold only around an estimated 3.7 million units internationally.”

To read this story in full head over to game spot.