It seems that no hugely hyped up video game comes without an attached set of problems these days. The sheer size and complexity of newly released games like SimCity and Grand Theft Auto V means that there is always going to be some unwanted little bugs hiding away somewhere. When you introduce variants of the game that are played purely online then you can be asking for real trouble if you don't get it just right. Rockstar initially had teething troubles with GTA Online but it also seems like a bug in invite-only online games is allowing players to financially benefit to the tune of billions.
Everybody loves to get something for free, especially if it's one of the most iconic video games the Xbox world has ever seen. The 2007 released Halo 3 is now being offered as a free-of-charge download for those Xbox users with a valid LIVE Gold membership package. With a standard sale price of $15 it represents a fairly impressive saving for those Gold subscribers who want to get their hands on their very own digital copy of Bungie's popular first-person shooter.
A move which we have been expecting for quite some time: Microsoft has finally made the decision to rid Xbox 360 customers of Microsoft Points in favor of real-world local currency. A Xbox update that is starting to filter its way around the world puts an end to the Points system and converts any Microsoft Points on an account into the local currency of the user.
As per a blog post by Xbox LIVE's Larry Hryb, otherwise known as Major Nelson, Xbox 360 users are now invited to try out the "2013 Xbox Live Update for Xbox 360 Public Beta," which adds many performance enhancing updates. Notably, users will be able to make purchases using real-life currency, with the current Microsoft Points system being discontinued later on this year with the Xbox One on the way.
Now that Xbox One has been announced, and naturally, immediate comparisons are already being drawn between it and the PlayStation 4 of Sony. Since we’re still a long way from seeing either of these two titans hit the market, it’s impossible to begin to compare the two up against each other in terms of performance, but taking into consideration the hardware specs of each, we can at least gauge a rough idea of how these two significant machines stand up to one another. Here, we’re going to use what information we already know to compare the hardware and features of each, and although this won’t be indicative of anything beyond mere reference, it does set the ball rolling.
The next big game in the Call of Duty franchise - Call of Duty: Ghosts - has leaked, over six months before it is due to go on sale.
If you've been keeping abreast of the brewing console battle between Sony and Microsoft, then it's likely that you are on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what the Redmond company will introduce with their next-generation Xbox. Sony has already let the cat out of the bag with the introduction of the PlayStation 4 back in February, and it looks like the Xbox unveiling isn't too far away with the originally planned April event being pushed back a few weeks to take place next month.
Microsoft has worked tirelessly over the past few years to try and turn its flagship Xbox 360 console into an all-round entertainment system. Once a hub for hardcore gamers to get their kicks, Xbox LIVE is now awash with various type of content, and adding to the ever-growing plethora of streaming media available comes something for wrestling fans worldwide to get reasonably excited about. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will now begin showing pay-per-view events to those with an Xbox LIVE Gold membership subscription, and although details are pretty scarce at this point, it's a pretty big coup for both parties involved. More details right after the break.
Last Summer, Electronic Arts announced Battlefield 4, and with the special event for the title having just been held, the company has released an incredible 17 minutes of in-game footage. It features plenty of combat, a preview of some of the weaponry, and stunning visuals offering a timely reminder of why gaming fans are looking forward to the next installment of the legendary first-person shooter franchise. The title is set to release this fall for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and running on the Frostbite 3 engine, will evidently deliver a cutting-edge gaming experience. More details and video after the jump.
Despite being a paid service, Microsoft's Xbox LIVE service is considerably more popular than the free alternative of the PlayStation Network. Whilst I have no personal preference, I always found the Xbox LIVE Dashboard to be a very polished experience, and it's a product Microsoft takes great pride in developing and maintaining. Each user is represented by a highly customizable avatar, and as well as various items of clothing available, there are also plenty of props. If you're a soccer fan, for example, you can exchange some of your Microsoft currency for a soccer ball to sit alongside your avatar, and if you're crazy about the Redmond company's Surface tablet, you can now grab the free prop just added to the Marketplace.
