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New Xbox Experience: Community Games [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Buried with the news of the Xbox 360 Family Timer was an interesting date: early December. That's when Microsoft says the timer will be available on the Xbox 360. Here's a safe bet: The timer is part of the Fall Dashboard update, which means we won't be seeing the update until early December. It sure seems like Microsoft is getting dangerously close to making this a "winter update"! No news yet on the other features we will see in the update, but my sources tell me we will be hearing more about the update in the next week or so. But let's play a game, shall we? How many more PS3 firmware updates do you think we will see before the Xbox Fall Update actually arrives?

The story kicks off with some insight from Gamespot's Tor Thorsen about why it is there are so many top tier games coming out this year, seemingly more than last year.

Hit up the two lists at the links below, but before you do keep in mind that the ten and twenty lists are not sorted in any particular order and that this wasn't meant to be scientific, just my opinion.

Must-have, must-play games and The Best of the Rest

NBC Universal and Sierra Online are releasing a Battlestar Galactica space combat game on Xbox Live Arcade and the PC this fall, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

'Battlestar Galactica' has been progressive with new technology from blogs and podcasts from the creators to the digital distribution of the show on iTunes," said Bill Kispert, vice president interactive of NBC Universal. "This new game on Xbox Live Arcade is consistent with that."

The game was developed by Auran Games and will include single and multiplayer modes, letting gamers play as human or Cylon.

"We wanted to bring a more intense combat experience to gamers," Kispert said. "From a story standpoint, fans will be able to relive key battles from the first two seasons of the show, and then we'll add new content and missions outside of that."

Kispert said that Sierra Online has spent time on the show's set in Vancouver to incorporate elements from the show into the new game, including everything from actual ships to the computer monitors aboard the Galactica. The
game will feature sound effects from the show, including weapons firing, and Kispert said they're talking about incorporating radio chatter from the show that could feature cast voices.

"We have the likeness rights to talent from the show for video games," Kispert said, "but this game will put players in a first-person perspective, allowing them to experience the world of the show by piloting Vipers and Cylon Raiders, so there won't really be room for actors in this game."

Kispert said that the Xbox 360 might also start getting episodes of Galactica via Video Marketplace, citing the popularity of the free downloadable recap episode.

"The reaction to this show was fantastic, so we know there are fans out there on Xbox Live," Kispert said. "We have discussions going on with Xbox Video Marketplace about offering 'Battlestar Galactica' on that service. We're looking at a number of digital platforms for the show, but at this point, we're just looking."

Kispert said Xbox Live Arcade could become a new way for the studio to reach out to audiences from other shows. He said he likes the notion of using Xbox Live Arcade with several of NBC Universal's TV properties because it allows the studio to deliver episodic or short gaming content quickly and efficiently to a large fan base. The "Galactica" game will have a one-year development cycle for this fall's game.

Ed Zobrist, president of Sierra Online, said the great thing about digitally distributed content is that it can constantly be updated, in this case with new ships, story lines, multiplayer maps and missions.

"Digital distribution allows Hollywood licensors the ability to work with game makers and turn around content to capitalize on a show's success, providing timely content without a lot of lead time," he said. "Moving forward, we'll be able to add game content via multiple delivery methods to provide new content that's topical to what's going on in the 'Battlestar Galactica' universe for seasons to come."

Brian Crecente

High-def 'Battlestar Galactica' game [The Hollywood Reporter]

So I spent several hours last night trying to sign up for PS3 Online.

I'd get through the first half, sometime two-thirds, and once to the end, before the system would just time-out on me on the PS3 and kick me back to start all over again.

I think if I didn't have keyboard handy to help with the data entry I probably would have discused the controller through my big screen. But I did, so a cooler head prevailed.

Finally, this morning, after several attempts I was able to get through the entire process, but not before discovering that either someone has decided to use my last name (one that is completely original to my family and I worldwide) as their user name or Sony just doesn't like Crecente as a username.

Fine, I thought, I'll use Kotaku. No, no I won't. That too was unavailable. So I finally went with KotakuCrecente, assuming that no one would use that and it worked.

So far, this online experience isn't starting out so happy. Has anyone else had problems registering? Oh and get your ass on Resistance multiplayer so I can get to being shot. Brian Crecente

It's possible that MS wanted to push out the Fall Update actually during Fall, which despite the testicle-freezing weather we're having in the Bay Area, still goes on for the month of November. Check out all the Dashboard screens after the jump, in Japanese. Jason Chen

Japan: 'Xbox 360 System Update Herbst' am 31.10.06 [GameFront via Xboxic]

The updates are broken down into three categories: HD Display and Video Playback, Xbox Live Arcade and XNA Support.

Brian Crecente

Expanded HD Display and Video Playback Options
1080p resolution for both game and video content.
Support for streaming WMV video from a Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11 or Windows Media Connect.
Support for playing video files from data CDs and DVDs, as well as from storage devices like USB 2.0 flash drives and Xbox 360 Memory Units.
50hz HDTV display modes support

Xbox Live Arcade Enhancements

Ability to automatically download newly released Xbox Live Arcade trial games.
Fast enumeration of games: "You'll see the games in your Xbox Live Arcade collection appear almost instantly."
New recently played and Category sorting options for Live Arcade titles.
Expanded Friends Leaderboard for Live Arcade.
Expanded Arcade Achievements View.
Play it Now option now instantly launches Arcade game.
Tell a Friend feature lets you tell a friend about an Arcade title you like.

XNA Support
Adds support for XNA Game Studio Express, allowing Express subscribers to play their 360 games on the console.

Looking at the list, it seems to be mostly tweaks and of course that major enhancement to video playback and 1080p. Brian Crecente

Konami is bringing two hit animated franchise series' to consoles this Fall and kicking things off with Winx Club: Join the Club and Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex based on the popular animated series currently airing on 4Kids TV as well as the hit Warner Bros. animated series Xiaolin Showdown. Also shipping this fall are Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Marvel Trading Card Game, which is sure to bring out the kid in everyone.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (Nintendo DS)
Celebrating 20 years of vampire hunting action, the legendary Castlevania series is back with an all-new action packed adventure. Take control of two heroes, Jonathan Morris, a vampire hunter and his close friend Charlotte Orlean, a girl with tremendous magical ability. Amidst the chaos of World War II, two mysterious sisters emerge, working to resurrect Dracula and David and Charlotte are all that stand in their way.

Marvel Trading Card Game (PSP, Nintendo DS, PC)
The hit Trading Card Game and the Marvel Universe come together in the digital world! Marvel Trading Card Game features Marvel's complete stable of characters such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, Ghost Rider, the Fantastic Four, The Hulk and more. Assemble your deck and square off against super heroes and super villains in the game's story mode, or go online in cross platform play to take on other players from around the country.

Winx Club: Join the Club (PSP)
Draws players into a new adventure. It follows the fabulous fairies as they try to thwart the plans of the fearsome Lord Darkar. Hungry for power, Darkar is searching for the four pieces of a mysterious emblem that will grant him incredible magical abilities. Called into action from the Alfea school, the Winx Club must secure the pieces of the emblem before Darkar can complete his frightening plot.

Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex (Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advanced)
Players can immerse themselves in the world of the hit animated series. On their travels, players will be able to dance, fly and design new outfits for their characters in several fast-paced mini-games. The more they explore, players will unlock additional clothing and accessories that can be worn by their characters and also trade with friends wirelessly with the Nintendo DS and with the Link Cable for the Game Boy Advance.

Xiaolin Showdown (PS2, PSP, NDS, Xbox)
Players can lead a kung fu monk and his three martial arts warriors on an action packed quest to search and protect the Shen Gong Wu. Omi, a Kung Fu monk leads three young dragons-in-training on a globetrotting adventure to find and protect the Shen Gong Wu, mystical power objects that gives its possessor super powers, from a band of villains led by Evil Boy Genius Jack Spicer, his army of robots and an ancient witch Wuya. Our heroes have to rely on their superb martial arts skills, wits, and the mystical powers of the Shen Gong Wu to fight evil and save the world!

With the exception of late November, Nintendo is pumping out a DS title a week starting on Oct. 9. Many of them sound like fun, though there's still the odd Pokemon and Nintendogs release stuffed in there.

Here's the list:
Oct. 9: Clubhouse Games(TM)
Oct. 16: Nintendogs(TM) (Dalmatian)
Oct. 23: Magical Starsign(TM)
Oct. 30: Pokemon(R) Ranger
Oct. 30: Children of Mana(R)
Nov. 6: Elite Beat Agents(TM)
Nov. 13: Yoshi's Island(TM) 2
Dec. 4: Custom Robo(TM) Arena
Dec. 4: Kirby(TM) Squeak Squad

Oh, and Nintendo reminds us that there's still one good GameCube title on the way: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. .Brian Crecente

The fourth quarter of 2006 will herald a new era for Nintendo with the launch of its remarkable new Wii home video game system. But that's not what this news item is about! How could that be, you ask? Perhaps the secret to the launch information for Wii is somehow encoded in the text of this news item. You might want to pore over it for a few hours before staying up all night to debate phraseology and comma placement with your friends online. Or maybe it's all just a scam to get you to read the other games we have launching this fall. One of the two.

As the weather cools down, the Nintendo portable game offerings heat up. FINAL FANTASY V ADVANCE makes its way to Game Boy Advance SP on Nov. 6. As series go, FINAL FANTASY is to video games what James Bond is to movies. FINAL FANTASY loyalists will enjoy an opportunity to debate which installment was best.

Nintendo DS owners are the big winners. Every week or so, another huge DS title hits, from the Touch Generations title Clubhouse Games to fan favorites like Elite Beat Agents and Yoshi's Island 2. Clearly a gamer's idea of paradise, here is Nintendo's upcoming DS lineup:

Oct. 9: Clubhouse Games
Oct. 16: Nintendogs (Dalmatian)
Oct. 23: Magical Starsign
Oct. 30: Pok mon Ranger
Oct. 30: Children of Mana
Nov. 6: Elite Beat Agents
Nov. 13: Yoshi's Island 2
Dec. 4: Custom Robo Arena
Dec. 4: Kirby Squeak Squad

And, for Nintendo GameCube owners, The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess will be available for you this fall. An enhanced version also will be a launch title for Wii. That will all happen on ... Oh look, we're out of space.