1. Call 1-800-4-MY-XBOX
2. Get a reference number for your problem as quickly as possible.
3. Hang up and call the escalated support number, 866-506-3826.
4. Talk to someone who knows what they're doing.

[www.chapter6.net]

Source and Image: http://www.chapter6.net/index.php/150/jim-halpert-john-krasinski-from-the-office-looks-like-luigi/

—-

Dear Former Member of The Sims Online

I would like to introduce you to EA-Land, an online world that is free-to-play, and based on a re-engineered The Sims Online architecture.  Yes, FREE.

(To see an HTML version of the information in this letter please go to http://www.ea-land.ea.com)

I wanted you to know that at the beginning of last year, I assembled a team to improve The Sims Online. After months of ongoing hard work, we can proudly say that we have been successful and we have made this game fun again! I am writing to you because I would like to invite you to rejoin us in the game. You can come back for free right now by REACTIVATING your old account at this page http://ea-land.ea.com/register/free.php and then by downloading the game from the same link. Most likely, your Sim is no more, but if you come back to the game this month, you will get your earned privileges back (gifts, skill locks etc... in EA-Land) when we run our amnesty program at the end of the month.

The Sims Online was made of 12 different cities (AlphaVille, Blazing Falls, etc..), which now all exist EA-Land (this is called 'the merge' by the users!). We have a huge new map: it is 100 times bigger than the previous size of any city. We had to add a whole new zoom level to let users see it. The internet is faster now, so we have been able to let each house have more simultaneous visitors.  A lot of new users are constantly joining us and we expect more. As you have played TSO before, I think that you ought to own your lot in this new land, and I want you to have the ability to grab the best location before we open the gates. As an EA-Land subscriber, you will be able to have several Sims in the same "city" unlike in TSO where you were limited to one Sim per city. Also, if you refer others to become subscribers we will give you extra money in-game each week per person referred. Read more about this at http://www.ea-land.ea.com/blog/?p=826


RE-designed with Smart Users

On our blog ( http://www.ea-land.ea.com/blog ) we explain all the things we are working on and the events we are running in the game. We also have a very active wiki web site (http://www.game-blueprints.com ) managed by the community where you can work with others to design the game. We have already implemented many features designed by the users! The stratics forum community continues to be very active. We have made some big changes to the game, and many more are coming over the next few months. It is difficult to say which of the recent changes are the most important as users have different reasons to play the game, but let me tell you about the changes that I particularly like:


Custom Content

Users now have the ability to upload custom content. Like in the original Sims game, the goal is to let you customize the game completely, but in EA-Land you can see and buy the customizations of the other players! Players have already uploaded several thousands pieces of custom content. I suspect that by some time this year, all of the content of the game will have been replaced many times over by custom content. We started with the ability to upload bitmaps (easiest for the new creative users), then moved on to chairs and sculptures. You can now make your own portraits in the game and "skin" objects like in Sims2 by using your own images. Because we are approving all of the content, this user content is safe to be viewed by everyone! We are working with the main user web sites that have been providing custom content to the Sims users for years (e.g. http://www.TheSimsResource.com) to make sure that their content will be made available in the game.


New Economy

We heard from the community that the economy was broken in TSO. That was true, too many users were billionaires, and the goal of the game was mostly about extracting money from Maxis. I can now say with satisfaction that we have fixed the economy on EA-Land. This took many features, from establishing a real estate market, where users can easily buy or sell lots to one another, and a dynamic object pricing market where the prices of objects purchased from Maxis is based on supply and demand, enabling stores and entrepreneurs to earn a living. We also enabled users to buy the in-game currency directly using secure PayPal transactions. While there is no need for users to do so in the game (we give subscribers money in-game every week), it can help new users build their dream house faster.


Web Services and Social Networks

The internet has changed so much since the launch of The Sims Online in December 2002, we had to change the way we think about online games. We have opened the access to most of the in game information to the internet through web services. For example this enables you to add Google or Yahoo widgets to your computer (or iPhone! ) and see if your favorite lots or friends are online. We are providing you with privacy settings so you can decide if or which of your avatars will broadcast what information to the internet. Sims User web sites are already using this feature to create some amazing community sites. We also built avatarbook, to show how that information can be seen and connected to social web sites like Facebook © (login to the "avatar book" application at http://apps.facebook.com/avatarbook where you can search for MaxisLuc's profile page)


And there's more to come! We are looking forward to seeing you back in the game and having fun with us again!

Sincerely

Luc Barthelet,
"MaxisLuc".

http://www.gran-turismo.com/en/

Some video games teach children important skills, from cooperation to patience, but others really are just about gorily blowing other people's heads off. The more you understand about which games your child uses, the more you'll be able to guide their choices.

There's a new update for the Wii Shopping Channel available, which enables the system to use the upcoming WiiWare downloads that will be made available this Spring.

[blog.instantaction.com]

So I decided to check out MXO after three years now.  I'm always skeptical about joining new mmo's and this one was a title that I originally wanted to check out back when it was in beta.  However all the negative press, high technical requirements, and average reviews made me pass on it.  Three years later it has an anniversary today and since I feel mmo's are usually more improved years after their release since most stuff is fixed and improved - I'll give it a whirl on my DX10 laptop.

The game is surprisingly fun if your a huge fan of the Matrix films.  Sci-Fi mmo's don't ever get any slack cut for them since the most popular ones are the traditional cliché knights, swords, and magic.  While I can see it having some graphical issues, they seemed minor compared to what I read at release.  Lastly, the most impressive thing I noticed about MXO is the community.  They are the most friendly, helpful, and non-obnoxious (juvenile behavior, n00b calling, '1337' attitudes) mmo crowd I've met.  Even the forums are so welcoming and friendly.  Heck the moment I jacked in this really nice girl gave me a tour and shown me around the game.

Overall I kind of wish I didn't wait out all these years on MXO, but I can say if your not a fan of the movies even by a little - then search further for your clichés.

[www.theonion.com]

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/859/859985p1.html

[morpheonmods.blogspot.com]

I know you guys are all fond of the Bedazzeled Wiis, but I think this Wii Metroid mod needs to be shown on if it hasn't already..There's supposed to be a Mario Galaxy mod on there too, but, well, we all know how delays go..

Freeloader for Wii: All hype and no substance

http://www.destructoid.com/jack-thompson-tells-me-to-rape-a-child-advocating-molestation-is-not-cool-75534.phtm

As Solid Snake would say

A METAL GEAR!!!? D:

Though De Luca didn’t directly state it, this probably means that Wimmer is also up to direct the big budget affair, as his previous films, Equilibrium starring Christian Bale and Ultraviolet starring Millo Jovovich, were similar fanboy-intensive, kinetic action/genre flicks. Neither one of those films connected at the box office, however, so MGS would be the director’s closest shot at bagging a sure thing, the whole video game curse notwithstanding. Wimmer’s next screenplay to hit the big screen will be April’s LAPD thriller Street Kings with Keanu Reeves.

Video game synopsis: Metal Gear Solid follows Solid Snake, a retired soldier who infiltrates a nuclear weapons disposal facility to neutralize the terrorist threat from FOXHOUND, a renegade special forces unit.

Full Story at http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/03/15/kurt-wimmer-to-write-and-possibly-direct-metal-gear-solid-movie

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/New_vest_allows_video_gamers_to_0317.html

Saw this at my local chinese market. A black version of Sonic, (or maybe a happy version of Shadow the Hedgehog) on a box of dried mango snacks. Unfortunately, the contents in the box weren't mango snacks at all. Gotta love Chinese adverts!

PIC1

PIC2

This footage is taken from Play.Com Live show behind the closed doors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=906NLwfS2Cs

[www.amazon.com]

[www.knittingninja.com]

Chain Chop Hat

Lots of Street Fighter fans rejoiced over the news that there will be a Street Fighter: HD Remix beta. Unless of course you happen to not own a 360. Lots of PS3 owners were left wondering why Capcom be hatin' on their console of choice.

So what in fact was the reason for Capcom shunning the PS3?

"The secret answer, of course, is that we are pure evil, and just like ruining people’s day."

Hey at least they're honest. Of course there are just a couple more reasons than that.

"A few additional points:

1. We are resource constrained. This project already has gone over the original budget (we had a new budget approved to accomodate our dedication to its quality and the new features… there were even a few we wanted to do that had to get cut in the end… more on that in a post mortem blog or something). Anyway, we wanted to do a beta to test the new network features but even if it were possible for Sony to do, it would require 3 submissions (US, Europe, Asia/Japan) to reach the same global audience we can with MS in a single test and global submission.

2. We treat the PS3 extremely seriously. To date, we are still the only third party publisher doing cross platform, simultaneous digital releases (still working on the global simultaneous, but see the issues above on multiple submissions per territory as an issue). Believe it or not, this is not easy and to suggest we aren’t treating the PS3 as important would be ignorant of what we’re doing for it.

3. In my ideal world of worlds, we would have done a beta on each. That said, the effort and time (not to mention money) that would have taken, if it even could be done, probably would have pushed the project back another few months on our side. I suspect you guys would still like to play this title in this calendar year.

4. The beta for 360 will absolutely help the PS3. There is code parity across the two and any issues found in 360 will be fixed in PS3. So while PS3 owners won’t be able to participate in the beta, they will still benefit in the finished product.

5. Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 will be an excellent title on PS3. The lack of a bonus beta doesn’t make it not worth its asking price.

6. When you show me someone running a cross platform beta… I’ll be impressed, because that’s a hell of an investment."

[blog.capcom.com]

a guy shaves his head for Guitar Hero III

Oh, and it's FREE as a St. Patty's Day promotion.

-Bluecell

http://kotaku.com/367219/unreal-engine-4-targeting-consoles-not-pcs?cpage=2

by ehlaren

I'm sure there are better people out there at Guitar Hero, but few have the personal vanity to call in Guiness and get the official sanction. I admire his sense of personal aggrandizement.

New Cry On artwork is...wow...

Guinness Book of World Records

Publisher:  WB Games

Platform: Wii

Category: Strategy Sim

Release Date: 10/30/08

It is comforting to know that Warner Bros. cares deeply about making a substantive impact on the gaming industry with deep, thoughtful titles.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix: State of the Union

Here’s the straight story on the glorious highs, devastating lows, and delicious middles behind making Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, from the game’s producer, Rey Jimenez:

– Long time, no see Street Fighter fans. Sorry for not writing in a few months, but hopefully David Sirlin’s articles have been keeping you in the loop on HD Remix news. The reason I haven’t posted in a while is that there has been a lot of changes in HD Remix and we really had to focus on what was going on with the game. But now, I think it’s time I give you guys the run down on what’s been going on the past few months.

First of all, creating HD Remix has turned out to be a much more difficult task than we could’ve anticipated. There have been many recent challenges ranging from developing rock-solid netcode from the ground up to creating super-polished art for that truly lives up to the name Street Fighter. If we had gone the “good enough” route, you probably would be playing the game right now, but that wasn’t the route we wanted to take here at Capcom.

http://blog.capcom.com/

[www.techtree.com]

MS BLURAY