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ThrillvilleThrillville, an amusement park-themed simulation game from Frontier Developments and Lucas Arts has been announced. The game will allow players to build their own completely outfitted amusements parks, and interact with guests. The game’s roller coaster building interface has been specifically designed for console gaming platforms. Thrillville includes dozens of midway minigames (which visitors can play at the amusement park), over 100 attractions (a full day’s worth of virtual fun), and the ability to build roller coasters just as in “RollerCoaster Tycoon” – a well-known Frontier title.


Read More | Thrillville Product Page via XboxSpace


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AOL has announced a partnership with the World Series of Video Games (WSVG).  This partnership brings the global presence and reach of AOL together with the video game tournaments and presence of the WSVG.  AOL will be dedicating a page to the the group which will feature AOL profiles, videos from the circuits, along with tips and tricks from the pros.  The partnership also includes deals with Future US publishing which will cross promote the events in their many publications.  Editors from Future US’s magazines will be at tournaments to host panels on how to “Break into the Video Games Biz”.  Down the road AOL will host PC gaming events for the WSVG which is owned by Games Media Properties.

The article states that the World Series of Video Games is the first international video game circuit on multiple platforms.  This may come as news to Major League Gaming who have hosted tournaments on both the Xbox and the Gamecube in 28 countries.  The World Series of Games appears to offer much more variety to the gaming circuit.  They offer competitions for many games including, World of Warcraft, Halo 2, Ghost Recon Advanced Warrior, Quake 4, and Project Gotham Racing 3.  The tournaments will also feature pick up games of Dance Dance Revolution and other games.


Read More | biz.yahoo.com


Following last weeks brutal murder of a Florida man, Jack Thompson has asked authorities to search the teenager’s home for video games.  The detectives searched the suspects home and found M rated video games.  Jack Thompson became involved in the case after reading a report about the crime which “raised a red flag” in his mind.  While murder is no laughing matter Jack Thompson’s description of an individual who shoots someone in the face is.

“Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you’re a hit man or a video gamer.” - Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson goes on to state that the circumstances of the crime are similar to that of GTA, because the juvenile wanted to borrow a car and then killed for it.  Funny, I don’t remember playing that mission last time I booted up.  Thankfully the article provides a counterpoint by an industry rep who points out that teenage violence predates video games.  The full article contains a few more Jack Thompson gems.


Read More | 2 The Advocate


DescriptionJune 3rd Video Games Live will be stopping in Philadelphia, PA.  Video Games Live is a live concert which features games and performances from such classics as Mario, Zelda, Halo and Final Fantasy.  The show will be at the Merriam Theater and tickets start at $25 dollars.  The event has already received much praise for past performances and is definitely worth checking out for fanboys of all backgrounds.  The event will kick off with a video game inspired costume contest at 7PM.  The concert also features a Guitar Hero contest with a special guitar being bestowed upon the rockingest video game fan in Philly.

More shows will be coming to Rosemont (IL), Hollywood (CA), and Toronto (Canada).  Tickets are available on Ticketmaster for all the events.


Read More | Video Games Live


E3 ContestGamers itching to attend one of the largest gaming expos, E3, can win a trip via Xbox.com. Simply send a mail to the e-mail address at the linked site with your gamertag and real name. The prizes include: 2 round trip tickets to LA, 2 day passes to E3, a 2 night stay in a hotel, and $300. Winners also get a tour of the Microsoft booth from Major Nelson and Trixie.

Read More | Xbox.com Contest Entry via Major Nelson


XboxWith it’s faster and more powerful sibling taking all the glory, the original Xbox is starting to feel a bit neglected.  With an established base of millions of units, Microsoft has all but shunned the original system and seems to be focusing solely on the Xbox 360.  Sony, by way of contrast, has just this month stopped producing the original PlayStation console that was released over a decade ago (December 1994).  Rumors from earlier this year indicated that once the existing stock of Xbox systems was depleted, there would be no more. 

Particularly upset by Microsoft’s unvoiced neglect is Adam Roberts, the Executive VP of Vivendi Europe.  Quoted as saying that the Xbox “probably needs help at the moment”, he laments the loss of retailer support for the console.  Roberts believes that Microsoft needs to do whatever is necessary to reaffirm the trust and loyalty of the retail segment.  Once again, Sony is pointed to as having a clear concept of the life-cycle of the PS2 and that it’s far from over.  In fact, God of War 2 will be released not on the PS3, but on the PS2. 

Of course, it should be noted that it’s difficult to release a game for a non-existent platform, and when an aging platform is the only one in your arsenal, you have no choice but to support it if you want to maintain market share.  Considering the delayed launch of the PlayStation 3, by supporting the PS2, Sony is doing what is required.  Microsoft, plagued by hardware shortages, may be doing exactly what is necessary to firm up their grasp on the market prior to the PS3’s release.


Read More | IGN


Xbox Portable

It seems that Microsoft does have a portable gaming device in the works, and it isn’t the Origami. that’s not the Origami.  As rumored, the device will play movies, games, and music - sounds like a PSP-killer to us. Mercury News says that, “Game executive J Allard leads the project, and its director is Greg Gibson, who was the system designer on the Xbox 360 video game console. Bryan Lee, the finance chief on the Xbox business, is leading the business side of the project.” No other details have really been released, but don’t expect to see it until mid-2007.


Read More | Mercury News


Xbox 360 Dukes

While we don’t agree, we know many a gamer who absolutely loved the original Xbox “Duke” controllers. You know, the ones that were about the size of a Gamecube? Well, one guy loved them so much that he refused to play his Xbox 360 using the standard controller. Instead, he opened up his 360 wireless pad, removed the joysticks, and replaced them with the more round Duke sticks from an old-school Xbox pad. Not being satisfied with that alone, he replaced the 360 directional pad with the more comfortable S-Type pad. He now says that gaming on the Xbox 360 is pure bliss - and he sent us two images to show off his work. Gotta hand it to the guy. We have one more image after the jump.

(Thanks, Rick!)

Click to continue reading Modding The Xbox 360 Controller Into A Duke


This is utterly absurd - new copies of Xbox Platinum Hits have just received a nice price drop. You can now pick up any of the following games for a mere $10 USD. That is so not a bad deal:

  • Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Bethesda Softworks)
  • Enter the Matrix (Atari)
  • Fuzion Frenzy (Microsoft Game Studios)
  • Project Gotham Racing 2 (Microsoft Game Studios)
  • Shrek 2 (Activision)
  • Soul Calibur II (Namco)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (Ubisoft)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Island Thunder (Ubisoft)
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3(Ubisoft)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (Ubisoft)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (Ubisoft)
  • Tony Hawk’s Underground (Activision)
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (Activision)
  • True Crimes: Streets of LA (Activision)
  • MechAssault (Microsoft Game Studios)
  • Counterstrike (Microsoft Game Studios)

Black BFGLooks like someone uncovered the hidden code that you can use to unlock the BFG in BLACK right from the get-go. Here is the text from the hidden page on EA’s site:

Need some extra fire-power? Or do you just want to leave your mark with a few hundred bullet holes per minute?

Use the code below to unlock the BFG right from the start, and go in all guns blazing.

5SQQ-STHA-ZFFV-7XEV

Don’t forget to lock and load.


Read More | EA


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