Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade internal memory confirmed

Microsoft have confirmed that the Xbox 360 Arcade consoles will from now on be shipping with 256MB of memory fitted internally.  In a statement made to Xbox 360 Fanboy, an unnamed Microsoft spokesperson described the move as part of "constantly updating" the console's hardware, confirming that the new internal storage is the same size as the external memory cards that were previously supplied. "We are constantly updating the console's more than 1700 internal components. We can confirm that we are moving to internal memory for the Xbox 360 Arcade. The physical internal memory is the same size as the previous external memory units - 256MB" Microsoft spokesperson The new memory was first spotted as part of the Jasper 65nm update.  Xbox 360 Arcade consoles previously came with only 16MB inside the box, relying instead on a removable memory card; however the New Xbox Experience now requires more storage to load, and it seems this switch is in part an attempt to reduce errors where users lose their memory card or remove it an an untimely moment. Of course, on the flip-side it means that new Xbox 360 Arcade buyers will not be able to take their saved games and downloaded content elsewhere, at least not as standard.  The memory card is still available as an aftermarket accessory.

 

Acekard 2i flash-cart for Nintendo DSi

Acekard have unveiled their latest flash-cart, which is compatible with the new Nintendo DSi.  Unlocking the handheld for homebrew tinkering, such as running PMP software, ebook reader and unofficial games, as well as supporting cheats and game saves, the Acekard 2i is functionally the same as its DS predecessor but simply adds DSi compatibility. Demo video of the Acekard 2i in action after the cut Although commonly associated with pirated software, flash-carts also give console owners more flexibility in how they use their handhelds and legitimately-obtained games.  The Acekard 2i can be used to store game save-files directly to a microSD card, removing memory capacity as an issue limiting save points, as well as running backups. It will also let you use Action Replay cheat codes, if you're not as impressive in a particular title as you'd like to be.  The DSi is not yet available outside of Japan. Click here to view the embedded video. [via Hack-a-Day]

 

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for DS coming to US

Apparently the makers of Kingdom Hearts really like to name their games strangely. The Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories game just came out today but it seems another Kingdom Hearts game will be coming to the US as well. And it has a strange name, too. The game is called Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and will be available for the Nintendo DS. In this new game, you will be able to portray the role of Roxas, a member of Organization XIII. Sure, this sounds completely unrelated to Mickey Mouse, but it does have a tie in. According to the press release, Roxas as the "other" hero from Kingdom Hearts II and this new game focuses on what happened while Sora was asleep. Roxas travels across the Disney Worlds and you will then uncover the ties between him, Sora and the 14th member and why he left the organization. Sounds interesting. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will also have a multiplayer mode.

 

Guitar Hero World Tour launches for mobile devices

Music games seem to be everywhere these days. More specifically, Guitar Hero is absolutely everywhere, and now with the release of Guitar Hero World Tour, more people are gaining exposure to the game. And for those that love it, they'll be pleased to hear that they can now play it on their mobile phones. You can get Guitar Hero World Tour mobile now on most major cell phone carriers and it will be released for Android next month. Within the game, you can play in multiplayer mode across networks and interact in real-time. Included in the mobile version of Guitar Hero World Tour are 15 music tracks that can be played on the guitar or drums. Bonus songs will be added each month. You can expect tracks from Blondie, Sublime, Lenny Kravitz and Oasis in the initial release. [via Slippery Brick]

 

Nintendo DS New Super Mario Bros bundle gets unboxed: it’s red

Nintendo's DS Lite New Super Mario Bros. bundle might not be all that spectacular - it's a red DS Lite with an "M" logo, together with a game - but that doesn't mean it doesn't deserve its own unboxing.  Engadget China have done the honors, stripping the colorful console from its plumber packaging. Once you get inside, things are as you'd likely expect them to be.  The same old Nintendo DS with a new paint-job and a big "M" slapped on it.  Aside from the game and the color, there's nothing different from standard DS handhelds. Still, if there's $150 burning a hole in your pocket, you can't wait for the Nintendo DSi and you're desperate for a new Mario game, this is a straightforward way to get it.  According to Nintendo the bundle is a limited edition, but there's no telling exactly how many they've produced.

 

Deals: Call of Duty: WaW $35, 50% off Blu-ray discs

Didn't get what you really wanted for holidays? Like Nazi zombies? Not to worry, Call of Duty: World at War is on sale for today only (or until supplies run out) for $34.98. Did your girlfriend get you Sex and the City: The Movie on Blu-ray and claimed it was present for you? Don't shed those manly tears, my friend -- there's a sale going on right now for all sorts of Blu-ray titles, some of which will surely resonate with your macho self. About 200 titles are on sale, including Band of Brothers for $37.49, so check out the selection here. For those of you with children or are just simply young at heart, you can buy The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2-disc edition) and Wall-E (2-disc edition) together for $29.98, just click here and then scroll down to "Best Value" and click "Add both to Cart". This discount is also available here (again, just scroll down) for the 3-disc editions of both movies for $39.98. Finally, if you don't mind waiting for it to come back in stock, The Chronicles of Narnia Blu-ray Bundle, which includes both movies in the franchise, is on sale for $31.99. Source -- Call of Duty: World at War for $34.98 Source -- Save Up to 50% on Blu-ray Discs [via Cinematical and Slickdeals]

 

Blu-ray releases for the week of December 28th

Nothing too exciting in terms of Blu-ray releases this week, but Firefly fans will be extremely glad to see Serenity make its debut in the HD format of our choice: An American Carol Days of Thunder Event Horizon Ghost Last Holiday (2006) Serenity Surfer, Dude The Truman Show Wedding Crashers Oh, you mean you didn't get enough of Matthew McConaughey's hair plugs and shirtless torso in the tabloids and Fool's Gold? Then we highly recommend Surfer, Dude. If you liked Dead Space, you should check out Event Horizon -- both are of the sci-fi/horror genre with religious overtones. The rest of the theatrical releases are above.

 

Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of December 28th

What exactly were you expecting? It's new year's week, which means no games. Are you really done playing through all the great games that came out over the last four months? Always one to buck the trend, Europe has a game coming out that we've never heard of, so if you're really desperate that might be an option. Here's the list: US Games No new releases EU Games Hei$t Asian Games No new releases All release dates are subject to change, so keep checking websites and calling your local retailers. Don't worry, they told us they don't mind.

 

Pre-order Killzone 2, get free ISA/Helghast costumes for Home

There's no better way to prove you're a Killzone 2 fanboy than to don a Killzone costume in PlayStation Home. amazon.com is offering a unique promo for those that pre-order the upcoming FPS on their site. According to the online retailer, players will receive "costume pieces for your head, torso, legs, hands and feet; you can customize your Home avatar to look like an ISA Soldier, a Helghast Assault Trooper, or something in between." This offer is currently an exclusive to the retailer, so you may want to take advantage of this rather unique deal. The patient types, however, will wait and see what other shops are offering for pre-ordering the game. [Via NeoGAF; Thanks, Noshino!]

 

PS2 in 2008: A year in review

2008 will probably be the last year we'll see anything remarkable happen on the PS2 ever again. As the year concludes, we're taking these last few days to look back and reflect upon the titles that have come out for this veteran console -- a system which has outlived its contemporaries long after they've retired. While 2007 was easily the "Year of the J-RPG," 2008, however, is a bit more difficult to define. As 2008 marked PS3's second full year out on the market, the PS2 was unfortunately overshadowed and came out with a dwindling amount of new games and even fewer new IP. If there ever was a theme associated with this year, it would be "the final push" as this year was all about remakes, rereleases and some last minute revivals in an attempt to keep the system still going. So what titles are those exactly? After the break we showcase eight PS2 titles which stood out of the crowd this year. It's a rather diverse group but one whose impact won't be felt again in the upcoming year. It's time for the PS2 to stand down and pass the torch.

 

PlayStation Network experiencing Trophy issues

Congrats! You unlocked a Trophy! Time to sync it up with ... Oh, wait. Looks like there's a bug in the PlayStation Network right now, preventing users from syncing their Trophy data with the servers. You won't be able to compare Trophies with friends, with a frustrating error message (80022D27) popping up at every attempt. Considering the large number of complaints on the PlayStation Forums, it looks as though this is a widespread Network-wide outage. There's no word yet on what's causing this problem or when it'll be fixed. Stay tuned.

 

Asian PSN update for the week of 12/22 - 12/28

Massive update for Asia this week. Lots of new content, including all that awesome LittleBigPlanet DLC that's been the talk of the town these past weeks. There's also a WipEout HD demo out on the Japanese store right now. So if you haven't played it yet, now would be a good time to check it out for free. Oh, and did we mention there's a bunch of new PSOne titles, too? See the full update for this week after the break. You can catch the weekly Asian PS Store update every Sunday, while you can still enjoy EU and NA updates every Thursday. For PSP-related content, please check PSP Fanboy.

 

PS Fanboy Best of 2008: Day 3

This is the big one, folks! Here are our final nominations for the best games of 2008. We're taking the holiday off to make our final decisions, and we'll return with the results soon. Winners will be declared on December 29th. Best Original Soundtrack Best RPG PS3 Game of the Year 2008 PSP Game of the Year 2008 And for fun, you may want to check out last year's winners.

 

Kojima directing two new games simultaneously

It sounds like Hideo Kojima is once more hard at work after his post-Metal Gear Solid 4 vacation. In an interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu states that he's directing two new games simultaneously within Kojima Productions. While one game, which is destined to be announced first, is being developed in the traditional Kojima Productions style, his second title is being developed by a newly restructured team within the company and will be focused more towards the Western market. Kojima wants his studio to, as 1UP puts it, "compete with the best of the best in America and Europe." We say he's been doing this for years now, but if he intends to up his game even further and make even better titles in the future, who are we to complain? As for his two new projects, we can't wait to hear more about them. What's at the top of your personal Kojima wishlist?

 

Killzone 2 cover revealed, unsurprising

The cover of Killzone 2 has just been revealed on the PlayStation.Blog ... and well, it's hard to write about. It's what you'd expect it to look. Helghast eyes stare ominously at you, with the "Only On PlayStation" banner proudly displayed at the top. It may not be surprising, but that's a good thing, right? (Do you want the Killzone 2 cover to have bunnies instead?) Now, we're waiting for info on the please-make-it-happen Limited Edition.

 

PS Fanboy Best of 2008: Day 2

Nominations for our various Game of the Year categories continue today. Check out the galleries below to see our nominations for best story, best action adventure, most difficult trophies, best strategy game and (gulp!) biggest disappointment. Don't forget to vote on your favorite and get your voice heard -- all of our categories will have a reader's choice award this year. Winners will be declared on December 29th. Best Story Best Action Adventure Best Strategy Biggest Disappointment Most Difficult Trophies Stay tuned! The last categories will be revealed tomorrow, including PS3 and PSP Game of the Year. To see yesterday's nominations, click here.

 

Penny Arcade: Episode 2 features game-ending glitch, patch coming next year

If you planned on playing Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 2 this holiday break, you may want to wait. Many users are reporting a gltich which renders their save files completely useless. Selecting a corrupted save file will freeze gamers on a permanent "Loading" screen. The problem has since been identified, and will be patched soon. However, due to the holidays, SCE QA is taking a little break. That means this patch won't be available until the new year, in January. Right now, it's unclear if a patch will fix any current save files. Considering the Penny Arcade Adventures aren't too long, starting over shouldn't be too bad -- but we're sure players would rather not.

 

European PSN releases for December 24th

Merry Christmas from SCEE. Today's update brings three full games, three demos, the normal extreme amounts of music-based DLC and, of course, the LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid pack. There are also a bunch of price drops on some excellent PSN games (though, is it just us or has WipEout HD always been that price..?). Savage Moon is good fun, particularly if you're a tower defense fan. There's also a ton of PSP content, which you can check out over at PSP Fanboy. Here's the full release list: Playable Content Savage Moon full game (£6.29/€7.99) Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom full game (£7.99/€9.99) Street Fighter Alpha Warriors' Dreams PS1 game (£4.79/€??) WipEout HD demo Metal Gear Online demo Sonic Unleashed demo Seasonal Offers WipEout HD (£11.99/€14.99) Super Stardust HD (£3.99/€4.99) PAIN (£3.99/€4.99) The Last Guy (£3.99/€4.99) Toy Home (£3.99/€4.99) echochrome (£4.79/€5.99) Toy Home: Second Gear expansion (£1.59/€1.99) Snakeball Team Mode add-on (£1.59/€1.99) Eye of Judgment Set 2 & 3 combo pack (£8.39/€11.99) flOw (£3.99/€4.99) Add-on Content LittleBigPlanet DLC (listed after the break) Shaun White Snowboarding "Glamour" pack (£3.99/€4.99) Buzz! Quiz TV "National Geographic: Undersea" pack (£6.29/€7.99) Everybody's Golf: World Tour "Mainichi Issho Lobby Character Headwear" (free) Everybody's Golf: World Tour "Toro" character pack (free) Rock Band DLC (listed after the break) Guitar Hero World Tour DLC (listed after the break)

 

Home items selling like hotcakes

We're not sure why, but it seems that quite a few of you out there are buying Home pay-for content. In an interview with Silicon Alley Insider, Susan Panico (Senior Director of the PlayStation Network) says that content in the social networking service is selling tremendously. In fact, in the first four days of the open beta Home produced more money for Sony than the video download service did in its first week. We're disheartened to hear that one of the biggest sellers is the ridiculously priced Santa outfit. So if you went ahead and bought a £5 Santa suit: congratulations. You've just told Sony that it's okay to charge 79p for a pair of virtual gloves. Panico says it's "a classic 80/20 model, where 20 percent of your customers create 80 percent of your income." Makes sense to us. There's already a very vocal pro-Home community. We'll be happy to join in next month when some of that promised content starts to drop.

 

PS Fanboy Best of 2008: Day 1

Welcome to the second annual PS Fanboy year-end awards. We've changed the format a bit this year: this time you can vote in every single category. Yep! Reader's Choice is back, and better than ever. We're also spending a little less time on the awards this year, so as not to clutter the front page too much. (See? We listen to your feedback!) All the nominees will be presented over the week. Make sure you tune in every day and vote for your favorites! Winners will be declared on December 29th. Best Graphics Best Multiplayer Best Downloadable Game Best Shooter Best Racing Best Fighting Best DLC Stay tuned! More categories will be revealed tomorrow!

 

It's a Dead Rising holiday, spread the cheer!

X3F reader Andy sent us a few pictures of his Yule holiday present that we thought was unique enough to share with the masses. Not because he received a handy shower head, some snacks and a jug of orange juice, but because every present he received was tagged with a Dead Rising style item pickup screen. Seriously, check out the cardboard box full of Dead Rising themed goodies and wish your family and friends were as gift giving creative.

 

Twitter's fake Cliffy B gets shut down

If ever there was non-news, this is it but recent tips have forced our hand. Emails have flooded our inbox (and my Xbox Live messages) regarding comments made by Cliffy_B on Twitter. "After much testing, it looks like matchmaking is permanently broken ... There are new maps though, only 800 Microsoft Points!" read a recent update enraging gamers that the designer would mock issues plaguing the multiplayer of Gears of War 2. However, as most of the internet is aware, Cliffy_B on Twitter isn't the real Cliff Bleszinski and now the account has been suspended from activation. The trend of creating obvious fake Twitter accounts isn't a new phenomenon. Recently, a fake Kanye West account was shut down after comments were made about Stephen Colbert in his quest to top the iTunes sales charts, currently topped by the award-winning rapper. Shaquille O'Neal has also been in the middle of his own Twitter-versy (that's like if controversy made it with Twitter) which forced the champion NBA baller to create his own account in retaliation -- which by the way is fantastic reading material. So, it wasn't really Cliff and he wasn't really laughing about broken multiplayer and charging for maps. All cleared up, now? Great. Moving on...

 

Chew on these successful XBLA stats and figures

Feeling a bit reflective, today Microsoft put out a press release with the sole reason of gloating about the success of the Xbox Live Arcade over the years and especially in 2008. Read over the bulleted list and try to guesstimate how many Microsoft points have been spent on XBLA titles over the years. 1.25 billion Gamerscore unlocked to date. 100 million achievements earned to date. 60+ XBLA titles score 75 or higher on metacritic. Braid is highest rated XBLA game of all time. 110 million trial XBLA games have been downloaded to date. The Summer of Arcade saw a 58% increase in unique members purchasing game titles. August broke revenue record by 67%.

 

Shipping this week: Cribbing from Joystiq edition

We're not going to go so far as to literally copy and paste Joystiq's "New games this week" post, but we are definitely stealing the angry Santa picture. The picture tells a story, see. That story is this: there are no new Xbox 360 games coming out this week. You see that misshapen, haphazardly wrapped present under the tree? It's not a new game. It's a special gift from Santa or, to be more specific, a gift from Santa's reindeer. He said that Rudolph "made it himself," whatever that means. Protip: don't open it.

 

Holiday wishes from Criterion sends the Jansen 88 Special in flight

If you told us in January that we'd still be excited about Burnout Paradise a year after it released, we'd call you crazy. Games, as we all know, tend to lose their luster over time unless something drastic revitalizes our love affair with them. What could jolt us back into Paradise City? 1.21 Gigawatts? Close. The Jansen 88 Special, one of four new vehicles hitting the streets of Paradise City in the New Year. This virtual DeLorean clone features retractable tires, sending the nuclear-powered car into the air at breakneck speeds. Just remember to save those points kids because this DLC asks a price. Great Scott! Hey, for the amount of free DLC Criterion Games threw at us all year, who can complain? Check out Criterion Games' holiday greeting video featuring the Jansen 88 Special, embedded above. To learn more about 1.21 Gigawatts, jump in for an informative music video.

 

Cozy up to the virtual Xbox 360 fireplace

During this time of year, we begin feeling envious of those who are lucky enough to own a fireplace and can snuggle up next to it with a hot cup of cocoa and oversized blanket. For those who are beginning to feel the fireplace envy creep in, we recommend navigating to the Community Games section and downloading the newly released virtual fireplace. For "only" 400 Microsoft points, you can download Fireplace and own your very own Xbox 360 fireplace. This Fireplace "game" comes complete "realistic smoldering embers and flickering" and requires no skill to ignite. Check out the amazing Fireplace video after the break and wonder exactly why you haven't yet made the purchase.

 

This week, Puzzle Arcade jiggies up the XBLA

Today, we have a proud moment to celebrate at X3F headquarters, because we're pleased to tell you that we came out victorious at competing in "guess which XBLA game will release prior to its official Microsoft announcement." This week, just as speculated, the Xbox Live Arcade receives Puzzle Arcade. On Wednesday, December 24th for 800 Microsoft points (ouch!), you'll be able to download Ctxm/Say Design's Puzzle Arcade. Complete with 35 jigsaw puzzles, a few different modes, and lots of promised DLC, Puzzle Arcade lets you enjoy the excitement that is putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but on your Xbox 360. 'Nuff said.

 

Mysterious Prototype clock counts down

By pointing your clicker here and visiting the official Prototype website, you'll find yourself staring at an age gate. But that isn't the big news. After you successfully sidestep the age gating mechanism, you'll find the real news; a countdown clock. That's right, there's a Prototype countdown clock ticking-tocking its way along and counting down to a mysterious event that's a little over two weeks away. Wait ... two weeks is about the time CES 2009 kicks off. Second thought, the countdown probably has something to do with all those leaked CES assets. Mystery (not officially) solved. [Via IGN]

 

Overlord II DLC to be available 'closer to release'

As development winds down on Triumph and Codemasters' upcoming sequel Overlord II, we're comforted with the fact that downloadable content is planned, is in the works and will be available closer to the game's retail release. "The DLC for Overlord 1 was an experiment for both Triumph and Codemasters, but perhaps it came a little too late after the release to appeal to all Overlord's players," admitted creative director Lennart Sas. "The plan for Overlord II is to have the DLC out closer to release," adding that "Overlord II is already a lot prettier than the original." A prettier Overlord that is (hopefully) less buggy, full of content and already has timely DLC planned? We applaud the effort. Just don't make the DLC feel like it should have been in the retail copy and we'll be cool.

 

MotoGP 08 demo shifts onto the XBLM

Racing onto the Xbox Live Marketplace this morning is a new 377MB MotoGP 08 demo. And we wish we could tell you some information about the demo or what's included prior to your download, but Capcom has only given us "Download this demo" descriptor text. No matter, we figure MotoGP fanboys will insta-download the demo and those who aren't interested will turn their nose up in demo disgust.

 

'Whole slew of downloadable PSP and PSone titles' coming from Capcom in 09

Is the game drought over? We hope so. Capcom's John Diamonon hinted at increased PSP support in 2009 in a recent post on the PlayStation.Blog. "So what's in store for 09? Well, I'm working with Grace and Ro at SCEA to come up with some innovative ways we can offer games and programs on the PlayStation Store. You can expect to see a whole slew of downloadable PSP and PSone titles from our vault next year." Capcom has released a number of great PSP games which we'd love to see re-released on the PlayStation Store. Mega Man Powered Up, anyone? However, their PSone offerings have us even more excited. Let's not forget that they released Breath of Fire, Marvel vs. Capcom, a whole slew of Mega Man games, Resident Evil and Street Fighter games during the PSone era. Having them on the go would be perfect.

 

PSP Fanboy Game of the Year 2008 nominations

Although PS3 Fanboy is featuring awards for multiple categories this year, PSP Fanboy is having just one award this year: Best PSP Game of 2008. We decided that there weren't enough games on the PSP this year to warrant having multiple categories. We're hopeful that 2009 will look a little bit different, though. These are our nominations for Best PSP Game of 2008. However, we'd love your input as well. Simply choose the game you want and leave a comment for your favorite game this year. Winners will be declared on December 29th. PSP Game of the Year 2008 And for fun, you may want to check out last year's winners.

 

PSP Fanboy hands-on: Star Ocean: Second Evolution

Star Ocean: Second Evolution, as the title implies, is a remake of the second Star Ocean game released back in 1999 on the original PlayStation. It is a direct sequel to another PSP remake released earlier this year, Star Ocean: First Departure. Besides the updated graphics, what other new elements can RPG lovers expect? Read on to find out. Gallery: Star Ocean: The Second Evolution

 

European PSN releases for December 24th

Okay, Europe. It looks like SCEE is trying to make things up to you for being a day late with your PSN update. Sure, America got its hands on Suikoden yesterday, but you've got five full games to choose from. Dead Head Fred is the best of the bunch, though it's sadly the most expensive, too. Fighting game fans will be in heaven with Street Fighter Alpha Warrior's Dreams as well as Guilty Gear Judgement to choose from. Here's the full release list: Street Fighter Alpha Warriors' Dreams PS1 game (£4.79/€5.99) Guilty Gear Judgement full game (£9.99/€12.99) Dead Head Fred full game (£15.99/€19.99) Off Road Racing full game (£9.99/€12.99) Pipe Mania full game (£9.99/€12.99) Star Ocean First Departure trailer Loco Roco 2 "Retro Notes" wallpaper Loco Roco 2 "Retro Circles" wallpaper Loco Roco 2 "Retro Planet" wallpaper Loco Roco 2 "Retro Squares" wallpaper

 

PS1 classic Suikoden now available on the US PSN Store

Just one new item on the US PSN Store today, but it's a good'n. If you're an RPG fan and a retrophile then you'll no doubt be thrilled with the release of Suikoden onto the PSN Store. This great (if schizophrenic) JRPG will set you back $5.99. It's a pretty rare find nowadays, so it's good to see that it's being made available via digital distribution. This is how it should be; PS1 classics preserved in time via the PlayStation Network. Real classics. Not Reel Fishing.