backdraft123's space: Gaming News

The Collection Grows!

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 03:14:14 GMT

A few entries back, I mentioned how gaming has been slow for me. How games are not really interesting me and I was looking to fill that void that was missing in my life. All of this mushy mess in mind, I went to Wal-Mart and picked up Guitar Hero II in late June. Finally breaking the 4 month long stretch of not buying a new game, I have went on a spree of sorts that will only continue to Holiday Season. Adding Forza 2 on 4th of July and NCAA 08 a few weeks later, I have my eyes set on August as July comes to a close.

What games highlight the month of August? Well a few actually that I find are worth mentioning and that will soon be added to my collection that is growing to nearly 20 Xbox 360 games. 2K's Bioshock, is already widely known to be one of the best looking Xbox 360 games that will soon grace the notorious console. Already developing the mind blowing "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion", 2K games is the new hard hitter in the gaming industry. How can you pass up on Bioshock with its unique storyline and FPS gameplay? You cant, that's how. One may argue that they are full of FPS and don't need another, well I'm here to tell you that is nonsense!

This is what happens if you don't purchase Bioshock!

Before that reaches store shelves on August 21st, Madden NFL 08 rolls out a week before on the 14th, continuing its dominance as the most played NFL football game of its time. Then again, there is no competition in that department but lets save that argument for another time. Madden is back, and looks to rebound from its sub-par performance in 07. With create-a-team back in full swing, take control of a brand new team and lead them to the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. Match defensive players up according to the offense's strength and weaknesses. Dynasty mode is making a return and I'm assuming...only assuming that Superstar mode is back and the horrible First Person Camera has been removed.

I'll end it here until we reach the end of the month of August. But I'll leave you with a few things to keep in mind..

Halo 3...is over 1 month away.
Assassin's Creed is next
Scene It! Trivia will be added to my collection also.

--backdraft123

Editors Note: GTA:IV has been pushed back into early next year.

GTA:IV gets confirmed launch

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:16:11 GMT

In a conference call from GTA: IV's publisher, Take Two, they announced that the 6th game in the series will be set for release in October of 2007 for both the Xbox 360 and PS3. Exclusive episodic content will ONLY be found on the Xbox 360 in 2008. This may intrigue some hardcore Sony fan and introduce them to Xbox Live's exciting Marketplace. Click here to view the OFFICIAL website!

--backdraft123

Can your PS3 do this?

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:17:46 GMT

Not to be overlooked this month in the 2 extremely hyped up consoles, Microsoft announced today that they will releasing the ability to download and watch TV shows and Movies straight from the 360's dashboard, coming November 22nd, 2006. The date might sound familiar to you, well it does have some importance. It was the official launch date of the 360 in the U.S. bringing together millions of gamers in what many consider to be a "some-what" successful launch.

Microsoft has its eyes on the prize. They will be the first and ONLY console to have full HD Television shows and HD Movies. I personally didnt even think about this idea, never read or heard one single rumor, but i am extrememly pleased that this will be happening. Heres a full list of what will be available on the 360's birthday, November 22nd.

TV Networks

[Adult Swim]--"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and "Robot Chicken"

[CBS]--"CSI", "Survivor", and "Star Trek"

[Comedy Central]--"South Park" and "Chapelles Show"

[MTV]--"The Real World" and "Pimp My Ride"

[MTV2]--"Andy Milonakis", "Celebrity Death Match" and "WonderShowzin"

[Nicktoons]--"Skyland" and "The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival"

[Nickelodeon]--"Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "SpongeBob SquarePants"

[Spike TV]-- "Carpocalpyse and "Raising the Roofs"

[UFC]-- UFC Fights, "UFC: Ultimate Fighter" and "UFC: All Access" shows

[VHI]-- "Breaking Bonaduce" and "Hogan Knows Best"

[Warner Bros]-- "Studio 60", "Friends", and the "West Wing"

Movies

[Paramount]-- "Mission Impossible III", "Nacho Libre", and "Jackass: The Movie"

[Warner Bros]-- "The Matrix", "Superman Returns" and "Batman Forever"

There is planned to be over 1,000 hours worth of TV Shows and Movies on the marketplace by the end of year! A couple of concerns do come to mind when thinking about all this hot new content. My first concern would be the pricing. How much is each piece of content going to cost? Possibly a package deal where you can buy it in bundles or are you going to be buying it piece by piece? My second concern, is hard drive space. Yes, i know you dont HAVE to buy all this content, but just exactly how big is each piece of content going to be? With all these shows and movies available in High Definition we are sure to see very large file sizes consuming a lot of the space.

Which then leads me to my next question, going a little off hand. Are we ever going to see a larger hard-drive that will also include a transfer kit? Id like to have 1 hard-drive full of my gamerpictures, themes, and all my other content that is apart from my game saves. With some type of USB cable running from one hard-drive to the 360's USB ports located in the front and back of the 360. Not exactly sure how Microsoft has all of this planned out, but im concerned about consuming so much space and eating up my hard drive and not even have a full year of ownership under my belt.

You'll be needing another one of these

What does this mean for the Xbox 360 and this years "console war"? It is delivering something that no other console can and what no other console has ever done. Bringing High Definition TV Shows and Movies straight to our living room. Our 360 console acting as a DVR or TiVo, and doubling as a renting machine with the ability to rent all the movies. Amazing! It certainly will persuay a lot of the consumers this year, just in the time for the Holidays. But, i leave you with just more question...

Can your PS3 do that?

--backdraft123

Now Recruiting!

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:13:49 GMT

Since the release of Splinter Cell: Double Agent, i've been trying to figure out if it had clan support or not. It isnt title exactly "Clan" but rather a "Squad". I didnt plan on competing for the top spot, but just have a group of people that you can always play with and have a good time.

I titled the clan "The Blog Ring" since half of my friends list is off of these MSN Blogs. So, if your looking for an invite, send me a FR, leave a comment, or if you happen to already be on my friends list i may have already sent you an invite. Im not sure if you get a notification or not, but go to the Xbox Live section on SP:DA, then go to home, then click "Squad", and check your invites.

Be sure to check back for more news regarding this. Depending on how many requests i get, i might bend the rules a little. See you all later!

--backdraft123

The first entry about Gears of War!

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:36:52 GMT

Why have i waited so long to make an entry about one of the most hyped games ever to be created? To be honest, i dont have a straight forward answer. Its only the most talked about game since.....uhhm.....that one game that nearly everyone has or had in their gaming library, Halo 2.

I thought for sure, that with under 2 weeks until launch id have at least ONE entry, but not a single one has been typed out. So this is it. This is the ONE entry and probably the only entry until a review of the game when i actually get it. I see all the hype surrounding this game and actually wondering if the game is going to be THAT GOOD. You should keep in mind the quote "seeing is believing" while thinking about Gears of War. We've all saw the E306 video, most of us have seen more screenshots of Gears of War than we can shake a stick at, and nearly 95% have this game pre-ordered. But, i kinda have to disagree with that quote. Trailers, gameplay videos, screenshots, and product reviews hardly mean anything until you actually play the game. So really "playing is believing".

After reading the EGM main article for this month about how they got to play Gears of War, i learned a few things. One level pretty much consists of controlling one gun. Now, the guy did mention it seemed a bit repetitive going after the main weapon round after round, which i strongly dislike. You put 1 strong gun on the map, that increases the amount of camping that will be going on but it also increases the amount of teamwork needed to get the gun back. I have a feeling, if there are a lot of levels like that, GoW is not going to be "newb friendly" like Halo 2.

Another thing i noticed, everyone is comparing Gears of War to Halo 2. Which is common. Halo 2 is the greatest game to grace the Xbox console. I dont care if you completely hate the game or are a total fanboy of it. You can agree with me, that without the Halo series, Xbox would not be where it is at today. And thats what Gears of War is trying to do with the Xbox 360. If GoW doesnt live up to these expectations, we wait until 2007 for...you guessed it, Halo 3. These are two completely different games, but when your looking at the marketing standpoint and the hype each game got, they are very very similar.

Its a make or break situation for GoW. If they drop the ball and dont deliver a less than spectacular game, only God knows what is going to happen. Apocalypse maybe? Riots? Rants? People compalining that the game was "rushed" (thats going to happen anyway)? We'll all find out soon enough when this game hits retailers next week, November 7th and is widely available by November 12th.

--backdraft123

10 Things To Do When Xbox.com & Xbox Live are down

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 22:18:16 GMT

Incase you have not heard, Xbox.com and Xbox Live will be going down for maitenance on October 17th, 2006 for a total of 24 hours. Yes 1 whole day. No, it is not a dashboard update and no there is nothing wrong with your computer or internet connection. So now that i cleared that up, lets think of 10 things to do while the Xbox Network is offline.

10.) Unbelievably you might actually have some friends outside of Xbox Live and your friends list. Invite them over for some co-op action on GRAW, Halo 2, or smoke them in a game of Madden 07.

9.) Some of you might have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife. If they are needing some attention go ahead and give them some. Its alright, put the controller down, it wont go anywhere....unless you have young kids. Then you MIGHT want to tie it down to something.

8.) Wake up way late. Why? It makes the day go by faster. If you dont have to work and your not in school, go ahead and sleep in for a bit. If you have to work or are in school....well, sorry. At least you wont be around your 360, no temptations hopefully.

7.) Clean! I dont think anyone really enjoys cleaning, but how about you tidy up your entertainment center? Just because Xbox Live is down does not mean your console wont work. Put on some music, and make that gaming center look pretty.

6.) Oblivion misses you. Fire up the 'ol beast and get goin. If you dont have it go buy it. This game has GoTY written all over it.

5.) Catch up on some TV. Whats on Tuesday nights though? Essentially nothing, but hey theres GOTTA be something midly amusing.

4.) Make a collage out of magazine clippings. Do you have a stack of old gaming magazines that you have no idea what to do with? How about you go through all of them and create a Gears of War collage in anticipation for its upcoming release. All you need is paper, scissors, and glue. Please note: Running with scissors and sniffing glue is not recommended.

3.) If you have an original Xbox, how about you give that a whirl? Sure the graphics wont look grand, but the big black box is needing some lovin right now.

2.) BLOG! Oh yes, now you have no excuse to make at least 1 blog entry on Tuesday!

1.) Shop. I dont care what you shop for, games, grocies, clothes, whatever. Go out and spend a little cash. Get away from the TV for a couple of hours and go to some of your favorite stores. I recommend stocking up on Red Bull and Doritos.

--backdraft123

TGS Day 4,5 & 6 Content

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:15:21 GMT

More videos, a demo, and some gamerpics!

Trailers:

Vampires Rain Trailer (only available in Japan)

Forza 2 Customization Trailer

Virtua Tennis 3

NBA Live 07

NHL 2K7

Battlestations Midway

Eragon

Import Tuner Challenge

Need for Speed Carbon

The Darkness

Demos

F.E.A.R. (FEAR demo Review)

Picture Packs and Themes:

Forza 2 Theme (250 points)

Mass Effect Picture Pack

Battlestar Galactica Picture Pack (Ghost's favorite pack)

Videos:

TGS Showfloor video 1
TGS Showfloor video Day 2 (only available in Japan)
Game Creator Interview (only available in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #5 (only available in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #6 (only available in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #7 (only available in Japan)

TGS Showfloor video 2
TGS Showfloor video Day 3 (only available in Japan)
Gamers' Interview (only available in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #8 (only available in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #9 (only avaiable in Japan)
Xbox Live The Party #10 (only available in Japan

TGS Showfloor video 3

Lots and lots of stuff to download over these past 3 days. Be sure to grab the free gamerpics of Mass Effect and Battlestar Galactica that i know SuperGhost is loving!

--backdraft123

TGS Day 3 Content

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:50:16 GMT

Heading into day 3 of the TGS we where looking for a rock solid demo and more game videos. Well we got a little bit of both! Check it out!

Game Trailers

Portal Trailer

Demo

Fuzion Frenzy 2

Videos

TGS Showfloor Day 1
TGS Showfloor Day 1 (Japanese Version)

GM Sensui Interview (only available in Japan)

Xbox Live The Party #1 (only available in Japan)

Xbox Live The Party #2 (only available in Japan)

Xbox Live The Party #3 (only available in Japan)

Xbox Live The Party #4 (only available in Japan)

Ok, so we dont have a TON of videos for the North American gamer, but what we do have is Fuzion Frenzy 2 demo that makes up for that. Easily the most overlooked game on the Xbox, Fuzion Frenzy was the Xbox's party game. Of course it wont reach the awesomness of the Mario Party series on the Nintendo consoles, but it is currently holding the #1 spot of the Xbox's mini-games and soon to be Xbox 360's mini game genre.

FF2 has taken a huge upgrade though. Now we can play online with our friends, over 40 mini games to choose from and even custom tournaments! With the ability to download content from the Xbox Live marketplace we could see that mini game total rise frequently with new levels and games. The demo is 293.43 MBs.

--backdraft123

Summer Games

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:39:17 GMT

We are nearly in the middle of July and have so far, seen some pretty good games been released since summer officially started. The blockbuster summer hit has still yet to grace our consoles. What game will hold the title of "Best game of Summer '06?" Will it be the high octane Moto GP'06. Maybe the strategic hobbit thrilling game of Battle for Middle Earth II? How about the more updated version of Mech Assault, called Chromehounds? If thats not tickling your fancy, lets go with the hard hitting, pad-popping game of NCAA Football 07.

My pick for the summer's hottest title will be NCAA Football '07. The 360 is weak in the sports genre so i think some college pigskin will make it look great!

Not all blockbusters have to be bought off store shelves. Just check out the hit seller Geometry Wars. It came from the arcade and delivered the goods. More addictive gaming than you can shake a stick at. By now, we've all heard about Microsoft's new "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday" event that they have going on. But, just incase you've been in a coma for the past couple of days, here is what i am talking about.

July 12 – Frogger
July 19 – Cloning Clyde
July 26 – Galaga
August 2 – Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting
August 9 – Pac-Man

Frogger, which has already been released, is the more updated version of the arcade classic. Not much too look at visually but you can now play 2 player multiplayer of go co-op over Xbox Live. If you have no friends, play a single player game and see how far you can get.

With all that said, what other games can we look forward too this summer? Just to name a few: Dead Rising, Splinter Cell Double Agent, Madden NFL '07, and possible even Saints Row. You better put on your heat suit, the summer is just now starting to heat up!

--backdraft123

My Most Wanted List

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 23:50:22 GMT

My most wanted list is a small list that i have been thinking about for a good week now. What games am i really looking forward to in the second half of the year? We already have some pretty big sellers such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter, Call of Duty 2, and Fight Night Round 3. But, what can we look for now? Heres my list, starting with number 5.

#5: Forza 2

Currently there are only 2 great racing games available for the Xbox 360. Why has this genre of gaming taken a huge hit? It's no longer one of the most favorable genres. A game like Forza 2 can get those hardcore fans really going and the newbs a chance to experience what a great game really is. Online play of course will be available, but the Forza series is really well known for its customizing ability. Everything can be customized, and rumor has it, you'll be able to do a little customizing of your own! No release date is set in stone yet, but from what we saw at E3, im pretty excited about this game. Granted, the trailer was in CGI its reportedly going to run at 60 frames per second with great reflection detail off the cars. Im pumped!

#4: Splinter Cell Double Agent

One of the better franchises on the Xbox was the Splinter Cell series. All 3 games never failed to deliver heart pounding action by sneaking around, ninja style. So, what is there to expect now? The 4th game in the series has Mr. Fisher playing 2 roles now. One as a semi-good cop and the other as a complete lunatic out for revenge. Does it get any better than that? Lets hope it will impliment the online play from the last 2 games in the series and deliver one of Xbox 360's best games.

#3: Dead Rising

I had a tough time on deciding number 3, but Dead Rising looks really good right now. From the videos i have seen it looks kind of like a hack and slash type game. But it could also involve some survival skills in there also. I mean, who doesnt love busting some zombie heads open with a baseball bat? It's one of those games where your going to run around for hours looking for different ways to kill a zombie. In this game, anything goes. Any weapon can be used. Sounds good to me!

#2: NCAA Football '07

Call me biased, but just hear me out for now. There are no great sports games on the Xbox 360 at this moment. None of the games have delivered that "Oh my sweet mary, i must have that game!" , type of comment. I believe this game will deliver. Great lush stadiums to play in makes you feel like you are there. If your a college football fan just wasting to bang some helmets with friends online, this is your game. I dont know if i can wait until the July 18th release date. I must have this game right now!

#1 Gears of War

I understand that you probably saw this one coming, but i had to be honest. I was going to put NCAA 07 first just for a shock, but i would be lying. So, Gears of War is the game that is the must have for every 360 owner. By now, most of us have seen the trailer, some of us watched Cliffy B. demo the first level of play at E3. But the real question is, will it deliver that Halo type of popularity? Its doubtful. And its going to be hard for games to even compete with it. Most of the H2 fans dont want to change from another game. To them it means breaking up with their girlfriend or boyfriend. It's just hard to do.

Gears of War is a totally different game from Halo and Halo 2. I understand that. But, im simply comparing these games and the hype that each has received. Can Gears of War be the system seller that the Xbox 360 has been waiting for? Lets hope so....2007 is a long way away.

--backdraft123

Give me Poker....please!

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 01:54:27 GMT

I have turned into a bit of a card shark lately. UNO has been consuming some of my card lovin goodness, along with some Texas Hold 'Em online in some of the Yahoo! Game Rooms. But, what i really want, is a Poker game for my beautiful Xbox 360.

Rumors have been flying around like flies around a cow patty. None of them have been confirmed and the only Poker game we saw, was shown at E3 and was displayed with the Xbox 360 Vision Camera. Speaking of that:

Rumor has it that the camera is being bundled with a wired Xbox Live headset, a full game of UNO, and a 1 month of Gold Membership. All that for a small price of 39.99$. Expected release date is September 19th, 2006.

I already had some ideas about what Poker would be like with online play. 8 player parties with the ability to see all your opponents faces if they have the Xbox 360 Vision Camera. Different types of Poker of course would be available. But, the question is, would it be released as an Xbox Live Arcade title or as an Xbox 360 original game? Will you be able to purchase Microsoft Points and gamble them online in real life? Now thats a tough call. I think its a great idea but, i am leaning towards that not really happening. There are too many possibilities of kids logging in, buying points with their parents Credit Card and gambling. Not only would that be illegal and most likely send the parents to jail, but it would also cause Microsoft a huge headache at the same time.

So, with that being said. Give me a Texas Hold 'Em Poker game, and i'll be playing. Besides, who doesnt like gambling with money that doesnt effect your bank account?

--backdraft123

Xbox Live gets an update & New GPs and Themes

Fri, 26 May 2006 17:41:16 GMT

Many of use gamers have been pleading for an update to happen. We wanted to see Xbox Live get fixed and be a tad more organized than it already is. Well, Microsoft will be sending us all an Xbox Live patch that will add in and fix some of the known issues with Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Xbox Live Media Connect.

The first major fix or addition that comes with the patch is the ability to download mulitple downloads at one time. I got frustrated of looking at the same screen while downloading something from the marketplace. Now, you will be able to not only download 6 pieces from the Marketplace at one time, but be able to play a game, listen to music, watch a DVD, talk to a friend, look at pictures, and whatever else you want to do. Can i get an AMEN?

The Xbox Live Marketplace isnt done yet! We will now see a more organized marketplace with more sections to choose from. Themes and Gamerpictrues will no longer be in one section, they will be split up into 2 sections. The Marketplace isnt the only place that will get this lift. The Arcade will also get an added section called "New Downloads". Now you dont have to go through each and every genre and see if there is a new download available.

The media center will be getting an update also. You can play music much more easily while playing a game. Instead of pressing the guide button, scrolling down to the "music" section and finding what you want to listen too. I can dig that!

And finally, my most favorite news yet. You can start up your 360 and have the option to go to the dashboard or go ahed and play your game or DVD. Thank you Microsoft! But....im still a little upset. The most standard thing i thought would be brought out and introduced was the ability to have actual chat rooms on the dashboard. Its getting pretty old jumping from person to person that you want to talk too, and the finding a game that everyone has just so you can talk in the lobby.

The update is scheduled to be released "sometime this week".

F.E.A.R has just released its first Picture Pack along with a Theme. The picture pack will cost you 60 MPs and comes with 4 gamerpics. The theme is a 150 points and a 2.44 MB download.

Apart from the F.E.A.R GPs and Themes, EA's 2006 Fifa World Cup also has released a TON of picture packs. Go check 'em out!

And finally, i will not be able to get my UNO review in this week. I know everyone was looking forward to it (or not..), but i will try and get it out next week along with a brand new Gamers Behind the Spaces. And be sure to read this weeks GBtS, i will be releasing some news that some of you may enjoy!

--backdraft123

E3 is on its way!

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 04:05:55 GMT

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) of 2006 will be here in just a few short weeks. Gaming blogs everywhere will be bringing in updated information like there is no tomorrow. E3 starts out on May 10th and runs until May 12th. Last year, Microsoft toyed with us a bit only showing us gameplay footage of their next-gen console, Xbox 360. Just a few weeks later, it showed itself off to gamers across the country on MTV. What could Microsoft possibly have instore for us this year?

E3 is neutral territory between consoles. Sony will most likely show off its PS3 and try to steal the show. While Nintendo could also show its extreme next-gen console, the Revolution. But this year, Microsoft doesnt have a console to show. Us Xbox 360 users are kinda wondering what exactly do the folks at Xbox have instore for us? One thing is guranteed though. Gameplay Footage. Lots and lots of gameplay footage. Im guessing games like Gears of War, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Chrome Hounds, NCAA Football 07, Huxley, Dead Rising, and so many more games. Could we see the Xbox 360's camera actually up and working and being showed off in-front of thousands of spectators? Who knows, that is just 1 of the many hot topic items floating around the E3 buzz.

Microsoft already has an early lead going into E3. If they want to steal the show, they need a HUGE announcement. What could it be? Well, i'll give you one word....HALO. You figure out the rest. If Microsoft wants to steal the PS3 and Revolution's thunder, no better way to make some announcement that the next Halo game is in the works. Maybe a teaser trailer for added topping would be nice also?

Not only is the Xbox 360 making a big splash, but the Xbox 360 Marketplace has taken off also. More than 10 million downloads since its launch back in November. What new content could be previewed at E3? Well how about a real marketplace. It has been rumored that somewhere down the line you will be able to create content and sell it on the Marketplace for a small price. New skins for cars, which would be great for games like Forza 2. Map editors can create maps with games like Far Cry Instincts: Predator. Take those maps and sell those also. Tons of potential for the Xbox Live marketplace, and we are just now getting started!

It looks to be an exciting year at E3. Im going to do the best possible job i can, to bring up to date Xbox and Xbox 360 info. And if i have too, major news from those "other" consoles.

--backdraft123

Project Gotham Racing 3 Auto Update and DLC

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:53:10 GMT

After months of waiting, the guys at Bizarre Creations has finally made some brand spanking new Downloadable Content (DLC). Also with the DLC, came an auto update. Just pop in your PGR3 disc and you will be prompted to download an Auto Update. Here is what is included in the AU:

Tournaments – Be one of 64 players to qualify with the best lap time using a car and route that’s predetermined. If successful, move on into the Elimination rounds to compete with 7 other drivers. The top 4 in each race move on until the final race where only the first place driver earns the victory.

Tournament Channel (Gotham TV)– Watch other players race in tournament Elimination rounds.

“Quit to Lobby” (Abandon option in PlayTime race) Host can now take all participants back to the lobby in a play time session, rather than booting them all back to the Play Time menu.

“Lock to Host Car” and “Lock to Host Car Class” (PlayTime | Xbox Live | Create Race | Race Mode | City | Route) are two new toggles that the lobby creator can turn on or off to limit what type of cars his/her competition can use in a play time race over Xbox Live.

Previously Played Routes List (PlayTime | Route Creator | Previous Live Routes) – Play other gamers routes that they created in the Route Creator over Xbox Live and store up to 10 in your “Previously Played Routes List”. You have the option to save or discard them and use them in your own sessions.

All Cars Position Toggle (More | Options | HUD | Position toggle) – In races modes with multiple cars where target is not displayed, this shows the current place every car in the race is in throughout the event.

Hide HUD Toggle (More | Options | HUD | HUD toggle) – This gives the player the option to turn off ALL in race HUD displays in all camera views.

Voice Communicator Identifier – In a multiplayer race the name of the gamertag will now flash in the upper left hand corner when speaking into a voice communicator, making it possible to identify the speaker.

Online Career rotating car class hoppers – All 8 hoppers in the Online Career (Breakneck Racing, Nurburgring F1 Challenge, Speedway Skirmish, Knockout World Tour, Nordschleife Drivers Club, Urban Rally, Gotham Duelling, and Dusk Til Dawn Racing) now change the required entry car class daily.

Wheel Support – Control set for steering wheels and dynamic updates have been added for the Hori, Mad Catz, and Joytech Nitro wheels (all via the More | Options | Controller | Wheel A configuration).

Online Qualifier Achievement – 50 gamerscore is now awarded for qualifying, then attempting the first elimination round of a tournament.

PLUS:
The HUD no longer remains invisible after looking back, hitting the Guide button, and then re-entering the game and it’s now possible to view if you have already purchased a car while shopping in the showroom via the “Cars Owned” tally under the Car Stats section.

So finally we get the ability to see who is chatting in the game, also im linking to be able to exit the game without ending the whole session. That will definately help when some people arrive late in the beginning of a race.

As i mentioned above there is also some DLC available for PGR3. You can buy all the cars for one solid price of 400 Points, or buy each one at 60 points apiece. Here is a list of the cars below:

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Free
RUF RT12
Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
Audi RS 4
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Lamborghini Gallardo SE
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ-400
Nissan NISMO R34GT-R Z-Tune
Pontiac GTO
Radical SR8

Link Dump:

www.majornelson.com

--backdraft123

Project Gotham Racing 3 International Tourny

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:51:29 GMT

Do you have what it takes to race against some of the top drivers in the world? The Project Gotham Racing 3 Global Tournament will begin on April 17th, 2006. Head over to the registration site and sign up for a chance to win. Registration will run through April 6th to April 28th.

Here are some links that you may want to check out to learn more:

--backdraft123

Xbox Live FREE Weekend in full swing

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:01:52 GMT

So the Xbox Live Free Weekend, hosted by Verizone Wireless, is in full swing now. It started off Thursday night at around 10 PM. The Silver Members are hopefully enjoying their time on the Xbox Live service. Me being an ambassador, my duty is too basically help out the silver members with any questions they have and represent the Xbox Live community well.

But, it seems as if i have ran into nothing but Gold Members constantly. Im on the look out for some new friends and i even cleared out my Friends List from 90 people down to about 70. So those 20 people that got deleted, if your reading this....GET ON XBOX LIVE MORE AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED! Just messin..

Anyways, here is a small list of games that you can catch me on playing sometime during the day

Saturday, April 1st:

7:00 - 8:00 P.M. Halo 2 custom game-a-thon. I'll be hittin it up with some friends for a farewel game-a-thonl for my friend Clax7on.

8:00 - 8:30 P.M. Marble Blast Ultra. Get your ball out and come play with me!

8:30 - 9:00 P.M. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06. Think you can take me in a good ol' game of golf? I'll be on this later tonight.

9:00 - 10:00 P.M. Call of Duty 2. Let's continue with a shooting frenzy and hop on some awesome WWII action!

10:00 - 11:00 P.M. Project Gotham Racing 3. Sweet tracks, sweet rides, and good times. All in one game! Come join in on some PGR Fun.

11:00 P.M.--- I'll be floating around on some of the demos, such as Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat.

Sunday, April 2nd:

12:00 - 1:00 P.M. Lets get the Sunday afternoon kicked off with a little Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06. Better bring your Sunday Tiger Woods if you want to beat me.

1:00 - 2:00 P.M. Catch me on Project Gotham Racing 3!

2:00 - 2:30 P.M. I'll be rollin' out my little marble to have some Marble Blastin fun!

--Break Time-- 1 hour

3:30 - 4:30 P.M. Call of Duty 2 shoud feed my gaming frenzy right about now.

4:30 - 5:30 P.M. It's demo time! Once again i'll be bouncing back and fourth between BF2:MC or GRAW.

5:30 - 6:00 P.M. I'm gonna have to roundhouse kick you in the face on Dead or Alive 4.

6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Halo 2 will conclude this schedule. I will then return to my regular scheduled gaming. A.K.A Oblivion.

Come join me on Xbox Live as game all day and into the night. If your sending out a Friend Request backdraft123 is the tag. Don't be shy and join up with me on a few games.

Many thanks to my good friend Haloaded for supporting me with the banner that you see above!

--backdraft123

Note: The schedule is subject to change.

Now in stores: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:59:05 GMT

After much anticipation and waiting, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is finally out in stores. Many of the RPG fans got this game yesterday, picking up their pre-orders. I myself, took a trip to Circuit City to score my copy. I'll have a review later on when im actually getting through the main quest. Until then, go pick up Oblivion and play until your thumbs bleed!

Also, themes and gamerpics of Oblvion are available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. No new ones, but just incase you didn't know i suggest picking those up and being super-cool like me. Hehe, see you all online.

--backdraft123

P.S-- Incase your wondering im a freelance Nord. Basically a Nord that is good at stealing, fighting, and magic. Im probably going to work in the guilds for a bit until i get my character into a higher level and some more gold, weapons, and armor.

5 Days Until Oblivion

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:12:14 GMT

One of the most anticipated games in gaming history will finally be released on March 21, 2006. Yes folks, im talking about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This game has been building up hype ever since it has been rumored. Hardcore Morrowind fans have dreams at night of playing this game for DAYS straight.

IGN.com has been releasing videos that count down to the potential GoTY. Follow this link, to the videos page of Oblivion and check out the countdown vids.

Also, if you look in the picture album you will see that there are some new screen shots available. This game is looking better and better!

--backdraft123

March "Gaming" Madness!!

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:32:02 GMT

The month of March has so far been a successful one. Three brand new games have blessed the store shelves so far this month. The most important one, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter is finally available. It scored extrememly well on IGN.com with a 9.2/10.

Also in stores is Burnout Revenge (Xbox 360), and College Hoops 2K6. But wait, theres more! The Outfit, which has a demo available on the Xbox Live Marketplace (online play only), will be out in just a few weeks and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has finally gone gold with a release date of March 20th, 2006!

So, if you have been pleading with new games, here is your oppurtunity to go out and buy some. There are some good choices out there, but the two most popular ones, are obviously GRAW and Oblivion.

--backdraft123

Oblivion Downloads & COD2 Update

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 00:52:08 GMT

I've been patiently waiting for Microsoft to release pictures of the 2 Oblivion Picture Packs and the Themes. Check em' out below!

Themes:

Games Blade

Live Blade

Media Blade

System Blade

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion theme costs 150 Microsft Points. Along with the themes, 2 picture packs where released.

Good Picture Pack:

Evil Picture Pack

Each Picture Pack rings in at a cool 100 Microsoft Points. Also available for download is the official Oblivion trailer that comes in two resolutions 480p, and 720p, which is of course, FREE!

My good friend Haloaded has kindly told me that a Call of Duty 2 Multiplayer patch will be available "shortly". In a press release from Infinity Ward the patch will fix all the multiplayer bugs in the game, including the online player lag. Also, coming with the patch they will add the following:

Private Game Lobbies / Reserved Slots
Enabled the Live Host to set custom game options
Map Preferences setting
Post Game Lobbies (all players at end of match will return to their game lobby)
Enemy Player Name Notification
Ability for the Host to kick a player
In game Lobby - Game Type, Map and Host Notifications

No OFFICIAL date is set in stone yet, so stay tuned. I'll keep you updated as more news starts to be released.

--backdraft123

One Lucky Guy

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 17:55:19 GMT

This man, is probably the luckiest guy in the world. He already has The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion! Im guessing he's a tester of some sort. At least the achievements look kind of cool. Unlike, some other games where they have a single picture for each achievement.

--backdraft123

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion UPDATES

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:56:16 GMT

Im going on an Oblivion craze as of late, aren't I? Well, while many people are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, i have actually been looking past that, and towards Oblivion. Well finally, i have some HUGE news for you all.

Bethesda has confirmed a list of achievements that can be unlocked in Oblivion. And here are all 50 of them!

Escaped the Imperial Sewers
Escaped the Imperial Sewers, Main Quest Beginning

Closed an Oblivion Gate
Closed an Oblivion Gate, Main Quest

Located the Shrine of Dagon
Located the Shrine of Dagon, Main Quest

Delivered Daedric Artifact
Delivered Daedric Artifact, Main Quest

Destroyed the Great Gate
Destroyed the Great Gate, Main Quest

Champion of Cyrodiil
Completed the Main Questline

Murderer, Dark Brotherhood
Join the Dark Brotherhood

Slayer, Dark Brotherhood
Reached Slayer rank in the Dark Brotherhood

Eliminator, Dark Brotherhood
Reached Eliminator rank in the Dark Brotherhood

Assassin, Dark Brotherhood
Reached Assassin rank in the Dark Brotherhood

Silencer, Dark Brotherhood
Reached Silencer rank in the Dark Brotherhood

Speaker, Dark Brotherhood
Reached Speaker rank in the Dark Brotherhood

Listener, Dark Brotherhood
Completed the Dark Brotherhood Questline

Pit Dog, Arena
Joined the Arena in the Imperial City

Brawler, Arena
Reached Brawler rank in the Arena

Bloodletter, Arena
Reached Bloodletter rank in the Arena

Myrmidon, Arena
Reached Myrmidon rank in the Arena

Warrior, Arena
Reached Warrior rank in the Arena

Gladiator, Arena
Reached Gladiator rank in the Arena

Hero, Arena
Reached Hero rank in the Arena

Champion, Arena
Reached Champion rank in the Arena

Grand Champion, Arena
Completed the Arena Questline

Pickpocket, Thieves Guild
Joined the Thieves Guild

Footpad, Thieves Guild
Reached Footpad rank in the Thieves Guild

Bandit, Thieves Guild
Reached Bandit rank in the Thieves Guild

Prowler, Thieves Guild
Reached Prowler rank in the Thieves Guild

Cat Burglar, Thieves Guild
Reached Cat Burglar rank in the Thieves Guild

Shadowfoot, Thieves Guild
Reached Shadowfoot rank in the Thieves Guild

Master Thief, Thieves Guild
Reached Master Thief rank in the Thieves Guild

Guildmaster, Thieves Guild
Completed the Thieves Guild Questline

Associate, Mages Guild
Joined the Mages Guild

Apprentice, Mages Guild
Reached Apprentice rank in the Mages Guild

Journeyman, Mages Guild
Reached Journeyman rank in the Mages Guild

Evoker, Mages Guild
Reached Evoker rank in the Mages Guild

Conjurer, Mages Guild
Reached Conjurer rank in the Mages Guild

Magician, Mages Guild
Reached Magician rank in the Mages Guild

Warlock, Mages Guild
Reached Warlock rank in the Mages Guild

Wizard, Mages Guild
Reached Wizard rank in the Mages Guild

Master-Wizard, Mages Guild
Reached Master-Wizard rank in the Mages Guild

Arch-Mage, Mages Guild
Completed the Mages Guild Questline

Associate, Fighters Guild
Joined the Fighters Guild

Apprentice, Fighters Guild
Reached Apprentice rank in the Fighters Guild

Journeyman, Fighters Guild
Reached Journeyman rank in the Fighters Guild

Swordsman, Fighters Guild
Reached Swordsman rank in the Fighters Guild

Protector, Fighters Guild
Reached Protector rank in the Fighters Guild

Defender, Fighters Guild
Reached Defender rank in the Fighters Guild

Warder, Fighters Guild
Reached Warder rank in the Fighters Guild

Guardian, Fighters Guild
Reached Guardian rank in the Fighters Guild

Champion, Fighters Guild
Reached Champion rank in the Fighters Guild

Master, Fighters Guild
Completed the Fighters Guild Questline

I was not able to find the exact amount of points or the actual page of the achievements yet, but stay tuned for more updates. Also, on Xbox.com, you may see The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion game page, and its release date listing of March 20th, 2006. This date WAS NOT confirmed by Bethesda, but they did say it was just an estimate as to when the game may arrive. I'll post more info, as soon as i find out more.

More info can be found at the following links:

IGN.com Achievement Story

IGN.com Oblivion Release Date Story

Xbox.com Oblivion Game Page

--backdraft123

Some news for everyone.

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 23:54:17 GMT

The biggest news i have right now is that i finally got Dead or Alive 4! After being the little moocher i am, i finally got my dad to buy it for me. I said "Dad, this game would make a great Valentines Day gift", which is kind of funny, because we dont celebrate Valentine's today. Hehe.

Also, some news on the blog. I finally hit 1000+ page views in 1 week. It was more like 800+ RSS feeds and 200+ actual page views, but still i am very satisfied. I'd like to take the time to thank everyone for stopping in and leaving me comments. I read them all the time, and to let everyone know, Gamers Behind the Spaces is still going strong. I am currently filled for 3 straight weeks, but keep those requests coming in. Send all e-mails to gamersbhindthespaces@gmail.com .

In gaming news, Cru mentioned that a demo for GRAW (Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter) will be available soon. Thank you Cru for giving me the heads up. I'll let you know more if I find some more information.

So, that about wraps it up. Be looking for the new GBtS interview this week, and be sure to check out TormentX's awesome interview below. Thanks for stopping in!

--backdraft123

Halo 2 to be available on Windows Vista

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:08:37 GMT

As the title clearly states "Halo 2" will now finally be playable on your PC when Windows Vista is launched. Some of you that are not "in the know" of things might have a little trouble understanding this.

Halo 2 which is Bungie's 2nd installment of its prestigious franchise will be launched onto the PC when Windows Vista becomes available. What is Windows Vista? Well it is Microsofts new operating system. Its a step above Windows XP. All new media features and all that good stuff.

Heres the kicker though. H2 will ONLY be available with Windows Vista. Read the full article for more information.

I'll be sure to do a more "inside look" of this announcement when i get some more time.

--backdraft123

P.S.--Sorry for the crappy Paint image. And Ghost, looks like i win this one for first blog entry. Mwaaaahhaa!

GRAW Release Date Set

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 05:04:25 GMT

One of the most anticipated titles for the Xbox 360 will finally hit store shelves for the Xbox and Xbox 360 on March 9th, 2006. A PC and PS2 launch date is set for March 30th, 2006.

In my opinion the game looks great. Im kinda torn between Oblivion and GRAW at the moment. Im more leaning towards Oblivion at the moment, but incase I do have a chance to get GRAW.

--backdraft123

backdraft123's space: Gaming News

The Collection Grows!

GTA:IV gets confirmed launch

Can your PS3 do this?

Now Recruiting!

The first entry about Gears of War!

10 Things To Do When Xbox.com & Xbox Live are down

TGS Day 4,5 & 6 Content

TGS Day 3 Content

Summer Games

My Most Wanted List

Give me Poker....please!

Xbox Live gets an update & New GPs and Themes

E3 is on its way!

Project Gotham Racing 3 Auto Update and DLC

Project Gotham Racing 3 International Tourny

Xbox Live FREE Weekend in full swing

Now in stores: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

5 Days Until Oblivion

March "Gaming" Madness!!

Oblivion Downloads & COD2 Update

One Lucky Guy

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion *UPDATES*

Some news for everyone.

Halo 2 to be available on Windows Vista

GRAW Release Date Set

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion UPDATES