Time to hit Nova
Ok, time to fly. I’ll have limited internet access over the next week but I’ll be back next Tuesday… catch up with you then 
January 31, 2007
January 30, 2007
The “WoW” inevitability starts now!
Microsoft’s long awaited new operating system: Windows Vista has gone on sale. I’m just watching Bill Gates webcast and so far, Windows Media Player 11 stops about 3minutes into the video and buffers back to the beginning, great.
Well, I’m going to call it a night and try watching it tomorrow. Out of interest, will you be upgrading to Windows Vista?
January 29, 2007
Is this living?
Reports hitting the media today have revealed Sony’s marketing and PR plans for its next-generation console: The Playstation 3 (PS3). Sony intends to make use of blogs, social networking and websites because “traditional avenues of advertising and PR aren’t enough to communicate PS3’s appeal”, interesting. (You can read more about this via MCV or register for the longer version on Media Guardian).
It would be cool if companies like Pitch (sign up, its free) supported and got involved as we would see an influx of user generated mobile content on the PS3. The blogging aspect is pretty interesting and I would consider contacting Sony to offer my services - mainly because my blog has a rather large readership which rivals some of the sites listed on Xbox.com.
One thing though, last week Sony finally announced and confirmed the Playstations launch line up with the release date. I’ve nabbed the following news from Pro-G:
It’s all a bit of an anticlimax really. The March 23 date and £425 price point have been what people in the know have been saying for weeks, if not months, but now it’s official. Also as expected, the 20GB model won’t be available at launch, with Sony saying that it might arrive towards the end of the year, depending on demand. 1 million consoles will be available across Europe for the launch period, but no exact number for the UK has been released.
PlayStation 3 software line-up for UK launch- Retail:
Resistance: Fall of Man - SCEE
MotorStorm - SCEE
Genji: Days of the Blade - SCEE
FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION - SCEE
Ridge Racer 7 - SCEE
Call of Duty 3 - Activision
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Activision
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 - Activision
Gundam - Target in Sight - Namco Bandai Games
Full Auto 2: Battle Lines - Sega Europe
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega Europe
Virtua Fighter 5 - Sega Europe
Virtua Tennis 3 - Sega Europe
World Snooker Championship 2007 - Sega Europe
NBA 2K7 - Take 2
NHL 2K7 - Take 2
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWll - Ubisoft
Enchanted Arms - Ubisoft
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft
The Elder Scrolls lV: Oblivion - Ubisoft
Def Jam: Icon - Electronic Arts
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts
NBA Street 4 Homecourt 2007 - Electronic Arts
Need for Speed Carbon - Electronic Arts
The Godfather: The Don’s Edition - Electronic Arts
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 - Electronic Arts
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Electronic Arts
F.E.A.R. Vivendi Games
Out of the above launch line up, I’m only really interested in Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Formula One, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Virtual Fighter 5, Need for Speed Carbon and F.E.A.R… is it me or are we just spoilt for choice on the Xbox 360?
Mobile internet usage on the rise
Some interesting mobile news has just hit my inbox. According to a report conducted by the MDA (Mobile Data Association), 45.6million unique users used their mobile phones to download and surf the mobile internet during the last three months of 2006. Whilst the amount of people using the mobile-web is impressive, I’m just wondering when the cost of internet access on mobile phones is going to be cost effective for everyone?!
January 28, 2007
Rewards for creativity
Just read the news about YouTube users getting a slice of advertising revenue in the next few months. It would be cool if someone I know pulled his finger out and got busy with video production as he’d be able to earn a bucket load when this advertising revenue service launches.
It works
Last night I was chatting to Wayne via the Xbox Live Vision Camera and after a while, we decided to play Star Trek: Legacy on the Xbox 360. The first round was a Co-Op game which was a little laggy but fun. Then we tried to set up an online battle but the Xbox 360 made a noise that sounded like it was having trouble reading the disc. Moments later, I got an error message “Disc is dirty or unreadable”. I removed the disc, cleaned it and rebooted the Xbox 360… same problem but the Xbox 360 console was extremely hot. I powered it down and called it a night.
I was hoping that the Xbox 360 didn’t have to be repaired and luckily enough this morning the unit worked fine. Out of interest, has anyone experienced any problems like this? If so, can you please leave a comment.
January 27, 2007
Cracking down on Area 51
Some interesting gaming developments are afoot. I just watched this trailer for Blacksite: Area 51 and it is looking pretty good. Blacksite: Area 51 is due out this summer on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Area 51 on the original Xbox was alright but way too short.
Also, the long awaited demo for Crackdown finally hit the Xbox Live Marketplace. I still have mixed view on it, the game seems alright but at some points it just feels a bit odd i.e. the low viewpoint when driving and shooting an enemy multiple times before they die. I guess, I’ll make up my mind about Crackdown when it gets released next month. Agree or disagree? Post your thoughts on these titles below.
BTW every copy of Crackdown includes a beta invite to Halo 3, just in case you didn’t win one in any of the XCN Beta 3 competitions.
January 26, 2007
Yo, Xbox Ambassador would you like a Ferro Rocha?
This really put a smile on my face. A few of the UK based Xbox Community Network (XCN) sites that covered the Xbox Live Ambassador program launching in Europe are unwittingly providing a couple of Totally360’s Xbox Live Ambassadors with free promotion 
January 24, 2007
Halo 3 Beta Competition Winners Announced
Totally360.com has just announced the 100 winners of the Halo 3 beta competition… 2,835 people in total entered the competition. The selection process was 100% fair as Ross ensured that the selection process was totally random which provided us with 100 unique winners rather than a selection of people that we like in the forum. Find out if you have won by hitting this link.
January 23, 2007
The next party will feature Guitar Hero II, be prepared!
Considering the amount of fun everyone had at the Xbox House Party that we hosted over the weekend… I think the next party will have to feature Guitar Hero II. I just spotted this news piece on OXM and while the concept of the guitar controller in neat, it is a shame the device is not wireless.
The price point for Guitar Hero II is interesting. You get the game and guitar for just £65 which isn’t too bad.