XBox 360 Rally

Rare has sent over a Christmas Card to the hard workers over at CVG

(Click to enlarge)

From what we can gather in the stocking with the KI3 is they are teasing like a mother f’r about bringing that series back (which I believe they are, they have to). I am surprised at the lack of Kameo appearance in the picture. Even Grunty gets props. (Big Note: Keep an eye out for possible news of a Banjo game coming to XBLA, it really seems like it could happen)
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Rare, Banjo, Killer Instinct, KI3

Hi, boys and girls. It’s just me, your friendly neighborhood JW, here to remind you all that we’re currently looking for people to replace us here at Xbox 360 Rally. All you have to do is go HERE, fill out the form, and wait to hear back. It’s really not that hard.

So, get to it already — so Paco and I can get to the NEW site!

Folks, I don’t think you know how hard it was to find a winner for this contest. Every entry received was like a gift from God herself, yes, corny, I know, but seriously, too many entries kicked mucho ass and it took much fighting between JW and myself to pick the final winner (we do it American Gladiator giant q-tip style if you want to know…… for the younger audience, it looks like this).

As you know from JW’s recent posting, we are both out of here, but, man, we are leaving whoever comes in to fill our giant shoes (hitting G4’s The Feed giant shoes! Hitting the front pages of DESTRUCTOID, Kotaku, Joystiq, and so many other great video game blogs giant shoes!), err.. what was I saying.. oh yeah, we are leaving whoever comes in some of the coolest readers to any site I have been a part of. You know who you are you regulars that may not have always commented, but I check the stats and IPs of who visits like a weirdo (I seriously have OCD about that stuff). This contest really proved it. I can’t put up all entries for this contest (out of pure laziness I assure you), but I really wanted to show some off that made it into the final rounds of the giant q-tip competition.

Note: The following are in no actual order, just wanted to show off some of the work you guys yourself put in, don’t worry if yours isn’t shown below, it was received and treated with as *almost* as much love as the winning entry, which of course you can now see at the top of every page on the site.

(Reading this and want to get in contact with any of the artists/designers above, feel free to hit me up at ocap1 at hotmail dot com and I will get with the designer to let them know you want to give them some freelance work and/or want to know their age/sex/location for hot steamy text sex!)

Ok, people, here’s the deal — Paco and I are on our way out. We’re taking over at 1PStart.com in an effort to restore it to it’s former glory. …that, and I just plain want to write about another game every once in a while, is that so wrong?!

Anyways, here is what we’re looking for: A competent, capable writer with a love for all things Xbox. Now, by competent writer, we mean someone who spells “you” correctly, and knows when to capitalize. If you can do that, you’re a shoe-in. So, CLICK THIS DAMN LINK, do the required stuff, then get paid to play video games and write about stuff.

…hell, Mike and I did the hard stuff already, and YES, the GTA4 Banner contest will continue, and I will still give you a copy of GTA IV… or something. So, hop to it.

Xbox 360 Rally, JW, Stuff, Job Openings

I have emailed Hudson with no reply on whether this is pure lulz coming from the Dtoid guys, which though is possible, this is looking to be pretty true so far. A little background, much like sites such as Joystiq or Kotaku, Destructoid was a gaming blog, but with a little twist, they are more community driven and just a lot more fun, all while still keeping up with the video game news. Destructoid is pure indie, there is no AOL or other such “network” of sites backing them up, pure independent media. So for them to get the connections with Hudson, who is a company that would certainly have the fun enough attitude to support an indie web site that had a recognizable character that represents them (Mr Destructoid) into their game, it all does make sense.

If you see their announcement page for this news (Here) you will see the other new character models and levels that will come in the “Bomb Up Pack 2″ later this month. I have yet to get a press release for the pics of the new characters and levels, so I just await an email back from Hudson to at the least take this out of the Mill o Rumor section. No matter what, hats off from myself and JW here at Xbox360Rally.com for making it into one of the best XBLA games made (if its true!)

For now, here is the other updates that we should be seeing in the DLC pack:

* * Ten New Characters – In addition to Destructoid, other new characters include “Bomberella” the cavewoman and “El Bombito” the matador, resulting in countless new ways for players to customize their in-game Bomberman. Other characters include Alien Bomber, Bomb the Fool, Bomberbell, Flower Bomb, Debbie Downer, Bomber X, and Bomb of Doom. Check out the gallery for a first look at the other characters!

* * Two Additional Levels – New arenas include “Medieval Times,” a level in which bombs and sorcery collide and that allows players to select any gimmick they want, and “Full Tilt,” a level set at a racetrack which features speed circles that dictate how fast players move.
* * One New Game Mode – “Bomb Shelters” will allow players to hide from explosions in a small, fireproof building.
* * Two New Leaderboards – Dominate the competition on two new ranking systems on the Xbox LIVE® network. The new leaderboards will track performance on both a weekly and an all-time basis for the speed circle gimmicks on the new “Full Tilt” map.

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DESTRUCTOID, Hudson, Hudsonsoft, Bomberman Live, Congratulations, New Levels, New Characters

It seems that each console version of the new Simpsons game is going to have its very own unique art per system. Here for your viewing pleasure thanks to the good people at “The Simpsons Channel” is the 360 version. I pray that Simpsons fans are not as bad as Star Wars geeks and will buy every copy just because they all have different art (then again, I am that type of geek that if I could afford it, I’d do the same). To attempt to give some more substance to this post, feel free to compare it to the art from the other boxes, though I am by the gods forced to side with Xbox on all things, I must say the Nintendo DS version is my favorite, however, judge for yourself:

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Okay, I kid, one of these I would definitely deem ‘not safe for work’ .. however the other two aren’t bad, just good artwork for those of us who enjoy checking out concept art as the game is being processed.

(Couple more concept art pieces here)
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I admit it, I am a Bomberman fan. I know the game isnt’ for everyone, but I even like the N64 versions and the side scrolling Game Boy ones, I just love this franchise, Hudson is a great company. Well here is the info along with pictures of all the new goodies, the 2 new levels will feature a Vegas style theme while the other will be on a Zeppelin of sorts “which features tornado environmental hazards that incapacitate players.” Very cool. To make things even better at this nice cheap cost, they are offering up 10 more costumes for you to choose from, and I love the variety they present here. See pics below for a Fear and Loathing Johnny Depp throwback, a prisoner, a monopoly looking man, and afro bomberman, and.. man, just click the images below to see for yourself, one of the better updates to a game on the XBLA to date. Remember, not only do we get all these great visual upgrades, a new game play mode called “Frag” which will allow players to pre-set the number of enemies they must bomb in order to win the game. I wish I could just give Hudson a hug. So mark your calenders for August 29 (Tomorrow!!)

Those lucky bastards at DESTRUCTOID have got a glimpse of what is to come with the great Bomberman Live on XBLA. New costumes are arriving (and I have hopes for new game play types), but for now, just a taste of what is to come was given. Yes, our favorite Bomberman is now sporting the Johnny Depp character written by Hunter S Thompson for the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Great film, not for the kids though). Just give me some Big Lebowski Bomberman costumes and I can die a happy man, for now though, this is one completely bad ass costume for Hudson to make for this game. I wish I could say more on this subject, but this picture is the only thing sent out, but as far as I am concerned, it is enough.

As JW just posted earlier today, keep an eye out for the Demo coming September, if you need some more reasons to check this game out, here you go.

• GeoDeformation™ – a unique feature which dynamically changes the course during each lap with revolutionary surface & environment deformation.
• Vehicles – over 30 in total across 4WD, 2WD, Classic and Bonus types, most with three variants each (Road, Rally & All Terrain).
• Environments – wide range of hyper-realistic next-generation deformable environments including Safari, Artic, Canyon and Lakeside.
• Tracks – a range of off-road and on-road tracks, with a variety of surface types and creative track designs.
• Multiplayer – speedy online and offline multiplayer modes for up to six people.
• Action-Oriented Arcade Heritage – in contrast to other simulation-themed rally racers, SEGA Rally Revo features action-oriented next-gen arcade racing unlike any other game.

Sent to us at The Rally was a brand new video, which I suggest popping in full screen (I have higher quality versions of this video in .wmv and .mov, including HD, but no place to host files that large, if you can provide space, I will gladly upload them), so for now I grabbed the one hosted by GameVideos because it is pretty good quality for flash. Also some high quality screen shots right below the video. This game is looking to be that perfect mix of arcade racing and sim, this is the first racing game on the 360 I might actually purchase.

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We’ve covered Soul Calibur IV a lot here at X360R. We were one of the first sites to officially break the news that Soul Calibur IV was headed to the Xbox 360. We also took great joy in seeing the first trailer for SC IV… me more than most *cough*. And of course, we were one of the first sites to notice the sudden “augmentations” done to the Soul Calibur IV women.

These new images of SC IV are really more of the same. We get some good looks at Sophitia and Cassandra, as well as a nice look at the ever-sexy Voldo.

Rawr!

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Namco Bandai, Soul Calibur IV

2K is really hooking it up to the fans of Bioshock. Since the Collectors Edition of the game does not include an artbook like many CE of games do, they decided to go ahead and make one for you. Let me tell you, it is awesome filled with radical (random 80’s terms = win!). Seriously, if you enjoy this game at all, download this pdf right away. You aren’t on dial up, so make sure to get the 75mb version (just in case, they do have a 15mb version available for download). You will find within the booklet so many concept art pieces dealing with characters, the level design, and even weapons, and just so you know, this art won’t make you wish they did the final feel of the game differently, rather, it will make you appreciated the game even more. I would like to make sure before downloading though, you heed their warning:

“The one thing I’d recommend is skipping over Ken’s foreword until after you’ve played the game, as it holds some spoilers you might want to keep secret your first playthrough is complete.”

Download the low res artbook. (15 MB)

Download the high res artbook. (75 MB)

Even if you hate the PlayStation 3 as I do, you can not deny that the PlayStation 3 Starter Pack being sold overseas is a good bundle. Hell, a 60GB PS3 with two controllers and BOTH Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm? That’s a good deal.

It’s a bundle that Microsoft has seemingly caught on to as well. Superblog Kotaku recently found two images showing what certainly appears to be the box design for an upcoming holiday bundle.

Both the Xbox 360 Premium AND Xbox 360 Elite (Notice the lack of a Core?) appear to have stickers on the boxes advertising two free games: Forza Motorsports 2 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

The original images were found on a Microsoft-owned site, so I would imagine that these images are about as accurate as you can. But the question remains: How much will these cost? Are these games truly free, or will the price of the bundle be inflated slightly to give the impression that they are free? Only time will tell, I suppose.

[Kotaku]
[Gamick]

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Forza 2, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Holiday Bundle

The servers are melting. Paco spilled his cola on the keyboard. JW’s out back trying to wrangle the horses. In short, we’re all kinds of FUBAR, so we may not be able to update as much as we’d like today.

Sorry, peeps. We’ll be back soon.