XBox 360 Rally

Ok, first the name. Project Natal? That sounds super creepy in a wireless Matrix-y sort of way, doesn’t it? I’m sure the team that came up with the working name were trying to allude to a new birth in gaming, but I just cannot help but think of actual human childbirth. Ew. Or maybe the name is referring to the Brazilian city.

Either way, Microsoft shill Steven Spielberg came out to show off the Project Natal prototype at this year’s E3. Don Mattrick, the SR VP in charge of this kind of thing at Microsoft, introduced Natal (which is only a code name, whew!) as not a motion-control controller but a “breakthrough sensor that tracks 3D movements, and recognizes voices, this is controller-free games and entertainment”. No controller needed at all. Take that, Wii!

The Natal is instead a camera that tracks your movements in 3 dimensions and uses your motions to control the game. The sensor also takes cues from voice commands, both for games and for the Xbox itself. At the press conference, Spielberg and Mattrick claimed that the reason that Natal was needed was to get more people into games, because thumb-based controllers are intimidating to people.

And jumping around a room isn’t intimidating?

As a lazy gamer with a low BMI, I tend to see video games as a way of relaxing on the sofa after playing real golf or hiking. So the Wii has little to no long-term interest for someone like me. But the Natal on the other hand is something that I like, so far. Project Natal’s camera is a peripheral, and therefore not required for many games (I’m sure that there will be plenty of games that will utilize the Natal’s capabilities, but there will still be regular games, too). I like the fact that I am not forced to play with a little wand, when all I want to do is use my thumbs.

By the way, at the E3 press conference, Spielberg described compared the birth of Natal as “a moment as significant as the transformation from the square shaped movie screen to Cinemascope…” Dork.

Microsoft, Project Natal, motion control, controller, gaming console, Xbox 360, Steven Spielberg, Wii, controller-free, peripheral, E3

As if they were inspired by the end of that Red Wings-Ducks game 6 when that dirty bird Niedermayer threw an elbow at my boy Datsyuk during that post-buzzer brawl, EA Sports has announced that the upcoming NHL 10 will feature new first-person fighting physics engine so you too can experience taking some punches from the biggest, baddest guys on skates.

I just have to wonder if the fights will last long enough to pull your opponents jersey over his head…

Fighting is an essential component for anyone trying to truly replicate the heart and soul of hockey. Not only the fight itself, but that which leads up to the fight, and EA is definitely trying to bring it to the newest addition to the NHL franchise. Late checks, sneaky hooks, shoves to the back…everything we love about hockey and NHL 10 will have it, coming September 2009.

EA has added some new physics to NHL 10, including a board physics engine that will allow players to play the boards a bit more. You can trap the puck against the boards, shielding it from your opponent, and then kick-pass it out to one of your players. There are more additions to the franchise.

From the EA press release:

NHL 10 features more than 200 gameplay refinements that replicate the skill and finesse of hockey and deliver the most responsive and authentic action ever for the series. Players can one-time loose pucks, score from their knees, knock pucks out of the air and lift a leg to fake a shot on goal. A new 360° precision passing mechanic delivers control over the speed and direction of passes so players can bank passes off the boards or play the puck into space for teammates to skate on to it. Plus, all-new interactive crowds bring the emotion of playoff hockey to life with towel-waving fans, glass bangers and crowds that react to the action on the ice.

Furthermore, NHL 10 is going for realism in the chase for the Stanley Cup. I’m not sure exactly what that means in the sense of the game, but as I am sitting here writing this between periods of the Wings-Ducks game 7, I can tell you it’s harrowing. Go Wings!

NHL, NHL 10, EA, EA sports, sports, video game, Xbox 360, screenshots, Electronic Arts, new features, hockey

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!

I know Metal Slug has a large following, sometimes I wish I was a part of that, however, I missed that boat so I don’t get that feeling of retro fun while playing that. However, I do get that feeling with Samurai Shodown 2, one of the many “Street Fighter” clones that had a following of its own. Of course when I was a kid I couldn’t afford the massively price Neo Geo system to play this on, but when I was in a good enough arcade, I would let the quarters fly on this ‘cool at the time’ yet still very cool now, Asian fighting culture based fighting game (Made GameSpot’s 10 greatest fighting games of all time!). Check the press release below:

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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

Much like Team Fortress released videos of the characters, Jericho starts a similar series off with a pyro loving character named Sgt. Frank Delgado. After the video, have a read of the press release that came with this video for more background on this very unique game (I tell you Gears of War meets Resident Evil!), that I really doesn’t go passed up by gamers (c’mon, they got the God of War composer specifically picked out for this game!):

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The inner speed demon in me just squeeled in delight, as Bizarre Creations announced that Project Gotham Racing 4 has gone GOLD. For those of you who don’t know what that means… that means it’s done. The final car count, for those of you who are curious, is 122, split into groups A thru G.

Full Press Release, and new screenshots after the break.

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Chip Ganassi Racing, in association with both Target and Microsoft, have revealed the new Halo 3 paintjob that will adorn driver David Stremme’s #40 Dodge Avenger. The paint scheme, which will replace Stremme’s usual Coors Light sponsorship, will make it’s only appearance of the 2007 Nextel Cup season at Dover International Speedway on September 23rd, 2007.

In addition to having the sponsorship and rather sharp paint scheme, there will also be kiosks at DIS, allowing NASCAR fans the opporitunity to try our the final, complete version of Halo 3 two days before it’s official launch on the 25th.

Read the full press release, as well as get a closer look at the #40 Halo 3/Target Dodge Avenger, after the break.

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Wow, Microsoft is kicking ass at a recent briefing in Japan during the Tokoyo Game Show. Some pretty big news, not only is Team Ninja developing Ninja Gaiden 2 exclusively for the 360 it is also being published by Microsoft themselves. Awesome news. Keeps getting better. We also have the Ninja Gaiden official brand spanking new trailer:


Square-Enix jumps on stage to discuss with everyone two new titles, “Infinite Undiscovery” and “The Last Remnant” (Though we have covered Last Remnant on the Rally before)

As JW just pointed out that Lost Odyssey is 95% done .. it also has a release date of February 2008! Not too far away, not like there isn’t enough games in the mean time to play. I have been waiting on Lost Odyssey for so long I had to make sure this news hits you from two posts!

A lot more random, not as important, but still read worthy information on just about all the games coming out for basically the holiday season, has been put out in a press release, to read, just click below:

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If you’re a big racing game fan, odds are you own the Wireless Xbox 360 Racing Wheel from Microsoft. If you do indeed own the Wireless Racing Wheel, Microsoft is now providing a free retrofit to combat, out of all things, overheating.

In a press release issued by Microsoft, the retrofit is a precautionary measure to combat overheating inside the wheel chassis, which could smoke and potentially cause a fire when the AC/DC (Who’s got big balls?) power supply is being used. However as of now, there have been no reports of fire or injury.

This is just what Microsoft needs, isn’t it? First their consoles are dropping left and right due to overheating, now they’re “offering a retrofit” (which is code for “voluntary recall”) of their wireless racing wheel for the same problem? Not cool, Microsoft. Not cool.

Press Release after the break.

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The Norse Gods are fighting in Asgard (the Gods land), and now it is spilling over into Midgard (people land.. c’mon, Wikipedia this stuff, I can’t explain everything to you). Odin’s daughter Freya chooses a “troubled young warrior” named Skarin to stop Loki and his daughter Hel. You, get to play as Skarin. Game play will take place on huge, living islands, free form worlds, and epic battles will be had! This new title will feature rich viking lore and mythology, vast open world environments for you to fight and explore, a “brutal” combat engine where you will be able to dismember enemies, and mythical powers, where you will even be able to control dragons to attack your enmeies as well as call upon the Gods. Get ready to free your viking people and help end the Gods crazy war in this bad ass game. Check the exclusive screens below, click to expand them to their full 1280×720 goodness, then read a full press release about the game after the break:

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Lets see, new first person shooter (lord knows we don’t have enough of them), set in the future/sci-fi, four player co-op, not coming out till fourth quarter 2008. I have no doubts in the end this will be a solid game, but, too little too late. I hope by the end of next year we are already having fun with 8-player co-op in games. The one interesting thing about this title to set it apart from others is the missions will be randomly generated, how this will play out remains to be seen. Two screens were sent out along with a press release (after the break).

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After the release of the incredibly awesome Saints Row for the Xbox 360, many members of the Volition team that developed Saints Row, as well as other beautifully gorific titles as Red Faction and The Punisher, left to form their own developer studio, Blazing Lizard.

So what would the first game to be released by a developer house formed almost entirely of men who specialize in simulating death in glorious fashion? Dodgeball, naturally.

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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.

There has been a lot of controversy regarding a recently posted rumor regarding SEGA’s possible Tokyo Game Show line-up. Now, I was originally very defensive of this piece because of who sent it in. He, a long-time go-to guy named Rob, has sent me exclusive tips for four years, and until this most recent one, they were ALL accurate.

Regardless, after the link had been posted by reader “Cedge”, I immediately contacted Rob via GoogleIM.

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