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New Xbox 360 250GB
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 Xbox 360 250GB |  Xbox 360 Elite |  Xbox 360 Arcade |
| Price | $299.99 | $249.99 (while supplies last) | $149.99 (while supplies last) |
| Color | Glossy black | Matte black | Matte white |
| HDD | Proprietary 250GB SATA | Proprietary 120GB SATA | None (256-512MB flash) |
| Dimensions | 10.6 x 2.95 x 10.39 in. | 12 x 3 x 10 in. | 11.5 x 3 x 10 in. |
| Weight | 6.3 lb. | 7.7 lb. | 7 lb. (approx) |
| Power | 135W | 175W (Falcon), 150W (Jasper) | 175W (Falcon), 150W (Jasper) |
| Wireless | 802.11n | Optional adapter | Optional adapter |
| Ports | HDMI, combo A/V, S/PDIF, LAN, Kinect, USB x5 | HDMI, combo A/V, LAN, USB x3, HDD x1, MU x2 | HDMI, combo A/V, LAN, USB x3, HDD x1, MU x2 |
| Bundle | Wireless controller, composite A/V cable, headset | Wireless controller, composite A/V cable, ethernet cable, headset | Wireless controller, composite A/V cable |
Though the new unit and all its accessories are technically labeled "Xbox 360 S," you'll never hear Microsoft marketers call it a Slim, and it turns out there's a pretty good reason for that. While the new Xbox 360 is 18 percent lighter, it's only a quarter-inch slimmer than its predecessor at the waist, and is practically the same width as the old unit measured at its widest point. Even as its stature has decreased 12 percent, the new Xbox 360 is deeper than the Elite. See the gallery below for comparison shots, but you can basically think about it this way -- Microsoft's taken its rectangular console and molded it into a square.
On the bottom of the system you'll find a removable panel housing the unit's hard drive. As before, the embedded 2.5-inch SATA unit isn't user replaceable, but this time we rather admire its plastic shell -- it's a handsome cartridge that slots neatly inside the system, surrounded by a fully cushioned cage that both silences and protects the hard drive. Capacitive touch buttons aren't everyone's cup of tea, and it seems odd to see them here after Sony finally phased them out, but Microsoft's implementation removes the uncertainty usually associated with touch by immediately responding to input. Both power and eject buttons play a chime as soon as your finger connects, and the DVD tray slides out far quicker than in Sony's slot-loading system. Just in case you're wondering, the new disc drive does not protect discs from nasty scratches this go around -- dropping a Savage Garden album in the tray and letting the console flop to one side (on a carpeted surface, no less) our album was truly, madly and deeply cut.
Heat, Noise, Power
| Current (ampere) | Power (watt) | Temperature (farenheit) | Noise (decibel) | |||||
| Elite | 250GB | Elite | 250GB | Elite | 250GB | Elite | 250GB | |
| Plugged in / power off | 0.06 | 0.03 | 2.7 | 0.5 | Room temperature | Reference | ||
| Idling at Dashboard | 1.34 | 0.9 | 93 | 73 | 113 | 108 | +5.5 | +1 |
| Playing Bayonetta (DVD) | 1.75 | 1.15 | 135 | 94 | 116 | 140 | +18.5 | +10 |
| Installing Bayonetta | 1.4 | 1 | 111 | 82 | 114 | 126 | +15.5 | +9 |
| Playing Bayonetta (HDD) | 1.54 | 1.1 | 121 | 88 | 116 | 140 | +14.5 | +2.5 |
| Watching a DVD movie | 1.09 | 0.77 | 88 | 62 | 112 | 119 | +7.5 | +2 |
via engadget
GTA IV PC Patch Released
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The first patch for the PC version of GTA IV has been released. Download it or get it automatically through the game!
You can simply Download it from planetgrandtheftauto.
OR
Rapidshare link HERE
OR
HERE
The issues mentioned in the earlier post have been fixed.
Make sure to grab the latest ATI and Nvidia GPU drivers also, and if you are able to play, log in to Live to challenge Rockstar's developers, and possibly win prizes.
GTA IV PC Patch to be Released Soon
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The PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV is getting a much-needed patch, according to Voodoo Extreme. Rockstar says that the patch is in the process of Microsoft certification and should be coming out soon. The press release outlines the fixes:
- A fix to the crash after legal screen that some German customers were reporting.
- Numerous improvements to the video editor: Smarter naming of videos, improved rendering quality, better fx during replays
- Fix to bowling while using certain sensitive mice
- Fix for ATI 1900 shadows
- Overall savings to memory
- Graphic improvements to particle systems and mirrors
- Multiplayer character settings are preserved
- Support for DirectInput controllers. Note: The current hack way of supporting these controllers may not work with the improved functionality.
The report also states that issues with power management software and the Rockstar Social Club have been fixed. Nvidia has released a new driver to improve performance, and ATI will be releasing Catalyst 8.12 on Wednesday as well. Though any fix is welcome, the list doesn't seem to address a few of the larger complaints from the community, like framerate and texture problems.
souce:GTAForums
EA to publish Brütal Legend
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Finally. Electronic Arts has stepped up and said that it will publish Brütal Legend, the latest game from Tim Schafer's Double Fine Studios, on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The heavy-metal inspired game first fell into difficulty when Activision-Blizzard discarded a bunch of in-development titles after their merger. Games like Ghostbusters, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Brütal Legend suddenly found themselves without a publisher, though all have now found new homes.
While the last game of the lot to find a new publisher, it seems that Brütal Legend was never in any real trouble as a publishing deal with EA had been quietly on the card for a while. We can't say we blame EA for pursuing the game either - a heavy-metal inspired game starring Jack Black and from the makers of Psychonauts, Grim Fandango and Full Throttle is a tempting prospect for anyone!
“This is awesome news!” stated Tim Schafer in a press release. “The quality and creativity of the games EA Partners has been involved with make it a perfect home for our baby, Brütal Legend. Some people were starting to wonder if the saga of Eddie Riggs would ever see the light of day, but now I think it’s clear that this game, like Metal itself, cannot be killed!”
While the game is set to tell the story of Eddie Riggs, a roadie who gets sucked into an alternate demon-filled universe by an ancient rock icon, the gameplay itself has yet to be full unveiled. Jack Black has promised however that the first trailers for the game will be unveiled in the VGA Spike gaming awards in the US, which he's presenting.
Trailer of Brutal Legend
Intel releases new, free missions for Far Cry 2
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Intel has sponsored the release of two new free-to-play missions for the PC version of Far Cry 2 as part of its on-going Game On! campaign.
The missions, called The Morrocan and The American both fit snugly into the main game and sit within the whole Jackal-hunting plot.
The Morrocan is the first mission of the pair and sees the player venturing over to an abandoned Foreign Legion fort in Leboa=Sako territory. There you hope to find an old man with information on where you can continue your hunt for merciless gun-runner, The Jackal.
The second mission, The American, only unlocks when the first one is completed and sees you tracking down your predecessor in the northern mountain ranges surrounding the Dogon village with the hope that they can put you into contact with a new informant who has crucial data about The Jackal.
Both missions are totally free to play and can be downloaded in the latest patch over at Intel's Game On! site. Whether these missions will ever work their way over to consoles as part of a free or premium DLC isn't clear yet, but seems doubtful.
GTA IV PC Patch to be Released Soon
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The PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV is getting a much-needed patch, according to Voodoo Extreme. Rockstar says that the patch is in the process of Microsoft certification and should be coming out soon. The press release outlines the fixes:
- A fix to the crash after legal screen that some German customers were reporting.
- Numerous improvements to the video editor: Smarter naming of videos, improved rendering quality, better fx during replays
- Fix to bowling while using certain sensitive mice
- Fix for ATI 1900 shadows
- Overall savings to memory
- Graphic improvements to particle systems and mirrors
- Multiplayer character settings are preserved
- Support for DirectInput controllers. Note: The current hack way of supporting these controllers may not work with the improved functionality.
The report also states that issues with power management software and the Rockstar Social Club have been fixed. Nvidia has released a new driver to improve performance, and ATI will be releasing Catalyst 8.12 on Wednesday as well. Though any fix is welcome, the list doesn't seem to address a few of the larger complaints from the community, like framerate and texture problems.
souce:GTAForums
Prince of Persia
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Key Features
- A new hero emerges: Master the acrobatics, strategy and fighting tactics of the most agile warrior of all time. Grip fall down the face of a building, perform perfectly timed acrobatic combinations, and swing over canyons, buildings and anything that is reachable. This new rogue warrior must utilize all of his new skills, along with a whole new combat system, to battle Ahriman's corrupted lieutenants to heal the land from the dark Corruption and restore the light.
- A new epic journey begins: Escape to experience the new fantasy world of ancient Persia. Masterful storytelling and sprawling environments will deliver to action-adventure fans an experience that rivals even the best Hollywood movies.
- A new open world structure: A first for the Prince of Persia franchise - now you have the freedom to determine how the game evolves in this non-linear adventure. Players will decide how they unfold the storyline by choosing their path in the open-ended world.
- Emergence of a deadly new ally: History's greatest ally is revealed in the form of Elika, a dynamic AI companion who joins the Prince in his fight to save the world. Gifted with magical powers, she interacts with the player in combat, acrobatics and puzzle-solving, enabling the Prince to reach new heights of deadly high-flying artistry through special duo acrobatic moves or devastating fighting combo attacks.
