Wize Blog

What's in XBox 360 Online Update

On Dec. 4th, they'll be a download waiting for Xbox owners. According to the San Jose Mercury News blog, Microsoft will introduce a new update for the Xbox 360’s dashboard and Xbox Live service.

The free system update will be available to users around the world. It will feature:

*Family Control feature--limits how long someone can play
* Downloads of games that previously were only sold through retail outlets through Xbox Live Originals (XBox Live is the online gaming and entertainment service that lets connect your Xbox to the Internet) You can find reviews to some of the games on wize.com.
Expanded social networking experiences.
* Capabilities for more detailed profiles.
* A friend's list.
* New navigation.
* XBox news site called "Inside Xbox"

The Top 5 Xbox 360 games are listed here.

Top 5 Xbox 360 Games at Wize.com

Matt Peckham gives a short review at PCWorld.com of BioWare's Mass Effect, which he calls  "the old-school adventure masquerading as a role-playing game."

Peckham expects the Xbox 360 and associated games to do well this coming Black Friday.

If you've got an Xbox 360 (rated 81 by wize.com), you can play all sorts of games this holiday season.

Speaking of Xbox 360 games, wize.com has ratings for many--here's the top 5.

1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Collector's Edition for Xbox 360, rated 98 at wize.com

2.  The Bigs--a baseball game, rated 97 at wize.com

3. Guitar Hero 2, rated a 94 at wize.com

4. Call for Duty, rated 93 at wize.com

5. Def Jam: Icon for Xbox 360, rated 93 at wize.com

Fifth Anniversary of the Xbox Live Service

As of December 4, you won't need a disc to boot games like Halo (rated 97 at wize.com), Fable, Psychonauts (rated 97 at wize.com), and Crimson Skies (rated 91 at wize.com).

The next update to the firmware of the Xbox 360 offers the opportunity to download games for the original Xbox hardware.

Microsoft today announced that it will be selling those four games online, along with some others from the Xbox Live Marketplace early next month.

For the fifth anniversay of Xbox Live service, all Xbox Live gamers will get one free Xbox Live Arcade game and 500 free Microsoft Points for all members who signed up in 2002

Beware, though, any Xbox consoles only have 20 GB hard drives, which probably are already filled up. Might have to purchase a new hard drive to fit in more downloads.

Sony Considering Movie and Music Distribution on PS3

I have been wondering when this move would occur since IPTV started being discussed at CES back in 2000-ish. 

It seems, Sony is now considering placing a higher emphasis in the PS3 multi-media capabilities than strictly pushing it's gaming functionality.  This could be a move to overcome decreasing sales in their console market, and compete more directly with Microsoft's Xbox Live service. 

In addition, for those lucky Europeans, the PS3 will be rolled out with DVR capabilities.  I am actually surprised it has taken so long for this simple functionality in the PS3, to hit the market.

That said, the mass market does not think of a PS3 as a multi-media box, and it will take Sony some time to distinguish the console as such.   I don't think anyone is planning to trade in their Tivo in the next couple of months, for a PS3. 

Microsoft Xbox 360 Bundle Heading to Stores for the Holidays

Today, at Wize.com I learned that Microsoft has plans to bundle Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance at no added cost to the elusive Xbox system that will be ready this holiday season.

Both the $350 Premium console and the $450 Elite console will have the privilege of getting these additions bundled, and will hit stores late October. 

My guess is this release will exactly coincide with the lower budget-priced Xbox 360 Arcade console, although Microsoft is keeping their lips sealed on that one. 

Microsoft's XBox 360 Sales Double Due to Release of Halo 3

Do games make people purchase consoles?  When Microsoft, Halo 3 and the Xbox 360 are concerned it definitely appears that way. 

In only one weeks time, Microsoft rakes in over $300 Million from the sales of the highly anticipated alien-batting shooter game Halo 3.  This news comes after the announcement was made that in a mere 24 hours Halo 3 earned $171 Million in sales after the September 25th debut. 

As well,

"Initial reports from retailers worldwide show console sales have more than doubled compared with the weekly average before the launch of 'Halo 3,"' Microsoft said in a statement.

Microsoft did not elaborate further, but industry experts estimate that the company sold 277,000 Xbox 360 units in the United States in August and just over 11,000 units in Japan in that month. 

XBOX 360 Update: Will have HD DVD Drive in 2008

Wize.com has learned from Personal Computer World that in 2008 the Xbox 360 will indeed have a HD DVD Drive.  This coming from Mark Bennett, Microsoft's European Business Director for HD DVD. 

This is the only news that has come out thus far about next year's Xbox 360, but our guess is you will continue to hear the murmurs of rumors surrounding the addition of an HD DVD Drive in the months to come. 

Microsoft's Halo 3 Xbox 360 in Stores Today

Stop what you are doing immediately and run to your nearest retailer, because as of today the special edition Microsoft Halo 3 Xbox 360 (designed specifically for the game) is available.  It is selling for $399 (a premiere price) from the Xbox 360 Console of the past, and as expected "quantities are very limited," and rumor is it may even be sold out already at many stores.

What surprised me the most about this release is that despite the limited edition status, the game itself, Halo 3 does not come with the Xbox 360. Instead, it will be released in stores September 25th. Despite that, it has a 20 gig hard drive, Halo 3 wired headset, component HD AV cable, HDMI port, Ethernet cable, and play and charge kit. 

Is it worth the extra dough?  Well, if you like army green and gold, it is one cool looking console system. For now, the closest comparison in this price range is the Xbox 360 Elite, with reviews like:

"The Xbox 360 Elite is a solid system worth owning, but only if you can take advantage of its features."