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Shadowrun has gone gold once for Windows Vista and also for Xbox 360. For the first time ever the windows gamers and xbox 360 gamers unite over the LIVE service on available on May 29.

Official Press Release:

Cross-Platform Innovator “Shadowrun” Goes Gold, Twice, For Windows Vista and Xbox 360
Gaming communities on Xbox 360™ and Windows Vista™ will come together for the first time over Xbox LIVE and Games For Windows – LIVE, when “Shadowrun™” teleports to retailers May 29
Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the eagerly awaited and innovative first-person shooter (FPS) “Shadowrun” has gone gold and will begin hitting retailers throughout North America on May 29.
From renowned developer FASA Studio, the team that brought you the Xbox LIVE launch title “MechAssault®,” and the lead designer behind the original “Halo®,” “Shadowrun” incorporates ancient magic and advanced technology into strategic and clever teambased gameplay for an unparalled combat experience.
Utilizing both the Xbox LIVE and Games For Windows – LIVE network, “Shadowrun” tears down the walls between friends and gamer communities on the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista-based PC by letting as many as 16 gamers play together, regardless of platform*. Not only does “Shadowrun” bring these communities together, it also extends the features gamers love on Xbox LIVE, such as gamertags, achievements, friends lists and integrated voice communication, onto the PC through Games for Windows — LIVE. “Shadowrun” is optimized for a multiplayer online experience – which requires an Xbox LIVE Gold account on Xbox 360 or Silver account on Games for Windows – LIVE.

What: Double Dragon Arrives on Xbox LIVE Arcade
When: This Wednesday
How Much: 400 Microsoft Points

Whe legendary arcade classic that introduced gamers to co-op street-brawling action is back and looking better than ever. Team up with a friend or prepare to go it alone, because Double Dragon is hitting Xbox LIVE® Arcade Wednesday, May 9, at 9 a.m. GMT (2 a.m. PDT).
Double Dragon, from Empire Interactive Ltd., is a genuine re-creation of the classic coin-op arcade game. For the first time ever, fans of the franchise can play Double Dragon online with a friend over Xbox LIVE. The game features enhanced art, a new soundtrack and a host of extras.

Double Dragon is the story of Billy and Jimmy Lee, twin brothers who learned to fight on the cold, tough streets of their city. Their expert knowledge of the ancient martial art of Sou-Setsu-Ken, combined with their streetwise outlook, means that they’re two of the most formidable combatants ever to walk the streets. Billy and Jimmy will use their feet, fists, elbows and whatever weapons come to hand to defeat the gang that kidnapped Billy’s girlfriend.

Double Dragon will be available worldwide for 400 Microsoft® Points and is rated E10+ by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, with mild suggestive themes and violence.

Game Features

• Two-player co-op multiplayer locally or over Xbox LIVE
• Special extras such as a look at the original Japanese and U.S. “Double Dragon” sales fliers
• Gameplay with either the original graphics or with new high-definition graphics
• All new music
• Hints and tips for newcomers
• Three leaderboards
• Customizable button configurations
• Ability to earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points

More information is available at http://www.xbox.com/games/livearcade.

And now for a bit of info on some arcades to come:

Mad Tracks This 3-D racing party game from Load Inc. and D3Publisher recalls all the fun of playing with toy cars from childhood. Up to four players can race micro cars in a variety of gameplay modes in familiar settings such as a living room, a restaurant and a toy store.

Rush’n Attack Also known as Green Beret, from Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., this is a faithful next-generation update of this classic coin-op arcade title where the player assumes the role of a special forces agent sent behind enemy lines to infiltrate an enemy military complex and free captured prisoners of war.

Soltrio Solitaire From Silver Creek Entertainment, this is a collection of 18 different solitaire games, offering co-op and competitive two-player solitaire game modes.

Spyglass Board Games From Strange Flavour Ltd. and Freeverse, this offers classic versions of the world’s most beloved board games, including chess, checkers, mancala and reversi, as well as the ability to enjoy video chat with friends via the Xbox LIVE Vision camera.

Street Trace:NYC This is a hover board racing and arena battle game from Gaia Industries Inc. set against the urban wasteland of future New York City. Make your mark on the leaderboards in intense eight-player action over Xbox LIVE, or battle at home through split-screen or single-player tournaments.

Undertow This is a fast-paced action shooter from Chair Entertainment Group that thrusts players underwater as they battle for control of the oceans, and features a robust single player/co-op campaign and up to 16-player multiplayer action over Xbox LIVE.

Like all Xbox LIVE Arcade games, the above titles will have a free demo that will allow gamers to try out a game before deciding to buy. More details will be available closer to each title’s launch later this year.

here is a video trailer for the other arcade release for 4/25

here is a video for one of tomorrows Live Arcade Releases

Eets: Chowdown Chomps Its Way Onto Xbox LIVE Arcade

  
click to view more (and larger) screenshots
Get your thinking cap on and your sweet tooth in shape, as Eets: Chowdown becomes available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, Apr. 25 at 0900 GMT (2:00 a.m. Pacific).

Eets: Chowdown from Klei Entertainment Inc. is a visual feast for the eyes and a treat for the brain, combining 2D puzzle game elements with a surreal sense of humor. Gamers must use colorful and whacky items like spouting Prankster Whales, vengeful Marshomechs, Radioactive Ginseng and more to manipulate Eets emotions and safely guide it through myriad hazards to each level’s exit.

Eets: Chowdown offers a slew of new items, 120 levels and the exclusive debut of Marsho Madness, a high-adrenaline action game in which players must keep the impending evil marshmallows at bay.

Eets: Chowdown will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Game Features

• 120 new levels in gorgeous high definition graphics
• Tons of crazy characters, including Marshomechs, Radioactive Ginseng, and Exploding Superpigs.
• Marsho Madness: the crazy, adrenaline-rushing Eets action game, where players can play co-op to keep the impending evil marshmallows at bay
• Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points

 
click to view more (and larger) screenshots

Gamers will soon be able to bump and flip in high-definition, as Pinball FX will be available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, Apr. 25 at 0900 GMT (2:00 a.m. Pacific).

Zen Studios new Pinball FX offers a unique pinball experience for novice and expert gamers. It combines the arcade thrills of traditional pinball with enhanced gameplay and exciting, innovative features not found in any other pinball game. Gamers may control the flippers with their hand or arm motions using the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera or simply use the standard Xbox 360 controller. Pinball FX sets a new standard for realistic ball physics and graphical detail in pinball video games.

Pinball FX will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Game Features

• Real-time head-to-head mode for online multiplayer competition for up to 4 players
• Three vibrant, 3D pinball tables
• Tables start out simple, but new challenges open up as a players skill advances
• Gesture based controls and live chat via the Xbox 360 LIVE Vision Camera
• Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points
• Amazing realism that is an industry first for the genre

Screenshots for both will follow when i get them uploaded.

Yet another contest - I love a good round of pacman, but I have my doubts of actually ranking high enough to win the world title. I think I will start practicing anyway

NEW YORK — April 18, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. and NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. today made video game history by announcing the first-ever Xbox 360™ “Pac-Man” World Championship, presented by Quiznos. From April 25 to May 9, fans of one of the world’s most beloved video games of all time will compete on the classic arcade game via Xbox LIVE® Arcade on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, evolving “Pac-Man” gameplay from the local pizza parlors and arcades of the ’80s to the Xbox 360 and its online gaming community with more than 6 million members. The top finalists from participating countries around the world will be flown to New York City for the finals on June 5, with the winner being crowned the Xbox 360 “Pac-Man” World Champion by Toru Iwatani, the creator of “Pac-Man.”

The Xbox 360 “Pac-Man” World Champion will receive worldwide acclaim from being the first-ever Xbox 360 “Pac-Man” World Champion and gain a place in gaming history. The winner of the finals will also receive other great prizes, including 26 years of free Quiznos toasted subs (one sandwich a week for 26 years, a $13,520 (U.S.) value), 100,000 Microsoft Points for games, movies and other fun content available on Xbox LIVE, and a one-of-a-kind Xbox 360 featuring a special design inspired by “Pac-Man.”

Play and Win Shooter / Gears of War

Well I finally got an achievement last night during my Gears of War session last night. It was one of the pretty simple achievements - Mix it Up - where you just need to be on the winning team of the 3 different game types. It was also brought to my attention that even though I thought I was going to get a 100 kills with a [insert weapon here] achievement, that there is not one for shotgun kills - which was what most all my achievements were based on, and the one I assumed was going to rack me another achievement, so that wasn’t very wise of me I would say. Thanks to Antediluvia for bringing this to light. This concludes the dates that you can recieve an entry in the Play & Win Shooter Contest, and I believe I should get an entry for each of the 3 days . . . winning is a long shot - but it doesn’t hurt to try (and those prizes are pretty smooth).

Shadowrun Beta

I recently recieved my beta invitation to Shadowrun, but haven’t dedicated a ton of time to it as of yet. Of course in the invitation the NDA was restated that not much else can be said except “Yes, I am playing the beta”. So until the NDA is lifted dont expect to hear a ton more about that. You can keep track of my play time on the game in my Live Eye Profile as you can see at the moment I have only played about an hour or so. Over at 360friendspot we have about 62 current live eye members in the beta and being tracked by our tool, you can see an overview of those users at the Shadow Run Beta Profile Page

360Friendspot / LiveEye

Speaking of 360friendspot and The Live Eye, last night I spent a good amount of time updating some queries after seeing a bunch of sleeping records in the SQL Activity Monitor. This was a hope that what might be causing the slowness or hanging of the site was related to SQL table locks - since I was definately getting time out errors and transactions were hanging out here sleeping. If that resolves, or at least partially resolves the performance issues - I am going to be extremely pleased, but also upset that I didnt find it sooner. I am sure there are more things to optimize - but maybe I am at least going in the right direction at this point.

Crackdown All Nighter, and Rumors

Finally - Happy St Patricks day, and look for an update from my all nighter activities at a later date. Achievements and random video goodness will most likely come of it. There is A rumor posted in my comments about this all nighter being a time that they release some new content or the final 100 points - no clue what that user based it on - but I am all for it!

Xbox is having yet another all nighter. This time its going to be Crackdown. Rumor has it random people will be selected for Crackdown prizes.

Looks like I didn’t win anything on the Lost Planet all nighter, which they recently added comments from random participants, check it out.

If I am around for this all nighter - I would guess that some new video fun will come out of an all nighter.

I find myself really loving this game, and getting distracted even from the task at hand while playing. Ymiris and I were playing co-op last night and we finished the first kingpin, but while we were playing there was plenty of times that we just dropped the task at hand and started bouncing around rooftops to collect those nice shiney orbs.

If that wasn’t enough of a distraction, I happened to come across an interesting vehicle. It was essentially one of those trucks that is used to transport cars from place to place, and it makes a perfect ramp. We must have played with this thing for at least an hour. We set up a bunch of cars (Evil Knievel style) and charged the ramp to jump them. At one time I had a full sized tour bus in the mix. We also set it up to jump a walkway bridge.

We were having a blast, now we just need to come up with a way to video these antics.

Well the sign up process was down right horrible, not that this wasnt somewhat expected but you would hope a company like Microsoft would be prepared for the type of load a contest like this can create. In any event after reading a bunch of different posts on how to get signed into the site I was finally able to do so.

Then I went off gaming, gaining a total of 150 points, and I had made 10 points before finishing registration. Of course I have no clue if any of those points are valid because I found out this morning you actualy had to click a Join button to be in the challenge, but the contest states raise your points 1,500 from 2/12/07 00:00:00, so do i have 160, or 150, or 0 points all ready gained into the contest?

The site doesnt seem to show how many points you have gained, and it actually has a “I am finished” button to click, which I can click - clearly I havent met the required points though - so in fear of screwing up my chances I haven’t clicked it to see what it does.

Finally I have seen a bunch of people talking about others using game saves, I just hope that they actually catch and remove these guys from the contest - rumor has it there are only 2,500 copies of Fuzion Frenzy 2 up for grabs this time around. Even without the game save cheaters I probably won’t be one of the first 2,500 but they really shouldn’t be rewarded for simply downloading a save game.