I updated my Xbox 360 with the new Xbox Experience about 4 days ago and in those few days I have had to endure two full days of power outages and no internet. It’s been rather horrible and I am most upset that I have not been able to play with my new Xbox (it feels like a completely new system). I have had the chance to set it up and configure my avatar as well as preview some of the videos and NetFlix options but I have not had much time to do a full run through. I have some video I shot of the interface but I have not been able to upload anything more than the Xbox Intro video from two days back.

I’ll post more pics and videos and more reviews of the various features of the New Xbox Experience over the next few days.

Microsoft’s New Xbox Experience - BusinessWeek

All in all, Microsoft’s NXE adds a useful set of new features wrapped in a sleek new interface. So rich are these options that the free update would have been worth the $50 or so that a new game costs. In fact, the NXE turns the Xbox into one of the most compelling set-top boxes available for gamers and non-gamers alike.

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A professional videogamer, who plays Xbox under the name Tsquared, has hit the big time with a sponsorship from Dr. Pepper that will see the 21 year slacker and Halo fans face on millions of soda bottles. This is not the first gamer to be sponsored but has got to be the biggest sponsorship deal in professional gaming.

Obviously this is just the beginning of what should be bigger and better sponsorship deals as video gaming creeps into every facet of pop culture.

Does this make him the Michael Jordan of Pro Gaming?

Professional videogamer now sponsored by Dr. Pepper — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Following Wheaties’ tradition of promoting sports figures on its boxes, Dr. Pepper announced Wednesday that it will be featuring a 21-year-old professional videogamer on its bottles.

The face of Jupiter native Tom Taylor, or Tsquared when he’s playing Halo 3 competitively, will be printed on 175 million bottles starting in January.

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Here is another review of the New Xbox Experience which says that its more like a discovery experience rather than a task based one. Its more of a social experience with Xbox Live and Friends content taking center stage in the new game console interface.

The article writer goes on to say that Microsoft holds huge potential to develop a content delivery ecosystem through the Xbox, Zune, Windows, Windows Mobile and Windows CE platforms and I have to agree. Using Zune as the example once we are able to purchase Zune content from anyone of these Zune enabled devices we will and Microsoft will have the advantage over any other individual platforms.

Is it reasonable to assume some day people will be porting their content services to Xbox or Windows? Can we expect to see other PMP manufacturers designing hardware devices to interface with such a powerful platform?

Telecoms and Software News

Jerry Johnson, General Manager, Xbox Live EMEA, explained that the new dashboard had been designed for a discovery (rather than a task-based) experience. The intention ws to make users feel more comfortable exploring on their console, rather than simply switching it on for a single purpose. Exposing users to a wider array of paid-for content is a significant upshot to the redesign, and there is plenty of this available in the form of video downloads, the Xbox Live Arcade (downloadable games), game fan content and in-game add-ons (such as map packs, songs or character costumes). This premium downloadable content is clearly generating significant revenues, with the most popular content including map packs for some of its ‘triple-A’ game titles (Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4), and song packs for music game Rock Band.

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More reviews of the Xbox Experience play up the new NetFlix movie options but claim that the new Xbox interface is less than revolutionary and not a big deal fore most users.

I disagree in that I think that adding new content sources such as NetFlix movies and Zune music make the 360 and all around home entertainment device and far more than another game console.

I’m going to have to try out netflix just to see what the movie watching experience is all about.

New Xbox interface is more about movies - Games - msnbc.com

Microsoft says its “New Xbox Experience,” which rolls out Nov. 19, will “change the face of home entertainment for every Xbox 360 owner.” It doesn’t.

In reality, the New Xbox Experience is more appropriately described as a new menu system. It won’t revolutionize your console, but it will improve your experience. Ironically, the most interesting feature about this revamp to a game console’s user interface has nothing to do with games. It’s about movies.

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Microsoft Xbox is set to unveil some super cool new features and improvements to Xbox Live in what is now being called the Xbox Live Experience. I’m not going to try to break it down for you when this review below has done such a great already.

I will say that when they get to the point they have full integration with Zune users it should be an awesome experience for music fans. There may be some problems with the system but it is the best thing going for an organized music community.

I guess this is what they meant by The Social.

Microsoft unveils new Xbox Live ‘experience’ | Gaming and Culture - CNET News

Dubbed the new “Xbox Live Experience,” this re-launched service–which is rumored to be launching in November, but which Microsoft will only say is due “before Christmas”–really does seem to have something for everyone: an easy-to-use graphical interface complete with deeply customizable avatars that casual players will enjoy, and all kinds of new functionality that will actually reward the dedication of the hard-core Xbox player.

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Sony pulls PlayStation 3 update - vnunet.com

Sony has pulled the latest firmware update for the PlayStation 3 following complaints from users that it rendered the system useless.

Version 2.40 was released on 2 July, but was removed from Sony’s servers later in the day following reports of problems.

Sony claimed that only a small number of consumers experienced issues with installing the patch, but the firm has temporarily suspended the download while it attempts to identify the problem.

It is not known whether affected PS3 owners will be able to repair the console themselves or have to return it to Sony to be fixed.

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So here is a cool career choice for some of our video game fans here in Zune land. Anyone looking for game tester jobs? I know I’d love to be paid for the massive hours of gaming I have logged and so would many of you I’m sure. Game Tester Guide offers tips and advice on how to become a video game tester with a focus on training us how to get a job as a game tester. A game tester you say? Yes, people actually get paid to play video games and game testing is an important part of proper video game development. The video game industry has become a muilti billion dollar market with almost unlimited growth potential.

It’s a new world and people are making a living doing some strange things but a game tester sounds like a good idea. Not only is a great idea for a website but it’s a great idea for some of the younger crowd who are looking at career choices in todays media driven market. Professional gaming is a legitimate choice for a select few but it is becoming a more accepted career choice for certain. With the rise in second generation console gaming and the popularity of massive player games online the industry seems poised for explosive growth and jobs in game development and testing seem a solid choice for those of us with the right skill set. I’m not a professional gamer or a game tester but the advice I picked up in their game tester guide seems solid and worthy of review by those of you interested in a career in gaming. I suggest you gamers get over to their site and check out what they are offering.

Game Tester Guide - Become a Video Game Tester & Beta Game Testing

Our sole purpose is to help you find a video game tester job. We have organized the best information on video game
testing. From how to become a game tester, to a listing of the best video game tester guide resources out there, to
information on what video game testing really is, and how to be a game tester.

Technorati Tags: game tester, gamer, game testing

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Microsoft is beating the drums over hitting the 10 million units sold mark Xbox has had an extra year over Wii and thats not a good sign. Nintendo is going to hit the same mark much faster and Microsoft has certainly laid out a lout more in order to get the as well. It’s costing them big bucks to get to these benchmarks so I guiess they need to toot them up as often as possible.

I love Xbox Live but it’s going to be awhile if ever before Microsoft can claim dominance by any real measure. The Playstation and Wii will both be around for quite some time to come. I think Microsoft should start looking at how to broaden their fan base with more add ons and games for other demographics not including the hardcore gamers. The success of the Wii is certainly not just because every top gamer went out and bought one. The Wii is becoming the family unit and thats whats most dangerous to Microsoft. the true success in the Xbox package is Halo and that may be their biggest problem. Microsoft needs to offer more for the other household members if they want their console to truly dominate.

Xbox 360 sales surpass Wii, PS3 | Reuters

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday its Xbox 360 game machine beat Nintendo Co Ltd’s (7974.OS: Quote, Profile, Research) Wii and Sony Corp’s (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) PlayStation 3 to reach 10 million units in U.S. sales.

“History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle,” Don Mattrick, a Microsoft senior vice president who heads the company’s Xbox business, said in a statement.

The Xbox 360 was the first of this latest generation of game machines to launch in the United States when it was released in November 2005. The PS3 and Wii were launched in the United States a year later.

The Wii is closing in on the Xbox 360, with 8.8 million units sold as of the end of March, while Sony has totaled 4.1 million PS3 units sold, according to market research firm NPD.

Microsoft also said global membership of its Xbox Live online service reached 12 million members.

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Here is a first look at Games for Zune on video. The Zune makes a great game playuer and moving around even on my old school Zune 30 is pretty smooth. I understand games are much better on the squircle for the Zune 80 and with that much space you can really stuff some musioc and new games on Zune.

Video: XNA Game Running on a Zune

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I’m considering the XNA pacakge so I can install games on my Xbox. I looked into how hard it is and then I realized it’s a pay only feature. It’s $100 for homebrew games on my Xbox and thats a bit much this week. I gotta find out how many games there are and how easy it is to install them. Wheres the best Xbox XNA games place?

Connecting to Your Xbox 360 Console with XNA Game Studio 2.0

This guide assumes you have already installed a supported version of Visual Studio tools and XNA Game Studio. These products must be installed before connecting to an Xbox 360 console. For information about installing these products, see Setup and System Requirements.

* Step 1: Sign In to Xbox LIVE
* Step 2: Download XNA Game Studio Connect
* Step 3: Connect Your Xbox 360 Console and Windows-Based Computer
* Step 4: Create and Deploy an Xbox 360 Project
* What’s Next?

Step 1: Sign In to Xbox LIVE

Turn on your Xbox 360 console and sign in to Xbox LIVE. You will need at least a Silver Xbox LIVE membership, an XNA Creators Club membership, and a hard drive for your Xbox 360 console to be able to develop games for Xbox 360 using XNA Game Studio. While you are in XNA Game Studio Connect or playing an XNA Game Studio game, you must remain connected to Xbox LIVE.
Step 2: Download XNA Game Studio Connect

XNA Game Studio Connect must be downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace and installed on the Xbox 360 console. XNA Game Studio Connect is listed on Xbox LIVE Marketplace next to the XNA Creators Club Subscription, which may be found by selecting Game Store, More…, Genres, and then Other.
Step 3: Connect Your Xbox 360 Console and Windows-Based Computer

When you develop games for Xbox 360, you develop them on your Windows-based computer, then transfer them over your local network to your Xbox 360 console. This requires that your Windows-based computer and Xbox 360 console share the same subnet. Most home networking layouts support this configuration. If your console and computer share a router or hub, it is likely that they share the same subnet.

With your computer and console on the same subnet, follow these steps to set up a connection between your computer and your console.

Technorati Tags: zune, xna, zune xna, zune games

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