Have a nice idea for an article I want to write that likens politics (US) to game consoles, but this isn't it. Instead, I wanted to give out my first impressions of the NXE (New XBox Experience).


One of the things I absolutely love about the 360 is that they've been pretty good about keeping the system "fresh" with feature updates (usually twice a year). When I first bought my 360, there were annoying issues like the inability to queue more than one download, download when the system was off, and it lacked features like the video marketplace--but these were all later added. The NXE is another one of these updates and is perhaps the biggest so far since it not only contains a few new features, but a whole new user interface to the system. Basically, they just handed everyone a new OS this morning for free.

New features (that I'm aware of) with my impressions:

_Interface Overhaul
Lots of people loved the "Blades" interface--it was simple and sleek--but as they added more games to XBLA and more features to the console in general, it started to get to be a cluttered mess. Thus, they completely redesigned their interface to something they felt was laid out better.

I was nervous about this change, but now that I've played with it, I do enjoy it. Can't tell so far if I enjoy it MORE, but there's some definate improvements that I'm glad they've made. But it feels like a mixed bag. I love how they list a lot of the information now, and it's a LOT faster and more responsive, but I don't know where anything is anymore (fuck, how do I change my theme?!). It's like someone came in and cleaned my room. I love that everything's easier to get to now, but I don't know where the fuck anything is anymore!


_Installing Games to HDD
If you're one that was bothered by the noise of the DVD drive or just want things to run a little faster, Microsoft now allows you to copy your (retail) 360 games to your hard drive making it both a lot quieter and a bit faster to load. For protection purposes, though, you are still required to have the disc in the drive to play the game even though it's running exclusively from the HDD.

So far I've only installed Fallout 3 to my HDD and have tried to play it. I noticed a bit of a speed boost, but not too much (I'm told it's more significant with older titles that had a larger load time). It was, however, VERY quiet. The noise never bothered me. But those who want to use this feature are going to be happy, I'd imagine.


_Community Games
This is a big one. Sure, XBLA (like PSN and most recently VC) houses some indie games, but there was a fairly lenghty approval process to get into the store. Also, not every small company out there could afford to go through said process. The new community games section of the 360 lets indie developers put up whatever they want on the system. It doesn't get approved or monitored by Microsoft (they take a percentage of the profit though), instead they've put in place a system that lets the community police themselves.

I saw a few games already this morning, but none of them looked very good. Of course, this is what I expect. It's going to be a LOT of school projects or teams with big dreams but very little polish or (let's face it) talent. However, I do expect there to be some pretty amazing diamonds to show up...it just might take a while for the community to get there. Still, I absolutely LOVE that indie developers have this outlet and sometimes even horrible games have really interesting concepts.


_Avatars
Avatars are...well...avatars. Yes, they're just higher polygon Miis and yes it does feel like a rip off. But it's not like Nintendo was the first to market either. Like the Miis, they represent you in SOME games (some older titles have been updated to support Avatars) and you can also take photos of your Avatar to use as your GamerTag picture.

A lot of what I saw with Microsoft Avatars is what I WISHED the Miis where. They actually have a real body now and aren't just a head on a glorified stick figure. They wear ACTUAL clothes, they have arms, they'll have downloadable outfits in the future (I never understood why you'd pay 80 points to get new gamer pictures, but I could maybe see paying to get a pack of new body/clothes options in the future). It's the Sims meets Miis, and I kinda like that (they also have my power button shirt :) )

What I dislike, though, is what the Miis have that Avatars don't. You can't adjust where your eyes/mouth sit on the face, so there will be less create "alterations" of the Avatars to make Girl Hitler or space aliens. I guess it's not a big deal. There's plenty of opportunity to get special outfits so instead of hacking the system to make your guy look like Gabe from Penny-Arcade you could probably just download the Penny-Arcade avatar set or something. What IS a bigger downer, though, is you don't have that stable of Avatars like you can with Miis. As far as I can tell, anyway, it's one per customer.

As a side, Avatars do speak a lot to Microsoft's approach this generation. They're trying to be that middle ground to the Wii and the Playstation, so it seems to fit that Avatars look like a mix of Miis and what I've seen of Playstation Home.


_Party System & Netflix Integration
Okay, I have NO impressions of these because I haven't tried them (no one was playing at 6am and I don't have Netflix anymore). Instead I'll just tell you what the features are:

The Party system is a way to let you stick with your friends when you're on XBox. Some apps, like a photo sharing one they have up right now, let you view everything as a "party" to share with friends, but mostly it's just an easier method to make sure you're voice chatting with your friends even if you're playing completely different games, decide what you'd all like to do together, or just sticking together once you decided what game you're playing.

The Netflix integration lets you stream their online collection straight to your Xbox--which sounds pretty sexy to me...since they're website was sometimes a pain in the ass. I'm not really sure what else it lets you do (I think you can edit your queue from the XBox), but if you have a Netflix account and an XBox, it sounds like a really nice addition.

DreadCentral.com has a video up with nearly a full level of the upcoming Ghostbusters game from a hands-on demo at ComicCon '08. As a huge Ghostbusters fan, I simply cannot wait for this title to be released. The video has developer commentary to go along with it and helps really explain how some of the game's features will work.

I love the fact that the game's story and script were written by Dan Akroyd & Harold Ramis - Ray & Egon respectively. This is essentially Ghostbusters 3. We might not be able to have it on the big screen, but I think we might have gotten the best thing possible. Actually being apart of the action, being in the movie playing the part of "Rookie."

Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and even William Atherton are all reprising their roles from the films for the game - that just screams Nerdgasm to have the band back together.

Seriously, check out the video. I really can't wait to cross the streams in the fall.

Video after the jump.

In case you haven't checked your Major Nelson Twitter profile (damn, does he love updating that Twitter), E3 has been going non-stop since Monday. Microsoft, Sony & Ninteno all (well, all except Nintendo) came with their best this year and delivered pretty good press conferences. The Big 3's press conferences showcased new and interesting IPs, features, and exclusives like they do every year with not many, if at all, surprises. Here's a quick rundown:

• Microsoft showed a lot of gameplay, more than the other two big companies did. The Fallout 3, Gears of War 2 and Resident Evil gameplay got me excited for the holiday season of games, except RE5 which comes out in the spring.
  
  
  
  • Biggest Announcement: NetFlix partnership that allows users to DL movies for free, if a Netflix member, coming soon.
    
  • 2nd Biggest Announcement: There's a new update coming in the fall that introduces an Avatar featured interface that is designed to bring a whole new level of togetherness and personality to the community. Users can play NBC gameshow games like 1 vs. 100 & Deal or No Deal, share photos in real time with a couple friends in the same group, even take the entire party and watch a new film one of them used their Netflix account to watch for free - for 4 consoles, just connected to each other on their buddy list.
    
  • 3rd Biggest Announcment: !!SHOCKER!! Final Fantasy XIII is coming to the 360!
    
  
  
  
• Sony had some cool updates for their PS3 firmware. Games for this conference mostly appeared in trailer form, like God of War 3. There was a demo for Resistance 2 which was awesome. And there was even a business graph power point-esque presentation created entirely with Little Big Planet which was pretty adorable. My only question is this: Where was Killzone 2?!
  
  
  
  • Biggest Announcement: New TV & Movie download service that allows users to transfer from PS3/PSN Network via PC to the PSP and back again. Take your films/shows anywhere you go with your PSP.
    
  • 2nd Biggest Announcement: Resistance 2 looks incredible, and if it weren't for Metal Gear Solid 4, would probably be the definitive reason to pick up a PS3.
    
  • 3rd Biggest Announcement: God of War 3 is coming... eventually.
    
  
  
  
• Nintendo... Look, I talk smack on the Wii enough to just leave this one alone. I will say this, the Nintendo conference was lamer than lamesauce sprinkled on a Virtual Boy with only one working eye piece. Uber-lame.
  
  
  
  • Biggest Announcement: Animal Crossing: City Folk is coming soon on Wii.
    
  • 2nd Biggest Announcement: A new Pokemon Ranger game is coming soon.
    
  • 3rd Biggest Announcement: There's gonna be a sequel to Guitar Hero: On Tour on DS.
    
  • No Metroid, No Zelda, No Luigi Spin-off... NO KID ICARUS. LAME!
    
  
  

Press Conferences after the jump.

Back when I was a huge Nintendo fanboy, I loved anything Rare spit out. Donkey Kong Country? Yep. Battletoads? God yes. Battletoads & Double Dragon? Okay...not so much.

When Nintendo let them run away to Microsoft in 2002, I figured: "Great! This means we'll get some Nintendo-esque platformers on a non-Nintendo system! Share the love!" Unfortunately, that never happened. Instead of a new Killer Instinct or GoldenEye 64, we got somewhat forgettable titles like Grabbed by the Ghoulies and Kameo--Viva Piñata was pretty good, though.

All is not lost, however, as the new Banjo-Kazooie coverage have started to get me to believe again. If you're out of the loop on the new Rare venture, I can only tell you three things: I have a trailer available for you after the jump, it's due in November, and there's a rumor that there's going to be a Wii-like controller for the game.

The PSP has been out for three years but I'm just now getting one. (A lovely new silver slim model.) The main reason I wanted one was to play Daxter, because I love Jak and Daxter more than any other game. Call me crazy.

I was excited to see what else the PSP library had to show, but I'm coming to realize there might not be a lot there. I still enjoy the system a lot with the games I've been playing. Playing Ratchet and Clank on this little system is still blowing my mind.

Even though the game selection is a little limited, I like it WAY more than the DS. You can watch video on a nice bright screen, listen to your music on the go (if it had custom soundtracks like the 360 we'd REALLY be in business) or view your pictures to make custom backgrounds and themes (even hook it up to a camera or PC for easy file transfers), and a built in web browser (can't handle too much but gets the job done). It even has Skype! Which will be very useful if I ever get my hands on the new headset.

It's a very good system to get for $169.99. But if you want a real value I suggest getting a bundle. There's the Daxter one (which I got obviously) which comes with a silver slim PSP, Daxter, a collection of 5 Family Guy episodes and a 1 GB Memory Stick all for $199.99. There's also a God of War bundle coming out in June which will have a red PSP with Kratos on the back, God of War: Chains of Olympus and the movie Superbad. Still $199.99 but no memory stick (life would suck without it) so the choice is yours.

And if you had a PSP way back when they came out but thought it too slow, the memory has been doubled (32 to 64) in the new slim models. So you might want to give it a go again.

The reason I bring this up on here is because Andy suggested the idea of me reviewing Ratchet and Clank and I thought that might be fun. And who knows, I might do my other games as well. So as soon as I beat the last boss (which is a one hit your dead boss) I'll feel good about writing a review. :)

Today's the big day, Wii owners! It's time to dust off your Wii Sports machines and get yourself a heaping helping of the small game party us XBox and PS3 kids have had for a few years now. That's right, WiiWare launches today!


Here's the launch titles (from the press release):
FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: My Life as a King™ (Square Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.

LostWinds™ (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand - from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze. You'll wield your Wii Remote™ controller to power Toku's jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and solve puzzles using LostWinds' novel, intuitive and playful control system.

Defend your Castle™ (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone - Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?

Pop™ (Nnooo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone - casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.

V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack™ (High Voltage Software®, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen - Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.

TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where you'll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use your Wii Remote controller in original ways to make it to the finals to see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one final, deciding duel.


[WiiWare live, no Virtual Console update this week via Joystiq]

New York Times is reporting today that Grand Theft Auto IV has sold 6 million copies during its first week of release, exceeding sales projections of 5 million in TWO weeks.

This is a major boon for Take-Two for a few reasons:
The significance of the sales extends beyond buoying Take-Two, a company that has had its share of legal, financial and management struggles in the last few years. The company is the subject of a $2 billion hostile takeover effort by Electronic Arts, which is offering Take Two shareholders $25.74 a share for control of the company. If Take-Two can exceed sales expectations on Grand Theft Auto IV, it has the potential to drive up the share price and force Electronic Arts to raise its offer.


[A $500 Million Week for Grand Theft Auto by New York Times via Kotaku]

Sure, we love to think of our local retail chains as an evil corporation set to take over the world through their dastardly low prices and convenience to customers (you bastards)--but what happens when they start becoming the go-to place for independent games? I know, it conflicts with your inner hippie, right?


Well, deal with it and head to your local Target to pick up some indie love thanks to EGPApparel. For a meager $12 (USD), you can get a stylish gamer shirt with a full version of the game attached. From what I hear, the shirt/game combo isn't available in EVERY Target just yet...so I suppose it's just a luck of the draw at this point.



[Sexy Indie Game Shirts! @ 2D Boy via Joystiq]

The fine folks at Gamasutra have posted an article called "A Japanese RPG Primer: The Essential 20." This is not your everyday Top 20 fanboy list, although every entry has a legion of fanboys (Yay, Earthbound!). This is an informative write up consisting of twenty of the most innovative and creative Japanese style Role Playing Games ever made. This, true believers, is a must read. Each of the chosen games has a detailed write up explaining why they were chosen as the Essential Twenty that could easily have been posted on their own.

Yes, Final Fantasy is on the list more than once. And yes, one of the articles even cheats a little by having three Final Fantasy titles in it making this essentially the Essential 22, but dammit Final Fantasy is a franchise that has made innovative strides that has continued to expand and push the genre for twenty years. I'd like to see more franchises pull this kind of longevity off, but sadly each sequel seems to put out the same crap with shinier graphics - I'm looking at YOU Devil May Cry!

Did your favorite make the list? Find out after the jump.

I've never played anything past the trial of N+ for the XBox 360, but I think I might hop onto XBLA tonight and get myself a copy after seeing an amazing bit of user-content over at Destructoid.

Using the custom level editor in N+ for XBLA, user 007craft managed to create side-scrolling platformer levels to resemble the level design in NES masterpiece The Legend of Zelda.


That's right. Zelda meets ninjas.....on the XBox 360. Everybody's kung fu fighting after the jump.