General

Microsoft announces release of Halo 3 sequel: Halo 3 Recon

Microsoft announced the release of the Xbox360 exclusive Halo 3 Recon today at the Tokyo Game Show. Halo 3 Recon is the sequel to Halo 3 and brings a new storyline to the serie. The game is slated for a late 2009 release.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: Recon” is a stand-alone expansion that extends the award-winning “Halo 3” experience with hours of new campaign and multiplayer gameplay.* The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for more than six years.

The new campaign chapter predates the events that unfold in “Halo 3” and gives players a new perspective through the eyes of a new hero in the “Halo” universe. New multiplayer maps ensure that the award-winning Xbox LIVE experience of “Halo 3” continues to thrive.

Top features include the following:

•  All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: Recon” campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous “Halo” experiences, “Halo 3: Recon” will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
• A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
• Expanded multiplayer collection. No “Halo” experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and “Halo 3: Recon” gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with “Halo 3: Recon.”
• Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3” technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

Source: Microsoft.com

Halo Wars – still planning to ship

In case you haven’t heard, Ensemble Studios is shutting down after they ship Halo Wars.  This is a sad development for gamers everywhere but I guess it underscores the dominance of the special purpose gaming consoles over the desktop computer and gaming machine of the home.  Is this the beginning of the end for powerful home computers?  Who knows.  But when was the last time you considered a desktop over a laptop?

Source- Technet Blogs

Gamefest 2008 Presentations: Now Available on PC!

This year’s Gamefest included exciting announcements about Games for Windows - LIVE and Xbox LIVE Community Games. Now, you can enjoy the interesting and informative Gamefest 2008 presentations from the comfort of your own home! We’ve posted many of the presentation’s slides and audio at XNAGamefest.com Enjoy!

Source- MSDN Blog

Dolby Digital 5.1 and the Dolby Game Studio Program

Game audio is more important and complex than ever before. A top-selling title increasingly relies on cinematic, high-quality sound. In this session, learn tips and techniques to make your Xbox 360 game sound better. The session will deal with bass management and downmix considerations for the Xbox 360, then move on to mixing techniques for your game audio engine. We also discuss the mixing environment and lessons learned from Dolby’s Game Studio Program on acoustics, reflections, and the LFE channel.

Download here

Announcing the Nemesis® NXT® for Flight Simulator!

I am proud to announce the project that has had me busy for the past 3 weeks … the Nemesis® NXT® project for Microsoft Flight Simulator! Created by Jon & Patricia Sharp, the Nemesis® NXT® is the premier Sport Class racer at Reno. Jon plans to shatter the 3Km speed record for his aircraft’s weight class this week at AirVenture. Jon & Patricia have partnered with Eaglesoft and myself  to create the MS FS version. The FS version is based on the actual CATIA model used for wind tunnel testing and manufacturing of the real NXT® kit. Without further adieu, I present the Nemesis® NXT®!

These shots are very early representations of the aircraft and will most certainly change as the project progresses. Stay tuned!

Source- polypoke spaces

Games for Windows LIVE Multiplayer now FREE

Introducing Games for Windows – LIVE, the free gaming service built for Windows that makes great Windows games even better. With Games for Windows – LIVE, you get an online identity – called a gamertag – and a friends list that works across multiple games, the XBOX 360, and even the Zune music service. You can easily find and communicate with your friends online with text and voice chat. Earn achievements and Gamerscore that lets you track and compare your accomplishments.

Play multiplayer games with your friends, or play against new opponents online using our exclusive TrueSkill™ matchmaking system – with other Windows® players or with or against XBOX 360 players (in supported games.)

All of this is possible today – and at no charge.

Source- Gamesforwindows

Demo Released for Tales of Vesperia

The Tales RPG franchise celebrates its tenth anniversary with the release of Tales of Vesperia™, exclusively on Xbox 360®. Tales of Vesperia brings the popular real-time RPG fighting system and a brand new cast of characters into a world struggling with an ancient technology, the blastia, and the empire that controls the blastia.

Tales of Vesperia has a beautiful aesthetic style.

The game follows the adventures of Yuri, a former Imperial Knight and the colorful members he meets along the way. Yuri travels with Repede, his loyal canine friend; Estelle, a sheltered noble looking to explore the world and find her path; Karol, a young member of the Hunting Blades Guild; and Rita, an outspoken mage researcher.

The beginning of the demo takes place shortly after Yuri and his companions have met up with Rita. After hitting a snag with the empire’s soldiers, they must detour through the forest battling ferocious inhabitants and a huge monster that has been attacking the neighboring villages.

Strategically string together sword combos and use your artes (magic) and items to their fullest potential to make it through the forest alive. Using your over limit allows you to string together even more attacks, and tailoring the battle strategies of your companions can give you that extra edge in battle.

In Tales of Vesperia, the artistic style is so detailed and animated, it truly blurs the line between animation and gaming. Try the demo available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace July 14!

Source- XBOX

Norton 2009 Beta products released to public

Symantec has released the beta versions of Norton Internet Security 2009 and Norton Anti Virus 2009.The Symantec site reads as-

The 2009 releases of Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus were engineered to be fast, and light on system resources. Norton Internet Security provides comprehensive security against all types of online threats while Norton AntiVirus protects against malicious software without slowing you down.

Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus 2009 are based on the Norton Protection System, a multi-layered set of technologies that work in concert to stop threats before they impact you. The Norton Protection System includes an innovative new technology that uses security information from millions of users to pre-determine what files and processes are safe, and what aren’t. Coupled with Norton’s acclaimed Browser Protection technology for blocking web-based attacks and our enhanced SONAR technology for detecting unknown threats, Norton 2009 protects without impacting performance.

So we could expect some great features in this new version of NIS 2009 and NAV 2009.I have to test this version yet so would be posting my views after checking it.

You can even download the beta versions of these softwares here- http://www.symantec.com/norton-beta/