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• New Dashboard: "You don't have to use it"

  by Beau King July 21st 2008 12:58 PM CDT7 Comments

  We here at the ’Focus have openly embraced the "New Xbox Experience". I personally love the idea of a more modern Dashboard, but some of you non adopters loathe the change (some of you hate change period).
  
  For you dissenting folk, there is no need to keep those feathers riled as Major Nelson affirms in his latest podcast that the same Dashboard we use today will in effect be there after the update. All the features seen today will be moved to the new guide level. A simple push of the same button on your controller will provide the only step to get there too. Quotes and more after the jump.
  
  "I know that there are some people that aren't going to like the happy, happy, shiny New Xbox Experience. For whatever reason it's not flipping their bit. "Here's my message to you: you don't actually have to use it. You can never go there, just leave your game disc in and pretty much do everything that you could before but on the Guide level - one button press away in every single game.
  
  "The Dashboard as you know it today, in other words the 'blades'; Games, Live, Media and System," The Major explained, "We've taken those blades and moved them to the Guide. Every single function that you can do today in the Dashboard you are going to be able to do in the New Xbox Experience in the Guide."
  
  This should then make it easy for anyone to bypass the confusion. Nonetheless, if you decide to come out from beneath the shell, a bright and beautiful world may open up.
  
• Todd Howard may make haz-mat suits for Avatars

  by Beau King July 21st 2008 12:30 PM CDT0 Comments

  With the E3 confetti slowly finding itself into dust pans and garbage bins alike we are trying to make sense of the whole mess. Still news is dripping in with the oversights and forgotten moments that hid among the riff raff. One such bit concerns the whole Avatar system. We covered earlier the possibility of devs getting in the game and providing exclusive clothing for our Mavatars.
  
  Just how far this may go has since been hush hush, but in Major Nelson’s latest podcast at about the 4 minute mark he and co-host e confirm that developers have the freedom to make a whole slew of clothing types and paraphernalia. Of particular note is a conversation between Major and Todd Howard of Fallout 3 wherein Todd asks Major if he could possibly make some sort of haz-mat suit or in honor of the game for the community to use. Major’s response of course was a resounding yes.
  
  This means a lot in the way of making these Avatars more than just caricatures of ourselves. We may soon have the option to sport a piece of the Halo 3 armor set, Niko’s signature track suit, and Hagard’s beanie all at once. Hopefully this will catch on and make for a whole community of oddly outfitted Livers.
  
• E3 08: Hands On with Rock Band 2 Premium Drum Set

  by Dick Ward July 18th 2008 9:04 PM CDT1 Comments

  
  As the Rock Band 2 demo I attended drew to a close, I was given the opportunity to jam out with a few of the guys from MTV games on Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer". I picked up the sticks, took the stage, and fell in love.
• Sonic Unleashed - A First Look

  by Dick Ward July 18th 2008 5:42 PM CDT0 Comments

  
  Xbox Focus' Dick Ward takes a look forward at Sonic Unleashed. Can it revitalize the franchise or will it dissapoint?
  
  I got to sit down and take a look at a demo of Sonic Unleashed, coming out for the 360 this Christmas season. Boasting a great deal of improvement over past Sonic titles, the developers got right into it and showed us one of the early levels. The game was rapid fire and moved incredibly smoothly, as would be expected from a Sonic game. Everything seemed pretty standard, but very nicely polish. Click for more after the jump.
  
• Dashboard update will also feature medals

  by Beau King July 18th 2008 1:28 PM CDT5 Comments

  
  Gather 'round boy scout. You now have a way to post your badges in an all new way. Ok, maybe not real badges, but Microsoft has a system in place to post your most recent achievements like a badge or medal of honor. When being interviewed a Microsoft higher up let this flop out:
  
  
  "The MyXbox section will give you a central location to edit personal items. From here you’ll be able to add pictures, edit your profile, and view your achievements. Microsoft will also institute a new medal system so you can show off your most recent achievements. Medals are basically graphical representations of achievements, kind of like graphical badges or trophies."
  
  I hope some achievements take priority over others in terms of rarity or prestige. I'm sure one would have the Overkill achievement displayed over Finish the Fight on Normal.
• E3 08: A First Look at Shaun White Snowboarding

  by Dick Ward July 18th 2008 12:14 PM CDT0 Comments

  
  
  
  
  
  He looks a bit like Carrot Top, but the guy can seriously shred.  Ubisoft's new snowboarding title takes a realistic approach to the sport.  Will Shaun White Snowboarding be Ubi's Tony Hawk?  Dick Ward has the hands on report after the jump.
• Gears of War 2 collector's edition details

  by Beau King July 18th 2008 11:07 AM CDT4 Comments

  
  
  Some people love a game. Others really love a game. That’s why collector’s editions exist. Most of the time these little bundles contain worthless swag in a pretty box at $30 or more than regular retail. Not this time however as the Gears of War 2 collector’s edition has cool stuff and sits at a $70 price range.
  
  
  Contained within is the game (of course), a SteelBook DVD case, an art book forwarded by Dude Huge, a making-of DVD, and a funny little picture of Dom and his lady. The final and most awesome piece of treasure is an in-game item; a gold plated lancer! Splitting a body in half with a glittery hunk of spinning metal is more than glorious. All for about 10 buckaroos no less.  
• E3 08: Fallout 3 - A Hands On Report

  by Dick Ward July 18th 2008 10:43 AM CDT0 Comments

  
  
  
  
  
  The Fallout series is one that many 360 players may not be familiar with.  It's been primarily PC based, except for the atrocity that was Brotherhood of Steel, and for good reason.  The gameplay of the original games just doesn't translate to consoles.  Fallout 3 takes a different approach, and is one of the games that Microsoft has embraced as leading the way for the Xbox 360.  Our own Dick Ward got his hands on this one, get his take after the jump.
  
• How to be a jerk in Fable 2

  by Beau King July 18th 2008 10:27 AM CDT0 Comments

  
  Many love Fable and regard it as a classic, but still remain disappointed when comparing the finished product to the hype. Peter Molyneaux promised a lot for the original and unfortunately broke most of them. This time around however, he has made sure to add every little detail possible into the game. I mean everything, no matter how useless it may seem.
  
  We’ve all heard about being able to play fetch with your dog, creating and providing for a family, and so on. What hasn’t been highlighted, and rightly so, is how to be a jerk. Seeing the need to cover all aspects of the game, those at IGN have sat down with Peter to talk shop about the darker side of Fable 2.
  
  As a morally insensitive character in the game you can push yourself further in front of the line to Hell through a few simple ways. These senseless acts range anywhere from not using a condom (yes, there are in-game condoms) and contracting an STD to Starving your wife and kids. Speaking of the family, you can edit their names to match your own so it makes it more personal as you slowly kill them off.
  
  One of the worst examples detailed in the write up was of  the ability to find a fenced in area isolated from reach and throw a ball inside. From there your trusty mutt will run along the fence whining as you stand and laugh. What's worse is that Peter has detailed 12 hours of gameplay in which to do whatever acts of horror you wish.
  
• Jack Thompson was right

  by Beau King July 18th 2008 9:19 AM CDT1 Comments

  
  
  The best parts of E3 do not lie simply in game reveals and numbers presentations. A lot of fun and debauchery also goes into celebrating one of gaming’s biggest conventions. And us nerdy types can throw down. Many reporters have already posted stories about run ins with the industry’s big wigs and developers.
  
  
  Alongside those stories are also spoofs of the better E3 and gaming moments throughout the year. Those at G4 have decided to join in and make a Jack Thompson satire. Since I’m a big fan of Jack Thompson’s douchebaggery I took a look and have posted it here for your pleasure.
  

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