Ask Joystiq Xbox: Project really Offset edition [update]

This week on Ask Joystiq Xbox, we once again do our best to answer your most burningest questions. We discuss Xbox.com Marketplace issues, cheap wireless access for the Xbox, Final Fantasy XIII and we even dig up Project Offset. Remember that one? No? We're not surprised, but we bring it back to light today. Soak it all up after the break.

Got a question for Ask Joystiq Xbox? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [att] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.

Hey guys,

Love the site etc etc - straight down to business:

A while back, I remember reading about a game in development that looked like Oblivion on a massive scale- There was a trailer with an FPS perspective where a battle with a giant monster was depicted, and a tech demo of a monster in a cave. I can't for the life of me remember what the name of the game was, but it looked f'ing awesome. Do you know what the game was and if there is any news of it still being in development?

I want to call it Project Origin, but I know it's not that. It's something a bit like that though.

Thanks!

Rob

You sir, are thinking of Project Offset. The official trailer includes a giant battle, first-person perspective and there was a tech demo featuring a dragon in a cave. Mystery solved. Also, it looked freaking awesome. The only other possibility is Kingdom Under Fire II, but we doubt it. Alas, we've barely heard a peep out of developer Offset Software since it was acquired by Intel in 2008. The latest update on the official website, which was made in February this year, promises that we'll hear more about the game in the coming months. Let's hope so.

I bought a new 360 recently and transferred the licenses using the online tool, great no problem. Everything works, but when I add an item to my download queue from Xbox.com I get home to find them sitting there, not downloading, with the message "this download was assigned to another console", wth? Do I have to UN-register my old console?

Help me X3F, you're my only hope

Andrew S. (Auckland, New Zealand)

GT: Halwende

Andrew, we ran into this same issue after receiving a refurbished Xbox after a Red Ring of Death. The solution is pretty simple. Whenever you open up your download queue on your Xbox 360 -- where it tells you the downloads were assigned to a different console -- you should have the option to either download the individual piece of content or download all queued content. If you select all content, it should set your new Xbox as the default console for Xbox.com Marketplace downloads.

Can you system link in the xbox original of halo on the 360?Can I hook up a 360 with an xbox or 2 xbox 360 system linked.Also can I use original xbox controller on the xbox originals?

Yes, you can play Xbox Originals via system link so long as the game supports it. In fact, you should be able to do just about anything supported by the original game, including Xbox Live online play. Considering Xbox Originals are basically digital version of their emulated, disc-based counterparts, we're fairly certain you can connect a 360 to an original Xbox to play system link. You can do that with disc-based original Xbox games, so we see no reason it wouldn't work for Xbox Originals. Just set up the link as you would normally, fire up the game (Halo: CE, for example) and start a system link game. It should work fine.

Hey guys,
Getting kicked out of home due to renovations and am being forced into staying at a mates but i want to set up my room there minimalistically and only take my computer and xbox with my general living stuff. Just wondering what is the EASIEST way to make my computer monitor my screen, i've been to the electronics stores in my area and there are apparently no converters like the x2vga product that are standard and as i live in australia dont want to pay for shipping on a x2vga. Also, apparently if i use the hdmi i will lose all of the sound unless i buy a small amp to route it through that my sound system is also plugged into... This makes no sense and the internets are full of confusion so any answers? Maybe you can do a custom xbox set ups special or something while you explain this?

cheers, Alex

The easiest way to set up your Xbox would be to pick up Microsoft's Xbox 360 VGA cable. It comes with a female / male adapter, so you shouldn't have to worry about any connection issues. The VGA cable also has RCA outputs for stereo sound. Regarding HDMI, if your monitor has an HDMI input but no speakers, then yes, you will lose sound. You can pick up the officail Xbox 360 HDMI cable which includes an adapter for RCA or optical audio, but that might not be worth it if you already have your own HDMI cable. If your has speakers and can accept sound input from the HDMI port, then you shouldn't have any problems. Hope that helps.

Hey X3F!

Long-time reader, first question.

When I had an original Xbox I created a Live account. When I got my 360 I didn't link my Gamertag to my 360 right away. For reasons I won't go into, I waited about a year. During that year, I built up a little over 9,000 points in my Gamerscore. When I finally decided to link my old Gamertag to my 360 profile, it told me I would lose all the achievements I had earned (and hence my Gamerscore). Rather than lose it all, I created a new Gamertag. But I kept my old gamer tag active by linking it to a different profile on my 360. Is there a way to merge/link my current 360 profile and Gamerscore with my old Gamertag without losing all my achievements?

Justin

Phoenix, AZ

The short, not sweet answer is no. Sorry. Any gamerscore or achievements you earn will always be linked to the gamertag on which they were earned. You could try to change your new gamertag to something close to your old one, but that's about it. Be warned that changing your gamertag costs money, though.

[Update: According to commenter Kayla, you actually can change your new gamertag to your old one. Apparently all you'll have to do is change your old gamertag to something different and then change your new gamertag to your old one. We've never tried it, so we can't endorse it, but it sounds like it should work.]

i have a question regarding final fantasy XIII,i know its coming out for 360 other than ps3,i checked your sister site playstation.joystiq.com and it said the game is so far only has a japan release for 2009 on the ps3 console,so if the 360 version comes out later than the ps3,how long am i going to have to wait to get it in america,i already preordered it,and another thing,do you guys know a cheaper alternative to a wireless network adapter for the xbox 360 other than the one that costs 100 dollars,maybe one at a more affordable price,thanks and best regards,

kevin h.

First of all, periods and commas are not interchangeable. Just an FYI. Also, a space between sentences is generally a good idea. On to the questions though. To cut a long answer short, you're going to be waiting a very long time for the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII. Development on the Xbox 360 version won't even start until the PS3 version is complete. So, in theory, you'll have to wait until the PS3 version goes gold sometime this year before Square Enix will start porting the game to 360. We'd say you won't see the game until 2010. Probably late 2010.

For your wireless question, it's possible to turn almost any wireless router into a wireless adapter of sorts. Assuming you already have at one wireless router, you can pick up another one and make your 360 wireless for less than half the price of the official wireless adapter. You can find a guide on how to do this here.

Please, be aware that we haven't used this guide and have no idea how well it works. Also, keep in mind that you'll have to replace the routers firmware with a third party firmware. If you aren't comfortable with such technical wizardry, you're probably better off just going with the official adapter. Finally, Pelican makes a gaming wireless adapter, but it seems to have disappeared from Best Buy. They're all over eBay though. Take that for what you will.


That's it for this week, folks. Keep sending your questions to: ask [att] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.