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Joystiq review: Assault Heroes (XBLA)
It really is quite unnerving how rapidly a game like Assault Heroes can expose a terrifying desire, possibly even an instinct, amongst every single gamer alive. Perhaps it's just common sense, but when something moves, we absolutely have to kill it. Whether it's a tank, an alien, a robot or just a poorly constructed mass of pixels meant to represent evil, taking a step towards us is rarely interpreted as a welcoming gesture. No, sir. That step was your last. That isn't to say we're a naturally violent lot. Some games simply slip into that easily accessible groove where things come rushing at you and your brain automatically makes sure that a bullet's gone out to greet them. Assault Heroes taps into this familiar area with some precision, much like a group of miners donning helmets and heading into a nostalgia mineshaft. They'll come back with the shiny things you adore, but it's not like you haven't seen any of it before. Maybe you've witnessed it in a necklace or ... let's just forget this metaphor. It's crap.
RoboBlitz hitting Xbox Live Arcade this week
Another new franchise is arriving on Xbox Live Arcade this week, one that notably boasts robots, explosions, and in certain circumstances, exploding robots. Developed by Naked Sky Entertainment, RoboBlitz sees you guiding a charming little contraption through all manner of gear-grating, cog-crunching puzzles and ridding the world of nasty space pirates. You know, pirates. But in space.Other key phrases you might associate with RoboBlitz are "physics-driven challenges," "Unreal Engine 3" and "available this Wednesday, December 6, at 1AM PST." According to the press release (read it after the break), the trial version will offer three different levels in its attempt to get 1200 MS points (that's $15) out of you for the full game. As one of the more expensive titles on Microsoft's service, its argument will have to be persuasive indeed. Penny-pinchers might also consider the Steam version on PC -- at $14.99, it makes for a saving of one whole cent.
Lumines Live pricing change planned?
The guys at Xboxic obtained this promising message from Xbox Customer Support:Thanks for contacting XBOX Customer Support, Luminous Live is known to have some issues regarding unsatisfactory in it's download. Please wait until Monday to see wether we have any updates regarding this issue. Do not download or purchase anything else that has to be dealt with Luminous Live. Until then, feel free to contact us via telephone for any updates of this issue and what we can offer you. For any questions regarding this issue, please contact Xbox customer support on http://www.xbox.com/support/contact/ Thanks for time and support, XBOX customer service team. This communique raises a series of intriguing questions?: 1. Will Microsoft lower, or otherwise alter, the much-hated pricing structure for Luminous, or rather Lumines Live? The unusual step of instructing consumers not to buy an XBLA game indicates that they will.2. If so, will MS reimburse the unlucky saps who alread shelled out for the "complete" game in its current usurious form?3. Is grammatical English just too much to ask of a certain percentage of the Xbox Customer Service Team?
Win a Zune from Engadget [update 1]
Our heavily connected blog cousin Engadget is celebrating their relaunch by giving away five "vertically integrated portable media players" -- aka Zunes -- courteously provided by Microsoft for hype purposes. All you have to do is leave a comment on this thread naming your favorite song (and the artist that sings it) and pray that the gadget gods smile on your entry. We're still not sure exactly when this device ships (Holiday Season), how much it costs ($300?), or exacty how it will incorporate Mr. Allard's mysterious Live Anywhere service (not much at first) but we do know the Zune Marketplace will accept the same MS points we 360 fanboys use to buy over-priced horse armour.Update: To clarify, posting a comment here on 360 Fanboy will win you a lot of nothing. Click over to Engadget if you'd like to win a Zune.
Shopping tips from Dave & Buster's hero
Reader DCFC Fan likes "sticking it to the man" so much, he paid for his 360 by earning 85,000 Dave & Buster's tickets -- thereby earning the respect of fanboys everywhere. It turns out he also has a few shopping tips that don't involve skee ball:Xbox Live Gold subscription cards for 12+1 months are available for $35.82 [from Wal-mart.com] (and have been for a couple of weeks). While it's a great deal, $6.99 for basic shipping takes the fun out of it.The solution? Print out the Walmart ad and take it to Circuit City for their generous price match. Thirteen months of XBL Gold for $35.82. Nice.Secondly, while I liked to keep this lesser known tip under my hat, screw Best Buy. They will probably change this eventually, so let's stick it to them while we can.The trick to getting 1600 MS Points for $14.99? The BBY GGC or Best Buy Gamer Gift Card. These gift cards are near the check out, in cd jewel case type packaging. The bonus here is that there is a $5.00 off any game accessory $19.99 and up coupon in the packaging. Buy gift card, putting $5 or $10 on it, then go back through with your gift card, $5 coupon and 1600 MS Points.Not a bad way to pay for Cloning Clyde and Streetfigher 2.
Price of MS Points on the rise?
Mike from K1lla's Xbox Domain noticed that Gamestop/EB is selling pre-paid 1600 MS Point cards for the unheard of price $24.99 (Amazon and Best Buy still list them at $19.99). Is Gamestop ripping people off on their own, or is Microsoft testing a new exchange rate?
Bad at math? Use this MS Points converter
Been duped into forking over 200 "Microsoft Points" for some fancy horse armor, only to have your waning, embarrassingly poor math skills catch up with your error after the fact? "2.50? 2.50?! I coulda bought a bunch of gamertag pictures for that!"You're right dear reader, although we'd question that expenditure as well. In the real world, $2.50 can buy all sorts of great stuff like: four thousandths of a PlayStation 3, some Taco Bell, or a small water at a movie theater. Using bigsteveouk's Unofficial Microsoft Points Converter, you can convert Microsoft's funny money into real currency before making any more impulse buys, and then save that money for important stuff. [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
MS Points currency converter
Big Steve Hunter from the UK (GamerTag: bigsteveouk) created this handy 6 currency MS Points converter just in case you forget you're spending real Yen on the latest over-priced content.[Thanks Mike]
MS Point fraud reported (Updated)
Reader Drew shares a worrisome tale about unauthorized MS points on his passport account following the XBL down time—when it was impossible to purchase points:Just before Live came back up today, I got an email thanking me for my purchase of 500 MS Points on the Live Marketplace. The fun part is that I live alone and had not turned on my console today or yesterday--so I was curious as to how I could be charged for points--especially when the Live was down and unavailable for such transactions. At first I thought it was just an example of clever phishing, but when I turned on my 360 to find out, sure enough, I had more points than the last time I turned it off. I checked my passport account online and it said the points had indeed been purchased today. I called MS Support and they agreed with me (and not my cynical friend) in saying that it was impossible for me to buy points today--at least before Live came back up and that they would escalate the issue and I should expect a waiver of the 'no-refund' policy pending investigation--given the strange circumstances. Could be a one time thing--or just my luck, but if it happens to another guy somewhere, maybe it's news.Disturbing story. Has this happened to anybody else?(Update: Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and are crediting the affected accounts. From the Xbox.com forums: "All affected users will be getting refunds, none of you is going to have to pay for our mistake. And you'll be able to keep the extra points too. We are still working out the details, and it could take a few days for all of this to be fully resolved, but I wanted you to know that we absolutely will be taking care of this, no one will have to pay for any of these charges." Makes me wish my account was affected too!)
