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Global Agenda introduces first patch
Global Agenda's patch 1.1 goes live today, bringing some welcome additions to the game. The list of new features was pretty long, and rounded out with a list of bug fixes and device changes, giving players plenty to look over. Most importantly to many players, a friends list (and ignore list) has been added with this patch - a standard MMO feature that Global Agenda fans will be relieved to see added to the game. The UI has been fleshed out quite a bit as well, adding many new options that allow for more personalized gameplay: the option to choose your map type in the mercenary PvP queue is now available, for example. Crafting got a once-over as well, and you'll also find some new zones here and there. The full patch notes can be seen at the official site, and there's plenty to look over. So read through them, then head into Global Agenda and start filling up that friends list!
Xbox v1 games, systems no longer Live; Microsoft's pulling the plug April 15
It's been no secret that original Xbox games and systems have been the vestigial limb holding back much wanted XBL features including raising the limit on our friends list to over 100 or mobile tie-ins, and on April 15 Live access for all of them comes to an end. Even those Xbox Originals downloaded to the 360 or played via backwards compatibility will be cut off from online play, so we'd suggest getting those last few rounds of Halo 2 in now or at least look into an alternative solution like XBConnect. Affected users should keep an eye on their inbox, Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten has promised "details and opportunities" to come for you as partners in this process -- we're figuring a coupon or two or an extended XBL subscription as the lights are turned out is the least they can do. For the rest of us already living in the future? The timing of this announcement mere days before the X10 event in San Francisco February 11 can't be coincidental, we should find out what comes next by then.
Sony 'looking into' changing PS3's newly redesigned Friends list
This is not what the Friends list currently looks like. Firmware 3.00 brought many changes: some good, some bad. The good? The removal of the PS3 logo at a game's launch, which "makes the loading time a bit quicker than before." The bad? A few aesthetic changes, most notoriously the redesigned Friends list. Inexplicably, the latest software update added large gray boxes around each individual user ID, making for a cluttered look that simply didn't jive with the elegance of the XMB. SCEE's PS3 Brand Manager appeared on the EU PlayStation.Blog to admit that "updates to firmware don't always suit everyone's tastes."Thankfully, the Friends list is something Sony is "looking into based on your comments." Mark Bowles added, "We really do appreciate the feedback you guys give us, both positive and negative."Sony, may we recommend you take some inspiration from the mock-ups (seen above) created by Steven Shaw? The "box" idea works really well, when implemented correctly. Above, Shaw uses the box to highlight the selected user, and then takes advantage of the screen real estate to provide instant access to useful information. We're quite fond of his work -- you should definitely check out more.
Battle.net 2.0 to allow cross-faction communication
As noted in my previous article on the subject, the new and improved Battle.net won't affect only StarCraft II -- among other things, the Real ID feature will allow you to see what other Blizzard games your real-life friends or acquaintances are playing, should they desire it. But that's apparently not the only perk for WoW players. Blizzard recently announced that migration of WoW accounts to Battle.net accounts will soon be mandatory, and posted a FAQ about it on the official website; one detail immediately caught my eye...What will change in World of Warcraft after the forced migration? The core gameplay experience will remain unchanged as a result of the migration. However, you'll be able to take part in all of the new Battle.net features, such as cross-realm, cross-faction, and cross-game chat. That's right. Got a friend that plays Horde and you play Alliance? You'll be able to talk to them from inside WoW, even if they're on a different server. Heck, even if they're playing StarCraft II or Diablo 3, you'll still be able to chat with them. How cool is that?To quell some concerns that'll surely get posted in the comments, the extent that others can utilize your Real ID is completely up to you. You decide who gets to see what information and to what extent -- if you want your best friend to be able to see what game you're playing or what server you're on, you can do that, but you can also prevent your annoying cousin from pestering you to play StarCraft II while you're raiding. No, Jeff, I actually can wait for you to "pwn" me. Gots to get me some purps.
Want a bigger friends list? Stop playing Halo 2 online!
Speaking to G4 late last week, a "high-level Microsoft source" said that the real reason Microsoft hasn't upped the friends list limit on 360 thus far has more to do with people still playing Halo 2 on Xbox than limitations of its current console. Reportedly, the source says that Microsoft is still undecided on when to finally pull the plug and add a feature gamers have been requesting for a long time now.The company has made it clear in the past that it would like to implement the feature, even going so far as to explain to us at CES 2009 that "original Xbox games were coded to be limited to 100 friends and that limit was brought into the current generation." According to G4's source, the shuttering of Halo 2's online could come after Halo 3: ODST drops this September, giving Microsoft two Halo titles to offer on the Xbox 360. The source also contends that the real decision to keep Halo 2 online is in the hands of gamers. What say you, gamers?!%Poll-33098%[Via Shacknews]
Addon Spotlight: Friend & Ignore Share
I play several characters often. I also like to keep track of people I pug with who play well, friends who are not in the guild, etc. The built-in friends lists works pretty well, especially now that it supports notes, but it is kept separately for each character, which makes it difficult to keep track of everybody at once. Sounds like a job for an addon! A job for Friend & Ignore Share, to be specific. F&IS is a low-configuration, drop-in solution to my problem. After it's installed, your friends lists will automatically be synchronized between all your characters. Also, by default, your alts are all added to your friends lists for easier mailing auto-complete. Ignore lists are also synchronized, as the name suggests, although this is responsible for some "player not found" errors at log-in (players need to be online to be added to the ignore list).
CES 09: MS wants to raise Live's 100 friend limit
While not quite an official confirmation that we'll see an increase to Xbox Live's current 100 friend limit, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg did come close to admitting that a friend limit increase is in the works.Talking at CES, Greenberg told Joystiq that "I can't commit to when that will happen, but that is something we want to do. It's definitely something we're looking at expanding and, as this social network grows, we've absolutely heard the pleas for that. It's on the list."We can haz friends list increase soon? Maybe. Until then, we'll have to continue to reject friends requests with a frowny face :(
Xbox.com shifts friends list back to single page
During the Xbox Live service maintenance yesterday Xbox.com dropped off and back on Planet Internet. While we were aware the update to Xbox Live was simply back end additions in preparation of the next dashboard, the NXE, few people expected a major complaint would be addressed for Microsoft's Xbox site. During the Xbox.com redesign a few months ago Microsoft decided to separate friends through multiple pages instead of keeping the Friends List to one long list. Well, by popular demand, the separated friends pages have been removed and everyone you know and game with is on the same page when you log into your account on Xbox.com. It's a small change but we're happy. What changes would you like to see on Xbox.com come time for the New Xbox Experience?
Addon Spotlight: AuldLangSyne
You've got friends, or at least you tell people you do. In fact, through your days of rolling PUG's, random premades and adding that Resto Shaman who saved your behind in STV, you've got a long list of friends. If you're anything like me, it can be weeks before one of your randomly added friends checks in with you, giving you plenty of time to forget why they were your friend in the first place.Enter AuldLangSyne, an addon that combines the functionality of CT_PlayerNotes and FriendsFacts. I have also been able to replace Fubar_GuildFu and Fubar_FriendsFu with this one, so it has come in quite handy. Let me just take a second to show my deep appreciation for developer's who add Fubar or Titan Panel embeds to their addons.So then, what can this addon do for you? Keep reading to find out about the features AuldLangSyne provides.
Xbox Live Friends list on your iPhone
There are quite a few ways online to see what your friends are up to in Xbox Live -- the most fun way is probably the 360 Voice site (that lets your Xbox blog about what you've been playing lately), but there are also Facebook applications, Dashboard widgets, and all kinds of other ways to keep tabs on gamertags. And now, 1337pwn.com has released a browser widget for MobileSafari on the iPhone and iPod touch, so you can track any gamertags you like on the go.It doesn't actually nab tags from your friends list, so you have to type them all in separately (of course, that also means you can ninja-monitor folks), but once you get it set up, you get a URL that you can bookmark (or Webclip -- there is a default Webclip icon as well) with each person's GT, Gamerscore, last game played, and their icon and motto. So there aren't too many stats there to deal with, but if you want to quickly see what your friends are up to on your favorite portable device, it works pretty well.[Thanks, Det!]
The best way to manage your XBL friends list
Our good friend Chris Paladino over at the Gamerscore Blog decided to write up an article explaining how he handles his ever bloating Xbox Live friends list. Chris, being a high status celeb, receives numerous friend requests which constantly pushes him towards the 100 friends limit and so often he has to remove people to keep it around 95. But how does Chris choose who he boots off his sacred friends list? With a spreadsheet, of course! He keeps track of EVERY time he plays with a friend, what game, random notes, and all kinds of other stats. Then, when it's time to remove some friends, he uses his spreadsheet proof to nix those who he hasn't played with and sends them a message stating that they no longer can fit on his list. Props to you Chris, you have quite the organized system.Our friends lists requires weeding from time to time and we can safely say our list management is far from as organized as Chris'. But what about you? Do you have a hard time keeping your XBL friends list below 100 or are you rocking an exclusive list with 10 or so? Please, share your friends list strategies, etiquette and how you trim the fat when the fat needs trimming.
Mac OS 10.4 gets answer to Windows Live friends list
Mac users sometime get the shaft from Microsoft. Messenger is neutered, for one thing, especially on the Xbox Live front. So, James Howard decided to do something about it, and wrote MacLive, giving users with Mac OS 10.4 a cool little app to view their friends list with. It even has Growl alerts, allowing you to track specific friends or games' activity. Here, we can see Dustin Burg doing what he does ... well, not exactly "best", but maybe "most". Geometry Wars #1 player K4rn4ge hitting up Root Beer Tapper, having recently completed it. And finally we have community member and fellow podcaster TheMan661 hitting up Lost Planet's multiplayer.* So, all in all, the app works pretty good, and Howard says that after today's attention, he'll be sprucing up the features in the coming days, and we'll keep you posted. So, have you tried this, and do you find it useful?[Thanks, Darksaviour69]*Gamertags shown with owner's permission.
Friends beta now available in the Steam client
According to Eurogamer, the "Friends" feature of Steam is "'nearing the end of its beta phase' and will soon be available."In an update made to the Steam client and noted on Steam News this afternoon, you can now also "join the Friends Beta via the Friends button inside of Steam."Great to hear about the progress, but Xbox owners might take some pride in Live's functioning Friends list on the console side over this prominent PC-based service (third-party friends apps notwithstanding, of course).[Via Eurogamer]
