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Video: go skydiving in Crackdown
Crackdown is the sort of game that's just as much fun to goof around with as it is to actually play. As proof of that, we present you with this skydiving tutorial video. If you'd like to get some serious height in Crackdown without all the fuss of actually climbing, all you need is to enable cheat mode and experiment with ramp trucks. Using these trucks, you can rocket your vehicle skyward and then jump out for some killer free fall. According to the creator of the video, some amazing heights can be reached, even higher than those shown in the video apparently. Have any of our readers figured out any other cool glitches using cheat mode?
It's fixed! Download Halo 3 beta via Crackdown
We got off to a rough start this morning, but everything smells of roses and fresh baked cookies now. Bungie sent word that the Halo 3 beta is finally available to download for those of you who are getting access through Crackdown. Simply pop in Crackdown, make your way to the main menu, select Downloads, and then Download Halo 3 beta. It's easy as pie! And yes, we know the public beta is going live a few hour later than promised, but can't we just forgive, forget, and get to fragging already? Or just take your anger out on the unsuspecting foes that you meet in the beta and unleash the fury! Have fun guys. PS: They've extended the beta a few days longer until June 10th. How nice ...
Halo 3 beta problems being fixed in 3-6 hours
Golly gee willikers, it looks like the Bungie team has finally posted an update on this whole Crackdown slash Halo 3 beta fiasco. According to SketchFactor, Microsoft has pinpointed the download problem, implemented a fix, and is doing some final testing as you read this blog. So, with any luck, the Halo 3 beta will be available for Crackdown downloaders in roughly 3-6 hours which is only like ... 15 or so hours later than expected. But don't worry, Bungie cares about your feelings and apologizes for the minor (some say major) inconvenience, because they really do feel bad. Keep your eyes peeled and your Crackdown disc at arm's length, we're in for one long night of extremely slow downloading. [Thanks, to everyone who sent this in] Check out all of the X3F Halo 3 beta coverage
Crackdown's temp game deletion prevention
As reported earlier, with the new Crackdown update being rolled out some players have been experiencing a total game reset, wiping out all game saves. Well, the dev team over at Realtime Worlds has acknowledged the problem and has a temporary workaround until they get things permanently fixed. And, in brief, this is their quick fix. When you pop in Crackdown download the auto update, start a single player campaign, once loaded choose the quit option, and either exit to the dash or restart your console. Now, you should have no weird progress deletion and can download the other free or paid content. See, not so hard. Realtime Worlds is looking into a fix and will notify everyone when they have a permanent solution to the update problem. Happy gaming. [Via Gamerscore Blog]
Crackdown DLC resetting progress?
If you've been playing Crackdown co-op lately, you may have run into a serious problem. Forum goers (and X3F reader, DualCORE1) have discovered a major issue with the new Crackdown downloadable content. It seems that under the right conditions, the DLC can cause your progress to be reset. In other words, remember all those agility orbs you've collected? Gone. Start over. The issue seems to occur when players join co-op games and then return to single-player. Agent G, a Real Time Worlds employee has made it clear that Real Time Worlds is aware of the issue and is working on it. In the meantime, you might want to stay away from co-op. [Via Joystiq]
Crackdown DLC resetting progress for some [update]
Add one feature to the extensive list of new additions in the recently-released Crackdown downloadable content: Making the game forget you ever existed. Reports started emerging on the game's official forum soon after the new content became available that players were logging on to Pacific City to find their progress (agility orbs collected, etc.) completely reset. Though reports vary somewhat, the problem appears to affect players who participate in the game's online co-op mode and then return to single player. "Agent G," a staffer for developer Realtime Worlds had this to say in the forum: "hey guys - just so you know, we are aware of the situation and working on it." Hopefully we'll hear something soon, but as there's no guarantee you'll be able to retrieve your old data, we're calling this a case of "downloader beware" at the moment. Stay tuned. Update: Realtime Worlds has detailed a method (posted after the break) for preventing the problem until the game receives its next update. If you've already been struck by save file calamity, however, there's not much you can do besides scold the Xbox Live certification process.
Crackdown packs on Marketplace now
The Crackdown "Free-For-All Pack" and "Getting Busy Bonus Pack" are both now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Complete with fresh Achievements, you can have a jolly ole time with the new equipment, game modes, and vehicles. So, honestly, if you've taken a look at our videos on the content, what are you still doing here? Apparently you feel the price is right, right?
PS3 Saints Row pimp-slapped and capped, sequel in works
Life ain't easy in the ghetto. THQ announced today that they are canceling the PS3 version of Saints Row and diverting those funds into a sequel for Xbox 360 and PS3. The sequel is scheduled for a 2008 release. THQ CEO Brian Farrell told NextGen, "We've done great things for our brands by putting them in the right time frame ... The most important thing for the Saints Row franchise is to have a simultaneous shipment into a larger installed base next year. That's what we're looking for with Saints Row 2." Saints Row ended up becoming a sleeper hit with 1.4 million units shipped for Xbox 360. The game recently became a platinum hit for the console and costs $29.99. Saints Row surprisingly elevated the GTA-style sandbox game. In the wake of GTA IV's release later this year it'll be interesting to see if Saints Row II can top it in 2008. See also: Saints Row the musical
Videos: New Crackdown content packs breakdown
In Major Nelson's post this morning about the new Crackdown content, he put up some Xbox.com videos about some of the new features. Later on in the day, he hosted them up on his fresh YouTube account, and we have them here for your viewing pleasure. The above video shows the "Keys to the City" mode, giving you full control over the chaos and carnage that you cause in Pacific City. After the break we've got videos showing the new Game Types, Street Racing mode and equipment. Enjoy.
Crackdown gets a facelift with new DLC [update 1]
The guys over at TeamXbox received an exclusive preview of the new downloadable content that will be available for Crackdown later this week. And overall we're impressed. Yup, the new Crackdown content dramatically changes up gameplay and will have you putting the game back in your weekly gaming rotation. But let's look at the specifics. First off, there will be an auto update for the game which will address various game issues from louder orb notification sounds to a new gang reset option. They even made the fire hydrants less evil. Second up is a free piece of DLC called the Free-For-All Pack which will add exciting features like a new Keys to the City mode and an Impounding Vehicles option. Again, all for free. Thirdly is the Getting Busy Bonus Pack which will cost an unknown amount of Microsoft Points and will include new vehicles, weapons, and various other game modes. Stay with us now. Finally, Realtime Worlds is adding a total of seven new achievements that spread across the free and paid content. Two achievements (totaling 140 Gamerscore) are attainable with the Free-For-All Pack while five other achievements (totaling 210 Gamerscore) are in the Getting Busy Bonus Pack. Also interesting to note is that the premium Getting Busy Bonus Pack can be played in co-op with a friend who doesn't have the content and, as such, a few achievements exclusive to the pack can be obtained by both players. Full writeup and videos after the jump. Update 1: Xbox.com states that the Getting Busy Bonus Pack will cost 800 Microsoft points. [Thanks, MuJaHiDeEn 420]
Crackdown DLC Screenshot
One of the developers at Real Time Worlds released a screenshot of some downloadable content for Crackdown. The image showcases four buggies being driven down a dirt track. The models on the vehicle look nice, though the red color scheme would suggest that they are unfortunately not Agency vehicles, and won't morph based on your character's Driving skill level. Still, it looks like taking one for a spin would be a lot of fun. The fact there is four on screen could be interpreted as adding 2 more players to co-op. Or perhaps it will be a separate mode, like Time Trials, and you'll select courses with the ability to have 4 players. We'll have to wait and see, but our interest is piqued, what about you? [Thanks, DjDATZ]
Grand Theft Potter
No, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is not really going to feature murder and robbery. That's just a bit of fun sensationalism from your responsible journalist friends at Wii Fanboy.We're really invoking the GTA name because EA UK's new game is going to feature the sandbox-style gameplay made famous by Rockstar's series. Mission triggers will be hidden all over, and you are free to explore and take on side missions. This means that you'll potentially have more choice to explore Hogwarts and the surrounding areas than Harry Potter ever did, as he seems to get railroaded from situation to situation without any choice at all. Uh, not that we ever read ... or saw ... any Harry Potter stuff. Oh, never mind-- we're all about children's books. That's right.Also, one of the most obvious Wiimote uses ever has been implemented: Wiimote as wand. Wiimote gestures will allow you to cast spells and manipulate levitated objects. No word on any microphone stuff, though.
It's a homemade Crackdown tank
As if you haven't already had your share of Crackdown video fun, we've stumbled upon another interesting thing to try in Pacific City. The video above (set to that familiar A-Team theme) was created by christdonnelly and features a homemade tank of destruction. Actually, making a tank is pretty simple. Grab a car, put dumpster on said car, and put a friend on top of said dumpster with a rocket launcher. Tada! You've got yourself Crackdown's version of a tank. As always, feel free to send us your Crackdown videos if you deem them worthy or if you just need constant approval from your peers. [Via bits bytes pixels & sprites]
Crackdown updates include new multiplayer modes, 'gang reset' option
With a pint of Guinness in his (virtual) belly, Crackdown producer Phil Wilson reluctantly braved a swarm of fanboys eager to squeeze his brain empty of downloadable content details. Wilson's tight-lipped policy didn't last long, and he was quickly charmed by the Eurogamer forum rats, already dropping hints in his first response (a question about aircraft): "airborne antics [are] definitely not off the table going forward." What we know is that Realtime Worlds has created several competitive multiplayer modes, with one being optionally cooperative. Apparently, one of the modes was inspired by a user-created video posted online (GASP, Game 3.0 on Xbox 360?!). Wilson suggested that the creators would "eventually" be credited for the idea, adding that many of the videos popping up on YouTube (particularly this one) had impressed the development team. The new modes will likely be limited to two players, though Wilson teased that "the prospect of mass co-op is definitely an exciting one." Wilson also confirmed that a free update will include a 'reset gangs' option, eliminating the frustrating need to delete the game data (or your Gamertag) from the hard drive in order to start over. Wilson apologized for the oversight and added, "while I'm spilling beans, there's also another great mode that I'm pretty sure is also kinda what you're asking for but a whole lot more -- so I hope that goes some way towards compensation." Could you be anymore vague?
Crackdown's hidden orb clip download
In the past we've brought you a few of the coolest sound clips from Crackdown and the Xbox 360. Today, our good friend Major Nelson posted the hidden orb sound clip for you to download in three exciting flavors. Yes, it's short, it's simplistic, but it still warms our Crackdown gaming soul. And remember, you can still grab the infamous agility orb and the 360's achievement unlocked sound clips for your downloading pleasure. Now quit whining about not being able to get your hands on the hidden orb sound clip and download it ... you know who you are.
More Crackdown glitch videos
Adding to our continuing coverage of various Crackdown cheats and glitches, the guys over at playinghalotoday sent us a few more Crackdown glitches from their library. In the video above you can see something they call "sand surfing" on the sandy beaches of Pacific City. It sort of reminds us of Marty's hoverboarding adventures in Back to the Future, ride on Marty ... ride on. The other two videos are embedded after the break featuring the Crackdown "teleport" and the "float". If we've piqued your curiosity then go watch more glitching videos after the break.
A360P posts map for Agility Orbs
Crackdown's hidden and agility orbs are an addictive little treasure hunt for gamers. We posted up a guide for finding the hidden orbs, and now we're bringing you a top down map showing off all the agility orbs, courtesy of Achieve360Points. Sure, while the dots on the map don't exactly tell you what height the orb is at, the top left corner has some vital info for orb hunters. It tells you how many orbs are on each gang's territory. 212 for Los Muertos , 155 for the Volk, 128 for Shai-Gen, and the remaining 5 can be found at The Keep. Combine that information with IGN's guide, which only has 498 Orbs pictured, or completely photographed lists for both types, but plagued with duplicate pictures, and you have a shot at finding the last ones you're missing. So, how many orbs, agility or hidden, do you have yet to obtain? [Thanks, DjDATZ]
Crackdown leads game sales in February [update 1]
GameDaily BIZ posted the just released February NPD sales numbers which show that Xbox 360 software is selling quite nicely. Overall, things are looking bright for video games as the industry is up 66% over last year with hardware and software sales on the rise. Crackdown led the month's sales moving 427K units, with other 360 titles like Gears of War and Lost Planet in the top ten. The Xbox 360 is also moving a fair amount of consoles beating out an under-performing PS3, 295K units to 228K 228K units to 127K. It's great to see our little boy Crackdown succeed in February and four other Xbox 360 games place in the top ten. Though, we wonder, with the Nintendo Wii selling so well (485K 335K units) does Microsoft have to shift its focus away from Sony and watch Nintendo to protect its next gen lead? Only time will tell, but we're confident that our white box can fend for itself simply by the games that will be released for it in 2007. A full list of NPD's February sales rankings for hardware and software is after the break. Update 1: Fixified the comparison numbers between the 360 and PS3 ... and the Wii. Math is hard.
Possible Crackdown DLC details
A tipster on the MSXbox World forums claims to have some details about the upcoming downloadable content for Crackdown. Some of these details aren't exactly new. For instance, the content should include the missing 100 achievement points and it should be free (according to recent policy changes, it has to be free, actually). There are, however, some things we hadn't heard yet. For example, the content is likely to include several new gameplay elements including vehicle impounding, street races with AI controlled cars, new equipment, new agent skins, and new mini-games. Unfortunately, all we have to go on is that the MSXbox World tipster has a reliable -- yet unnamed -- source for this info. So, for the moment, we'll take it with a grain of salt. Would you be interested in these supposed new features? Would you like to see anything else added to Crackdown?
Remember agent ... Crackdown tshirts
Xbox 360 Fanboy reader Jamie Guy sent in a little project he was working on for himself and a few of his friends. He decided to take the infamous "Skills for Kills" phrase from Crackdown and create some nifty tshirts. As you can see in the finished product above he even includes the Crackdown logo on the front featuring the phrase "Remember Agent ...". Nice job Jamie, and if you have a few extra you could always send them our way. Quick question though, if video game companies released more apparel for their games, at reasonable prices, would you be proud to wear your Bioshock or Mass Effect clothing around town or would you be a little too embarrassed?
