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Xbox 360 Live iPhone app won't be live for long
If you like the idea of the 360 Live iPhone app, which allows you to sign into your Xbox Live account and manage it on the go, you'd better drop your two dollars into the App Store (link) right now. Creator Xavier Larrea has informed us that, unsurprisingly, Microsoft has asked Apple to remove the program, citing the non-commercial usage restriction -- in other words, the company isn't happy about the app's not-free cost. Larrea is complying with the request (meaning that it's on the way out), but notes that the app will continue to work for those who have already downloaded it.
iPhone App gives Xbox Live users complete control on the go
A new iPhone application entering the crowded marketplace allows all Xbox Live addicts the ability to connect to their account and do pretty much everything you can think of. Bad news: it isn't free. The $1.99 app, called 360 Live, lets you sign into your account, browse and respond to friend requests, check messages and even creep your friend's Gamercard on the go. But, before you slap your $2 on the table, we'd recommend you wait for Microsoft to respond to the app's list price. In August 2008, Microsoft mandated that all Xbox Live-related applications be free. So, it may just be a matter of time before the 360 Live app drops to the easy-to-swallow price of free.
Microsoft making 'Zune Xbox' Application
If there is one harsh reality we've learned at X3F, it has to be that more people own a Zune (and care about Album Art) than we thought. While both on a market for quite some time, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Zune do not offer any special functionality when working together but MS is taking steps to introduce both devices to each other -- if a recent job posting is to be believed. According to CNET, Microsoft is looking to add a "User experience designer" to its Zune group who will focus on the Zune user interface, Zune PC application -- used to access the Zune Marketplace -- and a Zune Xbox application. No details are listed but speculation is it could be that Microsoft is developing an application that will allow users to download, manage and transfer content from one device to another. Anything is possible with the NXE and what Microsoft calls, a much easier interface to roll out extension services to. At this point we'd settle for a little "Xbox Live Anywhere" love we were promised years ago. [Via Engadget]
Japan can now buy MSpoints via cell phone
We haven't heard news such as this since the last time Microsoft was showing off the so far poorly executed Live Anywhere. Beginning Monday, the Japanese phone service provider NTT DoCoMo will allow its users to pay for MSpoints or a Gold Subscription right from their phone. Any purchases made via the "DoCoMo Mobile Payment Service" are charged to the phone bill, thus bypassing any form of credit card information going to MS. While a move such as this isn't exactly out of character for a company, we have to wonder about the practicality of it for the masses. The most useful situation would be if you were the type of player who uses point cards and doesn't have any CC info associated with their Gamertag. Buying points via phone could save a trip to the store AND keep the evil empire away from your bank info. However, if this comes to the US we foresee many, many XBL brats using their phones to avoid bugging mom and dad for their credit cards ....
Community tackles Xbox Live Anywhere
When it was announced in 2006, Xbox Live Anywhere was the vision of the Live platform we'd all expect to be immersed in by the time Sony and Nintendo had entered the next-gen market. Two years later a community, who grew tired of waiting for mobile Live awareness, has taken the platform under their wing.The team at 1337pwn have recently released a set of widgets for the iPhone and iPod Touch family along with widgets for Palm and Blackberry devices that meet almost every expectation of Microsoft's original Live Anywhere platform (save for playing games). More than just a static gamercard, the Xbox Live Friends List Widget allows users to view the online status and gamerscore of any users inputted into the system while allowing users to send messages via Xbox.com by clicking into any listed gamercard. While the widget has been available for MacOS and select internet browsers for sometime, the inclusion of mobile widgets for this high-quality community creation is already a step ahead of Microsoft. Now, if they could only tackle a Smart Phone (Windows Mobile) version we'd be happy![Thanks, borocouncilman]
Magic, science, and fun, Shadowrun preview
Evil Avatar scored a sneak preview of FASA's upcoming Shadowrun, the debut game of Microsoft's new Live Anywhere platform which will allow both 360 and PC players to hash it out online. Some of you may remember that FASA was involved with the debut title for Xbox Live -- MechAssault -- way back in 2002. The preview pretty much covers everything you need to know about Microsoft's would be multiplayer king. The game plays out like Counter-Strike. Each match is divided into six rounds. At the beginning of each round, players purchase magic, technology, and, of course, weapons. The interesting factor here is that magic and technology remain with players even if they are killed during a round -- weapons must be purchased again, however. Essentially this causes the match to intensify with each new round. Adding another layer of strategy to the game is the ability to resurrect dead players. As the author notes, there's nothing quite like resurrecting your entire team and fighting your way back to victory. The preview is full of other details about the game. For instance, PC and 360 players may not be able to answer the age old mouse vs. controller question after all. See, you won't be able to tell if your playing against 360 or PC players. As far as the game is concerned, they're one and the same. The game also has another way of leveling the playing field. The faster you move the targeting reticle, the less accurate your shots. The idea is to moderate the massive speed advantage that mouse players have over console players. According to the author the experience on both the PC and 360 versions is nearly identical. We're always excited by fresh multiplayer so, here's hoping Shadowrun really shapes up. Anyone looking forward to this cross-platform frag fest?
Microsoft plans "community-powered arcade" with new XNA tools
Microsoft spoke with us on the phone last week concerning the events going on at their Gamefest event happening in Seattle today and tomorrow. Two and a half years ago they unveiled the XNA platform at the Game Developer's Conference -- which promised to ameliorate the increasing burden placed professional game developers -- and today they've announced XNA Game Studio Express -- a free variant of XNA for hobbyists to develop games on both the Windows and, for a fee, Xbox 360 platforms. A beta will be available August 30th as a free download for Windows XP development, while Xbox 360 functionality will be added into the final version, expected to be available this holiday for a $99 annual subscription.
PC Halo 2 update
GamePro has some new details on the PC release of Halo 2. Two Microsoft directors in the Games for Windows division confirmed that Bungie's popular shooter will arrive "just after" the launch of Windows Vista in Q1. They also suggested that the PC version will not be cross-platform compatible with the original Halo 2 until they find somebody to "re-code the Xbox version" so it can interface with the Xbox 360. I hear there are a lot of programmers up in Redmond, so hopefully this will be resolved.
