Alas, finally a worthwhile reason to boot up my PS3!

If you haven't watched the trailer... you need to: Click Here

Engadget guys are rumoring that an HDMI adapter for the regular Xbox 360 may be in the works.

Good lord, can't someone tell us why this will or won't happen?

And we wonder why HDTV is taking so long to catch on.....

Rumor reportin' here

Victor note: Nope, not happening. As one of the commenters notes in the Engadget post, official Microsoft blogger Ozymandias, who works on the Xbox team, has said that a component-to-HDMI adapter is impossible. Basically, if you plug an HDMI cable into the HDMI port on your TV, the TV sends a signal back down the line to verify the video source. If the original source isn't a digital HDMI connection, you won't get a picture.

If you want to connect your 360 via HDMI, you're going to have to buy the Elite.

Watch Here

There were (are) plenty of rumors surrounding the Xbox 360 Elite.

Thankfully Gizmodo put them to rest.

I think these are the most relevant:

• The Xbox 360 Elite IS NOT a limited edition, there will be plenty available on launch day (April 29)
• There is NOT an upgraded processor with the Elite.
• The only new hardware is the hard drive and the included HDMI cable (the Elite will also include composite and component cables).
• The price is $479.99.
• The 120gig hard drive will be sold separately for $179.99 and release the same day at the Elite.
• Black accessories will also release the same day as the Elite.

Read the whole enchilada here.

Why can't Microsoft make an HDMI cable for the current Xbox 360? I can't seem to find an answer anywhere.

Is it DRM (Digital Rights Management) issues?

Victor note: From what I've read, the problem seems to be that the video output in the current 360 is analog only. According to people who know a lot more about A/V hardware and software than I ever will, you could, in theory, have an HDMI cable with a special analog-to-digital converter dongle attached to the end that plugs into your 360.

But you'd still be dealing with an analog signal converted to digital, rather than a pure, end-to-end digital signal. Basically, you'd be able to plug your 360 into an HDMI port, but you wouldn't really be getting an HDMI-quality picture. I suspect Microsoft looked at that as an option, saw it was too clunky and didn't have much value, and ditched it.

Of course, I might have completely misunderstood the issue, but I think that's right.

By the way, rumor is that the Elite will be announced tomorrow. UPDATE: Or possibly tonight.

Here's my column from this past weekend, about whether gamers should buy the new Elite Xbox 360 that's coming soon (and really, this thing is about as close to confirmed as it can get without a press release).

Bottom line: if you already own a 360, don't bother.
If you're getting ready to buy a 360, then, yeah, it might be worth it, but only if you have a big HD television with an HDMI port.

xbox360fanboy.com (note: URL is WAY too long) has a supposedly authentic pic of a larger hard drive advertisement for the 360: PLEASE BE TRUE

Not sure how long this will last, but here is a new excuse to get a PSP: Click for Ad

Here's my game column that ran over the weekend in The Dallas Morning News. In it, I demand that the hardware companies get together and come up with a single hardware platform, rather than three competing and incompatible consoles.

I'm sure it's just around the corner...

Kidding aside, though, I do think it's odd that we gamers have come to tolerate a system that would cripple any other consumer technology. Frankly, I'm stunned that gaming is as mainstream as it is, considering how cumbersome it is to have to choose between three different gaming platforms.

Here's a fun game.

Come up with the most cliched, absurd video game title ever:

My attempt:

John Madden Presents: Tom Clancy's Age of War: The Tony Hawk Chronicles VII: Sword of Destiny 200X: The Final Battle - Gold Edition starring Kirby and Kratos, with access to online beta test of Ultra-Super Mario 97 Kart Racing: Toadstools from Hell: Aqua Maroon Edition - Revenge of the Army Men.

$129.

Microsoft officially confirmed today that there will be a standard edition, limited edition, and the much-discussed Nerd, I mean, Legendary version, with the replica Master Chief helmet.

Full release after the jump.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the first exciting details of the three editions of this year’s most anticipated video game release, “Halo® 3.” Gamers will have their choice of Standard Edition, Limited Edition and the ultimate collector’s item, the Legendary Edition.

The Legendary Edition ($129.99 U.S. ERP*) will be released in limited quantities and arrive in a highly collectible Spartan helmet case that no hardcore “Halo” fan should be without, along with two bonus disks full of supplemental content. The first disk will provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage and videos, including a high-definition “Making of ‘Halo 3’” documentary showcasing the Bungie team and its effort to create the most anticipated title in the industry’s history; numerous high-definition featurettes documenting the creative design processes involved in developing the game; and even a look at some early game concepts and their evolution through the game’s development. The disk will also include an audio-visual calibration tool, never before seen on a video game and custom designed by the “Halo 3” graphics and audio team to make the most of fans’ high-definition home theaters, for the ultimate “Halo 3” and Xbox 360™ audio and video performance.

The second bonus disk, an exclusive to the Legendary Edition, will include completely remastered cinematic material from “Halo: Combat Evolved” and “Halo 2,” supplemented with developer commentaries, to provide a refresher course on the thrilling “Halo” story so far, and a featurette documenting a day in the life at Bungie. Exclusive content from the creative minds behind Machinima artists “Red vs. Blue” and “This Spartan Life” will also be included.

Finally, fans who purchase the Legendary Edition will receive an illuminating collection of original “Halo 3” storyboard art from artist Lee Wilson, depicting key moments and pivotal scenes from the epic cinematic production of “Halo.”

The Limited Edition ($69.99 U.S. ERP*) will also include a bounty of extras. Within a sleek metal collector’s case, gamers will also receive the first bonus disk found in the Legendary Edition, as well as a special “Halo” fiction and art book. A must-have for “Halo” collectors and a source of invaluable and exclusive information, the piece is an elaborate and compelling guide to the species and factions that inhabit the worlds of the “Halo” universe, with never-before-seen art and story elements that expand and illustrate the depth and breadth of the “Halo” fiction.

And for those who crave nothing more than the highly anticipated third chapter to one of the greatest gaming trilogies, the Standard Edition ($59.99 U.S. ERP*) will consist of the “Halo 3” game.

“Halo 3” represents the third chapter in the “Halo” trilogy, a Marvel Entertainment Inc. graphic novel series, apparel and more.

Here's a cool site to test how fast you can click on your mouse when a green light comes on the screen.

According to Gizmodo:

The average reaction time between eyes and fingers is between .200 and .270 seconds, but athletes and maybe a few gaming geeks can shave that time down to .150 seconds.

My best average time: 0.19 seconds.

Can you beat that?

Doug's results: Wow, I must be some sort of savant:

Fig. 1: Doug's Results

Victor: No cheating! You can't just sit there constantly clicking on the button. You have to wait until it turns green, and then click. Or maybe you're a cyborg from the future sent to kill us all!!!!

So the PR folks at the Official Xbox Magazine sent me (and probably about a million other reporters) a note today on some upcoming 360 games that you may not have heard about.

It's not all new (Hellgate) or even believable (Duke Nukem), but the last game on the list sounds interesting. Here's the full list from the press release:

#5: Hellgate: London- This action-RPG, in which a gate to Hell has ripped open in London in 2028, is filled with massive skill customization, paper-doll character tweakage and disturbingly addictive dungeon-crawling treasure hunts. The game is possibly being kept under wraps to let it bask in the Windows limelight for awhile.

#4: Crimson Skies 2- The original, underdog Xbox game Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is just popular enough to give a sequel the green light. Xbox 360 doesn’t want you to know about the new game yet as a matter of timing; they need to keep some bullets in their chamber for next year.

#3: Duke Nukem Forever- The 10-years-in-the-making sequel to the 1996 industry- defining hit Duke Nukem 3D can finally meet its goals now that technology is available that will help the game redefine first-person-shooter interactivity like its predecessor. Game developer 3D Realms is probably keeping it hush hush until they pin down a release date for the PC version.

#2: Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic III- Developer Bioware dropped the hammer on the rest of the RPG world when it made the original Knights of the Old Republic. The game is arguably one of the best Star Wars video games and warrants a third installment in its series of follow-ups. Official Xbox Magazine has a sneaking suspicion that they are working on III, but aren’t letting the cat out of the bag yet as not to derail hype for other current projects.

#1: World of Warcraft: Azeroth Adventures- Eight million PC gamers paid $50 to own the original World of Warcraft, plus another $15/month to play it. Now, the Xbox 360 version is expected to be its own animal, not a pared down version of the PC game. It seems Microsoft will keep dumping cash on developer Blizzard's doorstep until they agree to create a custom-built-for-360 version of the game. Rumor has it that it will debut for the 2008 holiday season

Sure it's a bunch of silly mini games, but with an included remote....Hmmmmmm

One Wii remote later and I have the review done of SSX Blur. Enjoy.

• Nintendo to use GameSpy for multiplayer, online Wii games: Via Kotaku

• There MAY be a PSP redesign, or maybe NOT (conflicting reports via Kotaku and CVG)

• Rumble (finally) for your PS3 controller: Via Kotaku

The blog-o-sphere (can't believe I used that) is reporting that the arcade version of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' will be hitting the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday.

If this is true, this will be 400 points ($5) well spent.

One of my favorite arcade games from eons gone by...

For all the talk about how great graphics don't equal great gameplay, I have to say that the graphical effects in Crysis look like a lot of fun. Watch how the vegetation gets chopped apart in a gunfight, how a rope bridge wobbles and snaps as barrels fall onto it, and how a town disintegrates under the shockwave of a massive explosion.

Cutting-edge technology can make games better.

GameTrailers.com was crashing yesterday and we lost the clip for 'Mario Galaxy'... it's fixed... see below.

Kotaku alerted us (not us personally, we read it) to the upcoming PlayStation Home beta.... HERE is the page.

OMG, does this look gooood!

Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto shows off footage from one of the most anticipated Wii games, 'Mario Galaxy'... enjoy (and thank goodness for GameTrailers.com):

What's PlayStation Home all about? Here's a video to explain:

The pics and story from the Game Developers Conference's keynote address: HERE

Watch it here:

That's a big "duh."

Go vote for 'Nights', now: Sega.com

The New York Times confirmed existence of the upcoming PlayStation Home service. Similar to Xbox Live and the Wii's Mii experience, Home should launch sometime this fall.

Read the NYT article here

Victor note: Check out this paragraph from the NYT story:

The centerpiece, a new service called PlayStation Home, is to become available to consumers in the fall, said senior game industry executives, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans (emphasis added).

Hmm. Isn't that the same thing that led Sony to temporarily blackball Kotaku (which gets credit in the NYT story for breaking the news about PlayStation Home, by the way)? Think Sony is going to try to blackball the New York Times?

I suspect not. What's more, even though Sony wouldn't confirm the rumor to the NYT, they did provide Phil Harrison for an interview with the paper. Because that's how these things work. You decline to comment, but you don't treat the reporter or his publication like some kind of smelly blob you found on the bottom of your shoe.

Here's an interesting article about the need for funding to track asteroids that could potentially hit the earth and obliterate all life.

That's not the funny part.

The funny part is this quote at the end of the article:

John Logsdon, space policy director at George Washington University, said a stepped-up search for such asteroids is needed.

"You can't deflect them if you can't find them," Logsdon said. "And we can't find things that can cause massive damage."

Massive damage!!!!

This guy must be a gamer.

Why does anyone need to be exicted about Microsoft releasing a 512meg memory card for the Xbox 360?

I can't think of any reason.

Read the press release HERE.

Fall asleep... now.

Victor note: Well, the one cool thing is that, with the bigger memory cards, Microsoft is also increasing the maximum potential size of Xbox Live Arcade games from 50 megabytes to 150. So hopefully we'll start to see some more complex games on Arcade, rather than just rehashes of older titles.

And not to get off on a rant here, but this artificial limit on Arcade file sizes is pretty much completely due to the fact that Microsoft chose not to make the hard drive a standard piece of equipment with all 360s. Instead, Microsoft has to accomodate the gamers who have only a memory card and no hard drive but who still want to be able to download and store Arcade games.

If Microsoft had, in fact, made the hard drive standard, Xbox Live Arcade would probably be a much more interesting venture right now. In fact, I bet we'd already be able to buy and download original Xbox games if the 20-gig drive had been standard.

And another thing (I'm really getting worked up for a Monday, but whatever): why are the prices on the memory cards so outrageous? $50 for what's basically a 512 MB thumb drive? That price would be steep for a 2 gigabyte memory card.

Rumors (oh, those rumors) swirling around on the interweb (snicker) were suggesting that there would be several different variations on the 'Halo 3' beta. One would go to people that initially participated in the "Rules of 3" contest the other for 'Crackdown' buyers...

Stop the rumors, according to NextGen (READ HERE) and Bungie, that's not the case. There will only be one beta.

Yea.

Well, this is disappointing.

Popular game blog Kotaku posted some rumors earlier today of a new service that Sony is reportedly preparing for the PS3. The editors at Kotaku said they contacted Sony to get an official confirmation or denial, but, rather than just issue the standard "We don't comment on rumors and speculation," Sony apparently asked Kotaku not to report the story.

When Kotaku chose to publish anyway, Sony retaliated by officially blackballing the site from all executive interviews and industry events, and seems also to have decided to no longer supply the site with hardware and games for review.

That's very poor form on Sony's part, and I expect they'll reverse course before long as the media coverage is likely to get extremely negative.

I'm also surprised that Sony went so ballistic over a rumor item (that is now obviously accurate) that was favorable to the company. The PS3 needs all the PR help it can get nowadays, and the reports of a social networking function that married achievements and Mii-like avatars seems like a good idea.

Sony seems to have forgotten the role of press. The press is not supposed to be an avenue to republish press releases, but to report on and uncover the news. Now, if Kotaku had received an official briefing after promising to honor a publication embargo until a certain date, and then had broken its promise and published the news anyway, that would be indefensible. But that doesn't seem to be what happened here.

An anoymous source contacted the site, spilled the beans, and Kotaku reported the rumors, and clearly labeled them as rumors. If Sony doesn't like that, tough. If Sony wants to fire the insider who leaked the rumors, that's fine. But Kotaku doesn't work for Sony.

Sony, of course, also doesn't work for Kotaku, and they're free to blackball anyone they want. But Sony needs Kotaku a lot more than Kotaku needs Sony, and this may go down as the worst PR blunder in the history of the PlayStation division.

And that's saying a lot.

Victor update: That didn't take long. The execs at Sony apparently recovered from their brief bout of mental instability and backed off their blackball approach to Kotaku.

That's the right thing to do, and kudos to Sony for realizing that they were in an untenable situation (and big kudos to Kotaku for standing their ground). But this situation never should have occurred in the first place. I wonder if Sony truly did just have a momentary lapse in judgement, or whether this is the standard M.O. at Sony and Kotaku was simply big enough to call them on it.

In any case, I think Sony has done itself tremendous damage among both the gaming press and the gaming community with this episode. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a teachable moment for Sony, or the first salvo in a growing war between Sony and the gaming media.