Microsoft Announce A Xbox 360 Elite Price Drop to £199.99

Microsoft has announced that from August 28th, the Xbox 360 Elite model will be going down in price to £199.99. The Arcade model price is being increased to £159.99. They have also announced that the Xbox 360 Pro model is being phased out.

Press Release

LONDON – 27 August 2009 — Xbox 360 today invites you to experience more fun, more entertainment and more ways to connect with friends and family at an even better value. From August 28th 2009 an Xbox 360 Elite console will be priced at only £199.99 estimated retail price (ERP). And with 120GB of storage, there’s plenty of room for your favourite games, movies and more from Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 puts all your entertainment in one place so you can play games, watch movies, listen to music and coming this Autumn, watch live TV via Sky Player, Sky’s Online TV service as well as being able to enjoy music with LastFM and be part of the social collective with your Twitter and Facebook, all from your Xbox 360.1 And, as announced earlier this year, the Xbox 360 bought today will work in the future with “Project Natal” the controller-free gaming experience.

“With the Christmas season right around the corner, it’s another opportunity to put the consumer centre stage with entertainment and games that everyone will enjoy,” said Neil Thompson, Senior Regional Director ,Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft UK and Ireland. “We have a goal over the next 18 months to deliver value with amazing content and rich interactive experiences in the living room.”
The new pricing structure provides choice, differentiation and value at both entry and premium levels with the new price point for Xbox 360 Elite with a 120GB hard drive at £199.99, and £159.99 for Xbox 360 Arcade.

The Xbox 360 Pro with a 60GB hard drive is to be phased out.

Having an Xbox 360 at the centre of your living room provides more fun for less and entertainment for any occasion through Xbox Live:

Play games for everyone.
Families and friends can get together to belt out tunes on “Lips” or build a famous foursome and relive the music of the Fab Four with “The Beatles: Rock Band.” For those who crave action, players can tear up the tracks of “Forza Motorsport 3”; jump back into the “Halo” universe as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in “Halo 3: ODST”; or deploy for combat with this year’s highly anticipated title from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare® 2,” the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game in history, “Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare.”

Watch live TV and movies.
Coming this Autumn, Sky Player on Xbox will offer access to Sky’s on line TV service including -- Sky Sports – a comprehensive on-demand library of thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, movies, documentaries, kids, culture, news and sports. Along with high definition movies on Zune video megastore in 1080p clarity for many videos and the convenience of on-demand, coming this fall.2

Connect with families & friends.
Xbox LIVE, the industry-leading online gaming and entertainment network, will soon offer its 20 million community members even more blockbuster partners and features, introducing a whole new era of social entertainment in the living room. Starting this Autumn, you can interact with friends on Facebook and share photos and real-time status updates right from your television, or stay connected to Twitter by reading, posting and replying to Tweets.1 And visit the Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace for the latest fashions or download full Xbox 360 titles to your hard drive through Games on Demand.
With all of these experiences available for the holidays and the future addition of “Project Natal,” which will work with every Xbox 360 sold today and tomorrow, the Xbox 360 system provides more fun for less.

-Ends-

About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of standard- and high-definition movies and TV shows connected to the television — with music coming this fall. The digital center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the largest online social network of 20 million members on Xbox LIVE to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. With the addition of currently code-named “Project Natal,” Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. More information about “Project Natal” and Xbox 360 can be found online at
http://www.xbox.com/projectnatal and http://www.xbox.com ;.

About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the largest gaming and entertainment network and delivers more entertainment than any device connected to the television, including movies, TV and games, with music coming this fall. This fall, Xbox LIVE also will be the only entertainment service to provide instant-on 1080p streaming high-definition video from Zune in supported countries. With an active community of more than 20 million people across 26 countries, Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library and, coming soon, listen to millions of songs — all while connecting to friends anytime. An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides you with exclusive benefits and premium access to entertainment from the top studios and services, all in one place. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live .

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

1 Xbox LIVE Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available, and is required for Netflix. Games, media content and Netflix membership are sold separately; a hard drive is required for storage.
2 Xbox LIVE Gold Membership will be required for Last.fm and LIVE Party.
3 Netflix Movie Party available with supported titles.

Note to editors:
If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

Here is today's Audio Re-Cap of yesterdays news.
Don't forget, the audio re-cap is now available on iTunes.

A podcast is available on iTunes from:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=328547861

A RSS Feed from Podbean:
http://qtegamers.podbean.com/feed

And on qtegamers.blogspot.com:
http://qtegamers.blogspot.com/search/label/Audio Re-Cap

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Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• QTE Blog: Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/15Mu4I

• QTE Blog: Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/lnPs

• PS3: Sony Allow USA retailers to sell the PS3 when they get stock in. Many retailers had already started selling. http://ow.ly/lnRP

• PS3: People have already began to tear apart the PS3 Slim. Pictures and video in link. http://ow.ly/lnS8

• The Japanese version of Bayonetta will be region locked. http://ow.ly/lnSE

• 360: American retailers have begun listing a Game Of The Year Edition of Gears of War 2. it has All Fronts Bundled. http://ow.ly/lnT2

• PS3: Square Enix say there is no Final Fantasy VII remake project up and running, but personally they do talk about it. http://ow.ly/lnTw

• PS3: Smash Cars is coming out on UK PSN on August 27th. http://ow.ly/loqy

• PSP: its being suggested that Final Fantasy Crystal Defenders will be a Minis game. http://ow.ly/lor5

• PS3: Ghostbusters patch has been released. resolution increased to match the 360 + freezes,fixes and multiplayer fixes http://ow.ly/loKo

• QTE Blog: Our House Nintendo DS Box Art And Fact Sheet http://ow.ly/15MvjC

• QTE Blog: New Our House Screenshots And Fact Sheet For Nintendo Wii. http://ow.ly/loXl

• PS3: Sony has apparently forbidden UK retailers from selling the PS3 Slim early. http://ow.ly/lpas

• 360: PopCap have announced that Peggle Nights Expansion for Peggle. brings 50 points, 60 lvls, 60 challenges and more. http://ow.ly/lpd9

• PS3: When recently asked, BioWare refused to deny the Possibility of a PS3 version of Mass Effect. http://ow.ly/lpdE

• QTE Blog: Microsoft Announces A Forza 3 Partnership With Puma http://ow.ly/15MvIH

• PS3: David Cage believes the PS3 can do greater graphics than those in his game, Heavy Rain. http://ow.ly/lpef

• 360: its rumoured that Microsoft is going to announce a 360 price drop tomorrow of the elite and discontinuation of Pro. http://ow.ly/lpJx

• PS3: Mod Nation Racers is going to be a Blu-Ray release when it comes out. http://ow.ly/lpKe

• PS3: Big US Home Update tomorrow. Killzone 2 Space, new apartment with around 70 new items, and animated t shirts, http://ow.ly/lqfo

• PS3: EU Home gets new Buzz Space, the Buzz! Tomato Challenge, in celebration of La Tomatina festival. http://ow.ly/lqih

• QTE Blog: New Zero Punctuation - 2.5D Games http://ow.ly/15Mwxv

• 360: Some users are having issues with Mass Effect DLC, Pinnacle Station. the content isn't showing up on consoles. http://ow.ly/lqS5

• PC: Cryptic announce that Champions Online lifetime subscriptions and 6 month subscriptions have sold out. http://ow.ly/lqUa

• 360: Epic confirm that there is a Gears Of War 2 Game Of The Edition coming out September 1st. http://ow.ly/lqVl

• PS3: David Cage has said that Heavy Rain characters could be getting DLC stories. http://ow.ly/lqWe

• DSi: A New TrackMania game is in the works. its set for Q2 2010 release. there will be 150 new courses. http://ow.ly/lqXS

• PSPgo: someone has already dissembled the PSPgo before it's been released. http://ow.ly/ls96

• PSP: Gamesloft announce 5 PSP Minis. Uno, Real Soccer 2010, Let's Golf!, Asphalt 5 and Hero of Sparta. http://ow.ly/ls9U

• A Video has been found which shows many of the Mad Catz peripherals for Modern Warfare 2. http://ow.ly/lsbm

• The Beatles Rock Band Track, All You Need Is Love was thought to be 360 exclusive. its only a exclusive for 3 months. http://ow.ly/lsHh

• There will be no vehicles in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer. http://ow.ly/lsHX

• QTE Blog: UK pre-Order Bonuses Announced For Section 8 On PC And Xbox 360 http://ow.ly/15Myhw

• QTE Blog: PoxNora Expansion Broodcall Now Available http://ow.ly/lsUz

• there have been some layoffs at EA's Maxis Studio. EA remains committed to maxis Franchises, Like Spore. http://ow.ly/lt2j

• Its being reported that 30-35 employees have been made redundant by raven software. http://ow.ly/lt4N

• RT @insomniacgames Yes, this is the cover of the European Special Edition for Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time: http://ow.ly/lrii

• PS3: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time is set for a October 27th release. http://ow.ly/ltfB

UK pre-Order Bonuses Announced For Section 8 On PC And Xbox 360

SouthPeak have announced the UK Pre-Order Bonuses for both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Section 8.
If you pre-order the PC Version at Game, you get Captain’s Armour, the SIW7 “Black Widow” Combat Pistol and two Assault Rifle variants. If you pre-order the Xbox 360 version at Play.com you get the Captains Armour.

Press Release

LEICESTER, England - SouthPeak Games has today revealed the exclusive in-game items that gamers receive by pre-ordering the futuristic multiplayer FPS Section 8 in the UK. Those who pre-order will be given a special code to unlock unique weapons and armour, to ensure they look the business when playing online.

By pre-ordering the PC version either in-store or online at GAME, FPS fans can get their hands on the Captain’s Armour, the SIW7 “Black Widow” Combat Pistol and two Assault Rifle variants. Meanwhile at Play.com, anyone who pre-orders Section 8 on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment platform from Microsoft, can head into the battle wearing the Captain’s Armour. More details about each item can be found below.

Section 8 is available in the UK on September 11 and a multiplayer demo is currently available on Xbox LIVE, so you can experience the fast-paced online action for yourself. For more details about the game, to join the community or take part in the open beta on PC, head over to www.joinsection8.com.

Captain’s Armour
Chain of Command is vital to the success of every military operation and it’s no different in the future universe of Section 8. The Captain takes the lead in the thickest of fighting and provides a source of inspiration to his fellow troopers and a figure to be feared by the ranks of the enemy as a veteran of combat.
Pre-order Section 8 to receive exclusive Captain’s Armour for both Section 8 and their adversaries: the Arm of Orion. As Captain, your power armour separates you from the rank and file. If you choose to play as a Captain of Section 8, you’ll proudly wear the Imperial Eagle of the USIF on your shoulder plate; as a Captain of the Arm of Orion, you’ll stand out with the rampant Lion of Orion emblazoned on your helmet and gold trim on your power armour.

SIW7 “Black Widow” Combat Pistol
The SIW7 “Black Widow” Combat Pistol is the preferred handgun of Special Forces reconnaissance teams across the galaxy. With its deadly accuracy and effortless reloading, this rapid-fire pistol is wielded best in the hands of only the most experienced soldiers. Its large .60 calibre slugs cause devastating ballistic force upon close and mid-range targets. Few have seen the Cobra in combat and even fewer have lived to tell about it.

Assault Rifle variants
The Assault Rifle is one of the most diverse weapons available. It features a scope for longer range engagements and an automated short-range firing mode, making it an effective weapon in nearly all encounter types. It is exceptionally accurate in short bursts. While in short-range mode, the assault rifle will fire alternate rounds. These rounds will partially bypass shields and damage armour directly. Your crosshairs will automatically update whenever a target triggers the short-range capabilities of this weapon.

Elite veterans of both Section 8 and the Arm of Orion have been known to decorate their rifles with custom paint jobs and markers signifying 'kills'. Only troopers who have demonstrated elite combat capability and have participated in multiple combat missions are allowed to do this and given that the life expectancy of troopers is minimal, there are few of these rifles on the battlefield. Section 8 chooses to customise their weapons with shark teeth, while the Arm has gruesome skulls.

About SouthPeak Games
SouthPeak Interactive Corporation develops and publishes interactive entertainment software for all current hardware platforms including: PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PC. SouthPeak's games cover all major genres including action/adventure, role playing, racing, puzzle strategy, fighting and combat. SouthPeak's products are sold in retail outlets in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. SouthPeak is headquartered in Midlothian, Virginia, and has offices in Grapevine, Texas and Leicester, England.

For additional information, please visit SouthPeak’s corporate website: www.southpeakgames.com.

About TimeGate Studios
TimeGate Studios is a world-class game development studio that boasts a record of huge success since its founding in 1998. Headquartered in Sugar Land, TX, TimeGate has released seven award-winning products; three of which are based on TimeGate-owned intellectual properties. In addition to its Section 8 development efforts, TimeGate is currently creating several new original properties that have yet to be announced for next-generation platforms. For more information please visit www.timegate.com.

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

PoxNora Expansion Broodcall Now Available

Sony Online Entertainment have annoucned that the PoxNora expansion Broodcall is now available. it brings 72 new runes, expanded avatar level cap to 30, new relics, new campaign, and a trader update.


Press Release

TUCSON, AZ. – Aug 26, 2009 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced the launch ofBroodcall, the 11th PoxNora expansion. The Broodcall storyline introduces players to eight new dragons, powerful new runes and an Avatar level cap increase.

“With Broodcall we’re introducing a new storyline with eight faction-specific dragons for players to add to their battle groups,” said Dan Kopycienski, director of development for SOE Tucson. “As the popularity ofPoxNora continues to grow with more players jumping on board every day, it’s exciting that we are able to provide new and returning players with fresh and engaging content.”

About Broodcall
In Broodcall, the peoples of Valdac have fallen victim to a dreadful plague that changes the inhabitants into monstrosities, and the arrival of dragons threatens to plunge the entire world into a never-ending abyss of fire and ash.

Broodcall Features:
• 72 New Runes – Broodcall introduces 72 powerful new runes to PoxNora, including 40 champions, eight of which are brand new dragons that have come to the aid of their factions in the ongoing war.
• More Experience – Broodcall will expand the Avatar’s level cap to 30 making them even more powerful, just in time to meet the new dragon menace!
• New Relics, Spells and Equipment – A strong Battle Group doesn’t depend upon units alone andBroodcall introduces a host of new supplemental runes to help you turn the tide in a fierce melee.
• New Campaign – Broodcall introduces one new campaign with four encounters, which thrust players into the dragon storyline.
• Trader Update – The trade system will be more streamlined for our advanced and newer users. This includes a new feature, Quick-Trade, that allows trade creators to state their ideal bid for the trade, and if a bidder fills the request the trade is completed instantly.
• Premium Membership – Warbanner Rentals will now be included with Premium memberships inBroodcall. The new feature will allow premium members to use any of the eight warbanners, unlimited, while a member. Once the player chooses to stop their membership s/he will lose access to the warbanners.

Broodcall is now available at www.PoxNora.com

Developed at SOE’s Tucson studio, PoxNora is an online multiplayer turn-based strategy game playable on Windows and Macintosh computers. To get started, players can download the client for free athttp://www.PoxNora.com

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Denver, CO; Tucson, AZ and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

New Zero Punctuation - 2.5D Games

An New Zero Punctuation this week, and this time it's not just one game he's reviewing...its two 2.5D Games, Trine and 'Splosion Man. and this week he even likes one of them!

Microsoft Announces A Forza 3 Partnership With Puma

Microsoft has annoucned a partnership with Puma and Forza 3. Puma branding will be in Forza 3, and a Forza 3 branded show will be developed to be released when the game is released. There will be gaming nights in certain Puma Concept Stores and Forza 3 content will feature on PUMAMotorsport.com.
All this is in celebration of Puma's 10th anniversary of being involved with motorsports.

Press Release

Herzogenaurach, Germany (Aug. 26, 2009) – PUMA® today announced a global partnership with Microsoft for the highly anticipated release of Forza Motorsport 3, scheduled for October this year. This collaboration will ensure prominent PUMA branding within the “Forza Motorsport 3” game worldwide and includes a series of joint marketing initiatives across Europe and North America.

The Microsoft Forza collaboration marks PUMA’s 10th anniversary in Motorsport. As category leader for performance and lifestyle Motorsport footwear, apparel and accessories, PUMA sponsors some of Formula One and Moto GP's best teams, including Scuderia Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, BMW Sauber, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Ducati Corse. A leader in its own right, Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport franchise is among the top-selling racing games worldwide. Available exclusively on Xbox 360, “Forza Motorsport 3” is the only racing game that lets players collect, paint and tune more than 400 of the worlds’ most exotic and exquisite cars then put them to the test on more than 100 tracks from around the globe. Best of all, whether you’re a first time player or seasoned racing game pro, “Forza Motorsport 3” delivers an experience where everyone can have fun behind the wheel of their dream car.

The partnership includes a number of cross promotional elements, including the development of a limited edition Forza branded PUMA shoe, to do be developed to coincide with the game launch. Exclusive gaming nights in selected PUMA Concept Stores will enable Forza Motorsport fans to preview the third edition of the game before purchase. Regular Forza content will also feature on the recently re-launched PUMAMotorsport.com.

Further to this, Xbox recently has announced PUMA supplied driver Natacha Gachnang as the Face of Forza for a pan-European PR programme. PUMA outfits Gachnang for her professional
role within the FIA Formula Two Championship, and will provide apparel and accessories to Microsoft event staff throughout the tour, and across all trade events and conferences at which Microsoft will exhibit “Forza Motorsport 3.”

Antonio Bertone, Chief Marketing Officer of PUMA AG said, “The Forza Motorsport association is the perfect fit for our brand. This partnership enables us to capitalize on the energy and excitement that accompanies a huge release such as Forza, and push the PUMA Motorsport brand into a new and exciting arena. We’re delighted to be working with Microsoft on this.”

Steve Beinner of Microsoft said “PUMA’s involvement in the release of Forza Motorsport 3 is testament to the anticipation that’s building among car lovers worldwide for the games October launch. The game has continued to grow in appeal with every edition we have launched, and we’re thrilled to have PUMA as an official partner of Forza Motorsport 3.”