Microsoft Announce Price Increases To Xbox Live Gold Subscription In The USA, UK, Canada, And Mexico
Microsoft have announced that from the 1st November, The cost of Xbox Live Gold Subscription is being increased in the UK, USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Price Changes, in their local currency's, are:
USA
1 Month was $7.99 / Now Its $9.99
3 Month was $19.99 / Now Its $24.99
12 Months was $49.99 / Now Its $59.99
UK
1 Month was £4.99 / Now Its £5.99
Canada
1 Month was $8.99 / Now Its $9.99
Mexico
12 Months was 499 Pesos / Now Its 599 Pesos
The Post does point out that there is currently a promotion running in the USA where you can buy a 1 year Xbox Live Gold Subscription for 1 year for $39.99.
From Major Nelson
Monday, August 30, 2010
This Weeks WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases
Nintendo USA have revealed the games coming out today on the WiiWare and DSiWare stores. there is no Virtual Console games released this week and overall there are only 4 games being released.
WiiWare
Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1
This is a 1-2 player game that costs 600 Wii Points. as elastic boy, you have to save your planet and travel across its many lands. you will have to solve puzzles and use your elastic abilities to defeat enemies.
DSiWare
Cosmos X2
This is a 1 player only game that costs 500 DSi Points. you pilot the Cosmos X2 and have to defend your planet against an alien invasion. you can choose the two weapons you'll use on your ship but beware, your active weapon takes damage if your ship is hit and you have to defeat enemies to regenerate energy for your inactive weapon.
myNotebook: Pearl
This is a 1 player only game that costs 500 DSi Points. this note book app lets you take notes and customise your note book.
Music on: Learning Piano
This is a 1 player only game that costs 200 DSi Points. this game helps you learn to play piano, with medals to be won as your ability improves. the game has music from famous composers including Beethoven, Pachelbel, Bach and Strauss.
Press Release
Newly available on the WiiWare™ service, Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1 truly stretches the possibilities for console adventure. On the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, you'll discover epic space battles in Cosmos X2, create customized notes with myNotebook: Pearl™, and learn to play timeless melodies with Music on: Learning Piano. Whether you're headed back to school or simply flipping another calendar page, these new offerings will help freshen up your gaming regimen as you head into fall.
WiiWare
Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1
Publisher: Lexis Numerique
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 600 Wii Points™
Description: Tales of Elastic Boy offers a totally innovative and unique style of game play that takes full advantage of the Wii Remote™ controller. To fulfill your quest and save your planet, you'll have to travel through many lands, defeat various enemies, meet unexpected friends and solve tricky puzzles. Play in single-player mode or with your friends and discover funny games. Use your stretching arms to swing and punch, roll as fast as you can or jump onto your enemies. Based on a powerful physics engine, Tales of Elastic Boy offers a truly original and entertaining gaming experience that's easy to learn but challenging to master.
Nintendo DSiWare
Cosmos X2
Publisher: Saturnine Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Pilot the Cosmos X2 to defend your planet against an alien invasion. Battle your way through the solar system to the alien home world to defeat their army. Equip your ship with two weapons of your choice and switch between them at any time during battle. Your active weapon takes damage when your ship gets hit. Defeating enemies regenerates energy in your inactive weapon. The key to your survival lies in finding a balance in your weapon usage. Battle your way through six levels of action and test your skills with three difficulty levels. Three bonus modes provide additional challenges.
myNotebook: Pearl
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you go. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 24 different unlockable paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make your notes or doodles and then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish.myNotebook also includes 128 pages to write on and the ability to export your pages to your Nintendo DSi Photo Album.
Music on: Learning Piano
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: An entire orchestra follows your performance of 15 great classics. By playing each day, your ability may increase. Earn the bronze, silver and gold medals for each song, completing each different level. A simplified music score is shown on the upper screen and a full piano keyboard appears on the touch screen, guiding beginners note by note on their first steps. Learn works by famous composers including Beethoven, Pachelbel, Bach, Strauss and Verdi.
Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visithttp://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.
WiiWare
Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1
This is a 1-2 player game that costs 600 Wii Points. as elastic boy, you have to save your planet and travel across its many lands. you will have to solve puzzles and use your elastic abilities to defeat enemies.
DSiWare
Cosmos X2
This is a 1 player only game that costs 500 DSi Points. you pilot the Cosmos X2 and have to defend your planet against an alien invasion. you can choose the two weapons you'll use on your ship but beware, your active weapon takes damage if your ship is hit and you have to defeat enemies to regenerate energy for your inactive weapon.
myNotebook: Pearl
This is a 1 player only game that costs 500 DSi Points. this note book app lets you take notes and customise your note book.
Music on: Learning Piano
This is a 1 player only game that costs 200 DSi Points. this game helps you learn to play piano, with medals to be won as your ability improves. the game has music from famous composers including Beethoven, Pachelbel, Bach and Strauss.
Press Release
Newly available on the WiiWare™ service, Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1 truly stretches the possibilities for console adventure. On the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, you'll discover epic space battles in Cosmos X2, create customized notes with myNotebook: Pearl™, and learn to play timeless melodies with Music on: Learning Piano. Whether you're headed back to school or simply flipping another calendar page, these new offerings will help freshen up your gaming regimen as you head into fall.
WiiWare
Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1
Publisher: Lexis Numerique
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 600 Wii Points™
Description: Tales of Elastic Boy offers a totally innovative and unique style of game play that takes full advantage of the Wii Remote™ controller. To fulfill your quest and save your planet, you'll have to travel through many lands, defeat various enemies, meet unexpected friends and solve tricky puzzles. Play in single-player mode or with your friends and discover funny games. Use your stretching arms to swing and punch, roll as fast as you can or jump onto your enemies. Based on a powerful physics engine, Tales of Elastic Boy offers a truly original and entertaining gaming experience that's easy to learn but challenging to master.
Nintendo DSiWare
Cosmos X2
Publisher: Saturnine Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Pilot the Cosmos X2 to defend your planet against an alien invasion. Battle your way through the solar system to the alien home world to defeat their army. Equip your ship with two weapons of your choice and switch between them at any time during battle. Your active weapon takes damage when your ship gets hit. Defeating enemies regenerates energy in your inactive weapon. The key to your survival lies in finding a balance in your weapon usage. Battle your way through six levels of action and test your skills with three difficulty levels. Three bonus modes provide additional challenges.
myNotebook: Pearl
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you go. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 24 different unlockable paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make your notes or doodles and then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish.myNotebook also includes 128 pages to write on and the ability to export your pages to your Nintendo DSi Photo Album.
Music on: Learning Piano
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: An entire orchestra follows your performance of 15 great classics. By playing each day, your ability may increase. Earn the bronze, silver and gold medals for each song, completing each different level. A simplified music score is shown on the upper screen and a full piano keyboard appears on the touch screen, guiding beginners note by note on their first steps. Learn works by famous composers including Beethoven, Pachelbel, Bach, Strauss and Verdi.
Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visithttp://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.
Nintendo Announce The Prices Of The Nintendo DSi XL And DSi Are Falling To $169.99 And $149.99 In The USA On 12th September
Press Release
REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 30, 2010 - Nintendo is dropping the suggested retail price of itsNintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ video game systems. Effective Sept. 12, the new suggested retail price of the Nintendo DSi system will be $149.99, while the new suggested retail price for the Nintendo DSi XL system will be $169.99. The Nintendo DS™ Lite model will remain at a suggested retail price of $129.99. The Nintendo DS family of video game systems is the best-selling in the history of the U.S. and worldwide. The new prices offer consumers tremendous value for their money while providing access to the best portable video game experiences possible.
"We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems."
The Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems offer consumers access to more than 1,300 packaged games and more than 200 downloadable games. Both systems feature two built-in cameras and photo- and sound-manipulation software that provide for a more social experience. Users can wirelessly upload photos to Facebook with the touch of a button (wireless broadband Internet access required). The Nintendo DSi XL system, which features a screen that is 93 percent larger than that of the Nintendo DS Lite, comes pre-loaded with software like Brain Age™ Express: Math, Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Flipnote Studio™,Photo Clock and the Nintendo DSi Browser.
Through the end of July, total Nintendo DS family hardware sales are more than 42.3 million in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group. Recent and upcoming software releases for the Nintendo DS family of systems include DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™ (now available), Professor Layton and the Unwound Future™ (Sept. 12), Pokémon™ Ranger: Guardian Signs (Oct. 4), Art Academy™ (Oct. 25), Mario vs. Donkey Kong™: Mini-Land Mayhem! (Nov. 14) and Golden Sun™: Dark Dawn (Nov. 29).
Remember that Nintendo DSi features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visithttp://www.nintendodsi.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at www.nintendo.com.
Hit X Podcast: All The News From QTE Gamers From Saturday 28th And Sunday 29th August
This is all the news from Saturday 28th And Sunday 29th August.
You can subscribe to the Hit X: The News Recapping Podcast on iTunes and if you do or are already a subscriber, it would be very helpful for me if you can rate and review the podcast.
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
You can subscribe to the Hit X: The News Recapping Podcast on iTunes and if you do or are already a subscriber, it would be very helpful for me if you can rate and review the podcast.
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
The Re-Cap: News From QTE Gamers From Saturday 28th And Sunday 29th August
- QTE Blog: The Re-Cap: News From QTE Gamers From Friday 27th August http://ht.ly/18LnCP
- TellTale games have released a teaser trailer for a game starring Sam & Max, Team Fortress 2, Penny Arcade and Strong Bad http://ht.ly/2w8kn
- There are reports and rumours that L.A.Noire has been delayed until 2011 http://ht.ly/2w8l8
- Its reported that Acclaim is dead after being dropped by Playdom. they were together for just over 3 months http://ht.ly/2w8mh
- QTE Blog: THQ Have Released A New Trailer For uDraw Tablet And uDraw Studio http://ht.ly/18LsYz
- QTE Blog: Funcom Have Released New Screenshots, Concept Art, And A Video For The Secret World http://ht.ly/18LuSI
- QTE Blog: Konami Have Released New Screenshots And A Trailer For Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Transer http://ht.ly/18LwJF
- QTE Blog: Konami Have Released New Screenshots For Hard Corps Uprising http://ht.ly/18LyKV
- QTE Blog: Konami Have Released New Screenshots, Character Art, And A Trailer For Adrenalin Misfits http://ht.ly/18LAnR
- PS3: Kaz Yamauci reveals that Gran Turismo 5 will require a 256MB install but recommends the10GB http://ht.ly/2wmRR
- PS3: The Playstation Move website lists inFamous 2 as a game that supports it. there's been no official word if it does http://ht.ly/2wmUx
- PC: Firaxis reveal the Civilization V demo is coming out in the USA on 21st September, the same day the game is released http://ht.ly/2wmV1
- QTE Blog: What Have You Played This Week? http://ht.ly/18MiDZ
- QTE Blog: QTE Tweets Of The Week http://ht.ly/18MkiG
Sunday, August 29, 2010
QTE Tweets Of The Week
This top 10 shows the most clicked tweets from my News in brief Twitter stream. There was no clear big story this week with most of the top 10 getting around the same attention. Its great to see a story from the site making number 1, but there were no surprise entries in this weeks top 10, especially with the stories on hacking and banning making it in.
10 Rockstar announce from tomorrow on 360/PS3, those with hacked Red Dead Redemption game saves will be banned http://ht.ly/2tmIx
9 Tetsuya Nomura announces Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII will be briefly shown at TGS http://ht.ly/2v8gG
8 PS3: its reported that the PS3 is able to detect if your using a device like PSJailbreak, but only when your online http://ht.ly/2u97C
7 PSP: Patapon 3 has been reportedly delayed in Europe until next year. http://ht.ly/2tmJV
6 360: Microsoft announce they are aggressively investigating the Halo Reach leak http://ht.ly/2tmOb
5 DS: Pre-orders in Japan for Pokemon Black and White have already exceeded 1 Million, its out there 18th September http://ht.ly/2tq3L
4 QTE Blog: Guerrilla Games Announce Joris De Man Is Providing The Music Score For Killzone 3 http://ht.ly/18GRHt
3 PS3: Q-Games will show PixelJunk Lifelike, the visualiser for the PS3, at Tokyo Game Show. http://ht.ly/2tuas
2 UK Game Charts, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Toy Story 3, Red Dead Redemption, Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4, Just Dance http://ht.ly/2tq6a
1 QTE Blog: Sony Announce UK Playstation Plus Members Will Get The R.U.S.E Demo On 25th August http://ht.ly/18IJL7
10 Rockstar announce from tomorrow on 360/PS3, those with hacked Red Dead Redemption game saves will be banned http://ht.ly/2tmIx
9 Tetsuya Nomura announces Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII will be briefly shown at TGS http://ht.ly/2v8gG
8 PS3: its reported that the PS3 is able to detect if your using a device like PSJailbreak, but only when your online http://ht.ly/2u97C
7 PSP: Patapon 3 has been reportedly delayed in Europe until next year. http://ht.ly/2tmJV
6 360: Microsoft announce they are aggressively investigating the Halo Reach leak http://ht.ly/2tmOb
5 DS: Pre-orders in Japan for Pokemon Black and White have already exceeded 1 Million, its out there 18th September http://ht.ly/2tq3L
4 QTE Blog: Guerrilla Games Announce Joris De Man Is Providing The Music Score For Killzone 3 http://ht.ly/18GRHt
3 PS3: Q-Games will show PixelJunk Lifelike, the visualiser for the PS3, at Tokyo Game Show. http://ht.ly/2tuas
2 UK Game Charts, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Toy Story 3, Red Dead Redemption, Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4, Just Dance http://ht.ly/2tq6a
1 QTE Blog: Sony Announce UK Playstation Plus Members Will Get The R.U.S.E Demo On 25th August http://ht.ly/18IJL7
What Have You Played This Week?
Even though that week was fairly calm news wise, it took a lot of my time to get through 3D Dot Game Heroes. It was nice to put a decent amount of time into Football Manager 10 and to play some Demos that interested me. I would've preferred to have got more Transformer trophies, but overall I had a good game playing week.
Football Manager 10 – PC – well Christmas came and I had to sell many of my big players as I couldn't afford their contracts. Its a shame, but it bought in good money for the club. I bought some youngsters and a couple of replacements. Still in mid-table and looking fine, but I was just knocked out of the FA Cup quarter Final Replay by Chelsea.
3D Dot Game Heroes – PS3 – I've finished the game. That fire dungeon was by far the hardest part of the game as was its boss. Despite this, I still enjoyed it and I do recommend the game. Its more than just its unique look, and a game that fans of old school games will enjoy. Because its an homage to old games, some parts maybe frustrating but I believe that it is good enough to look beyond that. I do recommend that you use a FAQ for the game. Some games, like this, are built with an FAQ in mind and by the time I looked for help in the fire dungeon...i had missed plenty of things. In the end I still managed to get some of the hidden items which help you play immensely and you should use a FAQ to get them. Also, this game is longer than it looks. I clocked in just over 24 hours and if I had a FAQ I doubt it would've been shorter as there is plenty of things to do. For me this was a good rental, the game does have a play+ mode and another hidden mode for which there are collectables and trophies to earn, but I only recommend people do this if they are hardcore for the genre and buy the game as it could easily take 70+ hours to complete it all.
Transformers: War For Cybertron – PS3 – I've gone back to the single player campaign to get some of the trophies I missed. Its taking longer than I thought it would but I should get it done in the next day or so.
Shank – PS3 – Demo – I was intreguied by this game. Its art style is great and I wondered what its gameplay would be like. The demo is 2GB but you do get to play the start of the game right through to the first level boss. The action was fast and bloody and, for me, good. There are some interesting things in the game, like a good use of picture in picture. This is a good demo and I would buy the game if I had the money.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 – PS3 – Demo – I've got into Naruto recently and I decided to download the demo for the latest game, thankfully there don't appear to be any spoilers for me as i'm only up to the end of the Naruto Anime. The graphics are very good and fit well for the Anime. The combat is a little more complicated and integrates Quick Time Events in cinematic moments. After playing the demo i'm very interested in playing the game and will look to rent it when it comes out.
Did you manage to play more games than I have over the week, or do you have any comments on my experiences or questions about the games i've played? If you do, feel free to add them in the comments section.
Football Manager 10 – PC – well Christmas came and I had to sell many of my big players as I couldn't afford their contracts. Its a shame, but it bought in good money for the club. I bought some youngsters and a couple of replacements. Still in mid-table and looking fine, but I was just knocked out of the FA Cup quarter Final Replay by Chelsea.
3D Dot Game Heroes – PS3 – I've finished the game. That fire dungeon was by far the hardest part of the game as was its boss. Despite this, I still enjoyed it and I do recommend the game. Its more than just its unique look, and a game that fans of old school games will enjoy. Because its an homage to old games, some parts maybe frustrating but I believe that it is good enough to look beyond that. I do recommend that you use a FAQ for the game. Some games, like this, are built with an FAQ in mind and by the time I looked for help in the fire dungeon...i had missed plenty of things. In the end I still managed to get some of the hidden items which help you play immensely and you should use a FAQ to get them. Also, this game is longer than it looks. I clocked in just over 24 hours and if I had a FAQ I doubt it would've been shorter as there is plenty of things to do. For me this was a good rental, the game does have a play+ mode and another hidden mode for which there are collectables and trophies to earn, but I only recommend people do this if they are hardcore for the genre and buy the game as it could easily take 70+ hours to complete it all.
Transformers: War For Cybertron – PS3 – I've gone back to the single player campaign to get some of the trophies I missed. Its taking longer than I thought it would but I should get it done in the next day or so.
Shank – PS3 – Demo – I was intreguied by this game. Its art style is great and I wondered what its gameplay would be like. The demo is 2GB but you do get to play the start of the game right through to the first level boss. The action was fast and bloody and, for me, good. There are some interesting things in the game, like a good use of picture in picture. This is a good demo and I would buy the game if I had the money.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 – PS3 – Demo – I've got into Naruto recently and I decided to download the demo for the latest game, thankfully there don't appear to be any spoilers for me as i'm only up to the end of the Naruto Anime. The graphics are very good and fit well for the Anime. The combat is a little more complicated and integrates Quick Time Events in cinematic moments. After playing the demo i'm very interested in playing the game and will look to rent it when it comes out.
Did you manage to play more games than I have over the week, or do you have any comments on my experiences or questions about the games i've played? If you do, feel free to add them in the comments section.
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