360 Rant Rave Forums

Welcome to the next 360 rant rave gamer spotlight! Our next spotlight interviewee is 360RR’s own EagleEye2590.

360RR: First off, thanks for coming to the interview, EagleEye. Tell us a bit about your gamertag? Do you have any stories behind it? What made you “EagleEye2590″?

EagleEye2590: I came about my gamertag in November of 2005. I chose “Eagle Eye” because back in the Nintendo 64 days I was known by my friends as having an “Eagle Eye” in Goldeneye 64 for shooting people from far away. Then name really caught on in Halo: CE when I found myself the sniper The “2590″ is just my birth date.

360RR: Where do you live?

EagleEye2590: Born and raised in Austin, Texas although currently residing in the lovely city of Lubbock.

360RR: What do you do for a living?

EagleEye2590: I am a full time student at the moment but I’m probably going to get a job next semester.

360RR: When did you become a member of Xbox Live?

EagleEye2590: Not until Jan 1st 2006, the night/day I waited for 6 hours for my Xbox 360

360RR: Who is your best friend on Xbox Live and least favorite person on Xbox Live? Anyone that you compete against on a regular basis?

EagleEye2590: Well most of my friends on Xbox Live don’t really play a variety of games but if I had to choose one I would say “leavemealone347″ who just changed his GT to “MrTissues.”

360RR: What is your favorite video game of all time? Favorite Xbox 360 game?

EagleEye2590: Favorite video game of all time would have to be Goldeneye 64. Favorite Xbox 360 game is a 3 way tie between Gears Of War, Perfect Dark Zero (yes I know I seem to be one of the only people on the planet that loved that game) and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

360RR: -What is your favorite Game Console and why?

EagleEye2590: I would have to say I have had the most fun with the Xbox 360 but my top 3 are 1. Xbox 360 2. Sega Genesis 3. Nintendo 64.

360RR: -What is your funniest/ most memorable moment on Xbox Live?

EagleEye2590: Probably getting into fake fights with nerds on Perfect Dark Zero with MrTissues.  :)

360RR: -What is your favorite movie of all time and why?

EagleEye2590: I really can’t pick a favorite but I loved Dumb and Dumber, Shawshank Redemption and many many more.

360RR: Who is your favorite game character and why?

EagleEye2590: I have always liked Luigi from Mario Bros from some reason.

360RR: What is your favorite band of all time?

EagleEye2590: Another hard question…. I would have to say Blink 182 though.

360RR: iPod or Zune?

EagleEye2590: I used to have a Zune and loved it but recently got an iPhone so I’m not really sure. We will see if MS can really compete with Apple in the MP3 business.

360RR: What do you think will help to contribute to 360 RR’s growth?

EagleEye2590: I would have to say more exposure from actual MS employees like Trixie or Major Nelson or something like that. Also more members that stick around for long periods of time.

360RR: Thanks for the interview!

The organizers of The PAX 10 announced on Monday Twisted Pixel’s The Maw as winner of the 2008 Audience Choice award. The PAX 10, a showcase of ten independently developed games, were selected by a panel of 50 industry experts out of over 80 submissions as the best in terms of gameplay and “fun factor.” The PAX 10 winners displayed their games at the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), allowing attendees the opportunity to view each of the titles and cast their secret ballots, earning The Maw top honors for the inaugural year of the showcase event.

“It’s always awkward to compete against other indie developers, especially
ones as cool and friendly as the PAX 10 teams.  So we’d like to make sure
the other PAX 10 developers continue to be recognized for their monumental
achievements.  The complete list of 2008′s The PAX 10 (in alphabetical
order):

   – The Amazing Brain Train by Grubby Games (puzzle/strategy)
   – Audio Surf by Dylan Fitterer (rhythm/action)
   – Chronotron by Scarybug Games (puzzle/platformer)
   – Impulse by a team of Rochester Institute of Technology students
   (puzzle)
   – The Maw by Twisted Pixel Games (action/adventure)
   – Polarity by a team of Carnegie Mellon University students
   (platformer/puzzle)
   – Project Aftermath by Games Faction (tactical/action)
   – Schizoid by Torpex Games (action/strategy)
   – Strange Attractors 2 by Ominous Development (puzzle/strategy)
   – Sushi Bar Samurai by Molly Rocket (exploratory puzzle)

-Michael Wilford; Creator of The Maw”

Congratulations to Michael!  We’ll continue to provide coverage about The Maw until it’s release on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

Game on!

Bungie has just debuted the ‘Keep It Clean’ trailer.  Speculation is still running rampant as to what it all means.  Since Bungie has ruled out that it will be Halo 4 (and you quite clearly see ‘Halo 3′ listed in the video), one possibility is that there will be additional campaign missions added to Halo 3 via a premium DLC package. 

In the video, there is a quick clip showing “EVACUATE: City of New Mombasa.”

‘Get ready to drop’ is also a phrase employed by ODST troops in the Halo uinverse.  Mysterious indeed!  Come to the forums and share your theories. 

You can view the trailer in Windows Media Player by clicking HERE.  Enjoy!

Cryptic info found in the trailer indicates that we can expect to receive the update on January 6th, 2009.  To see where that was found, look HERE. 

Game on!

Be the first in the world to play Gears of War 2, as you fight for human survival against the Locust Horde.  Microsoft and Spike TV are searching for diehard gamers to audition for a real-life televised Gears of War 2 adventure.

But just like in the game, challenges, tough decisions and sacrifices stand in the path of victory. In a fast paced reality show that feels like an alternate reality game brought to life, your team must work together to reach the ultimate goal: Becoming the first gamers in the world to play through the entire saga of Gears of War 2 in early October.

Do you think you have what it takes to have the opportunity to audition to be part of the first Delta Squad?

For full details and how to sign up for a chance to participate, go HERE.  Good luck.

Game on!

“Title Update 2 will download when you log in to Halo 3 on September 23rd. Smart alecky types guessed it would be either today (the 18th) or the 23rd as we make a habit of doing our updates on pretty particular days. If you poke around you’ll see that some stuff has changed here on Bungie.net, some of that stuff will flick on when TU2 turns on next week, and some of it is Live now.

When TU2 goes live next week we fully expect a crazy period in Matchmaking. See, there will be a period after TU2 goes live where not everyone will have the Title Update for a number of weird reasons like: You left your box on and the TU came out so folks who turn their boxes on are getting the new patch and you’re playing the previous version of the game; Your Xbox doesn’t recognize a new patch (clear your boxes’ cache – Go to the System blade and select Memory. Press Y on the HD symbol and then press X, X, LB, RB, X, X. If you did this properly a message will appear saying: Do you want to perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage device. Selet the “yes” equivalent and then boot up Halo 3) or any number of other weird issues like the host has TU2 and the client doesn’t or the client has TU2 and the host is on TU1, it’s going to be a bit like the end of Ghostbusters, but we promise, that even though it seems like Matchmaking has fallen into the gaping maw of cement cracks – it will climb out.

We expect all of these issues to resolve within four or five hours of TU2 going live. We will be watching it closely.”

See the source for more info.

Source: BUNGIE.net (Just posted).

Game on!

Have you ever thought about creating a game of your own?  You have the concept, but where do you start?  Can you do it on your own?  Do you need a team to help you?  Once you’ve made the game, then what?  How do you get noticed?  How do you get your game ‘out there’? 

Well, here’s your chance to ask someone who’s been going through, and is still going through that very process.  Michael Wilford is the creator of the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title, The Maw (no release date available yet), and he’s agreed to answer your questions regarding The Maw and about independent game design. 

So have at it.  Come up with your best questions for Michael and send them off to:

questions@360rantrave.com

We’ll compile a list of the best questions and send them off to Michael to get the scoop.  All who submit questions will be notified via e-mail when the answers are posted. 

Game on!

And he’s all out of gum. 

Now don’t get too excited.  No.  Duke Nukem Forever is not getting ready to release (will it ever)?  However, word is that the original, in all it’s glory, is set to finally arrive on the Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday, September 24th. 

MS has not confirmed this date as of today, but the buzz has grown loud enough that it seems like a pretty sure thing.  Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but 360 Rant Rave would guess 800 points. 

Hail to the King, baby!

Game on!

Introduction:
Ragnarok! The end times are upon us dear friend, so finish up your mead, grab your axe and let’s slay some goblins! Too Human presents itself as a simple hack and slasher with a slight tip of the hat towards loot gathering. Between the interesting approach to the controls and the relatively untapped stories found in Norse mythology, Too Human is a very refreshing change of pace from the norm.

Gameplay:
You are Baldur, everyone’s favorite Norse god. You’re the pretty boy back for revenge on those who took your life, and ultimately your wife’s. Too Human is a retelling of the events surrounding Ragnarok, the end of all things, and Silicon Knights does not disappoint with their interesting take on this classic tale. The story unfolds on four beautiful stages, and involves roughly 10-12 hours of game play and cut scenes in single player mode.

Slide into machine, machine dies, re-evaluate, adjust, repeat. At first it seems like this is all there is to the controls in Too Human, but play a bit longer and you will see that there is a bit more depth than you first thought. You can perform several moves, all of which are done through the use of the two analog sticks, including slide attacks, juggles, finishers and fierce attacks - not to mention specific battle cries and spider abilities depending on how your character has spent his skill points.

The spiders work off of a timed cool-down, while the battle cries work off of something called a combo level. Combo levels are generated by doing generally cool things in combat, such as killing an enemy in the air or mounting a troll and stabbing it in the head. Combo levels can also be used to activate ruiners, and they are more powerful the higher the combo level is when they are used. Ruiners also do different things based on which class you are, or which weapon you have equipped at that time. You can even combine these attacks for a special attack called a 2-in-1. For example, you can slide into an enemy and during the slide you perform another action like a battle cry, ruiner, juggle, or finisher. The benefit to this is that your battle cry or ruin cost less combo meter to use; and it just looks pretty cool.

Extras:
The single-player is nice, but the real action in Too Human takes place in the two player co-op mode. In co-op mode, the cut scenes are removed, there are more enemies in different places, and they are of a higher level. In fact, it is important to remember that the monster level is based off of the highest level player in the game. So, don’t go jumping in a game with your best bud if his character has several levels on you, as it would be no fun for all parties involved (especially for the little guy).

The loot gathering is classic, and very reminiscent of good old days spent playing Diablo and Diablo 2. Acquiring this loot can be a bit of a problem for some people, however, due to the seemingly eccentric loot table and the less than conventional control scheme.

Conclusion:
The game is not for everyone, as it does have a bit of a learning curve to the controls, and the infrequency of loot-drops can be frustrating at times. The story can hard to understand because the game assumes knowledge of Norse mythology that not everyone has.  However, the game is a fun hack-and-slash that includes an intriguing adaptation of Norse mythology. At the very least this game is a rent, if only to enjoy the wonderfully crafted story. For some, it will be the game they play until the end of Fimbulwinter.

Score: 6.75

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the united states.  360 Rant Rave would like to take a moment to honor all the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful day, and to acknowledge the heroic bravery of the firemen, policemen and countless others who risked or even lost their lives in their efforts to rescue others. 

9/11 – We Will Never Forget.

Ever.

Harmonix, the world’s premiermusic video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. today announced its highly anticipated music videogame Rock Band 2™ is shipping to retail.

The award-winning Rock Band 2 standalone software will make its debut on the Xbox360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on Sunday, September14, 2008 with an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 standalonewireless drums and guitars will also arrive at retail later in the week. Inaddition, look for the epic Rock Band 2 TV commercial featuring AC/DC’s rock anthem “Let There Be Rock” that premiered during the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at www.rockband2.com.

“Rock Band 2 andHarmonix are raising the bar in the music game category again with anincredible music setlist, innovative online features, and new authenticinstruments. With over 300 songs available on disc and via weeklydownloads, no other music game can compete with the Rock Band 2 music catalog,”stated Bob Picunko, Vice President of Electronic Games and InteractiveProducts, MTV. “Mark yourcalendar, call your band mates, and get set for the best Rock Band party ever onSunday, September 14th.”

Rock Band 2 is set to revolutionize musicgaming with the ability to export most of the songs from the original Rock Band disc[1],Online World Tour, daily Battle-Of-The Band Tournaments, Auto-Calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter, velocity sensitive drum heads, supportfor up to three cymbals (sold separately), advanced voice detection technology, No Fail Mode, and a real Drum Trainer. RockBand 2’s massive list of innovations also includes the ability toexport your in-game band avatar to the internet and order custom RockBand merchandise including apparel and figures.

Shipping and pricing information:

Week of September 14, 2008

-Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (Xbox 360) $59.99 MSRP

-Rock Band 2 Standalone Wireless Drums (Xbox 360) $89.99 MSRP

-Rock Band 2 Standalone Wireless Guitar (Xbox 360) $69.99 MSRP

With a focus onauthenticity, quality and blurring the line between playing a game and performingmusic, Rock Band partners Mad Catz and Ion have introduced officially licensed high–endinstruments which are already shipping to retail this week:

Mad Catz:
-Rock Band Fender PrecisionBass Guitar Controller: The Fender
PrecisionBass equipped with a split strum bar and innovative features
designed toenhance the Rock Bandexperience. This new guitar peripheral
isdesigned for bass players but can be used to play both lead and bass
guitarportions of Rock Band and Rock Band 2. MSRP: $69.99

ION:
-Rock Band ION DrumRocker: A real electronic drumkit with three cymbals
that functions as a Rock Band game controller brings theRockBand fantasy to
life. A drum conversionkit is also available to transform the kit from a
game controller to a realinstrument (sold separately). MSRP: $299

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogueof any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs[2]on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic andnew artists including AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motorhead andmore! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility forsongs purchased from Rock
Band’s ever-expanding onlinemusic store and the ability to export most songs from the original RockBand disc, the Rock Band music library will featuremore than 500 songs[3]by year’s end.

The Rock Band onlinemusic store recently surpassed 21 million paid downloads since the game’slaunch in late November 2007. With more than 300tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list oftracks at [http://www.rockband.com/dlc] http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allowsplayers to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs andalbums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their owncustom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teenwith descriptors of lyrics and suggestive themes by the ESRB.

Game on!