Hey folks, just to remind you all that the new 360 dashboard update will be making it’s way to all 360 users tonight. That’s right people will finally get their hands on the new update. The dashboard update features the following:

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

• Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.
• Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.
• Enhanced Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.
• Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.

Avatar Marketplace

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises. Please note that only limited content is currently available in the preview.

Clothing

Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as “Halo.”

• Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
• Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

Games on Demand — Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

• Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
• Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
• It’s Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

User Ratings

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

• Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
• Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone’s been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.

Xbox LIVE Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

• Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
• Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

Video Display Options

We’ve made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

• Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.

Other Improvements

We’re always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

• Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you’ve been a Gold member.
• Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
• Achievement Browser – We’ve revamped the Achievements browser so it’s now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
• Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
• Streamlined Navigation – Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.
• Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
• Friends List Sorting – It’s now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
• Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.

Account Management

We’ve made some changes to make your life easier.

• Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
• Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
• Account recovery – We’ve enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

Australian and New Zealand users should be getting the update around 6-7pm. Apparently Facebook and Twitter won’t be coming along with the dashboard update, but will be released soon after the update.

Written By: Agent-X

Fallout 3 is without a doubt one of the best games ever released and its DLC is truly what makes it stand out. Bethesda has just released the box art for the Game of the Year Edition which will include Operation Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta. Those that missed on Fallout 3 last year shouldn’t hesitate to pick this up because you getting over 100 hours of gameplay and every time you play Fallout 3 your bound to discover something awesome. The edition is set for release October 31 this year for the PS3 and 360.

It looks like Guitar Hero 5’s list of artists is continuing to grow. It was just announced that multiple Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and legendary singer-songwriter Johnny Cash will be introduced to an all new audience this autumn as he makes his video game debut as a playable character in the highly anticipated Guitar Hero 5.

Cash’s virtual image will live on as Guitar Hero players can rock out on any instrument controller to “Ring Of Fire,” and even unlock the ability to strum and sing along as the “Man in Black” himself in the all-new Electric Honky Tonk Bar venue. Cash joins the ever-growing list of playable in-game artists announced for Guitar Hero 5.

Square Enix the once mega RPG company isn’t looking too good at the moment. The major title still till this day is their Final Fantasy Franchise and that’s been delayed because of the Xbox360 support which may have not been the brightest idea, considering if the game was already released they would’ve been in a better income position.

Throughout this entire console cycle you have games like, Blue Dragon, The Last Remnant, Lost Odyssey, Star Ocean 4, and more but the problem is this where’s the Playstation 3 version. Now looking at The Last Remnant, and Star Ocean 4 which still may see PS3 releases how come those get timed exclusivity while Final Fantasy suffers the delay. Square needs too make money and this business decision playing favorites with Microsoft is not working for them anymore so what’s next too happen.

This years Tokyo Game Show should reveal a ton of changes and if Square wants too make a mark and become the Japanese Tyrant it’s always been then they can’t ignore the Playstation 3 anymore. The PSP and DS gets games like monster hunter, dragon quest, kingdom hearts and so on now it’s time for the Next Gen upgrade to these hit titles so bring on the Playstation 3 love or Square will continue too fall.

PS3 slim plus price cut should make this a better decision for Square to hop on the Sony bandwagon but, even without a price cut they have too make a better business decision than what they are doing right now.

See More Info Below

Square Enix has recorded an operating income drop of 82.8 per cent in its latest financials, down to JPY 594 million (USD 6.1 million) for the three months ending June 30 2009.

Net sales for the period were JPY 2.4 billion (USD 302.1 million) – a drop of 1.2 per cent on last year – and net income showed a loss of JPY 1.7 billion (USD 17.2 million) compared to a profit of 2.9 billion yen (USD 30 million) during the same quarter in 2008. The report however reminds investors the purchase of Eidos is included in this segment – a deal which cost the company around USD 139 million.

Breaking down the company’s results, its game’s business saw a sales rise of 7.2 per cent during the quarter, to JPY 8.5 billion (USD 87.5 million), but recorded an operating loss of JPY 992 million (USD 10 million) compared to an operating profit of JPY 1.7 billion (USD 17 million) in 2008.

Its mobile phone group also recorded a growth in sales – up 1.2 per cent to JPY 2.7 billion (USD 27 million), with operating revenue also up 11.6 per cent to JPY 1.2 billion (USD 12 million).

Overall sales in Japan, where games such as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Dragon Quest IX have been selling strongly, were up 5.3 per cent on last year. In North America, however, sales were down 29.1 per cent, and in Europe they were down 42 per cent.

Despite the drop in income recorded in the latest quarterly results, the company has forecast full year net income of JPY 15 billion (USD 154.3 million). SOURCE

Warner Bros’ recently acquired much of Midway Games, although the San Diego and Newcastle studios were left out in the cold by the deal. The Newcastle studio was shuttered last month, but the San Diego outfit has been saved from a similar fate by THQ.

According to a Chicago Tribune report, THQ acquired all the assets associated with the developer, barring the TNA Wrestling game, for a mere $200,000.

SOURCE

Third person shooter with team multiplayer

- In addition to a strong multiplayer focus, players will have the opportunity to practice versus AI driven teams either by themselves or in co-op mode.

- Lead and Gold – Gangs of the Wild West is built with the GRIN Diesel Engine, previously used for Bionic Commando, Bionic Commando Rearmed and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter.

About working with Lead and Gold – Gangs of the Wild West
“It is fantastic opportunity for a fresh take on the western game genre and to build and expand on the mythos of the gangs of the Wild West, taking team play to the next level.” Joakim Setterberg, Designer, Fatshark.

“GRIN’s Diesel Engine is a great platform and a powerful tool for smooth and efficient delivery of high quality game experiences” Robert Bäckström, Producer, Fatshark.

“Using GRIN’s engine will allow us to further raise the bar in graphics and game design for downloadable games” Martin Wahlund, CEO, Fatshark.

Fantastic Value with the Collector’ Edition Package exclusive to HMV

TECMO KOEI EUROPE LIMITED proudly announces details of the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Collector’s Edition, along with a fantastic value pricing structure, setting the RRP at £49.99. Set for release on October 2nd 2009, the Collector’s Edition will be on sale exclusively at HMV. The release coincides with the release date of the standard edition of the hottest, most intense and challenging action-packed ninja adventure game.

The Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Collector’s Edition includes…

• A copy of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
• Limited Edition 80 page ‘Ninja Gaiden Treasury’ featuring:
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 prologue comic written and designed by Team NINJA, which sheds more light on the intriguing storylines of Ninja Gaiden.
-Character and Concept Art Gallery .
- Lite-Strategy Guide including: Weapon Profiles for the 4 playable characters. Combos & Ninpos. Hints and Tips for Story Mode and Team Missions.
- Commentary from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 producer Yosuke Hayashi, the Lead Artists behind the game and one final Tidbit from Team NINJA….
• Complete, limited edition original soundtrack CD.
• Exclusive downloadable costume available through the PlayStation Network.

“Tecmo Koei Europe is staffed by gamers, with a gamers’ eye on what makes a worthwhile purchase. With the announcement of the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Collector’s Edition, we’re sure fans of the series will love what’s in store for them”, said Will Curley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Setting the RRP of the Collector’s Edition Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 at £49.99 we believe gamers will feel they’re getting a lot of Ninja Gaiden and extras for their cash”.