Xbox Deal of the Week: Braid

braid_xbox_01

Perhaps due to Steam’s recent success (as noted in Boramis’ post), Microsoft is also implementing a weekly sale.  And they kick it off well.

Braid is going for the more classic 800 point price point.  This game was easily worth the initial $15, so $10 is a steal.  Pick up one of the best games of last year (next to Left 4 Dead as Game of the Year), and probably one of the best all time (pun intended).  Soon to be available on PC as well.

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Xbox and MSN – a match that could be better

A Universal friends list.  Xbox and MSN, joined together, accessible from PC or Xbox.  It’d be pretty neat, hmm?

Or, how about an interface that doesn’t require 4 menu clicks to send a simple text message.  Or have the delay whenever that message pops up and in menu pop-up response times when responding to it.

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Xbox DRM – In the age of PC Digital Distrobution

I can\'t let you do that, Dave

Xbox DRM – In the age of PC Digital Distrobution

Xbox DRM has been a bane for us all. We have all red ringed our xbox 360’s, and if you haven’t, then you just haven’t used yours enough yet. I’m not sure how they calculate their 10-30% failure rate. I believe it lies closer to 100%. It WILL fail eventually, often within a year and a half. Still, it is probably the system to own if you like to play games (lots of great exclusives), and especially if you like to game online with friends. Once your 360 dies and you (hopefully) get it replaced, you have access to your content. Restricted access that requires the owner be logged on the 360, and in some extreme cases MUST BE ACTIVELY PLAYING. This is to prevent friends from sharing Live content, but it affects us ALL once our first system dies. I have to be logged in just for my friends to have access to FREE GAMER PICS I downloaded while they make their Profile (Local or Live).

PC Gaming, however, has even a bigger hurdle with Piracy. Yet, they are adapting in different ways with their digital distribution. Is there a solution to DRM on either platform that can make consumers happy, while giving businesses profit? The rule of a successful compromise is that neither party leaves happy; but isn’t that necessary for good/repeat business? As a consumer, shouldn’t we BE happy?

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It's only $10.

Wow

It’s only $10.

[12:51] Aaron:

http://www.gamefly.com/products/detail.asp?pid=121935&fcTrack=Store%20Page?Under%20$20%20For%20Sale
[12:51] Craig: Can’t say I’ve heard of that one
[12:51] Aaron: ..the name alone…
[12:52] Craig: And only $10. How could you go wrong.
[12:59] Aaron: i dunno. i think “crusty” and “only $10” can go wrong in a LOT of ways

I finally beat: Army of Two

Army of Two

I finally beat: Army of Two

Sometimes, just sometimes, you can take something that shouldn’t go together and it’ll turn out OK. Maybe even good. Like Peanut butter and chocolate, or Tabasco sauce and Soy sauce on a chicken sandwich (really, it works),

…or EA and a good game.

Or at least EA and an OK game. Sure, they just copied Gears of War, and perhaps not as well as Gears, but it has its own merits. And you can’t earn as many achievements playing the Gears Campaign AGAIN, now can you? And the game isn’t dark and dreary. Just because Brown is Real, doesn’t mean I like it. Even AoT’s “everything is sand” is better. At least it’s brighter. Unlike Skate, which only had to topple a 10 year old stale serie, AoT has some stiff competition from Gears of War, Halo, and every other multiplayer shooter out there. So, how does it stack up? And what does it do wrong (it’s EA, they had to screw something up)?

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N+ is fucking hard

PBF - Little Mac

N+ is fucking hard

Seriously. It’s very hard. Call of Duty 4 on Veteran? You have AI friends to help you through the hard parts. You have a GUN. In N+? Your only weapon is a self-sacrificing friend in co-op to blow themselves up on some mines. That, and you can jump. Not ON to anything, mind you, ala Mario. Touching them will kill you. But you can jump over them at least. Unless they home in on your position / lock-on and track you.

Still, it has been getting great reviews for its 4 player co-op-ability. And in this regards, the game is excellent. The game has a stick (go left and right), and a button (jump). You can give the controller to anybody and they will understand what to do. More so than Mario Party, Halo, Raving Rabbids, Rock Band, or any of those other Party Games. The games difficulty may turn some people off, but as long as it is not taken too seriously it is hilarious to watch failure as rag doll parts clear an entire mine field for the rest of your team.

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I finally beat: Prince of Persia Classic

PoP Achievment

I finally beat: Prince of Persia Classic

Delayed, I know, but I did beat it a couple of months ago. In short order, even. It came out. I played it and had it done in just a day or two.

Shut up. I know it is “just an hour long.”

Well, Prince of Persia Classic hit Live just a while ago. A remake of quite an old game. Does it sand up to the test of time? <See that intential typo there?>

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Organizing pLayday

Red Team

Organizing pLayday

I want to organize a day of the week where we all attempt to get online Xb Live and play a game. Instead of leaving it to chance, we make an effort to log on a particular day and play together in a game we all have.

I can even post ideas for the game here ahead of time (map or gametype preferences can be expressed in comments).

I have been gathering potential days from everyone, and so far the best day looks like Tuesday.