DA360

Nice, I am sure they will have other improvements as well. Despite I am not sure if I would ever use HDMI (though I could probably buy a HDMI to DVI cable for my monitor), why deny a extra feature? Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the 120GB HDD would be packaged with it, and they could include the current 20GB HDD with the Core systems. That way, everyone can download movies and demos, despite what version they get, and the Xbox Live space limit could be lifted since the only reason its there is because of Core users with memory units. It would also be better for competing against the PS3, where both packages have a hard drive.

Also, I am sure for current 360 owners who want HDMI, they could do an exchange program were you could send in your Xbox 360 to MS and they could replace it with a HDMI capable system. Nintendo did this when they took out the progressive scan digital out ports on the GameCube, you could ship your GameCube to them and they would give you a progressive scan capable GameCube.

Also, if the new 120GB HDD ends up being $100 like the current 20GB HDD, they should also set up an exchange program for people with current hard drives as well. Possibly even do a data-copy to the new hard drives for you so you don't lose any saves, music, movies/TV shows, etc. that's on it. I doubt MS would do this though but I am not sure, they need to think of all the millions of customers who have current 360s with no HDMI and smaller HDDs.

Its not really a necessary feature in my opinion but one that would be convenient and developers could provide links to web pages inside their games that would pop up the browser and whatnot.

But Microsoft could easily make a downloadable browser, kind of in the style that they did the XNA interface. Just make it appear in the "Demos and More" area.

But Microsoft does have all the capability to develop a version of IE for Xbox 360, in fact they could probably base it on the version they use for Pocket PCs. But the issue is, porting it to the Xbox 360's execution system (the biggest part), porting it to Power PC (though they did that in the past with IE for Mac before they canceled it), and especially, making it work, and be part of, and getting it to interact well with the Xbox 360 interface and it being easy for the user to navigate in. Developing a device-based browser is very different from a PC based one, even if they use similar code (like Opera for the Wii, which Opera has developed many device-based browsers before).

"Any reason they still haven't added MechAssault?"

Because of software modification, MechAssult was one of the three games that had exploits that people used to allow software modification of the original Xbox, and I am sure they don't want people doing the same to the emulator somehow. Unless they can figure out how to update (which fixes that exploit) the game or force an update on the game before it runs.

Though I don't understand why they couldn't make MechAssult 2 compatible...

Very nice, this is probably the best backwards compatibility update to come out so far, because it actually adds games vast majority of people have been requesting, such as Conker, Shenmue 2, etc. But one thing I don't understand, why is Double Agent on there? Its been out on Xbox 360 for awhile...

Well, its nice to see more backwards compatability updates. I am sure they will add more titles (as they said, which is one of the reasons they pulled this list off) and whatnot.

Also, I seriously doubt the orginal MechAssult will ever be supported for one reason, it was one of the games uses to modify the original Xbox via a software hack that was done with this game, the original Splinter Cell, and some 007 game and they obviously don't want them hacking the emulator that way. Unless they can somehow update these games to the patched versions before running, these games will stay off the list.

Also, I am still surprised they got this far using a software emulator. As said many times before, this isn't like trying to emulate a N64 on a modern PC, this is emulating the strongest console of the last generation. Infact, I heard the emulator uses all three cores.

But personally, I think Microsoft should give developers some of the emulator code so they can try wrapping the emulator source code around the source code of their games. Because that's the big issue here, Microsoft is doing all the work of making the emulator work with all these games, and obviously, they don't have that source code to adapt the emulator to (though I don't see why they couldn't get the source code for Conker to make it work but even with the code, sometimes the emulator has issues emulating how the game used the hardware). They have to run it and watch it crash or not run right, and then make modifications to the code and repeat this several hundred times before it works 100% or near 100%. But personally, I think it would be better for Microsoft to add a feature to make incompatible games attempt to run, but warn you that the game is incompatible or untested and make you choose if you want to run it or not. That way, even if a game don't work properly, they can at least attempt to run it.

But as the PS3 shows, using hardware isn't a immediate "cure-all" to compatibility but its far better than a emulator. Sony had the advantage that the PS2 hardware was all manufactured in-house using their own architectures, so naturally they have no issues using their hardware. Microsoft however could NOT get licences to remanufacture the CPU and GPU for the Xbox but did get a licence to emulate it, thus why we have the backwards-compatibility emulator we have now. But unless Sony keeps the IBM PowerPC, NVidia hardware setup, their going to have to go though the same ordeal as Microsoft with the PlayStation 4...

I haven't used it yet either, despite I was interested in trying to get V for Vendetta (didn't have the space though for the HD version). But I don't watch much TV and I don't want that many movies so I haven't really used it.

BTW, I ABSOUTELY FIRGGIN HATE SOUTH PARK...

In a way, depsite it being a glitch, it almost makes sense. If you pick up a chainsaw thats on and spin it like they do when they pick up the weapons, your going to maul yourself to death but in this glitches case, it doesn't damage you and it just spews blood everywhere. Maybe they could almost turn it into a "feature" by if you do that, it would just kill you or something.

But in popular games like this, everyone loves to spot glitches. There was a ton in the original Halo and several in Halo 2 and there's a ton of glitches in Oblivion (with a game that huge in playable area, I am not surprised by that) and whatnot. Sometimes people like to have fun with these glitches or mess around with them.

I am sure this and the "break dance" glitch will both be fixed in the update their doing for this game.

Well, there's some people out there that do not have a platinum system and have to use these. These are also good for transferring saves and whatnot.

Also, the larger memory unit will more than likely do one thing, raise the developer size limit of Xbox Live Arcade games. So it will have a positive effect there.

Nice, will be cool for those who play both Xbox 360 and PC games (mainly PC games that are better with a gamepad (*cough*emulators*cough*)). Awsome to hear it works with all Xbox 360 wireless accessories and supports up to four controllers (though I don't know why you would need four controllers on a PC game, but still cool).

I guess this is part of Microsoft's merging gaming on the Xbox 360 and PC space, and soon we will have Live Anywhere will be able to play Xbox Live games against PC users (first time a console vs. PC mutiplayer has been done since Quake 3 on Dreamcast, even though that was a pain to do and needed a special map pack and external software).

The video is just more of a joke to make fun of all the hype the PS3 and Wii has been getting lately and to put it more into the Xbox 360's spotlight.

Its a corny (probity meant to be) and funny video. I think she does some interviews for that website, BTW.