Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The 10 best Xbox exclusives (no spartans allowed)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-10-best-xbox-exclusives-no-spartans-allowed/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-10-best-xbox-exclusives-no-spartans-allowed/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-10-best-xbox-exclusives-no-spartans-allowed/#comments We're happy to remark on the tenth anniversary of the original Xbox, but it gets a little weird when Microsoft barges into our solemn vigil with a birthday cake.

This is the company that couldn't pull the plug on its muscular and costly console fast enough -- and not just because the cord was about to incinerate your house. Microsoft's rapid prudence allowed it to rein in the hardware for its next system, and to successfully transplant Xbox Live into a body now recognized for its sustainability, if not its fragility.

It worked out for the business, but didn't leave much time for less popular system-exclusive games to flourish or to be found. Ironically, the Xbox commercial that drew the most ire, after it crudely launched a baby through a window and into a cemetery, proved that there can be some truth in advertising after all. "Life is short," it said, "play more." We wrongly figured it was talking about us.

After the break: A list of our favorite, often overlooked Xbox games.

Continue reading The 10 best Xbox exclusives (no spartans allowed)

JoystiqThe 10 best Xbox exclusives (no spartans allowed) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakdownbuffy-the-vampire-slayergunvalkyriejsrfmicrosoftotogiotogi-2-immortal-warriorspanzer-dragoon-ortaphantom-dustquantum-redshiftrallisport-challenge-2voodoo-vincexboxxbox-1Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 2 still kinda alive, thanks to some fans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/halo-2-still-kinda-alive-thanks-to-some-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/halo-2-still-kinda-alive-thanks-to-some-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/halo-2-still-kinda-alive-thanks-to-some-fans/#comments When the sun set on the Xbox Live service for original Xbox games on April 15, some Halo 2 players decided they just didn't want to let go. So they've been in-game and have left their consoles running past the designated April 15 shutdown, staying in Halo 2 for almost two weeks now. They're going to flip when they see their electric bills!

This thread over on the Bungie forums lists the numerous individuals still online in Halo 2, the last few people able to play the game online ever. Determined not to abandon it until they're forcibly removed by Bungie or Microsoft (or their consoles blow up, which is a very real possibility), you can clearly see each individual's commitment via their profile page on Xbox.com: You gotta give it to these guys for their perseverance. Sometimes, you just can't accept something coming to an end. That's why we've never gotten around to watching the series finale of Who's The Boss?.

[Via CNET]

JoystiqHalo 2 still kinda alive, thanks to some fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiehalo-2Microsoftoriginal-xboxxbox-1Xbox-360xbox-livexbox-originalsThu, 29 Apr 2010 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Aaron Greenberg talks Xbox 1 Live shutdown, hard drives, and Games on Demand]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/interview-aaron-greenberg-talks-xbox-1-live-shutdown-hard-driv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/interview-aaron-greenberg-talks-xbox-1-live-shutdown-hard-driv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/interview-aaron-greenberg-talks-xbox-1-live-shutdown-hard-driv/#commentsIf you thought the jam-packed Xbox lineup on display at the X10 event was exciting for you, imagine being one of the people in charge of it. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg got to watch reactions to the lineup at the event all day -- except, of course, for the time he took out to speak to us about the crowded game schedule, Project Natal, and more.

Greenberg remained genial even when faced with familiar questions about the ramifications of the removal of Xbox 1 Live support, and with random, odd questions generated from Joystiq's interview brainstorming session, such as:

Joystiq: Can you make Kudo in Kodu?

Aaron Greenberg: What?

I don't know. Don't worry about it.

Does not compute.

Continue reading Interview: Aaron Greenberg talks Xbox 1 Live shutdown, hard drives, and Games on Demand

JoystiqInterview: Aaron Greenberg talks Xbox 1 Live shutdown, hard drives, and Games on Demand originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>250gbaaron-greenberginterviewMicrosoftproject-natalx10xbox-1Xbox-360xbox-liveFri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Major Nelson: Original Xbox DLC back online]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/major-nelson-original-xbox-dlc-back-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/major-nelson-original-xbox-dlc-back-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/major-nelson-original-xbox-dlc-back-online/#commentsFiled under:

After telling Joystiq just yesterday that it was working on a fix for unavailable original Xbox DLC, Microsoft has restored the content to Xbox Live. Major Nelson made the news known via his Twitter account. We popped a copy of Halo 2 into the ol' Xbox 360 and, sure enough, all the map packs were once again available for download. Ninja Gaiden worked as well. So, if you need any DLC for your dusty old Xbox games, you'd best get it before the original Xbox Live servers shut down permanently on April 15 (just in time for taxes!).

Also, don't forget to snag the old Halo 2 maps for Bungie's final online farewell to the game on April 14. You really should be there to play one last time. It's got dual-wielding!

JoystiqMajor Nelson: Original Xbox DLC back online originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlchalo-2Microsoftoriginal-xboxxboxxbox-1Xbox-360xbox-liveThu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Original Xbox games' DLC already offline]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/psa-original-xbox-games-dlc-already-offline/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/psa-original-xbox-games-dlc-already-offline/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/psa-original-xbox-games-dlc-already-offline/#comments Plans to disconnect Xbox Live services for original Xbox games have apparently already begun, as DLC servers for Xbox titles have been quietly taken offline. According to numerous forum threads and our own tests of an assortment of Xbox titles, attempts to download original Xbox game content are now fruitless. Each title tested yielded the message: "Could not download content list. Please try again later." (The image above was taken from our test of Halo 2.)

Last Friday, Microsoft announced online support for original Xbox titles would be discontinued on April 15, but made no mention of disconnecting DLC servers earlier than that. Some forum users claim that the DLC servers for Xbox titles were taken offline as soon as the announcement was made last week. So, if you've continued to put off your infiltration of the Kola Cell in the original Splinter Cell, you'd better have already downloaded the mission.

[Thanks, Bren]

JoystiqPSA: Original Xbox games' DLC already offline originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlchalo-2Microsoftoriginal-xboxpsaserversxboxxbox-1Xbox-360xbox-livexbox-originalsWed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live service for Xbox 1 games to be discontinued on Apr. 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/xbox-live-service-for-xbox-1-games-to-be-discontinued-on-apr-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/xbox-live-service-for-xbox-1-games-to-be-discontinued-on-apr-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/xbox-live-service-for-xbox-1-games-to-be-discontinued-on-apr-15/#comments
[Image: Bungie]
Microsoft is pulling the plug on the Xbox Live services that still cater to the original Xbox. As of April 15th, all Xbox 1 games -- including those playable on Xbox 360 or via the Xbox Originals service -- will be severed from the online realm. "I want to start by saying this isn't a decision we made lightly," Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten said at the start of a letter to Xbox Live members, "but after careful consideration, it is clear that this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox Live community."

Whitten added that in continuing to "evolve the service," Microsoft requires changes that are "incompatible" with the previous console's games. "We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities."

According to Major Nelson's most recent list of top Xbox 1 Live titles, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and Counter-Strike players will be hardest hit. Well, sure, Halo 2 is still the most widely played game, but at least those guys will have some consolation when they leave the house and discover that two three more Halo games have come out since 2004.

By the way, if you have anything terribly important to say to your clan mates, we suggest you say it now.

Continue reading Xbox Live service for Xbox 1 games to be discontinued on Apr. 15

JoystiqXbox Live service for Xbox 1 games to be discontinued on Apr. 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesBungieBungie-Studioscounter-strikeFPShalohalo-2marc-whittenMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosoriginal-xboxstar-wars-battlefront-2xbox-1Xbox-360xbox-livexbox-originalsFri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crook nabs 360, replaces with original Xbox]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/crook-nabs-360-replaces-with-original-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/crook-nabs-360-replaces-with-original-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/crook-nabs-360-replaces-with-original-xbox/#commentsFiled under:


We've covered our fair share of Xbox thievery stories in the past, but this one is different. In this case, the criminal involved seems to have a particularly evil sense of humor. An Xbox 360 was stolen from a hall government member at Northwestern University in Illinois. According to the victim, the 360 was locked in a closet on May 11. The victim realized the crime had been committed when he opened the closet on May 22 -- still locked -- to find the 360 had been replaced with the original (and decidedly less svelte) Xbox 1.

We're certainly not condoning the crime -- we hope the thief is caught and the 360 returned -- but we have to admit that is one helluva burn.

[Thanks, Jim. Via Binge Gamer]

JoystiqCrook nabs 360, replaces with original Xbox originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimetheftxbox-1xbox-crimexbox-thiefWed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST