New Xbox Experience Causing HDMI Sound Loss Issues
>> From gizmodo.com:
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According to a long thread at the AVForums, several Xbox 360 users are losing all sound after upgrading to the New Xbox Experience.
Fortunately, there seems to be a fix:
* Turn off the Xbox 360.
* Remove the hard drive.
* Turn on the Xbox 360.
* When the Dashboard loads, put the hard drive back.
Apparently, the fix is only temporary. If you turn of the Xbox, you will have to receive the process
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Full Story: gizmodo.com
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360's lack of Sony Pictures films streaming on Netflix 'unrelated' to competition
>> From engadget.com:
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You probably recall that two days ago, when the new Xbox Experience launched, sadly, about 300 Sony Pictures films were unavailable for Netflix Watch Instantly on NXE.
According to a Sony spokesperson, the problem isn't specific to the Xbox, nor is their beef competition-related in any way. Sony also says it is in talks with the several "relevant parties" to work out these vague licensing issues, though there was no word on when the issue would be resolved.
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Full Story: engadget.com
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Xbox 360 storms past 7m sales in Europe
>> From mcvuk.com:
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Microsoft has told MCV that Xbox 360 has cruised past seven million sales in Europe.
The company last released a European sales figure for Xbox 360 in June, when it told MCV that it had shifted five million units in EMEA.
Now that number has grown by two million - having been greatly affected by September's price reduction, which saw the 360 Arcade SKU reduced to just £129.99 (€179.99).
"When you look at what we've got coming, just in the next three or four weeks, that gives us the confidence that this will be the best ever Christmas in the history of Xbox. "
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Full Story: mcvuk.com
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Xbox LIVE Community Games is Open for Business!
>> From the XNA Team Blog:
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Hopefully you've managed to upgrade yourself to the New Xbox Experience already!
Some people are reporting having trouble logging on to Xbox.com to sign the new Terms of Use. If that includes you, try signing this through your Xbox 360 console instead. That is probably your quickest and easiest route back to Premium Creators Club membership status.
We've also got a new area just for Xbox LIVE Community Games over on the Xbox.com forums. This will be where we can send those earnest voices that don't necessarily want to make a game, but simply want to offer their opinions on the games created. Each Community Game will have its own thread created once it is available through Marketplace.
On Creators Club we've opened up the last piece of the site to the Creators -- the "My Business" portion of your profile is now live. If you're selling a Community Game or plan to sell one you need to give us your information there so we know where to send the check!
This is a pretty incredible day for all of us. We've managed to do something that no one has really done before. We've opened up the console and given independent game developers a chance to sell their work to the millions of Xbox LIVE gamers.
Our creators have submitted more than 30 different games that you can download now through the Community Games channel on the New Xbox Experience. Each game has something incredible to offer and speaks to the potential that waits beyond today. We really can't wait to see what happens next!
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NXE Launch Day Updates: Some LIVE and NetFlix Issues
>> From majornelson.com:
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* As you can imagine, it's been an incredible day so far for the New Xbox Experience. It's great to see so much enthusiasm...it sounds like you are having fun exploring NXE. With an update of this magnitude, reaching more than 14 million people around the globe, we are aware some of you may be experiencing a few hiccups along the way. The LIVE team is closely monitoring the LIVE service and Xbox.com and are aware of a few issues including what's happening with Marketplace. The team is actively working on the issues, so thanks for bearing with us.
* We hope your're enjoying the New Xbox Experience. As expected, Netflix on Xbox 360 is a huge success, with the LIVE community flocking to this portion of the New Xbox Experience. Some of you may have had a few challenges earlier today but I wanted to let you know they've been resolved.
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Meet your Xbox Community Game launch titles
>> From arstechnica.com:
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The New Xbox Experience has arrived today, along with the Xbox Community Games Platform. This new portal will offer countless games from independent developers that are moderated by the community, rather than Microsoft. We had a chance to play around with the Community Games prior to launch, and we have liked what's out there so far. Let's take a look at just a few of the games that you can scoop up at launch.
The Good
* Bloc (200 Points, $2.50)
* Lines (200 Points, $2.50)
The Bad
* Cubage (200 Points, $2.50)
* Space Combat (200 Points, $2.50)
The Strange
* Drift (400 Points, $5)
* Being (200 Points, $2.50)
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Full Story: arstechnica.com
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Halo 3 and NXE: HDD Install Causes Slower Loading Times ...
>> From bungie.net:
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The "New Xbox Experience" was released today and one of the new features allows you to "install" your games to the HDD. While you still have to keep the original disc in the tray, installing to the HDD can make some games perform a little better while also putting a little less wear-and-tear on your DVD drive. However, this isn't to say that ALL games will see optimizations from being installed. In fact, in the case of Halo 3, the game will actually see increased loading times. Several websites have reported the results of tests to gauge how some games perform after being installed to the HDD for Halo 3 and their tests indicate that in some cases, the load times are significantly longer. Our own internal investigations have yielded similar results.
To help explain why this is the case I tapped our uber engineer and Chief Caching Officer, Mat Noguchi, to answer a few questions.
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Full Story: bungie.net
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Netflix Confirms Columbia Pictures Movies are Pulled from NXE
>> From gamasutra.com:
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All Columbia Pictures movies have been pulled from the Xbox Live version of Netflix, following the launch of the New Xbox Experience dashboard update.
Columbia Pictures is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, but the move does not appear to be malicious on the part of Sony executives -- all movies distributed by Sony Pictures still remain accessible through the service.
"A few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console," Netflix corporate communications VP Dave Swasey told consumer website MTV Multiplayer.
"Those titles are still available to be watched on subscribers' computers and on TVs via other partner devices, and we hope they'll be licensed for Xbox 360 shortly."
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
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Top 10 things to do when you get the New Xbox Experience
>> From majornelson.com:
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The New Xbox Experience is in the process of being deployed to all Xbox LIVE members, but it will take a few hours for everyone to get the prompt to update to NXE....be patient! In the meantime I thought I would give my Top 10 list of things to do with NXE when you get it later today:
1) Create (or Customize) your Avatar - You can spend as much (or as little) time as you want in the Avatar Editor to personalize your little guy/girl
Bonus: When you are done with #1, be sure to take a Gamer Picture of your Avatar. In the Avatar editor, choose Gamer Picture. You can use the controls to move your avatar around, zoom in and out or even change the background color (press Y)
2) Explore the all new dashboard. (hint: use the trigger and bumpers to quickly scroll up and down or left and right)
3) PAR-TAY! Check out Xbox LIVE Parties and chat with up to seven of your friends. Go to the Friends channel...choose a friend who is online and press Y to get the party started. You can also hit the Xbox 360 Guide button > Party >Start a Party. Once you do that, send off invites to your party (since one does not make a very good party...does it?)
4) Themes. While any themes you work will NXE, check out some of the new themes via My Xbox and select your profile (second slot) and then change theme. Xbox 360, Spectrum, Day and Night are new themes that available as part of your NXE upgrade...check them out.
5) Marketplace on Xbox.com. This new feature lets you search, browse, and purchase games and videos while you are away from your console. You can also perform account management functions like changing your billing information, viewing your purchase history, and downloading items you already own.
6) Netflix - Xbox LIVE Gold Member and you have Netflix? If you are in the US you can stream thousands of videos (some in HD) directly from Netflix to your Xbox 360. Not a member? Sign up for a free trial at Xbox.com/netflix
7) Install to / Play from Hard Drive. With the game in the tray, return to your dashboard. (pressing the guide button then Y works as always) then go to My Xbox. From here press Y, which will bring up a new menu which will allow, among other things the ability to install a game to your hard drive.
Hint: You can still use the Xbox 360 guide while installing a game to keep in touch with your friends or start a Party.
Bonus: Before you do #7, be sure to set up what happens when you turn on your Xbox 360. My Xbox->System Settings>Console settings. Then choose Start up to to choose Disc, Xbox Dashboard or Windows Media Center. Once you are done there...check the option right below it: Autostart. This tell your Xbox 360 what to do when you insert a game. The choices are enable or disable. I have mine set to disable so I can easily use install to hard drive.
8) Delete Zero Gamerscore games. You can remove any games from your games played list that you have earned no achievements or gamerscore. Press the Xbox 360- guide button, navigate left to the games section and choose Achievements. From here choose the game with zero gamerscore you want to remove and press X (Delete Game History.)
9) Press the Xbox 360 button on your controller to see the all new Guide. The team has added more functionality than the old guide, while making it more responsive. It's a quick way to check your messages, see who is online or start a party.
10) Take a look at Community Games in the Games Marketplace. For the first time in the history of console gaming, thousands of games developed by the creative community will be available to the public.
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XBLA Avatar Update
>> From the Xbox PR Blog:
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If you are eagerly awaiting the chance to download the free Xbox LIVE Arcade Avatar updates launching soon, there are a few things you should be aware of to ensure you can download them successfully. This information only pertains to Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, and Bomberman; UNO and Kingdom for Keflings will also support avatars now, but don't have a special upgrade process.
If you have never downloaded one of these titles, simply find them in Marketplace, and the version you download will come preloaded with Avatar support. Otherwise, if you are already an owner of one of these titles, follow these easy steps to get Avatars working in your game:
1. When you launch the game, accept and download the Title Update that is offered as usual.
2. When the game reloads, you will see a message highlighting the new features that will be added to your game, as well as a pointer on where to go to download. Click the A button to navigate to the download location.
3. Download the game package. For most users, there will be a checkmark next to the full game download option. This is okay, as a re-download of the package is necessary in order to enable the new features.
4. And that's it! Choose "Play Now" to reload the game and be sure to check out all of the places Avatars can be found throughout your game.
For more information on all of the titles launching with Avatars, check out the new "Avatar Games" channel in Xbox LIVE Arcade.
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