The 360 thread!

[chub]

Hmm, Eurogamer are reporting that Microsoft are going to release an Xbox 360 controller with an upgraded d-pad. They say it can register 32 directions and feels looser than the current one.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=218839

Personally I'd settle for one that does 8 directions properly.

[benedictw]

Given the amount of time I use the d-pad (never) for directional movement I would prefer to have 4 buttons so that games which use it for issuing commands etc can register each direction perfectly.

[Bod]

I've only recently started to use the d-pad again, 'cos I've been playing Soul Calibur 4.
The analogue stick isn't exact enough for me when playing those type of games.

[The Captain]

Given the amount of time I use the d-pad (never) for directional movement I would prefer to have 4 buttons so that games which use it for issuing commands etc can register each direction perfectly.

Rather like the C-buttons on the N64 pad? Which, ironically, had a crap d-pad.

[PVB]

Major Nelson's got wife problems:

I’ve run into a very unique situation. I left the game on in my office at home, and I came back in an hour later to find my wife playing the games. Now, she’s not a gamer unless I put the controller in her hand, so this was a bit surprising. What happened next was even more surprising.

Here is how the conversation went:

Me: Hi..what are you doing?
Her (staring at the screen playing Keystone): (no answer)

Me: Hello? What are you doing?
Her: Playing

Me: Why?
Her: I saw these games, and they looked interesting. I’m not very good at them though.

At this point, I am a bit panicked, since the gold you win (or lose) will transfer to Fable II

Me (getting nervous): Umm…are you winning?
Her: No. I think I’ve lost about 3000. 3000 things.

Me (getting more nervous): What do you mean things?

Her: I don’t know…is this Dollars? Cents? Euros?
Me: It’s Gold.
Her: Ok. Gold. (Switches to Fortune’s Tower)

At this point I am trying to get the controller away from her.

Me: Why don’t you let me play?
Her: I like these games. I’m not very good….but they’re fun.

Me: Well, we have a little problem.
Her: What?

Me: Well, you know that game you liked on the original Xbox? Fable?
Her: The one where you could kick chickens? This music reminds me of that one.

Me: Well this game should remind you of that one since these games are from the sequel coming out this fall called Fable II.
Her (now 3400 in debt): Are you going to play it?

Me : Well. That’s where we have a problem.
Her: What’s the problem?

Me: Well, any gold you win in the game you can transfer to the game when it comes out.
Her: Cool. (pause)

Her: Wait. (now playing Spinnerbox) What about the gold you lose?
Me: You mean the gold YOU lost?

Her: Yea. the gold we lost?
Me: No…you lost.

Her: Yea, the gold we lost.
Me (sigh): Yes, the gold you lost. That’s where we have the problem. I’ll now start Fable II in debt. As in poor. As in owing money.

Her (turning to look at me for the first time since I walked in): Wow. That sucks. (she put the controller down and walks out of the room)
Her: I hope you can pay off that debt before the game comes out. I am going out, see you later.

All totaled, as I post this, I am about 3650 in debt. I have some work to before the game releases in October.

[Bod]

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo is available.

Size: 904.62 MB

[Ratsoap]

Major Nelson's got wife problems:

Lucky for him, they are patching it, which will probably involve resetting everyone's gold.

[benedictw]

Soul Calibur IV demo - 700Mb.

[Bod]

Bit late with that one aren't they? ... the games been out a few weeks already.
Worth a punt if you see a second hand one ... bit easy once you know 1 or 2 special moves.

[benedictw]

Castle Crashers this Wed, according to Maj. Nelson, 1200 pts. Gonna be a demo this time for me. Please get the difficulty curve right!

[Mark]

Please get the difficulty curve right!

Amen to that!

[Phineasfool]

Just got through playing the trial for Castle Crashers and enjoyed it a lot. Have to wait til the weekend though to see if I have some spare money to buy some points. Looks like it could be great fun in 4 player mode. The difficulty didn't seem too bad, though it was just the first level or two.

[The Captain]

Is anything out on XBLA today? I'm so desperate for something new to play I'm even considering the decidedly average-looking Mercenaries 2 on Friday.

[HGFB]

There a demo of Pure out tomorrow.

[Kamineko]

Mercenaries 2 will almost certainly be ridiculously average in the most delightful way.