Starting on Dec. 4, all Xbox LIVE members will receive a free system update with a host of new features and enhancements. Included in this update will be the launch of Xbox Originals, which, for the first time, will enable consumers to download and own full Xbox games, such as “Halo,” “Psychonauts,” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge” and “Fable,” among others, directly to their Xbox 360. This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games.

With no disc necessary, and at just 1,200 Microsoft Points per game, Xbox LIVE members can easily rediscover these hit titles, or check out a game they missed the first time around. This launch lineup is only the beginning, as Xbox 360 owners can expect to see a growing catalog of Xbox games to download and own over the coming year.

I see more 120 gig HDD sales in Microsoft’s Future.

Bioware announced today that they’ve finalized code on their highly anticipated Xbox 360 RPG ‘Mass Effect’.

In addition a special edition version of the game will be offered which features a full length Novel called ‘Galactic Codex: Essentials’, an art book and much more.

PRESS RELEASE: Spacefarers Rejoice! Mass Effect Goes Gold, Limited Collector’s Edition and Exclusive Pre-Order Bonus Disc Unveiled

Fans of this year’s hottest RPG - available exclusively on Xbox 360 - can get their hands on unique and collectible content by pre-ordering Mass Effect at participating U.S. retailers

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (October 22, 2007) - Microsoft Game Studios and BioWare Corp. announced today that the highly anticipated action role-playing game (RPG) Mass Effect has gone gold, and will be offered in a limited collector’s edition. Additionally, an exclusive bonus disc will be offered to consumers who pre-order the game. The bonus disc is available at participating U.S. retailers while supplies last.
The limited collector’s edition will be offered through participating retailers, and will include the following bonus materials:

• A Mass Effect fiction book titled “Galactic Codex: Essentials”
o A 36-page guide to the Mass Effect universe, including a Citadel timeline and a guide to all non-human races, biotics and the key locations in the Perseus arm of the galaxy
• An additional Mass Effect art book titled “A Future Imagined”
o A 36-page collection of BioWare’s concept art for the game
• A bonus DVD of exclusive Mass Effect background material and additional content including:
o “The Vision of Mass Effect documentary
o “The Making of Mass Effect documentary
o “Interactive Storytelling” documentary
o “Inside BioWare” documentary
o 18 Mass Effect themed gamer pics (three unique sets of six)
o 16 dashboard themes (four unique sets of four)
o Ten songs from the Mass Effect soundtrack
o Five historical Mass Effect trailers from X05 through E3 2007 and the Official TV trailer
o A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3″ and “Halo Wars”
o Design galleries featuring 600 concept images fully commented by the Art Directors

The exclusive bonus disc will be offered to consumers who pre-order either edition of the game at participating retailers and will include the following contents:

• A short documentary on DVD introducing the game
• 12 Mass Effect themed gamer pics (two unique sets of six)
• Eight dashboard themes (two unique sets of four)
• Three songs from the Mass Effect soundtrack on a CD
• Four historical Mass Effect trailers from X05 through E3 2007 on DVD
• A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3″ and “Halo Wars”

From the creators of the critically-acclaimed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire comes an epic space saga exclusively for the Xbox 360 that spans the entire galaxy. Combining a rich and engaging narrative with intense sci-fi tactical combat, Mass Effect features an immersive and cinematic gameplay experience rarely seen before in video games.

Mass Effect will have an estimated retail price of $59.99, and the limited collector’s edition will have an estimated retail price of $69.99. Mass Effect is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.masseffect.com.

At 399.99 this is an awesome value.

UPDATE: As promised yesterday here’s the trailer.

We’ll update you with more info as it becomes available.

So you’re at work right now, maybe listening to your favourite oldies or easy listening station (or whatever it is the kids are listening to these days), and your co-workers might be walking by, or you work in a retail store and theres customers around who can hear your Barry Manilow you wouldn’t assume that you’re doing anything wrong would you? You certainly wouldn’t assume that you’re doing something illegal. Well if you live in the UK, according to The Performing Rights Society (PRS) you’re a filthy criminal and should pay up for royalties.

Workers at the Kwik-Fit car repair shop who brought in their own personal radios to listen to music while they work are being sued for £200,000.

The PRS argues that the playing of these radios amounts to public performance and there for royalties should have been paid.

What’s next, the guy in his car who has his radio turned up too loud is going to have to pay royalties too? Ridiculous.

THQ officially announced the final expansion for it’s critically acclaimed real time strategy game, Warhammer 40,000.

The expansion is called Soulstorm and will feature two new races including the Dark Eldar, and likely the Tyranids

“In Dawn of War - Soulstorm, we’ve taken Games Workshop’s epic war from one planet to an entire star system,” said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “Allowing gamers to play nine unique races, introducing air units and providing multiplayer achievements for the first time creates a tremendous amount of new and challenging strategic gameplay for all players.”

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm is set in Games Workshop’s (LSE: GAW) Warhammer 40,000 universe - a dark, futuristic, fantasy setting where armies of technologically advanced warriors, fighting machines and hordes of implacable aliens wage constant war - and is played by millions worldwide. Executive produced and co-developed by Relic Entertainment in association with Iron Lore Entertainment, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm is a complete standalone title and will feature two all-new armies, including the malicious Dark Eldar, for an unprecedented total of nine playable races. In addition to new units across each of the seven existing races, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm will incorporate air units for the first time and introduce multiplayer medals, adding a whole new level of depth to online battles. The revolutionary meta-game introduced in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade is further expanded to an interplanetary scale in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm, allowing players to battle across an entire star system.

In what can only be described as draconian, unfair, and quite possibly illegal, Microsoft has confirmed that users who play Halo 3 before the street date of September 25th will be banned from LIVE for life.

The console gathers information about what games are played and when and stores that information which is then uploaded to Microsofts Live servers whenever the console is connected to the internet. So simply not signing into LIVE would only be a temporary solution, with the only real solution being to NEVER connect the console to the internet.

Why users who have purchased legitimate copies of the game through retail channels should be punished is unfathomable. Any person who wanted to purchase the game and saw it available would of course pick it up for themselves, and would not, or should not ever expect to be banned and forfeit the money they’ve spent on their subscription to LIVE, when they’ve done absolutely no wrong. If anything the retailers should be penalized in some form, but not the users who have spent their hard earned cash on a game, supporting Microsoft and bungie studios.

If Microsoft intends to become number one in the console game, this is hardly the type of PR move that will win over new customers and maintain existing ones.

We’re sure, hidden somewhere in the ridiculous EULA is some vague stipulation that allows them to get away with this sort of thing (as well as eat your first born children), but that doesn’t make it right.

You have some nerve Microsoft.

Looks like some Norwegian shop has broken the Halo 3 street date and sold multiple copies of the game 2 weeks ahead of schedule.Pirates should have a copy of the game out on the internets anytime now.

Source

Hopefully the final is better than the beta was reported to be…