From an interview with Arcade-In-A-Box on gamingnexus.com about their Xbox360 Arcade Controller:

* Did you work closely with Microsoft on the product and if so how was that relationship?
* I've never spoken to anyone at Microsoft, so I guess our relationship is the same as most people. I'm a gamer, and they make a good console, and good games.

* If you have no current relationship with Microsoft, will there be any licensing issues by creating a controller that's going to be used for the Xbox 360?
* That I have no idea. If there is a problem I guess it would come from MadCatz since I'm using their pcbs. Maybe I didn't think through that aspect of it. Maybe MS will step up and provide me a means . I wish MS would make it easier for small companies like me to create products for their systems.

* What are the chances that we'll see a wireless versions of the two 360 controllers?
* Probably not until after the holidays, if at all. The first problem is making the batteries easy to get to so you swap them out, where at the same time, making the unit still pretty to look at. The second problem is by removing the usb, you remove direct compatibility with windows PCs. Sure the wireless will work with windows, but you need to buy additional hardware to make that happen.

http://www.gamingnexus.com/Default.a...Article&I=1620 ...

via xboxscene

A new special edition of the homebrew game 'Super Mario War(info)' for PC and Xbox(1) has been released.
What's new/fixed:
* Complete graphics, sound and music update for halloween
* New levels full of cauldrons, castles, pumpkins, mummies and more!
* Update by: Link901, GeneralGuy, KingPepe, Tanuki, Fabian G, and Mr. Mister
* Comments/Questions - http://forum.72dpiarmy.com/viewtopic.php?t=6401&start=0
* Have fun this Halloween!

Official Site: http://smw.72dpiarmy.com ...

via xboxscene

Our developer, Soulheaven, has released a new tool that allows you to prepare a firmware for a new drive on your Xbox 360.

How it works:
1. You dump the two drives firmwares you want to swap.
2. You hack the firmware of the drive you want to use.
3. Launch 360Drive_switcher and set it like this:
+ The firmware of the drive you don't want to use anymore in the "Original firmware file"
+ The firmware of the drive you want to use in "Destination firmware file"
4. Check the informations that the tool gives you
5. Click on "Generate..."

Now, you have just to flash the new firmware created on the drive you want to use...and have fun.

What's new/fixed in v1.0.1.14:
* fixed some small bugs
* more explicit error message if you try to load a totally corrupted firmware
* Auto-update feature added
* Important: After several tests, it looks like the ixtreme v1.2revC patch doesn't work correctly with spoofed firmwares. The spoof line isn't fully imported in the ixtreme firmware. That can result in an error66 or error65. To void any errors, if you're spoofing a drive (either using this software of Firmware Tool Box), do it AFTER the iXtreme patch.

Official Site: x360.gx-mod.com ...

The battle for the future of the high-definition DVD has taken an intriguing turn: For the first time, mega-retailer Wal-Mart has begun selling a player for less than $200.
In various online forums, enthusiasts have reported seeing the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player available in stores for $198, significantly less than its common price of $230-$280.

"We reduced our HD DVD Toshiba player, the generation-two, to $198 earlier in the week," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien confirmed. "It's happening now, and that's really all I can tell you. We don't give any information on what we're planning to do for the holidays. We know HD DVD and Blu-ray are going to be popular items this holiday season for some of our customers. ... They will be more popular this year than they were in previous years."
O'Brien said rumors that each Wal-Mart store would stock only 18 units of the Toshiba player were false. "There are no limited quantities for stores or purchases."

http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com...for-under-200/ ...

New from Success HK



For PSP-2000 only
Protect your PSP console not be scratched
Adopt by soft materies, good feeling
High transparence ...

New from Success HK



Improved standard graphics
Suitable for most video devices
Stereo sound

Price:USD 6.71 ...

New from Success HK



High resolution graphics
Ideal for HDTV
Stereo sound

USD 7.38 ...

News from Play Asia:

Welcome to this week's Games & Toys update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.

Top selling next gen console releases this week have been Thrillville: Off the Rails for Xbox360™, Imabi Kisou and The Eye of Judgment (Asia / Japanese) as well as Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party (Regular / With Dancing Mat), Ghost Squad (Regular / With Wii Zapper) and Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (US / Japanese) for Nintendo Wii™.

For PlayStation2™ we've got Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 31: Dennou Senki Virtual On and Banpresto's Ar tonelico II: Sekai ni Hibiku Shoujo Tachi no Souzoushi.

Demanded handheld releases this week have been the English language Asia Edition of Konami's Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for PSP™, along with the Nintendo DS™ top sellers Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu no Grimoire, World Soccer Winning Eleven DS: Goal x Goal! (Japanese), Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations and Mega Man ZX Advent (both US versions).

An interesting misc. product release this week has been Square-Enix / Suntory's Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion canned softdrink. Make sure to give it a try...

As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week,

Xbox360™:
Beautiful Katamari US US$ 44.90
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War ASIA US$ 64.90
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War JPN US$ 69.90
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War [Premium Box] JPN US$ 95.00
Thrillville: Off the Rails US US$ 49.90
Thrillville: Off the Rails ASIA US$ 44.90

PlayStation3™:
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Game of the Year Edition) US US$ 64.90
Imabi Kisou JPN US$ 64.90
Logicool Cordless Media Board Pro JPN US$ 99.90
Need for Speed: Carbon (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
The Eye of Judgment JPN US$ 89.90
The Eye of Judgment ASIA US$ 84.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Dance Dance Revolution Controller JPN US$ 49.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party JPN US$ 59.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party (w/ Dancing Mat) JPN US$ 69.90
EA Playground US US$ 49.90
Ghost Squad JPN US$ 49.90
Ghost Squad (w/ Wii Zapper) JPN US$ 59.90
Gintama: Banji Oku Chuubu JPN US$ 59.90
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core US US$ 44.90
Mercury Meltdown Revolution US US$ 29.90
Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis US US$ 44.90
Simple Wii Series Vol. 1: The Minna de Kart Race JPN US$ 29.90
Simple Wii Series Vol. 2: The Minna de Bass Tsuri Taikai JPN US$ 29.90
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night US US$ 49.90
Thrillville: Off the Rails US US$ 49.90
Victorious Boxers: Revolution US US$ 44.90
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure US US$ 44.90
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure / Takarjima Z: Barbaros no Hihou JPN US$ 59.90

PlayStation2™:
Ar tonelico II: Sekai ni Hibiku Shoujo Tachi no Souzoushi JPN US$ 64.90
Baldr Bullet: Equilibrium JPN US$ 64.90
Baldr Bullet: Equilibrium [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 95.00
Bleach: Blade Battles (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Bleach: Hanatareshi Yabou (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Bleach: Selected Soul (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Colorful Aquarium: My Little Mermaid JPN US$ 64.90
Colorful Aquarium: My Little Mermaid [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Dragon Ball Z Sparking! Meteor KOR US$ 59.90
God of War II: The End Begins JPN US$ 64.90
Itsuka, Todoku, Ano Sora ni JPN US$ 64.90
Itsuka, Todoku, Ano Sora ni [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn!! Let's Ansatsu!? Nerawareta 10 Daime! JPN US$ 64.90
Need for Speed Carbon (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Nettai Teikiatsu Otome JPN US$ 64.90
Nettai Teikiatsu Otome [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 31: Dennou Senki Virtual On JPN US$ 28.90
Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 31: Dennou Senki Virtual On [Segadirect Super DX Pack] JPN N/A
Taka Reet Ura Mahjong Retsuden: Mukoubushi JPN US$ 49.90
Volleyball World Cup: Venus Evolution JPN US$ 64.90

Nintendo DS™:
Abashii Narugami Gakuen Toshi Densetsu Tantei Kyoku JPN US$ 39.90
CSI: Dark Motives ASIA US$ 34.90
Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch JPN US$ 48.90
Crossword DS + Sekai 1-Shuu Cross JPN US$ 29.90
DS Card Block Mixed Pack JPN US$ 7.90
DS Card Block White Pack JPN US$ 7.90
Disney Princess: Magical Jewels US US$ 34.90
Dungeon Maker: Mahou no Shovel to Chiisa na Yuusha JPN US$ 48.90
EA Playground US US$ 34.90
ESSE Kakeibo DS JPN US$ 39.90
Eigo o Taberu Fushigi na Ikimono Marsh JPN US$ 48.90
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu no Grimoire JPN US$ 48.90
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu no Grimoire Accessory Set JPN US$ 17.90
Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes A Day US US$ 24.90
Hannah Montanna: Music Jam US US$ 34.90
Hard Cover DS Lite (Metallic Skin) JPN US$ 9.90
Horsez: Farm Adventures ASIA US$ 34.90
Illust Logic DS + Colorful Logic JPN US$ 29.90
Iria no Sora, UFO no Natsu I&II Complete Pack JPN US$ 59.90
Iria no Sora, UFO no Natsu II JPN US$ 34.90
Mahjong Quest Expeditions US US$ 24.90
Mainichi Happy! Ayakouji Kimimaro no Life Kit JPN US$ 39.90
Mega Man ZX Advent US US$ 29.90
Mensetsu no Tatsujin: Tenshoku-Hen JPN US$ 39.90
Pet Vet ASIA US$ 34.90
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations US US$ 29.90
Power Rangers: Super Legends US ...

Just in time for the EU launch of Metroid Prime 3, Eurogamer has a retrospective on the Metroid series well worth checking out.
"The first Metroid presciently set the tone for the future of the franchise by appearing first on a struggling format and only reaching foreign shores after lengthy delays. Metroid was initially released only for the Famicom Disc System in 1986. The FDS was one of Nintendo's first attempts to monkey around with new storage methods, but its success was limited and it never made it beyond Japan. One year later, Metroid finally appeared on the plain old NES in North America and then, another year later, we pox-ridden Europlebs were deemed worthy of having a copy to call our own. Hmm. Sounds familiar."

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85987 ...