news via m-net

Nintendo's Wii game console has broken Australian records, selling 32,901 units in its first week, toppling the previous Aussie sales record held by Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Figures for New Zealand are less exact, but local Nintendo distributor Softprint Interactive says that since going on sale December 7, the $500 console has achieved 75 per cent of the 7000 Xbox 360s sold here in March.

It's the same the world over; demand exceeded supply in the Americas with 600,000 Wiis sold within eight days, while UK gamers bought one Wii a second following its midnight launch, eventually snapping up 50,000 in its first 12 hours. In Europe, 325,000 consoles sold in its first two days.

So game is most definitely on, with the Xbox 360, PS3 and now the Wii all available and battling for market supremacy.

While we won't see it in New Zealand until March 7, the PS3 finally hit stores in the US and Japan mid-November. Manufacturing issues had plagued the console's release with the main culprit being production of the system's blue laser diode, eventually causing shortages of the console and delaying its release in Europe until March 2007.

But don't underestimate the Sony; since entering the market in 1994, the company has been the leading console vendor. The PSone shipped over 100 million units, a record broken only by the PS2. Sony envisions similar results from the PlayStation 3, except this time the console is more than a game - it's a multimedia hub for the home.

According to Ovum technology analyst Carl Gressum, "Sony has made two brave bets with its latest console, namely the Blu-ray disc drive, and the Cell processor, both of which are new and untested technologies. Over time these technology choices might be what brings Sony back into the game. However, for now, one has to question whether Sony might have been better off using more mature and established technologies."

Despite this, Sony is sticking to its projections of 2 million PS3s shipped by the end of 2006, and 6 million worldwide by March 2007 when the console is launched in Europe (and New Zealand).

Microsoft on the other hand has had a year's head start on the competition. By the end of Q3, the Xbox 360 had sold 6 million units, compared to the projected 4 million Wii shipments in December 2006 alone.

Microsoft has also added video download services to the 360, but Gressum feels this is unlikely to significantly impact on demand during the holidays; saying that the 20GB hard disk is hardly sufficient for video downloads. He adds that there is scepticism about the new HD DVD drive add-on; the Xbox 360 simply generates too much heat and noise to be a viable movie player platform.

However, he says Christmas should see be the best Xbox 360 quarter ever, with shipments reaching or exceeding 4 million units worldwide.

So with the big guns settling in for a heavy-weight stoush, light-weight Nintendo has surprised everyone by entering the next-generation console race with the oddly named Wii. And it's different. The Wii uses revolutionary movement sensors in its slim hand-held controller that relay movements directly to the game, allowing gamers to interact directly and instantly with the graphics. Swing the controller and hit a tennis ball, punch out and floor your attacker. No more sitting idle for hours, furiously tapping buttons, this game is meant to be active and involving.

It's a brave move and the latest figures say it's paying off. Nintendo Australia's Vispi Bhopti says the console is tailored to get non-gamers into gaming. He says the Wii Channels, due to launch in the New Year, will keep non-gaming sectors hooked on console. He explained that by logging on to the Wii Channels with the Wii controller, console owners will be able to watch Nintendo news, weather and internet programmes on their TV.

Games writer and editor of Netguide magazine Jorin Seivers says Nintendo is definitely aiming at a more mainstream audience, especially women. "The controller is very intuitive with fewer buttons and the imagery is very ‘cutesy'.

"The physical aspect of the game will also appeal more widely. You can actually build up a sweat with this thing," he says.

Gaming is a huge and often cut throat business, but we at m-net are picking that for the holidays, expect Nintendo to steal the show. ...

Cannabis guide 2.0

this is a guide to view all the various cannabis strains. There are quite a few missing, this program has most of the more known strains.

whats been done

+ The instruction screen code has been fixed
+ The credits screen code has been fixed
+ There is a new start screen (animation is still null)
+ There have been 7 NEW STRAINS ADDED
+ Some various code cleaning
- The main menu sprites have been deleted (they served no purpose)
/ A total of 53 STRAINS CAN NOW BE VIEWED
/ 1.5 and 1.0 Eboot is now avalible

extract the rar and place the cannabis guide and cannabis guide% in the game folder of your psp if you have a 1.5 . Place the cannabis guide folder in the 1.0 download in your game folder of your psp if you have a 1.0 psp

thank you all who have taken the time out to try the cannabis guide

if you wish to give me ideas or give your input please email me at [email protected]

--gunntims0103

download and give feedback via comment ...

new mod via vettacossX

FIRST I GIVE A SPECIAL THANX TO CHARNOLD FOR BLESSING OUR SCENE WITH THIS GAME AND UPDATE THIS IS A GR8 ENGINE TO WORK WITH AS WELL AS LEARN FROM.

well ive listen to alot of feedback and tried to reflect that onto my new mod update.

so with that i have made the WHOLE set of models whith a full suit.

SPEAKING of models there are now 3 models you will now see a blue model in the game.

also ive added some nice level GFX to the engine to give it a newer feel and texture.

so i give you a gif. with ALL 3 models
and Halo dungeons vs2 ALSO WITH ALL THREE MODELS NOW!
RED
BLUE
GREEN

again this is a zionmax exclusive, i ask that no site host this download

download here

download thru link and give feedback via comment ...

new Mod via vettacossX

OFFICIAL HALO DUNGEONS VS1

ok for those who checked the thread in the past day you may have had a chance to test the initial TESTvs release ...Well its been about one day in
(6 and 1 half hours modding) and ive managed to get together another UPDATE i feel is worth posting.

WHATS NEW?
fixed green master chef head
added red 3d Halo model
polished and smoothed existing changes

This is a exclusive i ask that no site host this download

Download here

thank you

screen, download link, and give feedback via comment ...

news via dailytech

TVersity opens up the real-time video streaming to the Xbox 360 without the need for MCE

Previously, only Windows Media Center PCs could send videos of any format to Xbox 360 for viewing on the big screen (using software such as Transcode 360). Then, in the Fall Dashboard Update, Microsoft opened up video streaming from any Windows XP PC as long as the file was in WMV format. Software such as Encode360 automates the entire process of converting your videos for Microsoft’s console, but does not offer the process streamed in real-time.

Today, a small wonder in software was released that should garner cheers from Xbox 360 media addicts. Video manager software TVersity Media Server released its latest beta version 0.9.9 and added to its list of features is on-the-fly video transcoding for the Xbox 360, giving users the ability to play videos in all formats, including MPEG-4, on the console. TVersity also supports media receivers such as the Philips SLA5500 and Sony Vaio VGP-MR100U.

Granted, to transcode a high-resolution video to the Xbox 360 in real-time requires some decent processing power, but everything works as advertised and without the need for Windows Media Center. The software allows for various quality and resolution settings for scaling to a PC’s speed. Videos may also be upconverted to high-definition for those with fast computers.

In addition to the video streaming, TVersity will also send audio to the Xbox 360, allowing the user to listen to music, podcasts and internet radio through the console. ...

news via gamespot

Gamestation, HMV, and Game all announce their launch-night shenanigans.

The wait for a Wii is almost over for UK gamers. Eager British Nintendans had to watch the US launch of the console on November 19, and the Japanese launch will also pass them by on December 2. However, next Friday, December 8, Nintendo's next-gen console will finally hit the shelves across most of Europe.

That isn't soon enough for some, though--with preorders on Amazon UK selling out within minutes, and the Christmas season fast approaching, some dedicated gamers will no doubt be standing in front of the store waiting for the very second the console will be released. These hardcore fans will be relieved to know that the UK and Ireland won't be missing out on midnight launch fun. Today, three major British and Irish gaming retailers revealed their plans for the evening of December 7.

Game will be holding midnight events at its Oxford Street, London, and Dublin, Ireland, branches only. The two events will feature music, entertainment, competitions, free pizza, and demonstration Wii pods to play on. Game's marketing director, Anna Macario, said, "We are anticipating huge crowds of customers will come to our Oxford Street [and Dublin] store to get their hands on their Nintendo Wii at the first possible moment."

As far as UK-only events, Gamestation will be hosting parties at its Birmingham and Edinburgh stores. At the Birmingham New Street branch, local radio station Kerrang DJs will be spinning tracks, models will be serving food, and there will be competitions including a play-off in each of the store windows to win a Wii. There will also be a guest appearance by Nintendo icon "Mario"--either an impersonator or (more likely) a CG re-creation--via a satellite link with the US. Both events are expected to start at around 10 p.m. and finish up at around 2 a.m.

The main official Nintendo event is still under wraps, but the company has revealed to GameSpot that it will take place at the Oxford Street HMV store and will feature an appearance by an as-yet-unconfirmed Nintendo executive. "There'll be all kinds of exciting things going on," a spokesperson said. ...

news via cinemablend

It has been no surprise that the next generation of Brothers In Arms is nothing short of impressive. While it’s still a ways off from release, every gamer is probably questioning whether Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway is going to make its way to the Wii? Well, with the success of Call of Duty 3, another World War II shooter probably wouldn’t be a bad addition to Nintendo’s lineup.

Utilizing advanced physics (much like Midway’s Stranglehold), BIA: Hell’s Highway offers a whole new level of military combat and immersive warfare. So I contacted a representative at Gearbox to see if the developers had a little something cooking in the oven for the Nintendo Wii. Even though I hate to be a buzz-kill, the PR commented that... “Currently, Gearbox hasn't announced anything regarding Hell's Highway and the Wii,

Although, given that Ubisoft is a heavy third-party supporter for Wii that doesn’t mean there won’t be a Brothers In Arms for Nintendo’s new system. The representative from Gearbox continued on to say... “as you likely know, we will certainly be developing on the Wii platform (we just haven't really said what and when yet” ...

news via gizmodo

Fans of driving games traditionally either had to put up with filmsy wheels that made racing less convenient than using the standard analog stick controllers. With the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel from Microsoft, lousy first party racing accessories are a thing of the past.

In all honesty, this was the best racing experience we've ever had.

Build quality was excellent, since the wheel was incredibly solid and grippy and the paddles were placed just right for easy shifting. Although you can't spin the wheel 720 degrees like in a real car, it did give you tight control of whatever car you were driving.

The pedals were also extremely lifelike, since your ankles hold them in place, and both the gas and brake had enough push-back to keep you on your toes, so to speak.

But the big question is how these behaved with games? The answer: fantastic.

The wheel ships with a modified version of Project Gotham Racing 3, which also comes with the drivers necessary to make the wheel work on other games. The best example of how well this wheel works would be the F50 GT that everyone loves to use—because it's the fastest—but is incredibly hard to control. Using the wireless racing wheel, driving the beast felt like cruising down the I-5 in a Honda Civic. No problems at all!

The other game we tried was Need for Speed: Carbon. The older NFS game doesn't have wheel support, but Carbon does in spades. Our experience with Carbon can be summed up like this. After a day of playing with the standard 360 controller, we were set to return the game since it wasn't that much better than the other Need for Speed. After we got the wheel, however, everything just felt right. Our mouths were agape, and our tongues were wagging in a Jordanesque fashion trying to nail those tight corners.

Long story short, this is the best thing to happen to Xbox 360 racing games. Ever. If you're a racing fan—or just want to become a racing fan—get this controller. Seriously.

screens via comment ...

news via palgn

Claims MS bigwig, before laying into Sony. For a change.

Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, has claimed that Microsoft is already thinking about the machine that will succeed the Xbox 360. "You know how these things work. The engineering team is always thinking about the future," replied Bach when asked by the San Jose Mercury News about Microsoft's next console. However, he was also keen to recognize the fact that, y'know, Microsoft has a console out now to worry about, adding that, "Currently, we're thinking about how to cost reduce the Xbox 360. That seems to be the first order of business."

That may be the first order of business, but goading Sony also seems to be high up on Microsoft's action plan at the moment. And, true to form, Bach had his own piece to say about Microsoft's fierce rival, which he described as being "spread really thin across all these areas. Trying to do PSP, competing with Nintendo, PSP to DS; competing with us, 360 to PS3, I think it does strain - it would naturally strain any organization."

Of course, Bach was rather more optimistic about Microsoft's chances over the Holiday season, proclaiming that, "The second holiday for Xbox 360 is set up right - we've got the quantities we need, we've got the games we need, and anything I do to distract those guys is probably a bad thing. You have to ask the question, over the life cycle, who has the cost advantage? Who can price most effectively? Who can reach the price points quicker? That has a huge impact on what gets driven."

More corporate cat fighting as it reaches our twitching ears. ...