via Eurogamer


Microsoft boss Bill Gates has his signature on a limited edition Halo 3 console, which is being sold for charity on eBay.

Bald-headed smooth talker J Allard has also added his mark to a 30GB limited edition Halo 3 Zune. The current bid for the items stands at USD 2,150. All of that will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County organisation, which helps youngsters who've had a hard time get a better shot at life.

Bundled on top of these in the auction are piles of other goodies: an HD-DVD player, Halo 3 Legendary and Standard Editions, Halo Triple Pack (Halo, Halo 2, Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack), two extra limited edition Halo 3 wireless controllers (with McFarlane collectable figurine), a Messenger Kit, HDMI cable, and extra 120GB hard drive.

You'll also get a rare accessory pack, which comes in an aluminium casing with a Live Vision Camera, Quick Charge Kit, Memory Unit, Wireless Controller, Wireless Headset, Universal media remote control and a Play & Charge Kit. Oh, and you'll get a Halo 3 T-Shirt, too.

The Limited Edition Halo 3 Zune also comes pre-loaded with loads of stuff. There's Halo and Halo 2 soundtracks, plus loads of videos for Halo 3 and more than 120 pieces of artwork for the game.

Even the Limited Edition Halo 3 console comes with lots of bits and pieces: special edition 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, headset and downloadable from Live, plus an HDMI port, HD AV Cable, Ethernet Cable, Play & Charge Kit and one month's free Live Gold membership.

So that's, er, quite a lot of stuff then.

Pop over to the auction to see what it all looks like and to read the various terms and conditions for bidding, right here ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has made some tweaks to Xbox Live and it should now be up and running.

You can keep an eye on exactly what state the service is in on the official status page, which is updated by the operations center as it irons out various niggles.

Problems came, unsurprisingly, after Halo 3 launched in the US on Tuesday, prompting an enormous surge of Master Chiefs venturing on to the service in order to shoot each other and say rude words. ...

via Games Industry


UK retail has reported that copies of Halo 3 are flying off the shelves, with High Street outlet Woolworths praising the "record breaking" sales.

As numerous retailers up and down the company took advantage of the anticipated release by opening at midnight or early this morning, some are suggesting the game may even beat day one sales of the biggest DVD and CD releases.


Specialist retailer Gamestation also saw a successful launch, as it opened over 190 stores at midnight throughout the UK, and provided a link-up for customers in two different cities to play against each other.


Don McCabe, managing director of Chips, said that some stores were close to selling out already, and he expected to be ordering more before the weekend.


Following a successful launch in the US, Microsoft treated a select audience of UK gamers to a special red carpet screening of Halo 3 last night at London's iMAX cinema. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft launched Halo 3 in the UK on Tuesday evening with a film-style premiere event at the IMAX cinema outside Waterloo in London.

Rather than focus on a midnight launch at a retailer Microsoft decided instead to roll out the red carpet, inviting a handful of celebrities along to the event.

Pharrell Williams and Christian Slater both attended, greeting fans gathered outside the cinema in the rain, while UK TV presenter Iain Lee hosted the show inside.

After some delays in ushering in the audience, made up mostly of Halo fans, Williams was called onstage to take on other celebrities based in locations around Europe - Carmen Electra joined from Paris, while LL Cool J battled from Amsterdam.

A fans' shoot-out followed, with a two-versus-two death match game - each team representing one half of the cinema audience, slogging it out to win Halo 3 copies for the onlookers they represented.

Unfortunately the teams were incorrectly named, causing some confusion for the audience, while one player's controller also failed partway through, leaving his team at something of a disadvantage.

As compensation Microsoft promised Halo 3 copies for everybody, which appeased the crowd, particularly as the event finished several hours before the game went on sale to the public.

The event was followed by an invite-only after-show event in Soho. ...

via Games Industry


Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has revealed that the new model PSP sold more than 300,000 units in Japan since launch.

PSP Slim & Lite launched in Japan in limited quantities on 13th September as part of a special collaborative promotion with Square Enix. 77,777 bundles featuring Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII were produced, and Enterbrain says 75,943 are tracked as sold.

The full launch of the handheld followed on September 20, with 250,702 units bought up in the game's first few days on sale.

That gives the Slim & Lite a total installed base in the region of 326,645 in Japan. The handheld console is also on sale in both Europe and the USA.

Worldwide sales of the original PSP are thought to be in excess of 25 million. ...

via IGN

Today Playlogic announced a publishing and distribution agreement with Ignition to bring Obscure: The Aftermath to North American PlayStation 2s. The sequel to 2005's budget game Obscure, The Aftermath takes place two years after the first game and sees the survivors going off to college. After the discovery of a strange, beautiful plant on campus, the students must again cooperate to survive.

Obscure: The Aftermath was developed by Hydravision, makers of the first game, and will be published by Playlogic in Europe. Under the agreement, Ignition will publish and distribute the game in the U.S.

...

New from SuccessHK




SuccessHK are selling this pack for $232 (£112) and they ship worldwide. ...

New from SuccessHK



Assemble only one time,both use PC and console
Compont input
Resolution SXGA(1600X1200)
PC signal changed with high clarity
No flash,no drag along the tail,no heavy shadow ...

Released today at Play Asia



features
Epic next-gen multi-modal design immerses you in a deep 3rd person gameplay experience.
Fly or hover in the Warhawk to engage in intense dogfights with dozens of fighters and ground forces aimed your way.
Take control of armored tanks or utility vehicles to defend your base or launch a ground assault.
Continue the battle on-foot and choose from a powerful arsenal of weapons, including rocket launchers, flame throwers, and proximity mines.
Select one of four online game modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and an all-new Zone Mode.
Customize your soldier with an unlimited combination of armor and squad markings.
Team up with friends and create competitive clans and stay organized with user friendly communication tools.
Complex stat tracking records and rewards your accomplishments on the battlefield.
Bluetooth and USB headset compatibility for strategic communications and excessive online chatter.
Expansion and vehicle and character customization packs scheduled for download through 2008.

description
The long-awaited remake to the PlayStation® hit takes flight on the PLAYSTATION®3. In Warhawk™, players will experience a true full-scale war in an intense online multiplayer arena. Take to the skies and engage in high-speed aerobatic dogfights or hover to provide crucial aerial support to surging ground troops. Unleash an artillery assault with heavily armored tanks and all terrain vehicles. Advance on-foot to frontline positions and key locations with an array of devastating weapons, mounted guns and emplaced defense turrets.

Experience the online modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and a brand new game type, Zone. Large scale battles and up to 32 players will encourage teamwork and emphasize strategy for an invigorating combat experience. ...