Microsoft has released the second beta version of its XNA Game Studio Express toolst, claiming it's a "near final version of the tool".

XNA Game Studio Express is designed to allow anybody - from fans with zero programming background to academics and seasoned hobbyists - to develop their own little games for Windows and Xbox 360.

The new beta version adds a number of new features, and also coincides with the closed beta release of GarageGames's Torque X, a toolset designed to fit on top of the XNA platform and allow users to create games using a drag and drop interface.

More technical additions to the second beta include the XNA Framework Content Pipeline, which lets users pull in content from other creation packages like Autodesk, 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya and Softimage |XSI, and content importers for .X and Autodesk FBX 3D asset formats.

It also allows users to preview game design for Xbox 360 and pre-compile games ahead of the launch of the XNA Creators Club and the final XNA Game Studio Express on December 11.

XNA Game Studio Professional, which will allow developers who want to profit from their creations to do so, will be released in summer 2007.

Membership of the Creators Club will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace and will allow users to migrate games to 360 and play them there - but at a cost of US$ 49 for a four-month trial of US$ 99 for a one-year membership.

For now though, it's possible to experiment with creating Windows games by downloading the tool from Microsoft.com. ...

A confident Nintendo has reaffirmed its commitment to the launch of the Wii, reiterating its promise of four million units for retail before the end of the year, as it expects unprecedented demand from consumers.

Bolstered by pre-orders and retailer feedback, the company aims to pull out all the stops to supply demand in a retail environment it expects to dominate this side of Christmas.

"Wii is for both experienced and uninitiated gamers, and it will be available for the masses," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

"Because of demand, we're urging shoppers not to get complacent. The level of demand we're seeing goes beyond the ordinary."

"Retailers are telling us a significant fraction of customers pre-ordering Wii are non-traditional gamers - people looking for a better way to play. And that's exactly what Wii is designed to provide," he added.

Clearly confident of its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain, the format-holder has promised to fill retail shelves with product with a launch strategy that can be deemed more efficient that its competitors.

Last year Microsoft struggled to supply retailers with enough units of the Xbox 360 leading to a shortage of hardware well into the new year.

And Sony's launch of the PlayStation 3 later this month has been hampered by poor manufacturing capabilities, with shipment targets missed and a delay to the release of the console in Europe.

Wii is due to launch on November 19th in the US, December 2nd in Japan and across Europe on December 8th. ...

Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack has said he believes the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are on the same level when it comes to performance.

Speaking to Dean Takahashi of the Mercury News, Dyack said, "Maybe the PS3 has more processing power. The 360 has more available memory. It's pretty much a net, net.

"The public perception of the PS3 was that it was much more powerful. To developers, they look even."

Dyack did go on to say that their could potentially be more power in the PlayStation 3 - but that it's harder to harness. "You have to get the timing right," he said, referring to the challenge of keeping all the Cell's sub-processors running.

Dyack is also less than sold on the platform holders' favourite resolution, 1080p, arguing that the difference between it and 720p is "questionable".

"All of our games are likely to be 720p because of the faster refresh rates," he told Takahashi. "There are all kinds of trade-offs. It takes a lot more RAM to do 1080p. You'll reserve RAM for the textures. 720p is just less pixels. [But] There is definitely a huge difference from 720p and analog."

Silicon Knights is currently at work on the first game in the Too Human trilogy for Xbox 360, which is being built using Unreal Engine 3. The studio has yet to consider making games for the Nintendo Wii, with Dyack stating that it remains to be seen whether the "controller stands the test of time".

On the question of who will win the next-gen console battle he said, "It's a tough one. Microsoft is looking really good. Everyone is looking pretty good. At the beginning, everyone thought Sony would walk away with it. We won't know for sure for two years." ...

Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack has said he believes the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are on the same level when it comes to performance.

Speaking to Dean Takahashi of the Mercury News, Dyack said, "Maybe the PS3 has more processing power. The 360 has more available memory. It's pretty much a net, net.

"The public perception of the PS3 was that it was much more powerful. To developers, they look even."

Dyack did go on to say that their could potentially be more power in the PlayStation 3 - but that it's harder to harness. "You have to get the timing right," he said, referring to the challenge of keeping all the Cell's sub-processors running.

Dyack is also less than sold on the platform holders' favourite resolution, 1080p, arguing that the difference between it and 720p is "questionable".

"All of our games are likely to be 720p because of the faster refresh rates," he told Takahashi. "There are all kinds of trade-offs. It takes a lot more RAM to do 1080p. You'll reserve RAM for the textures. 720p is just less pixels. [But] There is definitely a huge difference from 720p and analog."

Silicon Knights is currently at work on the first game in the Too Human trilogy for Xbox 360, which is being built using Unreal Engine 3. The studio has yet to consider making games for the Nintendo Wii, with Dyack stating that it remains to be seen whether the "controller stands the test of time".

On the question of who will win the next-gen console battle he said, "It's a tough one. Microsoft is looking really good. Everyone is looking pretty good. At the beginning, everyone thought Sony would walk away with it. We won't know for sure for two years." ...

Dark alex has released another update to his wonderful custom SE firmware.

This release includes a version bypass, allowing you to play GTA;VCS from the umd! So all those of you who "backed up" your umd to play it on you 2.71 handhelds, you now have no excuse!


Changes:

- Added SFO version bypass to real umd's. (this should enable gta vcs umd to be played).
- Fixed the problem of error 0x8002012D in certain games when plain modules is enabled.
Because the problem is gone, the updater will reset the option of plain modules to enabled.
If for some reason you still have that error, report it and disable the option, but it should be fixed now.


Download via comments ...

This is just a few backgrounds that I made usin the AIO mod for custom firmware I used it to take pics of my gameboots and some pics I found on the net. Well anyways the end result was pretty good I got some awesome looking pics out of it then all I had to do is change them to the proper format to be flashed. You need to use X-flash to install these (its all in the read me. I might release more of my backgrounds but Im not sure if I will, just depends on how well this pack goes over. Hope you guys like um

heres a pic of one of them




(Im on dial up so i had to upload it on send space) Heres the link-http://www.sendspace.com/file/8mz7b5 ...

wally*won_kenobie posted a fantastic piece of news on Strmnnrmn's blogg today!

People stop being morons..

I followed up on strmnNrmn, emailed 71M a good friend of his..

StrmnNrmn is fine and 71M is going to pass on some information from me for him..

Please stop this crap as it makes it harder for him to check the blog when the time come s :P

I have to agree with him when it comes to people being morons, there are over 250 posts to his last piece of news and half of it has nothing to do with the development of his emulator, which is the point of his blogg. The next release will be ready when its ready ...

Play Asia posted this list of whats new this week at their shop:

Xbox360™:
Cars ASIA US$ 39.90
Everyparty (Platinum Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
FIFA Soccer 07 ASIA US$ 39.90
Need For Speed: Carbon (Collector's Edition) ASIA US$ 39.90
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Platinum Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
Ninety-Nine Nights (Platinum Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
Project Gotham Racing 3 (Platinum Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
Rumble Roses XX (Konami the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
The Outfit JPN US$ 64.90
Xbox 360 Core System Sale Commemoration Pack JPN US$ 299.90
Xbox 360 Dead or Alive 4 Holiday Bundle [Limited Edition] ASIA US$ 449.90
Xbox 360 Hard Drive (20 GB) JPN US$ 99.90
Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote JPN US$ 32.90
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset JPN US$ 59.90
Xbox Live Vision JPN US$ 39.90

Most Japanese Xbox360™ accessories are expected to be in stock tomorrow.

PlayStation2™:
.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth US N/A
Devil May Cry Greatest Hits Set US US$ 39.90
FIFA Soccer 07 ASIA US$ 39.90
Final Fantasy XII US US$ 59.90
Gallop Racer Inbreed JPN US$ 48.90
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy JPN US$ 64.90
NBA Live 07 ASIA US$ 39.90
Phantasy Star Universe US US$ 59.90
Slotter Up Core 9 JPN US$ 34.90
Tsukiyo ni Saraba (Taito Best) JPN US$ 34.90

Xbox™:
Need For Speed: Carbon ASIA US$ 39.90

Sony PSP™:
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception KOR US$ 49.90
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception US US$ 49.90
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded US US$ 39.90
Chotto Shot (w/ Camera) JPN US$ 49.90
Dynasty Warriors 2 US US$ 39.90
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance US US$ 39.90
Need For Speed: Carbon Own the City ASIA US$ 42.90
Silicone Cover Portable (black) US$ 9.90
Silicone Cover Portable (white) US$ 9.90
The Da Vinci Code JPN US$ 37.90

Nintendo DS™:
Children of Mana US US$ 39.90
Emoto Honami no Shiawase Kitchen JPN US$ 48.90
Hoshi no Kirby Sanjyo! JPN US$ 48.90
LEGO Star Wars II JPN US$ 48.90
Love Hamster JPN US$ 48.90
Nintendo DS Lite (Winning Eleven DS Jet Black Special Edition) - 110V JPN US$ 289.90
Pokemon Ranger: The Road to Diamond and Pearl US US$ 39.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (black) US$ 18.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (blue) US$ 18.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (white) US$ 18.90
Winning Eleven DS JPN US$ 39.90

Gameboy Advance™:
Gakuen Alice: DokiDoki Fushigi Taiken (Best Version) JPN US$ 32.90

PC Games:
Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich ASIA US$ 29.90
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic ASIA US$ 37.90
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic [Collector's Edition] ASIA US$ 49.90
Gothic 3 ASIA US$ 32.90
LMA Manager 2007 ASIA US$ 32.90
Sid Meier's Railroads! ASIA US$ 37.90
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Anthology ASIA US$ 49.90

Toys, Books, Magazines & Misc:
Arcadia Magazine [December 2006] JPN US$ 12.90
Comic Calendar 2007: Bleach JPN US$ 29.90
Comic Calendar 2007: D.Gray-man JPN N/A
Comic Calendar 2007: Death Note JPN N/A
Comic Calendar 2007: Gintama JPN US$ 29.90
Comic Calendar 2007: Naruto JPN US$ 24.90
Comic Calendar 2007: One Piece JPN US$ 29.90
Famitsu Wave DVD [December 2006] JPN US$ 16.50
Gyakuten Saiban Official Fan Book Vol.2 JPN US$ 14.90
Ichigo Mashimaro Pre-Painted Figure: Miu Matsuoka (Stewardess) US$ 44.90
Jingai Makyo 1/7 Scale Painted PVC Figure: Ignis US$ 59.90
Moeart Collection 1/6 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Rec: Aka Onda US$ 64.90
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Phone Strap Gashapon US$ 1.99
Queen's Blade 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Mori no Bannin Nowa Figure US$ 49.90

Video Game related Soundtracks:
Break Out (Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Intro Theme) JPN US$ 11.90
Ee'Mall & ee'Mall 2nd avenue Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 34.90
Koibana Educator - Full House Kiss Single Collection Vol.14 JPN US$ 15.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever & ee'MALL Original Soundtrack Set JPN US$ 74.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 42.90
Red Rocket Rising JPN US$ 9.90
Red Rocket Rising [CD+DVD] JPN US$ 17.90
Seishun Aftermath - Full House Kiss Single Collection Vol.13 JPN US$ 15.90
Tsuyokisu -Mighty Heart- Original Song Series Vol.3 JPN US$ 15.90
Tsuyokisu -Mighty Heart- Original Song Series Vol.4 JPN US$ 15.90 ...

SuccessHK have posted that they have the latest Need for Speed game, i already posted about the game but being as SuccessHK post to europe then its worth a repost:

...