Filed under: Mac, Personal computer, Online, Puzzle

Hoping to make a comeback with that 365-point quixotry play in Scrabulous? US and Canadian Facebook users were likely dismayed to find out this week that Scrabulous has been disabled. The region-specific lock likely has to do with Hasbro’s license for all Scrabble video games, which is for US and Canada only (Mattel owns the rights for the rest of the world). In the interim, you can always play the official Scrabble Facebook app care of Electronic Arts, although it lacks the panache of the seemingly now-defunct Scrabulous.

[Thanks, Andrew B]

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Filed under: Personal computer, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online

When Microsoft recently flipped the switch to turn Games For Windows Live into a free-for-all, several cross-platform multiplayer games apparently brought their Xbox 360 denizens with them. That’s right, all three cross-platform titles (Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault and Lost Planet: Colonies) can be played online by any Xbox 360 user with a high-speed world wide web connection — freeloading Xbox Live Silver account holders specifically — according to a thread on Xbox Forums. Of course, the catch is you’ve got to have a copy of one of the participating game discs. So when Joystiq went to verify the reports, we realized our chest-o-games only contained the good ones. Any far less snobby readers care to shout out a “yea” or “nay” on the matter? [Update: X3F’s Xav de Matos has confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Lost Planet: Colonies can be played on the internet using a Silver account.]

In the interim, we’ve contacted Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, who told us we can anticipate Microsoft to issue an official statement shortly.

Update 7:10pm: And we’ve heard back from a Microsoft rep who tells us, “Last week we announced that we were taking off the Gold-only restriction for multiplayer gaming over Games for Windows- LIVE. For a limited time, we are offering free on the web multiplayer on Xbox 360/ Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross platform play. This promotion won’t last, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they have the ability to.” You heard the man, go take advantage of it!

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Filed under: Personal computer, On the internet, RPGs, MMO

With the intergalactic cat already out of the bag this weekend, Cryptic Studios has officially announced Star Trek Online and unveiled a website for the in-development MMO. The developer has also released a handful of screenshots and promises to reveal gameplay footage at the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention on August 10 (there’s a countdown on the STO site if you need something to stare at for the next 13 days). For those who can’t make the convention, or decide to stay home because your prosthetic Vulcan ears didn’t look just right, Cryptic will be streaming the presentation on the web.
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[Via Massively]

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Filed under: Nintendo Wii, On the web

A new system update for Japanese Wii consoles has introduced an intriguing new function to the Wii Shop Channel: bonus content. The feature, which prompts users to enter a 16-digit code when accessed, has so far been used to distribute the Wii Speaker Channel using a key included with Daigasso! Band Brothers DX for the Nintendo DS.

Nintendo Everything and Wii Fanboy speculate that the Shop Channel’s new feature could potentially be used to redeem codes included with games for everything from free Wii Points to downloadable content and Virtual Console titles. Might we suggest a code that, when entered, simply rewards users with smiles? Nintendo certainly has a lot of them to go around.

[Via NWF]

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Filed under: News

Shane Kim, former Microsoft Game Studios guru and recently appointed VP of the Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business, recently spoke to EDGE magazine on his company’s failed attempts at massively multiplayer online games. Specifically, MS canceled Marvel Universe Online earlier this year. Way back on the original Xbox, True Fantasy Live Online, once thought to be the original Xbox’s savior in Japan, was also canceled. On Microsoft’s trouble with MMOs, Kim said, “I’ll admit MGS has not had success in the MMO space,” also noting, “We haven’t been able to crack the code.” Kim states that he believes MS “made the right decision” in canceling Marvel Universe Online but adds that “there’s nothing to state those titles can’t be successful on 360.”

Part of the problem, according to Kim, is the “tension” between what developers want to create and Microsoft’s need to maintain a “stable and secure environment on Xbox 360.” In other words, it sounds like developers aren’t too keen on the controls that Microsoft places on Xbox Live. Kim concludes that Microsoft is “getting very close” to solving the problem, but that the company has been slow to deliver an MMO experience, noting “we feel bad about that.”

So do we, Shane. So do we.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

After dealing with a healthy does of confusion over the mysterious $130 Gears of War 2 Lancer bundle, we can finally state that we’ve this mystery solved. And you can chalk up all the bundle speak to large misunderstanding of words. Microsoft just informed us that:

“We have officially announced a Standard Edition ($59.99 USD) and Limited Edition ($69.99) for ‘Gears of War 2′, which will both be available on November 7^th, 2008 worldwide. Retailers often create their own bundles to appeal to specific customers. The ‘Lancer’ bundle referenced at San Diego Comic-Con isn’t a package being offered by Microsoft Game Studios.”

So, there you’ve it. Microsoft is not creating a third $130 GoW2 Lancer bundle SKU and Cliff (more than likely) was just speaking about the Lancer replica being created exclusively through Amazon.com. Though, the door is still open to the possibility that Amazon.com might create a Gears of War 2 Lancer replica bundle itself, but we haven’t heard any official info from them. You can now sleep soundly tonight and save your $130.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Guess who’s back? Yes, you guessed correctly and on your first try, it’s that adorable yellow alien from The Behemoth’s Alien Hominid HD and we just learned that he’ll be making an appearance in the August 27th release of Castle Crashers. As a playable character at that. Developer The Behemoth confirmed that the alien would be insta-unlocked as a playable character in Castle Crashers for those who already purchased the XBLA release of Alien Hominid HD, but can still be earned by those who don’t own the game. Also, per The Behemoth’s graphic above (which we absolutely ninja-stole), there will be a free Castle Crashers theme and gamer photos come launch week. Massive w00tz to that!

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

Update: Mystery solved! Microsoft has informed us that there’s no MGS created $130 GoW2 Lancer bundle. Read more about it here.

This weekend, news trickled out of Comic-Con where Cliff and the Gears of War 2 panel enthusiastically “announced” a third Gears of War 2 retail edition that would include a Lancer replica priced at $130. Well, now we hear that this may not be the case and could be just a large ball of confusion. Let us explain.

During the panel, we’re hearing (from sources including Gearheads of War) that Cliff Bleszinski was excitedly speaking about all kinds of upcoming GoW2 products, mentioning the Gears 2 Collector’s Edition and a Lancer for $130. Now, taken as one sentence, it would seem that Cliff announced a new edition bundled with a Lancer for the price of $130, but that’s where the confusion over Cliff’s words may have started (likely, seeing that this isn’t the first time we have misinterpreted his words). What he could have been referring to (separately) was the GoW2 Collector’s Edition AND the newly announced NECA manufactured full size replica Lancer (pictured above thanks to Gearheads of War) that’ll be exclusive to exclusive Amazon.com. A product that, you guessed it, should retail for about $130. (Sidenote: This newer replica is VERY sexy and a much superior deal than that other way too pricey replica.)

So, was this all a simple misunderstanding? Were Cliff’s word’s misinterpreted? Did he only mean to introduce the Amazon.com exclusive Lancer replica and not an actual $130 GoW2 Lancer game bundle? Microsoft has been contacted, we’re patiently awaiting clarification.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News, Xbox Live

With Microsoft’s Games for Windows reveal last week, where they announced all Games for Windows titles would be granted to access a fully functioning Xbox Live without the need for a Gold account, comes word that ALL cross-platform titles on the Xbox 360 will be allowed access multiplayer functionality as well. Though, only for a limited time.

Shacknews confirmed the news with Microsoft which ultimately means that anyone who owns Universe at War, Shadowrun or Lost Planet: Colonies Edition on the Xbox 360 can play multiplayer on the internet against 360 and Computer Live members with a free Silver Xbox Live account. The catch being that this free Xbox 360 cross-platform gaming is more of a promotion and will only last until the rollout of the Fall update later this year. So, if you’re part of the Silver crowd, own 360 versions of any of the games listed above and have the urge to play online, you superior enjoy it while it lasts. Your freeloading time is limited.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Here’s a bit of news that’s been filed into the “things I wouldn’t anticipate EA to do until I remembered its EA” folder. According to a rep at the EA Comic-Con booth, the monolithic publisher has now decided to move into the pre-built Computer market. This is going to be based around the release of the upcoming “look at me I’m so pretty” Computer shooter Crysis Warhead.

It looks like EA is trying to attract gamers that might not know very much about Personal computer components by offering systems that are guaranteed to run Crysis Warhead at each level of graphical detail. There’s no word on whether or not this will be a one time promotion, but seeing as this is EA we’re talking about I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they started doing this for every single Personal computer game they publish.

And if you already have a decent system that’s running Windows XP Crytek has announced that you won’t be missing out on anything just because you aren’t using DirectX 10. “The former “very high” settings are now called “enthusiast” and this option is now available for DX9, too,” stated Warhead producer Bernd Diemer. “We removed this exclusiveness and thought: If people want to run this on their system, why should we restrict it?”

Via Destructoid

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