Week of December 2, 2001
Ah SHIT!
>> Dammit, I didnt notice Xantium had already posted the info from my last news... Chalk one up to early mornings.
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(Saturday 08 December 2001 14:29 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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How to make a socket for your XBox ROM
>> Ok, so I'm way behind the game on this one, but its still a damn usefull piece of info... Seems someone from MIT has posted the instructions to add a socket to your XBox so you can easily remove and reburn your ROM.
You can find the instructions here.
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(Saturday 08 December 2001 14:27 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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2001 Game of the Year
>> The GameSpy 2001 Game of the Year Awards has begun, and Gamespy is letting you, the gamers, decide what will be the Game of the Year via an online voting system. So which title deserves Game of the Year??
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(Saturday 08 December 2001 14:10 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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>> Konami has announced their North American release dates for first quarter 2002. Here's the full list.
Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams / Xbox / 12/18/2001 to 01/08/2002
ESPN NFL Prime Time 2002 / Xbox / Early January
ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding / PS2, Xbox, GBA / 01/17/2002
ESPN Winter X Games Snocross / PS2 / 01/17/2002
ESPN International Winter Sports / PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA / 01/29/2002
ESPN NBA 2 Night 2002 / PS2, Xbox / 02/05/2002
Yu Gi Oh! Dark Duel Stories / Game Boy Color / Early February
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars / Game Boy Advance / 02/12/2002
WTA Tour Tennis / PS2, Game Boy Advance / 03/05/2002
ESPN MLS Extra Time 2002 / PS2, Xbox, GameCube / 03/26/2002
Motocross Maniacs Advance / Game Boy Advance / 03/26/2002
ESPN Winter X Games Snocross / Xbox / 03/26/2002
The Metal Gear Solid for Xbox doesn't seem to be on the list so far ...
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(Saturday 08 December 2001 14:08 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Socket Your XBox ROM
>> Very good article about someone who removed the Xbox ROM so he could read it.
"Anyways, something useful during the reverse engineering phase is always having the ability to pull out the BIOS ROM and stick your own in. Except on the X-BOX it ain't socketed. My recommendation is to install an S-TS-SM-040-A (if they don't have those in stock, the bigger sockets work too--I put a 48 pin socket on my board 'coz that's what I had on hand tonight). It's a pretty economical device, $12 or so and it goes right in the original footprint on the board."
Check full article here
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(Friday 07 December 2001 22:12 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Welcome on our new server ...
>> Site has been succesfully moved to the new server and most DNS's around the world should have made the change already. Allot of sections will open in the next few days , but first I will make sure to make our navbar fully compatible for mozilla , opera & Konqueror users.
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(Friday 07 December 2001 20:02 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Some interesting stuff ...
>> "After examining the xbox motherboard closely I discovered that there is a PIC microcontroller located right next to the IDE connector. I wonder if it is used to send the password to the HD? (think of it as a HD modchip) I’m going to see if I can’t hook it up and read it in my programmer. But MS probably set the fuses on it so you can’t read it."
"I was able to exchange the HD cable with a ATA-100 that has the notch in it next to the blue connector. So all rumors about it not working are untrue."
"I exchanged the xbox DVD drive with my DVD-Ram and the xbox wouldn’t work. I found that not only power is sent through the yellow ribbon cable but the eject button and disc status. I hooked my DVD-Ram to the xbox IDE cable and power y’d off of the HD, then connected the xbox DVD to the yellow ribbon. It worked. I was able to get the xbox to read a DVD in my DVD-Ram drive. (you have to keep a disc in the xbox’s DVD so it things a disc is present). I was unable to read an xbox game in my DVD-Ram though. It thought it was a DVD movie, just like in the PC. So for now it’s impossible to exchange the xbox DVD drive with a faster (more compatible – cd-r) unit."
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(Thursday 06 December 2001 16:16 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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What's on a Xbox HD ?
>> Here's a list of all files u can find on a Xbox HD. Some interesting stuff :
movielock.dat
don't know, region encoding maybe
Keyboard.xip
icon file IIRC, i'll need to confirm this.
Message.xip
icon file IIRC
xboxdash.xbe
the dashboard program, in xbox format, a tool takes a .EXE and converts it to a .XBE which is then placed on the HD. Replacing this will allow you to "other things". It is basically equivalent to the Windows Explorer, but obviously much simplifid and geared towards the XBox
TitleImage.xbx
The xbox title logo in a modified PNG format.
xboxlogo.xbx
The xbox logo in a modified PNG format.
xboxkrnl.exe
The XBOX kernel, similar functionality to the NTKernel. Contains all the actual system calls to talk to the hardware, etc. Any libraries you link with ultimately call in to this kernel. Simply replacing the xboxkrnl with ntoskrnl is not an option as many of the names have changed and so have the parameters the functions expect.
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(Thursday 06 December 2001 16:09 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Microsoft's reaction on cdr problems.
>> Someone called the Xbox hotline (800-4MY-XBOX) and asked why he got problems to read his audio-cdr-backups. Here's Microsoft's reply :
"The DVD drive in the XBOX is very sensitive. Thats why its having problems reading most CD-R's. They said you would have better luck burning them at a very slow speed. (I guess they don't mind, just hardware difficulties!)
They also said because of the sensitivity you may have problems playing rental games because the drive is hypersensitive to scratches, smudges and dust. It can even see the magnetic label on BlockBuster discs, which Microsoft had to have a little "chat" with them about because of so many complaints."
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(Thursday 06 December 2001 15:50 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Be Careful When You Rent Xbox Games
>> The kind people from the Xbox marketing team have spoken to game rental chains about their game console and software. Most stores as you may have notice have been putting rental stickers on gaming discs, but now Microsoft believes this is a no no.
Those very stickers will cause the disc to become unbalanced, which then makes it hard for the Xbox to read them. There have also been cases where the stickers has made the DVD drive jam. So if you have more questions on this subject or anything else about your Xbox, contact Microsoft at 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
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(Thursday 06 December 2001 15:40 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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LetsBuyIt Offers Xbox for European Xfans
>> European Xfans should boogey along to letsbuyit.com who are today offering its shoppers the chance to be amongst the first to own an Xbox.. From today, the first 200 shoppers to join any LetsbuyIt.com co-buy will be able to pre-order the Xbox, making it possible to give the gift of unparalleled gaming this Christmas.
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(Wednesday 05 December 2001 21:22 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Retail Data Show Microsoft Xbox Is #1
>> REDMOND, Wash. -- Dec. 4, 2001 -- The Xbox (TM) video game system from Microsoft Corp. had the best-selling video game console launch on record after two weeks of sales, according to The NPD Group Inc., the definitive source for sales and market data on the video game industry.
Read The Full Pressrelease
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(Wednesday 05 December 2001 21:19 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Eject Button LED
>> "When you get an error message, the eject button, which is normally green, flashes red also. (Note, if the Xbox is overheating, the eject button turns orange)"
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 20:28 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Team Ninja develops Sports Title
>> Dead or Alive 3 mastermind Tomonobu Itagaki has begun work on a new sports game for Xbox.
During a visit to Tecmo's Japanese head office the Official UK Xbox Magazine learnt that Team Ninja has begun initial development on a sports title, following completion of the stunning beat-'em-up Dead or Alive 3.
Speaking to the Official UK Xbox Magazine, Team Ninja's General Manager Tomonobu Itagaki said, "Now that we have finished work on Dead or Alive 3, we have started work on a new sports game."
Catch the whole story @ OXMUK.
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:57 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Microsoft's thoughts on Xbox Online Early
>> Microsoft doesn't seem to mind people being able to play Xbox online using Gamespy and other methods because they feel only the hardcore audience is taking part in the limited online opportunities. Here's their official statement which is found on retail.xbox.com (The original article seems to have been removed):
"It's amazing and exciting to see the lengths that gamers will go to in order to take their Xbox games online. The GameSpy arcade efforts are a strong indication that people want online console game experiences. Additionally, these efforts showcase the superiority of Xbox because it was built from the ground up to provide people with the next generation of exciting online game play. The Xbox online experience will enable, natively and in a highly reliable and secure manner, an end-to-end online gaming experience that will go well beyond matchmaking to include things like voice, multiplayer with more that just two players, downloadable content and more...."
Read the rest of MS's statement at Team Xbox.
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:48 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Konami Announces Snocross Title
>> Konami is bringing a snowmobile racing game to the Xbox and PS2 early next year.
Konami of America has announced ESPN Winter X Games Snocross for the Sony PlayStation2 and the Microsoft Xbox. The game joins the company’s expanding line of ESPN-licensed products, which covers traditional sports such as basketball and football and action sports like skateboarding and snowboarding. ESPN Winter X Games Snocross will include two primary modes of play: snocross and arcade. In the snocross mode, players will take part in X Games-style competitions, while the arcade mode focuses more on performing stunts and racing snowmobiles in various locations around the world. The courses themselves will be interactive and will include destructible objects and a variety of shortcuts. ESPN X Games Snocross will also feature six professional riders, including the most recent X Games gold medallist, Tucker Hibbert.
The primary difference between the Xbox and the PlayStation2 versions that has been discussed at this point is that the Xbox version will support up to four players, while the PS2 version will only support two-player head-to-head races.
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:42 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Triple Play 2002 signs Luis Gonzalez
>> Luis Gonzalez -- the man who hit the game winning single in game seven of this year's World Series -- has agreed to donate his face, moves, and time to EA Sports as the official spokesman for Triple Play 2002 in exchange for a donation by EA to his "Kid's Going Gonzo for School" program.
This interest you? Catch the whole article here.
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:35 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Not being lazy tonight...
>> Ok so I pestered Xantium into making these cool new frames for the articles, and I made a poll to see how you like em, do us a favor and vote.. We're here to please ya, sorta, dont go asking for money, we're broke too.
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:31 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Xbox winning the console war.
>> According to CSFB's interpretation of NPD TRST data, as of November 24, 2001, Nintendo had sold 469,000 GameCube consoles compared to 556,000 for Microsoft's Xbox. The Xbox had a three day head start on the GC with its November 15 launch date...
Of course this really doesnt mean much of anything but I saw it and thought I'd share it, read it all at IGN.
PS -- Another interesting statistic is the ratio of games (software) sold per console. It seems that for every Xbox console sold, there were an average of 2.4 games sold with it. For the Gamecube, the ratio was lower at 1.7 games sold per console. Halo is the best selling Xbox title, while Luigi's Mansion is the Gamecube's best selling title so far
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(Tuesday 04 December 2001 01:30 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Xbox buyer is attacked at mall.
>> WAYNE -- Some people will do anything to get Microsoft's Xbox.
A 23-year-old Montclair man found that out just after he bought one of the season's most sought-after video game consoles at a Willowbrook Mall store, when he was assaulted by four young men who took off with it.
"I was in there getting a new Xbox, and there was some other guy in there who wanted it," Jack said. "He didn't have enough money, so I went up and got the last one."
As Jack walked to his car with his roommate, the man followed him and grabbed the Xbox out of his hand.
Read the Full Article over at bergen.com
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(Monday 03 December 2001 23:39 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Code to *reset* the HardDrive
>> Several people who had technical problems were asked to *reset* their harddrive. Every Xbox has a specific code , but you can get yours easily (1-800-4MYXBOX).
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(Monday 03 December 2001 23:35 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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New Game Site Launched
>> A new website was launched for Codemasters' upcoming boxing game, Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing. Now I have to admit I'm partial to boxing games, have been ever since Nintendo's Punchout, but this game looks tight!! The site doesnt have too much content yet, some screenshots and a trailer, but go check it out @ CodeMasters.
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(Monday 03 December 2001 01:17 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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PlanetXbox reviews TransWorld Surf
>> The extreme sports subcategory of games is constantly growing. SSX and 1080 Snowboarding have defined that particular genre, the Dave Mirra and Mat Hoffman series have pushed BMX racing into the gaming world, and the venerable Tony Hawk series has had the biggest impact of all. Now surfing gets its moment in the sun as three surfing games hit the market around the same time. The best of which is TransWorld Surf, developed by Angel Studios and published by Infogrames. Although it's the most accurate representation of surfing ever brought to a console and certainly quite entertaining, the limitations of the sport also limit the gameplay.
Read the review here.
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(Monday 03 December 2001 01:05 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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For the technologically challenged...
>> In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the entire process of going from single-player Xbox newbie to online Xbox gamer. Note: this guide assumes that you have a single computer connecting directly to the Internet. This should apply to most folks with cable or DSL connections - but not dialup modems...
I dunno, its my opinion if you cant figure out how to do this on your own, you dont deserve an Xbox but anyways catch the rest of the guide over here at PlanetXbox.
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(Monday 03 December 2001 01:01 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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8 Player Hack for Gamespy
>> Tied of playing online with only 4 players?
Well i have a hack for you.
Once you download gamespy's tunnel software and gamespy arcade , you can play online.(only 4 players thou)
Find your gamespy arcade folder, open the "services" folder...
Look for another folder called "Xboxtunnel" open that and you will find a file called "svc.cfg"
Now open this file, then look a little bit down and change the max players to "8"
For the rest of the instructions visit Gamerznet.
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(Monday 03 December 2001 00:56 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Wreckless: The Yakuza Mission; Preview and Screenshots
>> Crazy Taxi? Only the beginning. You may have thought that you'd seen car carnage in action, but it's nothing when compared to the total havoc tossed upon innocent Hong Kong in the upcoming racer Wreckless.
Actually, calling it a racer would be to give it less credit than it deserves. Driving platformer is the closest description we've got for the title, which mixes everything from jumping puzzles to four-wheeled sumo matches in with a title that already manages to beat games like Crazy Taxi and Midtown Madness at their own game. It also just happens to be the most graphically impressive Xbox title yet, pulling off visual effects so impressive you'll think you're watching a CG movie until you've had a chance to take out half of downtown Hong Kong for yourself.
Read the rest of this preview at IGN
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(Sunday 02 December 2001 12:24 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Too lazy too...
>> ...Make a poll, but I hope you guys like the way the site is shaping up. If any of our visitors that already own an Xbox would like to review the games they play, please get in touch with us. I hope to be adding a code's section later this week. And it looks like were gonna have a forum for you guys later on this week too. Here's hoping anyways.
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(Sunday 02 December 2001 02:06 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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Gladiators Ready?
>> According to this article at Console Domain, CDV is to team up with Swedish-based developer, Grin Inc. to bring a gladiatorial adventure to the Xbox.
Vultures will see players take the role of a gladiator who must battle his way through a series of arenas and events to become the undisputed champion of the Vultures, a powerful gang of warriors. There will be a range of traditional and futuristic weaponry in the game that promises huge arenas for you to fight in, realistic fighting scenes and state-of-the-art graphics.
No release date for the game has been announced as yet.
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(Sunday 02 December 2001 01:55 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
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