182w ago - The inevitable has happened according to a multi-page thread on XBox-Scene (linked above), it appears Microsoft is now beginning to ban homebrew XBox 360 consoles running freeBOOT or XBReboot from XBox LIVE.

This move comes just under two months from their last XBL ban wave, and while there are guides to unban your XBox 360 from LIVE and to prevent XBox 360 HDD crippling, it appears the safest route if you use XBox 360 homebrew is to simply keep the console off XBL.

To quote from -DeToX-: "Well.. it seems new bans have been handed out, just now.

I just have over 7 people with XBR/FreeBOOT consoles report to me that they have been banned, and I as well have. However, anyone who played hacked games with these people remain untouched.

I was playing MW2, when I was disconnected...

194w ago - Electronic Arts has announced that the console demo of Need for Speed: Shift will be available for download on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live this Thursday, October 1st.

The demo will allow players to race one of four cars on the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and the city circuit of London River.

To quote: "Players that dominate each track and collect enough stars will also unlock the ultimate racing machine; the Pagani Zonda F.

Jump into the cockpit of one of these five cars and find out how Need for Speed SHIFT combines real-world physics with perception based G-forces to deliver a supercharged on-the-track experience.

1. BMW M3 (E46)
2. 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
3. 2006 Lotus Elise 111R
4. 2008 Nissan GT-R
5. 2006 Pagani Zonda F (unlockable)"

199w ago - At E3 Microsoft said that Xbox Live users would need to be Gold members (requiring an annual fee) to access Last.fm without paying for a Last.fm-specific subscription.

What Microsoft didn't mention, however, was that these limitations would extend to both Facebook and Twitter as well.

This news was buried in Microsoft's late night press release about the new Xbox 360 price adjustments. Here's what the press release says, to quote:

"Xbox LIVE Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available, and is required for Netflix. Games, media content and Netflix membership are sold separately; a hard drive is required for storage."

When Facebook and Twitter's Xbox Live extensions launch later this year, you'll need to be a paying subscriber to access the applications.

The press release doesn't get anymore specific than saying the social networking add-ons will arrive sometime "this fall," as Microsoft has said in the past.

201w ago - Today Treyarch has given a serious warning to all Sony PSN and Microsoft XBox Live would-be hackers and console modders... if you are caught, you'll be banned from all of their online services.

To quote: Our most recent TU addressed a number of issues that arose as a result of modders hacking their console and ultimately disrupting the online experience for everybody else.

In light of these recent events, I'd like to make something abundantly clear to the community: Treyarch has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards console hackers / modders. We are actively working with our console partners (Microsoft and Sony) to take action against all proven offenders, up to and including a complete ban from all of their online services.

Our number one priority is to protect the experience of our online gaming community (most of you reading this message), and the efforts of console hackers / modders directly target the community in a negative way.

We understand that a primary motivation in hacking / modding is to bring something "fresh" or "new" to the game. That is why the PC platform has a full suite of Mapping / Modding tools, along with plenty of documentation to go along with it.

If you are interested in the technical aspect of game modding, check out the PC version...

207w ago - Battlefield 1943 will hit the XBox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network for £9.99/1200 MS Points on July 8th for XBL and July 9th for PSN, thats next Wednesday and Thursday.

It will come in at 560MB to download. According to Battlefield 1943 producer, Gordon Van Dyke, the game sets a "new standard".

To quote: Battlefield 1943 is going to change consumer expectations of what a downloadable game can be. By offering Frostbite's next generation destruction technology with a full Vehicle Warfare FPS multiplayer experience at a mere 560MB, Battlefield 1943 sets a new standard.

Press Release: FIGHT ON LAND, SEA OR AIR IN BATTLEFIELD 1943 ON JULY 9

Kick off the summer with the must-have downloadable game for only £9.99/1200 MS Points

Guildford, UK - July 2, 2009 - DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that Battlefield 1943™ will be available on July 8th on Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace and July 9th on the PlayStation®Network. Battlefield 1943 is an all-new download-only action game that brings DICE's first-class vehicular warfare to gamers for just £9.99, or 1200 MS Points.

Battlefield 1943 is a critically acclaimed First-Person Shooter (FPS) multiplayer game that puts players in the middle of a dogfight on...