Xbox 360

Microsoft has recently unveiled its new project, Boku, at a conference in Los Angeles.  Boku is an icon driven to allowing Xbox 360 and PC users the ability to create games with a controller.  This is apparently built to create a bridge between user creation (ala Little Big Planet) and the more complex ideas behind XNA.  It is being reported to be released in 2009 (with Microsoft rolling out the user created XNA stuff with the newer dashboard updates).  The program manager Matthew MacLaurin says that he wanted the kids of today to be able to have as much fun as he did programming on his Commodore PET and away from the passive-TV watching.

Check out the link to find more information and tell us what you think!

[via Gamasutra Photo: Joystiq]

Popularity: 62% [?]

MTV, Harmonix, and Apple Corps has announced a new music game based on The Beatles.  It is now been told that the game will not take the Rock Band moniker as originally thought, though it will play like a Harmonix game.  While details have yet to be fully released, the premise behind the game is a journey through the music and styles of the Beatles from their first to their last albums.  The music is even being produced by Giles Martin, producer of last year’s Love album. This game will be a completely stand-alone game custom built from the ground up.

I don’t know about you, but The Beatles are one of my favorite bands.  I think this will be a very worthy adventure (not to mean profitable) for Harmonix.  Looks like I’m going to have to save up some MORE money for games.  Maybe it’ll include some vintage Beatles guitars (yay, more plastic instruments!)!

What do you guys think about a Beatles music game?

[via IGN]

Popularity: 34% [?]

It seems Activision and Red Octane have released a formal statement addressing the problem that some people seem to be having with the drum set for their game Guitar Hero: World Tour.  They state that the drum issue that effects the senstivity of the pads is probably a result of products made in the earlier manufacturing process and is isolated to just the drum controllers.  The statement also included a promise of a drum tuning kit for optimization.  I would rather it just work.  If you have problems you are also encouraged to contact their support staff using the info provided in the statement.

Have you guys had any problems with your drums?  Is that the only problems you have had?

Popularity: 25% [?]

This Wednesday on the Xbox Live Arcade will feature the game Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.  Now I know you are going to put off buying Fallout 3 and Guitar Hero: World Tour so you can get yourself 1200 points to purchase this awesome title!   Not only can you answer questions for a computer rendered Jeff Foxworthy, but you can also use cheats like peeking at your partner’s paper.  My guess is they did not want to release something too awesome in the midst of these amazing games coming out!

To make the day better they are releasing a new Marble Blast Ultra bonus level with a new achievement!  Oh, that ain’t any better?

Photos: Source

Popularity: 10% [?]

The reports are already pouring in that the Guitar Hero World Tour drums are already having issues.  I can’t say I’m all that surprised really with the way things are made these days.

One Xbox 360 gamer says: “Just picked up the full band version for 360, at first there was a problem with the pads registering, and the red pad just completely died a minute ago… Out of the box less than 3 hours…”

Popularity: 17% [?]