Late Night Consoling

This week, Microsoft released a significant dashboard update for its Xbox 360 console via Xbox Live. After doing so, however, some users begain claiming that the update had apparently permanently crashed their consoles, rendering the systems useless. Today, Microsoft acknowledged the problem via its employee-written Gamerscore Blog. According to Microsoft marketing employee John Porcaro, the issue affects "less than 1%" of users. He noted that a new version of the update should be available within 24 hours of the time of his post, made at 1:39PM Pacific time.

Microsoft has not stated the conditions under which a console would fall victim to the bug, or whether specific conditions have been determined. Initially, users speculated that it only affected illegally modified Xbox 360s, while more recent claims suggest that it has affected Xbox 360s which had not been patched with the spring 2006 dashboard update.

Update: According to Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, the new update is now available via Xbox Live. Users with continued issues should contact Xbox support.

Nintendo announced today that it has committed to shipping some 4 million Wii systems from the machine's North American launch on November 19 until the end of calendar year 2006. The launch will follow in Japan on December 2, Australia and New Zealand on December 7, and Europe on December 8. Of the 4 million planned units, Nintendo claimed that the bulk will be shipped to the Americas, though specific breakdowns were not provided. The company claims that Wii's launch will be the largest console launch in over ten years.

Despite the high targets and the company's plans of "maximizing all its resources for a rapid replenishment program designed to consistently pump Wii consoles into the supply pipeline and keep retailers' shelves as filled as possible," Nintendo still expects demand to outstrip supply. This expectation was reinforced as retailer Wal-Mart opened up online preorders for the system this morning and within hours sold out its allotted stock, including its $533.56 four-game Customer's Choice Bundle.

Yesterday, Nintendo released the most recent launch lineup information for Wii and its Virtual Console service.

According to statements made by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios' Phil Harrison speaking to the Sony-sanctioned Three Speech blog, Sony is currently developing about 40 games to be distributed via PlayStation 3's downloadable game service. His comments seem to indicate that these games are being funded and published by Sony; it is possible that third party publishers have their own games in the works. Three Speech claims that some studios are currently dedicated entirely to creating downloadable PS3 games.

"My strategy was to encourage developers to push the machine technically, creatively, artistically--to innovate in lots of different ways," said Harrison. "But don't be restricted by ghettoising games into a particular genre, or a particular display mechanic, because what we've seen on other systems tend to be retro 2D games, and we're pushing the 3D capabilities of the PlayStation 3. Plus, the fact that every PS3 has a hard disc drive means that we're not restricted by the size of the download, and that has a huge impact on the kind of game design that you can do."

Despite its eventual plans for PS3 to download and play games first published on the original PlayStation, Sony has made it clear that its downloadable game service is strongly oriented towards newly developed titles rather than retro games.

Today, Electronic Arts made available a bevy of purchasable vehicles and upgrades for the Xbox 360 version of EA Black Box's Need for Speed Carbon. Available via Xbox Live Marketplace, today's eleven various additions are valued at a combined 3940 Microsoft Points ($49.25), with a bit of overlap as one of the packs contains content included in three others.

The biggest bundle of content on sale for Carbon is the Collector's Edition Upgrade, consisting of 12 tracks, 6 Challenge missions, and 10 cars, such as the '92 Nissan 240 SX, '07 Jaguar XK, '06 Camaro concept, and '06 Koenigsegg CCX. Apparently, these cars cannot be modified or used in Career mode. The Collector's Edition Upgrade goes for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Its content is exclusive to the downloadable pack and cannot be obtained in the game through other means.

There are three performance bundles, the Performance Drivetrain Bundle, Performance Engine Boost Bundle, and Performance Handling Bundle, which contain different in-game upgrades that can be applied to your vehicles. Each runs 400 Microsoft Points ($5). The Ultimate Performance Bundle consists of all the content from the three performance bundles and runs 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Some of the content in the performance bundles can be acquired in-game through other means.

Next up are three body modification kits, the Muscle Car Autosculpt Body Kit, Autosculpt Tuner Body Kit, and Autosculpt Exotic Body Kit, each of which includes new Autosculpt features for its respective vehicle class. Each runs 300 Microsoft Points ($3.75). Some of the content in the autosculpt bundles can be acquired in-game through other means.

Finally, there are three standalone cars available for 80 Microsoft Points ($1) each: the '99 Nissan Skyline GR-R R34, '04 Lamborghini Murcielago, and '06 Dodge Viper SRT-10. These cars can also be unlocked in the game's Career mode.

Sierra Entertainment sends word that a demo of the Xbox 360 version of Stormfront Studios' Eragon is being added to Xbox Live. At time of writing, it is not yet available. When it is, it will include a sample of the single-player game's dragon-riding gameplay. The full version of Eragon includes a cooperative mode.

Stormfront Studios' Eragon ships November 14, 2006.