That's It

All rumors were true...Xbox 360 is just like the pcitures.

It's Starting

Here we go...expect an update soon!

Some Real Info

The June OXM has the scoop on the next batch of maps coming for Halo 2. Although I wouldn't trust a single word written in the magazine... it may be worth it just for some pics. The magazine also comes with a demo of Destroy All Humans!, a game I have been waiting for almost as long as the new maps.

In another Halo 2 note, WTF is up with the "lag outs"? You know, were you go to the blue screen, but then it looks like everyone else quit the game but you? But in reality, you are the only that quit and you come in 8th place? I've gotten 4, YES FOUR, of them in the last week since the reset. Is it just a random stroke of bad luck...or is something up?

You Heard It Here First!

In a brilliant investigation, I, StarDrummer, have unearthed the first details of the next batch of Halo 2 maps.

Well, sorta.

OK, not really.

But I did find Major Nelson's game page, which lists "mysterious" map titles like 1002. Theres no real info to be found...but it's still cool.

LINK

Blogger Downtime

Just got an e-mail saying Blogger, who runs this blog, will be offline tomorrow, 5/10/2005, at 4 PM PST for one hour to do some work on ther servers. I'm not sure if this means the blog will be up or down...but in any case, you have been warned.

What Color is YOUR Xbox 360?

A new OurColony.com image hints at the possibility of color-changing Xbox 360, kinda kile most cell phones do.

Again--is anyone really all that excited about this shit?

It should be interesting to see what Thursday brings about. Granted, we already know the name, logo, design, controller, DVD remote, headphones and camera, but even still there is a whole lot we don't know yet-like what it looks like in motion.

I don't have any special pass to see the thing early (in fact it's already taped), so I'll be watching it just the same as everyone else. I'll probably be doing a post every five minutes of so, so be sure to surf here during the commerical breaks for my commentary.

Never Trust MTV With Your Kids

MTV has yet again spilled the beans.

Today, pics of the new Xbox console were leaked onto the Internet. This time, the pics are more revieling and much more convincing. The pics also included the controller, which looks very similar to the orginal Xbox's Controller-S, save for a cool new raised Logo at the top of the controller.

Also, the first ever sight of a DVD controller was revieled, which includes a Windows logo right in the center. Interesting.

Another pic of a camera was also revieled. It still scares me to think about an Xbox Camera...

I can't belive MTV is leaking all of this stuff out. You'd think they would care about people watching the show too, you know.

First Annual Xbox Live STAR'D Tourny

Today I am pleased to annouced the FIRST ANNUAL STAR"D TOURNY for XBOX LIVE. Details below:

What:A Multi-Game Tourny played over Xbox Live
Who: Any Xbox Live memeber with the games listed below.
No, Really, WTF?:The Tourny will be multi-game, double-elimination and will consit of around 5 or so rounds. Games will include:

• Whacked!
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow (New Maps, purchuse req'd)
• MechAssult 1 and 2
• Unreal Championship
• Halo 2 (New Maps only, purchuse req'd)
• A "Random" Game

It will be an invidual based tourny--NO TEAM GAMES.

Amount of rounds played will be based on amount of players.

The final showdown will be played on a random game.

When: As soon as players sign up. I'll send e-mail notification one week piror...but I'm thinking of around late June to starts.

How: Send an e-mail to StarDrummer@gmail.com with your name, GamerTag, gameslist, and your CURRENT Halo 2 highest level. I will send you both a confirmation e-mail, and a F/R from StarD (You must accept so we can find each other). One week before the start of the tourny I will e-mail you with the ladder, which will include challenge dates and times. Failure to show up within 5 minutes of a challenge will result in YABKO (Your Ass Being Kicked Out).

Prize: TBD. Really going to depend on how many people show up for this thing.

MTV Lets Out a Cat

Just one day after shotting the MTV/Xbox 2 event, MTV has blown some of the buggest surprsies.

First, TeamXbox "found" the next Xbox logo from pics of the event. The logo keeps the "full circle" desgin element, but takes away the wierd text from the orginal Xbox logo, so no no more X80X.

Then, a description of the event has given the world the first, real confirmation that 2005 will indeed see the next Xbox, as the description reads something about see the games of Fall 2005 for Xbox 2.

Next time, maybe MS will go with VH1? Or how about BET?

AP English Test

So, on Monday I took the AP English 11 test. It wasn't too bad, pretty much just waht I expected it to be.

Anyway, one of the essays I had to write about involved the online comic house, the Onion. I still can't talk too much about the test...but I was pleasently surprsied to be working with a funny onion article (circa 1999), over a boring Purtian essay (circa 1660).

(College Board people: I published this way after the 48 hour period...my class has alreadl discussed the essays...please don't burn me alive!)

I'm a Level One!

It's great to start all over again!

The 2V2 playlistt is alot of fun. I'm going to put in some serius hours with a freind this weekenbd, after AP testing is done.

The other things are nice, but they really do change the game around, luckiy mostly for the best.

Again...Bungie rocks.

Heres hoping Valve will be just as freakin' cool with Half Life 2...

The End of a Statistical Era

Stats for Halo 2 will be deleted Tomorrow morning.

The Playlist update will also go out tomorrow morning.

---
IMO, I still think its stupid to reset the stats. I still think that most stats were not gained by cheating, and that they still represent the level of any person playing Halo 2 right now. But apparently Bungie thinks otherwise, so who the hell cares what I think.

As far as the Playlist, I love it. Removing the radar from 1V1 will be nice. 2V2 will also make for some tight games. I'm not a huge fan of the BR, but, I can definatly see how it's neccessary for maps like Coag. The new includsion of vechiles should be nice as well.

Taking the combo out was a great thing, althoguh I don't like how they did it. I still could have used the Plasma Riffle.

All in all, it should make the game more fun. These last few weeks, we really have recived a Halo 2.1 in alot of ways. I have yet to see ANY devloper support ANYTHING the way Bungie is supporting Halo2. You guys rock.

Major...I Smell Fish

Over at the "offical" Xbox forums...Major just got my attention.

Under the XBL forum...at about 2 PM he made a post about the Halo 2 stats being reset TOMORROW. The evidence is still there as other are talking about it.

However, at about 3:30, he locked up that first post, and reposted saying the stats will be reset "this week". The old post now reflects this change.

What happened MN? Jump the gun? Count your chickens before they hatched? (I'm J/K-ing...I actually think MN is the best thing to happen to XBL)

Wheres the Posts?

Sorry about the few posts oer the last week. And I am also sorry for the few posts there will be this week.

This week is AP Testing. Which means, well, I'm dead. Yesterday I took AP English...I can Officaly talk about it tomorrow (weird AP 48 hour rules). Friday I am tacking the AP USH test.

Ahhhh!

Cool Halo 2 Game Links

OK, so I've had a couple days to play with the new maps...I love them. By far better than ANY of the orginals. I still wish HEH was coming, but these are a nice subsitute.

To show off my suck-ness, heres some links to game viewers of all four new maps. Keep in mind these are my best (sad, I know)

Turk Team Slayer

Sanctuary CTF Classic

Containment CTF

Turf Custom Slayer

The New Maps Have Landed

Four new maps are now available for Halo 2. Here's my lineup of each:

Warlock
-My favorite of the four
-Small
-No Rocks, Snipes or Sword

Turk
-Earth-city
-Cool crashed Scarab
-Tight allies
-Nice for Territories

Containment
-Big
-Snowly
-Think Coagulation, with a trench between bases
-Alot of veicles

Sanctuary
-Like Delta Halo level
-Great for CTF
-Nice weapons

Xbox 360--Leaked?

Looks like someone managed to leak out a picture of Xbox Next on to the good old InterWeb. You can see it at TeamXbox. Here;s my rundown:

• No controller ports=wireless controlers. I like it.
• Memory card slots, possibly no HDD. I hate it.
• Weird button, not sure about
• Nice design, but really small.
• Big Button--Here's my prediction: its a camera.

Think about it: the rumor is that Xbox 2 will have one, and the TeamXbox comment ("other things") definatly makes me think theres a reason behind it's huge size.

Overall, I'm still at the Ehh... stage. I really havn't heard a SINGLE thing that makes me overly excited except for maybe the sheer graphical power.

I hate to say it, but PS3 is looking pretty nice right now...

Ya'll Can STFU Now

Who the hell started this Friend's List rumor? Better yet, why in the world are people buying into it?

I kid you not, to this moment I have gotten 45 messages from friends/clan mates saying something close to the following:

"Hey, don't delete this message becuase on Monday Bungie is going to clear the FL, and only people with messages will stay."

Seriously, stop it. There's no way or reason for Bungie to clear offf any freinds list.

This "Green Scare" is getting annyoing.

Bungie: WWWU Released

Bungie just did there WWWU...and, Frankie is starting to scare me alittle.

Apart from once again explaining the whole map cache thing and the whole concept of cheating, Bungie gave us some links to some Game Viewers for the four new maps.

The maps, once again, should go out on Monday, at around PM PST (Thats 12 in the East). It could take you longer than that, but, as we all know, it will get there eventually.

Bungie also commented on the Playlist update, which will include 2 Vs. 2, and a lot tweaks to others, including starting with BR in Coag, more Spectres, more variation (like Snipers, Rockets), the removal of the Radar in Head2Head, and some other stuff.

The PL will also incorportate the new maps into the mix...the two free ones everywhere, and the two $$ ones into a special, limited-edition playlist just for those two.

Bungie will reset the stats on the same day as the Playlist update.

SW: BattleFront 2 Annouced

LucasArts annouced today that BattleFront II is in development, with a tentitve release date of Fall 2005. The game will be on Xbox 1.

LucasArts commented that the game will include space combat, playable Jedis that can sense the force, new locations from Epiosde III, an actual storyline, more online players, and jack-able ships.

Lets hope that smoother online play is included in that list sometime soon...