Sierra Entertainment sends along new Ghostbusters media in the form of Wii and current-gen screenshots, and a trailer which you can stream below.
The game, in development for PC, PS3 and X360 at Terminal Reality and PS2, Wii and DS at Red Fly Studio, will be released later this year.
Video here:
Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 video game console will be able to stream thousands of movies over the Internet, thanks to a deal announced Monday with Netflix Inc. that highlights the way gaming devices are expanding into all-purpose home-entertainment hubs.
The arrangement, revealed at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles, will let Netflix subscribers stream 10,000 movies and TV shows to Xbox consoles for viewing on television sets, beginning this fall. Xbox had movies and shows available for download before, but only half as many.
"This generation of consoles will change the face of home entertainment more than any other generation before," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Microsoft's interactive entertainment division.
As Microsoft vies for a stronger foothold in the living room, so is rival Sony Corp., which has tried to make its PlayStation 3 into a broader entertainment device by including Blu-ray high-definition DVD players in the consoles.
The deal with Microsoft also marks an important expansion for Netflix, whose 18-month-old streaming service — which supplements its DVD-by-mail program — has been available on computers instead of TVs, unless consumers had bought a small streaming device from a Netflix-backed startup called Roku Inc.
Microsoft already has sold more than 10 million Xbox 360 consoles in the United States. More than half of Xbox 360 owners pay $50 a year for a "gold" membership, which will be required for access to Netflix's "Watch Instantly" library. They also must subscribe to Netflix, which charges $9 per month for the least expensive plan that includes unlimited streaming.
In partnering with Microsoft, Netflix may be building the streaming service to prepare for the day when the convenience and widespread availability of video downloading kills its DVD-by-mail service.
Although Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings still believes DVDs will be around for years to come, he has already poured more than $40 million into developing the streaming service.
Until recently, Netflix's streaming service hadn't been a big hit with the company's 8.2 million subscribers, because there was no way to easily watch the movies on anything but a computer.
That began to change two months ago when Roku began selling a small set-top box that could stream to movies to any television set. Roku sold out its initial supply of the $100 player in just two weeks. The device is now back in stock.
Microsoft had been widely expected to embrace Netflix's streaming service, partly because the two companies seem like natural allies. They share a common rival in Apple Inc., which has battled Microsoft in the personal computer market for decades and last year emerged as threat to Netflix with a downloading service for renting movies and TV shows.
What's more, Hastings sits on Microsoft's board of directors, although he says that connection had nothing to do with the Xbox deal.
While the Xbox 360 will have exclusive rights among the video game consoles to the movie streaming service, Netflix is still looking for other ways to reach TV sets. The company already has announced that LG Electronics will include streaming capability on a Blu-ray DVD player that will debut this year. Hastings also has promised at least one more major consumer electronics company will unveil a set-top box for Netflix before 2009.
The popularity of the Roku device already has proven that Netflix subscribers want to be able to stream entertainment from the Internet to their TVs, Hastings said, though he acknowledged that "the quality of content" is still lacking. Netflix's DVD rental library is 10 times larger than the streaming service, which rarely offers the latest home-entertainment options from movie and TV studios.
Hastings hopes to add about 8,000 more titles to the streaming service during the next 18 months.
Netflix shares gained 60 cents, 2.2 percent, to finish Monday at $27.61. Microsoft stock fell 10 cents to close at $25.15.
Yes, we heard the rumors and they turned out to be true. At Microsoft's E3 keynote, they finally revealed the new dashboard, complete with 3D slides and Avatars. John Schappert, head of Live services and software, told the audience: "The new look and feel is more fun, more social, and simpler to use. You'll have a Gamercard, but there's also something new... it'll be more personal with avatars. Express your personality and style, share it with your community and friends. ... pants, shirts, hats... everything you need, it's all here."
"Create, share, and have fun with all of your friends... but avatars are just the beginning. The new Xbox is tailored for the living room. Here we are at the community channel -- instead of a list of friends, you actually see them. You can chat with or send messages to your friends, but there's something new: create a Live party, private groups of up to 8 people, always connected and chatting as a party."
The Mii-like Avatars are just the beginning, he says. The new Dashboard adds a community channel, which allows you to send messages to friends or invite them to a "live party." With this upcoming update, Xbox 360 becomes an even more social experience.
Adding to a steady stream of Rock Band 2 news, more details about the game were announced today by Harmonix and MTV Games. Available for Xbox 360 this fall with PS2, PS3 and Wii releases following later in the year, Rock Band 2 is set to ship with over a hundred songs. More than eighty of those will be on disc, and another twenty will follow as a free DLC pack following release.
In addition to previously announced bands, Rock Band 2 will also feature songs by Pearl Jam, Metallica, Allman Brothers, Motorhead, Devo, Jane's Addiction, Megadeth, Paramore, and Modest Mouse.
The game will also feature "Let There Be Rock" by AC/DC, a music rhythm game first, and "Shackler's Revenge" from Guns N' Roses' long, long, long anticipated new album Chinese Democracy. Also look for Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue."
Harmonix also noted that in addition to Rock Band 1 DLC compatibility, Rock Band 2 will include a Disc Export Feature. It will give owners of the original game "the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay".
Full Disc Setlist
1. AC/DC - "Let There Be Rock"-1970s
2. AFI-"Girl's Gone Grey"-2000's
3. Alanis Morissette-"You Oughta Know"-1990's
4. Alice in Chains-"Man in the Box"-1990's
5. Allman Brothers-"Ramblin' Man"-1970's
6. Avenged Sevenfold-"Almost Easy"-2000's
7. Bad Company-"Shooting Star"-1970's
8 Beastie Boys-"So Whatcha Want"-1990's
9. Beck-"E-Pro"-2000's
10. Bikini Kill-"Rebel Girl"-1990's
11. Billy Idol-"White Wedding Pt. I"-1980's
12.Blondie-"One Way or Another"-1970's
13.Bob Dylan-"Tangled Up in Blue"-1970's
14.Bon Jovi-"Livin' on a Prayer"-1980's
15.Cheap Trick-"Hello There"-1970's
16.Devo-"Uncontrollable Urge"-1980's
17.Dinosaur Jr. -"Feel the Pain"-1990's
18. Disturbed-"Down with the Sickness"-2000's
19. Dream Theater-"Panic Attack"-2000's
20. Duran Duran-"Hungry Like the Wolf"-1980's
21. Elvis Costello-"Pump It Up"-1970's
22. Fleetwood Mac-"Go Your Own Way"-1970's
23. Foo Fighters-"Everlong"-1990's
24. Guns N' Roses-"Shackler's Revenge"-2000's
25. Interpol-"PDA"-2000's
26. Jane's Addiction-"Mountain Song"-1980's
27. Jethro Tull-"Aqualung"-1970's
28. Jimmy Eat World-"The Middle"-2000's
29. Joan Jett-"Bad Reputation"-1980's
30. Journey-"Anyway You Want It"-1970's
31. Judas Priest-"Painkiller"-1990's
32. Kansas-"Carry On Wayward Son"-1970's
33. L7-"Pretend We're Dead"-1990's
34. Lacuna Coil-"Our Truth"-2000's
35. Linkin Park-"One Step Closer"-2000's
36. Lit-"My Own Worst Enemy"-1990's
37. Lush-"De-Luxe"-1990's
38. Mastodon-"Colony of Birchmen"-2000's
39. Megadeth-"Peace Sells"-1980's
40. Metallica-"Battery"-1980's
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones-"Where'd You Go"-1990's
42. Modest Mouse-"Float On"-2000's
43. Motorhead-"Ace of Spades"-1980's
44. Nirvana-"Drain You"-1990's
45. Norman Greenbaum-"Spirit in the Sky"-1960's
46. Panic at the Disco-"Nine in the Afternoon"-2000's
47. Paramore-"That's What You Get"-2000's
48. Pearl Jam-"Alive"-1990's
49. Presidents of the USA-"Lump"-1990's
50. Rage Against the Machine-"Testify"-1990's
51. Ratt-"Round & Round"-1980's
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers-"Give it Away"-1990's
53. Rise Against-"Give it All"-2000's
54. Rush-"The Trees"-1970's
55. Silversun Pickups-"Lazy Eye"-2000's
56. Smashing Pumpkins-"Today"-1990's
57. Social Distortion-"I Was Wrong"-1990's
58. Sonic Youth-"Teenage Riot"-1980's
59. Soundgarden-"Spoonman"-1990's
60. Squeeze-"Cool for Cats"-1970's
61. Steely Dan-"Bodhitsattva"-1970's
62. Steve Miller Band-"Rock'n Me"-1970's
63. Survivor-"Eye of the Tiger"-1980's
64. System of a Down-"Chop Suey"-2000's
65. Talking Heads-"Psycho Killer"-1970's
66. Tenacious D-"Master Exploder"-2000's
67. Testament-"Souls of Black"-1990's
68. The Donnas-"New Kid in School"-2000's
69. The Go-Go's-"We Got the Beat"-1980's
70. The Grateful Dead-"Alabama Getaway"-1980's
71. The Guess Who-"American Woman"-1970's
72. The Muffs-"Kids in America"-1990's
73. The Offspring-"Come Out & Play (Keep 'em Separated)"-1990's
74. The Replacements-"Alex Chilton"-1980's
75. The Who-"Pinball Wizard"-1960's
Bonus Artists
76. Abnormality-"Visions"-2000's
77. Anarchy Club-"Get Clean"-2000's
78. Bang Camaro-"Night Lies"-2000's
79. Breaking Wheel-"Shoulder to the Plow"-2000's
80. The Libyans-"Neighborhood"-2000's
81. The Main Drag-"A Jagged Gorgeous Winter"-2000's
82. Speck-"Conventional Lover"-2000's
83. The Sterns-"Supreme Girl"-2000's
84. That Handsome Devil-"Rob the Prez-O-Dent"-2000's
New Rock Band 2 Bands, Details Announced: Update - Full Setlist - Shacknews
Called Wii Motion Plus, the controller attaches to the Wiimote to provide what the company calls "more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation."
In other words, a true reading of where your arm is in space, allowing for 1:1 movement. Having not tried it out for myself as of yet, I can only guess that it does what Wiimote hacker Johnny Lee was asking for in our recent article about motion controls.
Very interesting, but why did Nintendo unveil it right now, half an hour before Microsoft's conference? Attempting to take the wind from the sails of whatever the competition might be announcing? Curious.
I imagine that Wired.com will have hands-on impressions of Wii MotionPlus later this week.
Nintendo Unveils 'MotionPlus' Controller for Wii | Game | Life from Wired.com
Microsoft has confirmed that the 20GB Xbox 360 console has received a $50 price cut to $299, and taking its place in the $349 tier is a new 60GB console arriving early August. The Xbox 360 Arcade (i.e. no HDD) will continue to sell for $280 and the Elite (120GB) model will sell for $449.
We wouldn't blame if you if you felt this was old news: rumors of the 60GB model date back to mid-June and it seems like every major retailer confirmed the price cut in the last week. Now if only someone can explain to us why anyone would continue to buy the HDD-less Arcade model when you can get a 20GB hard drive for only $20 more ...
Microsoft confirms: Xbox 360 60GB for $349, 20GB now at $299 - Joystiq
Thought $180 for the original Rock Band package was expensive? You ain't seen nothing yet. The official Web site for Ion's professional Drum Rocker (as recently revealed in Game Informer) lists a $299.99 price for the deluxe drum controller. Only the Xbox 360 version of the set is currently available for pre-order, though Wii and PS3 editions are "expected to ship later in the year," according to the site. It's important to note that this is not the official drum set that will be packaged with Rock Band 2, but rather an officially licensed deluxe set that works with both Rock Band games.
While $300 may sound steep (soon, you could get a whole 'nother Xbox 360 for that price), Ion sounds like they've gone to great lengths to make sure serious virtual drummers get their money's worth. According to the site, the four high-durability, quiet, velocity-sensitive pads can be mounted and rearranged in any position and even outfitted with "professional drum brains" from Alesis. Add in a metal-reinforced kick pedal (with velcro and spikes to prevent slippage) and two packaged, mountable cymbals (with the option to add a third) and you've got what's unquestionably the Rolls Royce of drum controllers.
The web site also has a short video and some detailed photos of the set, so check it out and figure out for yourself whether it's worth dropping three Benjamins.
Ion reveals $299.99 price for premium Rock Band drums - Joystiq
