Xbox.com Forums

Call of Duty: Ghosts - All Access Streaming June 9

GhostCatfish5 — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:24:00 GMT

Let’s start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) early with a sneak peek at one of the hottest games that will launch with Xbox One. The Call of Duty®: Ghosts – All Access event will be hosted by gaming television legend Geoff Keighley and YouTube video star Justine Ezarik, and the show will be streamed over the Machinima app on Xbox Live. The first big gameplay announcement for the week of E3 will feature an in-depth look at the making of the game, and a first look at game play from multiple levels of Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Be sure to download the Machinima app on your Xbox, then tune in Sunday, June 9 at 2 PM ET (11 AM PT) to get your first look at this game and to get a jump on all the E3 coverage!

Xbox Community Support Profile: Brandon (^BA)

XETF Rho — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Summer is finally here! We don't know about you folks, but man...it is starting to get sunny and beautiful here in the Seattle area. For those who don't live here...you probably think it rains all the time here...

...okay, well, it really does rain a lot here. But man, it is beautiful when it is beautiful here. If you've never visited, come do it some time!

Anyway, onto business! This month, we highlight one of our team's oldest and most grizzled veterans, Brandon (also known as ^BA on Twitter). Brandon is one of the leaders on our team, and has been crucial in the development of the tool we use on Twitter to talk to all of you!

We're excited to share some quirky and interesting bits about Brandon with all of you, so please do read on to find out more!

Q: Where did you grow up and how does it compare to Seattle?

A: I grew up in Boise Idaho. The population there would account for 6% of the Seattle metropolitan area, and it definitely has that great small town feeling. The area is actually quite dry and desert-like but the word Boise comes from the French phrase “Les bois,” which means “the trees!” It was found to be an oasis in the desert for Oregon trail travelers.

Q: So, you were heavily involved with designing and building the Twitter tool that @XboxSupport uses now. What kind of experience has that been?

A: The experience was phenomenal; it was my first time building something that massive from scratch that used crazy cool new technology. It was such a blessing to be able to build and deliver a tool to a team I “grew up in,” and have it completely revitalize their spirit and energize our quality. I definitely learned a lot, and I’m using that knowledge now to build something pretty-freaking-incredible for the Ambassador program.

Q: Are you a wizard?

A: I prefer Develomancer. (But yes, I’ve been told I’m magical)

Q: So, going beyond the ‘What’s your favorite movie?’ question…how about ‘What’s your favorite trilogy of films?’

A: Oh man, this is a tough call. I enjoy quite a bit of trilogies. I love the Narnia series, as well as Lord of the Rings… but I’m going to have to put my money on Transformers: I can’t get enough of the fast car robot fighting eye candy. Caveat being that if(when?) there is another new Star Trek film I’ll switch my allegiance over to my trekky side.

Q: In the last year, what Xbox 360 title has been occupying the most of your time?

A: In the times that I do get to play, it’s very likely Halo 4 or Forza. I’ve got a few record laps not only in the office but on the leaderboards in Forza. My friends and I make it habit to download and test out the same cars, add our own configurations and setups, and then race them to see who’s the better tuner and enthusiast.

Q: You’ve got the nickname ‘Bdo’ or ‘Bdo Cdo’ around the office. What’s the origin story behind that?

A: Hah! I was testing out a prototype of one of our tools long ago, and I needed several test user names. A fellow colleague had recently called me “Brando Commando,” so I started creating several user names deviating from that. Examples include “BrandoCommand”, “BrandoCoco”, and of course “BdoCdo.” Another colleague happened to walk by and notice “BdoCdo” and told the team I had made my own nickname. He asked that I forevermore be called BdoCdo, or some variation. When I protested that “It would annoy me,” naturally the whole team embraced and solidified the idea. Thus, “Bdo” or “BdoCdo” was born. (Pronounced “Bee doo See Doo”)

Q: What use would you say that your Xbox 360 gets used the most for?

A: Destroying face in Forza/Halo or watching Saturday Night Live on Hulu Plus.

Q: When you’re not at work at Xbox, what would you say the majority of your time is spent doing?

A: If you couldn’t guess from the Forza mentions, I’m a huge car enthusiast. I love working on my vehicles and riding/driving them for sport. If it’s not Xbox time, it’s riding my green motorcycle or working on my Subaru. xD

Q: What’s one of the cooler features of the Xbox 360 you’ve seen come out in the last couple of years? One you got really excited about?

A: Smartglass is pretty boss. In essence, it provides a free version of what some of our competitors are releasing but utilizes a device you already own. Being able to get instant character information while I watch Game of Thrones or use my phone/tablet as a GPS map while playing Forza revolutionizes gameplay.

Q: What’s your favorite genre of music, and who’s your favorite artist within that genre?

A: I definitely enjoy all kinds of music – although I lean more towards male artists & bands such as OneRepublic and Maroon 5. That said I openly despise most country songs… I just can’t take them seriously.

Q: When you were a little kid, what was the dream job you wanted to do when you grew up?

A: I think I wanted to be a Firefighter when I was very young – but all I know is as soon as I got the Original Xbox I dreamt about getting involved and making cool things for the Xbox. Everything from creating a video game to making the console more intelligent. It definitely seems like I found my dream job – as I get to create tools and services that improve Xbox LIVE.

Q: What’s the most interesting place you’ve traveled to? What made it such a cool experience?

A: I was fortunate enough to be sent by Xbox to work with a few teams we have over in Paris, France. The city and its people are gorgeous. It was an amazing experience to actually go to work like an everyday citizen and still just consume the sights and culture. Look, a picture!

Q: What do you love most about being part of the Xbox Community Support team?

A: The people and our mission. At our core, we’re a team that is striving to help other people in every way we can. From Ambassadors to the front lines on Twitter, we’re all just gamers here too that want to share the awesomeness that is Xbox. I love that we’re both a megaphone for the struggling customer a fun loving community building force that’s to be reckoned with.

Lee (^LB of the Xbox Elite Tweet Fleet)

<<<PREVIOUS XCS BLOG POST

<<<PREVIOUS XCS SPOTLIGHT: PORTER

Play Halo 4 with 343 Industries June 3

GhostCatfish5 — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:24:56 GMT

The team from 343 Industries will be on Xbox Live Monday, June 3 to play Halo 4 with Xbox Live Gold members. On that day, Halo 4 matchmaking will be updated with new weapon tuning. Hop into War Games matchmaking from 8-10 PM ET (5-7 PM PT) to play with the new system. Check out the team’s gamertags and see you online!

XCS Ambassadors Spotlight - May

XETF Rho — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:17:00 GMT

Yay May! We're excited for May--albeit the month is nearly over. With the announcement of the Xbox One, we're really excited...but also very busy answering questions about it. Our Community Ambassadors are here to help lighten the load, though, and have been incredibly helpful.

So, it's about time for us to acknowledge some of the talented Xbox Community Ambassadors that are leading the way.

Be it on the Official Support Forums, the Ambassabank, or Ambassador Chat, Ambassadors are working hard to give back to the community with top notch support. When Ambassadors give back, we give back to them, in the form of Levels & Loot!

Every month, we try to highlight some of the incredibly hard-working Ambassadors that have reached Level 9. To reach Level 9, the Ambassador must be active in the program for 210 days or more, and they must have earned at least 10,500 XP. Level 9 is a tough egg to crack, and we want to give accolades where they're due. We've interviewed 6 ambassadors that have made it to Level 9 recently, and want to tell you a bit more about them.

Please read on and find out a bit more about these incredible members of the Xbox Community!

GT: The Last Ewok

Q: Thanks for being a rockin’ Community Ambassador! What do you feel the toughest part of being one has been for you so far?

A: Holding my tongue. You know those moments when helping someone and they just don’t get it, and you just want to push them down some stairs? Yeah, not doing that verbally is the hardest part.

Q: If you hit the game-winning homerun in the World Series tomorrow, what would you tell everyone in attendance?

A: I would point to someone in the back of the stands and say, I missed..

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: The Support Forums are where the cool kids hang out, but I do enjoy the Ambassabank as well. I like doing both at the same time actually. If only I got paid to do this stuff..

Q: So, you’re an Xbox Community Ambassador, which means you probably enjoy helping people. What are some other ways you give back in your everyday life?

A: Well, I do give back to the Xbox Community quite a bit... Other than that, I’ll feed my cats every now and then, and sometimes call my mom.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: When you come home from a hard day’s night, and just want to play some games and unwind, but your Xbox won’t allow it, I am that guy who helps you set things right and get back to having a good night. :D

GT: ericjwilborn

Q: Thanks for being a rockin’ Community Ambassador! What do you feel the toughest part of being one has been for you so far?

A: Thanks for the opportunity! I have a hard time remembering to help out daily, but when I get close to a new level I'm all about helping.

Q: If you hit the game-winning homerun in the World Series tomorrow, what would you tell everyone in attendance?

A: Follow me on twitter! (@ericwilborn)

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: I started out in Ambassador Chat but transitioned to the Ambassabank. From time to time I experienced issues with the Ambassabank so I started helping out in the Forums.. now I flip back and forth between the Ambassabank and Forums.

Q: So, you’re an Xbox Community Ambassador, which means you probably enjoy helping people. What are some other ways you give back in your everyday life?

A: I'm an IT guy by trade so I'm constantly helping people pick out electronics as well as fixing computer issues.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: The chance to help people!

GT: Eden0032

Q: Thanks for being a rockin’ Community Ambassador! What do you feel the toughest part of being one has been for you so far?

A: Well, I would say dealing with rude/horrid customers because they just don't make me feel good. But here's some good advice: "brush it under the carpet and forget about it - just move on and enjoy the rest of your day."

Q: If you hit the game-winning homerun in the World Series tomorrow, what would you tell everyone in attendance?

A: Umm, well I would actually say nothing, but just smile with joy and happiness.

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: Ambassabank. However I do sometimes hang around the Support Forums.

Q: So, you’re an Xbox Community Ambassador, which means you probably enjoy helping people. What are some other ways you give back in your everyday life?

A: I volunteer for Save The Children.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: Well, when I got support on the Support Forums back in the summer last year, I saw that an Ambassador helped me, and I wanted to find out more. And then that evening, I joined the programme, and here I am now!

Lee (^LB of the XboxSupport Elite Tweet Fleet)

<<<PREVIOUS XCS BLOG POST

<<<MARCH'S XCA SPOTLIGHT

Jump Into a Classic Western in Call of Juarez Gunslinger

Jet City Gamble — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:21:00 GMT

Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a new game now available for download from the Xbox Store. Step into the dusty boots of notorious bounty hunter Silas Greaves and relive his most exciting adventures in the Old West with real-life gunslingers like Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett and many others. If you're a fan of Westerns, you'll have a blast with Gunslinger.

Add Call of Juarez Gunslinger here (1200 Microsoft Points)

Try the free demo here

Silas is a relic, a throwback to an earlier era, a fact that he's reminded of as he stops off at a saloon in Kansas in 1910 and is nearly run over by one of those newfangled automobiles. The bar patrons recognize Silas as a legendary bounty hunter, and he begins to regale them with tales of his gunslinging past.

Wild Wild West
The unreliable narrator is a device that's been used in fiction forever, but I can't recall it being used in a video game in this particular manner before. Silas is an old drunk and he has a tendency to embellish his tales. In the midst of an Indian attack, he suddenly recalls that no, they weren't really Indians, and all the onscreen enemies change into outlaws. Halfway through a stage he remembers that no, that wasn't how it happened at all, and the action rewinds to an earlier point and a new avenue of exploration opens up.

The game looks terrific, with cel-shaded graphics reminiscent of games like Borderlands 2. The levels feature iconic locations like a steamboat, a train and an old gold mine. Comic book-style cutscenes punctuate the action, and a rousing score makes you feel like you're playing through an old Western.

Six Gun City
It's a real shooting gallery, too. The game propels you along a fairly narrow path, with lots of enemies to take out and tense duels against legendary Western figures. String together headshots and combos to gain experience points, which can be used to increase your shooting skills.

Gunslinger is a very satisfying shooter. The weapons all look and sound great, and the action is smooth and fluid. Your basic weapons are a pistol, shotgun and rifle, and each has a separate upgrade tree. Dive into action wielding dual six-shooters or pick enemies off at a distance. The "bullet time" mechanic can be used to slow down time and reveal enemies, and you can dodge potentially fatal shots at the last minute by relying on a Matrix-style dodge.

There's a surprising amount of Old West history included as well. Collectible cards (Nuggets of Truth) provide more information about the characters and events of Silas' tale, and add to your XP total.

Saddle Up!
The campaign takes about four to six hours to complete (although your mileage may vary). After the main story, there's a New Game + mode (with all your weapons and more numerous enemies) and an Arcade mode, where you play through the stages without all the narration in pursuit of high-scoring combos and leaderboard fame.

Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a sentimental homage to the classic Western, and developer Techland has delivered a solid and memorable shooter set in an era sadly underrepresented in video games. Download Call of Juarez Gunslinger today and relive the exploits of a legendary bounty hunter before you ride off into the sunset.

Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto V Special and Collector's Editions

GhostCatfish5 — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Full details have been released for the Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition and Collector’s Edition, and you can now pre-order both of these editions from selected retailers.

Pre-order Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition now!

Pre-order Grand Theft Auto V Collector’s Edition now!

(NOTE: The link has been corrected above. Thanks to DaInsaneBeast and CheckedChip21 for pointing it out!)

As an extra bonus, all those who pre-order before September 17 (whether it be the Special Edition, Collector’s Edition or the regular edition of the game) will be able to pilot the Atomic Blimp in-game vehicle. Those who have already pre-ordered will also gain this ability.

Alright, here’s what’s in the Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition:

Full retail copy of Grand Theft Auto V
Collectible Steelbook with never-before-seen artwork of Michael, Trevor and Franklin
Exclusive blueprint map view of Los Santos and Blaine County
Special ability boost increasing generation rate of special ability bar for each character 25% faster
Access to single-player Stunt Plane Trials for new aerial challenges
Bonus outfits, custom character tattoos and special deals from shopkeepers
Free guns in single-player at Ammunation stores including the Pistol .50, Bullpup Shotgun and Melee Hammer

And here’s what you get in the Grand Theft Auto V Collector’s Edition:

All the contents of the Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition
Custom security deposit bag with pop-up style lock and laser cut logo
New Era 9FIFTY™ Snapback Cap with Los Santos, Rockstar Games and Grand Theft Auto V logos
Classic Grand Theft Auto characters to use within the Grand Theft Auto Online Character Creation System
A garage to store custom vehicles (for single-player, it’s stock with the 1930s-style Hotknife hot rod and the CarbonRS sports bike; online, it comes with the Khamelion electric car)

The Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition will retail for $79.99. The Grand Theft Auto V Collector’s Edition will retail for $149.99. Pre-order your copy today until September 17, 2013 while supplies last.

Play Tomb Raider with Eidos Montreal May 18

GhostCatfish5 — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:01:00 GMT

Developers from Eidos Montreal will be on Xbox Live Friday May 18 to play Xbox Live Gold members in the game they created, Tomb Raider. They’ll be online from 4-8 PM ET (1-5 PM PT) so check out all the details, send ‘em a friend request and see if you can Game with the Developers!

All Eyes Are on the Twitch App

GhostCatfish5 — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:33:00 GMT

According to Major Nelson, one of the most desired apps for Xbox 360 is Twitch. Well, your wishes have been granted. The Twitch app allows Xbox Live Gold members to watch gaming events and gameplay streams from the Twitch.tv service. More than 300 streams are featured in the app from super-popular games like League of Legends and StarCraft II to more, shall we say, esoteric titles like Euro Truck Simulator 2.

More than 34 million people watch gaming streams on Twitch.tv and now you can watch the best of the best on your Xbox. The app is pretty simple to use. There’s a Featured section highlighting some of the more interesting streams, Games where you can look at streams based on the game title, and Channels where you can find your favorite stream creators.

Watching these game streams is a great way to get acquainted with a game and to learn features and tips and tricks. If you want to watch the best in the business, you can also stream event coverage from many of the big international gaming championships.

Navigation of the app is a breeze, and I especially appreciate the use of the shoulder buttons to clear an entire screen of choices and load up the next one.

It should also be noted that Twitch will be hosting a special broadcast after the May 21 #XboxRevealed event. Our own Major Nelson will be moderating the broadcast live starting at 3 PM ET (12 Noon PT) so be sure to mark your calendars for that.

If you like to watch games and gaming, download the Twitch app from Xbox Live today!

Free Dreadnought Map for Gears of War: Judgment

GhostCatfish5 — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:34:00 GMT

A new map has been released today, May 14, for Gears of War: Judgment and it’s FREE for a limited time. Brought to you by the fine folks at MAXIM, the map will be free for only two weeks, so be sure to pick it up today!

Download the Dreadnought map for Gears of War: Judgment

Created for OverRun, the map is set on board the COG Naval Vessel Pomeroy. After Emergence Day, the COG managed to capture a few Locust Berserkers and transported them on the Pomeroy to a secure research facility. But the Locust followed using waterborne beasts from the Hollow, forced the Pomeroy to run aground, and then attacked the ship.

Now you get to board the Pomeroy as well with this free map brought to you by MAXIM. To arms!

Can You Pull Off the Perfect Heist in Monaco?

Jet City Gamble — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT

After a short delay, the elegant crime caper game Monaco: What's Yours is Mine arrived on Xbox Live today. In this Grand Prize winner from the 2010 Independent Games Festival, assemble a team of crack thieves and use their different abilities to execute daring robberies on the French Riviera.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Add Monaco to your queue here (1200 Microsoft Points)

The visuals for Monaco are colorful and engaging, with a top-down perspective and eight-bit era characters exploring levels like banks, yachts and nightclubs for loot to steal. Imagine Sam Fisher trapped in a Pac-Man game, and you get the idea. The tinkling ragtime piano score provides the perfect accompaniment, speeding up or slowing down as you sneak through the darkened corridors.

The game gives you very little direction, basically dumping you into a blueprint-like map and letting you figure out how to approach it. The objectives are vague, such as "Rescue the girl" or "Steal the diamonds." There are many different ways to complete each level, from a coordinated stealthy heist to a noisy race to grab the loot and find the exit door.

The line-of-sight mechanic means that you don't know what's beyond the next door or around the next corner until you get there. Guard dogs, security lasers, armed guards and security cameras all try to thwart your efforts.

A Den of Thieves
Every master criminal has a gang of experienced henchmen, and Monaco is no different. There's the Locksmith, who can quickly open doors or safes. The Lookout reveals the location of loot or guards on the map. The Pickpocket has a pet monkey (!) who can quickly scour the area for coins. The Cleaner is a hulking brute that can take out guards with one blow.

As you play through the game you'll unlock additional characters such as the dapper Gentleman, the seductive Redhead, the devious Hacker and the burrowing Mole. When playing solo, you can choose which character to control. If you die, you'll continue as one of the other characters.

The Perfect Crime
You can also play as a team, which is where Monaco really shines, with up to four players either locally on the same console or over Xbox Live. It's a blast pulling off the perfect crime with everyone working together. For example, the Redhead can distract one of the guards, allowing the Hacker to sneak past and disable the security cameras, after which the Locksmith crawls through the hole in the wall created by the Mole and empties the safe.

As in real life, however, things rarely go according to plan. If you get spotted by a guard they'll quickly raise the alarm, sending your team scrambling to hide wherever they can. Sometimes, the disastrous heists can be the most fun, especially when playing together.

If you're a fan of intricate heist movies like Ocean's Eleven or Ronin, you'll love Monaco. Developer Pocketwatch Games has created a fun and challenging world with dozens of levels and a great soundtrack overlaying it all. Get your criminal team together and plan the perfect heist today!

Doritos Crash Course 2 is Free on Xbox Live

GhostCatfish5 — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:23:00 GMT

What’s better than eating a bag of Doritos® and playing Xbox 360? Playing a totally FREE game on Xbox 360 and eating a bag of Doritos, that’s what! Developed by Behaviour Interactive (who also created the first game) snack chip dynamo Doritos has released Doritos Crash Course 2, free for all as an arcade game.

Download Doritos Crash Course 2 today!

Playing the Game
If you played the original game, also still available on the service, you’ll know what to expect from Doritos Crash Course 2. The game feels a lot like the television shows Ninja Warrior or Wipeout. Your avatar runs a course of tricky traps running, jumping and sliding from platform to platform in an effort to post the fastest time.

Collect the stars that you see on the course. You’ll also earn stars by getting Bronze, Silver and Gold medals based on your course time. When you unlock each course’s alternative split path, you’ll be able to find additional stars. You can also get stars by buying them with coins which can be earned by playing the game, or you can pay for extra ones with real Microsoft Points.

Game Modes
There are three Game Modes to explore. The World Tour is the main single player aspect of the game where you race against avatars that represent par times for Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. Time Trials pits you against your friends’ best times, and Online Tournaments pits you against the rest of the world. Every time you finish a course, you post your time and game clip online for others to access.

New Moves
Doritos Crash Course 2 adds some new moves to the first game. Now you can Wall Jump by pressing A (Jump) and holding the stick to the side to run up the wall. You can also drop from a ledge and control your height when free falling by pressing up or down on the left analog stick. The game also includes power-ups, special abilities that you can acquire from the Avatar Store and stack with other power-ups to make your course runs easier.

Did you make a mistake? Now you can press X to rewind the course back to the last checkpoint. You can also Jinx a player in any of the multiplayer modes. Press B and they’ll be forced to wear a costume of your choice for five seconds. Silly, but fun anyway.

Tips for On The Course
Pay attention to the bonus objectives! You earn achievements for completing the bonus objectives and you’ll pick up extra stars as well. It’s also a wise idea to be patient and scope out the level map which is shown to you when you first start the level. This way, you can locate the stars ahead of time. Note that you can’t get all the stars in one run; some stars only become available to you when you open up the Split Path on that level. Finally, don’t forget to equip the power-ups that you will occasionally earn. They can really help you get through the levels with a quicker time.

Ready. Set. Go!
With tons of challenging levels, an interesting collectible game mechanic that encourages you to revisit and retry levels to get those elusive stars, with even MORE levels on the way, and with the Avatar Famestar program included, Doritos Crash Course 2 is a heck of a fun arcade game. And to top it all off, it’s FREE!

Xbox Community Support Profile: Porter (^PJ)

XETF Rho — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

It's May! Yeah May! May the 4th has passed, but may it be with you...always.

This month, we take a look at Porter, who goes by the chops ^PJ while tweeting for the @XboxSupport Elite Tweet Fleet. Porter is one of the leaders of our team, and has been around for a while. It's very likely that if you've ever tweeted us, you've had a conversation with him!

One of the killer members of our team, and a pleasure to work with. We hope you enjoy this post and getting to know him better!

Q: Where did you grow up and how does it compare to Seattle?

Well I was born in Boise, Idaho, and lived in Lewiston Idaho for the first six years of my life. After that I moved with my family to Sammamish Washington (Previously Redmond at the time) and I’ve been there ever since! Seattle is definitely more beautiful thank Lewiston Idaho, there really isn’t much of a comparison though.

Q: How does working for Xbox Community Support compare to your previous job?

I used to sell musical instruments at a large corporation, which I thought was a lot of fun! I didn’t think I could have more fun at a job and expect a good career out of it at the same time. Then I came to XCS and started tweeting for the Tweet Fleet and I was proven terribly wrong! This is by far the most fun I’ve had at any job. Every day is a new adventure and challenges me in a different way.

Q: What Xbox 360 title would you say you’ve clocked the most hours playing?

I have probably found myself forgetting what day it is while playing Skyrim. There are times I will start playing that game and just get completely absorbed into the story line and game play and days just go by faster than I think. I may or may not have bailed on previous engagements with friends and family to play Skyrim instead… but don’t tell them that…

Q: If you had to pick a favorite book or series of books, which one and why?

This is a tough one… I am a fan of Harry Potter, but what nerd isn’t am I right? I have a deep fascination for dragons so the Eragon series was pretty wicked, but got boring after the first couple books. I would say the best series I have read recently is the Maze Runner series. James Dashner is a wizard with cliff hangers, I couldn’t put that book down!

Q: You play music! What kind and what instrument? Been a big part of your life?

Ya, music is a very big part of my life. My father plays tenor saxophone and used to be in a jazz band. He played a few gigs that I can remember when I was a young tike living in Lewiston. I get most of my passion for music from him. I play guitar and drums, and a little bit of trumpet. I haven’t had a trumpet for years but I hope to pick one up again soon and figure it out again.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island filled with zombies, (cliché, I know) and could have any three people there with you, who would you bring?

1. Carrot Top – We would use him as a distraction if we came into a tight spot with a zombie horde on our tails (he would die first, but it would be for the greater good).

2. Rambo – Just put him behind a machine gun and he’ll do work.

3. Daenerys Targaryen – Because she has dragons that would destroy a horde, and in case we need to repopulate the earth (we are the last 4 right?).

Q: What use would you say that your Xbox 360 gets used the most for?

Video games, nuff said.

Q: Play any sports as a kid? Which ones? Which was your favorite?

Absolutely! I was on a t-ball team as a child, then I realized how lame it was so I never did it again. I played football from 8^th grade through high school. We had a really good team, I made some amazing lifelong friends, and I learned great life lessons about teamwork, cooperation, communication, and camaraderie; not much different than what we do on Tweet Fleet :)

Q: If you had to pick a favorite 80’s hair band, which one would you pick and why?

Mötley Crüe for sure! Crazy hair, crazy attitudes, crazy songs. They ride Harleys, have fun, and rock out! What’s not to like?

Q: Ever gotten a really REALLY bad haircut? Like, outrageously bad? Do anything special to hide it/cover it up?

As a kid, I rarely good GOOD haircuts. My parents always wanted me to look modest with my hair, and I always wanted to do something crazy, like a Mohawk or grow it out to my shoulders. After a while I ended up accepting that no one could cut my hair right, so now I tend to grow it out till I can’t stand it anymore (general about eye level) then just shave it all off again. After 24 years, that’s my solution.

Q: When you were a little kid, what was the dream job you wanted to do when you grew up?

I always wanted to do something with animals, marine life to be more specific. I had a wild fascination for marine biology and sea mammals. I’m not really sure what happened to that childhood dream and why I didn’t pursue it, but I don’t think I would be a good marine biologist now.

Q: What’s the most fun place you’ve traveled to/visited? What made it so much fun?

Puerto Rico is the best place I have ever been. I went there with my wife and a couple work friends about four or five years ago, and the culture is amazing. We were just outside down town San Juan and we walked around to all the shops and restaurants and everyone there was so friendly. The best part is that everyone worked on “Island Time,” and you would notice that all of the clocks weren’t set to the right time. There is even a miniature “Big Ben” type clock down town that was way off! I loved it!

Q: What do you love most about being part of the Xbox Community Support team?

XCS is very much like a second home/family to me. Every day I get to walk into work early in the morning and see the lovely smiling faces of people I truly care about. We have our very own band of brothers and sisters that work very well together, and have tons of fun every day. That is what separates XCS from any other job I have ever had.

Lee (^LB of the Xbox Elite Tweet Fleet)

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Be an Action Movie Star in Blood Dragon!

Jet City Gamble — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:21:00 GMT

Have you ever wanted to be an action movie star blasting your way through a cheesy '80s film that features dinosaurs shooting laser beams from their eyes? Of course you have! Here's your chance, with the new arcade hit Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, a goofy and neon-drenched first-person shooter now available for download from the Xbox Store.

Add Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon to your queue here (1200 Microsoft Points)

Try the free demo!

First off, it's important to note that this is not an expansion or add-on for Far Cry 3. This is a completely separate, standalone adventure. You don't need Far Cry 3 to play this game. Heck, you don't need to have ever played Far Cry 3 to jump right in and start having fun.

Welcome to the Party, Pal
Imagine all your favorite '80s action movies mashed into one, from Escape from New York to RoboCop to Predator and everything in between, and you get an idea of what to expect. A more apt analogy might be to call Blood Dragon the Airplane! of video games, as the developers at Ubisoft Montreal just throw every offbeat gag and insider joke at the wall and see what sticks.

"Geez, that sounds kind of stupid," you may be thinking. Well, it is stupid – it's deliriously stupid. It's also hilarious and completely over the top. You play as Sergeant Rex "Power" Colt, a wisecracking and heavily armed bionic antihero fighting against an army of cyborgs and wandering blood dragons (the giant fluorescent mutant lizards of the title). Colt is voiced by veteran actor Michael Biehn, no stranger to action movies himself (The Terminator, Aliens and many more).

Give Me Your Clothes, Your Boots, and Your Motorcycle
The game itself is a simplified version of its older brother Far Cry 3. You're still stranded on an open-world island (although it's much smaller than Far Cry 3's sprawling environs), spending your time liberating garrisons, rescuing damsels in distress, and unlocking side missions like hunting.

The side missions give you money and weapon upgrades, but they're not really needed, as you have almost every weapon available from the get-go. Collect the VHS tapes, TV sets and research notes all strewn about the island for Cyber Points that deliver upgrades.

I Ain't Got No Time to Bleed
The story, such as it is, develops through a series of eight-bit era comic book-style cutscenes. In the dystopian future of 2007, the world has been ravaged by nuclear war and it's up to Rex to save the world.

Beneath it all, however, this is a very solid shooter created with the Far Cry 3 engine. The visuals are almost hallucinogenic, with a vivid color palate and a neon-tinged landscape. The animal attacks (generated dynamically) can really give you a scare when you're cruising through the jungle.

Say Hello to my Little Friend
So, expect lots of things blowing up (explosive-tipped sniper bullets? Yes please!) and frantic mini-gun battles. Throw in a great '80s soundtrack and you're got yourself one most excellent adventure. The blood dragons, however, really are the stars of the show. These giant day-glow mutant lizards shoot lasers from their eyeballs and seem almost impossible to kill at first. After a few weapon upgrades the going gets easier, and soon you'll find yourself luring the blood dragons into the garrisons to spring an explosive surprise on them.

The campaign takes about 10 hours or so to complete, although your mileage will vary with how much time you spend exploring. You can buy maps that show you where everything is hidden, so this game expects you to discover every last treasure. It's only 1200 Microsoft Points, but this downloadable game could easily have been a full retail title. In fact, I'd even suggest it as an early candidate for Arcade Game of the Year.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is selling like crazy on Xbox Live, and there are even some rumors swirling around the innerwebs about a possible sequel. If you're looking for an offbeat shooter with a real (albeit sophomoric) sense of humor. set in vivid environments and filled with mutant monsters and lots of different guns, you can't go wrong with this one.

XCSLUV Springs Into...Spring!

XETF Rho — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

The passion around fully satisfying our clients & providing that extra warm fuzzy feeling really kicked into high gear this month! All the rain & hail certainly hasn’t slowed down our agents from turning up the XCSLUV oven to 350 degrees of awesome and baking some delectable cupcake-like Xbox Support experiences! Without further ado, your bakery fairy godmother brings you April’s XCSLUV!

Have I mentioned how awesome Mister Gwyther is? He can problem solve and doesn't afraid of anything.

Sorry I Know Forums Is For Problems But I Just Need To Say This Is Why I Love Xbox Live Because If Something Messes Up There Right On It And The Error Is Fixed Within 24 Hours Unlike Other Systems Xbox’s “Tech People” Actually Care About Their Members So Thanks Guys :)

Big thanks to JX, BB, and AD from @XboxSupport1 honestly the best support team from any company I've had to deal with.

thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys, I got there. Yall give awesome customer service & you can RT that! #salute

That's class, even in the face of absolute rudeness, class. This is why@xboxsupport is awesome.

For all the help and advice they give out (for free) and for being #Epic in every way.

I would just like to say, what a great support team you have, and am happy to be appart of xbox, 100% friendly/commited

Thanks @WinPhoneSupport for your quick response! Keep on the good work.

@windowsphone is by far the best smartphone I have ever had :)

Dedicated hands on Support, beyond the stability/smoothness/integration, yet another reason why I wouldn't Android again @WinPhoneSupport

Windows Phone Twitter support has kept me a Windows Phone user. Especially EB, that support tech has been great!

You guys are always amazing and help me with my questions. YOU GUYS ROCK!

Hey there! Thank you for the update, and blog post. As well as the opportunity on being on this awesome program! I am more than grateful. Keep well.

I’m so excited to be in this program and given this opportunity. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thank you for helping me! The support you give for this program is incredible.

- Joshua (^JX of the Xbox Support Elite Tweet Fleet)

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<<<PREVIOUS XCSLUV POST

Machinima App a Vast Store of Entertainment

GhostCatfish5 — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:02:00 GMT

Xbox has been getting a lot of new entertainment apps lately. One of the most recent to hit the service is Machinima, a viewing app that lets you watch all kinds of things including game news, live streams, event coverage and even original series. I downloaded the app for a quick test drive. Here’s the kind of things you can expect.

Gaming News
Machinima’s viewing app mimics the interface of the Xbox 360 so you should have no trouble navigating its features. From the Start menu, hit the What’s New button to find the latest additions to the app. Or you can just visit each of the categories to look for new content. The Game Videos category highlights walkthroughs and trailers for popular Xbox games.

Original Gaming Content
Head to the Shows category to find original gaming content. As of this writing, there are 559 (559!!) shows in this category ranging from 8 Bit Halo (bizarrely exactly what it sounds like) to Christopher Walkenthrough (where a Walken impersonator walks you through various game scenes) to Why It Fails (ridiculous brief takedowns of games for equally ridiculous reasons). Some of these shows are hilarious, some are just silly, but some are deadly serious and fascinating, such as Machinima Tutorials (how to create your own original machinima) Walk-Thrus (exactly what it implies) and even game-specific shows including Trials Evolution Map Spotlight and a number of shows devoted to Minecraft.

The Directors category opens up even more gaming viewing content from respected show hosts. Some of these shows in this category have hundreds of videos; check out Antvenom’s or ImmortalHDFilms’ extensive library. There is so much video content between these two categories that it would take you months (literally) to view it all and weeks just to view a couple of episodes.

Each show gives you the opportunity to watch them straight from the beginning, browse episodes, keep track of which episodes you last viewed (registration is required for this), and view the most popular or the recommended episodes of the show. One thing that’s missing is a general description of the show which would be helpful in picking out which show to preview. And yes, most if not all, of these shows can also be found on YouTube (also found on Xbox) but it’s great to have them in one place and easy to access.

Registration
Some of the app’s features are only available upon registration. These include Search History, the ability to subscribe to certain shows or directors so you never miss a new edition, and the ability to share your Machinima discoveries with others via Facebook. Registration is simple; just choose to Register when you see the button and you’ll get a code. Visit the listed website (you can do this right on the IE app on Xbox) and the site will encourage you to login with your Facebook account. Once done, you enter the code and the new features will open up on the Machinima app.

Don’t Bother Me, I’m Watching Something
With the new Machinima app (and the Pizza Hut app also released recently), you’ll never have an excuse to be bored. Open up a show, order a pizza and start watching. No matter what style of game you love, you’re guaranteed to find an entertaining show on Machinima. Download the app on your Xbox today!

Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show May 2 - Watch LIVE

GhostCatfish5 — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

The fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show will be streamed live over Xbox Live May 2 starting at 10 PM ET (7 PM PT). You’ll have a front row ticket for the event held at Club Nokia in Los Angeles by just watching it on your Xbox! Groups like Metallica, Anthrax, Halestorm and many more are scheduled to appear. You can even join in on the conversation around the show by using the hashtag #XboxGoldenGods on Twitter.

The event starts on the black carpet with host Sebastian Bach at 10 PM ET (7 PM PT) and the awards show follows at 11 PM ET (8 PM PT). Check out all the show details and we’ll see you there! (NOTE: You must have an Xbox Live Gold membership in order to watch the event.)

XCS Blog Arcade Game Spotlight – Castle Crashers

XETF Rho — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:00:00 GMT

The 2008 Summer of Arcade saw the launch of some of the most iconic games in the XBLA program. Sitting right there at the top of that list is Castle Crashers, the 2D Action-Adventure Brawler that also happens to be one of the top selling XBLA titles of all-time. If you haven’t taken the time to run through Castle Crashers yet, then cancel your weekend plans. This is one game you absolutely cannot look past.

Castle Crashers is the second XBLA release from The Behemoth. Their previous game, Alien Hominid HD, was a cult classic that left a lot of games wanting more from the developer. There was a lot of hype to live up to with Castle Crashers and its safe to say that it far from exceeded even the highest expectations.

Co-op any which way – Castle Crashers is always bestplayed in co-op. The great thing here is the varying ways that you can set up a co-op game. It offers couch and Xbox LIVE co-op for up to four players and it even lets you mix the two. Two local players can play with two Xbox LIVE users
at the same time and this is a rare feature from many smaller games available these days. To do this in 2008 was outside or the norm and really allowed the life of the game to last longer than most comparable games of its time.

Cross-game content additions – One of the great features that The Behemoth has included in their latest two games has been additional content for those that have purchased their other titles available on XBLA. When the game launched, a playable Alien Hominid character was available in Castle Crashers free of charge for anyone that had previously purchased Alien Hominid HD on XBLA. Just recently, an extra character was even added for those who purchased Battleblock Theater, which is the latest XBLA download from The Behemoth. It’s always a great thing when loyal fans are rewarded by the developers. Both of these characters are very fun to use while running through the game.

So many unlocks – There are currently over 30 playable characters, over 100 useable weapons and over 25 animal orbs in the game. But you start with a handful of playable characters, 1-2 weapons and no animal orbs. If you want more out of your game after you complete the main campaign, then the option to expand your quest is baked right in. Unlocking all the characters will require multiple playthroughs and finding all the weapons/animal orbs will require a keen eye and attention to environmental clues along the way. Even the most dedicated players have their work cut out for them if they wish to achieve true 100% completion.

The humor – One thing you can bank on with a game from The Behemoth is a great sense of humor. Castle Crashers never takes itself too seriously and it always jumps on the chance to make a subtle joke. Expect a lot of toilet humor in Castle Crashers but expect it to actually make you laugh as well. Jokes will be peppered in every so often making sure you never lose the primary focus of simply having fun with the game.

If you were to break down the current XBLA catalog of 500+ games down in to a list of five must-own games, Castle Crashers would make that list 10 times out of 10. We really can’t stress how much you need to play this game if you haven’t already. The Behemoth makes amazing games and Castle Crashers is worth every penny from its 1200MSP price point. Pick it up now and if you like what you see, pick up some of the DLC packs to add even more options to your setup. But set aside some time for this game. The content included can keep you busy for weeks if not months at a
time.

Andrew (^AC of the Xbox Elite Tweet Fleet)

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XCS Ambassadors Spotlight - April

XETF Rho — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:10:00 GMT

April time! Spring in full swing! YEAH! We know it's not like this in the rest of world, but here in the Greater Seattle Area, we've been seeing that rare sunlight that so infrequently makes an appearance for us.

That said, it's about time for us to acknowledge some of the talented Xbox Community Ambassadors that are leading the way.

Please read on and find out a bit more about these amazing, butt-kickin members of our community!

GT: MjrMcBeeferton

Q: If you had to pick one, what game genre would you say is your favorite?

A: I love a good story driven First-Person Shooter.

Q: Gone on any cool trips lately? Where’d you go? What made it for you?

A: The coolest trip I've taken lately was to Gamestop to pick up Bioshock Infinite. Love that game.

Q: What’s the weirdest or quirkiest skill/talent you have?

A: I am an aspiring MacGyver.

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: Ambassabank for sure.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: The opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself. To help fellow gamers.

GT: Crashure

Q: If you had to pick one, what game genre would you say is your favorite?

A: Hands down shooters. Both first-person and third-person. Having said that, RPGs are also pretty awesome too.

Q: Gone on any cool trips lately? Where’d you go? What made it for you?

A: Does going to another city in the same province count? If so, I went with my mom and neighbour on a "one-day field-trip" to the other part of town. Yes, sounds lame, but I'm not the kind of guy that travels a lot, and it was actually a pretty memorable day!

Q: What’s the weirdest or quirkiest skill/talent you have?

A: Weirdest skill eh? I consider myself really good at multi-tasking, and can accomplish a lot of things in a short period of time.

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: Ambassador Chat. I check out the Ambassabank once in a while too. Never really got into helping on the Support Forums though...:P

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: Man, I could give a countless list of reasons. But without boring anyone, let's just say "a friend in need is a friend indeed".

GT: D3ATH PRONE

Q: If you had to pick one, what game genre would you say is your favorite?

A: My favorite game genre would have to be Racing. It is the genre that got me into Xbox and Xbox Live, The game was Need for Speed: Underground 2 for the Original Xbox.

Q: Gone on any cool trips lately? Where’d you go? What made it for you?

A: Sadly, no. I have not had the time, but I would like to take a trip to Ireland someday.

Q: What’s the weirdest or quirkiest skill/talent you have?

A: Not really a quirky skill or talent, but I do have the uncanny ability to state the obvious :P

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: I prefer the Ambassabank, it seems to be the easiest place for me to help people one on one.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: What drew me to the Xbox Community Ambassador Program was that I love to help people, and the Ambassador program gives me the chance to do just that, every day.

GT: Verachi

Q: If you had to pick one, what game genre would you say is your favorite?

A: First person shooters. Halo is by far my favorite FPS. Bungie (creators of Halo) are working on a new game right now and I'm very excited for it :]. Hopefully Destiny will become my favorite FPS.

Q: Gone on any cool trips lately? Where’d you go? What made it for you?

A: Yes I did, I went to Las Vegas. What made it for me? Well that's classified.

Q: What’s the weirdest or quirkiest skill/talent you have?

A: I can make a pretty awesome Teradactyl scream. I use it to scare my friends and loved ones.

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: I love Ambassabank, It's my favorite because I get to pick the question and I get to talk to the person.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: Well years ago when this program first started I had a friend that became an Ambassador. He told me to sign up so I could be a Brazilian Ambassador. I thought that sounded cool (I had no idea what the program was about) so I signed up. I never checked my email back then so I have no idea if I was ever accepted. Then a couple years latter I went to Xbox.com and saw an Ambassador in the forums so I got curious about the program. I read about it and liked what I saw so I joined up.

GT: Killn The Drama

Q: If you had to pick one, what game genre would you say is your favorite?

A: My favorite game type is shooters.

Q: Gone on any cool trips lately? Where’d you go? What made it for you?

A: The last cool trip I went was going to Boston , Mass to go to PAX East. It made it for me because I got the chance to see all the new games and updates that were arriving.

Q: What’s the weirdest or quirkiest skill/talent you have?

A: I can do magic tricks with cards and coins. It is just the wow factor from people you get when they say how you do that?

Q: Ambassabank, Support Forums or Ambassador Chat? What’s your preferred platform for support?

A: I prefer to work on the support forums platform.

Q: What drew you to the Xbox Community Ambassador program?

A: I like to work with the community and help people and best place I seento do that is by the Xbox Ambassador program.

It also gives me a chance to meet lots of new people Via the Xbox Ambassadors and the Community.

So thank you all for making a great program to be part of a community.

Lee (^LB of the XboxSupport Elite Tweet Fleet)

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<<<MARCH'S XCA SPOTLIGHT

Barry Sanders on Madden NFL 25

GhostCatfish5 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:09:00 GMT

Can you believe it? The vaunted John Madden NFL video game franchise started as far back as 1989, and Madden NFL 25 will be available in stores August 27. Congratulations to Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders for winning the fan votes to be on the cover of EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25! If you want a sneak peek at what the game will look like, check out the video.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And be sure to pre-order your copy of the game through GameStop!

Big Sports Weekend April 25-28

GhostCatfish5 — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:05:00 GMT

It’s the Big Sports Weekend on Xbox LIVE. From April 25 to April 28, all Xbox Live Gold and free members (in the United States and D.C.) can access some of the hot sports apps on Xbox. Watch NFL draft coverage with ESPN, check out fight cards, weigh-ins and free fights with the UFC app, hit the hardwood with NBA Game Time, watch your favorite baseball team with MLB.TV and watch clips, highlights and recaps from the NHL. This is your chance to check out the power and scope of our partner’s apps so fire up the Xbox and check out all the details!

Feeling Hungry? Pizza Hut Delivers on Xbox 360

GhostCatfish5 — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:51:00 GMT

Now here’s a handy app. Pizza Hut has a new app available on Xbox that allows you to order a pizza, pay for it online, then have it delivered to your home all while you’re on your Xbox. Download the app from the apps > social > See All menu.

When you launch the app, you’ll be encouraged to set up an account, or at least provide a valid delivery address. The correct address lets the app know what current deals are going on in your area.

Once you’re in, you can preview and order all the Pizza Hut menu items. But the best part is you can Create Your Own Pizza which allows you to set up a pizza exactly the way you want it and see the results as you go. Choose from all the toppings, crust style and cheese and sauce options to see what the pizza you’re about to order might look like. And yes, you can even choose toppings to go on only half of the pizza. You can even use your Kinect to order.

Bad news: sorry folks, the app is available in the US only. Good news: If you hurry and order through the app from now until May 6, Pizza Hut will take 15% off your first order.

It’s pretty simple, fun, and frankly, downright tasty. Download the app today and have pizza for dinner tonight!

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Double Weapon XP Weekend Apr. 19-22

GhostCatfish5 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:30:00 GMT

For all Call of Duty: Black Ops II fans, Treyarch is hosting a Double Weapon XP Weekend starting at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT) on April 19 and ending the morning of Monday, April 22 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT). Remember, this is not the full double XP but WEAPON XP. So if you need your weapons ranked up, this is the weekend to do it!

Call to Arms Map Pack Announced for Gears of War: Judgment

Jet City Gamble — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:51:00 GMT

Update: The Call to Arms map pack will be available April 23 for VIP Season Pass holders. The second download for Gears of War: Judgment delivers three new maps, an exciting new multiplayer mode, plus new armor and gun skins to customize your weapons. VIP Season Pass holders will get The Call to Arms add-on early, on Tuesday, April 23, and all Xbox Live members can download it on April 30.

All three new maps provide a mix of close-quarters and vertical combat, set against the backdrop of the Locust invasion of Halvo Bay. The Call to Arms Map Pack delivers 10 new achievements and an extra 250 gamerscore points.

Terminal
The speed and ferocity of the Locust invasion took Halvo Bay completely by surprise. Residents scrambled to evacuate by every means possible, and COG forces were called in to maintain order as martial law was enforced. However, the Locust showed no mercy, and gave no quarter; they swept through train terminals like this one to take advantage of the close quarters and sheer number of defenseless humans trapped within its walls.

Blood Drive
As casualties started to mount, the staff at Halvo Memorial quickly began what would become the largest triage effort in the history of Sera. Their campaign inspired a global blood drive in support of COG forces and wounded civilians. Sadly, Halvo fell quickly, and the hospital became a battlefront instead of a sanctuary.

Boneyard
The concept of traditional memorial services had to be suspended due to the constant stream and alarming volume of casualties as Sera fell victim to the Locust Horde. Memorial grounds quickly became boneyards. Unmarked holes became grave sites and mausoleums were filled with the nameless remains of the fallen, their skeletons piled into heaps.

Master at Arms Game Mode
This new free-for-all game mode will test the true range of your soldiering skills. The goal is to get a kill with each of the 20 different available weapons, without resorting to melee or grenade tactics. Every successful kill will automatically advance you to the next available weapon, until you have used them all and proven your skill as a true Master at Arms.

Taking On the Beasts in Sacred Citadel

GhostCatfish5 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:13:00 GMT

Ready for an old school side-scrolling beat-em-up that allows your characters to develop skills, improve their weaponry, and even undertake quests of a sort? Then you might be ready for Sacred Citadel, a new arcade game for Xbox released April 17.

Download the Sacred Citadel demo or full game now!

The World of Sacred Citadel
Developed by Southend Interactive and published by Deep Silver, Sacred Citadel allows players to go solo or team up with up to three players to play in multiplayer or co-op mode. The player is the sole hope to face off against the horrid Grimmoc monsters who are attempting to acquire two magical artifacts in order to assist the Gatebreaker and the evil Ashen to destroy the Sacred Citadel and instill a reign of terror and bloodshed that will exist forever more.

Four traditional characters are available to play: the Safiri Warrior (good for close-in melee), Ancarian Ranger (uses ranged attacks), and the Seraphim Mage and Khukuri Shaman (traditional magic users). Pick the character that suits your play style and head into the world.

What you’ll find is a unique cartoon style 2.5-D side scroller that has only one forward path but allows you to move back into the screen and towards the screen to give you more maneuvering room around the monsters. Most of the levels also contain unique interactive elements, such as explosive barrels or even a swinging tree trap that you can use to wreak havoc against your enemies.

Action and RPG Elements
Sacred Citadel mixes button-mashing fighting action with a role-playing game overlay. The fighting mechanics should be familiar to anyone who has played this genre before. The X button is your regular attack and the Y button is used in combination with that button as a finishing move. For instance, X, X, X, Y is one of the first combos you learn which does damage and then knocks back the enemy when the Y button is pressed.

There are a total of twelve combos to learn, some of which are easy to use, some of which require a bit more manual dexterity. You can also block incoming attacks (LT), roll to dodge (Right analog stick), jump (A) and run (RT). Battles can be intense with multiple enemies on screen, and bottlenecks form where your movement is restricted so you must act strategically, focusing on certain enemies and dodging the rest until you can whittle down the numbers. The good news is that death, which will come often, puts you just a short way back in the level with full health, but a slightly decreased level score.

After the battle, pick up health powerups, Health, Rage and Power potions, and even new weapons and armor. The Back button provides access to your Hero Sheet where you can check your weapon and armor loadout and switch out your new acquisitions. This is also where you level up. After each level achieved, you can assign performance points to various attributes such as Attack, Defense, Dexterity and Power to grow your character.

Tips and Tricks
Sacred Citadel is pretty straightforward, but there are some things to which you need to pay attention. Be sure to visit the Town between each sublevel in each Act. (Note for the confused: Wellbury Town is just the first sublevel in Act 1. The actual town, Rockshaw Village, is accessed via the Enter Town option (Y) on the sublevel screen.) Here you can buy potions, weapon, armor and elemental upgrades to your equipment.

Be sure to visit the Bookkeeper. He’ll ask you to place a bet that you can’t complete a challenge he will set for you. If you’re feeling cocky, go ahead and take the bet, win the challenge and get the reward. Of course, you might lose your money as well.

And money’s important. When you’re just starting out, you won’t have the coin to get the weapon and armor upgrades. Collect every coin you can loot from the monsters (break barrels and crates for more) and save up for the good stuff.

Try different things in battle. For instance, Rocksnore, the end mini-boss in the Monolith Forest is very susceptible to ranged attacks. If you’re playing the Arcanian Ranger, fire off a few bow shots at him to keep him away then try to combo his melee attacking buddies. Eventually, you’ll be able to get rid of them all only to face a newer and tougher challenge in the next sublevel.

Download the Sacred Citadel demo or full game now!

If you love a challenging button masher and old school bosses, you’ll get a kick out of the storyline and added role-playing elements in Secret Citadel. Rated T for Teen, the game is available now from the Xbox Games Store for 1200 Microsoft Points.

Free New Forza Horizon Add-On Packs Quite a Challenge

Jet City Gamble — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:33:00 GMT

Now available as a FREE download from Xbox Live, the new 1000 Club Expansion Pack delivers even more challenges and more cars to your Forza Horizon high-speed adventures. With more than 1000 new challenges, ten new Xbox Live achievements (250 gamerscore points), plus two brand-new bonus cars, the 1000 Club Expansion Pack brings an epic new competition that spans the entire open world.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Download the free add-on here.

Open to everyone, the Forza Horizon Festival's 1000 Club competition delivers more than 1000 car challenges for every car at the festival. Some challenges emphasize driving skills or specific stunts such as burnouts, drifting, or catching air. Others focus on speed, like racing through a speed camera as fast as you can (perhaps even in reverse). Location-based challenges span the entire open world of Colorado so you can embark on road trips and rack up skill points.

If you've purchased the Forza Horizon Season Pass, Rally Expansion, or individual car download packs, you'll also find extra challenges available for all your vehicles.

New Rides
In addition to all the new challenges, the 1000 Club Expansion Pack includes a couple of new racers to add to your stable.

1995 RUF CTR2
In the late eighties, Ruf made its auspicious debut in the world of high-performance cars with the original RUF CTR. Nearly a decade later, founder Alois Ruf succeeded in one-upping himself with the CTR2. It features a 3.6 liter, twin turbo-charged flat-six with 520 horsepower and a top speed north of 215mph. The CTR2 is one of the world’s most elite high-performance vehicles, in demand by collectors and speed junkies alike.

1956 Ford F100
Now you can drive the best-looking and most powerful version of Ford's classic workhorse. Fans of the blue oval had the optional V8, too, which boosted the F100 to a respectable 167 horsepower, plenty of power for a hard-working vehicle. The F100 went through additional revisions after 1953 but, for truck connoisseurs, the 1956 model remains a high point.