The full list of the features to be included in the upcoming dashboard update set to be released December 4th is out, and there certainly are a lot of features - most of which are more exciting than what had previously been announced. One of the biggest additions, something that has been requested by many almost every single time an update is brought up, is the ability to play back Divx video files. The video and audio playback features have been improved in a lot of other ways too, but that will most likely be the one that is most important to the majority of people judging by how many have demanded it. Details on all the video codecs the 360 can play once the update is released can be found here, and all the other features you’ll be able to use in less than a week are found after the jump.

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[Editor's Note: Here at MEGATONik, we value video games as a special, interactive entertainment medium, one that is different from almost any other form of entertainment out there. This is why we have decided to leave it up to the discretion of the editor whether or not to include concrete numerical scores with each review that we do. I, for one, have decided not to include a solidified numerical value in my review, as I do not believe that this type of game merits a number. - backflip]

When first asked to review WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 for the Xbox 360, I was hesitant. Not because I was afraid Mark Henry would bear hug me, but because I had not, since the days of WCW vs. NWO: World Tour for the Nintendo 64, spent very much time with the wrestling game genre. I’ve been around the proverbial block quite a few times in terms of video game genres, just not as much with wrestling. However, I did give the game a solid block of my time, not to mention an indian rug-burned arm and broken leg, to convince me to return to the sport of wrestling.

How did the game fare against my oiled up six-pack and pristine pectorals? Hit the jump to find out.

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The above video is a report on the racist comments in Halo 3. While it’s not the most thorough (“Online games like Xbox…”), it does an okay job. It mentions that XBL has parental controls and interviews an inspector from the Illinois Attorney General’s office advocating that parents need to be educated about the games their kids are playing.

But for every ten seconds that the inspector is on, there’s a minute devoted to playing and bleeping out all of the inappropriate comments, and another minute relegated to listing all of the molestations and kidnappings that happen because of XBL. The story could have shown how to turn on parental controls instead of just showcasing bimbo trophy wives who can’t turn on their own microwave.

I loved the part where they showed gamers waiting outside a store with the hazy drug filter. So true!

The reporter showed a few glimpses of hope, but in the end, it’s pure fear-mongering.

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A new backwards compatibility update has been released, unexpected and unanticipated as usual. Right when everyone was getting excitedslightly interested in the upcoming dashboard update, a whole slew of original Xbox games get made to work on the Xbox 360. Like a ninja, the update silently and secretly approached until the final moment when it was suddenly revealed. Except instead of getting a shuriken in the back and your throat slit, you get to play many more of your old games in 720p and 1080i without needing to bring out the old forgotten black box. There’s a total of 84 (popular number these past few days…) new backwards compatible games, so here is the list of all those added:

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There are a lot of ways to describe what games should be like - and mowing the lawn isn’t one I would think of. And I doubt that’s the first thing that came to your mind either - unless you’re Chris Taylor, head of Gas Powered Games. He has a vision for what he believes games should achieve, and it happens to be similar to mowing the lawn:

When I ride the lawnmower I don’t think about steering and cutting grass… I think about life. I think about work. I think about things I have to do. I recharge - charge my batteries up.

When I finish mowing the lawn, I haven’t done a chore - I’m actually ready to take on something. That’s what I think gaming needs to be.

I don’t think that’s quite the best analogy for what he’s trying to say, unless mowing the lawn is the only time when he actually reflects on life and work and the only thing that leaves him feeling accomplished. However, he elaborates further on the meaning of what he said in an interview with PC Gamer UK, and fortunately strays away from his confusing lawn mowing analogies in favor of one about Saturdays:

Do you want your entire Saturday to be laying around or do you want your whole Saturday to be about working, or would you rather a combination of both? You do some chores, you sit, you enjoy. It’s a balance. I’m striving for that in my next designs - a balance of energy output and energy input.

The fact that many people would prefer to just lay around without working aside, it seems like an interesting idea. However, games should be about fun and enjoyment, not about completing a chore. I’m sure he can understand this, and so I’m not sure what he hopes to accomplish while still keeping the game as an enjoyable pastime, not just more work that is only about fun for half of it.

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While browsing the Rock Band forums, I came across an interesting thread. Apparently, this guy was jamming too loud on the day of the game’s release, and ended up getting evicted for it. It wasn’t his first offense, but it’s still interesting that their need to rock got them kicked out. He has until December 1st to leave, so most of the replies are telling him to crank it up to 11 until then. I’ve embedded the eviction notice from November 21 after the jump.
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Over at Games Radar they have a huge list of gaming firsts, from the first game to get an AO rating to the first real boss. Everything in gaming had to begin somewhere, and they sure found a lot - they list a total of 84 gaming firsts. It’s really interesting to take a look back at the roots of so many aspects of gaming (and even some more recent firsts), and to see how much has changed over the years.

I’ve selected some of my favorites after the jump, but there are a lot of other fascinating firsts in the full list.

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This new video of Trauma Center: New Blood brings me back to last year’s holiday season when I was playing the DS to Wii port, Second Opinion. Needless to say, from what I’ve seen of New Blood thus far, it looks like it’s shaping up to be a worthy sequel of the first game.

While the gameplay may look painfully familiar, that’s actually a good thing. Why fix something that is certainly not broke? I’m definitely looking forward to getting into the OR with a friend to perform surgeries that otherwise could not be done alone. New Blood is now available, so look for it at your local game retailer.

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This year’s Xbox 360 fall update will officially be coming December 4th, a little over a week from now. In past seasonal updates, Microsoft had released many neat and useful features; however, this update will do nothing of the sort. This year’s fall update will allow you to see your friends’ friends lists and … not much else. Additionally, as reported earlier, you will be able to download such Xbox Originals as Halo: Combat Evolved, Fable and Crimson Skies among others.

However, Microsoft plans to announce other updates at a later date. For now, I’ll have to go ahead and say that Microsoft is copping out early with this season’s update.

Hit that sexy button below to read the full press release.

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EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

CRAPTASTIC WEEK FOR GAMING FOLLOWS NON-DENOMINATIONAL HOLIDAY INVOLVING GROSS DISPLAYS OF GLUTTONY AND DECEASED WINGED ANIMALS

Last week, the gaming industry dished out one fine platter of headliners in an attempt to pry gamers away from their Thanksgiving-day shenanigans. This week, though, we’ve been served a meager helping of lackluster leftovers even the family dog couldn’t stomach.

The only thing that looks even remotely interesting is the DS title with the sumptuous, intergalactic polyhedrons called Geometry Wars: Galaxies, which was released last week on Wii anyway. Also, at this point, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords ceases to amaze as it seems like Sierra Entertainment won’t ever stop porting it to other consoles. Oh…and…uh….Boogie is out again with a 3D glasses-enabled DS version this week……….

What’s more to ignore are three new games that arrive Monday on Wii’s Virtual Console: Double Dribble (500 points), Vegas Stakes (800 points) and Ecco Jr. (800 points). Xbox Live Arcade hails to Atari’s Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe, which are bundled into one keen bulging package (400 points) this Wednesday.

Look at the lot, commence with the comments, display your disapproval (awe at almost-alliterations).

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To: lawl, zizzy, Kevin Cortez, BFELD, Ledz, Sobriquizzle
From: backflip
Subject: Back in business

After a short hiatus, due mainly to Gobble Gobble Day and Black Plague Friday, I’m back posting on MEGATONik. The past couple of days have been a hectic few, what with stuffing my face with succulent fowl and near freezing to death in line at 4 in the morning. All in all, however, I think I cleaned up. Thanksgiving was quiet, albeit delicious, and I scarfed down plate after plate of turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes. The wine during dinner time flowed like milk and honey in the Promise Land, and I found myself settling into a nice state of mind. Also, come this Christmas, there should be a new console system awaiting my family and I under the Christmas tree, and I couldn’t be happier.

Now if only I could get out of the fifteen page paper that is and will continue to plague my thoughts until the 7th…

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This was a bit of a slow week here at MEGATONik, since we were all too busy fattening up on turkey and being thankful to post a whole lot. If you were similarly busy and didn’t have a chance to check dailyhourly for new posts like you always do (…right?) or just want to look back on the week, hit the jump for the usual list of this past week’s posts.

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This past Friday signaled the formal start of the holiday shopping season. While most of the major gaming websites have already released a gift guide for those who don’t know what puzzle/RPG hybrid to get our loved ones, so has GameTap, in collaboration with CNN.

What makes this guide different is that it is not a Gamer’s guide, but rather, a Parent’s guide. In an era of Jack Thompson and school shootings, it’s important that parents are aware of what games they are buying for their children. Instead of lumping games into genres, they are classified by rating, and the article even directs readers to the ESRB ratings guide.

An overall sentiment among the gaming community is that it’s not the games’ fault for violence, it’s unaware parents who don’t pay attention to the letter in the lower-left corner of the box. Hopefully, a network with as broad a reader base as CNN will be able to make more steps toward parents’ understanding of the ESRB.

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The above ad for Ubisoft’s Jam Sessions is possibly the greatest game advertisement I have ever seen; better than the ads for Gears of War (Mad World), Halo 3 (Believe), and “Wii would like to play”. I’m stilling trying to regain my breath. As far as I know, it’s a real ad and New Zealanders are fantastic.

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And just like that, Link has reclaimed his position on the Gamerankings “Best Games Ever” list with Ocarina Of Time, after, much to my dismay, it had been overtaken by Super Mario Galaxy for a short period of time.

Although, I still can’t possibly take this list seriously considering Half Life 2 shows up 3 times and Resident Evil 4, my own personal “best game ever”, is in an insulting 8th place.

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