Next Xbox coming by 2013 holiday season - Confirmed

Enjoy that time as the only next-generation console on the market, Wii U. The competition is coming sooner than you might think.
Bloomberg reports Microsoft will release its next generation Xbox in time for the 2013 holidays. While the date has been widely expected, the news service says unnamed company insiders have now confirmed the time period.
There are still plenty of questions about the reveal, though. One of the biggest is whether Microsoft will wait until the E3 trade show in June to debut the Xbox 720 (or Xbox 8, or Durango, or whatever they decide to call it), though the company is said to be considering a separate event dedicated solely to the system's reveal.
Rumors about the tech specs of the next system are everywhere. Most recently, Xbox World reported that it will boast an improved version of Kinect, a Blu-ray drive, and a new controller with an embedded HD touchscreen.
Microsoft, not surprisingly, declined to comment on the story.
Part of the reason for that 'no comment' is the company's long-standing refusal to discuss rumor and speculation. The other is that it doesn't want to distract anyone from the Xbox 360 this year.
It's a strategy that's working so far. During Black Friday week, Microsoft beat out the competition by selling 750,000 Xbox 360 consoles. Halo 4, which many speculate is the swan song for the Xbox 360 as far as original AAA titles go, is also selling well.
Bloomberg's story did not, however, make mention of the streamlined "Xbox TV" device that has been making the rumor rounds lately. The Verge reported late last week that Microsoft was planning a set-top box device that would provide access to core entertainment services as well as casual gaming options at a lower price than its next gen console. That device, reportedly, is meant to compete with Apple TV.

Black Ops 2 Prestige Glitch Discovered

A glitch for Blacks Ops 2 has surfaced that is allowing users to instantly rank to level 55 without the need of modified consoles or joining modded lobbies.

What do users need to do to take advantage of this glitch? ...watch an effected video on CoD TV.

A source familiar with the situation informs us that the glitch is real and Treyarch seem none the wiser, yet!

Surely by the end of the day, there will be hundreds of players that will have taken advantage of the glitch while it works.

But be warned that Treyarch will catch and punish anybody caught abusing the glitch. If you don't believe us, then here is a copy of Treyarch's Code of Conduct:

“Modding/Hacking
Any user who runs a modified version of game code or uses a modified game profile is subject to penalty.

First offense: User will be permanently banned from playing the game online, will have their stats & emblems reset, and will be blocked permanently from appearing in leaderboards.
Console users in possession of illegally acquired content will also be reported to console manufacturers. PC users on Steam will be reported to the Steam enforcement team.
Unsupported Peripheral Devices & Applications
Any user who utilizes an unsupported external hardware device or application to interact with the game is subject to penalty. Unsupported peripheral devices and applications include but are not limited to modded controllers, IP flooders and lag switches

Minor offense: User will be temporarily banned from playing the game online, will have their stats & emblems reset and will have their leaderboard entries deleted.
Extreme or repeat offenses: User will be permanently banned from playing the game online, will have their stats & emblems reset, and will be blocked permanently from appearing in leaderboards.
Boosting
Any user who colludes with another user to exploit the game for the purpose of gaining XP, prestige, game score, weapon level, or in-game unlock is subject to penalty. “

This glitch will probably qualify as a minor offence, but for those that have repeated it multiple times to reach prestige level 10, expect to be banned!

Xbox Live free gold membership weekend

Major Nelson posted the good news on his blog yesterday.

“If you haven’t had a chance to check out the latest entertainment experiences on Xbox, this weekend is a great chance to give it a try. From Thursday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 2, we’re unlocking Xbox LIVE Gold in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States.
All Xbox owners in these regions, regardless of their current subscription, will have access to online multiplayer gaming, (like Halo 4 Spartan Op) Internet Explorer, Video Kinect and our entire catalog of entertainment apps, during that time period.
Have fun“

Great news for all you Silver members that haven't had a chance to use the exclusive gold features and have been thinking about upgrading your Xbox accounts.

Rumor: 'Xbox TV' set-top box in progress, to debut pre-holiday 2013

Microsoft is developing a set-top box that provides access to its entertainment features, made as a low-cost alternative to its full console, The Verge reports, citing anonymous sources.

The device, dubbed "Xbox TV," supports "casual" games and runs on Windows 8, with an "always-on" chipset that allows for quick boot-up and resumption of programs, the report says. Xbox TV would be part of a broader attempt to scale its products, making them available on a range of devices, such as Microsoft Surface, SmartGlass (for iOS pictured above) and smartphones. It is expected to be revealed before the holidays next year, The Verge says.

Microsoft provides the following statement regarding any future set-top box plans: "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend the console lifecycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention."

Details of Xbox:720 leaked by Xbox World Magazine

As many of you may have already read, Xbox World Magazine are shutting down, but are going out with a bang.

They report to have knowledge of what could be the final specs of the next generation Xbox console.

Lets take at look at some of the rumoured features.

Horse Power:
According to the Durango dev Kits, we can expect the Next Generation Xbox (NGX) to have four physical cores, which may not sound great considering the current Xbox360 has three cores.
But the catch here, is that each of cores allegedly has four logical cores. This will mean a totally of 16 processor threads available to the system.
With what's possible in current generation DX11 PC's this means we can all look forward to some excellent AI and physics processing to be be built into the hardware.
Although currently developers aren't making great use of multi-core processors, hopefully this will be set to change in the near future.

Kinect 2.0
With all that extra processing power, it doesn’t seem like much to ask for the Kinect 2.0 system to borrow just a little bit of it. It's rumoured to be able to track 4 people simultaneously, including slight finger movements.
One of the aims is to use the Kinects depth sensing camera along with OmniTouch (a technology that allows any surface to be interact-able)to watch how people interact with surfaces. If this technology were to be coupled with a projector for example it would allow the NGX to project an image onto a surface and watch how you interact with it. A couple of suggestions for this tech would be a projected board game on a coffee table in front of you, or a virtual keyboard. Although these ideas are said to be small fry in comparison to what Microsoft have planned for the system.

Augmented Reality
Now take what you just read able projected images and replace that idea with AR Glasses, meaning that you could interact with any surface that you look at, sound interesting?
Another use for the AR Glasses is to project objects into your room. Turn your bedroom and those dirty socks into a race course? Possible
It would even be possible to project your in game HUD through your glasses. Making you feel like your actually Master Chief or even make you see Master Chief standing beside you.

3D Sound
Microsoft research department have already demonstrated this tech working as a prototype with an array of 16 speakers all working together by aiming sound within small environments. With such a setup connected to your Kinect sensor, the NGX could project audio that only you could hear, and change what you hear according to where you are and where your facing.

Blu-ray
“Finally!” I'm sure some of you are thinking. NGX may use Blu-Ray just like the PlayStation 3 has been doing all these years, but will avoid the problems that Sony have had with the standard (Namely poor seek times and painful loading times coupled with huge compulsory game installs). This will allow developers to store up to 50GB of data per Blu-Ray disc. Although plans already seem to be in place to drop the optical drive altogether in future iterations of the console to favour digital only downloads. Although with the state of the average broadband connection in the UK/Canada for example, it'll be a long time until many users can comfortably download a 30GB file without blowing their monthly data cap.

There are a lot more features planned, but we've mostly just covered the hardware ones here. Anybody who like to know the rest will have to purchase the January 2013 Issue of Xbox World

Nintendo Done Making Wii Games

Now that the Wii U has launched, many have wondered the future of the production of original Wii games…

However, in a surprise to no one, Nintendo has come out and said that they are in fact done with the production of original Wii games.
This was revealed in a recent interview with Nintendo marketing director, Bill Trinen, with GameSpot.
During the begining days of the PS3, Sony still made a couple of games for the PS2.  Even up to a couple years ago, many games (mostly sports games) were coming out for both the PS2 and the PS3.

Nuketown 2025 Makes A Return In The Chaos Moshpit Bonus Playlist

BLOPS2 fans, rejoice! Seems that Treyach have been listening to the fans outrage on the preorder map, Nuketown 2025 being pulled.

With that Treyach have launched ‘Chaos Moshpit’ which the studio describes as “a fast-action playlist”, the playlist includes the previously axed map, along with: Carrier, Cargo, Express, Hijacked, Slums, and Standoff.

If you missed the news about the map being pulled. here is a little update on the previous story:

 Posting via Twitter, game design director David Vonderhaar confirmed, "Double XP weekend is official over. That means Nuketown 2025 / 24-7 is as well. I know. RIGHT? Don't kill the messenger."

Essentially, this means that the Nuketown playlist has been removed, and the map has not been put into circulation with other maps in regular playlists.

In a subsequent post, Vonderhaar goes on to explain that Nuketown 2025 will only be back for "special events".

"Nuketown 2025 / 24-7 will be back for special events. You can always play it with your friends in Custom Games," he said.

The Nuketown 2025 map - a remake of Black Ops favourite Nuketown - was offered as a redeemable DLC map to those who pre-ordered the game and, was assumed to be permanently available for online play, not as an 'events-only' temporary map.

My Unlimited Halo 4 DLC & Double XP Method

Since last week I have tried and perfected a method to get unlimited Halo 4 Double XP, Halo 4 Themes and Halo 4 Bulletproof Emblems using the King of the Hill app posted HERE.

I am using a total of 3 FREE Android apps to get this working with maximum efficiency.

1.       Fake GPS

2.       ES File Explorer

3.       King of the Hill

First download the apps and install. Once installed open ES File Explorer and go to “manage apps”, select King of the Hill and select “back up”. Exit app.

Now find any 7 Eleven using Google Maps and copy the address onto your clip board, open Fake GPS and Paste it and select “set location”

With Fake GPS I had to select an option to “allow mock locations”, this was under the developer options in my system setting menu. I am running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, I am not sure if this option is available on all android phones.

Once you have set your location open the King of the Hill app, register a fake user name, email and password.

On the map it will show you at the address you put into the Fake GPS app, in many cases I had to go back an move my Fake gps location a little bit to make me inside the store location.

Once inside the store on the map, select the store and select attack, you will drain 100 of 200 from the store, now go to The option below the attack is “reload” and scan these 2 images into the your phone. Click Images to make larger.

Once scanned attack again and you will be King of the Hill, for scanning the 2 images in you will get a Halo 4 Double XP bonus code.

To get the Halo 4 Bulletproof Emblem and Halo 4 Longbow Theme you just have to be the King of the Hill at the end of the round. A new round starts every hour on the hour, with 24 rounds per day. To get the Locus Helmet or Avatar Prop you have to hold location for 100 rounds

Once you get what you want from the method un-install and use ES File Explorer in “manage apps” go to "Restore' and re-install (this will save you the 30mb download every time) and register a new account.

FYI, I had 2 accounts get banned when I travelled too far in too short a period of time using the Fake GPS app, so be careful. I have been farming the Double XP, Halo 4 Theme and Bulletproof Emblem so far. Now just going to go for the Locus Helmet Skin.

Rinse and repeat!

If anyone is up for it I will give 200 Microsoft Points in trade for any Locus Helmet Codes.

Saints Row the Third Seson Pass

On sale for only $5.00 with free shipping! That is 75% off! CLICK HERE

Target Stores "Gifts So Bright" Free Avatar Prop

Target Retail Stores has a Holiday gift for you! a FREE Target Spot Dog Avatar Prop! Just find the Target Advert on the US Dashboard and scroll to the right and download your very own Target Dog Avatar Prop!

Free Full Game Wreckateer for Xbox 360 Kinect!

This is free for 2 days only! Add to your download Queue now!.

CLICK HERE

If you Purchased Black Ops 2 or Lego Lord of the Rings for Xmas Please Read

Mix-Up Results in Some Black Ops II Discs Containing Mass Effect 2 Instead

Imagine that you just got home from waiting hours in line at the midnight launch for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. You're ready for some fiery FPS action, except there's one little problem. The game's second disc, which is necessary for completing installation, is actually for Mass Effect 2. Wait, what?

This not only happened to YouTube user zeroiez (as seen in his video but Call of Duty fans on Steam, 4chan, Reddit, and those on the Black Ops 2 forums have reported having the same issue with the PC version of the game as well.

Also

LEGO Lord of the Rings Retail Release May Include Only a Demo

Despite several delays, the console versions of LEGO Lord of the Rings have finally hit shelves today.  If you’ve been anxious to take minifig versions of Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli out into a slightly cheerier version of Middle Earth, now may finally seem the chance.  Yet be warned, Xbox 360 players, you may be in for a surprise upon first snapping open the game box.

Outlets like IGN and Polygon are reporting that shipments of 360 copies of the game disc are branded with a small black sticker that reads “DEMO DISC: NOT FOR SALE.”  There have not been reports of the PC, PlayStation 3 and Wii versions appearing with this cosmetic difference, but the story has changed since these discs initially surfaced.

IGN has updated its initial report with news that the copies labels as demo discs do in fact still include the full title.  However, Game Informer originally reported the problem when one of its writers went to buy a copy for himself.  One store told the writer that the game had been recalled, so the status of all of these discs is currently up in the air.

The best advice we can give, based on these separate reports, is that if you plan on purchasing a 360 copy of the game, open the box before leaving the store.  Not all shipments appear to have been affected by this mixup, but it is better to shop on the safe side.  If another console is an option as well and you just can’t wait until the problem is corrected, going for a PC or PlayStation 3 copy might make the most sense.

Warner Bros. has yet to confirm how widespread the problem is or why it occurred, but if the publisher releases any information we will update those holding off on making the purchase.

If you purcahsed any of these games for you kids for X-mas I would suggest opening the game to make sure you have what you paid for! Otherwise come X-mas you will have some unhappy kids.

Get Free Stuff for Halo 4 From 7 Eleven

Mountain Dew, Doritos and 7-Eleven - in partnership with Xbox, 343, and Ogmento - are helping bring the Halo 4 experience into the real world with this location-based promotional game! Battle to become King of the Hill at your local 7-Eleven Store to win cool digital Halo 4 gear including Double XP and an Exclusive Custom Locus Helmet (US Only) or Ghost Prop Avatar (Canada Only)! Scan your favorite Halo 4 themed Mountain Dew and Doritos products to get in-game supplies to keep the battle going at each store location! Download and play for free!

Key Features:

• Location-Based gameplay ties the in-game action to real world 7-Eleven Stores!
• Compete on local and national levels
• Use Augmented Reality & Computer Vision technology to scan Mountain Dew and Doritos products to obtain supplies!
• Win Halo 4 prizes for your home console including Double XP matches, an exclusive Halo 4 Theme, a "Bulletproof" Emblem, and a "Locus" Helmet (US Only) or Ghost Prop Avatar (Canada only)!

When I signed up I did so as a Canadian account, I have so far won the "bulletproof" emblem & "Longbow" premium theme. I have not yet unlocked the Ghost Prop for my Avatar. You unlock the avatar pro when you get the "its good to be king" achievement which requires 100 "Hail to the king" metals, currently I have 36 metals.

CLICK HERE to get the iOs app or HERE for Android

Addition to My Amazon Credit Guide – Mpoints

Mpoints is the newest addition to My Amazon Guide to get $200+ per month free CLICK HERE

Credit for this goes to BlackArmorTails

Mpoints is a reward program built into apps, if you use a particular app you get points. For example, I use an app called Shazaam, Mpoints is built into this app and every day you open the app you get 20 points. Since I had already been using the app when I accessed the Mpoints section of the app I had 1800 points waiting for me. You can cash out  for amazon and many other options. I watched a couple ads and cashed out 2000 points for $2 Amazon credit. From what I can tell Mpoints is very easy to get points and cash out and is much faster than Appredeem.

Shazaam is just 1 of the apps you can use. If you use a couple of the apps they offer you could easily get 300-400 points per day.

You can see the FAQ page CLICK HERE

Here is a list of Mpoints Apps:

iPhone and iPod Touch  

• Crackle
• Zombie Bowl-a-Rama
• Nexercise
• Highway Rider
• 3 Point Hoops (free and paid)   
• Arcade Hoops (free and paid)   
• World Cup Air Hockey (free and paid)   
• Addicting Games  
• Airport Madness Challenge 
• Office Zombie
• Office Jerk
• Gun Runner   
• Touch Hockey (FS5)   
• Mancala  (FS5)
• Luxor Evolved HD   
• Patriots   
• Horoscopes  by Tarot.com
• LiveStrong Calorie Tracker (free)   
• The Daily Puppy   
• MTV News   
• Beat The Traffic (free and paid)
• Fatify
• University Wallpapers

 Android   

• Crackle
• The Weather Channel   
• MTV News   
• Shazam
• MMA Underground Lite   
• N.E. Patriots
• Nexercise

Xbox 360 USB data storage limit doubled to 32GB

The recent Xbox 360 dashboard update for Fall 2012 quietly increased the flash drive storage capacity from the 16GB implemented in 2010 to 32GB. Although we had been made aware of this the week of the update, we just wanted to make sure this wasn't a glitch that would be reversed at a later date.

Asked if the Xbox flash drive storage limit had officially increased from 16GB to 32GB during the most recent Xbox Live update, a Microsoft spokesperson told us, "Yes. The more our customers use their profile and download digital content, the larger the file size necessary to store that content and move it between consoles gets. Therefore we increased the size of the memory to enable our customers to take more of their Xbox profile with them on the go."

CLICK HERE to see the latest flash drives for sale.