Not only will the game be releasing but the limited edition console will too. The game will sell for the normal price of €49.99 and the console will come in at a respectable €399.99.

The game now has five dynamic modes, which will help bring the game to Star Wars fans of all ages, and they are:

• Jedi Destiny: Dark Side Rising
• Rancor Rampage
• Galactic Dance Off
• Duels of Fate
• Podracing

In addition to all of this the limited edition console will include an exclusive C-3PO unlockable for Dance Mode (if this is anytime to do the robot without looking like an idiot, then this is it).

If you are picking up either the game or the console let us know in the comments below. May the force be with you.

The developer claims that gamers don’t realise the damage it is doing to the game developers themselves, nor to the publishers, and ultimately if retailers don’t seem to care about the guys producing the games, why should they care about the retailers?

“There’s another big rumor about the next Xbox console that could really start to shake things up… it won’t play used games at all,” Durall writes.

 

“Personally I think this would be a fantastic change for our business and even though the consumers would be up in arms about it at first… they will grow to understand why and that it won’t kill them.”

“The system is already there for Microsoft, all they’d have to do is use the DLC and codes model they have to tie a game to your Xbox live account.

“Each retail disc would likely need that unique key somewhere in the code so the account would be able to link it properly. Ideally it would tie a full version to the console it is registered on so family members can play even if the main account isn’t signed in, but this is exactly how their model works now anyway.”

Durall goes on to suggest ways that the service could continue on an allow people to rent or sample games, as he admits this model may not be perfect.

“I could see Microsoft implementing their own rental service which would maybe give them a code that activates the game for X days and they are charged a small amount,”

“This could work when you borrow the disc from someone or even with digital download of the full version. It would also send a percentage of the rental to the Developer with each rental… likely improving the overall revenue we would receive from it.”

Ultimately though Durall comes to the conclusion that consumers, nor retailers really understand the problem that faces the industry:

“In the end, I fully believe that we have to do something about these issues or our industry is going to fall apart.

“People often don’t understand the cost that goes into creating these huge experiences that we put on the shelves for only $60. They also don’t seem to realize how much they are hurting us when they buy a used game and how pirating a copy is just plain stealing.”

“I know that some will say I’m not considering the retail games stores and the impact something like this would have on them…but remember they were doing fine well before the Used Games market became such a staple of their business.

“The truth is, they aren’t concerned with how this business is affecting us so why should I care how these changes will affect them?”

Honestly, the way we see it, if Microsoft closes off the used games market they will face a backlash from both consumers and retailers. Retailers could refuse to stock their products, and a lot of consumers wont be purchasing games, in fact I bet they would see a larger drop off of sales than if they kept used games alive. Used games after all offer a cheap way into a series, that if you like, you’ll end up buying from new when the next installment comes. As for charging people who borrow a game off a friend, that completely kills the desire or drive to try something new, and then go out and buy it after realising that you like it; after all we all know demo levels try their hardest to show off the best bits of a game and leave out the slower and more unattractive elements.

Source: CVG

The app lets you take part in “missions” which upon completion unlock Xbox 360 rewards and an entry into a sweepstake. The sweepstake prizes include a custom 250GB Xbox 360 themed in either Mass Effect 3′s Paragon or Renegade finish.

There will be no in-game bonuses from taking part in the app as EA are providing that themselves with their “handheld/mobile” tie-in.

The first mission is now available and to take part all you have to do is sign up. When enough people have signed up you’ll nab yourself a Normandy prop for your avatar. The second mission will arrive next week and will give players a chance to get early access to the Mass Effect 3 demo. To take part you have to submit your best pick up line, or indeed your best put-down if you want to be a renegade.

There are a total of 11 missions planned across the coming weeks until the games March 9th release.

Source: Eurogamer

From an industry source, who is familiar with Microsoft’s plans for the next Xbox, speaking to Kotaku, they say that Microsoft plans to ship a new version of its ‘red-hot Kinect hands-free sensor system’. This new Kinect will contain an on-board processor that should enable Kinect to more effectively detect users’ motions. It should also help reduce lag in the device.

There are rumours that Microsoft is interested in making a smaller controller for the console, however this seems like it’d be an extra peripheral instead of a main controller as the current model is rather comfortable to use.

Source: Kotaku

The information comes from Kotaku’s industry sources; they claim that the new Xbox (currently unofficially dubbed Xbox 720) will utilise Sony’s proprietary format, the Blu-Ray. However the more interesting fact is the rumours that Microsoft will contain an anti-used game system, thus locking out pre-owned games from the system and totally devastating a market.

The details on  how such a system could work are completely scarce, but it is theorised that it could be done via linking a copy of a game to a persons Xbox Live account – however this would mean the console would need to be continually online.

Source: Kotaku

The news comes as the points cards will still be sold at retail, with the currency model coming in to replace purchased on the store itself.

MS Points have been in place since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005, and have spread to many other Miscrosoft online based stores.

Source: VG24/7

I personally do not have a Kinect in my household, but Mass Effect 3 with Kinect may be one of those slight glimmers of hardcore gaming that turns fans that are on the fence about the Xbox 360 add-on hardware. What you have to appreciate with the Kinect integration is that the developers know full well that this is not going to be utilized by the entire audience of Mass Effect fans on 360. It will only be utilized on occasion or just to give players another level to grasp onto while playing. It feels like it was added with the game in mind, not the Kinect itself so it takes what Mass Effect 3 offers and allows it to work with Kinect. For instance, orders that you would say in game like Rainbow Six work (with limitations) in Mass Effect 3 with Kinect. You have to say the characters name first and then direct them to an action, i.e. “Liara, Move” or “James, Follow Me”. It is actually pretty cool to see these functions in action when you play it.

Of course the brunt of all this will fall on Shepards actions and what you are allowed to do. You have combat commands which allow you to switch weapons by simply naming the weapon type. Exploration commands, which include examining items in the world by saying “Examine” or opening doors by saying “open” among other commands. The abilities demoed were the Soldier Class abilities which included commands such as “Cryo Ammo” to switch ammo types and “Concussive Shot” as well as ability to say “Frag Grenade” to toss a grenade where your gun is aimed. Explorative commands are useful for many of the story based actions like “Reactivate” and “Talk”. It also has very useful commands like “Quick Save” and “Salvage” which of course do as they would. Basically the game takes what words you would see come up and be hitting the A button to utilize and instead saying the words out loud to Shepard and team to streamline menus and accessibility.

This does not go without a few downsides that only slightly impair the experience. The Kinect is known for its slight lag on occasions and with voice commands it appears no different. It takes about 1 maybe 1.5 seconds to process something at times. For the most part this is not a big deal as it mainly happens with weapons and issuing specific commands on characters like “Liara, Singularity”. This sort of lag may only frustrate people and not discern them from the entire experience as it is a fast paced action title. The lack of a “Reload” command is actually a highly requested feature at this point in the development so hopefully by release or soon after it will be implemented. Reload is something we thought would have been obvious to include but Bioware thought that it wasn’t as important. Sure players can just hit X to reload on 360, but if your commanding Shepard in every other way why not reload as well? It would seem like a no-brainer at first thought. Also, Mass Effect 3 is not a party game but if you find yourself in a room with people who may say things like “Use your assault rifle.” Or “Why didn’t you use singularity?” than you will be in for some frustration as everytime a game related command or word is said by anyone in the room, the Kinect reads it as the player. It is a bit annoying but not many people will play it with a room full of people, right?

The Kinect works very well with Mass Effect 3 and the overall gameplay is astounding. The area we played was full of fun new enemies and various explosions that will make many fans happy. It is not without a few flaws but many can be easily overlooked and the Kinect functionality can be seen for what it is in Mass Effect 3, a great step forward in interactive gaming. I hope many games will take advantage of this feature in the Kinect.

Players will be able to give the demo a go on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Steam on February 14^th. The Xbox 360 Demo will include full Kinect functionality.

Fudzilla’s sources state that the chip is a joint production between IBM and Global Foundries and is codenamed Oban.

It seems unlikely that any 2012 release for the console will come to light as the first run of consoles with the new chipset will be given to developers, so all we can expect in 2012 is an announcement of a new console. It seems that a commercial release wont come until late 2013 at the earliest.

Those in the dev comminity seem to think that dev kits will arrive mid March or April, so the consoles retail launch of 2013 seems like it would be quite on track. Obviously the SoC and dev kits will shine some light on what the next xbox will be capable of, but a lot of things can change during the time so nobody can be sure until an announcement is made by Microsoft.

Source: Fudzilla

Starting 2013, users will use real money based on their region to buy all Microsoft content. The Points system has received criticism since it’s introduction for being deceptive, as well as for users often having to purchase more points at once than are needed. Microsoft follow Nintendo, who recently announced plans to discontinue their virtual currency.

Source: Inside Mobile Apps

Little has been seen from the game in a while, it has been rolled out at trade shows and events now and again, though it was delayed from Microsofts Christmas 2011 line-up to further refine gameplay.

MCV asked Microsoft for more details, a spokesperson said: “Kinect Star Wars is currently dated for a Spring 2012 release. We’ll have more to announce soon.”

It should be noted that many retailers have a guess at when a game will be released, and as Argos release two catalogues a year this is more than likely a guess.
Source: MCV