InsiderX

We’re happy to announce that a Limited Edition Halo Reach Xbox 360 250GB console bundled with Halo Reach will be available from September 15 for $549rrp in Australia/$599rrp in New Zealand. We’re also releasing limited edition Halo Reach wireless controllers and and limited edition Halo Reach wireless headsets in silver.

The bundle will include a LCE silver Halo Reach console, a 250GB hard drive, 2 LCE silver Halo Reach wireless controllers, a headset, and the standard edition of Halo Reach.

Bonus! The console makes a Halo-themed sound when you turn it on, and the shield power-up sound when you press the eject button. It’s the small things that make life so fun.

- jinx

More information for the Australian launch of Kinect! We’re happy to announce the Australian pricing of Kinect at $199rrp ($229 in New Zealand). Kinect will ship with Kinect Adventures. We’ve also announced an Xbox 360 4GB bundle with Kinect for for $449rrp in Australia ($499rrp in New Zealand) for new gamers, available when Kinect launches. The regional launch date has not yet been announced. Here’s the full press release.

SYDNEY, Australia. — July 22, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Xbox 360 console owners can purchase the revolutionary Kinect sensor for A$199.00 (RRP)** packaged  with the Kinect Adventures game*. With over 1.1 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in households across Australia and New Zealand, console owners¹ will enjoy the fun of Kinect and controller free entertainment.

“Kinect offers tremendous entertainment value for the whole family and those who are new to video games – with nothing in your hands and no buttons to press. If you can do it in life, you can do it with Kinect” said David McLean, Head of Xbox, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.

With full body play, Kinect is a unique and accessible way for everyone to enjoy controller-free fun. With more than 15 games available at launch, Aussie living rooms will become fitness rooms, dance clubs and sports stadiums.

Additionally, new customers will have an all-in-one opportunity to jump in with a great new offer from particpating retailers for A$449.00 (RRP)** featuring:

• The all new Xbox 360 4GB console
• Kinect sensor
• Kinect Adventures game*

“With a record month for Xbox 360 console sales in June, we are excited about our momentum. Given our rich offering this Christmas including Kinect for Xbox 360, Foxtel by Xbox LIVE and a great line up of blockbuster games, I imagine consumers will definitely want to pre-order at their retailer of choice to secure their Kinect under the tree this Chrsitmas. It is going to be an exciting time for all of us.”

¹ 175 MB of memory required.

*Check classification closer to launch date

**RRP- recommended retail price. The price you pay will be determined by your retailer.

- jinx

I’ve been getting loads of questions about the status of Blacklight Tango Down and whether it’s coming to Australia and New Zealand. There’s so much more than I can fit in a single tweet so I’m cheating by creating this FAQ.

Why wasn’t Blacklight Tango Down released in Australia and New Zealand at the same time as the US?

Blacklight Tango Down (from here out I’m just going to call it Blacklight) was not released locally because it wasn’t rated by the COB so we couldn’t add it to our marketplace.

Why wasn’t it rated?

The developers chose not to submit Blacklight for a rating because the information they received from the classification board indicated that the game could not be rated here. This does not mean the developers are lazy, or that they don’t care about Australian gamers. Submitting a game for classification costs money, whether the game receives classification or not. Because the classification board indicated they couldn’t rate the game as-is, it didn’t make sense for the developers to pursue classification.

Why couldn’t it be rated here?

The classification board does not rate games in an online environment. The wording there is important. They will not access online portions of the game in order to rate it. They can’t. Government firewalls or somesuch. I’ll be honest with you here, I don’t know the exact details, just that they can’t or won’t go online to rate the game, and that’s a reality we have to accept.

How did games like World of Warcraft or Battlefield 1943 get rated then? They’re online only!

Part of this is the timing. The new restriction for rating has only been in place for about 6 months so titles like World of Warcraft that have been out for a while wouldn’t have encountered the issue. Battlefield 1943 also has access to offline gameplay via a tutorial mode, whereas even the single-player portions of Blacklight require a LIVE connection. Sometimes developers even create standalone builds of the game just for the classification board, but that takes a lot of work on the part of the developers.

So how can the game be classified now?

We took the issue to the guy who handles all of our 1st party ratings submissions and asked for his expertise. Based on his experience with the classification board he was able to propose a solution that the board would accept without requiring a game rebuild by the developers. I’m not sure how sensitive the details are so I’ll just say it involved gameplay videos plus some other stuff and leave it at that.

So what now?

Ignition has indicated that they intend to submit Blacklight for rating in Australia and New Zealand. This is a process that will likely take several weeks, so don’t count on getting the game tomorrow. If the classification board rates the game, we will be able to release it to our marketplace.

- jinx

Here are the top played Xbox LIVE Arcade games for the last week!

1. Trials HD
2. DeathSpank
3. Deadliest Warrior: The Game
4. Castle Crashers
5. Battlefield 1943
6. UNO
7. Hexic HD
8. Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2
9. Peggle
10. Toy Soldiers

Looks like you guys really liked last week’s new Arcade releases. And now with Winter of Arcade hitting I predict a shake up in the top 10 list!

- jinx

Curious what your fellow Xbox LIVE gamers have been playing? In order, here are the 10 most played games while connected to Xbox LIVE in the last week. That doesn’t necessarily mean they played multiplayer–just that they were connected to LIVE while they were playing. Got that? Awesome.

1. Modern Warfare 2
2. Halo 3
3. Red Dead Redemption
4. Call of Duty: World at War
5. Grand Theft Auto IV
6. Call of Duty 4
7. Battlefield Bad Company 2
8. Forza Motorsport 3
9. FIFA 10
10. Halo 3: ODST

- jinx

Folks have a lot of questions about the new Xbox 360, so with the assistance of some folks from Support I’ve put together a handy FAQ to answer as many questions as I can.

Before I get stuck into it, I’d just like to clarify what the new Xbox 360 is, and what it is not. It is NOT an Xbox 720 and it will not clean the house for you. If you already have an Xbox 360 you can play all the same games and have the same Xbox LIVE experience as the new Xbox 360. The original model Xbox 360 will not lock you into some obsolete experience while we take owners of the new Xbox 360 to Shangri-La. This new redesign is a slick new version of the Xbox 360 a million Aussies and Kiwis already love, with new hardware features built in and some great improvements around making the console smaller and quieter, but inside it is an Xbox 360 and will offer the same great experience we already offer to every current Xbox 360 owner.

How much does the new Xbox 360 cost?

The new Xbox 360 is $449rrp in Australia and $499rrp in New Zealand. Actual price may vary by retailer.

When will the new Xbox 360 be available?

The new Xbox 360 will be available on shelves July 1 in Australia and July 9 in New Zealand. It doesn’t release until July 16 in Europe so let’s take this opportunity to be smug about it!

Do I have to worry about getting the ‘Red Ring of Death’ on the new Xbox 360?

No. The new Xbox 360 has built-in safeguards against the three flashing lights error, and will automatically power down with an alert if it senses a build-up of internal heat.

Will the new Xbox 360 have an external hard drive?

No. The 250GB hard drive is internal. The hard drive is removable if you choose to replace it in the future, by means of an access panel on one side of the console.

Are the A/V cable connections on the new Xbox 360 identical to the original Xbox 360?

The new Xbox 360 has the same A/V connections as the Xbox 360, such as the regular A/V output and the HDMI output. Additionally, the new Xbox 360 has an optical audio port built in, eliminating the need for a connecting dongle as was required for the original Xbox 360. The new Xbox 360 will come with composite cables in the box. Other video output cables are available for purchase separately.

Does it work with the HD-DVD accessory?

Yes, the new Xbox 360 will work with your HD-DVD accessory.

Can you export a single game across from my old Xbox 360 to my new one or do I need to transfer all of my info?

You can transfer specific content from another Xbox 360 to your new Xbox 360 using a USB flash drive or use a data transfer cable to move all content.

Will using a Data Transfer Cable or USB flash drive automatically transfer my license to my new Xbox 360?

No. To transfer content license you must use the license transfer tool. If you do not transfer your content licenses you can still access the content while connected to Xbox LIVE with the license-owning gamertag. However, the content may not be accessible offline or to other gamer profiles on your new console. The license transfer tool can be found at http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/support/xbox360hardware/programs/license_transfer/default.htm.

Will my old Universal remote work with the new Xbox 360?

Yes.

Do I have to buy the new xbox to use Kinect?

No. Kinect will work with every Xbox 360, including the original Xbox 360 models. The only difference with Kinect is that the original models will require a separate power source for the Kinect accessory. The new Xbox 360 has a port that will power Kinect independently.

Can I trade in my recent-ish purchased Xbox and in turn get the new Xbox 360 for free?

You can trade your current Xbox 360 in to retailers who purchase pre-owned hardware for credit towards a new Xbox 360; however, the amount of credit you get for the trade-in will vary by retailer and most likely will not cover the full price of the new Xbox 360. Microsoft does not directly offer an upgrade program.

Will the new Xbox 360 come with a data transfer cable or will I have to flash drive transfer saves/DLC?

The new Xbox 360 will not come with a data transfer cable, but the data transfer cable will soon (if not already) be appearing at retail stores to assist gamers looking to upgrade and migrate all data to the new console. You can also use a USB flash drive to move smaller amounts of data (up to 16GB per flash drive at a time) from your old console to your new one. More details about using a USB flash drive are available at http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/hardware/accessories/storage/default.htm.

Will I be able to buy just the new plates to replace the old ones, or is the internal chassis completely redesigned too?

The internal chassis for the new Xbox 360 has been completely redesigned to be smaller and quieter, with a sleek new form factor. Faceplates for the original Xbox 360 models will not work with the new Xbox 360.

Is there a date set for the Arcade model of the new Xbox 360?

Currently, we have only announced a 250GB Xbox 360 model. We have no announcements for any other models at this time.

Can you turn off that ‘beep’ startup sound?

Nope.

Are there any plans to waive the license transfer waiting time to allow me to transfer my content licenses to the new 360?

If you have used the license transfer tool within the last 12 months, please call support for assistance in migrating your licenses from your current Xbox 360 to your new Xbox 360. The license transfer tool will be updated soon, which will enable re-downloading of your content automatically. The license transfer tool can be found at http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/support/xbox360hardware/programs/license_transfer/default.htm.

Is the dashboard/xbox guide faster on the new Xbox 360?

No. The new Xbox 360 has many of the same power capabilities as the original Xbox 360 has, to ensure platform continuity for our developers and to ensure a level playing field for online gamers.

Will the new Xbox 360 include any games in the box?

At this time we have not announced any retail game bundle offers for the new Xbox 360, but the console will come pre-loaded with some Xbox LIVE Arcade titles. Check with your local retailers for any independent plans they may have to offer retail games with the purchase of a new Xbox 360.

Can I transfer my data from current 20GB HDD via a SanDisk USB Drive onto the new 250GB, with content licenses intact?

Yes, but the capacity of USB flash drive is limited to 16GB. For those customers intending to transfer larger amounts of data, we recommend using the Xbox 360 HDD Transfer Cable.

Is the new Xbox 360 performance/graphics better/worse/equal to the original Xbox 360?

Equal.

Have you heard any word on a Kinect + new 360 bundle anywhere in the pipeline?

We have not announced any plans to offer Kinect bundled with a new Xbox 360. Keep an eye on Xbox.com.au, Facebook, and Twitter for future announcements.

Will there be a limited edition model of the new Xbox 360 launched for reach or other titles?

At this time we have no announcements for limited edition models of the new Xbox 360. Keep an eye on Xbox.com.au, Facebook, and Twitter for future announcements.

Will the transfer cable be available for sale at point of purchase or is it only available to buy from Microsoft?

The transfer cable will begin appearing in retail stores around now, in accordance with the launch of the new Xbox 360, so you can pick one up when you pick up your new Xbox 360 if you choose to use this method to transfer data from your original model Xbox 360 to your new Xbox 360.

Can the new Xbox read avi files on an NTFS formatted drive now?

All Xbox 360 models can play AVI files; however, this does not guarantee that all codecs are supported. Full details on the formats and codecs supported for playback on Xbox 360 are available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945416/en-us.

Are the new Xbox 360 specifications different?

The size of the console and its power capabilities (i.e. powering Kinect) are changed from the original Xbox 360. Otherwise, the new Xbox 360 has the same overall processor and graphics capabilities as the original model Xbox 360.

Are there any compatibility issues with the new Xbox 360?

The new Xbox 360 is not compatible with the original Xbox 360 hard drive or memory unit.  All other accessories are compatible with the new Xbox 360.

How do I transfer all my stuff from MU to USB Stick for use with the new Xbox?

To move your content from a Memory Unit to a formatted USB flash drive on your original model Xbox 360, navigate to System Settings, then Memory. Select your memory unit. You can then see content stored on the memory unit and copy or move it to another hardware device, such as your USB flash drive.

Does the new Xbox 360 have gigabit ethernet?

No. The new Xbox 360 has 100Mbps ethernet, and Wireless-N Wi-Fi built in.

Does the new Xbox 360 play .mkv video files?

No. For full details on supported formats and codecs visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945416/en-us

Will there be any new dashboard features on launch?

The dashboard experience for the new Xbox 360 will be identical to the dashboard experience you currently have on the original Xbox 360 models. The new Xbox 360 ships with the most recent version of the Xbox LIVE dashboard. We will continue to release updates for the Xbox LIVE dashboard over Xbox LIVE in continuing efforts to improve your Xbox experience and bring new features to your Xbox 360.

More or less noise than the original Xbox 360 ?

Less. our category manager has taken to calling it deadly quiet, and he’s not wrong.

Will the new Xbox 360 make me more attractive to the opposite sex?

Absolutely.

- jinx

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- jinx

Steven Spielberg came by the Xbox booth to play and talk about Kinect. It’s no secret he’s a fan. Last year when we announced Kinect as Project Natal he spoke on stage and couldn’t say enough good things about it. When he came in today I took the chance to snap a few quick photos as evidence!

- jinx