Microsoft have just announced that the Xbox LIVE service will be discontinued for the Original Xbox, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals.

On April 15 we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals. I want to start by saying this isn't a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox LIVE community.

Seven years ago we laid out our vision for the connected console when we launched Xbox LIVE. We believed then that the power of the Internet to connect people would revolutionize living room entertainment. It started with amazing multiplayer games, and we've since seen that bet pay off again and again with the launches of Xbox 360, Marketplace, Netflix and powerful social features like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. None of this would have been possible without the success of LIVE as a multiplayer gaming network.

There's no greater example of the power of the Xbox LIVE community than the "Halo" franchise. "Halo 2" has had an amazing run on LIVE, with a dedicated community more than five years after launch and well into the next generation of consoles. It has fundamentally changed the way we play video games. And while it's difficult to see that run come to an end, the "Halo" franchise continues to act as the benchmark for multiplayer gaming in this generation, with "Halo 3," "Halo 3: ODST" and soon "Halo: Reach" on Xbox 360.

Your Xbox LIVE community has grown to 23 million strong. And as we look down the road, we'll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360. To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games. We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process.

We'll share more details soon, but in the meantime I want to assure you that the best is yet to come for Xbox LIVE. I believe we'll look back on 2010 as a landmark year in gaming and home entertainment, and I couldn't be more excited about what we have in store with "Project Natal" and LIVE. The LIVE community is the driving force behind everything we do, and it's because of the community that ground-breaking experiences on Xbox continue to be possible."

It looks like the care package glitch and quite a few other problems with "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: will finally be patched on Xbox 360.

Robert Bowling, Creative Strategist at Infinity Ward posted "The Care Package Fix patch went to Microsoft for certification on Friday. Not too much longer before it's a thing of the past."


Here is a full list of details which are to be included in the next update.

• Care Package, Emergency Airdrop, and Sentry Gun marker grenades sprint speed normalized.
  
• Fix for “infinite care package” exploit.
  
• Model 1887: Bling using Akimbo and FMJ combination now has same range and damage as non-Bling Model 1887s.
  
• Sentry Guns: Improved placement detection, preventing cases of Sentry Guns inside geometry.

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News-Source: www.twitter.com/fourzerotwo/
360-Hq Game Database: Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360"

Experience a war like never before between two of sci-fi's most iconic characters in the new online Mutiplayer demo for "Aliens vs Predator".

The Demo features only one map in Deathmatch multiplayer. Hunter. Survivor. Prey. Which will you be?

Content: Aliens vs Predator
Price: Free
Availability: Not available in Germany, India and Japan
Dash Text: Hunter. Survivor. Prey. Which will you be? Will you lock and load as a United States Colonial Marine? Fight for honour as the savage Predator? Or go in for the kill as the murderous Xenomorph? And will you be the hunter... or the prey? Demo features one map in Deathmatch multiplayer. Full game features eight maps, seven multiplayer modes and three single-player campaigns. Online connection required.

Add the Alien vs Predator Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

360-Hq Game Database: Aliens vs Predator for Xbox 360"

Microsoft is bumping up the size on the external hard drive accessory for the Xbox 360 to 250 GB. The downside? It’s only available in Japan…so far.

Normally only sold as a part of a bundle with a new Xbox 360 gaming console, interested gamers will have the option to buy the larger hard drive as a stand-alone accessory.

Set to be release in Japan on March 11, the new storage space key will cost ¥15,540 ($172.10)

Right now, the Xbox 360 Elite has the largest HDD capacity at 120 GB. All of that extra space would be great for downloading content (TV shows, movies, games, etc.) from the Xbox Live Marketplace, so maybe Microsoft should get cracking on shipping this accessory across the Pacific.

News-Source: www.zdnet.com"

A new Superstars V8 Next Challenge Demo is now available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo is not available in North America and Japan.

Superstars V8 Next Challenge is the latest edition of the Black Bean racing series developed by Milestone.


Content: Superstars V8 Next Challenge
Price: Free
Availability: Not available in North America and Japan
Dash Text: Hear the tyres scream with the top V8 production class cars of the official Superstars® Championship. Incredible vehicle models and photo-realistic environments will rip you out of your seat and put you behind the wheel to compete at the highest level. Up to 16 players can battle for first place in adrenaline fueled online multiplayer action.

Add Superstars V8 Next Challenge Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

360-Hq Games Database: Superstars V8 Next Challenge"

Chime is this weeks Xbox Live Arcade title and is now available from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Chime costs 400 MS Points and a demo is also available.

Content: Chime
Price: 400 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: Single player game seeks significant gamer for musical puzzle fun. Me: unique, compelling, creative and demanding. You: quick-witted and open-minded with sharp reactions and a deep love of music. Let’s get together and play something beautiful. Featuring music by Moby, Paul Hartnoll (Orbital), Philip Glass, Fred Deakin (Lemon Jelly) and Markus Schulz. No less than 60% of the purchase price of Chime will go to charity.

360-Hq Games Database: Chime for Xbox 360"

Paramount Digital Entertainment and Piranha Games are bringing "Days of Thunder" to Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360. "Days of Thunder" is expected to become available in Summer 2010, for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and PS3.

"Days of Thunder" is an arcade style racer that will feature single and multiplayer options. Features include real-time car damage, pits, several different car types, a derby destruction mode, and vehicle customization.



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Official Site: paramount.com
360-Hq Game Database: Days of Thunder for Xbox 360"

GodzIvan has just developed a new modchip called the "NWP CHIP". The digital switch can be used so the DVD eject button toggles protection of your NAND.

GodzIvan has refined his work on the Xbox 360 NAND flash write protection and developed a digital switch called NWP CHIP where you simply use the DVD eject button to toggle protection. The only parts required are a PIC12F629 microcontroller and a bi-color LED.

PIC12F629
BI-COLOR LED

LED RED -> DISABLE (NO PROTECT !!!!)
LED GREEN -> ENABLE (PROTECT)
LED ORANGE -> Config
LED BLINK GREEN -> STATE SELECT ENABLE
LED BLINK RED -> STATE SELECT DISABLE

CONFIG: push EJECT-DVD button until the led became orange (5 sec)

ENABLE: when is in config modality, push EJECT-DVD button until the led became GREEN

DISABLE: when is in config modality, push EJECT-DVD button until the led became RED

SAVE STATE: push the button on modality selected (ENABLE/DISABLE) until the led's blinking

360-Hq Download: here
360-Hq Homebrew Database: NWP NAND Write Protect Chip"

Dead Rising is the second Games on Demand title this week and is now available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Take the lead as Frank and engage in a struggle to survive the endless stream of enemies. With a full compliment of stores at your disposal in the mall, you'll need to be creative—utilizing anything you can find to fight off the flesh-hungry mob—and search for the truth behind the horrendous epidemic.

Content: Dead Rising
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Germany, Japan, Korea or India
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English only. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Unparalleled human drama unfolds in a shopping mall overrun with the undead. Welcome to hell!!

Add Dead Rising to your Xbox 360 download queue

360-Hq Game Database: Dead Rising for Xbox 360"