Square Enix Europe, the new owner of publisher Eidos, this week announced that it will release Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days for Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC in 2010.



Developed by IO Interactive, the crime shooter will be set in the Shanghai underworld. IO Interactive developed the prior installment, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, in addition to Hitman.

"Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" will include new Fragile Alliance modes, expanding on the multiplayer mode from the first game where players had to work together but at any moment could go rogue and steal loot from teammates

"Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" is being developed by IO Interactive, the Danish studio behind the first title, and will be released unded the Eidos brand.

360-Hq Game Database: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
Official Site: www.kaneandlynch.com"

A potential Class Action Lawsuit at Abington IP against Microsoft following the recent spate of Xbox Live bannings has appeared. Abington IP are encouraging banned users to take part.

An investigation is currently being conducted regarding business practices of Microsoft with respect to its recent cancellation of certain modified Xbox consoles for use with Xbox Live.

As has been reported widely in the media, tens of thousands of Xbox owners have had their modified Xbox consoles banned from Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live. Although modification of Xbox consoles is against the terms of use for Xbox/Xbox Live, Microsoft "conveniently" timed the Xbox console ban to occur just after the release of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game and less than two months after the release of the very popular Halo 3: ODST game. This "convenient" timing may have resulted in more Xbox Live subscription revenues for Microsoft than it would have generated had these Xbox console bans taken place at some time before the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3: ODST. Additionally, sales of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (published by Activision) and Halo 3: ODST (published by Microsoft Game Studios) would likely have been greatly diminished had the Xbox console ban occurred prior to the release of these games.

If you are an Xbox Live subscriber, had your modified Xbox console banned from Xbox Live, were not refunded a prorated sum for the time left on your subscription, and would like to participate in a class action against Microsoft, please submit your information below.

News-Source: www.abingtonlaw.com"

With the latest batch of new LIVE Features now available, we're kicking off a few FREE LIVE Weekends so that Silver members can get a free trial of all the Xbox LIVE features.

During the free LIVE Weekends, all Xbox LIVE Silver members can enjoy: online multiplayer, Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, Netflix, Sky Player, Halo Waypoint and 1 v 100 (Some features are only available in specific regions)


Here is the schedule of when the freeness starts for Silver Members:

For all Xbox LIVE regions except those in Europe, Xbox LIVE Silver members will have free access from November 20th from 12n ET /9a PT /17:00 GMT until November 23rd from 12n ET /9a PT /17:00 GMT

For All European Xbox LIVE regions, Xbox LIVE Silver member will have free access from November 25th from 17:00 GMT until November 30th at 17:00 GMT

For all the latest xbox 360 news, gaming info and much much more be sure to check back to our homepage or install our FREE 360-HQ Toolbar which will keep you up-to-date automatically.

360-Hq Toolbar: toolbar.360-hq.com"

Intensafire is the worlds Fastest Most Effective Xbox 360 Controller Mod. No Soldering - No Wiring - No Drilling - 5 MINUTE INSTALL

What does it do?
The IntensaFIRE modifies XBOX 360 controllers, allowing them to control 5-mode sleeper settings, and use customizable user programmable modes. It uses the existing Sync button to toggle. Advanced modifiers can use the included button as well. It also enables "dual rapid-fire" - usable in all XBOX 360 games, including gamer favourites: Left 4 Dead, the Call of Duty series, the Halo series, the Gears of War series, and Street Fighter.

Mode 1 - COD 4 mode (Capped limit) (Now Supports MW2 !)
Mode 2 - Dual Rapid Fire Halo 3 "LED 3 and LED 4 Both Will Light Up
Mode 3 - COD WAW Jun 11 Patch Fast No Cap (Now Supports MW2 !)
Mode 4 - COD WAW Slow " Save Bullet , GOW 1 & 2, HALO ODST, COD4
Mode 5 - Self Edit Mode " speed range 0- 255" (Mode 18 - Now Supports MW2 !)

How is this better?
5-mode sleeper mod kits exist. Dual rapid-fire mod kits exist. The IntensaFIRE mod kit has both. There are controllers on the market, prefabricated, that do what the IntensaFIRE offers, each controller going for well over $100. The IntensaFIRE is an extremely simple to install mod kit, taking no more than 3 minutes to install with minimal tools. Other mod kits require soldering, drilling, wiring, and deconstruction of your controllers. The IntensaFIRE requires connections to only a few existing points on the controller board. No soldering is required, conductive glue is included to attach IntensaFIRE flex board to the controller.

Features:
Dual rapid-fire
5-mode sleeper
Easy 3-minute installation
No soldering or wires required
Can be used in all XBOX 360 games
Mode button for advanced modification
Easy installation with video instructions
Customizable user-programmable modes
Works in all wireless controllers (BOTH CG & Matrix) !
Does not require a more powerful battery
Includes LEDs
Includes screwdriver and conductive glue for quick installation, no additional tools required.

Buy Now: IntensaFIRE 360 Controller Mod Kit (~$41/€28/£24)
Official Site: www.intensafire.com
360-Hq Hardware Database: IntensaFIRE 360 Controller Mod Kit"

The new Xbox 360 Wireless N Adapter will become available this week and provides increased speed, coverage and reliability, and features a high-performance design with two external antennas that works great with 802.11a/b/g and n connections.

Hitting store shelves this week, the Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter offers versatility and ease to your Xbox 360 experience. Jump into "Halo 3: ODST" or "Forza Motorsport 3" and enjoy lag-free network gaming and multiplayer, or put your media center to the test by streaming your favorite HD movies and videos.

This dual band adapter seamlessly synchronizes your Xbox 360 with the newest wireless N standard, allowing two times the range and a speed seven times faster than before. Easily stream all of your Xbox LIVE entertainment such as Games on Demand, HD movies and TV shows and music through Xbox LIVE or your media center PC.

The Wireless N Networking Adapter provides increased speed, coverage and reliability, and features a high-performance design with two external antennas that works great with 802.11a/b/g and n connections. Simply snap the adapter on to the back of your console and enjoy wireless connectivity in multiple rooms or congested wireless environments and connect safely with WPA2 security support.

The Wireless N Networking Adapter is available for $99.99 (U.S. ERP).

360-Hq Hardware Database: hardware.360-hq.com"

Microsoft just commented on the most recent wave of Xbox Live Bans. Microsoft have blocked/banned consoles because their owners had modified the equipment to play games they had not paid for.

"If it's clear someone is downloading pirated copies or have modified their Xbox in some way that will allow them to download games that they haven't purchased legitimately and yes we lock that account down and we're unapologetic about that," he said.

Xbox LIVE Policies on Console Suspensions
We’ve designed the Xbox LIVE service to help create a place where our members can interact and have fun online. To help protect that experience for our customers, the Xbox LIVE Enforcement team monitors the service for behavior that violates the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. Violations of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and the Code of Conduct can result in a variety of actions, up to and including a permanent suspension of a console from connecting to Xbox LIVE. This page is meant to detail some of the reasons that a console could be permanently suspended from the service.

We take console suspensions seriously, and only take such action after a lengthy investigation by multiple teams. When a console is suspended from accessing the service, it will display the following message:


“This console has been banned for violations of the Terms of Use. To protect the Xbox LIVE service and its members, Microsoft does not provide details about console bans. There is no recourse for Terms of Use violations.”

Consoles can be suspended from Xbox LIVE for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:

• Console tampering: Physically opening the Xbox and modifying it to play illegitimate software.
  
• Online fraud: Attempting to social engineer users, take over Xbox LIVE accounts, or other fraudulent activities.
  
• Repeat egregious violations: Multiple actions taken on accounts on the console by the Enforcement team for disrupting the service or impacting users.

Customer Support for Xbox LIVE cannot undo an Xbox LIVE suspension for a console. Xbox LIVE console suspensions may also include permanent suspensions of Xbox LIVE accounts as well.

To avoid a console suspension, please review and follow the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. We also recommend that you purchase Xbox 360 consoles new from reputable retail stores because previous owners may have violated the Terms of Use agreement which can lead to the console being suspended. Warranties on Xbox consoles are not transferable from the previous owner .

Everyone on the Xbox and Xbox LIVE teams want our members to have the best possible experience on our service. By following the Terms of Use and Code of Conduct, you can help us work to create safe and enjoyable experiences while enjoying Xbox LIVE.

Frequently asked questions:
I have not committed any fraud, I’ve never had action taken against me by the enforcement team, and I know for a fact I have not modified my console. Can you undo my suspension?

The investigations and subsequent actions taken by the Xbox LIVE enforcement team are conservative in nature. We work very hard to try to fully understand that a console has been modified by looking at a variety of information. Sometimes it’s possible that a previous owner or another user may have performed unauthorized modifications to the console. It is also possible that the purchaser of a used Xbox 360 was not aware the console was modified. In either case we cannot undo the console suspension. We recommend customers who believe they have not modified their Xbox themselves (or committed other actions on the service to warrant suspension) to contact previous owners or users of the console.

How do you detect modified consoles?
There are many factors that lead to the suspension of a console and we do not publicly disclose any of those details.

My console has been suspended. Does that mean my Xbox LIVE account will be suspended as well?
Suspensions for both consoles and accounts are determined by looking at a number of factors. While some Xbox LIVE account suspensions may be issued alongside console suspensions, they are not issued with every single suspension. To avoid having your account suspended from the service, please follow the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.

If a console is suspended, what happens to the warranty?
If a console has been modified or tampered with, the warranty is void and the console is ineligible for an authorized repair, even for a fee. Please refer to the Xbox 360 console Warranty on xbox.com

Can I still be banned if I purchased a modified console second-hand?
Yes. The warranty on a second hand console is void, and the purchaser assumes the risk for any previous modifications. If you purchase a console that has been previously suspended you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE.

Why does my banned Xbox 360 no longer install to hard drive?
Once a console has been banned from Xbox LIVE, in order to protect the integrity of the Xbox ecosystem and its members, that console loses its ability to create trusted content. This means that, for example, the console can no longer create profile and game data that is recognized by other Xbox 360 consoles or on the Xbox Live service, and it cannot create trusted game files or recognize previously created game files using the install to hard drive functionality. The inability to create trusted content does not impact the console’s ability to play from discs in the optical disc drive.

If I have a banned console, can I still access my achievements and content?
If your account has not been banned, you are still able to recover your account on an unmodified console. This includes accessing your purchased content and your profile, with achievements, as it existed prior to the console ban.

Can I move my hard drive to an unmodified console?
Yes, to an unmodified console.

News-Source: www.xbox.com"

Xbox 360 today announced that it had achieved console sales to 10 million consumers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in just four years. Reaching the landmark number has meant that Xbox 360 is the only console to achieve year-on-year growth across the region this year.

The launch next week of instant streaming HD movies, Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm on Tuesday 17th November 2009 transforms Xbox LIVE into the largest social network connected to the TV and strengthens Xbox 360's already impressive line up of interactive entertainment services.

"Xbox 360 continues to pull ahead of the competition when it comes to delivering on a complete home entertainment experience and we think that Xbox Live currently is about 12 to 18 months ahead of its main rival PlayStation Network when it comes to offering service and content beyond traditional games," said Martin Olausson, Director of Digital Media Research at Strategy Analytics. "By introducing innovative new services and content such as Natal, instant streaming of full 1080P HD video, and integrating social media features such as Twitter and Facebook, Xbox will likely attract a wider audience than its rivals and is in a great position to maximize sales in the next few years".

2009 has been a pivotal year in Xbox's journey from its gaming origins to now changing the way people consume and share entertainment content, interact with each other online and continue to play great games. It's a change that people are embracing; there are more than 20 million Xbox LIVE active members worldwide and there have been over 1 billion downloads of gaming and entertainment content, with movie downloads doubling in the last year alone.

"Reinventing entertainment through, play, watch, connect and share. This is the vision that we have for Xbox 360 and today that vision is the reality for 10 million Xbox owners. European consumers are very discerning and demand a connected entertainment experience. That's why we focused on providing content that is right and relevant for them and entertainment beyond just gaming to movies, music and social networking. We have delivered on this promise and next week will bring real innovation into the living room through instant streaming high definition movies, connecting with friends on Facebook and Twitter and a personalised music channel. Together, this represents a real shift in the way people are entertained every day," said Chris Lewis, vice president Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Europe.

This reinvention of entertainment has already seen a shift in where the Xbox lives in the home, with the majority (60%) of Xbox consoles now becoming integrated into the family living room. It has also caused a shift in the Xbox customer base as now 35% of Xbox customers are women and 64% are over the age of 25[2]. The arrival of the much anticipated 'Project Natal' will create a new category of gaming and entertainment experiences through controller-free gaming that makes Xbox 360 more inclusive and relevant to an even wider audience.

For all the latest xbox 360 gaming and homebrew news stay tunes to the 360-HQ homepage or install our FREE 360-HQ Toolbar which will automatically keep you up-to-date with all the latest changes on HQ

360-HQ Toolbar: here"