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Like many FPS gamers of a certain age, I started with the WASD keyboard/mouse control system. As such, I have issues with using a controller to play games on a console, and really wish that someone would come out with a keyboard and mouse control system. There’s been a few that come close, and the XScorch 360 looks like another also-ran.
Bannco, the company that makes the XScorch 360 also makes a similar controller for the PS3, so this isn’t their first time trying to make this kind of product. My concern lies in the video, and is twofold. First, the video says Halo Reach. Anyone who follows the Halo universe will recognize that the demo is running through on Halo 3. Halo Reach isn’t even available as a playable demo yet. Second, the video shows some serious lag between the mouse movements and the on screen action. If this is the case, then it’s pretty much unplayable. It’s also possible that this demo is from the future, which is why it’s showing Halo Reach, and the lag is from the time-shift dilation effect.
Suggested retail is $79.99, and is currently available from Bannco’s website, or at selected retailers.
Law firm AbingtonIP has revealed that it's currently "investigating" what it calls the "convenient" Xbox Live bannings over modded consoles. The firm believes that it's no coincidence that Microsoft banned "tens of thousands" of users after receiving its money for Gold memberships, post release of Halo 3: ODST and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Therefore, the law firm is considering a suit in order to get the membership fees refunded to subscribers along with a "refund for the prorated sums". "To me, this certainly sounds a lot like a cash grab directed at a company with deep pockets, but perhaps there are more facts than they are letting on," said Joystiq legal columnist Mark Methenitis.
The NPD Group, the top game-industry research firm, has released its list of the top selling video game titles for the month of September. The month's most popular title was Halo: ODST selling over 1.5 million units and overtaking both Wii Sports Resort and Madden NFL 10. Halo 3: ODST is a first-person shooter developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft. Players assume the roles of elite human United Nations Space Command soldiers known as Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) during the events of Halo 2 and Halo 3. Wii Sports Resort (442k) and Madden NFL 10 for the Xbox 360 (289k) rounded off the top three in the software charts.
Anyone who has any doubts over what will be the best-selling video game this holiday season needs to check himself. It will absolutely be Modern Warfare 2. And while I can say that without anything real being put on the line, Irish bookie Paddy Power has given the game 8/13 odds as being the best-selling game.
Here’s the top 10:
1. Modern Warfare 2 8/13
2. FIFA 10 3/1
3. Assassin’s Creed II 6/1
4. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (what?!) 6/1
5. Wii Fit Plus 12/1
6. Halo 3: ODST 16/1
7. Uncharted 2 18/1
8. New Super Mario Bros Wii 18/1
9. Need for Speed: Shift 25/1
10. The Avatar Game 33/1
In other Modern Warfare 2 news, that up there is 20 more minutes of gameplay footage. It’s very exciting.
Halo 3: ODST is coming out on September 22, 2009 but you may wanna wait for the bundle pack if you’re in need of a new system. Well, maybe as it’s only announced in countries that use the PAL TV standard as of now. But if it gets a US release, you can bet your trousers that some gamers will jump on the bundle.
It comes with not only a 120GB Xbox 360 Elite, and a controller, but also Halo 3: ODST, Halo 3, and access to the Halo: Reach beta. All that only costs €280 in continental Europe (USD$410). Sure, the bundle doesn’t save you a bunch of money, but at least it’s a one-stop-shop.
