XBOX SmartGlass

Back at E3 2012, XBOX showed us a great new technology called SmartGlass. This new technology would allow mobiles, tablets and PCs to connect to the XBOX and provide extended content relating to what was going on the console. So where are we at with that?

http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/smartglass

With SmartGlass almost turning 1, I came to think that it had gone quiet on that front and I hadn't heard or seen games promoting their compatibility with the service. So I have discovered a list of the current supported titles and services for SmartGlass.


App for Download

Here are the links to the XBOX SmartGlass app for the available platforms

Google Android - http://goo.gl/eEy31
Apple iOS - http://goo.gl/88y1W
Windows Phone - http://goo.gl/CfGjJ
Windows 8 - http://goo.gl/aFpPh

SmartGlass Compatible Content

Here is the current supported content for SmartGlass (Updated: 10-May-2013)

Games

• Ascend: New Gods
• A World of Keflings
• Dance Central 3
• Forza Horizon
• Halo 4
• Home Run Stars
• Kinect Sesame Street TV
• Madden NFL 13

XBOX Applications

• ESPN on XBOX Live (US-Only)
• HBO GO (US-Only)
• Internet Explorer
• Karaoke
• MSN
• Miss Universe
• NBA Game Time
• NBC News (US-Only)
• Now TV
• Sports Picks
• Today MSNBC (US-Only)
• UFC on XBOX Live
• XBOX Music
• XBOX Video

Movies

See Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_SmartGlass#Movies

While you will notice there isn't a wide range of compatible applications or content available for this service, but from what I have seen, the content that is there does offer a great additional experience that is worth. I am hoping that more content providers do get on board with it.

Red Dead Drunk

BSE First Upload

Check out our first upload and let us know what you think.

[2012] Top 10 Zombie Games

As gamers, we have an unhealthy obsession of the undead, specifically Zombies.

Zombies, Walkers, Roamers, whatever you want to call them, the idea of a person dying and reanimating, then blowing their brains out with the double-barreled shotgun is nothing but mouth-watering gaming goodness. And as gamers, we do have a wide selection of where we can get our fix. I have comprised a list of where we can get this fix.

I will also say that these are in no particular order.

1. Call of Duty Zombies

Since the release of Call of Duty: World at War [WaW], we have been shown how awesome the combination of a Nazi and Zombie really is. In the original release, WaW provided the side game of Zombies which involved various survival maps which pinned you and your teammates against increasingly hard waves of Zombies. From there, Call of Duty from Treyarch continued to include the Call of Duty Zombies side game. In the most recent release, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, showed us a episodic style to the Zombies game where you visited various stops via bus while uncovering the events behind the Zombie apocalypse.

Call of Duty Zombies is certainly a popular game and very fun to play with friends only.

Platforms: PC, PS3, XBOX 360
Must have: Call of Duty World at War, Call of Duty Black Ops, Call of Duty Black Ops 2

http://callofduty.wikia.com/wiki/Zombies_(mode)

2. DayZ

DayZ has quickly become a popular mod game with a dedicated fanbase. Adding on to the ARMA II engine/game, DayZ brings a open-map survival game. Not only are you fighting for survival from Zombies, but also from other players. As supplies are scarce in the world, you find competition with other players for medical and ammunition supplies to defend yourself in the world.

The game mod is still in Alpha development and still has some bugs, so some forgiveness is expected when playing the game. The physics and the zombies are not exactly perfect themselves, but the game play is still challenging.

Platforms: PC Only.
Must have: ArmA II: Combined Operations game installed

http://dayzmod.com/

3. The War Z

Update:
In the comments we were pointed to all the problems and controversies surrounding this game. From this, this game is pulled from this list. Please check out the Reddit.com post for more information here.

War Z can be compared with Day Z however, this game is developed as stand-alone. No other game is required to play.

War Z is the first MMO Zombie survival game and not subscription based. Pay once, play always. The game is open-world and puts you against other players. While you can organise and run as clans, however it only takes a bullet to shot you down and lose your supplies and have to start again.

The Zombies and environment are relatively detailed and contains various features that make the game more immersive. This game is still in development but so far proves to be a very captive game.

Platform: PC Only

http://thewarz.com/

4. ZombiU

ZombiU is the first game to use two screens to put you against Zombie and survival combat. While shooting zombies on your TV, your health and radar is displayed on the controller display. In other occasions, you will be picking the lock of a door, on the controller display while a horde of Zombies continue to approach you on your TV. This degree of pressure makes the game more challenging and tests how well you can work under pressure.

Platform: Nintendo Wii U Only

http://zombiu.ubi.com/zombi/en-US/home/index.aspx

5. Resident Evil franchise

Since its first release on PlayStation in 1996, Resident Evil franchise has been serving some serious level of Zombie/mutation killing. From Zombie infested mansions to the devastation of Racoon City, there have been 23 releases of the Resident Evil game. This the first step in your Zombie video game education.

Platform: PlayStation 1/2/3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, XBOX 360, PC and other platforms

http://www.residentevil.com/

6. Left 4 Dead series

Left 4 Dead series, developed by Valve, is a FPS game encouraging multiplayer co-op. From the beginning you take the place of one of four team members who then embark on a journey through towns infested with Zombies and mutants. The game is not much Solo and you can only get the most when Online with others.

Platforms: XBOX 360, PC, Mac, Linux (Left 4 Dead 2 Only)

http://www.l4d.com/blog/

7. The Walking Dead series

Coming of the comic book, The Walking Dead is a point-to-point story game that follows the main character, Lee Everett, a convicted killer, to finding is family but along the way finds a little girl and together try and find their family.

The game is intelligent in its story telling and often crosses the path of characters from the comic book series, which is exciting for those who have read the comics.

Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, Apple iOS

http://www.telltalegames.com/walkingdead

8. Dead Island

Trapped on a island resort you wake to find the island is now infested with Zombies and it is now a fight for survival. The game puts emphasis on melee weapons above guns, while allowing you to modify weapons to increase their impact on enemies.

Zombies in Dead Island range from your standard dude wanting to bite you, to acid-spewing dude or big dude with bone knives. Being partly online, it will allow other gamers to jump in on your game unexpected and "help" you out. However, you can disable your game from going online.

Platforms: PC, XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, OnLive

http://deadisland.deepsilver.com/

9. Dead Rising series

Dead Rising first debuted on the XBOX 360 in 2006 and was notable for the ability to use most object in the game as weapons along with guns, bats, 2x4 planks of wood and more. The first game you played as Frank who is a free-lance photographer sent into a town isolated by the US Military which turns out to be infested with Zombies. Along with killing Zombies and general survival, you score more point and achievements by capturing photos of Zombies in unusual unique positions.

After the initial release, there were DLCs and later a sequel which follows the story of a motocross champion who fights an infestation in Nevada.

Platforms: XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 and PC

http://www.dead-rising.com/

10. Plants vs. Zombies

Not ashamed to put this in the list. For casual gamers, Plants Vs. Zombies has been a long running classic which has you strategically placing plants, fruits, nuts and other obsticals to prevent zombies reaching your house. Simply, challenging and addictive.

Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, XBOX, Mobile and other.

http://www.popcap.com/games/plants-vs-zombies/online

What's your favourite Zombie game? Leave a comment below.

Next in line… XBOX 8

Rumors have been floating around for some time now about the name of the next XBOX.XBOX 720 has been the popular vote, however the recent domain purchases by Microsoft shows we were all wrong.

XBOX 8 is likely to be the name of the next XBOX judging by the recent domains XBOX8.us and XBOX8.org.
Some sites are suspecting that it could end up titled XBOX infinity.

I would be believe that XBOX 8 makes sense and means it would fit into the rest of the Microsoft
family with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

Also it has been known for a while now that Microsoft would be dropping and phasing out the ZUNE media brand
and as a result, ZUNE would become the XBOX media family. For example ZUNE music will become XBOX Music.
XBOX services will start appearing in the Windows system more and more for gaming and media services allowing
users to share music and video subscriptions across multiple Windows devices.

We're likely not to see the next generation until 2013 and likely to be released during E3 2012.

Red Dead Redemption: Coots Chapel Tombstones

Red Dead Redemption is a great open map western game that really aspires to put in back in the time of the classic ol' west.

When playing it I noticed that some of the tombstones weren't quite what you expect. Some stones were quite comical and worth taking time to check the small things in this game.

Here some of the best ones located at Coots Chapel near Armadillo:

In Memory of Francis Moon
Brother of Herbert Moon
Died May 23, 1897
Always took joke too far

Nelly Dillard of Armadillo
Wife of Warren Dillard
1879-1908
Born an Angel, Dead a Witch

Owen MacFarlane
Died June 23, 1896
Of Chronic Diarrhoea
Aged 14 years, 3m & 6 days
Always in our thoughts

Theodore Kilbane
Of St. louis
July 12th 1891
He came in search of fortune
And is still looking

...
1872 - 1907
Brother of Lewis Pickering
Came looking for gold
But found lead

Gus MacFarlane
Died in a Bar Fight
On August 4th 1905
Aged 22
Rest in Peace

Rosie Tenerton
1856 - 1878
Gone
But not forgotten

Calvin Draper
November 7th 1886
Loving Father
Terrible Lawman

In loving memory of
Hank MacFarlane
Died of Tuberculosis
December 8th 1893
Aged 12 Years

Here lies buried
Lydia Grubb
1878 - 1909
Dearly loved wife of
Eldin Grubb
Buy this tombstone at
Grubb Undertakers, Armadillo

Gideon Knox
Died Janurary 8th 1876
Six wives proved one too many

Dwight Bundy
1851 - 1887
Brave Solider
Cowardly Lover

Hamilton Murphy
of Armardillo
Loving brother of Jeb Murphy
1867 - 1908

Here lies
Josephine Byrd
Died April 1st 1878
Gone but not forgotten

Cowboy
No Name
Died on September 16th 1897

Jackson Greenwood
Of Armadillo
Gone Fishing
June 23rd 1891

Cole MacFarlane
Died of a Gunshot to the head
July 26th 1899

Here Lies
Ethan MacFarlane
1884 - 1903
Never try to Milk a bull

The Walking Dead game not available to AU/NZ on Console

Since we posted the annoucement of the Walking Dead game earlier on the blog we have been eagerly awaiting it's release on the XBOX 360 and hungry to start slashing some zombies, however we have learnt that this won't be happening.

Confirmed on the Telltale Games forum, a Telltale team member has stated they have no plans on releasing the game for XBOX 360 or PlayStation 3 to Australia or New Zealand due to the game rating restrictions.

Mike states in the forum post...

Sorry, but due to the OFLC ratings laws in Australia and New Zealand, and the fact that this is a mature game, we do not currently have plans to release the game there on consoles.

This game is available however on PC via Steam, and other outlets. Oddly, while Australia still does not have a R18+ rating for games, New Zealand does. We continue to monitor this and report more if it gets released.

Skyrim: How to get married

Skyrim allows for a wide range of options and it is one of the reason the game is so popular. However there is one thing you can do in the game that most people avoid; Marriage.

In Skyrim, yo are able to marry certain characters within the game. There are some benefits from this, while not getting in the way of the game play. Some advantages are having your spouse taking care of your house, providing an income of money, and making food.

How to get married

So when I tried to get married, there wasn't a straight forward article on how to do this. Here is how you get married.

1. Speak to Maramal about marriage


2. Obtain and equip an Amulet of Mara (Either though looting, or buy it from the priest in Riften)


3. Speak to another character who would like to marry. If the option is available, you will ask them if they are interested in you. They are and you are interested in them, you will be engaged.


4. You will receive a Miscellaneous quest for "Speak to Maramal about arranging your wedding"


5. Go to Temple of Mara in Riften and speak with Maramal (Priest)


6. After speaking with the priest, the marriage will be arranged


7. Return to the temple between dusk and dawn, and your wedding will commence.


8. During the ceremony you will be asked for the "I Do's". Here you can either say yes or no.


9. After saying I do. Job Done!


10. Exit the dialogue with the priest and immediately talk to your spouse before they leave the temple to discuss living arrangements. Choose whether to live in your house, or your spouse's.


11. 10) Once you have decided on a place to live, your spouse will return there after 24-hours.

To buy a Amulet of Mara is 200 Gold from Maramal, or you can find one out in the world in chests or places.

My Disappearing Wife

So in writing this article I stepped through the process by marrying Camilla Valerius (from Riverwood). Once the wedding was over, before I had a chance to leave the dialogue, my spouse had turned and left the temple. Nowhere to be found. I searched for her at the shop, the temple and even my home in Whiterun. Nothing.

After reading some article I found this little gem in a list of software bugs.

In most cases the NPC spouse disappears after exiting the Temple of Mara, unless you exit dialogue with Maramal and rush after them before they reach the door. If this happens, you may find your new spouse in the spot where you first met; you can then talk to the person to decide where you'll both live. In some cases, the spouse seems to disappear from the game completely. This is easily solved by using the console command player.moveto (NPC RefID), which will move you to the spouse position.

• When the spouse disappears, the game still treats a spouse as "alive" even when they have disappeared forever.


• It is also possible for NPCs who attend your wedding to vanish forever in the aftermath, however this is considerably more rare and seems to only affect Camilla Valerius.

Just my luck. Marry a bitch and then they leave me forever alone. For PC there are some commands to reset the marriage, see here.

Shit! I missed the Wedding! She gonna be pissed!

Damn right they're gonna be pissed. Better punker up!

With my attempt at marrying Camilla, I sat in the temple and decided to wait for a few hours. Apparently in this short time I had missed the wedding. The people that were in the temple for the wedding suddenly didn't like me and I had to leave.

I returned to riverwood to find her again. The Riverwood Traders (where she lives) was locked, even though it was the middle of the day. I immediately knew it was locked because of me. I waited until it was night, and then picked the lock. She was in the room. I spoke to her and she mentioned to me how she "couldn't believe I was speaking with her after what I had done."  I asked if she would give me another chance, and she did. Again I was given the quest to talk to the priest in Riften.

Apparently, you can do this repeatedly, until you either actually get married or you you say No and call the whole thing off.

References

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Marriage

Block ads on XBOX 360 dashboard

Increasingly with the XBOX 360 dashboard, we are seeing more spaces for ads not only for games, but real-world products. For most of us, this is actually really annoying. Especially those paying for the XBOX Live Gold Membership.

So we have come with a way for you to block those ads on the XBOX.

Firstly, sign up for an OpenDNS account. It's free and comes with other benefits.

Next, add a Network to the OpenDNS. This will require you to provide you internet connections IP Address. You can find this by going to whatismyip.com

While logged in to OpenDNS, go to Advanced Settings and check the box 'Enable typo correction'. If this is already selected, go to the next step.

Now we block the ads. Got to Web Content Filtering settings and set the filtering level to 'None'. Then under 'Manage individual domains', add rad.msn.com and select 'Always block' and then click 'Add domain'.

Next we need to configure your XBOX. On your Xbox, go to System Settings > Network Settings > (your connection) > Configure Network > DNS settings > Manual. Enter the OpenDNS IP addresses for the primary and secondary DNS servers: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.

You may need to clear the current system cache for this to take affect. To do this, go to System Settings > Storage > Hard Drive > press Y > Clear System Cache
Note: that you'll have to re-download any title updates for any games you play after doing this.

Once you have done this, you should no longer see ads displayed on the XBOX dashboard.

Skyrim: 5 ways to increase your carrying weight

All players of Skyrim find often that they are restricted with the amount of items that they can carry at any given time. This is refered to as Encumbrance.



By default, a character has an Emcumbrance (Carry) limit of 300 [units].

Here are five ways that you can increase the amount of item you can have in your inventory enabling you to carry more.

1. Leveling your Stamina increases your carrying capacity by 5 units


2. You are able to give items to your spouses or companions to elevate your own weight


3. Taking potions like Fortify Carry Weight can temporarily increase you carrying ability


4. The Seed Stone (located north of the Statue to Meridia and west of Solitude) will increase your carrying ability by 100 units


5. Enchant an item with the Fortify Carry Weight enchantment (this involves finding an item already with the enchantment and learning that enchantment)

If  you have any further tips on increasing your carrying limit, please leave a comment.

Image by http://lookandlistenentertainment.wordpress.com

QWERTY Keyboard on XBOX 360

Found an excellent video showing how to turn on a QWERTY keyboard for when writing messages to other gamers.

1. Press the XBOX button your controller.


2. Go to Settings tab > System settings


3. Select Console Settings then Language


4. Then Select "English (QWERTY Keyboard)"

You will now have a QWERTY.

Video by decadentgamer (YouTube)

Top 10 First Person Shooter Tips of the Web

I won't be affraid to admit it but I love the Call of Duty games and most first person shooters. But when I was starting out I had a hard time in advancing as I was unsure what I was to do, or how to develop skills.

That got me thinking what would be the best advise I could give to anyone else when it comes to play most first person shooters online with multiplayer.

So what I have done is gone out on to the web and tallied up the top 10 tips that others believe are important when it comes to playing First Person Shooters (FPS) online/mulitplayer.

(Please note here that I am assuming that you have SOME First Person Shooter experience.)

Number 1: Learn your maps

It's agreed upon all over the web that it's important that you know your maps. Understanding and knowing your maps like the back of your hand will give you a huge advantage when playing. Knowing where the places to not only hide and killing your enemies, but to also collect and regain your health during tence moment can help save your life, and prevent yet another notch against your death tally.


Number 2: Weapons

In at a close second was tips regarding your weapon(s). First, like your maps, make sure you know what you can do with you weapons (more than just point and shoot). Know they're range and accuracy and it will help you with you kills. Pick the best weapon for the job. For example, leave shotguns for close range and sniper rifles to long, accurate shots.
Also, make sure you have plenty ammo at the ready. Reload when you can while, also, not wasting your shots.

Number 3: Don't stand still

Best advise ever. Keep moving. Never stand in the same place for too otherwise players will soon learn your location and hunt you down. Again. KEEP MOVING.

Number 4: Check your back

While you may have a nice, juicy target in your sights, you might be in someone elses. Always check you back, before you find a knife in it. Be aware of your environment.

Number 5: Keep cover

Nothing better for keeping you alive than hiding behind something that bullets and explosive can't penertrate. When reloading or waiting for the shooting to ease, crouch down behind a wall, car or some sort of solid object that might just protect you. Very important.

Number 6: Learn your controls

This one might seem a little obvious. I mean, how else will you play the game? No. Learn every corner of you controls. Learn combos, learn how you can manover in the game, learn where your controller buttons are by feel along. The better your are at controlling, the better you will be overall in the game.

Number 7: Practice in Single Player

This tip was surprisingly common while at the same time overlooked. The best way to become good at Multiplayer FPS, is to become really good in the Single-Player mode of the game you're playing. If you can finish the game at least once on a hardened level, then you will be well prepared for Multiplayer. However, this is not a Rule. If you want to just get straight to the online mulitplayer, just go for it. It's a game, just have fun.

Also, some games offer an Offline mode where you can learn you weapons and maps against the CPU (or A.K.A. Bots) before taking it online against friends and the world.

Number 8: Keep cool

Doesn't mean turn on the air con. No. In the great words of Douglas Adams, Don't Panic. Stay calm. If you are getting hammered or somehow just getting into a panic, just find a dark corner and chill out for a moment.
Like in real life, you make more mistakes when you panic and not thinking. Stop, collect your mind and then, unleash hell.

Number 9: Learn from you mistakes

One of the best ways for you to improve is to correct your mistakes. Often games will give you a replay of how you died. Watch that footage and watch and learn what went wrong and how you can not make that mistake again. Maybe you thought you were hiding, where in fact you were standing in the open. Maybe you for Tip Number 4 and you got shot in the back. Watch and learn.

And Finally...

Number 10: Headshots

There is nothing more rewarding in a FPS. A headshot is the title give to a single bullet to a players head killing them instantly. These shots will often reward more points as they require more skill incomparison to standard body shots. Sniper rifles will help make these shots at long distances but it is possible with other guns. The more headshots you get will not only get you points, but respect with other players as it proves your skill with you gun.

Again these tips were taken from a variety of site across the web. These are all important in becoming a true player. Good luck.