This was posted on Gamespot.com

"Microsoft today announced that the Xbox 360 Spring Update will be released next month, and the revisions to the system's dashboard will include increased instant messaging abilities, revisions to the Xbox Live Marketplace, and more detailed achievement alerts.

The biggest change in the cards for the Spring Update is the addition of Windows Live Messenger functionality. In addition to letting Messenger users on the PC chat with their 360-having friends, the update will also let Xbox 360 owners see if any of their Messenger contacts have Xbox Live Gamertags. Messenger contacts will be kept in a list separate from Xbox Live friends, and Xbox 360 users will be able to chat with six Messenger contacts at any given time.

Xbox 360 gamers who quickly grow tired of navigating the on-screen virtual keyboard to type messages can either plug a USB keyboard into the system, or wait for Microsoft to release its new Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment this summer. Snapping into place on the bottom side of the controller through the headset jack, the as-yet unnamed device features a QWERTY-style keyboard layout. Users will be able to access the new chat functions from an option on the system's main menu, in the same spot where the Xbox Live Marketplace can currently be found. "

READ FULL STORY HERE 

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This is a very interesting article that was posted on CNN.com back on March 9th.  I wonder what the future will hold for some of our favorite sports games?

"SAN FRANCISCO (CNNMoney.com) -- When shareholders of Take Two Interactive Software convene March 23 for their annual meeting, they're going to see a fight - and possibly the beginning of the end for the company.

If you haven't heard, investors owning some 46 percent of the game publisher's shares are looking to take over the board and kick current CEO Paul Eibeler to the curb. The move comes after years of scandals and allegations ranging from backdated options to overstated revenue to hidden sexual content in its most popular game: "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

Game industry insiders at the Game Developer Conference here who are familiar with Take Two (Charts) but asked not to be named because of ongoing relationships with the company said they expect the shareholder action to be successful - and that could lead to some dramatic changes.

What those changes might be is a matter of debate. Some think a sale of the company is a possibility, while others believe a new board might sell off underperforming units to concentrate on Take Two's core strengths.

"Take Two's stock is a troubled bag now for two reasons: One, there's a high concentration of ownership in a very small number of hands - and at last report, nearly 30 million shares are short," said John Taylor, an analyst for Arcadia (who also owns shares of Take Two). "So you have a tug of war between two muscular groups. One is made up of people who think the worst is yet to come. The other is made up of a small number of increasingly activist shareholders.

"It would not surprise me is this had some kind of pile-on effect with people getting behind the activists to squeeze the shorts."

As for potential buyers, the list is long. Game publishers UbiSoft and Activision (Charts) have reportedly explored a possible bid. Elevation Partners, the venture capital group whose members include U2 front man Bono, is a possibility as well. And Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (Charts). has also been mentioned regularly as a possible suitor."

FULL ARTICLE FROM CNN.COM HERE 

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After playing Wii Sports' take on golf with the cartoony, under featured, 1 course representation of the sport, I've been looking forward to EA's attempt at bringing virtual golf to life with the Wii.

I picked up Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the Wiii yesterday, and I haven't been disappointed.

One thing that needs to be said- because its YOU doing the actual swinging, this game takes PGA Tour games to a whole new level.  You are responsible for the fades/draws/slices/pushes/power/straights...and unlike every other PGA tour game, its not as simple as a case of merely stopping the meter in the sweet spot.  Its no longer a case of who has the best button/meter judgment..  Its all about the swing, its straightness (or not), and your ability to gauge how to take something off of your swing depending on the given distance.

I've come to realize that the game really gauges the length of your backswing, and power is mostly determined by the speed of your downstroke on the Wii controller.

Because of all of these features- the game is tough to master.  In the past, it was merely "Meter" based... now its 100% based on your swing and figuring out the way that the game gauges your swing of the Wii remote.  

Practice swings become a must to get your head right, and your backswing distance, right before each shot.  EA handles this well.  A report comes up saying how your practice swing was, as well as the distance the ball would have traveled (sans wind and non-flat terrain).  This data is invaluable, as well as how it shows you what percentage of the full swing you'll need for that variable distance shot between clubs.

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Bo Jackson

 That's not to take anything away from the greatness of the original Tecmo Bowl, which Bangpow and myself played the hell out of in the late 80s.  The gameplay was top notch, and the mechanics were easy to pick up. 

Sadly, because of Tecmo's NFLPA licensing expiring MANY years ago, only player numbers are featured in this version, when originally it did have player names so many years ago.  That's okay though... I'm sure Bangpow still remembers a certain #34 in silver and black giving him nightmares when I used Oakland.

..Memories...

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