Well, like any good site, its the community that drives the site. The staff can sit here all day long writing news posts, slaving away at the laborious job of playing games to write a review and sorting though user submissions for a contest. I can sit around all day long tweaking the back end, modding the forums, changing bits and pieces around, incrementing css hex codes one at a time till its ‘just right’, and finding new an exciting ways to add features you all love. The thing of it is though, without the community, its all for naught.

You guys are why we do this, and you guys are who we want to see involved just as much as us. To that end, we launched the forums last week. We want our community to have a place to come together, outside of just the comment system. Because of this, we need to foster this community. Some of you may have noticed an “experience” system on our forums. Its a rather convoluted system involving math, spacial relativity, and quantum physics that takes in the amount of posting you do, the threads you create, how often they are read, who reads them, who replies to them, and what people rate you and them as, and tons more. Its not a popularity contest on who has the most read posts, its not on who makes the most postings, and its not about who replies to the most threads. It’s all that and more. It takes a fairly accurate accounting of your entire interaction with the forums, and the community, and their reaction so said interaction, and quantifies it with a number of “points” and in turn a level and some other bits and bobs we have not yet implemented.

Starting today, July first, and running though midnight of the last day of the month, July 31st, I will be watching those numbers. The user with the highest number of points, will be receiving an as of yet un-determined game for the 360. Rest assured, it will be a popular one worth the trouble! (Heck you might even get to pick it out yourself!)

It could be said that we are “bribing” people to post, and I guess it looks that way, the thing of it is, its like a snow ball, you get it rolling, and it will take off on its own and grow, just someone needs to make a fist full of snow and hurl it down the hill to get things rolling! So hop on the forums, start chatting, stir up some intense debate, share your thoughts on the new launch of my favorite game of the summer, Bad Company, and let your voice be heard!

P.S. You might notice images for posts made in the last 2-3 days might not be displaying for you. We are aware of the issue and are working on it, but seeing as how its the only known hiccup after the move, I felt it was best to go ahead with things and chase down the problem afterwards.

Harmonix publicly announced today that they would be teaming up with Q Entertainment, a leader in music entertainment from Japan to release RockBand for the region.  What stands out about this title however, is that unlike the “slightly” localized version for Europe this one will be heavily localized for the Japanese crowds. It will showcase both a large array of Japanese Music, as well as other in-game assets.

You might recognize Q’s name, as they are well versed in the rhythm genre, being the creators of Lumines and Rez HD. (A top favorite with the ladies, hehe). This public announcement follows an ad that ran Saturday during the MTV Music Awards in Japan which featured a Japanese advertisement for Rockband.

Anyone else find this humerous, that the game is being so heavily localized, when one of the most popular party-pastimes over there is Karaoke.. of American songs?

It looks like the folks at Infinity Ward and Activision are hitting us all with a two pronged assault! (Perhaps they are trying to flank our rear?) Ok ok ok.. enough with the bad puns..

Today on Xbox live you can download the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack for 800 MS points to add 4 new maps to the game. Those maps, in no particular order are “Broadcast,” which features tight corridors and wide open parking lots where large groups utilize close-quarter fighting and strategic maneuvers; “Chinatown” where night battles well lit by the full moon play havoc against a backdrop of brightly colored lamps, antique shops and neon signs of the local district; “Killhouse,” a desolate warehouse under enemy attack where squads will need to move through building mock-ups and plywood walls in order to full take control of the combat arena; and “Creek,” A large wide open village in a heavily wooded area where battles are fought between high ridgelines and deep in underground caves.

This addon will ONLY be available for Xbox Live as an exclusive addon for the next 21 days. After which, presumably, it will be released to the world at large for PC and other platforms. Along with this, today you can begin purchasing the “Game of the Year” eddition, which is the same ole COD4 but it includes the above mentioned maps.

To commemorate this event, from today, friday the 4th though sunday night the 6th all XP earned while fighting online is doubled for everyone. So if you are like me, and have just in the recent time gotten back into the game, or have yet to really make a earnest start into the multiplayer aspect of the game, nows the time! If you see [h2o]EA Sargonas dropping off a few head shots on you from across the map while I hide like a chicken in the shadows…well… war is hell!

D3Publisher of America  revealed yesterday a jam packed new expansion for the XBLA hit Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Code-named “Puzzle Quest: 1.5″ to reflect its tremmendous amount of content, the expansion pack includes four new hero professions, scores of new spells to cast and items to collect, challenging new quests, monsters and bosses and much more including the introduction of a new archenemy, Antharg, the Lord of Plague.  

In a bold new move, D3PA and Infinite Interactive have decided to ask you the gamers to leave your mark on the Puzzle Quest universe by submitting game title suggestions to to them!! Using this link, www.puzzle-quest.com you can submit your ideas, starting at noon PDT Monday, March 17 and ending at noon PDT, Friday, March 21.

The winning game title and two runners-up will be announced on April 2. The soon-to-be-named expansion pack will be available for play as an addition to Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in spring 2008

“Infinite Interactive has delivered much more than the average expansion pack and the incredible amount of content that it will include sets a new
precedent for offerings on Xbox Live Arcade,” said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3PA.  ”As much as ‘Puzzle Quest 1.5′ appropriately describes the new content, we look forward to having our fans name the next iteration in the Puzzle Quest universe.”

The expansion pack will offer fans hours of additional gameplay with four brand new Hero Professions: Bard, Rogue, Ranger and Warlock.  Players will
adventure with new or existing Heroes to explore an expansive new area on the Southern Map containing more than 25 challenging quests, cast more than 50 new spells and collect more than 40 new magical items as they’re immersed into the compelling story of Antharg, the Lord of Plague and brother to the infamous Lord Bane. New monsters, bosses and more will challenge veteran and casual fans alike for hours of compelling entertainment.

For more information about the story and features of the “Puzzle Quest 1.5″ expansion pack and naming contest rules and regulations, please visit:
www.puzzle-quest.com

First off we have the Tuesday content where I asked for folks to send in pics of them showing their Victory Game Face! Well I went though the emails and randomly selected one, and the winner was Col Hartman! Congrats! Here is his pic!

For being the lucky winner, not only does he get his 15 minutes of fame up on our site, but also a free copy of Need for Speed: Carbon!

Next up, on Friday DaKing240 asked for people’s input on if they have purchased any XB originals off of XBL. One lucky submitter was to receive a free copy of Burnout 3: Takedown for the old school Xbox, and that winner was RoastedVeggies! Congrats!

Remember folks, every Tuesday is a contest day, so keep your eyes peeled for you chance to win something. Maybe next time it could be some microsoft points to buy something on live, or an XBLA arcade game, or a retail copy, or even a trip for two to the Carribean! (ok so I made that last one up.. but I got your attention didnt I?!?!)

Update 1: [DaKing240] – Hey winners, please send your information to DKofsky [at] 360Sync [dot] com, and I will be sure to get your prizes sent out ASAP!

Ok folks its time for our Tuesday giveaway! Everyone loves a little bit of public fame, even if it isn’t for a full 15 minutes! This week we are going to give out a copy of Need for Speed Carbon in a random drawing from a list of all who are brave enough to send in your photos! Not just any photo however, but of you in your most celebratory of poses, as you demonstrate pure pwnage on your opponents with your beloved 360. I want to see stage diving off couches, controllers raised high in the air as you pump your fist and scream, with gleefull rage on your face. I want to see you expressing that feel you get when there is 10 seconds left in that Halo 3 Slayer round, the score is tied, and you just head shot DaKing240 from across the map! All entries can be sent in to contest@360sync.com between now and Saturday night at midnight EST. On Sunday we will run a drawing from all of the entrants with the winner getting NFS:Carbon as well as their pic on the site. Make them good! Who knows, maybe a few might end up with some honorable mention fame on the site as well

Many thanks to the fine folks at EA for providing the prize!

Two new hits are landing on the LIVE Arcade! Tron and Omega Five! Both games will be available Wednesday, January 9 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).

Fly through treacherous 3-D environments with “Omega Five,” a graphically explosive next-generation shooter firing its way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade. Hardcore and casual gamers alike will love “Omega Five,” a new high-definition shooter with awe-inspiring graphics. “Omega Five” features a gorgeous and challenging environment, with enemies coming at players from all angles, even the background. Battle enemies as Ruby, Tempest or other unlockable characters and simply add another controller to play local co-op with a friend. “Omega Five” features the highest quality visuals available on an Xbox LIVE Arcade shooter and offers multiple levels of difficulty including “++Mode” where players are only allowed one hit! The game will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB.

• For more details on “Omega Five” please visit:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/o/omegafivexboxlivearcade/

 Also this week, Disney Interactive Studios and Backbone Entertainment bring back an arcade classic, “Tron.” Featuring the familiar gameplay from the original, players battle as the mighty warrior Tron against the insidious Master Control Program and his ruthless right-hand man, Sark. “Tron” offers a four-part retro-futuristic test of skills, including racing light cycles, battling Sark’s tanks, fighting to enter the MCP cone and dodging grid bugs. “Tron” offers both the original arcade game and an enhanced version with new graphics, improved sound and two-person multiplayer. It’s the perfect re-creation of the original game based on the pioneering computer animated Walt Disney Pictures’ 1982 feature film, “Tron.” Plus, the Xbox LIVE Arcade version is the first version of “Tron” with two-person multi-player functionality of co-op and versus. The game will be available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 400 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

• For more details on “Tron” please visit:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/tronxboxlivearcade/

The observant reader is likely looking at this going “CSI? Why on earth review this game, especially since it came out at the end of September!” Well, thats just it, when is the last time you saw a review of this game? Exaaaaaaactly. Now then, on with the show.

CSI: Hard Evidence plays out like 5 episodes of the popular show, CSI. I will spare the rhetoric of what the show is, and its format since its nigh impossible to go though a week of tv and not catch about 30 episodes of it and its various spin offs. You start off as a no-name Criminalist who is paired up with the various stars of the show, one for each of the 5 cases. In each case, you must go though the normal procedure of search though the crime scene, investigate with anyone you need to talk to, run you evidence though the lab, and then bounce around those same things with new evidence, new locations, and new people as new leads open up. Its honestly quite fun and I could spend hours comparing evidence and running comparisons and the like in the crime lab, I loved it.

The graphics are so-so, some of the characters come across looking a little goofy. All of their voices are by the actual actors, and all of the cases and dialog are written by the actual CSI staff writers. This makes for the same great stories that you have in the show, but along with that, some of the more… err… interesting one-liners. The voice over work is quite well but a bit deadpan at times, lacking some of the emotion from the show, but the guys did a good job none the less. The controls are very straightforward and processing a crime scene and all its evidence is very intuitive but at the same time they are not holding you hand as you do it. You have a lot of leeway to go about things on your own, and you can always ask your partner for a hint if your stuck, although it will count against you when Grissom gives you an eval after the case.

There is some great intricate parts in the evals as well. You are graded on how many pieces of evidence you collected out of the available total before coming down to your conclusion, how clear of a conclusion you had built up before sending Brass in on the suspect, how thoroughly you searched each area, how much evidence you actually processed fully, and how many of the little bonus bugs throughout the areas you found and collected and gave to Grissom as a gift. Now all of this gets combined and used to grade you, and doing better unlocks more “extras” in the options menu for you to look at and admire. One would think this ties in wonderfully with the achievement system as well. You couldn’t be more wrong. You get 200 points for solving a case with any grade of any type. 5 cases at 200 points, there is you 1000 gamerscore and your done. Simple as that. Sad, I know, so much wasted potential.

So this game is great, although I wouldn’t quickly recommend buying it, however if you have Gamefly or a friend that has it, borrow/rent it at your earliest convenience. It plays though at about 2 hours per case, so its not bad on time. Its also a great way to pad your gamer score with an extra 1000 points and a full game completion. *ahem* err yes, anyways… *cough*

Ubisoft has announced (again) that Farcry 2 is on its way sometime in 08. However, a new bit of info added to this announcement is that not only will the game be available on the PC as planned, but it will also launch on the Xbox 360 and PS3! Wohoo!

I just hope they really swap around the theme for Farcry 2, as Crytek is kind of running me bored on the whole “all alone on a mysterious tropical island” theme, hehe.