Xbox 360 Weekend Warrior – on AAA, 000, and more hardware rumors

If all the rumors about Microsoft‘s hardware are true, then Microsoft is probably scratching its head right now with its disclosure security fail. Then again, leaks and snitches are as old as secrets. For this edition of the Xbox 360 Weekend Warrior, we’ll take another look at the rumorama updates surrounding Microsoft’s supposed new hardware. We’ve also got a new AAA title, some 000 Gamerscores, and more news bits on this week’s recap, so let’s get this non-party started.

If all the rumors about Microsoft‘s hardware are true, then Microsoft is probably scratching its head right now with its disclosure security fail. Then again, leaks and snitches are as old as secrets. For this edition of the Xbox 360 Weekend Warrior, we’ll take another look at the rumorama updates surrounding Microsoft’s supposed new hardware. We’ve also got a new AAA title, some 000 Gamerscores, and more news bits on this week’s recap, so let’s get this non-party started.

• When you sell DLC that’s about the size of a short MP3 file, you’re definitely gonna get raps. That’s what happened to Strategic Options for Halo Wars. With a laughable size of only 2MB, Robot Entertainment is now being accused of packaging a mere unlock code as DLC. Lead designer Dave Pottinger defends his new creation. Link
• Perhaps as an attempt to stir up some publicity for Bionic Commando on release day, an Xbox 360 clip of the fresh release features Radd Spencer and his date with long, hard, and happy…health bar. Despite the “Funny Dialog” label on the vid, it scores no points in my LOL-o-meter. Link

The publisher

• You know why they call ’em AAA titles? ’cause they always have Announcements Announcing Announcements for the damn titles. Here’s another example. Microsoft announces that they will announce another AAA title come E3, in addition to those they’re already bringing along. Link
• Fancy adding some blinging to your singing? A Limited Edition Swarovski-studded Lips microphone is now for sale. By Limited, they mean only a hundred were made, and there’s exactly one of these in Spain. Need I say that this is expensive? It’s got a Queen-of-England price of US$ 680. Fortunately for the Queen, she gets this kinda thing for free. Link
• The XBL Police are on the job, trying to nab those Achievements cheaters. To the inconvenience of the probably innocent but labeled guilty and the displeasure of the actual offenders, they’ve reset the Gamerscores to a big, flat, zero. Link. But wait, there’s more! Microsoft continues the crackdown on the Gears of War 2 Achievements cheaters, now planning to hand out branded Gamercards to punish the guilty and deter those who are thinking of trying. Link
• The most recent update on the Zune-Xbox handheld comes with leaked images and specs. The Xbox handheld is rumored to have a 32GB flash drive, a SIM card tray, and support for Bluetooth Headphones, all apart from the usual handheld features that we’ve seen on the PSP and the DS. But with a SIM card tray, this one might have phone capabilities that the other two handhelds don’t. Link
• In yet another Microsoft rumor, the publisher was spotted filing a patent application for a “magic wand” controller. With the motion-sensing controller rumors already going around, this magical new toy might have something to do with it. Of course, rumors also say that the motion-sensing controller is hands free, so maybe this is a different one. Link