Xbox 360 Fanboy

[Thanks, thw]

We've been informed that the Xbox 360 Arcade model will come packaged with SEGA Superstar Tennis and both the Pro and Elite models will come bundled with Kung Fu Panda and LEGO Indiana Jones. Sadly, we don't have any picture proof of the new bundles or a solid release date, but we'll keep digging to see whether or not the holiday game bundling is legit. For now, we advise being optimistically skeptical.

[Thanks, Travisto]

According to a post on Imeem.com, Mötley Crüe's 1989 album Dr. Feelgood is being prepped as the latest album for Rock Band, set to release on October 14. No price for the album is listed but the standard $2 per track seems most likely if the information is accurate.

While the information seems plausible, we're waiting on confirmation from Harmonix before we throw confetti in celebration. Our sister site Joystiq has contacted the developer on the matter and we'll keep you informed of any updates.

Rumor word coming from Game Guru is that Electronic Arts is in the market, not only for a developer, but also for a gaming engine. Believe it or not, EA is said to be looking to purchase Epic Games and the Unreal Engine. Gasp!

Game Guru claims that EA is looking to gobble up developers of established franchises and quality lineups, which Epic Games fits the bill with Gears of War and Unreal Tournament as well as the added bonus of the Unreal Engine. Seeing that EA's attempt at purchasing Take-Two ended in failure, it wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibility that EA would ponder the acquisition of a company who's engine (Unreal Engine 3) powers a good chunk of the industry's titles. Just think, the future could see EA owning exclusive rights to Unreal Engine 4 and somehow involved in GoW ... maybe? ... meh!

[Via Game Stooge]

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

Giving us a smidgen more proof that a new Alan Wake trailer will be debuting alongside the new Max Payne flick, comes videogaming247 and their two cents in regards to the rumor being legit. According to VG247 and their Finnish source, the new Alan Wake trailer rumor is "100 percent true" and they say that we'll learn more about the trailer goodness this Friday, October 3rd when the Finnish magazine Pelaaja will reveal additional details.

Again, we're skeptical, but are becoming increasingly interested in the possibility of fresh Alan Wake news. How exciting!

Update: This rumor is no longer a rumor, because it has just been confirmed to be real. Click here to learn more.

Here's an interesting rumor for you. Word on the Finnish streets (yes, Finnish streets) is that a new Alan Wake trailer will be debuting during Finland's movie premiere of Max Payne on October 17th. Because, you know, developer Remedy is based in Finland, so why wouldn't they debut the trailer in their home land. This delicious Alan Wake rumor comes from video game magazine Pelaaja who seems quite confident that this new Alan Wake trailer will be debuted in a few weeks. We're a bit more skeptical because, after all, it is Alan Wake. A game that has been M.I.A. for far too long.

[Via Crispy Gamer]

According to CVG, Xbox 360 World magazine claims that Max Payne 3 is currently in development internally within Rockstar at its studio in Toronto, Canada. Responsible for the fan favorite beat-em-up The Warriors, Rockstar Toronto would be taking the reigns from Remedy - who is currently working (we hope) on the Microsoft exclusive Alan Wake.

Details on the rumor are scarce as a release date, let alone an announcement date, has been set. We wouldn't be surprised if this rumor were true considering the credits of the Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC version only) proclaim, "Max Payne's journey through the night will continue." According the Rockstar career page, Rockstar Toronto is seeking experienced Xbox 360 and PS3 programmers, so we know something for this generation is planned. Take Two has yet to respond to Joystiq's request for a comment on the rumor.

[via Joystiq]

Many of our tipsters are flooding us with the same information; according to a blog named Split-Screen, Microsoft confirmed and announced a Slim model of the Xbox 360 at a recent event in India. Instead of just posting the rumor without checking sources we decided to do a little detective work to confirm or deny the existence of the Xbox 360 Slim.

An email to Xbox 360 community guru Larry Hryb - aka Major Nelson - asked two questions. First, did someone at Microsoft mistakenly announce a Slim version of the Xbox 360? Second, was there even a Microsoft event held in India?

The second question may sound strange but considering no major outlet has reported on the event happening as well as a lack of listing for the event on the Xbox India site made us question the "event" even took place. The last news update on the Indian site was from August 2008 and the forums are suspiciously barren of any "event" mention, which seems suspect. In response to our inquires Major sent us a note saying, "I have no knowledge of an event in India and therefore anything related to one. I think we all know that if we had something to say, we'd be saying it."

Is the console possible? Aboslutely. Our sister site Engadget ran a story months ago outlining the possibility due to Microsoft developing smaller CPUs for the console. However, we're more than a little skeptical about this one. Stay tuned as more inquires to Microsoft are taking place.

[Update: According to TheAngryPixel, Microsoft India has released a statement denying any such announcement regarding an Xbox 360 Slim took place. The original source on this rumor, Split-Screen, says one explanation is that its writer made a mistake. Rumor Busted. Full Microsoft-India quote after the jump.]

According to PlayStation Universe, the entire list of Call of Duty: World at War perks have leaked online. While this rumored list appears legit enough we haven't been able to confirm it, yet. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare players will recognize such perks as Stopping Power, Extreme Conditioning and the dreaded Martyrdom.

The list also includes vehicle perks and such interesting perks as Bouncing Betty which is said to work the same as the Call of Duty 4 claymore perk and Toss Back which apparently resets the fuse when tossing an enemy grenade back. Call of Duty: World at War hits stores this November. The full rumored perk list can be found after the jump.

[via Big Download]

It feels like someone left the sink on in X3F's virtual house because our mailbox is completely flooded with news tips that claim to have spotted a slim version of the Xbox 360 in the wild.

Here's the story: while snapping photos for a gallery of the Microsoft Arc Mouse, blogger Paul Thurrott caught a pair of Xbox 360's in the background of one -- now infamous -- image. At first glance one Xbox 360 console (on the left) seemed suspiciously smaller than the other and many believed this was a slim version of the Xbox. Since the first shots and reports on the possible Pure slim Xbox, Thurrott has confirmed the image was only from a funny angle. To prove his point Thurrott posted a new post on his blog which included a ton of images disproving the rumor.

Could it happen? Sure. Is this it? Naw, son!

As part of Microsoft's global "Live Your Moment" ad campaign, a curious text descriptor appears at the bottom of one of their European ads promoting Rock Band 2, hinting at a possible November retail release.

The commercial (embedded after the break) depicts gamers rocking out to Rock Band 2 inside a person's head (weird, don't ask) and at the bottom of the screen the phrase "Rock Band 2 out November. Rock Band out now." is flashed for a few seconds. Confirmation of Rock Band 2's release to Europe in November? Close, but we're not going down the official route just yet.

The in-game Halo 3 screen grab that you see above, surfaced over on the Bungie.net forums (the thread has since been closed) and is supposedly a Halo 3 pop-up notification that has been seen by gamers in certain time zones. The pop-up (similar to the one used to announce the second title update) is promoting the big Superintendent announcement with instructions to "Download the teaser for our next game" at Bungie.net or the XBLM. We're nearly certain this Halo 3 ad wasn't meant to pop-up until tomorrow morning, but someone's mistake is our knowledge gain. Get ready kids, because Bungie is set to unveil their latest project and we only have a few hours to wait!

[Thanks, Alex H.]

Remember in 1996 when the Xbox 360 exclusive Splinter Cell: Conviction was announced. We may have the date wrong but it was a long time ago, that we know for sure. Just when we were giving up home on Sam's return a report by Videogaming247 indicates that Conviction, which was pushed into 2009, has undergone a handful of changes.

According to the site an Ubisoft community development manager said Conviction is "certainly not canned," but that "the gameplay has evolved a lot" and "the visual direction is simply much better." Considering Sam has been dark since his Xbox 360 debut in October 2006 we'd hope the title was experiencing a substantial upgrade to compete with other high-profile stealth action games that will not be named.

We'd also like to think that Sam has returned to his sneaky Third Echelon roots instead of going all "emo" on us but only Tom Clancy knows for sure. Sadly, a name cannot speak and the artist formerly known as Tom Clancy doesn't make the rules anymore -- you know, since he sold his moniker.

According to Mr. Walmart employee and his photo of proof, we'll be seeing a Rock Band 2 AC/DC "Live at Donington" expansion that's set to release to retail (and maybe online) sometime this October. The RB2 information was supposedly listed as part of an internal document that detailed Walmart's promotional efforts for the retailer exclusive AC/DC album Black Ice. Can you say "rumor'rific!"

[Thanks, Phil]