What's with the new Xbox 360 dashboard?

The annual Xbox 360 update is here and has received a less than stealer greeting by many fans.

Hit with problems right out of the gate, the new 360 dashboard has received a face lift that many gamers can't experience fully yet. Upon download there have been reports all over the web about not being able to connect to Xbox Live, errors while downloading apps, video issues and bricked consoles. While the update may have missed the annual release date not all is bad with the update, Xbox Support says they are aware of these issues and they're working to fix the bugs...so that's good news, right?

Now I don't know if I'm lucky but when it comes to issues with games I never really experience any. The Skyrim patch caused me no problems and while playing with the new dashboard update last night I only came across the occasionally error when downloading an app. But overall, with issues put aside, I'm really pleased with the new dashboard update.

The new dashboard looks fantastic, it has a modern look to it and its tabs have been simplified and well organized. Getting ride of the old design of navigating the dashboard vertically and changing it to where you navigate each tab by panning left and right was a brilliant idea. It lays everything out in front of you so you don't have to wonder how many times I have to go up or down to find the place to launch your game, you simply scroll over to the Game tab and walla everything to do games you've played are there. The use of the bumpers on the control lets gamers navigate through the dashboard at mach speeds and is also a really nice addition to the dashboard.

Now to the niddy gritty.

Cloud Storage is biggest thing about this update. Allowing gamers to save 512 Megabytes on to a cloud network is something I am really excited about. It is a nice feature for those gamers that play in lots of different locations. If I want to play Modern Warfare 3 my account with all my saved information I can just save it to the cloud and log in to my account at a friends house and it's all there. I haven't experienced any problems with the cloud yet and I'm hopping it stays that way... god only knows what would happen if someone lost their Skyrim character that they spent 100 hours playing.

Another cool feature is the Bing Search Engine that allows players to search their Xbox for content. Working a lot like the iPod, gamers can scroll all the way to the left tab to and search keywords and find content that matches the search. Typing in cheerleaders, don't ask me why, brought up content centered around that topic through the form of apps, downloadable content and other content  that Xbox offers through its many multimedia services. Search for Downloadable Content, avatar items, themes for your dashboard, if Xbox provides it then it's there. Basically it gets ride of you even having to go through all  the tabs to find what your looking for, just pan all the way to the left and search to your heart's content.

The Social tab on the dashboard has two cool new features are worth mentioning. An activity log has been added so you can see what your friends have been up to. Kind of similar to the news feed on Facebook. It also keeps track of your recent activities you've done on Xbox Live, like what you've been playing or watching. The other feature is called a beacons. What beacons all gamers to do is their friends that want to preform a certain activity, like play Modern Warfare 3, and ask if anyone wants to play it with them. The beacon is sent out and your friends can see it, a beacon can also be sent through social media as well as Xbox Live. It is a pretty cool feature and I can see myself using it in the future since I'm a pretty lonely gamer.

However there is one thing that this update ousts and that is premium themes. Premium themes were the cool thing in last year's update, but with the simple design that this update brings premium themes look like regular backgrounds now. When you go to your friends on the dashboard it will show the premium features, like mine has Master Shake next to my friends, but besides that premium themes look like normal themes now. So for those extra dollars you spent on premium themes last year are pretty useless this year.

While the Dashboard update has been met with problem it has a lot going for it. The new features definitely make up for the problems that it has face and I can't wait to experience them when all the bugs are fixed. The general theme of this update is simplistity and that is something I thoroughly.

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Holiday Buyer's Guide

With out a doubt this has probably one of the best years that the gaming industry has seen in it's history.

With a plethora of major titles that have come out throughout the year it's been hard to keep up. That means there's a lot to ask for this Christmas so I'm going to help you out and the essentials that you might have missed this year.

Multiplatform Games

Dead Space 2: 
A title that was released at the beginning of the year, Dead Space 2 might have flown under your radar but it's a game that deserves your attention. Although it may not be as scary as the first game, Dead Space 2 explores a different way to play the survival horror genre by making it more action packed. You may be able to walk around most corners without having a heart attack, but Dead Space 2 will have you fighting for your life as waves upon waves of Necromorphs try to tear you limb from limb. With Dead Space 3 pretty much confirmed, and the possibility that this may be the last game with Issac Clarke as the game's protagonist, this game is a most own due to its great gameplay and ever expanding narrative. It's not necessary to play Dead Space 1 because 2 does a great job bringing you up to speed on the events of the last game. Dead Space 2 is available for PC, 360 and PS3.

Retail:
$29.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$24.99 (used) - GameStop

Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3:
Ok your either in the middle about both these games or your a hardcore fan of one of them and you believe your game rains supreme as the best shooter of 2011. I'm not here to argue which one is better I'm just going to say that both of these games are viable options to buy, if you don't have them already. If your looking to save money and only buy one shooter this year I'm going to have to say go with Modern Warfare 3...I'm probably going to be scrutinized for saying that. Modern Warfare 3 has a better story mode and more addictive multiplayer experience. You're going to get your money's worth with it game and it will last you a while. If your still not sure on which one to buy read our review of both games. Both games are available for PC, 360 and PS3.

Retail:
$59.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$54.99 (used) - Modern Warfare 3 at GameStop
$47.99 (used) - Battlefield 3 at GameStop

Batman: Arkham City and Assassian's Creed: Revelations:
Both games are very similar in style but vary in story  and that's not a bad thing. Both games are sequels and continue a story line that gamers have grown to love. Both games are similar in game play and in style, the real selling point is do you want to kick ass as a caped crusader or an assassin. If you've kept up to date with the Assassin's Creed franchise there is no question that this game is the way to go. It furthers Ezio's and Desmond's story and takes you to Constantinople to take on the Ottomans. Arkham City takes Batman to a sectioned off part of Gotham that has expanded Arkham Asylum and has made it a city. Applying a more open world aspect to the game, players get to venture on a more nonlinear path and explore a villain filled city as the Dark Knight himself. If you haven't kept up with the Assassin's Creed franchise you may find yourself lost so that is one negative aspect to Revelations. So I'm going to recommend playing Arkham City, it's new, has great gameplay and story and is overall more friendly to new players since there are only two games in that Batman franchise.

Retail:
$49.99 (new) - Batman at Best Buy
$59.99 (new) - Assassin's at Best Buy and GameStop
$54.99 (used) - Assassin's at GameStop
$49.99 (PC) - Assassin's at  GameStop

Playstation 3

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception:
If any game gives players a movie going experience it's Uncharted 3. Filled with action packed moments and gameplay, this game makes you feel like Indiana Jones. Uncharted 2 was a great game but Uncharted 3 steps it up a notch. Although the premise of the game is fairly similar to the last to games it still manages to create a story that is just as fun to play as it is to watch. You don't have to play the last games to enjoy this one because each one is its own story that continues Nathan Drake's adventure as a treasure hunter. If you own a PS3 and don't own this game this should be on the top of your list.

Retail:
$59.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$54.99 (used) - GameStop

Killzone 3:
Killzone 3 is the PS3's best exclusive shooter...I loath Resistance I don't care how many good reviews of it I see for it. Story wise the game picks up right after the events of Killzone 2. The story to Killzone 3 isn't as strong as Killzone 2's, focusing less on the characters stories and developing its narrative and more on action packed moments. The multiplayer is the best the series has seen yet and is brings a unique feel to sci-fi shooters. If you combined Battlefield 3's multiplayer with sci-fi that's what Killzone 3 is. Killzone 3 is a game you shouldn't pass up, but with all the shooters out their to choose from it is going to be a tough choice.

Retail:
$39.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$29.99 (used) - GameStop

Xbox 360

Gears of War 3:
The conclusion to an epic trilogy, Gears of War 3 combines everything great that made up Gears of War 1 and 2 to create something that ends the series on a high note. The story gets personal and that is a good thing, let using in the minds of the Gears that face to inhalation. While the story gets wrapped up in the end it doesn't mean more story ends. Downloadable content (DLC) is a staple for shooters, but Epic is taking that further by using the opportunity to expand the story. DLC is lined up for the next year and with that much more content coming out for the game it is going to be something that gives you something new and exciting for months to come. Something to note is that the multiplayer has been fixed is the best the series has seen, on rare occasion with you experience the problems that has hindered this series in the past.

Retail:
$39.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$37.99 (used) - GameStop

The Elder Scrolls V: Skryim:
Before you tell me that this is not a 360 exclusive there is a reason I put it here. Skyrim is a game that I recommend purchasing on the 360. Not only has it suffered a lot of issues on the PS3, same goes for the 360, but DLC for Skyrim is going to come to the 360 a month before any other platform. That makes all the difference because if your like me you don't want to spend 100 plus hours with a character and have the DLC come out and have to wait a month to play it. If you don't mind waiting a month then it is of course available for PS3 and PC, you'll just have to wait a month to experience a new chapter in Skyrim.

Retail:
$59.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$54.99 (used) - GameStop

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary:
If you've never experienced the game that started it all here's your chance in its revamped glory. Halo: CEA doesn't try to be something better than the classic, it brings new technology and graphics to a game that was ahead of its time. Its a perfect way to relive a great game. Development of the game fell between two studios and they also took this chance to bring multiplayer to a game that came before Xbox Live. The multiplayer is rewarding and is a fun way to relive maps that only four people used to be able to play on. Halo: CEA is a game that is worth your time and takes you back to the game that propelled to the gaming industry to where we are today.

Retail:
$39.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$34.99 (used) - GameStop

Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Wii sales, there's no doubt about that, but it's games have left something to be desired. The Wii has had its share of great games but The legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword may be its crowning achievement of its life time. Preached as the best Zelda game yet, I don't know if I would go that far, Skyward Sword is an amazing game. It took the old Zelda formula and threw it out the window and its a very good thing that it did. Giving Link a voice and more back story between him and Zelda, Skyward Sword combines the darker plot that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess brought and combines it with the adventure that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker achieved. The dungeons are redesigned and are different from any other Zelda game before it which brings a fresh new feel to the series. Out of all the Wii games that came out over the course of this year this is the one you HAVE to own.

Retail:
$49.99 (new) - Best Buy & GameStop
$44.99 (used) - GameStop

2011 has brought us some of the greatest games in one year that a generation of consoles tries to achieve in a life time. With so much out there and so many hours to spend playing these games the holidays are the perfect time to get your game on, of course family is important too, but you know you want to spend your time slaying dragons and pwning noobs. Hopefully this guide helps you navigate the sea of games out there and buy for your friends, loved ones or even yourself.

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