2007-07-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is an Article I found on Gizmodo.com
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My Opinion - Coming soon <---Need to formulate a thought...the gears are working lol

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Gamer Buys Banned Refurbished Xbox 360
Label this as unconfirmed for the moment (we've since written Microsoft for comment), but one tipster told us about a refurbished Xbox 360 that couldn't connect to Live. When he called Microsoft, they said that his box had been "banned" from the service by the previous owner and nothing could be done one the matter. We attached the email after the jump.
...[a friend] called me up when he ran into trouble getting [his refurbished Xbox 360] to work. So I came over and started trying to get the media extender and Xbox Live working. While we had no trouble connecting to his network and getting the media extender working, the Xbox live connection kept failing, with an obscure error code (the whole X = 0000 0F01, W = 0000 0201, kind of cryptic message).
So I called Xbox 360 support, read the error message to them, and discovered that there was a lifetime ban on the box, it could never be connected to Xbox Live (and thus was useless to my friend).
I explained to the representative that this was a Microsoft-certified refurb, and that my friend had just purchased it. She said that it didn't matter, Xbox reserved the right to revoke Xbox Live privileges "with no recourse," and that was done by identifying offending consoles and banning them.While we've heard colloquial accounts of modded boxes getting banned, we've never heard of problems with refurbished models. If the story is true, it essentially nullifies the Xbox 360 resale market. The risk is too great for consumers to purchase Xbox 360s that may not work on Live, even though the reseller did give this customer a refund. We'll give you an update when we hear something back on this rumor.

The Nintendo Wii

2007-07-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Nintendo Wii

Simply Amazing! Those are the only two words that I can find to describe Nintendo’s latest game system. The Wii is more than a gaming console and with internet access it allows the user to check the weather, news from around the world (You’ll see what I mean when you get it), game downloads from Nintendo’s past consoles and a few other consoles like Turbgraphix 16 and Sega Genesis. The Wii should be called a Home Entertainment System rather than a console, it appeals to more families than 360 and PS3 consoles. Even my anti-video game girlfriend (AVGG) uses the Wii to check the weather every morning.

Due to the popularity and the high demand of this system, Nintendo has been having a difficult time supplying the need. I was lucky enough to walk into a Gamestop store right when they were opening a shipment of Wii’s. I purchased it on the spot! If you have to chance to buy a Wii at the retail price…buy it you may not get another chance in months.

Here are some things you need to know when buying a Nintendo Wii:

For the Single Player:

1- The Wii System- Right out of the box you get everything you need for one player. This includes the Wii sports game

2- SD Memory- DO NOT BUY THE NINTENDO BRAND (It is insanely overpriced). Any SD card will work. I used a cheap 512mb card SD card that I use on my digital camera

For Two Players:

3-Remote and Nunchuck- This is the basic controller for the Wii. They are usually sold separately and both are need for most games. At the time I purchased my system, Nintendo had a special that included a Remote and Wii-Play game (a series of sports games).

The above is all you need to get started with the Wii but there is 1 more thing you should know. For users who own the Nintendo Gamecube, do not get rid of you Gamecube accessories. The Games, memory and controllers are compatible with the Wii so keep them. As for the Gamecube system, trade it in for store credit or cash at your local video game store.

Optional items-

4- Additional Games- If you are planning to purchase another game:

a. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess- This is one of the single player games that take full advantage of the Wii’s controller and it’s a fun game to play. Keep in mind this is a single player game.

b. Mario Party 8- A must have game for multi-player fun. Mario and his buddies take you through a series of activities that is fun for the whole family.

GUNS AND DRAGONS

The Nintendo Wii