Go to support and click on the repair agent box (right side of the screen)
Click on register a new device and enter your Xbox 360s serial number (found next to the USB ports, under the white falp on the front right of the console)
Now click on your newly registered device (under manage devices) and click request a new repair
Follow all the on screen instructions to “order” a repair from Microsoft
Ignore the bit about being sent a shipping box as you will never be sent one (in the UK anyway). I confirmed with Xbox customer support that Microsoft doesn’t send out shipping boxes. You will only recieve an email containing the UPS pre-paid shipping labels
Now check your email address (the one attached to the Xbox Live account)
You should see an email called UPS delivery label. Click on the “retrieve UPS returns label” link and print it
Also click on the “get the receipt” link and print it too (more about this later)
Now find a box and pack your Xbox 360 inside it. Obviously use packing materials to protect your Xbox 360 during transit
Attach the UPS delivery label printed earlier to the top of the box and make sure its either in a plastic pouch or covered to prevent damage. UPS need to scan it after all
You can either request UPS to pick up your package, or you can go to a UPS drop off location
Important: If you go to a UPS drop off location don’t forget to take the receipt that you printed out earlier. The UPS person will stamp this as proof that your Xbox 360 has been received by UPS
Wait 2 weeks for the console to be repaired and sent back
Our repaired Xbox 360 came with a 1 month’s free Xbox Live gold membership and a letter identifying what the fault was and what they had done about it.
I hope that Microsoft has corrected the inaccurate and misleading information relating to sending you a shipping box. It caused a 2 week delay in getting our Xbox 360 fixed as I was waiting for a pesky box that was never going to arrive.
Now that I’m all out of Ace Attorney games, I have nothing to do on my commute. It’s about a 25 minute journey so I need to be able to save at short notice without losing much progress.
I liked Trauma Centre but games like that are fiddly on a moving train.
I loved the Ace Attorney games
I hated Harvest Moon
Animal Crossing was okay but ultimately leaves me feeling empty
I’ve always been rather indifferent when it comes to Mario games until I played Super Mario 64, which was brilliant. Unfortunately the GameCube’s Mario extravaganza (Super Mario Sunshine) was well, total poo to be honest. However, I’m pleased to say that Super Mario Galaxy tops even the great Mario 64 for sheer enjoyment. I can’t even complain of the total lack of imagination shown by Nintendo when it churns out the same games for each generation of Nintendo console when this incarnation of Mario is just so much fun.
The graphics look great (by Wii standards) and complement the game wonderfully. Sure there are some iffy looking textures and a few jaggies, but I didn’t care as the whole game is amazing. The sound is a perfect mix of chirpyness and classic Mario sounds and themes. It also has a brilliant, brilliant music track for the Battlerock galaxy that I challenge anyone to play this galaxy and not have a giant smile on their face.
I loved the whole playfulness of Mario’s new galaxy environment. Flying, flipping, gliding, jumping and catapulting between all the planets on each of the levels is just awesome. The attention to detail that the designers have lavished on every planet, however small is a joy to behold. I loved the way that seemingly simple puzzles were brought to life by splitting them over lots of mini planets and great use of the Wii controller. This is probably the first game after Wii Sports where the control method just feels right. From rolling around on top a giant ball, to flying through the air as a little bumble bee, the Wiimote and nunchuk make controlling Mario something to be enjoyed.
Bad points. Well, swimming underwater takes a bit of getting used to. The camera has a habit of choosing the worst time to change its viewpoint, which usually happens when you’re negotiating a really nasty sequence of platforms.
It took me just over 14 hours to get to the end of the game and finally beat Bowser, but that still leaves me with another 55 power stars to collect. Then I’ll have finally completed the game. So Lordy knows how long that’s going to take with some fiendish and very dexterous puzzles lying in wait.
In summary:
A wonderful game in every way. Mario is the easily the best game on the Wii.
Whilst waiting for the official release of Condemned 2 on the 4th of April 08, you can practice your forensic skills on the PS3 demo that’s available on the US PSN store. The demo weighs in at 714mb and unless you live in North America you’ll need to create a US PSN account (tip: use google to find an American address).
On with the Dexter like blood splatter analysis and the scary looking characters.
Condemned 2 is released on the 4th April 08 on PS3 and Xbox 360
Microsoft has now made the Halo 3 Heroic map pack available free of charge on Xbox Live Marketplace. Originally released in Dec 07 this triple map pack previously cost 800 Microsoft points.
The Heroic map pack consists of the following maps:
STANDOFF
FOUNDRY
RAT’S NEST
How to download the Heroic map pack:
Sign into Xbox Live
Go to Marketplace
Select Game Store
Find Halo 3
Select the Heroic Map Pack
Select confirm download
The next Halo 3 map pack (called Legendary) will be released on the 15th April 08 for 800 Microsoft points.
Whilst waiting for the official release of Condemned 2 on the 4th of April 08, you can practice your forensic skills on the PS3 demo that’s available on the US PSN store. The demo weighs in at 714mb and unless you live in North America you’ll need to create a US PSN account (tip: use google to find an American address).
