After a long wait, the worst thing a gamer would get is a bugged game, and that’s exactly what Xb0x 360 owners got when they bought Bully: Scholarship Edition.  The game’s bugs ranged from low frame rates to frequent crashes.

Rockstar was caught off-guard with the bugs saying that they did not encounter the bugs during their beta tests and QA.  However, they are not taking this sitting down, and they have started work on a fix immediately.

According to a Rockstar representative:

We are very aware of the problems some people have been experiencing with the Xbox 360 version of Bully: Scholarship Edition and have been doing everything within our powers to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.  We apologize wholeheartedly for the inconvenience that this matter has caused some owners of the game.

The fix is well underway.  It is expected to make it into Xbox Live by next week.

As the dust starts to settle on the long going next-gen disc format war, Sony’s Blu-ray seems to have emerged the victor.  Microsoft, one of the major backers for HD DVD seems to have conceded defeat and is now getting ready to move on.

According to Seattle Post-Intelligence, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed in their Mix08 Internet conference at Las Vegas that they are now working with Blu-ray.

According to Ballmer:

We’ve already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like, and I think the world moves on. We’ve moved on, and we’ll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense.

Nothing in the report has been mentioned about the rumored Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360.  As of now, Microsoft has not commented on this rumor despite of the new information offered by Ballmer.  A representative however said:

We have made no such announcement. Games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available.

With only under a week in the market, Bully: Scholarship Edition for the Xbox 360 is beginning to show some major issues.  Basically a PlayStation 2 port with some added features, members of NeoGAF noticed a substantial number of people complaining about the game freezing and crashing.

In addition to the freezing and crashing, players have also reported audio problems and poor framerate.  For a game that worked fine in the lower spec hardware of the PlayStation 2, something is definitely wrong here.

Some review sites have also reported the game freezing.  According to 1up, “Perhaps worst of all, we had several instances where the game froze midmission, and since you can’t save at any moment it sometimes necessitated replaying a significant amount of the game.”

Rockstar’s Sam Houser commented on the situation at Kotaku.  He said:

We have just become aware of the issues people are having with Bully Scholarship Edition on Xbox 360. It appears that some older 360s are experiencing framerate issues, freezes and other problems. You have our word that we never experienced any of this in QA - in any of our offices or at Microsoft. I am horrified, and we are now working around the clock to rectify this situation. Thanks to Neo-Gaf for bringing this matter to our attention. We love our games and put a huge amount of energy and care into making them all that they can be. We would never shove anything out the door - we never have and never will. We apologise to everyone affected for the inconvenience. Respectfully, Sam Houser

It appears that Rockstar has acknowledged the existence of the problem.  Until they find a fix, it seems like buying this game will not be an option.

Lego seems to be going strong in the video game world.  You have the Star Wars franchise, and some unofficial Lego mods such as the new Unreal Tournament 3 map.  Now they are releasing a new one based on the Indiana Jones world. 

At first glance it looks like a re-skinned Lego Star Wars game.  A lot of the stuff that worked for Star Wars was added here.  Frankly, I don’t mind.  I have always loved Lego and to have another of my favorite movie icons turned into one is a definite treat for me.

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar Lorebook has now introduced us to a member of Gimli’s family.  It’s none other than his dad, Glóin.

Glóin was one of the company of thirteen that went out to reclaim Thorin Oakenshield’s birthright.  Another notable member of this group was Bilbo Baggins.  After the battle, Glóin settled at the Lonely Mountain.

According to the LoTRO Lorebook:

After the rise of the Shadow in the East, Glóin and his son Gimli brought news to Rivendell of the Enemy’s movements and sought the wisdom of Elrond Half-elven. Both attended the great Council of Elrond, where Gimli was chosen to become one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring, whose task it is to bear the One Ring of Sauron to Mount Doom and cast it into the Chamber of Fire. Glóin, with his entourage, set about clearing the outcast Dourhands from the passes of the Misty Mountains, making safe the way from west to east.

You can find Glóin at his post in the Misty Mountains where he marshals defenses against the Dourhand Dwarves.  You can get many Epic quests from him.  If you want to find all the quests, you can find them at the Lorebook.

[Source: LoTRO Lorebook]

I can’t believe my eyes but this piece of Game Boy just doesn’t know when to give up! This "artwork" was just minding his own buisness sitting inside a barracks when the place was bombed.  Who would’ve thought that it would survive the impact and still be able to play a game of Tetris? Nintendo sure knows the word durability.  Probably every Kevlars should be made with a little piece of Nintendo?

Via Gaming Today

Gary Gygax, co-creator of the famous Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game has succumbed to health problems last Tuesday at his Lake Geneva residence.  Apart from his wife, Gygax is survived by his six children.  He was 69 years old.

Gygax has been a major influence in today’s video games.  His creations have been the basis of so many games around today.  He really leaves us a great legacy of  creativity and imagination and will continue to live on his works. 

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using a combination of medieval characters and mythical creatures.  The game became a hit and was later adapted into video games, books and movies.

Dungeons & Dragons players create fictional characters and play-out their fantasies in a world ruled by complicated rules.  It spawned so many copycat games with its popularity.  Until now, a whole genre of computer games based on D&D is still growing in popularity.

He maintained close ties to fans of the game.  His house in Lake Geneva has become a frequent stop for enthusiasts.  Even though his health was beginning to decline, he would still host games.  In fact, he has been doing this as recent as January according to his wife.

“It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them,” Gygax said. “He really enjoyed that.”

No arrangements regarding his funeral have been announced.

[Source: Associated Press]