Jason Pearce

I’ve lately taken an interest in modifying my Xbox so that it can do more things than just playing games. It’s kind of an underground thing to do and will include challenges like soldering wires directly to the motherboard. There’s much for me to learn, but here are a few very useful links that I will be studying

TechTV Series on Xbox Mods

This is the article that opened my eyes. A five-part story, this article explains the benefits of modifying your Xbox and includes online videos.

Xbox-Scene Tutorial

A photo walk-through of how to open an Xbox.

X-ecuter2 Lite

The mod chip that I’ll likely buy and install.

Evolution X (EVOX)

Next, I’ll need to find and install a new operating system. This one is the best.

Install a Maxtor 120GB Hard Drive

Yep. I’m going to take out the 8GB drive and put in a new drive.

Lock the new Drive

In order to play Xbox Live, I’ll have to lock the drive.

Install Xbox Media Player

This program lets me use the Xbox as a media player, playing MP3s, DVDs, photos, and much more.

If it sounds like a lot of work, it will be. But I’ll learn a lot while doing it and have the satisfaction of owning an Xbox that can do a whole lot more than just playing games.

This weekend was the weekend for “The Matrix.” Although the movie opened Thursday night, I waited until Saturday afternoon to see it.

On Friday, however, I got my hands on a copy of the Xbox video game “Enter the Matrix.” While the movie was good, the game is great.

Considered the secret sequel, “Enter the Matrix” is the biggest-budget video game ever. The game features two hours of new Matrix story, including an hour of footage shot on the film’s set with much of the film’s cast. The Wachowski brothers, who wrote and directed the trilogy of Matrix films, also wrote the dialogue and story for the video game.

According to reports, Atari spent more than $30 million developing the game, making it the most expensive game ever. The game features spectacular martial arts that bend the rules of the Matrix and awesome gunplay. While you don’t play as either Neo or Morpheus, you do get to choose between Niobe or Ghost. After all, playing Neo wouldn’t be much of a challenge since he is basically a god withing the Matrix (and perhaps, outside of it too).

I likely spent about 10 hours playing the game and watching its additional footage this weekend. It’s been great. So if anyone asks you if you are red or blue on buying this game, the choice is yours.

I know only geeks like myself would be interested in this story, but the Xbox game Halo 2 sadly won’t be released until 2004. Halo is the best game I have ever played. Here’s the story from the BBC:

Delays hit Halo game sequel

The eagerly awaited sequel to the award-winning Halo video game has been delayed. In a note on its website, developer Bungie Studios said Halo 2 would not be released until 2004.

The news will disappoint fans of the first person military action shoot-’em up, who had expected the title to be in the shops by Christmas.

Halo: Combat Evolved is the most successful game yet for Microsoft’s Xbox and the delay in the release of its sequel could undermine sales of the console.

‘Complex undertaking’

The original Halo came out with the launch of the Xbox in November 2001, going on to become the console’s must-have game.

So far it has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

When Microsoft announced a sequel last year, it said the game would be shipped at the end of 2003.

The statement by Bungie was prompted by speculation about when the game would be in the shops.

“We’re still not ready to pick a specific release date, but we do want to state for the record that Halo 2 will not ship in 2003,” said the company.

“This game is a vast undertaking, considerably more complex than any of our previous efforts, and there is just no way to squeeze all of the necessary work into this calendar year,” said the company.

“We know many of you were hoping to get your hands on Halo 2 during the holiday season, and we’re sorry to disappoint you – but making this game as good as we possibly can is our paramount concern.”

Halo 2 titbits

Halo 2 is expected to build on the adventures of a genetically enhanced super-soldier called Master Chief as he faces a coalition of alien races.

Bungie is promising more action and weapons, better graphics and a multi-player option to face other gamers on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. “Halo 2 is a lot like Halo, only it’s Halo on fire, going 130 miles per hour through a hospital zone, being chased by helicopters and ninjas,” said Jason Jones, the head of Bungie Studios when he announced the sequel in August 2002.

Gamers on a message board hosted by Bungie seemed prepared to wait.

“Personally I don’t mind waiting a bit longer. We’ve got just under a year to go and a few more months won’t make much difference,” said one gamer.

“Maybe a lot of us are over-reacting but it seems like if this early they announced that it won’t make 2003, then maybe they know wholeheartedly that they’re looking at a game that’s way off from being done,” said another.

The good news for fans of the best-selling game is that Bungie will offer them a taste of Halo 2 at the video game industry’s main trade show, E3 in May in Los Angeles.

In a similar story, the BBC did a story on Xbox Live, a Microsoft service that allows Xbox gamers to play others via a high-speed Internet connection. Since my new place in Norwalk already has high-speed access, you can bet that I’ll be spending some time playing others online.

The Xbox Live service got off to a good start when it launched in the US in November, with Microsoft selling more than 150,000 starter kits in the first week. I can’t wait to join them.