With the upcoming release of the NXE, and all the coverage it’s getting from DTOID and other sites (Red vs. Blue of all places) I thought it would be a good idea to find some more info about it on my own. So last night I receive a link to a site called Cheapassgamer.com. It is a link to its forum and a thread about the NXE. This thread however is not about the NXE as a whole, but about the new feature to be able to install games. My overall opinion on this feature, is that it will be very useful for prolonging the life of you XBOX 360, the less time the DVD drive runs, the less chance it will crap out on you, and the less heat it will generate, so less chances of RROD.


The users posted on this thread how much space was required to install games.
Here is an overall list, for more check out the Thread

Ace Combat 6........................[6.4GB]
All Pro Football 2K8................[5.0GB]
Alone in The Dark...................[6.5GB]
Amped 3.............................[6.7GB]
Army of Two.........................[5.7GB]
Assassin's Creed....................[6.7GB]
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.........[6.6GB]
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat........[6.6GB]
Battlefield Bad Company.............[6.5GB]
Battlestations: Midway..............[5.5GB]
Beautiful Katamari..................[3.4GB]
Big Bumpin'.........................[Not Supported]
Bioshock............................[6.1GB]
Blazing Angels......................[3.4GB]
Blitz: The League...................[6.4GB]
Blue Dragon.........................[19.9GB]
Bomberman: Act Zero.................[3.4GB]
Brother's in Arms: Hell's Highway...[5.2GB]
Bullet Witch........................[5.2GB]
Bully: Scholarship Edition..........[3.4GB]
Burnout Paradise....................[3.4GB]
Burnout Revenge.....................[4.4GB]
C&C: Tiberium Wars..................[6.6GB]
Call of Duty 2......................[6.0GB]
Call of Duty 3......................[5.8GB]
Call of Duty 4......................[6.7GB]
Call of Duty: World at War..........[6.5GB]
Cars................................[5.2GB]
Civilization Revolution.............[6.3GB]
Clive Barker's Jericho..............[5.6GB]
Club, The...........................[5.2GB]
Colin McRae Dirt....................[6.4GB]
Command & Conquer 3.................[3.6GB]
Condemned: Criminal Origins.........[5.4GB]
Condemned 2: Bloodshot..............[6.8GB]
Crackdown...........................[Not Supported]
Culdcept Saga.......................[5.2GB]
Dance Dance Revolution Universe.....[3.4GB]
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2...[3.4GB]
Dark Sector.........................[3.4GB]
Darkness, The.......................[6.8GB]
Dead or Alive 4.....................[6.8GB]
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2..............[Not Supported]
Dead Rising.........................[6.6GB]
Dead Space..........................[6.6GB]
Devil May Cry 4.....................[6.7GB]
DiRT................................[6.4GB]
Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit...........[3.4GB]
Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires..........[4.0GB]
Dynasty Warriors 6..................[6.8GB]
Dynasty Warriors Gundam.............[5.6GB]
Earth Defense Force 2017............[3.4GB]
Enchanted Arms......................[6.7GB]
Eternal Sonata......................[6.8GB]
F.E.A.R.............................[4.0GB]
F.E.A.R. Files......................[6.8GB]
Fable II............................[6.8GB]
Fallout 3...........................[5.9GB]
Far Cry Instincts Predator..........[4.9GB]
Far Cry 2...........................[4.5GB]
FIFA 09.............................[6.0GB]
Fight Night Round 3.................[3.4GB]
Final Fantasy XI....................[6.7GB]
Final Fantasy XI Vana'diel..........[6.7GB]
Flatout Ultimate Carnage............[4.9GB]
Forza 2.............................[5.3GB]
Fracture............................[4.1GB]
Full Auto...........................[3.4GB]
Fusion Frenzy 2.....................[3.4GB]
Gears of War........................[6.5GB]
Gears of War 2......................[6.7GB]
Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter.....[5.2GB]
Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter 2...[6.8GB]
Golden Axe: Beast Rider.............[6.4GB]
GRID................................[6.6GB]
GTA IV..............................[6.8GB]
Guitar Hero II......................[3.4GB]
Guitar Hero III.....................[3.4GB]
Guitar Hero Aerosmith...............[4.5GB]
Guitar Hero: World Tour.............[3.4GB]
Gun.................................[3.6GB]
Halo 3..............................[6.3GB]
Hitman: Blood Money.................[5.8GB]
Infinite Undiscovery................[12.5GB]
Juiced 2............................[5.7GB]
Just Cause..........................[5.6GB]
Kameo: Elements of Power............[5.9GB]
King Kong...........................[6.5GB]
Kingdom Under Fire Circle of Doom...[4.3GB]
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend......[6.7GB]
LEGO Batman.........................[6.0GB]
LEGO Indiana Jones..................[4.4GB]
LEGO Star Wars: Complete Saga.......[5.8GB]
LEGO Star Wars II: Original Trilogy.[3.4GB]
Lost Odyssey........................[23.2GB]
Lost Planet.........................[6.8GB]
Lost Planet Colonies Edition........[6.7GB]
Lost Via Domus......................[4.2GB]
LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth.......[4.4GB]
Madden 2009.........................[6.7GB]
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...........[5.9GB]
Mass Effect.........................[6.8GB]
Mercenaries 2.......................[6.4GB]
Midnight Club: Los Angeles..........[6.0GB]
Mirror's Edge.......................[5.7GB]
Moto GP 06..........................[4.6GB]
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja.............[5.3GB]
NBA 2K9.............................[3.4GB]
NBA Live 09.........................[6.3GB]
NFL Head Coach 2009.................[5.8GB]
NFS Most Wanted.....................[6.8GB]
NHL 07..............................[3.4GB]
NHL 09..............................[5.7GB]
NHL 2K8.............................[6.7GB]
Ninety Nine Nights..................[5.6GB]
Ninja Gaiden II.....................[6.8GB]
Oblivion............................[6.7GB]
Orange Box, The.....................[4.7GB]
Outfit, The.........................[6.8GB]
Overlord............................[3.4GB]
Perfect Dark Zero...................[5.3GB]
Phantasy Star Universe..............[6.8GB]
Pocket Bike Racers..................[Not Supported]
Prey................................[5.0GB]
Project Gotham Racing 3.............[6.2GB]
Project Gotham Racing 4.............[6.0GB]
Pro Evolution Soccer 6..............[3.4GB]
Quake 4.............................[5.9GB]
Quantum of Solace...................[6.8GB]
Rainbow Six: Vegas..................[6.7GB]
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2................[6.6GB]
Ridge Racer 6.......................[6.5GB]
Rock Band...........................[5.2GB]
Rock Band 2.........................[6.3GB]
Rumble Roses XX.....................[4.5GB]
Saints Row..........................[6.8GB]
Saints Row 2........................[6.8GB]
Samurai Warriors 2..................[6.6GB]
Samurai Warriors 2 Empires..........[3.4GB]
Scene It............................[6.8GB]
SEGA Rally..........................[4.2GB]
SEGA Superstars Tennis..............[3.4GB]
Shadowrun...........................[4.3GB]
Simpson's Game, The.................[4.7GB]
skate...............................[6.8GB]
Sonic the Hedgehog..................[5.6GB]
Sneak King..........................[Not Supported]
Soul Calibur IV.....................[5.9GB]
Space Chimps........................[3.4GB]
Spider-Man 3........................[3.7GB]
Spider-man Web of Shadows...........[6.2GB]
Splinter Cell: Double Agent.........[6.8GB]
Star Trek Legacy....................[5.7GB]
Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed.....[6.6GB]
Stranglehold........................[6.7GB]
Stuntman Ignition...................[5.8GB]
Superman Returns....................[3.4GB]
Table Tennis........................[3.4GB]
Tales of Vesperia...................[5.9GB]
Test Drive Unlimited................[3.5GB]
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09.............[6.0GB]
Timeshift...........................[5.8GB]
TNA Impact!.........................[6.8GB]
Tomb Raider Anniversary.............[6.4GB]
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland......[5.0GB]
Too Human...........................[6.2GB]
Top Spin 2..........................[5.4GB]
Turok...............................[6.6GB]
Two Worlds..........................[3.4GB]
Universe at War.....................[6.8GB]
Unreal Tournament 3.................[6.4GB]
Virtua Fighter 5....................[4.7GB]
Virtua Tennis 3.....................[4.1GB]
Viva Pinata.........................[5.0GB]
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise....[5.2GB]
Warriors Orochi.....................[6.4GB]
Warriors Orochi 2...................[6.8GB]
Wartech Senko no Ronde..............[3.4GB]
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007...........[6.8GB]
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008...........[5.8GB]
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009...........[6.6GB]
Xbox Live Arcade Compilation Disc...[5.9GB]

Now, from this list (and others along the forum posts) I can venture a guess to say that the majority of games will not be larger than say 7 gigs to install on your HDD. The only games that go above that are Lost Odyssey (23.3G), Blue Dragon (19.9G), and Infinite Undiscovery (12.5G). You can however install each disc separately with no problem it seems (as one user states a couple of pages into the thread) I don’t see a problem with this, but what is a little bit strange to me, is that some titles are not supported. All 3 Burger King Games are not supported (who cares?), but also Crackdown and DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball 2 are not supported. I’m not really surprised that the burger king games are not supported, but Crackdown is a surprise seeing as it is a pretty main stream game that I’m sure a lot of people do own, quite strange. As of my posting this blog, I have not seen anymore note worthy exceptions to the games we will be able to install when the NXE comes out.

EDIT: Here is a list provided by BlindSideDork, that shows what improvements the install feature actually gives the games.

I'm sure you have all heard of the Large Hadron Collider, and some of you may recall this picture circulating around.



If you dont then read up on it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider and here http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/the_large_hadron_collider.html and this video explains it layman's terms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6uKZWnJLCM

Essentially, its a 27Km (17 mile) circumference particle accelerator. The experiments that physicists will be able to do with this will be vast, and could change our knowledge of how the universe works.They're even planning on making some (micro) black holes! Insane, no?
The whole area is cooled to 1.9K (1.9C above absolute zero - the temperature where even electrons stop moving - essentially nothing can exist below that temperature, or something like that). Or in a way that is easier to comprehend, -271.25 C (-456.25 F). All this, and it only cost $6billion. Pretty cheap for something that has the potential to destroy the world don't you agree?

Anyway the first official firing of this thing was today, its been fired. And nothing happened!

The fireworks start on October 21st, when there's actually a collision. Today was the first full test, getting the beam going around the LHC in both directions, but no collisions. The BBC have quite a lot on it, too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7604293.stm

For those worried that its going to kill us all, keep checking this website:
http://www.hasthelhcdestroyedtheearth.com/ I had a pretty epic laugh when i saw this website. {imitating Professor Farnsworth} Good news everyone! If anything DOES happen, France will go first.

Dominic "Dom" Santiago, Marcus Fenix's friend and fellow CoG soldier is of my favorite characters in recent years. Dom has saved Marcus on two occasions that we know of, once saving him from the death penalty after testifying in his trial, and again at the very beginning of Gears 1 rescuing him from Jacinto Maximum Security Prison which has been overtaken by the Locust Horde, and accompanies Marcus through all of Gears 1 as a major asset to complete their Light Mass Bomb deployment mission. But Dom is not just a supporting character, Dom's story is deep enough to make him a main character.

Though humanities plight against the Locust Horde is global struggle for all humans on Sera, the war with the Locust Horde has a more personal meaning for Dom due to the disappearance of his wife Maria on Emergence Day. The struggle to find his wife while fulfilling his duty as a Gear has Dom doing things most Gears wouldn't, like associating with Stranded in order to find information on Maria's whereabouts. Dom's search, however bleak it may seem, keeps him going and his refusal to give up, shines a small ray of optimism and hope in this story of a war torn world.

A note worthy point is Dom's status within the CoG army. Though he has served for years during the Pendulum Wars, including the Aspho Fields Battle (as mentioned by Carmine) and the ongoing Locust-Human War, Dom still has a rank of Private. This could be due to his testifying in favor of Marcus during his desertion trial, which could have possibly earned him mistrust among the Gears due to Marcus' reputation.


Another thing about Dom that is something I have thought about and talked about with others, is the fact that humanity was basically at a stand still with the Locust Horde, that is until Marcus Fenix is broken out of prison, by Dom, and leads Delta Squad against seemingly never ending Locust and insurmountable odds to deploy the Light Mass Bomb, a Major victory against the Locust. If Marcus is a major factor in the human victory against the Locust in the Gears of War story, then by association (and the fact that he is part of Delta Squad) Dom is also responsible for saving humanity from the Locust Horde.

Dom at first seems like a simple character, just another soldier who is friends with protagonist Marcus Fenix, but as you get to know him and his story, Dom becomes a more complex character who's story and past rivals that of Marcus' (desertion, his father and such). With his Maria tattoo proudly displayed on his right arm and his lancer in hand Dom continued the fight against the Locust and the search for his missing wife, and I hope his story ends well and does not end early.

Another week, another RvB Recon Episode.

In store news a GrifBall shirt is now available, and you can start pre-ordering a "We are pleased"quote shirt from the Supreme Surrender mini-series.


RvB: Recon Chapter 6 The Recap:

The Chairman reads out a message to the Director of Project Freelancer. In this message we learn that Project Freelancer "was only granted the use of a single artificial intelligence unit for implantation experiments". Church and Caboose talk to Washington trying to calm him down after he has shot South, since Church thinks Washington is not of a sane mind. Washington tries to explain to Church that his actions were not out of crazed thoughts but out of sane judgment aided by Delta's suggestion. "Im totally, completely sane.... Now if you will excuse me I need to go blow up this dead body."

Church talks to Delta about Washington's state of mind, Delta states that "destruction of unused armor or equipment is standard recovery procedure." Delta adds the name of Washington's AI Epsilon "Epsilon was an unstable intelligence unit that had to be deleted, its integration with Washington's mind concerned our superiors. I believe that agent Washington's sanity is well within acceptable deviations... for now." All the while behind Church Washington has been stacking explosives on South's body and blows them up just as Delta finishes his statement.

Washington rejoins the group and after calling command "they wanted me to pass on condolences on Souths passing." to Delta. Church asks what Washington told them to which he replies "I told them Caboose did it. Apparently they have a shortcut on their keyboard for reporting his team kills." Caboose then states the shortcut to be "CTRL F U" Washington tells Church that "I would have told them you shot her, but I wanted it to be believable." to which Church replies that "Hey! My aim is fine." A small argument ensues about how the Meta managed to dodge Church's rocket. Caboose reveals to Washington that Wyoming's head was one the ship with Tex, Washington is perplexed to which Church replies "His helmet.... Tex took it for some reason."

The Meta has taken one of the teams Mongooses, the team discusses what to do, then Church asks "Why does it want these AIs anyway?" Washington replies "If you can get your hands on a Smart AI you can be damn near unstoppable." Delta then goes on to state "There is One, smart AI in the Freelancer Program, the Alpha" Washington stops Delta and after Church asks about it Washington explains "Its nothing its a myth." Then Delta interjects with something that Washington is sensitive about and Washington instructs Delta to shut down. Washington continues to explain to Church "Im tired of hearing about this Alpha, its all they talk about. Rumor has it the program only got one AI, so they copied it. The original was Alpha, then Beta, and so on.... Some took drastic steps to see the Alpha, learn where it was." Washington's recovery beacon goes off for an agent Mayne. The operator tells Washington to confirm, he does "Yeah its him, its the Meta." Church is in shock "WHAT?! The Meta is a freelancer?" Washington cannot get the coordinates from Command due to something jamming the transmission. Delta did not get the coordinates but he did get data that states "that the Meta is experiencing massive power fluctuations." Church deduces that it probably has too much equipment running on one suit, Delta agrees. "The Meta is probably dangerously low on power." Washington asks where it may be going, Church and Caboose know of one place, the map Last Resort is shown and the Meta is there.


END



This weeks episode had more background comedy in it, and was more a look at Washington and how he is viewed by Church. More story elements are put into place and a possible second confrontation with the Meta is set up. There is still no sing of Tucker or of Red tea, hopefully they will show up soon. This episode gets 8 elite skulls out of 10





Here is the link to the episodes, enjoy.
http://rvb.roosterteeth.com/home.php

As RedRabbit requested last week I will be hosting Gears of War tonight at starting at 8PM or so.We will be playing modes and maps requested by the community members.

After that We will also be playing Team Fortress 2 starting at 10:30PM. Again requests by community members will be taken into account. We will also be playing a mode I like to call Engineering 101.


If you want to play send me a message at GT: JohnnyViral starting at 8PM.

Before I start just want to inform you (though ill be posting it up tomorrow night) that I will be hosting two Friday Night Fights tommorow. Gears of War, starting at 8PM, and Team Fortress 2, starting at 10PM. Now onto business

Yeah I know Im late, well life got in the way. Now lets go straight to the recap for episode 6. I am not recapping episode 5 cause well.. its a week late...

RvB: Recon Chapter 6 The Recap:

The Director once again starts off this episode, comparing the Chairman and his organization to the Meta. Which we now realize is the white armored soldier that has been stalking Washington and the group. As the Director's message ends, South is behind a Bubble Sheild while the Meta is attacking her with a Brute Shot. She is in danger, the shield wont last too long and the probability of her winning against the Meta is very slim according to Delta. So she does what she can to survive and is willing to sacrifice Delta to the Meta to achieve this goal. Just as her shield goes down Washington, Church and Caboose come to the rescue. Washington instructs Church and Caboose to not let the Meta near South or to let South escape. Church promptly tells Caboose to "help her." Caboose shoots South, incapacitating her.The team fights the Meta as well as they can, then Washington informs them that the Meta has gone invisible. Church ask for an explanation to which Washington reveals that the Meta can absorb the equipment of other freelancers. Church freaks out as he realizes why the Meta is in white armor, it has Wyoming's time ability, which the Meta promptly uses to escape the rocket launcher Church points at it. The Meta calmly walks over to Washington and prepares to execute him while the group is frozen, but backs off when something in its suit sparks with damage. The group goes over to South, Delta suggest that they move him to a new host, Caboose volunteers. After Delta is moved, he agrees with Church and speculates that the Meta has acquired the AI Gamma and Wyoming's equipment, Delta points out that they can probably destroy the Meta if they find where ever it may be going to repair itself. South stands up, she is badly injured and cannot walk on her own, Washington tells her to crawl, Delta however reveals to Washington what South had tried to do to escape the Meta, he also reveals that South was the one that betrayed her brother North back in Recovery One in order to escape from the Meta. Delta suggest to Washington that they "do not allow her to hamper our progress." Washington draws his gun and kills South before she can finish he question "What are you gonna do Sh..." She falls dead, Washington sighs and Church says "Dude, you guys are some cold motherfuckers."

END


Episode 5 uses a lot more use of in game mechanics used as special effects which goes back to the original series. Episode 5 just progresses the story. Just watch it I'm too lazy to tell you more about it.

As for episode 6 again just a lot of story progression. Caboose makes teh funny a few times, they freeze time, and there is combat. Both episodes get 10 elite skulls out of 10







Here is the link to the episodes, enjoy.
http://rvb.roosterteeth.com/home.php