Video Games

That’s right.  Electronic Gaming Monthly has confirmed that Valve’s upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the Half Life 2 bundle have been renamed Half Life 2: Orange!  Joystiq quips: “Valve has come up with an entire world of alien life forms, postmodern physics and government conspiracies and the best title they could come up with is a color? We guess it’s better than Half-Life 2: Head Crab-tacular Edition.”  HL2:O will include the original Half Life 2 game, along with Episodes One and Two, Portal, and Team Fortress.

Harmonix has recently released details confirming that the 360 version of Guitar Hero will have new tracks, along with a sturdier controller.  Here are the new songs:

1. “Dead!” - My Chemical Romance (The Black Parade, 2006)
2. “The Trooper” - Iron Maiden (Piece of Mind, 1983)
3. “Billion Dollar Babies” - Alice Cooper (Billion Dollar Babies, 1973)
4. “Hush” - Deep Purple (Shades of Deep Purple, 1968)
5. “Life Wasted” - Pearl Jam (Pearl Jam, 2006)
6. “Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo” - Rick Derringer (King Biscuit Flower Hour, 1973)
7. “Possum Kingdom” - The Toadies (Rubberneck, 1994)
8. “Salvation” - Rancid (Let’s Go, 1994)

The new controller design is based off of the Gibson X-Plorer, and is supposed to be much sturdier than the PS2 guiter controller.

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved has come a long way from its initial release as a minigame.  Since, it’s been amped up into a fully developed Xbox 360 console game, and now it’s coming to Vista users everywhere.  Apparently, both Geometry Wars and Uno appeared in Microsoft’s CES keynote video.  So if you have a Vista, get ready for some cross-platform competition in these awesome games!  Check out the video here.

According to Gamespot, Microsoft has recently extended its warranty from a mere 90 days to 1 year for the Xbox 360.  Plus, it’s retroactive, meaning that this warranty covers any Xbox purchased up to a year ago.  Microsoft has changed its warranty length simply to catch up to the standards of Sony and Nintendo, both of whom offer the one-year warranty on their next-gen consoles.  Additionally, Microsoft will extend your warranty another 90 days if you register your Xbox 360.

Bethesda recently developed some add-on content for their huge Xbox 360 RPG, Oblivion, and have put it up on the Xbox Live Marketplace for free under the name “Mehrunes Razor.”  Mehrunes Razor used to cost 250 pts, but because of the festive spirits of Bethesda, Oblivion owners can obtain this expansion for free.  Be warned, the pack will only be available free until December 31st, so hop on this deal!  Here’s the game-description from Major Nelson (via YouNEWB):

The lost Ayleid City Varsa Baalim has been unearthed by a rogue Telvanni arch-mage, in pursuit of a fearsome Daedric Artifact, Mehrunes Razor, which he believes will give him the power he needs to topple the Imperial reign - but what horrors lie in wait beneath the Valus mountains; and can you overcome them to claim Mehrunes Razor as your own?

Features:

A fully-featured quest takes you deep into the fringes of the Niben.
Earn the fearsome Mehrunes Razor, with the ability to kill foes instantly.
17 new magic items to discover!
Conquer the largest dungeon in all Cyrodiil.
Thwart a plot to overthrow Imperial rule in Tamriel.
12 new books, notes, and journals to help you unravel the mystery.