Get an Xbox Series X|S + Services... starting at $26.99/month!

Well hello there, folks! Sophi here, your friendly neighborhood aspiring writer and part time controller wielder. I've got the low-down on Xbox's All Access program that's got gamers buzzing like my Lola after too much kape!

Microsoft wants to ensure that the money is coming in as they pump those new games out, so Xbox consoles are being presented on a nifty monthly payment plan. Talk about leveling up accessibility, am I right?

But wait, there's more! With All Access, you're not just getting a shiny new console. Oh no, it's a full gaming feast! Xbox Game Pass, remote play on phone/tablets, EA Play, and Xbox Live Gold for online play. Love it, just don't ask me why we still have to pay for Xbox Live and Game Pass separately.

Now, let's talk pera. For the budget ballers, the Xbox Series S will run you $26.99 per month over 24 months with that sweet, sweet 0% APR. Not too shabby for 1440p gaming, a 512GB SSD, and a 4 teraflop processor that'll give you a smooth gaming experience compared to an outdated rig. This brings the total to $647.76.

But for those who want the best Xbox currently has to offer, the Xbox Series X is where it's at! $36.99 monthly and you're living that 4K dream with 12 teraflops of power, 1TB of storage, and all the visual candy your eyes can handle. Just don't forget some kickin' speakers to really immerse yourself in Dolby's glorious sound. This brings the total to $887.76.

I have to put this in here... if you don't have a 4K TV and don't plan to get one for quite sometime, consider what this bump up will truly mean... when it comes to the visual quality. You will still get sharper and detailed images, better color and contrast if your TV supports HDR + and a higher bitrate, but... don't expect true 4K on your TV. -  Blu 

Here's a catch to this deal - the warranty length is kind of bogus. One year for the console and 90 days for the controller. After that, you're stuck paying whether your Xbox is working or not. Come on Microsoft, could you at least give us an extended warranty option for the second year?

Speaking of paying, let's be real - this is still a loan we're taking on here. 0% APR is a total win, just make sure to pay on time, every time! If you feel as if you can just barely make the payments, leave this deal alone and save. If there were any interest at all for Xbox All Access, that would make this a hard pass from me. Debt for gaming just ain't worth it unless you can pay consistently which helps with credit building. By the way, you're saving money when you consider the individual costs.

At the end of the day, Xbox All Access opens some awesome doors for gamers on a budget. Just be smart about it and don't get burned by the bill!

Xbox All Access plans are available below (click for more at your favorite store):

 Bestbuy  |  GameStop  |  Walmart  |  Target  |  Verizon 

Sophima

Support us via the helpful links below!

Affordable Wired 100 - 200 Mbps Internet

From the Source: Xbox - Early access for Halo Wars 2!

This just in from the source!

Hello,

Today we’re excited to join fans around the world in celebration of the worldwide launch of early access for Halo Wars 2. Available now for players who purchased Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition, 343 Industries and Creative Assembly have crafted an action-packed, strategic gameplay experience for both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC via Xbox Play Anywhere. The studios hosted a celebratory livestream event yesterday at 343 Industries in Redmond, sharing new details on post-launch content and other updates on Halo Wars 2.

In addition, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has penned a blog post looking ahead to what’s coming for Xbox this year. As part of the sneak peek, a few Xbox developers and team leads joined Xbox Live’s Major Nelson and AceyBongos on a special episode of This Week on Xbox to share updates on several of the exciting exclusives coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 this year. - Team Xbox

Check out the videos below and game on! - Blu

This is that additional information we were told... they'd present us with soon. So enjoy!

This post has been brought to you by... the Baby Fu Clothing Co.

and by... Lyft (use code: SDGTENT to get $50 in Lyft credit now)!

Xbox Media Briefing update + Xbox Fanfest!

Hi everyone (haven't heard a greeting on here in awhile huh? anyway), the Xbox team hit us up with an update about the Xbox Media briefing recently and that the time will be switched up.

It will be held June 11th (2017) @ 2PM pst, which will be a Sunday.

In the email they told us that they will be showcasing more games & experiences. This isn't breaking down anything we will end up seeing, but they've also said that there will be another Xbox FanFest event this year and that more details will be coming soon. We will get those details to you as soon as they hit our inbox.

Brought to you by the Baby Fu Clothing Co.

From the Source: Square-Enix... Start your engines PS4 & Xbox One Racers!

A lot of action is coming out of Square-Enix... and now that we have this game, expect a review.

SÉBASTIEN LOEB RALLY EVO NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE LOS ANGELES (MARCH 22, 2016) - Square Enix® and Milestone S.r.l announced today that Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO is now available for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The game is available for digital download or at retailers for a $59.99 SRP. Created in collaboration with nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb, players will powerslide all over the world with the aim of getting their adrenaline pumping and delivering all the thrills of the world of rally. For those interested in trying out the game, a free demo is available now on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO is a realistic off-road racing game that features more than 180 miles of accurately reproduced tracks, including the exclusive Pike Peak International Hill Climb, across eight different Rallies, five Rallycross circuits and 64 special stages. Players can drive over 58 cars from 16 different manufacturers, from the past until present, and customize and create the perfect match of aesthetics and racing performance. Other key features for Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO include: Game modes for rally enthusiasts, including Quick Race, Career, Sébastien Loeb Experience, Online Multiplayer and more. Intense weather and lighting conditions that put players' driving skills to the test. Realistic physics and sound design developed with Sébastien Loeb to react differently depending on each in-game object. Compatibility with a number of driving game peripherals, including steering wheels, pedals and more. Accompanying this release is a day one patch that addresses issues with menu options and online pace notes, reduces lag when using steering wheel peripherals, and improves race session frame rates.

+1, Share, Subscribe and... Game on!

From the Source: Xbox - Adventure On Clover Island

Now... this... looks like it could be preeeetttyyy fun! :D

Swedish studio Right Nice Games has teamed up with the folks at Grip Digital to bring you Adventure on Clover Island, a 3D action-platformer that’s wonderfully reminiscent of decade-old 64-bit greats like Jak and Daxter and Banjo-Kazooie. You play as Skylar, a feline heroine with a deadly mechanical arm. Her sidekick, Plux, is an owl that’s always flying by her side. And then there’s the lusciously vibrant world that you get to explore. It’s a welcome throwback to a genre that’s seen woefully few entries in recent years.

A beautiful place to have an adventure, the titular Clover Island is spread out beneath a bright, azure sky; a vast aquamarine sea surrounds its idyllic beaches. Everywhere you look, you’ll see a healthy supply of interesting rock formations, grassy outcroppings, and floating platforms to traverse, dotted with the sorts of shiny gems that we all love to compulsively collect (I know I do!).

The demo I played at this year’s Game Developers Conference ID@Xbox event started me out on the sandy beach, but I quickly made my way upward, toward an opening in the side of a rock face. Inside, I found a cave filled with spinning gears, disappearing platforms, and a few gauntlets that involved dodging some big, swinging hammers. The menacing, red-hot lava beneath me began to rise.

I easily punched my way through main villain CRT’s minions – little ambulatory TV screens and other droid-like creatures of his making – using Skylar’s spin attack to mop up any stragglers. Her mechanical arm is useful for more than destruction though; I attached a grappling line to anchor points floating in the air, which I used to swing across large gaps and pull out platforms that were previously retracted.

Skylar even has a jet pack, so she can hover and fly for short bursts, adding an extra layer of satisfaction and utility to the genre-staple double-jump. Just with my brief hands-on time with the game, I’m already eager to see how Skylar upgrades her mechanical arm (and associated abilities) as the game progresses.

If zippy platforming action in colorful vistas has been missing from your life, Adventure on Clover Island is one to watch for when it releases later this year on Xbox One. - Alice Liang

From the Source: WayForward - Shantae and the Pirate's Curse... on Xbox One, March 16th (2016)!

If you've been looking for an awesome 2D platform adventure on the Xbox One... then you're in for a treat, because Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is headed your way March 16th, 2016!

Check out the post, and then read up on our game review at the link down below. Game on!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Valencia, Calif. –  2/26/2016 — WayForward is pleased to announce that Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is coming to XBox One March 16th!

Name: Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Publisher/Developer: WayForward Release Date: 3/16/2016 Platform: Xbox One Players: Single Player Price: $19.99 (25% off Pre-Order thru Release Week), Australia: 26.95, UK: 15.99, Europe: 19.99

Features Developed by WayForward - makers of Double Dragon: Neon, Ducktales: Remastered and the Mighty Switch Force Series! Character portraits by Mega Mandeveloper IntiCreates! Unlockable Pirate-Mode Xbox Live Achievements Multiple endings Epic original soundtrack by Jake “Virt” Kaufman

Ratings • PEGI (Europe): 12 (Violence, Sex) • USK (Germany): 6 • COB/OFLC (Australia/NZ): G (Very Mild Violence) • RAR (Russia): 6

The original indie darling is back in her biggest adventure yet! Critics are calling Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse the pinnacle of this fan-favorite series!  The sequel to Metacritic’s *handheld game of 2010: Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, boasts more than double the content, and acclaim from fans and press alike! She's still got it" -Destructoid 9.0 "...a must-play" -Nintendo World Report 9.0 "one of the most satisfying games I’ve played all year" - Hardcore Gamer 9.0, Gold Award "satisfying in every regard...guaranteed to please" -Pocket Gamer UK 9.5 "the pinnacle of the series" Wii Brasil 9.0 "an exceptionally well-crafted game that should not be ignored" -Nintendo Life 8.5 "stands above its retro-inspired contemporaries" –IGN

About Embark on a brand new adventure with Shantae, the hair-whipping belly dancing genie. When she loses her magic, Shantae must team up with her nemesis, the nefarious pirate Risky Boots in order to save Sequin Land from an evil curse. As a pirate, Shantae gains new weapons to advance her quest, slay monsters, battle epic bosses…and hopefully get her magic back in the bargain! But can she really trust her deadliest enemy? Beyond Sequin Land lie cursed islands and labyrinths each hiding a new piece of Pirate Gear - Flintlock Pistol, Pirate Hat, Scimitar, Risky's Boots, and even a Cannon. Upgrade Shantae's hair and weapons or unlock advanced Fighter's Moves. Locate maps, return lost Heart Squids, collect rare loot, and laugh out loud at the weird, wild, and wonderfully humorous cast of characters. SDGT Ent gives Shantae and the Pirate's Curse a... 5 out of 5! Click here for our game review!

The Gift of Gaming: What will 2016 and beyond... mean for you as a gamer and developer?

Gaming is an option, an opportunity... and a privilege to immerse yourself in an interactive recreational art. It can emerge in the positive direction even more... if the approach is done right. Not just in the development of good games (which is important), but I am also talking about doing the development team right... as well as the financially supportive gamers (you know those of us that buy the games in a way that result in the developers benefiting financially).

Some studios have an almost... sweat shop like atmosphere abusing the passion the development team came with, so much so to the point that some don't want to be a part of a big development studio anymore (and some even give up game development). It doesn't have to be like that, and the passion is beneficial to a development versus someone simply wanting to be done with a game to finish their contract.

There are pricks on both sides of the controller/keyboard, and until these individuals value gaming for what its worth... they will continue to be part of the problem that pushes it in a less favorable direction (those with influence, destructive power, and the right position at a studio). Remember that... and develop, publish, and/or game on with the purpose of having a good memorable experience... because misery is optional.

No matter what holiday you celebrate this December, be joyous, not hateful... especially if you have a choice. Peace! By the way, congrats to... Hideo Kojima! -RkRk

Speaking of gaming... here is a new Let's Play I did of Dungeon Souls. I was owned a few time quickly... but not bad for my first time, the Barbarian is my fave thus far. The wizard's fireballs are that accurate (though i'm sure they improve as you grow... hopefully). There will be an aim to review this game... but we have other games we have to review first (to be fair to the developers... so for now... check out this nearly hour long vid). 

There will most likely be more let's plays of this game... just to see how far I can get. Game on!

From The Source: Xbox - New Xbox One Backward Compatibility Titles Playable Today

Those backwards compatible 360 titles for Xbox One are still rolling out... and we have the newest line up below (compliments of Microsoft). Game on!

______________________________________

"Last month we launched one of the most requested features: Xbox One Backward Compatibility, with an initial set of more than 100 titles, allowing fans to take their Xbox 360 experience to Xbox One." 
                                                                                                                                                     - Addie

Titles

·         Braid

·         DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION

·         Doritos Crash Course

·         Fable III

·         Halo: Reach

·         Hydro Thunder

·         Iron Brigade

·         Kane & Lynch 2

·         Motocross Madness

·         MS.PAC-MAN

·         Peggle 

·         Portal: Still Alive

·         Spelunky

·         Splosion Man

·         Ticket to Ride™

·         Zuma's Revenge!