GeekSugar

Win an Xbox 360 Console and an Xbox Live Subscription

GeekSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:45:38 -0700

I know it's felt like forever since we've had a giveaway, but we wanted to wait until we had something reallly good, so feast your eyes on this beauty - an Xbox 360 gaming console! And not only that, but Xbox is also throwing in a one year subscription to Xbox Live!

What's great about the Xbox 360 is that it connects you to the entertainment and people you love, whether they’re down the street or around the world. Starting at $199, Xbox offers the largest library of games, hit TV shows for download or streaming from Netflix, so there’s certainly something for every interest and every budget.

To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the fun quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on May 17, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). For Official Rules, click here.

Take the quiz

How to Get Your Xbox Repaired Quickly and Cheaply

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:25:17 -0700

I now have a love/hate relationship with my Xbox. Not only did my original Xbox flash me with the "Red Ring of Death" (conveniently just a few days after the warranty expired), but now my replacement Xbox has died as well. Unfortunately, this one only lasted a month.

If you've had an Xbox die on you, don't just rush out and buy a new one - check to see if your warranty is still in effect. Not only does your Xbox come with a one-year manufacturer warranty, but if your Xbox crashes with the dreaded "Red Ring of Death," you're covered for three years from date of purchase.

Since it seems that I'm now a pro at sending in my consoles for repair, find out the best way to get yours fixed on the cheap and back to you fast when you read more.

Although you could call into Microsoft and have someone talk you through the repair process, instead, you should use your tech-savvy skills to your advantage and request a repair online. You don't have to wait on hold for help, and you can print your shipping labels as well as request a shipping box (on Microsoft's dime) to send off your console asap. All the info you'll need is on the Xbox Support website, but you will need a Microsoft Live ID and your purchase receipt to get started.

If your Xbox is no longer covered by warranty, you can still request service through Microsoft online or over the phone for a fee. Be warned though, if you call in to an agent to submit your repair request, you'll be charged $200 versus $100 if you submit your own request online. You should expect your Xbox back to you in working order in about two to three weeks, but mine was right on time at two weeks.

Do You Prefer Portable or Console Systems?

GeekSugar — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:10:42 -0700

I've always thought of portable gaming systems like the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP as substitutes for the real thing. Don't get me wrong, I always slip my DS into my purse when I know I am going to have to wait for a plane, train or automobile, but it's just not as engaging and exciting as playing the game on a console like the Wii or Xbox. It's the big sound. It's the vibration. It's the big screen. When it comes to gaming, do you prefer one or the other or do you love them equally?

Microsoft's New Parental Street Cred Videos . . .

GeekSugar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:15:00 -0700

Microsoft has just come out with a series of new Xbox 360 video ads called "Parental Street Cred" which I hate to say, don't exactly achieve their goal of making the Xbox seem like a fun "family-friendly" device. Is this video targeted to kids? Or maybe the parents? Check out one of the videos below and let me know if it confuses you as well!

Parents Pull the Saddest Prank on Hopeful Child

GeekSugar — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:01:50 -0800

As a kid, I always dreamed of the day when my parents would surprise me with a Nintendo under the Christmas tree. I never did get a Nintendo (my mom had nightmares about me playing it 24/7), although I did settle for a GameBoy - which for some reason seemed a bit cooler at the time. Needless to say, I know what it feels like to want something like a gaming console so bad, you would give up birthdays for the next five years if it meant getting one.

Unfortunately for Jonathan, as you'll see in the video below, his douchebag parents tricked him into believing he was getting an Xbox for Christmas. Not only did they wrap up an empty Xbox box and fill it with shirts, but they decided to laugh at him once he realizes he didn't get the present he always wanted. Heartbreaking and total child abuse if you ask me.

To keep reading and watch the video, read more

All hope is not lost folks. Engadget posted the story offering to get Jonathan an Xbox, and since it went up, Microsoft and other kind geeks have come forward offering to hook him up as well. Stay tuned for the outcome of this story.

Things on Wheels Coming to XBox Live Arcade This Summer

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:03:52 -0800

Racing Games: Seen one, seen 'em all, right? With the new format of Burnout Paradise totally blowing my mind, I thought innovation would take a backseat for a bit while we got used to a new way of playing racers. Little did I know that game developer Load had something up its sleeves. In a partnership with Xbox Live Arcade, Load will be letting us in on what is sure to be a big Summer hit: Things on Wheels.

Things on Wheels lets you control your very own RC car through a big and shiny art deco mansion, avoiding obstacles and hazards like stacks of magazines in the living room and oven coils in the kitchen as you race from room to room. And it's not just me that's geeking out about the concept. Game publisher Southpeak Games saw the potential too: "Competing with real life remote control cars is great fun, so why not do it in a video game? ToW delivers the same reckless thrill," says CEO Melanie Mroze in a company announcement.

Who didn't love racing remote control cars when they were kids? Only now we can finally do it in the house without hearing it from mom! Expect to see Things on Wheels to hit XBox Live Arcade sometime this Summer.

Domino's Twelve Days of Xbox Prizes

GeekSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:00:09 -0800

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 12, Domino's Pizza will be kicking off the holidays with XII Days of Xbox. Whenever you place an order online at Dominos.com, you will instantly receive Xbox prizes and possibly win a Xbox 360 console as well!

Every order placed online during the "XII Days of Xbox" will receive a 48-hour trial of Xbox LIVE Gold, a service that allows you to connect your console to the Internet and play games online.

Once you place your order, a pop-up window will confirm your order and tell you what prize you have won. Prizes will be shipped within two days of winning to arrive just in time for Christmas!

Love It or Leave It? Blue and Pink Xbox 360 Controllers

GeekSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:30:51 -0700

After learning that a majority of women prefer sleek and sophisticated tech products over feminine and girlie pink products, I'm curious to know how many of you are loving these new Xbox 360 wireless controllers? Featured on Joystiq, these new controllers are set to be released on October 2nd and cost $50 each. With a 30-foot range, up to 40 hours of life and two-way voice communication when connected to the 360, these controllers may boast more than just their good looks.

Number Of Female Gamers Increases

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:30:38 -0700

I've always known that girls love video games. Just ask Ingrid Diaz, who is co-editor of Play Girlz and a self confessed gamer addict. She uses her website to prove there's no such thing as a "girl game" or even "girl gamer" and she does a darn good job. Apparently, Diaz is not alone - recent statistics are slaying the stereotype of teenage boys being the only ones who play video games. In fact, NBC recently reported that Deputy Attorney General Tonya Sapp is one of a growing number of women finding an outlet in the world of video games. Here's more:

"It helps really to relieve stress," said Sapp. "Sometimes I come home, I've had a bad day - you know, I run around the countryside and shoot something to relieve tension. That's really what I like, the shoot-'em-up games."

The story goes on to prove that Sapp isn't alone. Apparently women over 40 actually make up the largest percentage of gamers who play online games. According to the Entertainment Software Association, about 23 percent of gamers are boys under the age of 18. They are easily outnumbered by women over the age of 18 at 30 percent. Watch the news report with Sapp here.

Dance Dance Revolution Helps Combat Obesity in Kids?

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:00:39 -0700

Wired Magazine recently suggested we throw in our gym passes and start up our video consoles for some active gaming, and this week, the New York Times is reporting some schools are using the popular Dance Dance Revolution game to combat childhood obesity. In fact, while some video games have gotten a bad reputation for contributing to the expanding waistlines of the nation’s children, at least several hundred schools in at least 10 states are now using Dance Dance Revolution, or D.D.R., as a regular part of their physical education curriculum. read more Here's more:

Based on current plans, more than 1,500 schools are expected to be using the game by the end of the decade. Born nine years ago in the arcades of Japan, D.D.R. has become a small craze among a generation of young Americans who appear less enamored of traditional team sports than their parents were and more amenable to the personal pursuits enabled by modern technology.

Incorporating D.D.R. into gym class is part of a general shift in physical education, with school districts de-emphasizing traditional sports in favor of less competitive activities.

The trend started after a recent study found that children playing Dance Dance Revolution expended significantly more energy than children watching television and playing traditional video games.

For those of you that aren't in the DDR fanclub yet, I describe it as "karaoke for dancing." The game includes a floormat with built in sensors, which is hooked up to your TV and gaming console. As a song plays, arrows point in one of four directions and the player jumps/dances on them to the beat. You can play by yourself, or with a partner, but either way the movement is similar to doing a ton of jumping jacks and running in place. In fact, if Wired's predictions are correct, 1 hour of Dance Dance Revolution can burn up to 900 calories.

I'll admit, earlier this year my boyfriend's 11-year-old niece Polly challenged me to a DDR competition and within about 10 minutes I was sweating like crazy and afraid I was going to pass out. Let's just say she has a lot more practice than me.

Source