Fall Xbox 360 Update: Full Games for Download

The UK website CVG is reporting that the scheduled December 2nd release of this fall’s Dashboard update for Microsoft’s XBox 360 will include the ability to download and play full games for the original Xbox.

The service, dubbed Xbox Originals, will be available to Xbox Live members for 1200 Microsoft points, which translates to about $15.

Zune Software and Firmware Updates Available

Zune Software

If you’re an owner of the first generation of Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player, you’ll probably want to head to the download page for today’s big launch of the updated software. After a year of using the original software, the latest version is faster and easier to use. It also includes support for podcasts, a missing feature critics have often pointed to.

The software also includes a nice bonus for owners of the original 30GB hardware in the form of a firmware update that will put the same software running on the newly released second generation Zunes, providing much of the same features on the existing equipment.

If you’re looking into purchasing a new Zune, CNet has video reviews of both the new 80GB and flash-based 4GB models, which they seem to like.

Halloween 2007 at the Meister House

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This year’s Trick or Treat event at the Meister House was our biggest yet, with over 200 kids visiting our Halloween display. Like most years, we had a steady stream of people coming for the first time only to come back later in the evening to bring friends and family back to see all we’ve setup over the last few weeks.

The streets in the area were filled with people for much of the night, resulting in our newest neighbors running out of candy, making a quick trip to buy more, then running out again all over the three hours the city officially recognizes for the night. We had an oversized bowl of candy, as well as several others around the garage area, all of which were empty by the end.

Our two biggest additions this year, Jason and Joe, went over extremely well with both the kids and adults. We joked that next year, we’re investing in high speed photo printers and digital cameras so that we can charge people to have pictures taken, much like the amusement parks do.

Zack & Wiki: Puzzler for the Wii

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One of the biggest complaints I have about my Nintendo Wii is the fact that most of the 3rd party games that have come out since the console’s launch have been little more than hastily created mini-game compilations.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure may have a clunky title, but it does make up for it with gameplay. The game is a puzzle point and click adventure that can be extremely challenging once you progress through the levels.

If anything, the cutesy characters, harmless storyline and wacky name may be a downside for a game that is possibly more difficult than the age group the art design seems to be targeting. But for adults, the challenge available after the first few levels will keep them interested and satisfy them with the “aha!” moments as they work their way through them.

The Wii control scheme feels like it fits the game, rather than merely being an add-on gimmick, though there are some non-essential mini-games available within the normal levels that will make you want to skip them immediately due to issues with controller lag. However, the motion sensing works fine for the regular game, so it’s not a game killer.