GeneralGames.ca

Recently Microsoft discontinued Xbox Live service for original Xbox consoles and games. There was commentary that the discontinuation would allow the service to evolve ‘new features and experiences that fully harness the community’ with ‘unprecedented flexibility for future features.’ So now, of course, the speculation follows as to what the future of Xbox Live could hold. In fact this speculation can be extended beyond Xbox Live to other online gaming networks and we can attempt to project the trajectory for the industry.

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Thanks to all who entered our little contest, but it looks like time’s up and we have some winners! Of those who entered, I’d like to congratulate Brandon, Garett Oliver, Monica, Dalamornight,Chris Paladino, tehflakes, Shane, Will, Xiantayne, and xxGENEVIEVExx. You are now all entered in the Star Trek Online Beta! Sorry to those that didn’t win, we only had the 10 keys, but be sure to check out Star Trek Online when it drops February 2nd 2010.

Star Trek Online, the newest MMO from Champions Online makers Cryptic Studios has launched in to it’s Closed Beta this week. Lucky for the readers of GeneralGames.ca the developers have been kind enough to spare 10 beta keys for our readers, letting them take command of their own ship and crew right up until the official release on February 2nd 2010. We’ll be giving the beta keys away to 10 lucky random entrants to our contest.

How do you enter? Simply leave a comment below telling us what you’ll name your ship, and why. Also feel free to include a note on what your favourite Star Trek series was. Don’t forget to leave a name and e-mail address we know where to send the code once you win. Names will be pulled on Sunday January 16th 2010, so get your submissions in fast! As always, good luck… Also, live long and prosper!

Jo Clowes, Director of Development on 1 vs 100 was kind enough to sit down with us and answer some questions about the upcoming exclusive Canadian Beta that launches this Friday May 8th at 10:00 PM EST. The game will be available exclusively to all Canadian Xbox Live Gold members and can be found in the dashboard in the brand new Primetime channel later this week.

Almost a year ago Microsoft announced Xbox Live Primetime then went silent about it. There was precious little news about it. Many began wondering if it had died a quiet, lonely, death. Then, late last month it was announced that Canada would be getting an exclusive beta for it and 1 vs 100 would be the first playable title on the new scheduled gaming platform. Yesterday Xbox Canada gave us and other media (including our friends at Toronto Thumbs and NextGen Player) the opportunity to preview this new feature for Xbox Live and tease out a little bit of information. Now that the embargo has lifted we can finally share what we’ve learned.

When Primetime snuck in to the news at the launch of the New Xbox Experience back in November last year, it sounded like the update’s most interesting feature, and 1 vs 100 seemed like an ambitious and unique title to launch. 1 vs 100 pits one player in a trivia gameshow against a mob of 100 players though the Primetime version will accommodate a larger number of simultaneous spectator players that also answer questions. How many? That’s one thing the beta is trying to determine among other things, of course.

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