Instructions On How To Play AVI Files on 360

Just recently ive had a few posts and e-mails regarding on how to play AVI/DIVX files through the 360, as i mentioned in the post that NOT ALL AVI/DIVX files are supported, the files will appear, but will have "NO SMOKING" type of sign next to the file that won't play.

Not only that some files that DO play may have to be buffered every few minutes, this depends on how the file was encoded.

But for the files that do work, here is a set of instructions on how to play them on your console:

1) Download The latest Dashboard Update

2) Insert a DVD/CD that have AVI Files on them.

3) Go to the "Media Dashboard"

4) Select Videos

6) Press X, to choose a different source (in this case the mixed media CD/DVD)

7) Select a file to play and it will ask you to install the "optional media update", download it and install it, then it will retry playing the avi file.

*NOTE* Not all AVI/ DivX files are supported.

New 360 Update Plays DivX / AVI Files

Last Wednesday (maybe earlier) saw the release of the new XBOX LIVE Dashboard update, the main features are:

* Marketplace Re-vamped with new sections and new style
* New Friends Viewing List
* Original Xbox Games for Download (cost 1,200 Microsoft Points)

i won't dig too much into the details, since the update is available now and ready for you to download, HOWEVER what i will point out is that the xbox 360 can now play AVI files (also known as DivX).

You Do have to download the "Optional Media Update" which lets you play AAC / MP4 Files (if you have already download this, download it again), however you only see this appear when you try playing an AVI/AAC/MP4 File.

I inserted a DVD-R (Data Disc) with a few AVI Trailers, after going to the MEDIA Dashboard and pressing the "X" button (to choose a different source) i selected the DVD-R, it listed the AVI Files, so i opened one up, it then asked me to download the "Optional Media Update" which i did. After finishing the download it started to play the file.

Not sure which DivX types/Codecs are supported, but the files i tried (and some fan-sub anime) all worked fine and looked great running through a HD Source.

Sunday Surprise...TIME CRISIS 4!

Its a Sunday Mourning (well sunday evening now), and there is only one thing i hate about sundays (2 if im working it), and that is i do not get any post on sunday.

Well that was until today. at around 12pm i got a knock on the door, it was royal mail delivery a large parcel, that was sent from america. yep thats right, i got a big parcel by royal mail on a sunday!

But whats even better is that inside the package was "TIME CRISIS 4", my favourite arcade game, now ported to the PS3 and in HD-Graphics, with even more crisis missions, mini-games and a extra story mode, also known as the Guncon FPS mode.

To Begin with you get 2 small square boxes (the sensors) which sit (nicely) on top of your tv, unlike the 3rd party companies in japan, these work rather well and are very effective (espically in trigger happy situations). Next is the bright orange gun, called Guncon 3, love it or hate it, but i love it!, there is weight to it (abit less than the arcade gun) and even though it has half of a PS controller sticking out at the end, it doesn't get in the way and feels great.

In other words, i had my doubts about the Guncon 3 being comfortable or heavy, but it looks like Namco (Bandai Namco Games, as they are known now) have done it right again.

I've been playing this game on my newly purchased 42" Panasonic Plasma (yes it is in my bedroom) and i ended up playing ARCADE MODE twice (with both characters, as you can now choose who you want to play as) and i even took a quick dip into the new STORY MODE (aka Guncon FPS mode).

STORY MODE (Guncon FPS Mode) works extremely well (surprised me alot) and it would be great for future PS3 FPS games to use the Guncon 3, as it does add more realism and fun to the game, what i even found good about the GUNCON FPS mode, is that instead of it being all Captain Rush and in FPS it dips in with the ARCADE MODE of the game. The 1st Level in STORY MODE you play as Captain rush (in FPS Mode) running around the docks and warehouse district, then after a few cut-scenes, it starts the PROLOGUE and STAGE 1 from ARCADE MODE (where you play as the VSSE agents), after finishing STAGE 1 you are now Captain Rush again in FPS Mode. This part of jumping between ARCADE and FPS is really good, as the FPS levels can take (at maxium) an hour to beat. Not only that it auto-saves your progress after each chapter (and when you end your game it asks you to save it again)

Alot Of Effort has been put into this game and it really does shine through, the new ideas work and its still fun to play ARCADE MODE over and over again. Overall this has to be my favourite PS3 Game (2nd would have to be Uncharted).

Time Crisis 4 is now available in USA for around $89.99, and is scheduled for release in UK on 28th March 2008, with a retail price of around £79.99