Holy. Crap.

The very first Microsoft store opened this day in Scottsdale, Arizona. I ran over to check it out and we’ll have more on that a tiny later today, but there’s one story that I’m sure will interest all of the 360 owners out there who have ever had an issue with console failure (i.e. most of us). MS is taking some of the injured out of the repairs process by allowing for in-store repair service.

Microsoft stores will be equipped to handle some basic repair tasks. All you’ve to do is walk in the store with your console, drop it off at the Answers Desk and a Microsoft Store employee will then diagnose the issue that you’re having. If it’s something simple — such as a faulty power supply causing the Red Ring of Death — they’ll rectify the situation immediately.

If it has to be shipped out, however, things are just about as awesome. Once the store has received your console, the main distribution center is notified and a replacement unit can be sent right away.

Yeah, it’s only any good if there’s a Microsoft Store in your area, but it’s exactly the way this sort of thing should be handled. I really have to give them credit for this one. Come back a tiny later for a closer look at the Microsoft Store.

Via Destructoid

Valve has been appealing a decision by the Australian rating board to refuse an MA15+ classification for Left 4 Dead 2, effectively banning the zombie sequel in the country. Valve has a heavily censored game rated and ready to go, but was hoping to make Australia’s authorities see sense and allow the real game to get into the hands of Australian hands. No dice, unfortunately, as the board has rejected the appeal.

It appears as if a top-tier Siren skill in Borderlands is about as useful as a Claptrap is while on its square ass, spewing sparks about and such. MTV Multiplayer points out that Phase Strike — a melee attack that can be used during Phase Walk — isn’t delivering the wicked level of damage that its description promises, even when the skill is maxed to the highest level. A bummer, right?

Right. But the sorta good news is that Gearbox knows there’s a problem. In an official message board thread Gearbox designer MongooseDog admitted as much, saying “We’ve been doing some investigation into Phase Strike and it does not appear to be working as intended.”

He didn’t recommend Gearbox would fix the problem, but we’re guessing the company that fixed the PS3-specific PSN issue within days of launch won’t have a problem slinging an update or two to consumers in the near future.

Just as a note, distraught Siren people: the Beserker’s punching skills work just fine. In fact, I didn’t even know there were three other characters in the game. I’ve been too busy running up on dudes and pummeling faces — or third testicles — until something pops and showers my character in a spray of glorious gore.

Via Destructoid

What better way to promote a game than to feature porn stars! Ron Jeremy, Krissy Lynn and Andy San Dimas star in this ad where Ron Jeremy has to settle a fairytale fight between the two female porn stars. The ad then goes on to tell us nothing useful about the game at all.

I mean, cool, boobs! That’s just not going to be enough to get the average consumer to pick this game up. Or maybe it will. Boobs are a powerful thing after all.

Fairytale Fights will be out on October 27 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Check out our preview to see what it’s all about.

It’s crazy to think how most if not all of us have stopped talking about Shadow Complex as if it no longer exists. It just goes to show, even one of the year’s greatest download-only releases is no match for the high amount of excellent games we see come out around this time. There simply isn’t enough time for all of them.

Russ over at MTV Multiplayer is keeping the Shadow Complex conversation alive with the help of Chair co-founder Donald Mustard, who recently stated the team is “definitely working on things.”

“I’m just not going to tell you what it is … we’re still evaluating in the design phase.” No kidding? The studio is trying to figure out the best route to take, which could include creating downloadable content, but almost certainly means expanding the company’s size.

Mustard says he wouldn’t want to limit Chair to any one platform, genre, or delivery method for the next project, which raises all sorts of questions. Where do you guys want to see them go from here? Is there any one type of game you think Chair ought to take into account creating next?

Via Destructoid

Since it seems like we gave Microsoft crap every single time a $15 Xbox LIVE Arcade game was put out — even if the game was worthy of that price — let me take this chance to say wow, there sure have been quite a few $10 releases as of late. Good show, gentlemen.

This week’s games are Panzer General: Allied Assault and Tower Bloxx Deluxe, and yup, both are going to run you 800 MS Points. The former is essentially a board/card game in the form of a turned-based strategy, while the latter, well, let me get back to you on that.

Alright. So, Tower Bloxx Deluxe was previously found on Personal computer as well as mobile phones, and like so many others, it’s ended up on XBLA. Some commenters have spoken of its addictiveness before — perhaps it’s worth watching. The same could probably said for Allied Assault, I think.

Via Destructoid

EA and Double Fine’s Brutal Legend is available in stores, but that doesn’t mean the marketing for the pseudo-RTS/open world action game is toast. In fact, there’s still one demographic — a veritable gold mine — that needs to be exploited. We’re speaking about ladies. And wouldn’t you know it? That’s the target of the above video.

Any rational woman goes gaga over Jack Black. That’s a fact. Double it whenever the man appears on camera in a robe. I bet my grandmother, if she knew what a personal was, would be absolutely all over this game now. That is, if she knew what a videogame was. Or had the capacity to remember where she put her teeth the night previous.

Via Destructoid

Blarg. I already look at the cost of Xbox Live as a bill, just like my utilities or phone bill. And now I’m hearing one analyst state that he anticipates it to increase? What next? Interest rate hike?

Maybe I’m throwing it out of proportion. But a price hike is in the cards, he says. In the most current episode of Game Trailers’ Bonus Round, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated that “we all know” that the price of Live is going to increase to help MS drive profits.

“You really want to hook every gamer who has a 360, you want them to buy all their games on 360, play everything multiplayer, pay you 50 bucks a year so that, in a couple years, it’s a 100 bucks a year,” Pachter said on the show.

“And that’s going up, we all know that … it’s a profit deal.”

Well, sh*t. I didn’t know that. Did you guys know that?

[via CVG]

Via Destructoid

In advance of Assassin’s Creed II’s release, Ubisoft plans to roll out a three-part short film series, called collectively Assassin’s Creed: Lineage, that explores a bit of the game’s background. The first of those films is now available above this text stuff. It’s a live action thing, created by Hybride Technologies, the studio behind the visual effects of the motion picture 300. Full of quick cuts, concise dialogue, more swift cuts, and even a dash of gore, it’s quite the one-minute spectacle. Not exactly on par with the ODST stuff we saw, but it’s close.

And here’s some confirmation: Ezio is a chip off the old block. This film, and the two subsequent ones, will revolve around Ezio’s daddy, Giovanni Auditore da Firenze. He’s an assassin like his son whom the second game actually stars. As such, daddy Ezio has a knack for killing people in explosive ways — violent and terrible, throat-slashing kind of ways made even cooler by the 300-style visual effects, we should note.

Via Destructoid