New Xbox 360 Dashboard Coming May 7!!

Looks like a May 7th system update for the Xbox 360 will bring major updates to the the system’s Dashboard. Video was leaked by Gamespot, so the source seems solid.

I am a little dissappointed by the fact that everything Microsoft is doing for the Xbox 360 is focused around being online in Xbox Live. About 60% of the time I use my 360, I am not connected to the internet. So, where’s the system updates that bring new features for the offline users? What are your thoughts?

New features are:

• 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts for your friends list
• Contact list will integrate Windows Live Messenger and show joinable session status
• Messenger contacts see what game you’re playing and gamertag
• Marketplace has own blade, skin will change independent from theme
• Users will now see what achievement they’ve unlocked onscreen
• Low-power download mode followed by auto-shutdown
• Watch partially downloaded video files

Welcome to Gamer’s Grotto!

Hello and welcome to Gamer’s Grotto. A place for casual gamers to get news, info, and whatever else I find interesting. All things gaming.

I am not a professional.  I work 40 hour weeks, have 2 kids and a wife, and enjoy video games very much.  I grow tired of reading reviews and news from professionals.  What does their opinion mean to me?  I have enjoyed countless throughout the years that have received bad reviews and negative comments.  So, instead of feeding more of what you read all the time, I’ll try to give you my own opinions, and hopefully you will give me the same back.

So, enjoy your stay, speak your mind, and come back soon.  This is going to be fun for gamers of all sorts.

Alienware Gaming Desktops Now Equipped with 1 TerraByte Hard Drives

Check out the whole story Here

Hardcore PC gamers can now upgrade a new Alienware 51-m gaming desktop with a 1 terrabyte hard drive. The drive is made by Hitachi, and costs about $500 to add the upgrade. These drives can hold a killer 16 days (not hours) worth of DVD quality video or two years worth of continuous music.

So, all you gamers who insist on keeping every game you own installed with 30 gigs of music to fill your Ipod and more pirated movies than a Taiwan Wal-Mart can store it all with 500 gigs to spare!

Check out Alienware’s full line of gaming specific desktops and notebooks

Peter Molyneux Reveals Exciting Details of Fable 2!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

If you managed to sit through all three parts of Molyneux’s presentation, it’s pretty exciting stuff. It’s always great to watch videos of him since he’s so passionate about his work. I never would have believed that game developers actually enjoy the games more than the people they develop the games for.

I enjoyed the first one very much, even though it disappointed me in the end. And The Lost Chapters really rounded things off for me. And I know there are people out there that will disagree with me, but oh well. This sequel seems like it will be everything that everyone expected from the first Fable.

As for the features, I’m really looking forward to this sequel. The dog seems like a very cool idea, if they can pull it off that is. I love a good RPG that pulls at my emotions (we all remember when Sephiroth slayed Aeris at the end of disc 1 in Final Fantasy VII, right?). And being a father myself, I know that feeling when my children rush me as I walk through the door after work. If this game can re-create those kind of feelings, then this game will be one of the top Xbox 360 releases.

Keep an eye on Fable 2, expecially Peter Molyneux. He loves to reveal information, even when he’s not supposed to. There’s still no release date, but I say that’s a good thing. The first Fable was rushed and released prematurely, and that was probably due to pressure to make a deadline. I would much rather them keep the deadline open-ended and take all the time they need to make this game the best it can possibly be. What do you think?