Update : RB6 Vegas Black Pack problems

Major Nelson came through with an answer to the mystery today. Apparently it was supposed to be free, and should be free and available as of now. Anyone who paid for the Black Pack already should get a refund within 8 to 10 weeks.

He also announced that the Red Pack will be free now. Wtg cheapskates and broke bastards.

Black Pack first impressions

Streets - Redux is almost identical to the original Streets. There are really only 2 differences.
1) It is night time, making the topside much darker which will give people sprinting across the open yard a little better chance of avoiding instant death.
2) The cannister deposits for retrieval are now on the corners of each porch. I think this will change the strat from "nade the deposit" to "snipe the depositor".

Wartown is huge-gantic. Ridiculously large. I don't think it will be enjoyable with a room of less than 14.

Red Lotus is busy. Kinda small but it has 3 levels with lots of places to hide. Usable for small, medium and large rooms.

Presidio is small with lots of places to take cover from and hide behind. Even small rooms will find lots of action here. The map is really too small for a full room though and people will be stepping all over each other.

Neon Graveyard is fun. It is medium sized but the layout and placement of retrieval deposits and the package really forces confrontation.

Overall I like the Black Pack much better than the Red Pack so far. Don't expect to find a whole lot of rooms to join using the new packs though. It was demonstrated by the Red Pack that RB6 Vegas players in general are a bunch of broke bastards or cheapskates and are not willing to shell out the moolah on the new maps.

RB6 Vegas Black Pack problems

After being available for purchase and download for a couple/few hours on the Marketplace last night, the Black Pack magically disappeared and was not available. There is a lot of speculation regarding why but I have heard nothing definitive. Larry Hryb, Xbox Live Director of Programming, mentioned on his Major Nelson blog only: "This has been pulled. I’ll let you know when it makes a return."

Meanwhile, our very own FilmMan started a thread on the xbox forums in which someone called m$ and got information from support saying that the maps will be available again today with the issues fixed (although I don't know what the issues are).

New R6:V downloadable content

New Vegas maps ninjaed onto the scene today. I say ninjaed because usually stuff like this is well known in advance and well covered when it happens, but all I saw today was a little blip from ars gaming and I had to go to the xbla marketplace to see for myself.

Anyway, we have Streets - Redux, 3 new maps, and a map from Rainbow Six 3. If I remember to, I will post again with my impressions.

Control

This interview with RV6 mlg pro team Control gives us some insight into competitive play on Vegas. It also gives me an itchy trigger finger.

Halo 3 Alternate Reality Game

Remember ilovebees for Halo 2? Like Rogue mentioned on the forums, the yet unnamed(afaik) ARG for Halo 3 getting under way.

New heat sinks showing up in repaired 360s

Some 360s that have been coming back repaired by M$ lately have been sporting a new heat sink. Speculation is that the new heat sinks are there to combat the red ring of death problems that lots and lots of people have been reporting. M$ has never been very forthcoming with comments regarding red rings of death and they are similarly mum on the heat sinks too, neither confirming nor denying that the heat sinks have anything to do with RRoD problems.

Shake that post beta depression

Xbox LIVE is running a Halo 2 Challenge. Registration starts on June 7 and ends on June 25, 2007. Online Tournament from June 11 through July 25, 2007.

Come on, it's not like you Halo freaks have anything better to do. Represent.

H3 Complete medals list

Assault games

Bomb Plant! Plant the bomb in Assault.

Killed Bomb Carrier! Kill an opponent bomb carrier in Assault.

Beat downs

Assassin! Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack from behind.

Beat Down! Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack.

Capture The Flag games

Flag Kill! Get a melee kill with the flag.

Flag Score! Score the flag in Capture The Flag.

Killed Flag Carrier! Kill the opponent flag carrier in Capture The Flag.

Multiple Kills

Double Kill! Kill 2 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Triple Kill! Kill 3 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Overkill! Kill 4 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtacular! Kill 5 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtrocity! Kill 6 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killamanjaro! Kill 7 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtastrophe! Kill 8 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killapocalypse! Kill 9 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killionaire! Kill 10 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Spree kills

Killing Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row without dying.

Killing Frenzy! Kill 10 opponents in a row without dying.

Running Riot! Kill 15 opponents in a row without dying.

Rampage! Kill 20 opponents in a row without dying.

Untouchable! Kill 25 opponents in a row without dying.

Invincible! Kill 30 opponents in a row without dying.

Shotgun Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.

Open Season! Kill 10 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.

Sniper Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.

Sharpshooter! Kill 10 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.

Sword Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with a sword without dying.

Slice 'N Dice! Kill 10 opponents in a row with a sword without dying

Splatter Spree! Splatter 5 opponents in a row with a vehicle without dying.

Vehicular Manslaughter! Splatter 10 opponents in a row with a vehicle without dying.

Juggernaut Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.

Unstoppable! Kill 10 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.

Hail to the King! Kill 5 opponents in a row from inside the hill before it moves.

Oddball Games

Oddball Kill! Kill an opponent with the oddball.

Other medals

Death from the Grave! Kill an opponent after you have died.

Grenade Stick! Kill an opponent by sticking them with a sticky or brute grenade.

Killjoy! End an opponent's killing spree - any spree.

Perfection! Win a slayer game with a score of 15 kills or more without dying.

Extermination! Get an overkill on an opposing team that results in all of the team being dead.

Bulltrue! Killed an opponent in the act of a Energy Sword lunge.

Vehicle Medals

Wheelman! Be the driver of a vehicle when a passenger kills an opponent.

Highjacker! Highjack an opponents vehicle.

Splatter! Hit and kill an opponent with a vehicle.

Skyjacker! Board an aircraft.

VIP Games

Killed VIP! Kill an opponent's VIP in a VIP game.

Juggernaut Games

Killed Juggernaut! Kill the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game.

Weapon Medals

Sniper Kill! Kill an opponent with a Sniper Rifle or the Beam Rifle.

Laser Kill! Get an opponent with the Spartan Laser.

Meet Halo 3's first General

This guy has 50's and over 20,000 kills.