Microsoft and the Xbox 360 made their presence felt at the 10th Campus Party that took place at the Valencia International Trade Fair. The folks at Overpal.com joined the fun-filled event and took some videos and posted them at YouTube.com - just so we wouldn't miss the explosive demo of the freeform urban action game Crackdown.

Crackdown is an Xbox 360-exclusive game developed by Real Time Worlds led by Dave Jones, the creative mind behind Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings.




Video number one shows the game trailer, the user interface, as well as glimpses of maps and control keys. Check out the firearms and explosives! Video number two is even more interesting. When the developers said that the game will make use of a new style of cel shading, well, there it is!



Microsoft also showed off its Xbox Live Vision Camera with help from the video game incarnation of the classic card game UNO. Back in May, the first "Camera Enabled" game was released even though the camera is still not available to the public.



Of course, a Microsoft Xbox 360 show just wouldn't be complete without Halo. Here, we take an inside look at the making of Halo 3.

   

The Xeno 360 Connectivity Kit allows gamers to back up files from the Xbox 360 HDD to a PC without the hassle of opening the case. This comes really handy in case you have to send your console for repair. Its Optical Disc Drive Adapter (ODD) features a Debug mode that allows it to be recognized in Windows/Linux with no special software requirement. It also has a Status LED and an Eject Function.

The Xeno 360 Connectivity Kit comes bundled with the following:

• Xeno SATA HD Connection for Xbox 360
• SATA-SATA cable
• High quality SATA HDD connection

Now that you know what it is, click on the thumbs to see the big pics! If you like what you're seeing, you can get the Xeno 360 Connectivity Kit for around $19 at Extreme-Mods.

We cover the length and breadth of Naon, and submit to you our findings

Elveon is a title that gamers have kind of ignored, for whatever reason, maybe because it's not Gears of War, or Mass Effect, or Lost Planet, however, having seen the game in action behind closed doors at E3, we can tell you here and now that Elveon could very well be something quite special when it hits next year.

We've pooled our resources here at QJ to come up with every scrap of info we have on the game in order to present this glimpse into 10tacle Studios Epic Elvish action RPG.

Read the full article right after the jump!

Team Xtender is at again with yet another case mod for all of you Xbox 360 fanatics out there. The XCM 360 Full case with the ruby red Euro LED set is soon going to be released from these amazing modders, and in the mean time they have provided us with two amazing looking pictures. As the title of the product suggests, this full case mod features a lit up Euro symbol on the side of your console and is definitely a must have for all of you currency lovers out there. While no pricing information or definite availability details have been revealed yet, you can expect to see these on the market relatively soon. Also, be sure to check out their XCM Chrome Xbox 360 Controller Case too!

  

Team Xecuter have revealed more information on their upcoming Xbox360 HDD/DVD to PC USB Converter. If you've never heard of it before, the Team Xecuter HDD/DVD to PC USB connector allows you to connect your Xbox360's Hard drive and DVD drive to a USB port on the back of your PC and use it. The devices are both recognized by Windows as plug and play devices and will use USB 2.0 for super fast file transfer with speeds up to 480 mbps.

Here's what the HDD/DVD to PC USB converter has to offer:

• World's First Xbox 360 HDD & DVD to USB Converter
• Backup HDD Game Saves
• Update DVD Firmware: You can now read and write to your DVD drives firmware chip. Get the latest updates to keep your drive running at its peak performance, no more SATA frustrations and incompatibilities.
• Portable: X360 USB does not require the XBOX to be powered while in use. You can detach the Xbox 360 HDD & DVD and connect directly to your USB port (DVD Powered by Xecuter 360 Connectivity Kit). The X360 USB is the first and only device in the world that converts both the Xbox 360 HDD & DVD to USB
• No Sata? No Problem! Will also work for PC Sata drives to use them on your PC if it lacks Sata ports, or no ports are available.
• Extremely Compact
• Clearly Visible LED's: Power, Activity, and Status LED's clearly visible on top of the unit.
• SS Dumper tool: Dump X360 Disc SS's with appropriate firmware flashed DVD's.
• All Cables Included

The only problem is that  this version of the device currently only supports Hitachi-LG Optical Disc, but you can expect the Xecuter X360 HDD/DVD to PC USB converter to hit stores in about 4 weeks time.

You've gazed your eyes on the classy Black Knight, the shining-shimmering gold delux, the crystal clear case...I could go on and on about Team Xtender's conquest in the pursuit of pimping your 360. But Team Xtender isn't running out of tricks yet because recently, they announced that their XCM 360 Full Chrome Case is now available. This one will look good with another Team Xtender creation, the Full Chrome Controller Shell.

If you think that chrome only looks good as Hummer or SUV mags, well you better change that mindset because it could also add some unique and even classy touches of individuality to your 360. Indeed, chrome goes best with ultimate machines. The guys over at Team Xtender would also like to tell you that the aforementioned “X” cut XCM 360 Black Knight Limited Edition is now also available with 3 LED colours: Blue, Red and Green.

Back in May, LED Fader 360 was introduced to us by pablot. To those who've missed its debut, the LED Fader is a small and simple mod that makes your Xbox 360's Ring of Light (ROL) fade in and out in a "breathing fashion" while the console is off (very similar to what Macs' operation-lights do when they're in sleep mode). It's fairly easy to make as there's no need for extra components. It will simply connect to a few points on the RF-board to make the LEDs fade.

For an even brighter mod, you can connect up to 10 additional LEDs that will fade in sync with the front ring of light. When you turn the system on, the ROL will stop fading and the system will go back to its normal self. The 10 additional LEDs will also stop fading and turn on solid. Sickmods.net offers the schematics and the source code for $10.  Here's what it looks like when installed:

It may not mean much to some Xbox 360 gamers, but it sure is a big hit with modders. Xboxexpert installed the LED Fader 360 on his watercooled Xbox 360 and now we get the chance to see the LED Fader in action:

Here's a great job opportunity for those of you who are in-game animators, level designers, motion editors and network programmers:

"We are looking for talented network programmers. Candidates will have considerable experience writing high and low level network code across a variety of systems and be able to demonstrate fluent C++ programming skills."

This announcement by Rockstar North, developers of the Grand Theft Auto series, has led to speculation that their next release, Grand Theft Auto IV, will be an MMORPG. Since Rockstar has a partnership with Washington-based Microsoft, it is apparent that there will be some kind of online aspect to this game, delivering content through the XBox Live service. Extra network programmers may also be involved in delivering this through Sony Online.

Or...maybe it's just going to be like World of Warcraft with car jacking and hookers.

We have already talked about Team Xecuter's Connectivity Kits which will enable its future users to transfer files from your 360 hard drive to your PC without removing the HDD case. Essentially, these kits will allow you to hook up your Xbox 360's hard drive and DVD drive up to your PC for development purposes. Now, here are some nice pics of Team Xecuter's Connectivity Kit that will make you wanna buy one of these bad boys!

The package includes:
* Optical Disc Drive Adapter (ODD)
- Button to eject/close the DVD tray
- Button to switch to debug mode (or 'modeb' (the Hitachi will be recognised in Windows in this mode, the Toshiba-Samsung not (yet)
- FW Status (normal(green)/debug(red)) and Power (light blue) LED
- Power via standard PC 4-pin molex
- Comes with its own power/eject cable, so you don't have to use the one in the Xbox360

* Xecuter SATA HD Connection for Xbox 360
- Effortlessly transfer files from your 360 hard drive to your PC without
opening up the HDD-case!
- Power can come from USB or a normal PC 4-pin molex power connector
- Data is via SATA only
- Adapter is designed so you can't plug-in the adapter the wrong way (inverse power/data pins)

 

So you think that chrome only refers to those amazing looking mags in those high-end SUVs, luxury cars and muscle vehicles ey? Well apparently, if you apply some chrome action in an Xbox 360 controller, you're in for a really nice treat! Team X-Tender recently came up with a Full Chrome Controller Shell. So now you could add a dash of chrome to your 360, looks good to me.

You can amp up your beloved gaming console with this one. And for added kicks, this accessory will also come with a LED set that would light up that controller of yours. Cool! According to the guys over at Team Xtender, the case in the picture is for the wired Xbox 360 controller, they also have a wireless version available, the picture for that is something you'd just have to look forward to in the coming days!