Section: Blogs

Xbox Dad of the Year contest on Xbox.com

May 29, 2007 1 min.

Hey kids… if you have a gaming dad, then get going on those essays… and Dads, if you are reading this… you might want to just start hinting and sending this link to your kids! Xbox Dad of the Year Contest

Using the Xbox to Twitter app? Please update your client….

May 27, 2007 1 min.

Ok, ok…. so I should have built-in an auto-update, ClickOnce would have been easy enough…. but anyway…. I’ve added many features to the Xbox to Twitter application, including support for only updating when the title being played changes, not showing popups and even a preview of what your twitter updates will look like once they are combined with your template. To update, uninstall the client using your Control Panel then click on the install link and reinstall.

Put up a REST API for Xbox Gamertag Data

May 27, 2007 1 min.

My twitter app uses a web service hosted on my site to get all the necessary Xbox Live info…. way more than the twitter app actually uses. This is a SOAP API, located here: http://duncanmackenzie.net/services/XboxInfo.asmx I know that some people prefer a more RESTful API though, so I also have another ‘page’ that you can call with a straight GET request and just pass the gamertag in as a query string parameter:

Shrek 3 column up on xbox.com

May 23, 2007 1 min.

I’ve done up another ‘Xbox Dad’ column, this one about yet another movie-related game (what’s up with that… did all the game makers get together and plan this, or is it just a summer thing?)…. Shrek the Third. At the Movies with Shrek the Third

Great blog/site on ‘cool tools’

May 14, 2007 1 min.

Stirs PB with less mess I found this today, and I just couldn’t stop reading through it. I would normally say I’m not really into tools, but I guess I am: Kevin Kelly — Cool Tools a sample entry: Peanut Butter Mixer Stirs PB with less mess We like natural peanut butter, but hate the initial stirring mess.

Connect your Xbox 360 Gamertag to Twitter

May 11, 2007 3 min.

UPDATE: I’ve updated this application since the original version, addressing most of the ‘known issues’ listed below hey folks, the first version of my xbox to twitter app is done (at least done enough to share!) … Install the .NET Framework 2.0 (if you don’t have it) Install the app Run it (from the “Duncan Mackenzie” folder in your Start Menu) Right click the little ‘twitter’ icon on your notification area, pick Settings … enter in your Twitter Email Address Twitter Screen Name Twitter Password Gamertag check “Updates Enabled” Click OK to save these settings…

Halo 2 on Vista interview up on 10

May 9, 2007 1 min.

Halo 2 on Vista: We’ve got the new maps, features and achievements Posted by Tina Wood today at 8:40 AM Halo 2 is officially coming to Vista. It is shipping to retailers on May 22nd. I sit down with Jo Clowes from Hired Gun to talk about new features, new maps and what we can expect from Halo 2 on Vista. We bring you all the cool visuals. Jo talks to us about some of the achievements you can earn for both single player and multi-player.