Last week my Xbox 360 got the dreaded rings of death when I was really looking forward to finishing Condemned 2. I switched it on, started playing and it locked up mid-game. I turned it off, back on again and I got the three red lights which basically means your Xbox is FUBARed - a hardware malfunction thanks to a design fault.

I’d heard rumours that if you can’t be bothered to send it back to Microsoft, you can try to fix it yourself by wrapping your machine in towels for 20 minutes.

The theory is you cover the air vents and make it overheat, thus making it somehow solder the loose connection back together. So, I went to the bathroom, laid my Xbox on the floor and wrapped it up nice and snug. 10 minutes later I checked back and there were only 2 red lights - a promising sign. I waited another 10 minutes, unwrapped the Xbox and held my breath. Would it work? Surely it can’t. I turned it back on and - the green lights rotated and the Xbox logo came on my telly. It was back from the dead! Unfortunately a week later it’s died again so I’m toasting it one more time before sending it back to Microsoft!

And if you don’t believe me, check out the video of the Xbox Towel fix by watching the video version of the podcast - Gamesweasel TV to see this miracle in action.

Tags: Xbox Towel fix, xbox 360 red ring of death

Eidos have announced Gauntlet is coming to the DS later this year. I spent many a minute in the arcades huddled round the four-player machine as a Valkyrie, Elf, Wizard or Barbarian. They promise to revitalise the 80s game with new graphics and I guess you’ll be tapping on the screen with the stylus to shoot or pointing where you want your character to go. There’ll be 40 maps and VoIP so you can chat to your mates as you collect keys, shoot generators and nick food when you really should have left it for your low-on-health mate. And if you fancy a deathmatch, that’s in there too. Can’t wait!

Tags: Gauntlet for the DS, Gauntlet, DS, Gauntlet DS version

Last month my girlfriend and I attended the Play.com live event where thousands of punters came to Wembley Stadium to play the latest videogames. On show were a variety of games for all ages as well as other things happening on stage compared by Iain Lee and the bewildered-looking Gemma Atkinson.

Because I was walking round the event with a camera I didn’t actually get to go on any of the games but I did get to see what was on show and what was playable. The new Soul Calibur was there in force with lots of screens for people kick each other in the face in front of - and people got to gamble themselves silly in aid of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 - win the most chips and you win a holiday to Sin City.

Also available to play was Rock Band. If you can afford it and you have the space you and your mates can play guitar, drums and bass and warble over the top of your favourite tunes.

Not-playable was Ghostbusters which looked cool thanks to the Ray-Parker Junior soundtrack and being able to fight the green blob in the ballroom - nice! Also, what I could see of the Bourne Conspiracy looked pretty cool too.

Upstairs Sony were showing off GT5 prologue with some racing pods. Pity you’ll be playing at home with a non-rumbling Sixaxis pad.

And there was some entertainment. Young girls waited for ages to see a band I never heard of called Saving Aimee, some Vegas showgirls danced and didn’t even get a clap for their troubles, a young lady dressed as a Soul Calibur character didn’t quite know what to do with her sword and Darth Vader looked - shorter than in the films.

It may have been a wet weekend but everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves - if not for the games, then just to be in the warm out of the rain. Be sure to check out the video in episode 42 to see Iain Lee, Gemma Atkinson, Darth Vader and Slimer in the flesh.

Tags: play.com, iain lee, gemma atkinson, Ghostbusters game, Soul Calibur, Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Those of you who liked playing Doctors and Nurses when the DS first came out can get ready for more blood and guts with a new title currently called Trauma Center - Under The Knife 2. Those of you who found it a little too hard will be glad to hear there’s a new mode which will hopefully be called ‘Easy Mode’ and the game will once again feature Dr Stiles and Nurse Angie after they discovered the dreaded GUILT virus from the last game. There’s not much else announced but we’re sure there’ll be new advances in medicine since the last game.

Tags: Trauma Center - Under The Knife 2, Trauma Center, Under The Knife 2

In the final push and shove to the release of what’s probably going to be the biggest game of the year, Rockstar are releasing their final trailer online for all to see at 10pm tonight. You can also get it on Xbox Live if previous trends continue.

We’re not sure exactly what it will show but it’ll probably be another mix of geezers waving guns at each other, shouting, driving cars and shooting people.

And if you fancy getting yourself 1000 free Microsoft points, pre-order your game at HMV.co.uk, you’ll also get a voucher booklet saving you a further £130 off selected items in-store.

Got new news on Guitar Hero for the ever-better DS. Apparently the game will deliver a unique Guitar Hero experience by challenging handheld gamers to rock out and prove their shredding skills on the most diverse set list of master tracks ever offered in a Guitar Hero game, including classic rock, alternative and pop favorites such as Nirvana, OK Go and No Doubt.

The game will be packaged with a Guitar Grip peripheral that fits snugly into the DS and a unique Guitar Hero pick-stylus that brings a new dimension to handheld gaming and the core gameplay that defines Guitar Hero. Guitar Hero: On Tour has been designed specifically for the DS platform and will offer the DS audience an all-new compelling music experience. It will probably be lost of fun but you may look very weird on public transport though - almost as sad as that girl on the DS advert who asks if her dog wants its belly rubbed on a packed bus!