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Clever Xbox Live User Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion (or 625,000,000,000 MS Points)
Some cletus down in Arkansas opines that Microsoft has to pay him $500 billion because it didn’t answer, in writing, a mailing designed to not get a written response to his demands for $500 billion. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is your source for all the fun, courtesy of a federal civil complaint filed Monday by one…
By Owen Good -
360 Cases Now a Matte Finish Going Forward, Microsoft Clarifies
Earlier it was reported that a matte finish was coming to the Xbox 360 250GB hard drive configuration, and that is indeed true, but some construed that to mean the glossy case still would be in production. It ain’t. Matte 250GB slims will arrive on shelves in the coming weeks, writes the Xbox community manager…
By Owen Good -
Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Microsoft of Double-Billing Xbox Live Subscriptions
Microsoft must defend its Xbox Live billing policies in a class action lawsuit filed this week in Indiana. Plaintiff Ryan Graves says he was double-charged for a subscription under “vague and onerous terms of use” for the console service membership. Graves says that his Xbox Live subscription lapsed when he didn’t update his credit card…
By Owen Good -
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Kinect Fun Labs Adding “Air Band” Soon
Kinect Fun Labs, the free-to-download toys for Xbox Live Arcade (and Kinect) that have delivered optimized avatar generation and zany object animation (but not advanced penis recognition heuristics) look to be joined by an air-band application getting you and your friends in on a pantomime jam session. Germany’s ratings board has passed judgment on “Air…
By Owen Good -
The Xbox 360 Has a Hidden Solution to Your Nintendo 3DS Screen Woes
If you own (and use) a Nintendo 3DS, you’ve probably noticed that the system’s top screen can get marked up and scratched rather easily, just by closing and carrying it around for the sake of Street Passing. Nintendo has recommended that 3DS owners place a cloth between the screens to prevent any damage, but some…
By Jen Schiller -
The Hand That Guides the Gears of War Universe
In 2006 when science fiction author Karen Traviss’ editor asked her if she wanted to do a military video game tie-in novel, it was the first she’d heard of Epic Games’ Gears of War. Today she’s responsible for the entire fictional universe, steering the adventure of Marcus Fenix and company to its inevitable conclusion and…
By Mike Fahey -
Xbox Live Deal of the Week: Lose the Stupid Gamertag
You know that gamertag you’ve been sporting the past few years, the one with the letters replaced with numbers because someone else had the same name idea first? You should change it now, while it’s cheap. This week’s Deal of the Week on Xbox Live is the ability to change your gamertag for only 560…
By Mike Fahey -
Sitting on Your Ass Playing Halo for 12 Hours: The Silent Killer
Chris Staniforth was standing outside of a jobs center, awaiting an interview, when he dropped a pack of chewing gum. When he reached to pick it up, he began to spasm. In moments, he was dead. Actual cause of death: pulmonary embolism as a result of deep vein thrombosis. Proximate cause of death: Playing his…
By Owen Good -
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You Know What Kinectimals Needs? Bears
Kinect launch title Kinectimals was a fine showcase for Microsoft’s motion-sensing technology, but it was all about cat. They should have just called it Kinecticats. This problem, like many others, has been fixed via liberal application of bears. Five bears, to be exact: Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Cinnamon Bear, Polar Bear, and Glacier Bear. These…
By Mike Fahey -
Behold the Sleek and Sexy New Xbox 360 Bluetooth Headset and Media Remote
Last year Microsoft updated the white and clunky original Xbox 360 with the slim model, a slick black beast of a gaming console. Suddenly peripherals for the old system looked like ass in comparison. Today Microsoft fixes that, introducing the gorgeous new Xbox 360 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth and Xbox 360 Media Remote. Less high-tech…
By Mike Fahey