Microsoft - Page 180 of 238

Steve Jobs Went Bananas When Microsoft Bought Halo’s Creators

Before Halo, Bungie had made a name for itself developing the Marathon series of shooters on the Mac. So when the studio was bought by Microsoft to make games for the Xbox, Apple boss Steve Jobs was pissed “As soon as we announced we bought Bungie, Steve Jobs called,” former Microsoft VP of game publishing…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 26, 2010

The First Ever Kinect Cost A Lot More Than $149

While Microsoft’s first attempts at a motion-sensing peripheral were relatively primitive affairs, the very first prototype of Kinect was worth an absolute fortune. A report on the New York Times says that the first working version of what’s now known as Kinect cost Microsoft $30,000 to build. That’s not the cost of the entire project.…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 26, 2010

When Kinect Advertising Goes Horribly, Horribly Wrong

Looks like Microsoft ponied up a bit of cash to have Kinect appear in this week’s episode of Chuck. I hope it wasn’t much, though, because this isn’t advertising. It’s dissuading. Sweat. Hair. Sweaty hair. Sweaty man chest. Jiggly man chest. If you’ve ever thought “Hey, some friends and some beers will make all this…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 26, 2010

Microsoft Not So Keen On HD Re-Releases For The Xbox 360

From Ico to God of War to Sly to Beyond Good & Evil, the PlayStation 3 is currently being inundated by high definition ports of classic PS2 games. The Xbox 360? Notsomuch. “I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea,” Microsoft Game Studios Corporate Vice President Phil Spencer told IGN. “I’m going to think about…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 26, 2010

Kinect Hits The…Home Shopping Network

We know, Kinect is shooting for a market more familiar with the Wii than with Modern Warfare perks, but it’s still a little strange seeing an Xbox 360 console pop up on the Home Shopping Network. Normally, you’d expect to see magic dusters, or crap that cleans silverware, or some revolutionary ab-busting torture device (or…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 26, 2010

Let’s Check Out the New Maps of Halo: Reach

Why don’t we! Seen in this video is a look at the new maps of the upcoming Nobel Map downloadable content pack coming to Halo: Reach. That means Anchor 9, Tempest, and Breakpoint. The 800 Microsoft Point map pack hits Nov. 30.

By Brian Crecente Published October 25, 2010

Microsoft: We Are Doubling Down on PC Games

Exactly a year after rolling out Windows 7 with much fanfare, Microsoft seems to be finally remembering the gamers who help make their platform so popular. The Oct. 22, 2009 launch of Windows 7 happened with almost no reference to gaming, or the people who use the system so prevalently to game. It was a…

By Brian Crecente Published October 25, 2010

Japan Shows How Kinect’s Sonic Free Riders Is Done (Oh Dear)

Hands waving, feet jumping up and down, people doing who-knows-what. Yep, this isn’t just a clip of people playing Sonic Free Riders on Kinect, it’s a goldmine for possible forum GIFs. Besides the general flailing about, the game will have lots pelvic thrusts Sonic Free Riders will be released in early November in North America…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 22, 2010

Games For Windows Gets a Bigger, Better Online Store Next Month

Next month Microsoft’s Games for Windows website is getting an overhauled online store that will make purchasing computer games through the site easier, support Microsoft Points and nearly double the number of available titles. The new streamlined digital store will launch on Nov. 15 with more than 100 titles, up from the sixty or so…

By Brian Crecente Published October 22, 2010

Enjoy Some Treats With This Fable III Movie

In addition to this trailer packed with in-game cinematics, Fable III sent word today that all new copies will have a one-use code redeemable for free goodies in-game. With the code, you’ll get three skins – the Scottish Male (or Female) Hero (or Heroine) Outfit, the Highlander Tattoo Set and the Red Setter Skin (for…

By Owen Good Published October 21, 2010

Microsoft Japan Looks to Schoolgirl Cachet to Sell Kinect

Two girls from SKE48, a spin-off act of Japan’s most popular female group, are appearing in Kinect television spots. The U.S. might be just now getting what’s apparently a Kinect ad, but Japan is already on its second! Both “Future Report” ads look like late 70s – early 80s science programs and differ significantly from…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 21, 2010

Get Up Close With Halo: Reach’s Fancy Action figures

Square Enix’s Halo Reach figures are larger and more detailed than those offered by rival company McFarlane. Let’s see just how detailed in these beauty shots of the upcoming toys. There’ll be three figures available in the second volume of Square Enix’s series: big man Gorge, Noble Team’s leader Carter and ol’ chicken arm herself,…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 21, 2010

Is This Kinect Ad More To Your Liking?

This video just popped up on YouTube, purporting to be the debut advertisement for Kinect once its television marketing campaign begins. Ads that leaked out before this one were “unfinished.” It’s certainly professionally edited, and contains some footage we haven’t seen in the previous three rough cuts. It still keeps the visual focus on the…

By Owen Good Published October 20, 2010

Xbox Live Ditches ‘Silver’ Class For ‘Free’

Say goodbye to Xbox Live “Silver,” as Microsoft appears to be dropping the name of that tier of its Live service in favor of something less confusing. “Free” is the new “Silver.” It’s little more than a name change for the free entry level version of the Xbox’s online service, but the scrubbing of Silver…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 20, 2010

The Best Halo: Reach Kill You’ll See Today

Get ready to reach for the replay button, as this brief Halo: Reach clip highlights one of the best multiplayer kills we’ve seen to date in Bungie’s newest sci-fi shooter. Either through luck, communication or plain old hard work—or some combination of all three—this outstanding airborne kill feels like it belongs on a Successories motivational…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 19, 2010

The New Xbox.com Is More Than Just A Pretty Face

Tomorrow morning at 5AM Eastern Xbox.com will be going down. When it comes back, it’ll have a fresh new look and some extra-added functionality. Let’s take a look! Major Nelson uploaded a set of pictures of the new Xbox.com website redesign this morning, giving users a look at how they’ll be interfacing with Xbox Live…

By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2010

Here’s How Microsoft Spends Nearly a Billion Dollars

Advertising for two new products. That’s right, the company behind Windows, Office, Xbox Live, the Xbox 360 and a myriad of nearly successful consumer electronics is planning to spend an estimated $900 million to market the Xbox 360’s Kinect and Windows Phone 7, according to two recent reports. This morning The New York Post reported…

By Brian Crecente Published October 18, 2010

Kinect’s 17 Games “Launch Portfolio” is One Shy of Xbox 360 Launch Line-Up

This morning Microsoft unveiled the 17 games that will be part of the Xbox 360’s motion-sensing Kinect “launch portfolio” next month. The titles include an eclectic mix of Wii-like casual games, big titles with a Kinect controller option and a couple of big titles created for the motion controller from the ground up. Of course…

By Brian Crecente Published October 18, 2010

Fable Is Not Limited To A Trilogy

Action role-playing game Fable III is out this month. Fable III? That’s a trilogy, and trilogies are a good way to end a series. “Forget about the word ‘trilogy’,” Fable designer Peter Molyneux said. “I hate limiting ourselves to a trilogy.” “I want you to feel that you’re on a journey in Fable and I’m…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 18, 2010

Kinect’s Solved Its Sitting-Down Problem

The subject of much gumflapping post E3, Kinect’s ability to handle players who are sitting down has been more finely tuned, Eurogamer reports. It’s now calibrated to focus on your neck-al area rather than your ass-al area. The “base node” used to create the skeletal models that the controller recognizes has been switched from the…

By Owen Good Published October 17, 2010