Microsoft - Page 182 of 238

Before Kinect, Microsoft Had “Exotic” Motion Controllers

In 2010, Microsoft’s Kinect is a motion-sensing camera that requires no control pad. You are, as the marketing goes, the controller. In the beginning, though, things weren’t so fancy. According to a big write-up on the history of Kinect on Wired, in 2007, Xbox boss Don Mattrick had called for a “reimagining of the way…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 8, 2010

Halo Waypoint Spawns ‘Apt. 117,’ A Cartoon About Bores & Idiots

The current home of all things Halo, 343 Industries, is working with Powerhouse Animation Studios—responsible for the animation in Risk: Factions—on a new, ongoing Halo-themed animated series dubbed Apt. 117. Maybe you’ll think it’s funny? Maybe not, because Apt. 117 is pitched as “an underwhelming animated series” about “a boring, average guy who lives with…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 7, 2010

Win One Of Three Legendary Editions of Halo: Reach

As the holidays loom in the ever decreasing distance and the world economy continues to wallow in the dumpster, we thought it might be a great idea to start giving some stuff away to you, our readers. Better still, we’re not going to make you work that hard for it, because there has been a…

By Brian Crecente Published October 7, 2010

Review: Hydrophobia

Hydrophobia, a downloadable Xbox 360 survival adventure title, claims to have some of the most realistic water physics video games have ever seen. But does the title wade into the deep end or is it just shallow? Hydrophobia (which does not mean “fear of water” — aquaphobia does) is the first of several planned digital…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 7, 2010

Should The Xbox 360 Form Its Own Corporation?

Goldman Sachs’ analysts punked Microsoft’s stock rating and archly suggested that the company spin off the Xbox 360 division, saying such a sale could unlock hidden value within the unit and free it from the company’s more sluggish performance. The report, released over the weekend, downgraded Microsoft from “buy” to “neutral” (which, if a stock…

By Owen Good Published October 7, 2010

Report: Halo Movie Might Happen With Spielberg, But In An Unexpected Way

Microsoft’s “on hold” plans for a Halo film series may be back on again, with Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Pictures “renewing its efforts to obtain the rights and revive the project,” according to a new report. NY Mag’s entertainment column, Vulture, cites “insiders” in a report that claims DreamWorks is “focusing on using novelizations of the…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 6, 2010

Japanese Kinect Commercial Doesn’t Mention Room Size

According to the Kinect manual, the controller-free peripheral needs between 6 and 8 feet of space. That’s important to know. Here is the manual’s exact wording: The sensor can see you when you play approximately 6 feet (2 meters) from the sensor. For two people, you should play approximately 8 feet (2.5 meters) from the…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2010

Chuck’s 30th Birthday Is Not The Event

Chuck actor Zachary Levi and The Event star Jason Ritter play Kinect at Zack’s Xbox-sponsored 30th birthday party. Gameface is a photographic celebration of the people who make, play and love video games.

By Mike Fahey Published October 4, 2010

Microsoft Japan Employee Arrested For Fondling A Schoolgirl

A forty-year-old Microsoft employee has been arrested for groping a schoolgirl’s breasts on a JR Kobe line train bound for Osaka. The employee has been identified as Shingo Mihara, an employee of Microsoft Japan’s Kansai branch. He apparently put his hand in an opening of the 16-year-old schoolgirl’s blouse. The schoolgirl supposedly caught him red…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 4, 2010

Microsoft Names New President Of Everything Fun

The man with one of the most impressive houses in the gaming industry now has a title to match, as Microsoft officially makes Don Mattrick the president of its Interactive Entertainment Business. It’s not really that big of a change, moving from senior vice president to president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, at least not…

By Mike Fahey Published October 1, 2010

Gears of War 3 Delayed At Least Five Months

It looks like Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski was more than just three days off when he told Jimmy Fallon on national TV that Gears of War 3 was hitting on April 8. The next day Microsoft shifted the date a bit, saying the game would actually be hitting on April 5, 2011. Today the publisher is…

By Brian Crecente Published October 1, 2010

Forza 3 And All Its DLC Ultimately Collected

Microsoft kicks off a multi-year partnership with BBC hit television show Top Gear next month, packing in 90 minutes of Top Gear TV content into the Forza Motorsport 3 Ultimate Collection, along with every bit of DLC released so far. Today is a day for making people feel bad about buying downloadable content. First Dragon…

By Mike Fahey Published September 30, 2010

Bungie Made Halo: Reach, Look Mountain Dew and Doritos!

I am to be congratulated, it seems. I am one of just 300 people in the country to receive a Halo: Reach Honor the Code kit in the mail… courtesy of Mountain Dew and Doritos. What’s that entail, you might ask? Why six Halo: Reach-themed Mountain Dew drinks and two packs of Doritos stuffed into…

By Brian Crecente Published September 30, 2010

Does A Programmable Wireless Xbox 360 Controller Count As Cheating?

Datel’s completely unauthorized TurboFire2 wireless Xbox 360 controller not only directly connects to the Xbox 360 without a dongle, you can connect it to your PC to apply “custom controller enhancements.” Microsoft should sue! Oh wait Microsoft filed a lawsuit against British peripheral manufacturer Datel back in April of this year, claiming the company “illegally…

By Mike Fahey Published September 30, 2010

Kinect’s Missing Chip Was Never Needed, Says Microsoft

Earlier this year, when the Xbox 360 add-on Kinect was still known as “Project Natal,” reports surfaced that Microsoft was tearing one of the cameras processors out the hardware. Kinect general manager Kudo Tsunoda explains why. Tsunoda explains to Xbox 360 World, via CVG, that the Kinect processor was originally in the camera because the…

By Michael McWhertor Published September 29, 2010

Xbox 360 Fall Preview Goes Live For ‘Tens Of Thousands’ Of Users

Microsoft’s update to the Xbox 360’s dashboard has gone live for select users who signed up to preview the latest changes to the console’s interface. So, don’t be alarmed if you’re prompted to update your Xbox 360 tonight. This early look at the Xbox 360’s latest revision will include changes coming to Netflix, Avatars, and…

By Michael McWhertor Published September 29, 2010

Fable III Kingmaker Lets You Earn Gold On The Go

Fable fans will be able to amass a small fortune in the kingdom of Albion well before the next Xbox 360 entry launches next month. And they’ll do it on their smartphones with the soon-to-be-released app Fable III Kingmaker. The smartphone app was spotted by CVG in the latest issue of Xbox World magazine. Similar…

By Michael McWhertor Published September 28, 2010

The Stars Shine Bright In Fable III

Simon Pegg, Ben Kingsley, John Cleese, and Michael Fassbender headline an all-star cast of men and women with British accents in this voice acting installment of the Lionhead video diaries. The voice cast for Fable III is one of the most talented gathering of voices ever assembled. Particularly impressive is Sir Ben Kingsley in his…

By Mike Fahey Published September 28, 2010

Kinect Immerses You In Advertising Like Never Before

Sprint and T-Mobile join Chevrolet in using Microsoft’s innovative new Kinect controller to advertise to gamers in innovative new ways. When Kinect Joy Ride launches in November, players will be able to test-drive Chevrolet vehicles in the game. Along with the Chevrolet Volt, revealed back in June, watching an in-dash video advertisement will unlock Chevrolet…

By Mike Fahey Published September 27, 2010

Kinect’s TV Commercials Look…Familiar

With Kinect’s November launch looming, Microsoft has kicked the peripheral’s marketing drive into top gear with these TV commercials. Don’t they look familiar? Front-on perspective, people waggling enthusiastically…yup, it’s the Wii launch commercials all over again, the only difference being there’s no catchy tune or humble little bowing Japanese men this time around. I will…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 27, 2010