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Japan Hated The Xbox Before It Was Even Out
The Xbox never caught on in Japan. The 360 is having problems, too. Ever wonder why? There are any number of reasons why Japan won’t embrace the console now, but let’s go back to the very beginning. “…when I went to Japan to show the console, man, they really had a problem with it. I…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 29, 2010 -
Microsoft’s Computer Gave Birth To Japanese Gaming Legends
Microsoft has been successful the world over with its operating systems. Even in Japan, Windows is the most common OS. However, the computer giant hasn’t seen those same results there with gaming. That hasn’t always been the case. In the early 1980s, Microsoft Japan aimed to create a standard for computers akin to the VHS…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 28, 2010 -
After Windows, After Xbox, Kinect Is Microsoft’s Next Planned World-Changer
Microsoft says its next generation video game console is backed by a half-billion dollar ad campaign and packs in technology ripped from the fantasy world of Minority Report. It’s also already sitting in more than 40 million living rooms. It’s not a new version of Microsoft’s Xbox, but the five-year-old Xbox 360 paired with an…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 27, 2010 -
The People Who Made GoldenEye Were Almost Purchased By The People Who Are Making GoldenEye
Rare owned by Activision? Could have been! Giant video game company Activision, who are publishing a Wii homage to GoldenEye next month, were thisclose back in the day to buying Rare, the studio behind the original 1997 Nintendo 64 first-person shooter, according to an interview in Develop. Former Microsoft executive Ed Fries, who was instrumental…
By Stephen Totilo Published October 27, 2010 -
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