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Meet The Xbox 360’s Fancy New Processor
The new Xbox 360 S is not only smaller than its predecessor, it uses less power and should be more reliable. Who can we thank for these benefits? The new “Vejle” processor, that’s who. The Vejle, named after a Danish city (as most Microsoft projects are; Natal was named after a Brazilian city, for example),…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 24, 2010 -
See “Master Chief’s” Face In A…Mobile Phone Commercial
In this commercial for Samsung’s new Galaxy S phone, a guy who looks a lot like Halo’s Master Chief runs like a scared little girl, then jumps in a flying crayfish and takes his helmet off. Sounds bizarre, and it is, but watch the commercial and everything written above actually happens. This isn’t an ad…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 24, 2010 -
Grab The Keys To The City In Crackdown 2
Ruffian Games and Microsoft detail the Toy Box add-on for Crackdown 2 today which adds the eagerly anticipated Keys to the City cheat mode for free, as well as a handful of new content for those willing to pay the price. The Toy Box updated for Crackdown 2 is an update in two parts, one…
By Mike Fahey Published August 23, 2010 -
New Xbox 360 Console, Same Old Expensive Accessory Prices
As expected, Microsoft has begun selling standalone hard drives for its new Xbox 360 S systems, and as expected, they’re ridiculously expensive. A listing has appeared on GameStop for a 250GB hard drive (it’s a final listing, not a tentative pre-order), and it’s priced at $130. That’s…exactly the same price as the larger, clunkier 250GB…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 21, 2010 -
Hip Thrusting My Way Through Sonic Free Riders
Sonic Free Riders is all about the pelvic thrusts. Sega’s hover board racing game has you controlling Sonic the Hedgehog, or one of his many friends or enemies, with the Xbox 360 Kinect controller, which means, you use your body to play. To play, you stand with your body almost sideways, as if standing atop…
By Brian Crecente Published August 18, 2010 -
Microsoft GamesCom Press Event Lunch Unboxing
The most important question at Microsoft’s Gamescom play session on Tuesday? What are they serving for lunch? That question answered here. Perhaps my fascination with the food served at press gatherings stems from the fact that 90% of my Gamescom diet comes from exactly these sorts of boxes. Well, not exactly these sorts of boxes.…
By Mike Fahey Published August 18, 2010 -
K.I.N.E.C.T. Dance
What starts out with what appears to be a guy recreating a scene from Bruno, ends with some fantastic two-man avant-garde dance moves. Here for your viewing pleasure is a video of a bunch of people playing different Kinect games… set to music. Can you guess which games they’re playing?
By Brian Crecente Published August 18, 2010 -
This Is How You Play Kinectimals
Many people played Kinectimals at Microsoft’s gameplay day in Germany yesterday, but no one played it with as much skill or heart as our own Michael McWhertor. Look at how much fun he is having petting that dangerous animal. Don’t you wish that was you? It was all I could do to stop myself from…
By Mike Fahey Published August 18, 2010 -
360 Avatars Being Redesigned
Microsoft’s 360 avatars are looking a little on the portly side, because come the release of Kinect in November, they’re in for a little redesign. Why? It’s because of Kinect. Rare, the developers behind the avatars, say the motion-sensing camera has been causing problems for users when playing a game where their actions were replicated…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 18, 2010 -
Fable III Screens From A Place Slightly Closer To Albion
Albion is the oldest known name for the island of Great Britain, so these screenshots of Fable III released today for GamesCom in Cologne, Germany, hit a little closer to home than usual. Of course developer Lionhead is located in Guildford, which is actually on the aforementioned island, so that opening bit was little more…
By Mike Fahey Published August 17, 2010 -
Meet Halo Reach’s Noble Team
Here’s a new campaign trailer for Halo: Reach, one that’s a little bit Lord of the Rings and a little bit…Dirty Dozen. I know, two Reach clips in one day is a bit of a luxury, but it’s Microsoft’s big day at GamesCom, so we’ll indulge them. UPDATE – Sorry, our vid player was having…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 17, 2010 -
Microsoft Reveals European Release Date For Kinect
Kinect, the Xbox 360’s motion-sensing camera controller, will be out in the US on November 4. But what about Europe? Europe, you won’t have long to wait. Microsoft said earlier today that the peripheral will be released in Europe (and that includes the UK) on November 10. A little later, yes, but not even a…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 17, 2010 -
Kinect Clone In Action
With the Xbox 360 legally banned in China, the country is getting a Kinect clone called “eBox”. These photos show what kind of games Chinese consumers can expect to get from their eBox experience. The comparison has been to the PlayStation EyeToy — a comparison which seems fair enough. Bundled with 30 games, the console…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 17, 2010 -
Halo: Reach Live-Action Trailer: No Spartans, No Shooting, No Explosions
Microsoft has released a new trailer for Halo: Reach today, and it’s continuing the franchise’s recent tradition of eschewing pre-rendered cinematics in favour of real men being shot by real cameras. It’s not as flashy as the first live-action Reach trailer, nor is it as memorable as the ODST clip, but it’s probably just intended…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 17, 2010 -
Assassin’s Creed, Crackdown & Castlevania Coming To Xbox Live On Mobile Phones
When Xbox Live launches on Windows Mobile 7 later this year, it’ll be launching with a surprisingly large and varied games lineup. Microsoft today revealed the launch roster for the service’s mobile phone debut, and aside from the usual stuff you’d expect – like Bejeweled – there are some pleasant surprises, like the adorable-looking puzzle…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 17, 2010 -
Microsoft Releasing Age Of Empires Online
You know how we told you that Microsoft’s secret “Project S” game played a lot like Age of Empires? Well, that’s probably because it was Age of Empires. Namely, a new game called Age of Empires Online. Revealed today by Microsoft, the game takes Age of Empires’ real-time gameplay and adds some social, online twists…
By Luke Plunkett Published August 17, 2010 -
German People Look Silly Playing Kinect Too
Upstairs at a two-story GameStop in scenic downtown Cologne, Germany, a young woman tries out Kinect, where du bist der Controller I’ve arrived in Cologne a few hours ago, took a brief nap in my tiny hotel room without air conditioning, and then took a stroll through the town, looking for something to spend money…
By Mike Fahey Published August 16, 2010 -
Three Minutes of Zealotry in Halo: Reach
Three maps, not part of the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta, were recently confirmed. We saw Reflection on Friday. Here’s Zealot, which has low-gravity features that seem very useful for … jumping right into a melee to the face. There’s a gravity lift at the center of the map (should be a popular camping spot, hm?)…
By Owen Good Published August 15, 2010 -
Albion’s Adventures Continue In Fable: The Balverine Order
It’s a book! For Fable diehards with a thirst for some off-game fiction—courtesy of prolific writer Peter David—there’s Fable: The Balverine Order. It’s the rare paperback that lets players unlock a unique item in a video game. Coming this October from Ace Publishing, Fable: The Balverine Order does more than just spin a fantastical yarn.…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 13, 2010