Microsoft - Page 192 of 239

Report: Here Are Kinect’s Technical Specs

A British retailer has posted a set of technical specifications for Microsoft’s upcoming motion-control peripheral, Kinect. Interestingly, it says only two “active” players can be tracked at any one time. While the camera can track “up to six people”, it can only handle two “active players” at a time, relegating the rest to support roles…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 30, 2010

Hand-Carved Halo Stamp Has Master Chief Seal of Approval

As seen on Boing Boing via Wonderland via Craftster

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010

Kinect Marketer: Hardcore Gamers will be the First to Buy It

Microsoft’s Kinect messaging is definitely core-obsessed. First they said they didn’t want core shooters like Halo on it. Then they said it’s got casual approachability, but core depth. Now, they’re saying hardcore gamers will be first in line for it. “I think we know that hardcore gamers will be the first to go out and…

By Owen Good Published June 29, 2010

Microsoft: Project Milo “Not A Game We’re Planning To Bring To The Market”

We’d always thought Project Milo, Lionhead’s Kinect tech demo from E3 2009, was an actual game. Or at least an actual something. Turns out it’s not, and will probably never be released to market. While Microsoft told us that “Project Milo is something that is in ongoing development at Lionhead Studios” following its no-show at…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 29, 2010

Don’t Think Of Kinect As ‘Casual,’ Think Of It As Super Mario Bros.

Worried that Microsoft’s E3 showcase of its Kinect controller for the Xbox 360 was a little too “casual,” a little too Wii Sports rewarmed? Kinect’s creative director sees it otherwise, that Microsoft’s taking a Super Mario Bros. approach instead. So says Kudo Tsunoda, the oft-sunglassed man behind games like Kinect Adventures, the river rafting and…

By Michael McWhertor Published June 28, 2010

Kinect Marketer: We Don’t Want Shovelware — Nor Even Call of Duty

Microsoft’s director of platform marketing says he knows Kinect “will have fewer games than our competitors,” but that’s fine. “We don’t want shovelware, we don’t want ports, we don’t want stuff with motion controls tacked onto it.” “That’s not a slam to our competitors,” Chris Penello told Gamasutra in an interview Friday. “We wanted original…

By Owen Good Published June 27, 2010

Windows Phone 7 Coming In October?

According to this video of a Microsoft Live Labs presentation of Windows Phone 7 at Cannes Lions 2010, Windows Phone 7 will be coming this October. Listen yourself, the month slips out around the :16 mark. [Thanks, Gary!]

By Rosa Golijan Published June 27, 2010

Here’s Where You Can Play Kinect Right Now

Can’t wait until November to play with Skittles the tiger or flail wildly until slightly moist with some Kinect Sports? Good news! Microsoft will be demoing its new motion controller “nationwide” for the public at retail this weekend. If you live near one of the four Microsoft Stores—located in Scottsdale, AZ, Lone Tree, CO, Mission…

By Michael McWhertor Published June 25, 2010

Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg is a Def Jam Rap Star

Words cannot describe. Fortunately we have this video, featuring HipHopGamer and Microsoft’s product manager Aaron Greenberg, which does an ample job of describing.

By Brian Crecente Published June 25, 2010

The New Xbox 360 Torn Apart

For your viewing pleasure! Or displeasure? Website PC Watch has dissected the new, smaller 250GB Xbox 360. Have a look at the console’s innards. Think of this as a service. They take apart the console so you don’t have too! That’s so nice. 新型Xbox 360米国版ハードウェアレポート〜小型で省電力、シンプルな基板 [PC Watch]

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 25, 2010

Will Fable III Have Fable II’s Money Exploit?

In Fable II, lazy players like me (hello!) could use a loophole in the game to do something very important: Earn lots of in-game cash quick By setting the Xbox 360’s clock forward and then starting the game, Fable II would be fooled into giving players all the money have were supposed to have earned…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 25, 2010

Kinect’s Magic Powers Aren’t Exclusive To Microsoft: TVs, Computers Coming Soon

The technology behind much of Microsoft’s Kinect – PrimeSense – isn’t exclusive to the Xbox 360. It’ll soon be appearing in other gadgets, from TV sets to computers. PrimeSense is the tech that lets cameras track and interpret human movements in a three-dimensional space, by bathing the area in infared light then turning what it…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2010

Get Ready For Kinectisements (Kinectomercials?)

You didn’t think Microsoft’s Kinect would be used just for games, did you? Silly. It’s going to be used for interactive advertisements as well, beginning with a Chevy commercial later this year. As part of the campaign surrounding the launch of the Chevrolet Volt electric car at the end of the year, the car manufacturer…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 24, 2010

How To Play The Crackdown 2 Demo FOREVER

Microsoft may have slapped a time limit on the new Crackdown 2 demo, but that won’t stop the internet, with users seemingly finding a way to play it for as long as they want. It involves a little juggling, as you need to manually disconnect your console from Xbox Live then reconnect it at a…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 23, 2010

Four Play For The Price Of Two With The Xbox Live Gold Family Plan

Microsoft gears up for the launch of family-friendly Kinect this fall with the Xbox Live Gold Family subscription plan, delivering four Xbox Live Gold memberships for the price of two, plus a host of new features and family-exclusive content. This is why I need kids. Starting in November, Microsoft’s new Xbox Live Gold Family Pack…

By Mike Fahey Published June 22, 2010

Microsoft Explains Why Kinect Doesn’t Do Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach

When Kinect was unveiled as Project Natal during last year’s E3 and Tokyo Game Show it looked like the sort of controller that would be used for a wider variety of games. Up on stage, Microsoft showed off not only a bunch of casual games for the motion-controller, but also innovative titles like Milo, which…

By Brian Crecente Published June 22, 2010

Steampunk Halo

Master Chief…all Victorian like. Over the course of two months, artist Christophe worked on this steampunk version of the helmet worn by the Halo Spartan. After a series of misses, Christophe was able to use four layers of acrylic paint and PCV pipe to create the effect. Oh, forgot one last material used — the…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 22, 2010

Kinect Unfairly Compared To…A Sofa

This is Kinect. It is Microsoft’s new motion controller system. You cannot sit on top of it. Well, you can, but you’ll break it. You can sit on a sofa. Right now, I am sitting on a sofa! Amazing. For snots and giggles, this comparison between a sofa and Microsoft’s Kinect has appeared on the…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 22, 2010

Watch Kinect Lag It Up On Jimmy Fallon

As expected, Microsoft’s Kinect made its second appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show earlier this evening. The first show, last year, went OK! This one, less so. First, Kudo Tsunoda may be the brains behind Kinect, but he’s also a giant dork. He probably shouldn’t be the public “face” of the thing (sorry!). Second, those on-cue…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 22, 2010

Even Microsoft Says Kinect Costs $150

While Microsoft HQ has yet to confirm an official recommended retail price for Kinect, the company’s own online store has no problems tagging the device at, yes, $150. What you’re seeing here is Kinect’s listing on the Microsoft Store, the company’s very own internet shopfront. Now, when retailers like Walmart and Best Buy say Kinect…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 22, 2010