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1 Vs. 100 The Victim of Mismanagement?
This morning’s news that Microsoft was killing off their Xbox Live video game show 1 Vs. 100 didn’t come as a surprise for a lot of people, including those working on the project. But what happened? Sources close to the project tell us that 1 Vs. 100 fell victim to, among other things, some game-killing…
By Brian Crecente Published July 15, 2010 -
Dashboard Redesign Coming in November? [Update]
The Xbox 360 dashboard, the user interface for Microsoft’s gaming console, looks like it may be getting a slight polish in November when the company launches their Xbox Live Gold Family plan. The Family plan includes four one-year Xbox Live gold memberships for $100, as well as a new Family Center on the dashboard and…
By Brian Crecente Published July 15, 2010 -
Close Up With Kinect’s Purple Boxes
Did you know that Microsoft’s controller-free Kinect games come in purple cases instead of the green Xbox 360 ones? Would you like to see the cases up close? Better yet, would you like to see an entire wall of them? Here you go! A wall of purple Kinect cases. On your computer screen. Amazing. Kinect…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
Why Are Consoles Banned In China?
Video game consoles are illegal in China. Ironically, the Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are Chinese made. And there is a flourishing PC gaming culture. There has to be a reason for this ban. Turns out, there is. “Consoles have been banned in China since the year 2000,” Lisa Hanson from market researcher…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
Microsoft Brings Halo: Reach, Gears Of War 3, Fable III, And Kinect To Comic-Con
Microsoft brings out the big guns at the 40th annual Comic-Con International, with a line-up of panels and playables featuring Kinect, Gears of War 3, Fable III, Halo: Reach, and more! Microsoft has a powerful line-up of Xbox 360 games coming out in the latter half of this year, and the 40th annual Comic-Con International…
By Mike Fahey Published July 14, 2010 -
Large Kinect Kiosk Sets Up Shop In Mall
This month, Microsoft is rolling out Kinect demo booths at malls across the country. Malls like Minnesota’s Mall of America. And a bunch of Macy’s. The demo booth at the Mall of America kind of like a Winnebago! Which would not look entirely out of place at the Mall of America. This kiosk opens this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
The New Xbox 360’s Arcade Version Detailed By Amazon
We already knew that Microsoft was planning on offering a cheaper version of its new, smaller, glossier Xbox 360, but we didn’t know much more about it. Thanks to Amazon Germany, now we know. Microsoft documentation had previously outed a $199 USD Xbox 360 S at E3 2010, planned for a fall release. Amazon.de says…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 13, 2010 -
Mars Looks Like A Great Place For Some Destructible Buildings
NASA and Microsoft have teamed up to deliver an amazingly detailed view of Mars to Microsoft Research’s free Worldwide Telescope application, with images so detailed you can almost see the Google Maps camera cars roaming about the surface. The Worldwide Telescope is a nifty little Microsoft program, available for free download or as a Silverlight…
By Mike Fahey Published July 13, 2010 -
Kinect Makes Its Made-For-TV Movie Debut On Friday
While we won’t be seeing Microsoft’s Kinect until November, the family in science-fiction made-for-TV movie The Jensen Project already has it all set up, though they might want to do something about that errant Xbox 360 logo in the corner. The Jensen Project, airing this Friday at 8PM Eastern on NBC, is a made-for-TV movie…
By Mike Fahey Published July 13, 2010 -
The Future of Xbox 360’s 1 Vs. 100 Remains Unclear
When Microsoft brought television game show 1 Vs. 100 to the world of Xbox Live it was heralded as the first step toward transforming the Xbox 360’s online service into an entertainment channel of its own. The first two seasons of the were very different than what video game players were used to seeing on…
By Brian Crecente Published July 13, 2010 -
Walmart Readies Kinect Bundles
While we still await official word on the pricing on Microsoft’s Kinect, Walmart has started selling preorder bundles for the camera controller, packing in a game of your choice and a $30 gift card for $199. Microsoft hasn’t come right out and said it, but seeing as everyone, including Microsoft, is listing the price at…
By Mike Fahey Published July 13, 2010 -
A Nerdy Wedding Ring (Full Of Memories)
Ray Arifianto, who works on the Xbox Platform team at Microsoft, is getting married. He’s got the nerdiest wedding ring to prove it. While his blushing bride is not a gamer or a nerd for that matter, she is totally cool with the idea of getting hitched with one. “So cool,” Ray writes, “that she…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
Nothing Says Xbox 360 In Japan Like A Grown Man In A Dress
Like its previous title, Namco Bandai’s idol simulator THE iDOLM@STER 2 is coming to the Xbox 360. Time to celebrate! In drag. This is the latest in a series of wry ads depicting the members of “Xbox Mission Department” as they sign contracts with new titles and try not to barf. The commercials are somewhat…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
China, There Will Be No Kinect For You
Sorry, China! When Kinect is released later this year, you won’t be allowed to buy the motion control peripheral. At least, not officially. Why? Chinese readers will know this, but for everyone else, there are laws in place in the country that forbid the legal, official sale of just about every video game console currently…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 13, 2010 -
Rumble Might Be Rudimentary, But I Still Like It
When the PS3 launched in 2006, the SIXAXIS controller did not have rumble support. It had motion control, but like I just said, no rumble. And I found myself playing more Xbox 360 games. It wasn’t because Xbox 360 games were better. No, it was because Xbox 360 games could be played on a controller…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 8, 2010 -
Ex-Age Of Empires Devs Working On Microsoft Strategy Game [Update]
Microsoft’s “Project S”, a secret strategy game that we uncovered earlier today, isn’t a Halo title. It is, however, being worked on by former Age of Empires developers. Robot Entertainment, a studio that was formed by ex-Ensemble staffers following the closure of the venerable PC developers, appears to be the team responsible for “Project S”,…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 8, 2010 -
Xbox Live Is Microsoft’s New Billion Dollar Business (And Activision Wants A Piece)
Microsoft’s Xbox Live service has pulled in an estimated $1.2 billion for the Xbox 360 maker, with annual Gold subscription fees and sales of digital content combined, according to Bloomberg. Good news for… Bobby Kotick? According to Microsoft’s Dennis Durkin, the Xbox’s chief operating officer, sales of Live content like movies, TV shows, Avatar items…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 7, 2010 -
How To Score A Beer Belly In Halo: Reach
If you want to look like a battle-hardened, Covenant-crushing space marine type, yet don’t want people to forget how much you love to party, then GameStop has the Halo: Reach preorder incentive for you. The UA Multi-Threat Mjolnir Mark V(B) Armor is a special bonus suit customers will score by preordering Halo: Reach in any…
By Mike Fahey Published July 7, 2010