Microsoft - Page 197 of 239

This Lady Looks Familiar

On Friday, a new Swedish film opens in, wait for it, Sweden. The picture is a parody of cop shows and is called Kommisarie Späck (Detective Blubber). The lead female character doesn’t look like she’s from police dramas. She looks like she’s from video games. That’s Joanna Dark hair! You know, the fiery-haired heroine of…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 3, 2010

One Of The Oldest Logos In Gaming Is No More

In this day and age, logos are a fickle thing, companies going through them like clean underwear in the constant search for “reinvention”. This week, one of the oldest developers in the industry has broken down and joined in. Rare Software, known for GoldenEye, Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct, Perfect Dark and the Xbox 360’s…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 2, 2010

Foxconn Employee Dies After 34-Hour Shift

Another Foxconn employee has died. However, it was not by suicide. A 28-year-old man, who married his wife (pictured) three months ago, died from exhaustion in Shenzhen in his rental house after working a 34-hour shift his family claims. No official statement has been issued regarding the man’s death. Yan Li was apparently suffering from…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 2, 2010

Medal Of Honor, Soulcalibur Join Games On Demand

Microsoft has today added Medal Of Honor: Airborne and Soulcalibur IV to the 360’s Games on Demand service, both for the “getting warmer, guys” price of $20.

By Luke Plunkett Published June 2, 2010

Hulu Coming To Xbox 360?

According to “a very reliable source”, gadget site Gear Live is reporting that Microsoft is set to unveil a nice little surprise during its E3 press conference: the addition of TV streaming service Hulu to Xbox Live. Requiring a separate subscription fee – just like Netflix – Hulu would let Xbox 360 users watch (most…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 2, 2010

Xbox Man Can Also Fix A Giant Robot

Sanrokumaru (literally 3-6-0) is Microsoft’s new mascot in the Japanese market. He’s a talented guy! Not only can he throw a baseball, but he can maintain a giant fighting robot as well. This is a new commercial for Virtual-On Force, the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade port of Sega’s 2001 arcade game (and successor to last…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 28, 2010

Dear Apple, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft

Right now, you all might be digging your own holes. The recent rash of suicides at Foxconn’s Shenzhen factory has shined a light on the fact that large companies like Apple, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have contracted out the manufacturing for devices like the iPad, the Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 to Chinese…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 28, 2010

Greenpeace Still Says Nintendo Is Bad For the Environment

This year, like every year, Greenpeace has given Nintendo the lowest marks out of the electronics companies it graded. “Nintendo remains in last place with a pitiful 0.8 points out of 10, scoring zero on all e-waste criteria,” Greenpeace wrote last year. Many of Nintendo’s low marks were the result of the company not divulging…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 27, 2010

Yet Another Death

In what seems to be a daily occurrence, another worker at the Foxconn Shenzhen plant has jumped to his death on late Wednesday. Moreover, Reuters reports that three Taiwan TV stations brought news of another person that had jumped on Wednesday. The jumper, a young woman, survived with serious injuries. This information is still unconfirmed,…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 27, 2010

Report: Goodbye, “Project Natal”

Project Natal is, if you hadn’t worked it out by the whole “project” bit, simply a working title for Microsoft’s upcoming motion sensing peripheral. What’s its actual name? We don’t know, but we’re about to find out. A report on Edge says that Natal’s final, actual name will be revealed as part of Microsoft’s E3…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 27, 2010

iPad Up, PCs Down

The New York Times called it: Microsoft is no longer the most valuable tech company in the world, Apple is. “The most important technology product no longer sits on your desk but rather fits in your hand.” It’s good to see that hyperbole will always have a cozy home at the Gray Lady.

By Brian Crecente Published May 26, 2010

Report: Project Natal To Cost Too Much Money

Would you pay $149 USD for Project Natal? According to a report from Edge, that’s what current Xbox 360 owners should expect to pay when the much-hyped motion sensing camera from Microsoft launches later this year. Edge, citing a “trusted source,” the same individual who fed the outlet details on Gears of War 3’s coming…

By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2010

J Allard’s Parting Advice To Microsoft

J Allard may have left Microsoft, leaving us heartbroken in his wake, but he leaves with some solid advice for the lumbering giant of the electronics world. “Find a college student that claims we don’t get it and blogs tirelessly about our lack of agility”, he wrote in his farewell memo to the company. “Track…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 26, 2010

A Brief History Of Xbox Quitters

Microsoft has a storied history of losing some of its biggest and most recognizable Xbox executives, the suits who manned the company’s E3 and CES keynotes. Today, two more names joined that growing list, Robbie Bach and J Allard. They’re not the only ones to move on from the Xbox division over the past eight…

By Lauren Orsini Published May 25, 2010

Microsoft Shake-Up Tied To Xbox Timeline

The departure of two key men involved in the Xbox 360 from Microsoft won’t cause major changes in the Xbox division, a source close to Microsoft told Kotaku today. But the timing of the next steps for the Xbox brand was a factor. The source, who was not authorized to speak in any official capacity…

By Stephen Totilo Published May 25, 2010

J Allard, We Will Miss You

It’s official. Our most beloved Microsoft exec, James “J” Allard, is leaving Microsoft after 19 years. The Boston University grad tasked with injecting cool into the Xbox, Xbox 360 and Zune is moving on, leaving us with fond, hoodie-filled memories The man who once described himself and the original Xbox division as the “Eminem of…

By Michael McWhertor Published May 25, 2010

Father of the Xbox, Head of Gadgets and Fun Leave Microsoft [Update]

Sources have confirmed to Kotaku that both Robbie Bach, the current head of all things entertainment for Microsoft, and J. Allard, one of the top men behind the Xbox and Xbox 360, are leaving Microsoft. In a memo this morning to Microsoft employees obtained by Kotaku, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that the two were…

By Brian Crecente Published May 25, 2010

Microsoft “Shaking Up” Its Gaming Division

According to a report on The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is looking to “shake up” the management structure of its Entertainment & Devices Division, which among other things is the group responsible for the Xbox 360. What this actually means beyond the term “major organizational changes” is not disclosed, but it must be serious, because…

By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2010

Here’s Your Special Launch-Day Halo: Reach Hat

Halo fans who pick up Reach on its September 14 release date will score this attractive exclusive in-game Spartan Recon Helmet. Fans who wait until after launch day aren’t really fans, now are they? Just in case you needed incentive to pick up Halo: Reach on launch day, Microsoft offers it in the form of…

By Mike Fahey Published May 24, 2010

Maybe The Greatest Baseball Pitch You’ll See Today

Politicians. Actors. Singers, too. What do they have in common with Xbox Japan mascot Sanrokumaru? They have all thrown out the first pitch at baseball games. Sanrokumaru stars in a new series of TV ads in which he and the rest of the “Xbox Mission Department” attempts to secure titles like the new Virtual-On for…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 24, 2010