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CES 2010 Keynote Starring Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer
Microsoft will kick off CES 2010 with its annual opening keynote, delivered by the energetic Steve Ballmer and presumably with the aide of a few high ranking Microsoft executives. We’re there live, waiting for Project Natal and Xbox Game Room news. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some more firm dates applied to…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2010 -
Microsoft To Announce “Xbox Game Room” At CES [Update]
Today’s Microsoft CES keynote is likely to make mention of the arrival of the Xbox Game Room, a retro-themed game space, at least according to a video interview with Microsoft’s Robbie Bach, president of the company’s Entertainment and Devices Division. More specifically, that’s from the quickly pulled video, originally posted on Microsoft’s On10.net and Channel…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 6, 2010 -
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts & On Demand
Rare’s 2008 platformer meets vehicle builder Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is the latest addition to the Xbox 360 Games on Demand library, a perfect opportunity to see what all the genre fuss was about by way of digital download. Pricing for me, in these here United States, is $19.99 USD and the downloadable version…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 5, 2010 -
Microsoft’s Experimental, Hands-Free Technology
Microsoft are developing technology that will allow people to perform “everyday tasks” – like playing Guitar Hero – by using their muscles, and not their hands. The tech works by reading your body’s electrical activity (the signals sent from your brain to your limbs) and intercepting the data, replicating the action in a program. Potential…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2010 -
People Paying Good Money For Free FFXIII Item
The Final Fantasy XIII avatar pets that were handed out last week were free. And required minimal effort to get hold of. Still, even minimal effort is too much effort for some. Over the weekend, dozens of the little Chocobos went on sale over online auction site eBay, some going for as much as $50.…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2010 -
Is This The Xbox 360’s Retail Retreat In Japan?
2008 was a strong year for the Xbox 360 in Japan. With timed exclusives like Tales of Vesperia, Microsoft was able to drawn both long lines and new gamers to its platform. 2009 was another story altogether. Spring 2009 looked promising with otaku heroine and Japanese popstar Shoko Nakagawa getting her own Xbox 360. But…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 4, 2010 -
360 Avatars Get Dead Space, NBA & NCAA Outfits
Not everybody has the week off, it seems, as somebody at Microsoft had to be around to flick the switch on new avatar clothing ranges that include Dead Space cosplay and official NBA & NCAA jerseys. Dead Space fans can choose from a variety of t-shirts, along with an Isaac outfit and a little model…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 1, 2010 -
Your Favourite Indie Xbox Games of 2009
Microsoft’s Xbox Live Indie Games platform isn’t exactly the main draw for the console, but it still has its fans. Let’s see what those fans thought of 2009’s lineup. IndieGames have compiled two lists profiling the highest rated games on the service in both the US and United Kindom. Remember: these aren’t the most popular…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 31, 2009 -
Talk Live With Xbox Live’s Major Nelson Today
As noted on Monday, Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb, director of programming for Xbox Live, will guest-host today’s live Kotaku call-in podcast. Show time’s 11 a.m. MT, 1 p.m. ET. Call-in and listening details will be live on the site just before show time.
By Brian Crecente Published December 30, 2009 -
A Little More Info On Xbox Live For Mobile Phones
We’ve known for years that Microsoft would be expanding Xbox Live beyond the Xbox console. Heck, with Games For Windows, it’s (practically) already started. Still, new info is always appreciated! A job posting on Microsoft’s site for a Principal Program Manager specifically asks the successful applicant to “drive the platform and bring Xbox LIVE enabled…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 30, 2009 -
Christmas Was Very Good To Forza 3
Forza Motorsport 3 was on quite a few Christmas lists this year it seems, with developer Turn 10 reporting a massive influx of new players over the holiday weekend. As far as gifting video games goes, racing games are easy. You generally know if your loved one is a racing fan, and if they owned…
By Mike Fahey Published December 29, 2009 -
Xbox Live’s Major Nelson Takes Your Calls During This Week’s Podcast
Microsoft’s Xbox Live director of programming, Major Nelson, will be our guest host on the Kotaku call-in podcast this week, filling in for … me. The good Major joins Crecente live, Wednesday, ready to field your live calls. Major Nelson will talk about anything Live-related that you can dream of. Such as: Why is there…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 28, 2009 -
Call Him “Xbox 360 Kid”
The Nintendo 64 Kid has found his modern replacement: the Xbox 360 Kid. But pawing at the box has been replaced with “air running” and some box humping. Squealing, too. Kids, today! As sister site Gizmodo pointed out, if he’s this excited right now, just image him if he gets the Red Ring of Death.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 28, 2009 -
Xbox Live Launching Individualized Music Game Stores
Microsoft makes searching for downloadable songs for your rhythm games much easier today, with the introduction of individualized music game stores covering all the major music games. Expected to launch later today, the Xbox Live music games stores will make browsing the latest releases for games like Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero much more…
By Mike Fahey Published December 22, 2009 -
Japanese Retailer Won’t Buy Back Xbox 360s?
In Japan (like in many places in the world!), there is a strong culture of selling back used games and hardware. Japan especially is quite good about keeping instruction manuals and boxes in pristine shape as many who purchase gaming goodies do so with intent to sell back in the future. For retailer TSUTAYA, the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 22, 2009 -
2010: Looking Back on Kotaku’s Look Ahead
We’re 10 days from New Year’s but tomorrow is the winter solstice, starting us on another trip around the sun. And a new year that will be full of its own controversies, challenges, triumphs, disappointments and delights in video gaming. This past week Kotaku put a comprehensive look into its crystal ball, breaking down what’s…
By Owen Good Published December 20, 2009 -
Microsoft Patents the Exercise Guilt Trip
Microsoft’s filed a patent that would make avatars more realistic and less idealized, with the point of getting your husky ass out to exercise if what you’re seeing in the dashboard is a more realistic presentation of yourself. “Avatar Individualized By Physical Characteristic,” is what Microsoft is claiming. “Linking the avatar to a physical characteristic…
By Owen Good Published December 19, 2009 -
2010: The Year of Better Xbox 360 Games?
2009 was a pretty good year for the Xbox 360, but based on Microsoft’s showing at E3, it felt more like a warm up for 2010, the year the company will launch Project Natal. Now this year was no slouch, with Xbox 360 console exclusives Halo 3: ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, Left 4 Dead 2…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 17, 2009