Microsoft - Page 213 of 238

How That Stunning Halo 3: ODST Live Action Short Was Made

Halo 3: ODST’s amazing live action trailer didn’t just happen by itself. No, it took dozens of people, hundreds of man hours and a light sprinkling of movie magic to create. Here’s how. This behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Halo 3: ODST spot offers more than just a peek at how Brute’s are…

By Michael McWhertor Published September 30, 2009

Dress Your Avatar For Mass Effect

My Xbox Live friends list should look a whole lot cooler now that Mass Effect space suits and clothing have hit the Avatar Marketplace. Not that my friends don’t look amazing right now, with their steampunk outfits and little remote-controlled toys and all that. I just think they’d look much snazzier decked out in full…

By Mike Fahey Published September 30, 2009

Let’s Closely Inspect Microsoft’s TGS Booth Uniforms

As an addendum to our feature on booth companion uniforms, here are more photos that examine the outfit close-up. There are bonus photos of the outfits the male staffers wore as well.

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 30, 2009

Xbox 360 Bundles Up For The Holidays

Microsoft will be cozying up retailer shelves this holiday season with a pair of bundles for the Xbox 360 crowd, including one that officially confirms this week old rumor. So, what’s in the box(es)? The big one comes carefully stuffed with a 120GB Xbox 360 Elite, one copy of LEGO Batman: The Video Game and…

By Michael McWhertor Published September 29, 2009

How To Dress A Tokyo Game Show Booth Lady

“They look cute,” says 20-something-year-old Takahiro Yamaguchi. “So cute.” He’s spent a good chunk of his day taking booth companion photos. “It’s not just how the girls look,” he explains, “but what they’re wearing. That’s what I’m taking pictures of.” Every year there are two shows at the Tokyo Game Show: the games that are…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 29, 2009

A Little Bit Of Fable II For Free

Fable II finally gets a demo of sorts with the debut of Fable II: Game Episodes, the epic adventure split up into five bite-sized chunks, and the first one is free! Fable II: Game Episodes is the full version of Fable II split up into five easy pieces, with all of the achievements, co-operative gameplay,…

By Mike Fahey Published September 29, 2009

Don’t Buy Left 4 Dead’s DLC Yet! [Update]

Because if you do, you’ll be paying too much. Instead of the promised 560MSP price point, the Left 4 Dead expansion has hit the Xbox Live Marketplace at 800MSP. You might want to wait until it’s fixed. And fixed it will be, Microsoft’s Larry Hryb confirming that the price is indeed a mistake, and not…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 29, 2009

What Do You Think Of These TGS Natal Icons?

Natal is Microsoft’s new controller-free motion sensing tech. It does not have a logo or icons yet — apparently, Microsoft is still in the planning stages for that. At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Xbox Japan whipped up these icons for the booth to help convey what exactly the heck Natal is and does. Thoughts,…

By Brian Ashcraft Published September 29, 2009

Microsoft Confirms that 2 GB is the New 50 MB

My how they grow fast, don’t they? Originally, Microsoft said that Xbox Live Arcade titles should be 50 megabytes or less. Today they’ve bulged well past the 1 GB barrier. Microsoft has confirmed that 2 gigs is the new max. At Tokyo Game Show, IGN brought up the ballooning size of XBLA games in an…

By Owen Good Published September 26, 2009

Booth Check: Microsoft

The Microsoft booth at the Tokyo Game Show included signs that showed the length of the wait to play most of the big Xbox 360 games there. How else to tell which game was best? The longest was Bayonetta at 90 minutes. The second longest, at 80, was for the Forza car set-up.

By Stephen Totilo Published September 26, 2009

Seven Japanese Developers Discuss Their Visions of Project Natal

Microsoft has released seven quick-take videos of top-flight Japanese developers discussing Project Natal and the opportunities they see in it for the next generation of game development. Keiji Inafune, of Capcom, sees Natal as a way to expand the means of control beyond the “limited interface,” a standard controller. Tecmo’s Keisuke Kikuchi sees Natal as…

By Owen Good Published September 25, 2009

Alan Wake on the Run, in the Dark

These five screens depict the innate agility of a bestselling author as one Alan Wake dodges helicopters, crashing cars and snipers up a forest ranger tower. This reminds me, I need to finish up that book proposal …

By Owen Good Published September 24, 2009

Brutal Legend and Forza Demos Hit Xbox Live

Two highly anticipated demos make their way onto Xbox Live today, with Brutal Legend escaping from preorder exclusive hell and Forza 3 edging closer to the finish line. Free up some hard disk space as two of the most eagerly awaited games get their demo on. The heavy metal action of the Brutal Legend demo…

By Mike Fahey Published September 24, 2009

Listen In On Kojima, Inafune, More Talking Project Natal

As promised, Microsoft are about to begin a panel discussion on Project Natal with several noted developers, including Hideo Kojima and Capcom’s Keiji Inafune. You’re here, we’re liveblogging, you may as well see what they’ve got to say. Click to viewXbox 360 Developer Liveblog

By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2009

Microsoft Announce Natal Partners: Everyone Plus Kojima

Microsoft just sent out a self-congratulatory press release about Project Natal, highlighting the publishers and developers currently toiling away on games for the upcoming motion control system. Those listed are: Activision Blizzard Bethesda Capcom Disney Interactive Electronic Arts Konami MTV Games Namco Bandai Sega Square Enix THQ Ubisoft While some of the larger companies could…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 23, 2009

EA Stock Soars On Microsoft Buyout Rumors

Rumors can be powerful forces in the economy, as evidenced by an 8.1 percent rise in Electronic Arts stock today following unsubstantiated rumors that Microsoft was interested in buying the publisher out. What analysts and strategists are calling “unsubstantiated chatter” had a profound effect on EA stock today, rising 8.1 percent to $20.01 during Nasdaq…

By Mike Fahey Published September 23, 2009

360’s New Wi-Fi will be $100; Old WiFi to get Price Cut

The 802.11n adapter whose development Microsoft recently confirmed will cost you one benjamin. The existing 802.11g adapter will get a haircut and cost $79.99. That’s according to Ars Technica’s trusty, and unnamed, “Mole.” The new adapter, and its ability to stream 1080p video, is tied to Microsoft’s upcoming Zune video store update to Xbox Live…

By Owen Good Published September 23, 2009

Firmware Update Hits the 360

An Xbox 360 firmware update went live overnight/early this morning. Although it lays the foundation for the 360’s Facebook and Twitter capabilities, no new features are included in this download. Major Nelson confirmed the new firmware in a late-night post; also, for any of our friends who were up late and gaming and found the…

By Owen Good Published September 23, 2009

360 Holiday Bundles To Include Pure, LEGO Batman

Ars Technica’s ever-reliable Xbox mole has revealed that this year, like last year, the 360 will be bundled with a couple of games for the holiday season. According to the insider, who has a flawless track record on these matters, the Elite will soon be bundled with free copies of LEGO Batman and racer Pure.…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 23, 2009

J Allard Found, Working On Amazing New Tech

J Allard, otherwise known as Dr. J Allard, otherwise known as the man we miss from the deepest recesses of our cold, black hearts, has re-surfaced today as the driving force behind a neat-looking new gadget from Microsoft. It’s called the “Courier”, and is a cross between a tablet PC and, well, a Nintendo DS.…

By Luke Plunkett Published September 22, 2009