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Left 4 Dead 2 Getting Avatar Awards? [Update]
Left 4 Dead 2 will award the avatars of skilled Xbox 360 gamers with frying pans, themed T-shirts and med kits, according to text found buried in the game’s demo by Steam forum posters. Steam poster Fade Guy said he found a list of Avatar Awards in a file that also mentions a commentary mode…
By Brian Crecente Published October 28, 2009 -
Xbox 360 System Update
Just a reminder! A mandatory LIVE update is hitting over the next couple of hours for the Wireless Adapter Wi-Fi Protected Access support and not Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune features. Those hit later next month. Xbox 360 System Update – Wireless Adapter WPA2 support [Major Nelson]
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 28, 2009 -
Xbox Live Exec: No Cloud for Near Future
A streaming games service – “cloud gaming,” as the buzzphrase has it – is on Microsoft’s horizon but, for the near-term, it’s not something that can be reasonably delivered to a local-machine user, said the Europe boss for Xbox Live. Speaking at the London Games Festival, Jerry Johnson told an audience at the British Academy…
By Owen Good Published October 27, 2009 -
Who’s Who In Halo: Evolutions
Tor Books has released a list of the authors contributing to the Halo: Evolutions anthology novel, along with the cover art, featuring everyone’s favorite green suit of armor with a guy inside it. Halo: Evolutions, due out on November 24th, is an extended look at the Halo universe through the eyes of popular science fiction…
By Mike Fahey Published October 27, 2009 -
Microsoft: No Blu-ray Add-ons Coming To Xbox 360
Despite what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer may have implied, the company has “no plans” to bring Blu-ray playing accessories to the Xbox 360, according to a statement from the company. Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb posting on his Xbox 360-centric blog today that Ballmer wasn’t speaking about the Xbox platform during his interview with Gizmodo, instead…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 22, 2009 -
Ballmer: You’ll Be Able To Get Blu-ray Drives As Accessories
In the format wars, Microsoft supported HD DVD in the battle against Sony’s Blu-ray. The company even released an HD DVD player for the Xbox 360. But, HD DVD lost. Blu-ray won. In an exclusive interview with sister site Gizmodo, Ballmer addressed the question of adding Blu-ray to the Xbox 360, saying, “Well I don’t…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 22, 2009 -
The Good, Bad and Ugly of The Modern Warfare 2 Server Decision
This was a doozy of a week for Kotaku Talk Radio with Totilo, myself and oodles of listeners weighing in on the issue of Modern Warfare 2 and dedicated servers. Is it a sign of things to come? What far-reaching consequences could it have? Tune in to find out and to get a pulse of…
By Brian Crecente Published October 21, 2009 -
Microsoft Explores Xbox Live Rewards Program
Microsoft appears to be launching a pilot rewards program for Xbox Live, according to emails sent out to a number of subscribers over the past day. The email, sent to a number of our readers and forwarded to Kotaku, says that the sign-up period for the program closes on Oct. 21. But it’s unclear what…
By Brian Crecente Published October 20, 2009 -
Japan Gets New “Value” Elite Xbox 360 Bundle
On October 29, Microsoft is releasing a new Xbox 360 Elite bundle in Japan. Packaged with Lost Planet Colonies and Ace Combat 6, this “value pack” is priced at ¥29,800 (US$330). Trust me, that’s a much better value when the US dollar isn’t in the toilet.
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 20, 2009 -
Our Hands All Over The Xbox 360 Dashboard Update
In case you missed them earlier today, our own Stephen Totilo spent some time with the preview for the next Xbox 360 Dahboard update, putting Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, and streaming HD video to the test. Xbox 360 Update Hands-On: Facebook And Twitter Microsoft provided Kotaku with an early version of the November Xbox 360 dashboard…
By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009 -
Welcome To Halo Waypoint
Microsoft has released a new trailer and screenshots showcasing the Career Mode of Halo Waypoint, Xbox Live’s destination for everything Halo related, launching on November 5th for Xbox Live Gold and Silver subscribers. Yes, Xbox Live Silver subscribers will have access to Halo Waypoint, but only for a limited time. From the November 5th launch…
By Mike Fahey Published October 19, 2009 -
Windows 7: What Happened to Gaming?
In 2006, then Microsoft Vice President Peter Moore apologized for what he called a dereliction of duty to the company’s number one gaming platform: The PC. Now more than three years after promising, and some say failing, to deliver a PC gaming renaissance with the Vista operating system, Microsoft is set to roll out Windows…
By Brian Crecente Published October 19, 2009 -
Xbox Live Update Isn’t Limited to Just Twitter
The next Xbox Live update will deliver Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm, but, Ron Popeil style, wait, there’s more! According to an email from Microsoft, anyway. Get ready for news headlines and dedicated music stores in the Xbox Live dashboard. Since Microsoft expressly said we’re not forbidden from discussing this, why not? U.S. Xbox Live users…
By Owen Good Published October 17, 2009 -
Real Racers Talk Forza 3
In these two new videos, F1 driver Stephane Sarrazin and Takata time attack driver James Elterman discuss the level of realism Turn 10 has packed into Forza Motorsports 3. The story of James Elterman finding a cheap livery designer via the Forza community forums is inspiring, but I’m much more interested in watching Peugeot 908…
By Mike Fahey Published October 15, 2009 -
Rare: ‘Who Knows” Why Donkey Kong 64 Hasn’t Hit the VC
Who knows? Maybe it has something to do with Rare being owned by Microsoft, and it and Nintendo being unable to decide who divides the loot. But yeah, answering a reader question, they don’t know what the deal is either. Asked in the latest RARE Scribes mailbag why Donkey Kong 64 isn’t on the Wii…
By Owen Good Published October 15, 2009 -
Sign Up To Test Zune, Facebook, And Twitter On Your 360
As with previous major updates to Xbox Live, Microsoft is offering you a chance to try out new features like Zune integration, Facebook, and Twitter before everyone else gets their grubby paws on them. It’s the triumphant return of the Xbox Live Preview Program, and everybody is invited! Invited to apply that is, but Major…
By Mike Fahey Published October 14, 2009 -
Grand Theft Auto IV Is On Demand
Xbox 360 owners no longer need to leave their homes to commit heinous crimes, as Grand Theft Auto IV joins the Games on Demand lineup at a price that’s actually rather reasonable. Now the mean streets of Liberty City are only a 7GB download and $29.99 away from the net-connected Xbox 360 owner. The $30…
By Mike Fahey Published October 13, 2009 -
Facebook, Twitter Launch Nov. 17 on UK Xbox Live
This splash page on Xbox Live’s U.K. portal says its Twitter and Facebook service will launch on Nov. 17. We assume that includes the Last.FM update as well. Crecente got a look at Facebook on Xbox Live at Tokyo Game Show. A firmware update preparing the Xbox Live dashboard for the three services went out…
By Owen Good Published October 10, 2009 -
Big Halo 3 ODST Sales And The Return Of Master Chief
With Halo 3: ODST selling 2.5 million copies within two weeks of release, Microsoft talks to USA Today about the future of the franchise, merchandising, and the possibly return of Master Chief. The Halo franchise has sold more than 25 million copies combined so far, with Halo 3: ODST, the recently released standalone game, making…
By Mike Fahey Published October 8, 2009 -
Show Your NFL Pride On Xbox Live
If anyone was crazy enough to spend $4 on a tiny virtual football jersey it’s those whacky NFL Football fans. The Xbox Avatar Store now contains football jersey’s for each of the thirty-two current NFL teams, each coming in both male and female versions, courtesy of Madden NFL 10. From the amazing Philadelphia Eagles to…
By Mike Fahey Published October 8, 2009