Microsoft - Page 219 of 238

Don’t Expect 360 Games On Demand To Arrive Same Day As Retail

Later this year, Microsoft will be launching a “Games on Demand” service, where users can download full, proper retail games to their 360s. Exciting! Just don’t expect to do it on the same day a game’s out at GameStop. Shane Kim has told Fast Company: There are a lot of complex issues to deal with…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 30, 2009

All Halo Wars Leaderboard Data Erased from Xbox Live

All Halo Wars leaderboard data – and by this, “all” means “everything” – disappeared from Xbox Live today, says Major Nelson, meaning braggin’ rights have been reset to launch day status. “Human error” is blamed. It covers singleplayer. It covers multiplayer. It covers Trueskill leaderboards. It covers all matchmaking data. Gone. Says the Major: This…

By Owen Good Published July 30, 2009

Reviews

Madballs in…Babo:Invasion Micro-Review: Drives You Mad, Busts Your Balls

Madballs in…Babo:Invasion is an action shooter for Xbox Live Arcade very loosely based on the deliberately disgusting toy line of the 1980s. The Madballs round out the cast of Babo Invasion, forming two factions of rowdy, rolling balls that somehow wield firearms despite having no arms. Sadly, unlike those somewhat popular squishy balls of the…

By AJ Glasser Published July 30, 2009

Digging Into Halo 3: ODST: The Characters, The Weapons, The Gameplay

In this first video documentary for Halo 3: ODST Gunnery Sgt. Eddie Buck introduces his (and your) team for the upcoming Bungie-developed shooter. The video also walks us through the mission giving us a look at the new tech built into the game’s characters, from weapons to electronics. We also get a taste of some…

By Brian Crecente Published July 30, 2009

Twitter, Facebook Should Be On 360 Before Christmas

Popular social media services Facebook and Twitter are coming to the Xbox 360. But don’t expect them to come as part of the next dashboard update. Instead, they’ll launch as separate applications. Speaking with Eurogamer, Microsoft’s James Halton revealed that both services are due sometime in the Fall. That’s as precise as he was willing…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 30, 2009

See The GLAAD On Games Panel For Yourself

If your Kotaku comment made it into the talking points of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation panel a couple of weeks ago, this video immortalizes your screen name. Even if you weren’t one of the chosen few, you can still get a lot from watching what went on at the panel. I pulled…

By AJ Glasser Published July 29, 2009

These Are Lips’ Number One Hits

Microsoft has confirmed the final lineup for Lips: Number One Hits, the sequel to the Inis-developed karaoke game that hit the Xbox 360 last year. You’ll be able to tap into your inner Lady Gaga and MC Hammer this October. As number one hits tend to be, the Lips sequel is filled with nothing but…

By Michael McWhertor Published July 29, 2009

Buy The Summer Of Arcade, Get $10 Back

Microsoft wants to pay you $10 for purchasing all five of the games showcased in this year’s Summer of Arcade promotion. U.S. Xbox 360 owners who shell out the 5600 Microsoft Points necessary to net them Splosion Man, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Turtles in Time Re-shelled, Trials HD, and Shadow Complex between now and August…

By Mike Fahey Published July 29, 2009

First Microsoft Stores Opening in Arizona, California

Microsoft plans to open their first retail stores this fall in California and Arizona shopping malls, the Seattle Times reports. The stores will be located at the Scottsdale Fashion Square and The Shops at Mission Viejo. The Fashion Square already has an Apple store. “We really picked them because they’re hot markets,” Kim Stocks, a…

By Brian Crecente Published July 29, 2009

Japanese Indie Shmup on Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE Indie Games have come to Japan. The result? Games like this shooter Crescendo Symphony from indie developer “nakfiv”. The one player game is yours for a mere 240 Microsoft Points on Japanese LIVE Marketplace. Wonder how it plays… クレッシェンドシンフォニー [LIVE Marketplace via selectbutton]

By Brian Ashcraft Published July 29, 2009

Jackson Explains How Fate Killed Halo And Gave Birth To District 9

SAN DIEGO, California – Peter Jackson has been a gamer his entire life, so when Microsoft hired him to produce the movie version of Halo, there was genuine excitement in the air. The buzz grew as fans, and Hollywood, questioned Jackson’s choice of first-time director Neill Blomkamp to helm the big-budget project. But that ultimately…

John Gaudiosi Published July 28, 2009

New Forza 3 Screens: Exclusive Cars

There are a number of Forza 3 cars that are quite “exclusive”, in that they require you to either preorder the game, buy the Collector’s Edition or become a VIP member of the game’s community. These are those cars. If you sign up and become a VIP member of the Forza 3 community, you’ll get…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 28, 2009

Release Date Finally Catches Up With Forza 3

Microsoft sent word today that Forza 3 will not be delayed into 2010. It’s sad we have to explicitly state that, but these days, you can never be too sure. Instead, the exact release date for the game in North America is October 27. No idea yet for Europe, but for Aussies and Kiwis, good…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 28, 2009

Bethesda Guy: Here’s Who Can Afford Bungie’s Non-Halo IP

Ashley Cheng, the production director at Bethesda Game Studios, posted on his personal blog a back-of-the-envelope guess at which publishers might take up Bungie’s next, non-Halo game. Hint, one of the candidates rhymes with “Shmesmesda.” Based on recent reports, Cheng says, “Bungie only owes Microsoft two more games and they’re done. Halo ODST and Reach…

By Owen Good Published July 27, 2009

Microsoft Introducing Age-Based Xbox Live Lockdown (In New Zealand)

Kinda strange development taking place over in New Zealand, with Microsoft taking the rather drastic step of blocking every single under-18 user in the country from downloading paid content on their 360’s. Even kid-friendly stuff. Kotaku AU first noticed the move last week, and when we contacted Microsoft for comment, were handed this rather vague…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 27, 2009

South Park Tower Defense’s Working Titles Sucked

While South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! is a long title for the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game, some of the working titles were even more of a mouthful. Snowballing, anyone? At the “Save South Park One Snowball At A Time” panel at Comic-Con yesterday, South Park Digital’s Chris Brion explained how the tower…

By Mike Fahey Published July 26, 2009

Bungie Says It’s ‘Close’ to Signing New IP Deal

Earlier this week, Bungie’s Lars Bakken strongly implied that Halo: Reach would be the last Bungie-made Halo title. Bakken now suggests that the studio is close to getting a publisher for its new, non-Halo IP. Says Bakken to Eurogamer: I think internally we’ll know sometime soon. I don’t handle these things, but I’d imagine we’re…

By Owen Good Published July 26, 2009

Footage Leaked of XBL Avatar Golf Game?

Four user videos up on Gametrailers show what looks like an avatar-based golf game for the Xbox 360. From the footage it looks like the project is still under development. But with Xbox Live releasing Joy Ride – an avatar-based racing game – it’s not out of the realm of possibility they’d do something like…

By Owen Good Published July 25, 2009

Take A Tour Of Microsoft’s Retail Stores

As you know, Microsoft will soon be opening chain of fancy big retail stores across the US, in which 360 hardware and software will play a prominent role. Wanna see what they look like? Gizmodo have got their hands on a Powerpoint slide outlining the design and features of the stores, which include things like…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 25, 2009

Ecko Release The Ugliest Halo Shirts In The Known Universe

There are people who do video game t-shirts the right way. People like Meat Bun, and King of Games. Then there are people who do video game shirts the wrong way. Like Hot Topic, and Mark Ecko. Just take a look at Ecko’s new range of Halo shirts, featuring six designs that you would expect…

By Luke Plunkett Published July 24, 2009