Microsoft

Xbox Live’s Return Brings Xbox Live Issues

Xbox Live has just successfully completed an entire day of downtime. Unfortunately, the current uptime isn’t quite as successful, with missing games, failing downloads, and unredeemable code issues abounding. Microsoft flipped Xbox Live’s on switch late last night, and while the snazzy new look of the Xbox.com website distracted many of us for a spell,…

Xbox LIVE Is Back Online

Yes, we know. After being down off the grid for 24 for some scheduled maintenance, LIVE is back up. Notice any differences?

Microsoft On Metal Gear: Mission Accomplished

So far this hardware generation, we’ve seen the number of third-party exclusives on any platform shrink to almost zero. The last major series to come around? Metal Gear Solid. Having long made a name for itself on Sony consoles, the next Metal Gear Solid title – Rising – will also be appearing on the Xbox…

Watch The Play Machinima Law Conference

Almost two months ago, I attended a Machinima Law conference at Stanford University as part of an extra credit assignment. Today, you can watch what I saw for free. Stanford’s video game research project, How They Got Game, is hosting a series of videos from the conference. They’re kind of small, so you’ll have to…

Microsoft: 1 Vs 100 Live Season Pass “Simply A Test”

1 Vs. 100 Live is currently in beta testing on Xbox Live and currently free to Xbox Live Gold members. That may change with the introduction of the “Season Pass,” but Microsoft calls the double subscription possibility “simply a test.” The Xbox Live Primetime game show recently had its description clarified, formerly planned as free…

Microsoft Respond To “New Xbox” Rumors

Over the weekend, 1UP ran a rumour that a new Xbox console would be launching next year, to coincide with the release of Microsoft’s Project Natal motion-sensing camera. Today, Microsoft responds. Xbox director of product management Aaron Greenberg has told Eurogamer “I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways…

Break Xbox Live With The Push Of A Button

That button may look like a joke, an elaborate piece of stock art, or something out of Ghostbusters, but it’s not. It’s the emergency shutdown button located in a Microsoft server facility in Quincy, Washington. There’s a fascinating article over on the NY Times’ website about server warehouses, with the author taking a trip to…

Miyamoto: True Interactivity Is Holding A Motion Controller With Force Feedback

The Nintendo Wii uses a controller dubbed “the Wii Remote“. Microsoft’s Project Natal uses a controller called “the human body”. What does Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto think? I don’t think I could create an experience that truly feels interactive if you don’t have something to hold in your hand, if you don’t have something like force…

Is Xbox Live Primetime’s 1 Vs. 100 Becoming Pay To Play?

1 Vs. 100 Live, the first Xbox 360 game show for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Primetime push, is currently in beta testing. Originally pitched as a free game for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, it appears Microsoft may begin charging for it. While the 1 Vs. 100 Live product page on Xbox.com previously implied the game show…

Reminder: Xbox Live Going Down Tonight

If you need to get any multiplayer gaming in on your Xbox 360 today, make sure you do it before the clock strikes 12:01 AM PST. Xbox Live will be going down for maintenance tonight, for up to 24 hours. As previously foretold, Microsoft’s online gaming service will be taking a breather tonight, affecting the…

Peter Molyneux Wants To Help Rare “Get Well Known”

What is developer Rare best known for? Doing games for Nintendo in the 1990s? Making Banjo Kazooie? Battletoads? Viva Piñata? Peter Molyneux, creative director of Microsoft Europe, wants to help Rare have more of an identity. Here, let’s let him say it in his own words: “Actually one of the things I really want to…

New Xbox To Launch In 2010?

Last week, Microsoft’s Shane Kim told us that the launch of the 360’s motion-controlled camera system – Project Natal – would be as big as a console launch. Maybe he was onto something with that. Because 1UP are reporting a rumour that while Natal will be released next year for existing 360 consoles, it will…

Analyst Predicts Wii Price Drop

Wedbush-Morgan’s Michael Pachter — the guy that was so harsh on the PSPgo’s price tag — thinks the Wii will drop to $199.99 this holiday season Edge Online reports that Nintendo has already sold 20 million units — 50 million worldwide — and plans to sell another 26 million this fiscal year. Noting that a…

When Will It Be Wrong To Call The Xbox 360 A Game Console?

Kotaku recently asked Microsoft if the flourishing of non-gaming features like Netflix, Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter on the Xbox 360 will someday invalidate the classification of the device as a gaming console. Since the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft has worked hard to deflate suspicions that the company wasn’t serious about video games. Microsoft,…

Gears Of War 2 On PC? Try Bears Of War

Rumors are circulating regarding a possible December release for a PC version of Gears of War 2, but the site the rumors reference might have its compass pointed in the wrong direction. IGN points to a site called Beantown Games, explaining that “there were plenty of details that appeared to be pulled from an upcoming…

Natal Launch Will Be As Big As 360’s

On that day in the future when Microsoft launches its E3-darling Project Natal no-touch control system, it will feel like a console launch, a company exec told Kotaku. Forget the launch of previous gaming cameras and mics like the PlayStation Eye or the Xbox Live Vision Camera when you try to imagine the impact Microsoft’s…

Xbox Live Community Games Renamed

Buried in the official announcement of XNA Game Studio 3.1 is news that, come late July, Xbox Live Community Games would be getting a much-needed name change. Goodbye Xbox Live Community Games, and hello Xbox Live Indie Games. The name is being changed in response to community feedback, in order to increase understanding and promote….here,…

Nintendo Expected Rival Motion Control Last Year

This year, both Microsoft and Sony announced motion technology platforms. This comes years after Nintendo first launched its own motion controlled console, the Wii. So what does Nintendo think? According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, “To tell the truth, I expected them to come up with stuff like this last year. So in my mind…

Xbox Live Will Be Down Next Tuesday, Maybe For The Whole Day

Microsoft sent word earlier today that Xbox Live is in line for some scheduled maintenance. It’ll take place next Tuesday, and could leave the service down for up to 24 hours. The servicing will commence at 12:01 PST, and will leave Xbox-related online services down (including everything to do with Xbox Live) save for the…

Microsoft’s Create-A-Game Game Out This Month

Despite it’s simple appearance, it’s clear Microsoft are dipping their toes in the LittleBigPlanet sea with Kodu. While the game was a no-show at E3, it’ll be a show-show on 360s later this month. The development team’s official blog has announced that the title/service/thing will be out at the end of June, with final content…