Microsoft - Page 156 of 239

Halo Jumps into Hell in This Web Series

Halo: Helljumper is one of many Halo fan films, but it doesn’t look like any old Halo fan project. It looks fantastic The Halo: Helljumper web series kicks off next January. More info at Helljumper‘s Facebook page Halo: Helljumper Official Trailer [YouTube] You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 14, 2011

Xbox Live Adds a New Account Every Two Seconds, Says Microsoft

Every two seconds on Xbox Live, someone adds a Gamertag like xX_tehPwnz0rz69_Xx, according to the service’s chief of marketing. Addressing the London Games Conference, Xbox Live’s Robin Burrowes said that Call of Duty and Kinect have shot up enrollment to 35 million at the end of 2010, adding another 15 million today, reports Develop Contrast…

By Owen Good Published November 12, 2011

For $850, You Can Make Halo Movies Like This

There are tons of Halo fan films. Tons. Here’s another, but what sets it apart is how the filmmakers were able to squeeze blood from stones. Shot for only US$850, Halo: Faith is a short film that was born out of an “simple conversation” between filmmakers back in Oct. 2010. The effects aren’t as good…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 11, 2011

Xbox Live’s Hack Wasnt a Hack, Says Microsoft

Last month, a surprisingly large-scale hacking attack went down on Xbox Live, all centred around EA Sports’ FIFA 11 and FIFA 12. Microsoft today acknowledged the intrusions, but is adamant they weren’t the result of hacks Microsoft’s online safety director Doug Park has told Eurogamer “It’s not a hack, it’s really just a different way…

By Luke Plunkett Published November 11, 2011

Get a Wii for Under $100 at Walmart on Black Friday

Walmart is sending out mailings to customers, letting them know what Black Friday deals are in their area. While Kotaku hasn’t seen the ads for everywhere, it has seen the one Atlanta. This is it. While some of the smaller items will vary from store to store, the blue chip items—here, a blue Nintendo Wii—should…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 10, 2011

Microsoft Stores Becoming Competitive Multiplayer Hubs for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Launch

If you’re like me, you’ve yet to step into one of Microsoft’s fine, fine retail emporiums. Nothing against ‘em, it’s just that you can get everything online nowadays. Pizza. Liquid refreshment. That goes from online competition, too, but, Microsoft’s going to be stocking its stores full of all three to commemorate the impending release of…

By Evan Narcisse Published November 9, 2011

Xbox.com To Upgrade Its Social and Video Features in the Coming Days

In preparation for the upcoming Xbox 360 dashboard update, Microsoft has announced that they’ll be updating the website Xbox.com over the coming days to implement some of the dashboard’s new features before it launches on consoles later this winter. Users will be able to search the Zune store online and buy and rent movies from…

By Kirk Hamilton Published November 8, 2011

The Windows Phone / Xbox 360 Cross-Compatibility You Crave in a Little Furry Package

If you eagerly snatched up a Windows Phone 7 when they launched last year, dreaming of a mobile applications that allowed you to extend your Xbox 360 games beyond the television set, then this is the app for you, only it’s Kinectimals Don’t get me wrong — Kinectimals is a fine game, easily one of…

By Mike Fahey Published November 8, 2011

Next Xbox Codenamed “Loop”, Runs On Modified Windows 9

Insider blog MS nerd, which has been right on a few things coming out of Microsoft HQ from time to time, reckons it has some info on the next Xbox console. Currently codenamed “Loop”, the site says the console will have a single main processor that’s joined by “assistive cores” for “graphics, AI, physics, sound,…

By Luke Plunkett Published November 8, 2011

Kinect for Windows Coming Soon to Change the Way We Do Everything

The sinister phase two of Microsoft’s Kinect plan picks up steam as the company makes Kinect for Windows impeding arrival official. Are you ready to do everything six to eight feet from a computer screen? With hundreds of financial, educational, and commercial companies signed up to see what Kinect can do for them, next year…

By Mike Fahey Published November 4, 2011

Kinect + GlaDOS is Slightly Terrifying

Who needs a hostile little mobile phone when you can drop Portal’s malevolent artificial intelligence onto a PC and have her watch you via Kinect? Corey Thomas has rigged up his Kinect camera’s voice recognition to not just operate his PC, but to snap back at hi with canned lines from GlaDOS. The implementation isn’t…

By Luke Plunkett Published November 4, 2011

Kinect is a Serial Killer, Has the Taste for Blood

For Halloween, Microsoft released an internal gag video that used Kinect as an instrument in a cheesy horror movie. The cheesy parts are a little too cheesy, but the Kinect stuff is interesting. The influence here is clearly Saw, but I can see something more promising: a modern version of Nightmare, the old VHS board…

By Luke Plunkett Published November 3, 2011

Will the PS3 Overtake the Xbox 360? Will It Happen?

Nintendo rules this generation, leaving Microsoft and Sony to duke it out for numero two. So, which of those two is winning? As website MCVUK pointed out, Microsoft. The U.S. console maker announced last month that it has sold 57.3 million Xbox 360s worldwide. Today, Sony revealed that it’s sold 56 million PS3s. Simple math…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2011

Cowboys and Ninjas Collide in the Kinect Holiday Bundle

Looking for the perfect gift for the gamer in your family? That’s nice. In the meantime, check out this Kinect Sensor Holiday Bundle for the Xbox 360, combining three games and Microsoft’s magic rectangle for one low price. It’s actually a rather good deal for those of you that haven’t jumped on the Kinect bandwagon…

By Mike Fahey Published November 1, 2011

Microsoft’s Vision of the Future Includes Talking Glasses and Virtual Cake Recipes

This promotional video, released by Microsoft earlier this week, is simply called “Productivity Future Vision 2011”. It’s the latest in a long-running series the company comes up with on an annual basis, imagining what the world of tomorrow will look like based on advances from the world of today. God I love this stuff. Real,…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 28, 2011

This Japanese Kinect Sports 2 Commercial Is too Long and too Serious

And that music, ungh! If you’ve ever wanted to see Japanese people playing Kinect in a large living room, here’s your chance. Enjoy. You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 25, 2011

Kinect’s 3D Ball Game is Like Something From the Future

Now, granted, this gimmick doesn’t just use Kinect. It uses a fancy clear display and Kinect to achieve the effect. But what an effect it is. This clip from Microsoft’s research wing shows a user gently fondling and cupping some balls in a 3D space. Even though he’s looking through a 2D screen and his…

By Luke Plunkett Published October 24, 2011

Xbox 360 Bundled for the Holidays

Those without an Xbox 360 (or looking to get a new one) for the holiday season, Microsoft has you covered with two games-and-hardware bundles, one with Kinect and one without

By Luke Plunkett Published October 19, 2011

Kinect, Windows Phone, Windows, Office: They All Live Together Peacefully In This New Ad

Microsoft kicked off their new global campaign this week, showcasing not a one of their products, but all of them and they managed to squeeze in a little Dance Central too! Apparently this is the company’s first every multi-product Christmas ad campaign. EXCITING!!!

By Brian Crecente Published October 18, 2011

Microsoft Takes a Shot at the Wii in Their Newest Dance Central 2 Ad

I’ve never totally gotten the appeal of Wii dancing games, though clearly there are a whole ton of Just Dance fans out there who disagree. This new ad for Harmonix’s just-released Dance Central 2 takes a humorous dig at Wii games, and their obsolescence in the face of full motion-tracking. Honestly, while truly compelling Kinect…

By Kirk Hamilton Published October 18, 2011