|
|
Xbox News is a site that brings you the very latest Original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One news, the latest games and releases, Part of the
DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network.
THE LATEST NEWS BELOW
|
August 25th, 2011, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster
 Reader Darren Christie tweeted a rather official-looking image of a new Xbox 360 bundle. According to the picture, taken at the Future Shop store in which Christie works, the new package includes a 250GB Xbox 360 console and download codes for five of its biggest games: Alan Wake, Halo 3, Halo Wars, Fable 3, and Gears of War 2. In addition to being big in terms of profile, they're also big in terms of file size, with the box warning that these games will occupy 29.51 GB on the hard drive.
Christie told us that the bundle will be released tomorrow for $299.99. He is located in Canada, so it's possible this hardware package is a Canadian-only promotion. We've checked in with Microsoft to get the details. Just to be safe, maybe you should wait a day or so before buying an Xbox.
Update: Shacknews received confirmation from Microsoft that this bundle is exclusive to Canada, out tomorrow, and available for a limited time.http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/xbox-250gb-bundle-throws-in-alan-wake-gears-2-and-3-more/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
 Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
 |
|
|
|
August 25th, 2011, 00:08 Posted By: wraggster
[Malte] is a loyal Hackaday reader and neurobiology PhD candidate with a keen interest in hobby robotics – definitely our kind of guy! He wrote in to share a project he has been working on in his spare time, a Kinect-controlled delta robot (Google translation).
Deltares, as it is called, is pretty straightforward as far as delta robots are concerned. It uses three servos to actuate the arms, which are controlled by an AVR micro running BASCOM. The AVR gets its coordinate data from his computer via a serial connection after it has been captured by the Kinect. [Malte] opted to use Microsoft’s official SDK for the project, processing the Kinect skeletal data using a small C# application he wrote.
The end result is pretty neat as you can see in the pair of videos below. In the first video, [Malte] uses Deltares as a plotter, drawing a crude face on a piece of paper with a marker. In the second, he commands Deltares with his right hand, using his left to activate the magnetic solenoid to pick up the steel spheres.
It looks pretty cool to us, and we’d love to see what sorts of things he puts together if he ever ends up making robotics his career rather than a hobby.
http://hackaday.com/2011/08/23/kinec...c-personality/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 25th, 2011, 00:03 Posted By: wraggster
Innovative new hardware and software are needed to drive growth in the console market, according to Robin Kaminsky, Activision's former executive vice president of publishing.
Writing in an opinion piece for IndustryGamers, she said today's traditional games market "is in trouble", pointing to US industry sales in July, which were the lowest on record since October 2006. "Many believe digital sales and the economy are the core drives of the decline. I believe a lack of innovation - actual stagnation in game development - is the real culprit," Kaminsky wrote.
"For traditional games to grow, I believe a new generation of consoles is needed, consoles with real innovation and the resulting onslaught of new IP and innovative gameplay. Ideally these consoles will bring a breakthrough on how games are played or what kind of game experience can be delivered.
"It cannot be just bigger, more complex games or yet higher definition graphics," she added. "The industry, both traditional publishers and the console makers themselves, need something different in the next cycle... In an industry where new, innovative and fun is key there is no future in more of the same."
Kaminsky, who previously oversaw all studio and product development at Activision, went on to outline her hopes for the next generation.
"The next generation of consoles and games should recognize that consumers are mobile and active, value the player regardless of where and when they play, consider short and long play sessions, optimize both hardcore and casual games, embrace button/controller led play and new interfaces, enable content to evolve so games are dynamic not static, encourage alternative payment approaches like free to play, that drive more users to try the game, alongside the traditional buy it to play model, drive increasingly social and community driven experiences, and perhaps even allow play across devices regardless of manufacturer or form factor."
Last month, Kaminsky and former SCE Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison joined the board of Dave Perry's cloud-based game streaming service Gaikai.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ision-veteran/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24th, 2011, 23:41 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft reserves the right to refuse an Xbox 360 release for games that are released first on other platforms, according to reports.
Eurogamer reveals that Microsoft's developer terms also stipulate that the company may also refuse to allow an Xbox 360 release for games that offer more features or content on other platforms.
Microsoft's content submission and release policy reads: "Titles for Xbox 360 must ship at least simultaneously with other videogame platforms, and must have at least feature and content parity on-disc with other platform versions in all regions where the title is available.
"If these conditions are not met, Microsoft reserves the right to not allow the content to be released on Xbox 360."
The terms apply to Xbox Live Arcade games, too, with Microsoft's online content terms stipulating that games "must simultaneously release on Xbox Live Marketplace in all regions where the game is available." Demos, too, "must ship within the same week of its launch on other videogame platforms or via magazines."
Microsoft's vice president of interactive entertainment, Chris Lewis, defended the policy, saying: "We're a little biased, so obviously we're going to look to protect our own space as best we can and get exclusivity…we seek to maximise our own advantage to ensure the playing field is even, and certainly plays to our advantage wherever possible."
Lewis goes on to sound a familiar refrain by saying that the company's restrictive terms benefit its users. "Honestly - and this is going to sound a bit contrived - we just want what our consumers want from us," he said. "We want to be where they want us to be.
"We want the quality bar of what they experience from us to continue to go up. I think it has to happen; everybody's got to do that. If we want to continue to command healthy average selling prices, which we all do, that which we offer our consumers has got to keep getting better."
One publisher, speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly disagreed. "Microsoft is suggesting that anything but parity will result in them not carrying a title," the source said. "They may think this is competitive, but it's not. They are killing any creative exposure of titles to make up for their own platform's shortcomings."
While it is no secret that Microsoft demands exclusivity for Xbox Live Arcade games included in promotions like Summer Of Arcade, the news that it demands feature and release parity across the board is something of a surprise. The claim that it motivated by the needs of its consumers, too, seems a little odd, as it seems designed not to reward those who own Microsoft platforms so much as punish those that do not.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/microso...tform-releases
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 23rd, 2011, 10:54 Posted By: wraggster
You may have heard last week that Microsoft is changing the outer finish of the Xbox 360 250GB consoles from a glossy black to a matte black finish, similar to the current Xbox 360 4GB model.
Some of the news outlets that covered it mentioned having a choice between matte and glossy Xbox 360s this holiday.
I wanted to set the record straight and let everyone know that that is not the case.
We are actively transitioning all our Xbox 360 S consoles to a matte finish. The consoles will start to arrive in stores over the coming weeks, so if you really love the idea of a glossy console don’t wait much longer.
Of course, we still may offer a gloss finish on Limited Edition consoles like the upcoming Gears of War 3 Console or the Star Wars Console, but if you have your eye on a glossy black console you don’t have much time left.
http://majornelson.com/2011/08/12/th...ossy-xbox-360/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 22nd, 2011, 23:28 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft will announce the arrival of new apps for the Xbox 360 "very, very soon".
Last.fm, Facebook, Twitter and Sky are already part of the Xbox 360. YouTube with voice search through Bing is coming with the Christmas redesign of the dashboard.
More third-party applications are set to hit Xbox 360, Robin Burrowes, Xbox Live product marketing manager for EMEA [Europe, Middle East and Africa], told Eurogamer.
"We're working avidly to extend those entertainment partners," he said. "Nothing, unfortunately, to announce today.
"The announcement to be of more partners coming to the platform will give us that critical mass of content experiences.
"There will be announcements, so look out for those coming very, very soon indeed in terms of that space.
"The engine has been really built to cater to that additional amount of content."
One app rumoured to be coming to the Xbox 360 is Skype, which Microsoft bought for a whopping $8.5 billion in May.
Another is the BBC iPlayer, which the BBC wants on the Xbox 360, but only if it is available to all - not just Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The BBC iPlayer is currently available on the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii free of charge.
"We want to be on as many devices as possible," BBC general manager for programmes and on demand Daniel Danker said earlier this month.
"Of course we'd love to be on the Xbox because we want to get the iPlayer to as many licence payers as possible, which is pretty much everyone in the UK.
"We want to be on the cheapest level that you can have on Xbox, and not only for [Xbox Live] Gold subscribers."
In late 2009, a BBC source told The Telegraph: "Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing.
"This does not fit with the BBC's model and Microsoft will not budge at the moment. It is really frustrating for those involved on the BBC side who want to make sure iPlayer is rolled out on as many popular entertainment platforms as possible."
On the issue of the BBC iPlayer coming to Xbox 360, Burrowes remained tight-lipped, but did say talks were ongoing.
"I can't talk about the specific nature of the deal," he said. "All I can say is there are a number of active discussions with a number of partners right now. We are talking to key partners at any given time in the UK.
"Our desire is to bring as many of them to the platform as we possibly can. But I can't talk about the specific nature of any deal. There are too many sensitivities in and around that. Unfortunately some of those sensitivities have spilled out in the past."
There are 35 million Xbox Live members across the world.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ents-very-soon
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 22nd, 2011, 23:19 Posted By: wraggster
Whatever your feelings about Kinect Star Wars, only the coldest of hearts could fail to be excited about this news.
Eurogamer reports that two German retailers have listed a lightsaber peripheral that is Kinect compatible and designed to work with Microsoft's upcoming Kinect Star Wars.
It is said to have a light effect but, strangely, not take any batteries. Prices are currently around the EURO 16 point.
Although the game will not require the use of a controller or accessory, as Kinect tracks a user's body there is in theory nothing to stop a user holding any object they like in their hands. A long, thin lightsaber like device is unlikely to hamper how the camera operates.
In most instances a superfluous accessory would be a nuisance, but in this instance? Yes, that's right. It will make the game one thousand per cent better.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/kinec...spotted/083462
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 22nd, 2011, 22:01 Posted By: wraggster
Good Battlefield 3 press may behind a new lease of life for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 as the EA DICE shooter - which was released last year - jumps six places to take the No.1 spot on this week's official UK Xbox 360 sales chart.
Following at No.2 is last week's chart-topper Dirt 3, while Brink is up five spots to No.3 and FIFA 11 and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean round off the top five.
LA Noire drops one place to No.6, while the All Formats chart leader Zumba Fitness sits at No.7, ahead of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, which leaps from No.14 to No.8.
GfK/Chart-Track Xbox 360 Top 10 (week ending August 20):
01. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (EA)
02. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
03. Brink (Bethesda)
04. FIFA 11 (EA)
05. Lego Pirates of the Carribean (Disney)
06. LA Noire (Take 2)
07. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
08. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
09. Call of Juarez: The Cartel (Ubisoft)
10. Skate 3 (EA)
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...storms-to-no1/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 22nd, 2011, 16:55 Posted By: wraggster
Consumers hoping to see an Xbox 360 price cut to counter the recent drops on PS3 look to be in for some disappointing news.
When asked by VG247 if Microsoft is preparing a hardware price drop of its own, European interactive entertainment VP Chris Lewis responded: “No.
“As you can imagine, we plan for these scenarios all the time. For me to sit here and say that was a big surprise would be a lie. Respect for what they do, of course. I love the competition, actually: it keeps us on our toes, and consumers benefit ultimately.
“We think we offer great value now. We have better service provision than anybody. We attach more effectively than anybody. I think Xbox Live’s enviable. What we’ve achieved with Kinect has given us growth that I think others would aspire to at this point in the lifecycle.
“We’re happy with our position. While we’re not complacent about the competition, I wouldn’t trade places.”
Though the consoles can be had for a range of prices on the UK High Street at the moment, typically the entry-level 4GB machine can be had for between £130 and £150.
This increases to approximately £180-£200 for the 250GB machine, £230-£250 for the 4GB Kinect bundle and £270-£300 for the top-of-the-range 250GB Kinect SKU.
By contrast, the entry-level 120GB PS3 now costs between £180-£200 and the 320GB between £240-£250.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-...e-cards/083513
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 22nd, 2011, 16:45 Posted By: wraggster
WebOS developers may not have had much good news in the past few days (apart from a slew of new TouchPad owners looking for apps), but they are at least getting some attention. That includes a message from Microsoft's Senior Director of Windows Phone 7 Development, Brandon Watson, who offered free phones to published webOS developers on Friday, plus all the necessary tools and training to get them started with Windows Phone. Judging from his tweets since, the response has been fairly overwhelming -- Watson says he's received close to 600 emails from webOS devs as of Sunday evening.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/22/m...ones-training/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 20th, 2011, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft Europe Xbox chief Chris Lewis has said the company's working hard with publishing partners to make multiplatform games better on Xbox 360.
"[Exclusives] are important," he told Eurogamer. "DLC windows of exclusivity are critical for us for differentiation... Exclusive IP is critical. You'll see more of that over time. You'll also see us, though, committed to working with people like EA and Activision on their cross-platform consoles to make sure they play better, and they integrate better across PC, phone and the console in a way other people's just simply can't.
"We're also pretty confident the cross-platform experience is better on Xbox," he added. "We enjoy great success with Call of Duty. Live is the oxygen that runs through our business. The experience users have through Xbox Live is a fundamental differentiator for us versus other platforms. FIFA is another one. Certainly here in Europe football is a religion. Our ongoing commitment to experiencing better and playing better on Xbox is partly a function of what we do with Xbox Live."
Earlier this week, Lewis said he's confident Xbox 360 can be the No.1 console worldwide.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...box-microsoft/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 20th, 2011, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft has long spoken of its ten-year plan for Xbox 360, but that doesn't rule out a successor launching during the period, according to European Xbox boss Chris Lewis.
"We think we're a little over halfway with the life cycle of the console, but that's not to say there won't be an overlap," he told Metro. Xbox 360 launched in November 2005.
"I'm not going to announce specifically or talk about timing," he added. "But you could imagine there could be overlap, it depends. We're not being specific about the next generation at this stage. We're very fixated on what we're doing right now and the success we're enjoying."
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said last month he expects new consoles to launch "soon", while reports have suggested Xbox 360's successor will be unveiled at next year's E3.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ear-lifecycle/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 19th, 2011, 22:57 Posted By: wraggster
Xbox Live now generates more revenue from transactions than subscriptions, Joystiq reports.
Xbox Live EMEA marketing manager Robin Burrowes confirmed that digital content purhcases are now more lucrative for Microsoft than the Gold membership subscription fee.
Last month, Xbox Live Arcade portfolio director Chris Charla telling GamesIndustry.biz that the average price of a game on XBLA has "crept up", in definace of the "race to the bottom" evident on other digital services.
Burrowes also revealed that 5 million users have been added to Xbox Live since January, fuelled by the launch of the Xbox 360 in nine new countries in late 2010.
"Our audience growth is up to 35 million people globally across those 35 countries on Xbox Live itself," he said.
Burrowes declined to comment on the split between Gold and Silver members. However, in December last year, Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Division CEO Dennis Durkin claimed that, "Of our 25 million members, about half of them are subscribers."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...e-on-xbox-live
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 19th, 2011, 22:55 Posted By: wraggster
US retailer GameStop is currently beta testing the streaming of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games, with a plan to roll-out a consumer service by the middle of next year.
Earlier this year the company bought Spawn Labs, extending its peer-to-peer game streaming service into a cloud gaming offering, and promised "a wide selection of high-definition video games on demand on any internet-enabled device."
Yesterday it revealed that as well as PC game streaming, it is working with publishers to stream console games to smart devices as well as dedicated hardware via the Spawn software client.
"Spawn recently began its first beta and is currently live, testing the streaming of Xbox 360, PS3 and PC games from a data centre in Austin, Texas," confirmed GameStop president Tony Bartel.
The beauty of Spawn is it can take a very large assortment of games. There's really no restriction versus an Xbox 360 and PS3 game.
"We continue to get positive feedback from our publishing partners about the pro-console, low-investment model that we have chosen."
The closed beta will go national before the end of the year. At the beginning of 2012 GameStop is expected to reveal more details about the service and what it offers, along with a pricing model - and a nationwide launch is currently scheduled for the first half of 2012.
The Spawn client will be offered to GameStop's PowerUp Rewards members - currently 12 million customers - and feature a demo service which it's claimed will not require publishers to modify their games.
Cloud gaming technology from Gaikai and OnLive is already proving a viable business, offering PC games and demos over the internet with very little in the way of dedicated hardware beyond the right control method.
Behind closed doors these technologies have also shown format crossover such as World of Warcraft running on an iPad or console and full PC games launching from within Facebook.
And with the growth of Smart and connected TVs, both Gaikai and OnLive are dropping their technologydirectly into the hardware and consulting on dedicated controllers, taking streaming games straight to the consumer's living room - an area that GameStop is also interested in.
"Those conversations are taking place today," offered Bartel. "There's a whole cadre of services that GameStop can offer far beyond just Spawn. The beauty of Spawn is it can take a very large assortment of games. There's really no restriction versus an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game.
"We're also experimenting with PC game delivery as well, but we can take that to any Internet-connected device including TV. So clearly, it's part of our acquisition forethought. We anticipated being involved in smart TVs as well."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-in-early-beta
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 19th, 2011, 01:39 Posted By: wraggster
In response to troubling reports that Japanese tech retailers had begun reducing the amount of shelf space they're allotting for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Europe's Chris Lewis confirmed the company has no intention of giving up on the market. "No, of course we're not pulling out," Lewis explained in a recent interview with Eurogamer.
Lewis said that the going is somewhat tough overseas. "It's a challenging market. We are up against very strong competition there." He added, "We're very respectful of what Sony and Nintendo do and where they've come from and what they bring," but thinks the Kinect will help penetrate the nation's motion-control-friendly consumer base. Now, if only they could simultaneously reach the giant mech-combat community as well. Oh wait! They totally are.http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/microsoft-responds-to-claims-of-japanese-retailers-phasing-out-3/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 19th, 2011, 01:25 Posted By: wraggster
Xbox Live has hit 35 million users globally, Xbox Live marketing manager Robin Burrowes has confirmed.
 Speaking with Joystiq at Gamescom in Germany, Burrowes said: "Our audience growth is up to 35 million people globally across those 35 countries on Xbox Live itself."
Five million of those users jumped on board since last January, he said, adding that this rapid grows is in part thanks to the launching of Xbox Live in nine new countries in late 2010.
Burrores wouldn't be pushed into breaking down that number between Gold subscribers and free accounts, but he did say that MS earns "more revenue from the transaction space (XBLA, Avatars and other digital sales) than the subscription space."
Xbox Live has suffered a spat of issues recently, with a US user suing the firm for allegedly double billing for the service, and a recent glitch causing 1000s of points to be handed out for free.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/316165/xbox-live-hits-35-million-global-users/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
|
August 17th, 2011, 22:57 Posted By: wraggster
Kinect can break records again this Christmas, with the help of big brands such as Disney and Star Wars.
 That's according to Microsoft marketing director Michael Johnson, who reckons the 360 motion sensor can top the huge success of last Christmas.
He told CVG at GamesCom: "We think we can [top last Christmas] because this year what we're trying to do is a combination of continuing to innovate and have new things, plus big IP like Disney and Star Wars.
"By bringing in new entertainment properties it makes it so that we're not just going after the hardcore gamer - we have great games for them - but we're not just going after the broad customer either. We have a full range of experiences for the full range of customers.
"There could be a very near future where somebody buys an Xbox 360 just for entertainment - because using your voice to engage with entertainment is something that they want to have."
Pressed if Microsoft has more big brands in the pipeline for the motion sensor, Johnson replied simply, "yes".http://www.computerandvideogames.com/315984/ms-kinect-can-dominate-christmas-again/
To read more of the post and Download, click here!
Join In and Discuss Here
Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here |
|
|
|
|
« prev
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
next » |
|
|
