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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
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September 1st, 2009, 15:38 Posted By: wraggster
While the Xbox 360 has already gotten a price reduction in the States, it hasn't yet in Japan. That will changed tomorrow when the company shaves the console's price tag for the region.
According to Microsoft Hong Kong, the Japanese arm of the company is holding a press conference in Tokyo tomorrow to announce the Xbox 360 price cut. The lower priced consoles won't hit Asian retails until September 10th.
Last last month, Microsoft announced that the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite will sell for $299.99, while the popular 60GB Xbox 360 Pro will be cut to $249.99. What's more, production of the the Xbox 360 Pro has already stopped, despite being Microsoft's current top selling model.
Microsoft has denied that the price-cuts are in anyway related to the PS3 price-cut Sony announced earlier this past August. "I think it's a bit coincidental," Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told Kotaku, "but it's also somewhat logical with both (Sony and Microsoft) making price adjustments at this time of the year because we are turning the corner of the holiday season."
http://kotaku.com/5349900/microsoft-...japan-tomorrow
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September 1st, 2009, 15:34 Posted By: wraggster
Doritos is to team up with Microsoft to once again offer aspiring game designers the chance to have their ideas made into an Xbox Live Arcade game.
The contest, which began in 2007, comes with a grand prize of USD 50,000 and also gives its winner a game consultancy position with Doritos as well as the chance to see their idea made into a full XBLA downloadable game.
"We are always looking for new ways to connect with fans and give them unique opportunities to express their creativity in a way only Doritos and our partners can deliver," said Ann Mukherjee, group vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay. "Many of the people who love Doritos also love gaming, and this innovative program gives our fans a chance to live their dreams."
"By bringing their brand to the Xbox Live audience, Doritos has the opportunity to reach a subscriber base of more than 20 million." added Mark Kroese, general manager of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Advertising Business Group. "The first 'Doritos Dash of Destruction' game was a record breaker in terms of first week downloads. We're excited to see what this round of creativity brings."
The submission stage of the competition has just opened, requiring entrants submit a two minute video of their pitch. From these submissions, two will ultimately be chosen and given the opportunity to produce their game into a full XBLA title, which will be made available for download over the service. The one with the most votes at the end of the process will win the overall prize.
Last year's consumer-created winner became the fastest XBLA title to reach one million downloads. Entry to the competition is only open to those in North America and will close on October 4.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ox-competition
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August 31st, 2009, 17:20 Posted By: wraggster
Newly released today
features
Set in the Amazon in the year 2011, players will experience lush jungle visuals, haunting ambient sounds, changes in the weather, and an enemy in their home element
Featuring the best of both worlds, Raven Squad has both FPS and RTS gameplay combine for a blazing action experience
A multiplayer co-operative campaign that allows players to take control of a squad and play through the entire game with a friend online
Multiple solutions to every conflict - every battle can play out differently and be resolved in many different ways
8 characters with their own unique backgrounds, personalities, behaviors, weapons and skills
Players can order their squads into vehicles and take the wheel in first-person mode
description
Raven Squad is a tactical action game set in the Amazonian jungles that blends a first person shooter (FPS) experience with the command and overview advantages of a tactical real-time strategy (RTS) with dominantly story driven objectives. The player can solve each tactical situation using his own combination of the two genres either by himself or cooperatively with a friend.
http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-2oyq.html
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August 29th, 2009, 11:40 Posted By: wraggster
So much for secrecy. South African Xbox 360 distributor Comztek has told local gaming news site XboxGaming.co.za that the a 250GB "Super Elite" model is due there in October. Additionally, the Forza 3 bundle we saw heading to Germany is also en route to SA, retailing for R4,999 (US $646), or around the same price as the Elite before its recent global price cut. South African retailer BT Games has apparently also posted a flier in honor of the launch (pictured), offering a R500 discount on the Super Elite (non-Forza 3 bundle, presumably) with the trade-in of a slimline PlayStation 2, totaling R4,199 (US $541) post-discount, or a 120GB Elite for R2,999 after the same trade-in rebate. Let's hope the folks in Redmond have as much of a sense of humor about leaks as Sony does.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/x...south-african/
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August 29th, 2009, 11:39 Posted By: wraggster
With TV shows, music video, and video podcasts already proliferating the Zune marketplace, it was really only a matter of time before Microsoft dipped its toes into HD movies -- not to mention kind of a logical step since Xbox Live was getting its movie section Zune-branded. BostonPocketPC writer Steven Hughes has uploaded pictures of an alleged pamphlet handed out at Best Buy's Zune HD showings that, among other things, make reference to finding Zune Marketplace content including HD movies. Ban on HDTV Media Center recordings notwithstanding, things are looking up for Zune 4.0 software. And here we thought Apple was late to the party with its movie service.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/z...e-marketplace/
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August 29th, 2009, 11:38 Posted By: wraggster
Hey, our main dudes over at Joystiq sat down with Xbox's Aaron Greenberg recently, and there are some great bits of info in the interview. Aaron says the big Xbox price cut has been planned for months, so it's "just a coincidence" that it happened right on top of the PS3 Slim -- and he also says he's an avid Joystiq reader, so if Redmond had wanted to get the jump on Sony, they'd have been prepared. Other nuggets: the $99 WiFi adapter isn't coming down in price, the Netflix relationship is going well, and getting Hulu or Amazon Unbox on the 360 is like "asking out a really hot chick on a date, they don't all say yes." Yeah, it's a pretty great interview -- hit the read link for the whole thing.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/x...t-a-really-ho/
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August 28th, 2009, 23:01 Posted By: wraggster
Newly released today
Batman: Arkham Asylum" exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum - Gotham's psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.
Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum.
Jump into the den of the most memorable villains. Blood thirsty and crazy, but definitely not stupid, the residents in the Asylum are every citizen's nightmare come true. Become the true light of Gotham city, wipe out the evil before they wipe out the city.
Play around with Batman's many different gadgets. Watching the action unfold in the movie is exciting, this game, however pushes the excitement to a new level, a true mission that only the fittest of the superheroes can partake.
The game is available on multiple platforms:
Xbox360™
Batman: Arkham Asylum ASIA US$ 49.90
Batman: Arkham Asylum US US$ 64.90
PlayStation3™
Batman: Arkham Asylum ASIA US$ 49.90
Batman: Arkham Asylum US US$ 64.90
PC Game
Batman: Arkham Asylum (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 34.90
Batman: Arkham Asylum (DVD-ROM) US US$ 49.90
http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...-255-84-n.html
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August 28th, 2009, 21:57 Posted By: wraggster
This shouldn't really come as too much of a surprise, but anyone wanting to enjoy Twitter and Facebook on Xbox Live will have to pony up for Gold member subscription, the same premium prerequisite currently needed for Netflix Instant Watch and pretty much all online gaming. Silver membership will be given a "free trial," but exactly what limitations that entails, or if they'll be an option to "upgrade" to the full version, is anyone's guess.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/t...-gold-members/
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August 28th, 2009, 21:52 Posted By: wraggster
Studio reveals it’s looking for creative minds beyond of game design
Rare’s approach to project Natal may not be as game-centric as initially believed.
A recent recruitment ad campaign revealed that the UK developer is looking for new staff that are not particularly versed in game design.
“Your experience in games design is not necessarily important,” it read.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35605/Rare...Natal-approach
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August 28th, 2009, 16:13 Posted By: wraggster
EA's chief thinker Rich Hilleman reckons Microsoft and Sony "nearly expired" making PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and that we'll see incremental updates long before a true next generation rolls around.
"I expected we'll see a PlayStation 3.5 before we see a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 560 before we see an Xbox 720," Hilleman told VentureBeat.
His words are arguably reflected in Sony's move to make a PS3 Slim and Microsoft's decision to do Project Natal, which was conceived to effectively relaunch the Xbox 360 sometime next autumn.
How long until we see a true next generation is unclear, although Sony's oft-touted Ten Year Plan suggests we have a while to go.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ea...560-before-720
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August 27th, 2009, 21:50 Posted By: wraggster
Although the Xbox 360's cheapest package, the Arcade, experienced no price adjustment in the States during the recent markdown, the same can't be said for its British cousin. In the UK, the Arcade actually increased 30 lbs. pounds overnight, with no added value in the box. Microsoft, by way of CVG, has explained it as an attempt to "offset" exchange rate fluctuations and local market conditions.
A Microsoft representative told the site that the increase from £130 to £160 is a first for the company, which has never "made upward adjustments to the trade price of consoles before." British gamers have been asked to take solace in the fact that -- even with the increase -- the Xbox 360 remains "the most affordable console in the market."
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/27/xb...soft-explains/
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August 27th, 2009, 21:49 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's VP of Interactive Entertainment Business in Europe, Chris Lewis, tells GI.biz that the removal of the HDMI cable from the Elite packaging was to enable more "flexibility to consumers who can then decide which type of cable they want for their specific gaming and TV screen set-up." Pardon us, but that's like saying Sub-Zero ripping out your spine gives your body more "flexibility." Of course, the drawback is that you're dead.
Adding insult to injury, the new Elite bundle isn't just shipping sans HDMI cable, it has no HD cables at all; meaning that consumers now have even more flexibility to purchase better cables. While any old HDMI cable will do (they're cheap too!), the Xbox 360 component cable is proprietary and priced at $40 (as is the VGA cable). Want optical audio with your HDMI? That adapter's proprietary, too -- and $50. In fairness, PS3s don't ship with HD cables either (they do have an optical audio port, though), and that's always been a joke -- a joke that Microsoft is now in on.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/27/mi...umers-flexibi/
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August 27th, 2009, 21:29 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft Europe bigwig Chris Lewis has shrugged off suggestions that this morning's Xbox 360 Elite price-drop was done deliberately to undermine the imminent launch of PS3 Slim.
"As we've said before, we have our own rhythm that we march to and that's not going to change," Chris Lewis, VP of MS Europe, told GamesIndustry.biz.
"The timing was very deliberate: these things take considerable time to plan, and for that reason I'm sure you'll appreciate this is very much part of the strategy that was planned some time ago.
"We think it's very appropriate anyway," he added. "We've always said we'd offer great value and be competitive, we're still €50 or better in price than our nearest competition, and we'll focus on creating great value as well as fabulous services and content for consumers."
Lewis said a move like this will be "part and parcel of the plan" for Xbox 360 over its lifetime, however long that may be. "Our appetite to continue to win, and to hold our lead and grow our lead over the competition is very central to what we have planned in and budgeted in for the year," he explained.
As of tomorrow, the Xbox 360 Elite costs £199.99, while the Xbox 360 Arcade rises to £159.99. This, as Lewis reiterated, is to offset exchange rate "fluctuations" in the UK.
He is confident Microsoft still offers "the most affordable console on the market", though, and expects people to continue "flocking" to shops to buy it.
Incidentally, the removal of the HDMI lead from the Xbox 360 Elite box gives "flexibility" to buyers to decide what sort of set-up configuration they want, said Lewis. Shortly before, he rather more credibly suggested the lead was taken out so the price could be lowered.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ms...ed-to-ps3-slim
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August 27th, 2009, 21:28 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg believes that Xbox 360's notorious hardware problems are "well behind us" thanks to manufacturing improvements.
"I think we've made it clear we stand by the quality of our product and we will make it right by fixing the problem at no extra cost to you," Greenberg told GameSpot.
"But at the same time, we've been working hard to make improvements in the products we're currently making, so I really feel like most of this is well behind us." The platform holder's product management kingpin put that down to things like "lower-heat chips and better cooling".
Although Xbox 360 comes with a one-year warranty, Microsoft will replace consoles that fail with three red rings or E74 errors for a period of three years after the purchase date.
Xbox 360 has been plagued by reliability issues ever since its November 2005 launch, and at one stage author Dean Takahashi claimed the original factory defect rate was 68 per cent.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gr...s-reliable-now
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August 27th, 2009, 21:26 Posted By: wraggster
Analyst firm EEDAR has said that the price cuts on the Xbox 360 will not give any significant boost to sales of Microsoft's console this year.
The Xbox 360 Elite dropped in price to USD 299 / EUR 249 / GBP 199 today, and brings the system in-line with the recently lowered PlayStation 3 price point.
"Forecasting for the remainder of the year, EEDAR does not expect the Xbox 360 to see a significant sales lift over last year’s performance despite its price drop for the Xbox 360 Elite system," wrote the company.
"In fact, the consistency of sales would indicate that the USD 299 price point is a sweet spot for the next-generation home consoles."
Jesse Divnich, director of analyst service at EEDAR, said that Microsoft is likely to further lower the price of the Elite console to USD 249 in the next 12 months, in time to offer a USD 299 Xbox complete with the Project Natal technology.
"Over the next year Microsoft will most likely reposition the Xbox 360 Elite model closer to the USD 249 price point to both pressure Sony and attract potential Nintendo Wii consumers.
"From a strategic standpoint this would then allow Microsoft to introduce the new Natal model in 2010/2011 at the USD 299 price point and still have an option for consumers cheaper than the Sony PlayStation 3," he wrote.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...uts-says-eedar
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August 27th, 2009, 21:25 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft has told GamesIndustry.biz that new Xbox 360 consumers won't be put off by higher prices now that the company is phasing out the £179 Premium console and only offering the Arcade and Elite units.
The company bumped up the Arcade price this morning, and for those looking for a console complete with hard-drive to take advantage of digital content, they now only have the option of the £199 Elite on store shelves.
"I don't see it that way," said Chris Lewis, VP of the Xbox business in Europe, when asked why the barrier to entry will be more expensive tomorrow when the new prices come into effect, than it is today.
"The way to see it now is that we're trying to make the premium Xbox 360 experience even more affordable for people. We're giving access to the Xbox 360 Elite. Research clearly shows this, when you reach these magic price points that are very important in the consumer marketplace, when you reach EUR 249 / £199 you do open up much more volume and accessibility.
"From our point of view we've rationalised and clarified the SKU line-up and made the premium experience even more affordable for people," he said.
Raising the price of the Arcade unit was necessary due to currency fluctuations, said Lewis, adding that the company did not see it as a mistake to drop the price of the Arcade to £129 over 18 months ago, as it helped accelerate the company into a leadership position.
"We're very happy with the results, and we placed a lot of time and rigour on this. We do a lot of consumer research and we thought it was the right thing to do at the right time. We wanted to inject more pace into the business 18 months ago.
"We also doubled our investment in media, we dropped our pricing twice last calendar year to get to what we thought was the right value offering across all of the SKUs at that time whilst putting in a high-level investment in marketing and people and the organisation to get us into the leadership position we now enjoy.
"We've got no tolerance to see that performance drop. Which is why we've aligned the prices in the way that we have today," he added.
Lewis also said that more console and software bundles will be on the way for Christmas, both from Microsoft and retail partners, and the company is bullish on its success during the festive retail period.
The price cuts aren't a reaction to Sony's recent lowering of the PlayStation 3 price, said Lewis, and the company intends to remain aggressive on price in the hardware market.
"Our appetite is to continue to win, and to hold our lead and grow our lead over the competition is very central to what we have planned in and budgeted in for the year," he said
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...rrier-to-entry
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August 27th, 2009, 21:24 Posted By: wraggster
Retailer GAME has reacted positively to today's news of the Xbox 360 Elite price drop, saying that now will be the "perfect time" for consumers to buy the console.
Microsoft announced the cut earlier today, confirming it was reducing the Elite's price to GBP 199.99 (USD 299.99 in the US). It's a move that offers consumers great value, according to Martyn Gibbs, customer and brand director of GAME.
"Whether you are looking to buy your first console or you've been waiting for a price drop, now is the perfect time to get your hands on this console. It can be enjoyed by the whole family with a fantastic range of games coming between now and Christmas and will also soon offer Sky through it as well," he said.
And with Sony also slashing of the price of the PlayStation 3 to GBP 249.99 last week, there are now great value options available to buyers, Gibbs added.
"Following the price drop on PS3 last week, the choice of great value consoles is fantastic."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...antastic-value
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August 27th, 2009, 21:23 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft tells MCV that plans for Facebook and Twitter access on Xbox Live are not yet finalised
Xbox 360 platform holder Microsoft has told MCV that reports claiming Twitter and Facebook access on Xbox 360 will be reserved for Gold members of Xbox Live only are incorrect.
The belief stems from a footnote in this morning’s announcement of a price cut for the Xbox 360 Elite console which stated: “Xbox Live Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available.”
However, a Microsoft spokesperson told MCV that the information is “incorrect” and that the firm “is still formulating its plans” for Xbox 360’s upcoming social network integration.
Facebook and Twitter were initially expected to come as part of Microsoft’s recent Xbox 360 ‘fall’ update but will now arrive some time later this year.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35592/Xbox...aims-incorrect
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