Posts Tagged ‘Microsoft’
Microsoft testing Xbox Live rewards program
Rumors began circulating yesterday that Microsoft was preparing to test an Xbox Live rewards program and today emails have been sent out confirming that fact.
Below a Microsoft spokesperson comments on the program:
“We are always exploring ways to provide the most value for our members and are currently testing a pilot rewards program with a select base of our Xbox LIVE community in the US. We have no further details to share at this time.”
Yup, same deal, they let us know what they are doing but refuse to give us any details on the matter. Kotaku says there will be a sign-up period to test the program out that ends on October 21st.
As always, we’ll keep you posted.
Michael Pachter predicts Project Natal to cost 50 bucks
Now I’ve never been one to put much stock into the speculations of industry analysts but Michael Pachter has a good track record and his latest analysis is one I like, so I shall tell you about it — Pachter predicts that the motion sensing technology from Microsoft currently entitled Project Natal will cost no more than $50.
He elaborates by saying that Natal is just a single camera and when compared to the PlayStation Motion Controller it will most likely cost a great deal less as Sony’s offering is both a controller and a camera.
Whatever the case, Microsoft is going to have to price Project Natal very competitively as it is essentially an add on for the Xbox 360 and they will have to do so to keep up with both Sony and Nintendo.
via industrygamers
Halo 3: ODST third fastest selling 360 game
VGChartz has recently posted up the results for the first week of sales for Halo 3: ODST and the results are sure to have both Bungie and Microsoft a bit excited. It seems that judging by “week one” sales alone, Halo 3: ODST is now the third fastest selling game of all time behind only Halo 3 and GTA IV with Gears of War 2 close behind in 4th.
However, you have to make note that ODST was released on a Tuesday while Gears of War 2 was released on a Friday, giving ODST 5 days in their first week of sales while Gears 2 only had 2. So, literally, it’s the 4th fastest selling Xbox 360 game but technically. it’s the third. Get it?
Anyways, sales were right around 1.8 million with 1.7 million of those copies being taken off store shelves in North America, 230,000 in the UK, 50,000 in France and about 20,000 in Japan.
So, it’s official, put Halo on anything and it’ll sell like hot cakes!
XBLA title size limit increased to 2GB
We may be seeing much more feature extensive titles hitting the Xbox Live Arcade as it was recently announced that the file size limit for titles offered on the service will now be capped at 2GB.
News comes to us from Microsoft’s Scott Austin who took center stage at TGS ‘09 to say the following:
In order to continue fostering the creation of great titles on the platform, Microsoft has increased the file size limit of XBLA titles to 2 GB. We pride ourselves in being the premier destination for downloadable games, and the new file size limit allows developers to push their creative boundaries.
With this new file size increase the line between an Xbox Live Arcade title and a full fledged title will be drawn even thinner.
via destructoid
Forza Motorsport 3 250GB Xbox 360 officially coming to the UK
Yet another game inspired Xbox 360 SKU has been announced, this time for Forza Motorsport 3. This announcement is basically just Microsoft coming clean about the 250GB Xbox 360 Elite that we saw appear on Amazon late last month.
Inside the box you will find the 250GB Xbox 360, of course, in addition to 2 wireless controllers, an Xbox 360 headset and Forza Motorsport 3. American gamers need not get excited as this SKU is currently exclusive to the European market when it drops on October 23rd for £249.99 or about $413.
Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 to hit Europe
Considering Modern Warfare 2 is gearing up to be such a big launch Microsoft and Infinity Ward have announced a special edition Xbox 360 console that we showed you earlier today. Well, you didn’t they wouldn’t give Halo 3: ODST the same kind of treatment, did you? OK, good, for what you see above is a Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 Elite SKU currently schedule for launch only in Europe.
Unfortunately, there will be no ODST brandings on the console itself but it will include Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and the Halo: Reach beta in addition to a Xbox Live 1-month membership card.
There’s no word if us Americans will ever be seeing this SKU but European gamers can expect it to hit store shelves sometime in early October.
No standalone 250GB Xbox 360 hard drive
With the release of 250GB hard drive touting Xbox 360 consoles, one would only believe that Microsoft would release a standalone version of the 250GB hard drive for users who aren’t looking to purchase a new console. Well, if you thought this, you’d be wrong as it was recently made known today that Microsoft has no intentions to release the hard ware.
Of course, with the 120GB hard drive priced at $150, you could only assume a 250GB hard drive would be $300 or more. And who would want that, right?
via kotaku
802.11n Xbox 360 WiFi adapter spotted at the FCC
The current Microsoft licenensed Xbox 360 WiFi adapter only supports 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a which is quickly becoming obsolete due to the prominence of 802.11n. Microsoft has evidentally made note of this as an Xbox 360 WiFi adapter has made its way through the FCC featuring 802.11n compatibility.
There’s no word on when we will see this hardware hit the streets but let’s hope it’s soon.
via engadget
Xbox 360 games no longer required to be HD
Way back in 2005 when Microsoft first let the Xbox 360 loose they set a precedent that all games were required to run in a resolution of at least 720p. Well, if Black Rock Studios’ David Jefferies is to be believed (which he is), that is no longer the case.
Jefferies recently went on record to say that Microsoft has just recently given developers to go ahead to develop games that run below a 720p resolution. You’ll make note that we reported to you a while back that games like Halo 3: ODST and Modern Warfare 2 run at a resolution lower than 720p, although those developers most likely got special treatment considering the scale of both titles.
via kotaku
Overlord 2 “Battle Rock Nemesis” DLC out now
The new Overlord II downloadable content, titled “Battle Rock Nemesis”, is now available for purchase on Xbox Live and PlayStation Store.
The add-on will allow players to venture into a new arena, where they will be pitted against new foes for a chance at new items and spells. For 360 owners, new achievements have also been unlocked. Word on the Windows DLC will be announced soon, but no word as of yet.
The DLC will cost you 400 Microsoft Points, or $4.99.
Halo Legends shown off via video
Yesterday Microsoft let us know that there would be an anime miniseries inspiried by their flagship franchise, Halo entitled Halo Legends.
Today, the internets are a buzz over the miniseries’ debut trailer, included above. As you can see, there are segments produced by all 5 Japanese studios that are signed onto the project.
But wait, during Casio Entertainment’s segment there are the beginnings of a CG swordfight. I don’t remember Master Chief moving so nimbly in the video games. Oh well, let’s hope Halo Legends does the franchise justice and isn’t just an attempt by Microsoft to milk the franchise.
Xbox Live dashboard preview now available to testers
It seems that those who were given the chance to test out the forthcoming Xbox Live dashboard update will be today greeted with a notice.
A notice offering you none other than the update’s beta version. Now, the full update’s not expected to go live until next month, so the offerings are subject to change, but below is a list, courtesy of Engadget, detailing some of the new features:
- Netflix now has way, way more options. You can actually browse content via the app, which is great. As a commenter points out, HD content is now denoted with a tag.
- There isn’t any avatar prop content available just yet — hopefully we’ll get to pick out an awesome gun to carry around soon though.
- No Games on Demand content from the current gen console is available, but apparently the games will start rolling out in early August (sigh).
- As we noted in previous posts, the preview doesn’t boast any of the Last.fm, Facebook, or Twitter additions yet.
- We know they’re still working the kinks out, but there seems to be noticeable slowdown when shifting between pages, something we’ve never noticed before in the NXE.
So far they seem to be satisfied with the update although we will all have to hold judgement on the New-New Xbox Experience until it’s actually released to the masses.
Halo Legend anime to debut early 2010
Comic-Con is in full swing and Microsoft is in attendance. The company recently took center stage to let everyone know that there will be a Halo themed anime minseries entitled Halo Legends.
Halo Legends will apparantly make its way onto DVD and digital platforms (Xbox Live?) in early 2010 courtesy of Warner Bros. The show will be produced by 5 Japanese anime studios which include Bones, Casio Entertainment, Studio4 C, Toei Animation and Production I.G.
Frank O’Conner, creative director of 343 Industries, let us know that Halo Legends will exist to give viewers a further insight into the Halo universe and along with giving it a new direction. A new direction? You mean to set us up for the impending release of Halo: Reach.
via Joystiq
Microsoft patents 3D advertising environment
If you thought Sony’s Playstation Home was stupid, get ready for this — A recent patent filed by Microsoft details a 3D advertising environment that is somewhat similar to the abovementioned Home.
However, instead of a fully fuctional 3D environement players will instead take the form of an avatar that is determined based on the advertisment. Still don’t get it? Below is an excerpt from the patent filing that might give you a better picture:
In one example, to advertise the movie TRANSFORMERS, an advertiser may provide the robot BUMBLEBEE, which is a popular character in the movie, as the advertiser-generated avatar. The BUMBLEBEE avatar may include functionality to “transform” between the robot and the CHEVROLET CAMARO depicted in the movie. In another example, to advertise the cereal TRIX, an advertiser may provide the TRIX RABBIT as the advertiser-generated avatar. The TRIX RABBIT avatar may include functionality to say the popular catchphrase “SILLY RABBIT, TRIX ARE FOR KIDS.” In yet another example, to advertiser the ZUNE digital media player from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, an advertiser may provide an image of the ZUNE digital media player as the advertiser-generated avatar. The ZUNE digital media player avatar may include functionality to change colors, change models, and play various digital media.
But what will Microsoft give us in return for participating in these 3D advertisment environments? I’ll take Microsoft Points.
via Kotaku
Race Pro Game Review–Like Driving A Brick Through Wet Cement
Yes, it’s yet another in a long, long, LONG series of racing games currently available for the Xbox 360. This time, we’re talking about Race Pro, a game that breathlessly promises to be “the ultimate racing simulation experience”, and I’m sure that is the case on planets where no one has discovered driving, video games, the internal combustion engine or the wheel.
That’s the thrust of the review today, folks–this IS in fact the ultimate racing simulation experience if you’ve either never actually had a racing simulation experience before or you’ve never actually driven anything before.
Basically, the plot of the game, such as it is, is exactly that. You’re going to drive cars. No, this doesn’t exactly have the same literary quality of Ridge Racer’s young up-and-comer looking to burn his way through the ranks of the professional driving circuit, or the various underground racers where you’re out to gather pinks and impress hot chicks who like to wave flags half-naked for little or no conceivable reason. You’re just here to go fast and turn left, except for when, on occasion, you will be called upon to turn RIGHT.
You may be asking yourself at this point, hey, if that’s all I’m supposed to do, then why even bother? I mean, if I wanted to be stuck in traffic for twenty minutes while I tried to drive a car down a twisty, windy track, then why don’t I just jump in my car and actually, you know, go somewhere? At least then everybody on the Internet’ll stop calling me a basement dweller because I haven’t left the house in months.
Sadly, I don’t have much of an answer for that. Oh, sure, with Race Pro you’ll get to try out various different kinds of cars, on various different types of tracks, with various different types of options. I give Race Pro due credit for having an almost OBSCENE number of options–not only can you tweak the difficulty, you can also tweak subclasses of the difficulty as well. For instance, if you’re racing on hard mode and find the AI’s just a little TOO aggressive with the competing drivers, you can actually dial down the racers’ AI difficulty level. It’s an absolutely customizable racing experience.
Absolutely customizable, yes…but worthwhile? That’s where I’m going to have to say no. I had SERIOUS problems with the controls on this one–even something that should be video-game simple, the drift maneuver, I couldn’t manage to pull off. In fact, driving the Mini Cooper in the first level felt exactly like the headline described, like driving a brick through wet cement. I remember trying to pull off a turn, so naturally, I decelerate so I can jam on the gas after I’ve started to pitch my nose a bit. The car promptly decides that it prefers going straight, and thusly goes COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK and into the dirt. The game then warns me that I’m “cutting track”, to which I respond with a torrent of obscenities detailing the fact that, one, I already KNOW I’m off the track and, two, that I wouldn’t have been if the game had done what it was told to do in the first place.
This is, of course, profoundly irritating, but there’s probably a workaround if you’re desperate enough for a new racing game to try. I personally say that there are better racing games out there–vastly better, in fact–but if you want a driving sim that’ll give you a huge fight, then Race Pro is the game you want.
Tags: atari, Driving, driving game, Microsoft, race pro, Racing, racing game, sim, Simulation, simulation game, xbox 360