EA will Charge us for Watching an Xbox 360 Trailer!
Xbox 360 Fanboy :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Hey guess what? If you’re an idiot that can’t stand to wait for even a shred of Madden 07, you can grab a pay-per-view preview of the game starting August 4th. That’s right, a behind the scenes marketing video — the kind that most companies freely distribute on the Internet — will be available on your TV for a mere 20 dollars American. EA and ESPN should be reviled for this, and rightfully so. The sad thing is that this will make money for EA. There are people stupid enough to pay EA to advertise a product they were already planning on buying.
Gamefest: Xbox 360 Accessories Future Plans
Firing Squad :: Friday, August 18, 2006
At Gamefest earlier today, Microsoft held a panel on their current and upcoming plans for accessories for their Xbox 360 console. Rob Walker, the hardware unit product manager for the company, spoke to the panel and gave some very interesting tidbits and hints about their future plans (and also threw some digs at Nintendo and Sony’s controller plans). Walker began by looking back at what Microsoft has released so far, including wired and wireless controllers, the 20 GB hard drive, controller charging kits, A/V cables, TV remote controllers and more. He also touched upon current and upcoming third party accessories from companies like MadCatz, Logitech and more.
Your Mom Plays Xbox 360 Games?
Primo Technology :: Friday, August 18, 2006
“…God forbid, even your mom will be playing games here [on the Xbox 360]…” – Peter Moore’s October, 2005 Primotech Interview. A fairly brazen statement, but then again, the man chosen to spearhead Microsoft’s next-gen console offensive was never one for modesty. Just about eight months later, we put Mr. Moore’s words to the test. But let’s back up a bit.
1080p Meaningless this Generation?
Ozymandia’s Blog :: Friday, August 18, 2006
There’s been a lot of interest in the PS3 due to its stated 1080p output for both games and movies (via Blu-ray). What’s interesting is that a lot of folks don’t realize how meaningless 1080p actually is in this generation.
Saint’s Row Preview
Hexus :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Whilst driving around the streets there are plenty of radio stations and talk shows to listen to, with some even providing ‘real-time’ news reports based on gang activity and you’ll also have the opportunity to drop by a garage and modify your car.
MS Denies 360 Price Drop
Computer and Video Games.com :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Rumours have swirled out of the Taiwanese OEM market this morning that Microsoft is planning a huge $100 price drop on the Xbox 360 this Christmas, as a direct response to the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 3.
Microsoft Taiwan has apparently moved swiftly to scotch the rumours, with spokeswoman Freda Lee saying “We do not have plans to lower the price of the Xbox 360 before the end of the year.” However, seasoned MS watchers should be taking both sides’ statements with more than a pinch of salt. On the one hand, the OEM rumours would seem to be just that – rumours – as there’s no way the Redmond giant would commit to any definitive price drop this early in the piece.
GameFest: Xbox Live Marketplace Details Revealed
Gamasutra :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Speaking at its GameFest event in Seattle, Microsoft has talked candidly about its Xbox Live service, specifically the Xbox Live Marketplace, which makes both free and premium content available for download for Xbox 360 users, and has been a notable success since launch.
Specifically, Microsoft’s Marketplace Business Manager Rohan Oommen sketched out a detailed GameFest presentation on the Marketplace, which covered what has been accomplished since the service went live in November 2005 with the launch of the Xbox 360, as well as where Microsoft envisions it heading in the months to come.
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Video Dev Diary #1
Gamer’s Hell :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Microsoft Hints At New Controller Plans
Gamasutra :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Speaking at a panel at the Microsoft Gamefest event in Seattle, Robert Walker, the company’s hardware unit product manager, has hinted that a new iteration of the Xbox 360 controller may be created with improved functionality for first person shoot ’em-ups. As reported in detail by veteran consumer site Shacknews and also relayed by others, Walker indicated that there were still no plans to support a keyboard and mouse in future titles but that a new optional “advanced” controller may be introduced with a redesigned right analogue stick (the equivalent of a mouse in most console control systems) to allow for more precise movements. Walker made it clear that the proposed controller would not replace the current joypad, which has been almost universally praised by users.
XCM 360 Full Case with RUBY RED and EURO LED
Team Xtender :: Friday, August 18, 2006
XCM 360 Full Case with RUBY RED and EURO LED Set is to be released soon! For details please email sales -AT- teamxtender.com
Xbox 360 to Make Money at last in Fiscal Year 2008
PC World :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Microsoft will see profitability in its Xbox business by its 2008 fiscal year, the company said at its annual Financial Analyst Meeting Thursday.
Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, said that although the Xbox business will lose money for the second year in a row in fiscal 2007, which began July 1, the loss will not be as big as it was in fiscal 2006, which was a “transitional” year for the company’s game console as Microsoft readied its second-generation Xbox 360 product. Fiscal year 2008 for Microsoft begins July 1, 2007.
Other Ways to Look at your Xbox Live Activity
Gamer Score Chart :: Friday, August 18, 2006
GamerScoreChart.com is a service which allows you to convert the points earned playing Xbox 360 games into an image which shows the progress of your score over time. This real time chart is kept up to date automatically when it is retrieved. You can also compare your Gamerscore to a friend’s score to see who gets the bragging rights.
McGee: PS3 and Xbox 360 Mere ‘Upgrades’
Next Gen Biz :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Game designer American McGee (American McGee’s Alice) has offered some blunt insight on the console race, saying that the Wii is the only real next-gen system, while the PS3 and 360 are mere “upgrades.”
Review: Prey
Primo Technology :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Take your typical action hero. Maybe he’s an elite commando or space marine? He’s headstrong and courageous. Most likely a red-blooded American? He’s eager to take on any villain that stands in his way, most often to ensure the survival of humanity.
Sudoku Gridmaster for DS
Bytesector :: Friday, August 18, 2006
“Through the ravages of time it has endured. Scrawled in stone etchings, it has weathered over a thousand years of change. No, it’s not your ancient ancestor’s Cavegirl Monthly; it’s Sudoku. Rooted in mathematical theories over ten centuries old, this modern brain game has swept the world in a storm of popularity. The basics of the game usually involved a pencil and paper, but Hudson Soft and Nintendo have teamed up to improve upon the traditions of the game with the release of Sudoku Gridmaster for the Nintendo DS. ”
Running Vista Media Center on Xbox 360 – Video
Ian Dixon :: Friday, August 18, 2006
Last night I played with the extender function of Windows Vista. This is the first time I have got my Xbox 360 working as an extender with Vista. Using the latest build of Vista (5472) I setup up the Xbox 360 as an extender. The setup was very simple, it seems slicker that the XP version and maybe a little quicker. Once up and running it looks exactly like Media Center running on Vista, with the new UI and sounds.
I made a little video of Vista Media Center running on my XBOX 360, check out the new mini guide in action as well as the the new sounds:
Microsoft Re-Confirms HD-DVD Player Not for Games
Xbox-Scene :: Friday, August 18, 2006
I’m seeing lots of speculation about our upcoming HD DVD Player, and whether we have plans to publish HD DVD games. The answer is no. Since announcing the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player accessory at E3 2006, we’ve been clear that it is designed exclusively for playing HD DVD movies. It will not play games on HD DVD.
At this point, we haven’t seen anything to suggest that next-gen DVD formats offer a better game experience than current DVD. What we do know is that these formats will bring added cost to game developers, disc manufacturing, and could even result in added costs and longer load times for the consumer, which would negatively impact the game experience. We are focused on making great HD games available to consumers now, and games like “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” clearly show that beautiful high def graphics and huge, immersive worlds to explore are possible on the DVD9 format.
MGS chief states Xbox 360 games may require HD-DVD
XboxIC :: Friday, August 18, 2006
So yes, we still remember Microsoft executives saying “Xbox 360 gamers will never require a hard drive to play games”, only to be shocked by the Football Manager packshot stating that the game did require the HD after all. Similarly, the Xbox guys were even more adamant about that the games would never require a larger disc than the current dual layer DVD, and that HD-DVD would only ever be used for displaying HD movies through your 360. Will that turn out to be “slightly off the truth” as well?
Xbox 360 Camera To Ship With Free Game
Gamasutra :: Friday, August 18, 2006
As part of Microsoft’s Gamefest this week in Seattle, Gamasutra has obtained exclusive new details on the launch of the Xbox Live Vision video camera accessory for the Xbox 360, including confirmation of a gesture-based game that is set to be included for free with the hardware.
Microsoft’s Jeff Stone revealed the new information on the Xbox 360-exclusive game in question, TotemBall, which was first announced in May of this year. It is being developed by UK-based Strange Flavour and Freeverse, both of whom are mainly known for their Macintosh titles.
Titan Quest
Bytesector :: Thursday, August 17, 2006
“The 3D hack-and-slash genre used to have one game to rule them all. Everyone knows about the classic Action/RPG title Diablo, and they probably also wish that it hadn’t dwindled into nothing more than a memory. So, in a genuine attempt to garner interest from angst filled youth, disheartened middle age employees and the fantasy daydreamer populous, THQ has taken a mere mortal and turned them into a sword wielding, fireball whipping, butt kicker to rekindle your love for hack-and-slash games with Titan Quest.”
