by Rainier on Aug. 27, 2009 @ 4:29 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
As we predicted a week or two ago, Microsoft has officially lowered the prices of the Xbox 360 Elite to $299 (previously $399) and is phasing out the Xbox 360 Pro, which now costs only $249.99 (previously $299).
Check out the following new screens and trailers from Microsoft's GamesCom 2009 lineup:
by Rainier on Aug. 13, 2009 @ 3:58 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
While rumors of a PS3 price drop at next week's Gamescom keep swirling, an anonymous publisher source confirmed to WorthPlaying today that the rumors of an Xbox 360 price drop are real. The Xbox 360 Pro will be eliminated from the retail lineup at the end of the month, and the Xbox 360 Elite will drop in price to $299.
by Rainier on Aug. 13, 2009 @ 3:58 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Havok announced that Microsoft Game Studios Europe has licensed the Havok Spectrum software bundle (Havok Physics, Havok Animation, and Havok Behavior) for use by its developers across projects moving forward.
by Rainier on Aug. 3, 2009 @ 11:54 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Alan Wake places gamers in the role of the best-selling suspense author, Alan Wake. He escapes to this small town to recover from the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée and comes face to face with his darkest nightmares.
An online petition (endorsed by Remedy) has been started asking Microsoft to explain why it suddenly decided to
halt the PC development, and strongly urges them to reconsider.
by Rainier on July 29, 2009 @ 1:38 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Last year Microsoft launched a new initiative, the Summer of Arcade, going all out with big new titles for Xbox Live Arcade. With two titles down and three more to go Microsoft is offering people who purchase all five Summer of Arcade titles before Aug. 31 an 800 Microsoft Points rebate.
Microsoft revealed its Comic-Con International 2009 lineup, including season three of the Web series The Guild and the new show Girls Go Geek, as well as spotlight its universe of pop culture icons, from hilarious characters like Stan and Cartman of South Park, to the fearless troopers of the Halo universe and the gritty renegade spy Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell Conviction.
by Rainier on July 20, 2009 @ 5:28 p.m. PDT | Filed under
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Later this summer, Microsoft plans to roll out a major dashboard update for its Xbox 360, improving aspects such as the Netflix streaming video experience, video display options, but also adding new items like premium avatar clothing (with a marketplace), user ratings, and Games on Demand (in August). Microsoft is looking for feedback on the upcoming dashboard update early, so if you want to try it early,
sign up here ...
by Rainier on July 17, 2009 @ 9:14 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
If you never heard of Popfly before, fret not, you are not alone. Launched two years ago, Popfly was one of Microsoft's attempts to get into user-generated content. It launched with little public awareness, which is probably what led to the current decision of shutting it down. With XNA on the forefront and more recently its promising Kudo platform, Microsoft did not need an unknown service for aspiring game developers. On August 24, 2009, the Popfly service will be discontinued; all resources will be taken down; and access to account, games and mash-ups will cease.
by Rainier on June 18, 2009 @ 2:10 p.m. PDT | Filed under
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EA announced that John Schappert, founder of EA Tiburon and Microsoft's Live Software Division, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Worldwide Publishing, the Online Platform Group, EA Interactive, Central Development Services and other divisions of the company.
During Microsoft's E3 2009 Media Briefing, it not only revealed that Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm are coming to Xbox Live, new Netflix and HDTV features and controller-free gaming, but also showed off a slew of titles such as Splinter Cell Conviction, Crackdown 2, Forza Motorsport 3, Halo: Reach and a bunch more.
by Judy on June 1, 2009 @ 3:58 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Today, Microsoft opened the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) with a historic Xbox 360 briefing. In addition to premiering 10 exclusive new games, revolutionizing the way we watch TV, and making it easier to connect to friends, Xbox also welcomed filmmaker Steven Spielberg to introduce "Project Natal" and full-body, controller-free gaming.
by Judy on June 1, 2009 @ 3:55 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Microsoft today announced that the Xbox 360 would deliver instant 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound — direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through Xbox Live.
by Rainier on May 19, 2009 @ 1:17 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Gazillion Entertainment announced that former Microsoft Game Studios Executive Stuart Moulder has joined as Vice President of Studios, and be responsible for the overall management of Gazillion’s game development efforts across the its studios.
by Rainier on May 12, 2009 @ 3:47 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Jerry Bruckheimer and MTV Games announced two executive appointments that officially mark the producer's entrance into the video game industry, Microsoft/Halo producer Jim Veevaert and Ubisoft VP Jay Cohen.
by Rainier on May 7, 2009 @ 1:34 p.m. PDT | Filed under
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Microsoft will acquire BigPark Inc., formed in 2007 by veterans of EA Canada and Distinctive Software. The acquisition will bring BigPark’s developers into Microsoft Game Studios, where the team will continue development on an exclusive Xbox 360 game.
by Rainier on April 20, 2009 @ 6:38 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Beginning in May, the $399 Xbox 360 Game of the Year Bundle provides 120 GB of storage, a wireless controller, a wireless headset, an HDMI cable, a free Netflix trial, Lionhead's RPG Fable II and Bungie's FPS Halo 3. With the broadest selection of blockbuster games and a robust catalog of TV shows and movies available from Netflix, now is the best time to own an Xbox 360.
by Rainier on April 14, 2009 @ 4:57 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
It's no secret that Microsoft has been plagued by a slew of hardware failures on its Xbox 360 console. In the past, the warranty had been
extended,
enhanced,
extended even more, and now it seems another error has prompted the Redwood software giant to alter its policy. Gamers who experienced the E74 error on-screen are now covered under the latest three-year warranty plan, and if you were charged before the change, you will get a refund.
by Rainier on March 31, 2009 @ 4:07 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
At last week's GDC's Luminaries Lunch,
Blizzard's Rob Pardo claimed that they were having preliminary discussions with Microsoft about the next Xbox console, which it now has
denied, saying that "we aren't in discussions with Microsoft regarding any future consoles" and that "Microsoft occasionally bounces ideas off of us, with no specific reference to any possible future consoles."
by Rainier on March 26, 2009 @ 6:56 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
While analyst Michael Pachter claimed earlier this week that this round of consoles will be the last one, Blizzard's Rob Pardo revealed at GDC's Luminaries Lunch that they are in contact with Microsoft and having preliminary discussions about
the next Xbox console. The main talking points seem to be the input device and ways of making it easier for users to interact with games, particularly MMOs and RTS titles. It's one of the reasons Blizzard is not currently supporting consoles.
by Rainier on March 18, 2009 @ 2:58 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Chair Entertainment announced that Howard Phillips, a 28-year veteran of the interactive entertainment industry, has been appointed studio director for the Utah-based game development studio.
by Rainier on March 16, 2009 @ 7:56 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
U.S. District Court judge Leonard Davis has dismissed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Nintendo (and similarly against Microsoft) brought by Fenner Investments, which alleged that the Wii and its controllers, as well as the GameCube, infringed on one of its patents.
by Rainier on Feb. 26, 2009 @ 6:36 p.m. PST | Filed under
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At a UK press event Microsoft unveiled that is has signed an agreement with NBC Universal International, making films from Universal Pictures the latest content from a major Hollywood studio to join the Xbox Live roster.
by Rainier on Feb. 23, 2009 @ 3:53 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Beginning today, Xbox Live Gold members will receive deep discounts (25 – 50% off) each and every week on the hottest Arcade titles, Game Add-ons, Xbox Originals, and other great content. This adds to the incredible value Gold members already receive from their Xbox Live Gold membership.
by Rainier on Feb. 13, 2009 @ 3:36 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Laura Fryer, former Executive Producer at Microsoft Games Studios, has been appointed General Manager, Seattle Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, overseeing the company’s internal development studios based in Seattle.