http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Xbox Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2009 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:02:22 GMT Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:02:22 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://www.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com/ http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patents-In-Game-Hint-System-128052.shtml Microsoft has apparently filled for a patent for a hint system which will be used by videogames released on the Xbox 360 home gaming console. The aim is to allow players who have trouble getting past tough sections of the game to get hints provided by other players. It's not clear whether all the players will be automatically enrolled in the system or whether an opt in system will be integrated.

The patent has been developed by Siliconera and the specifications are talking about a searchable database for which the entire content will be offered by users. It's not clear whether whole walkthroughts will be made available or whether only small hints are part of the concept. Microsoft apparently is not only aiming to offer text based help but also the possibility of taking screenshots of tough areas, providing videos or using tags and keywords to make it easy to get through difficult areas.

Microsoft is not saying when the new in-game help system will be introduced or whether it will be linked to something like Xbox Live. More details will probably be made available once the project crystallizes enough. The more hardcore gaming crowd which uses the Xbox 360 as their main gaming console might not react too warmly to a hint system which makes the gaming experience on the console easier.

Microsoft seems to be wa... (read more)]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:01 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patents-In-Game-Hint-System-128052.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patents-In-Game-Hint-System-128052.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Datel-Sues-Microsoft-for-Locking-Out-Its-Memory-Units-127836.shtml This October, Microsoft's monarchic attitude showed itself once again when it decided to limit the possibility of using Xbox 360 addons that were not manufactured by the company itself. Everything that Larry Hryb deemed as "unauthorized Memory Units" became unusable after the update was applied on a 360 console. The company didn't point any specific accusing fingers at anyone, but it's very clear that the main target of this attack was the British manufacturer Datel. The company provides memory units with larger capacities at lower prices than Microsoft, so you can easily see why Gates' empire would feel like someone is cutting into its piece of pie.

But Datel claims that what Microsoft did was illegal, and even if some might think that it was its right to do whatever it wanted with its products, that might not be true. Yesterday morning, the law firm of Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk, & Rabkin announced that it had filed a lawsuit against the corporate giant on behalf of Datel. Microsoft stands being accused of violating antitrust laws by limiting 360 users' access to Microsoft accessories, an illegal practice.

"Microsoft has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves," the law firm's Dir... (read more)]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:08:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Datel-Sues-Microsoft-for-Locking-Out-Its-Memory-Units-127836.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Datel-Sues-Microsoft-for-Locking-Out-Its-Memory-Units-127836.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Denies-Banning-1-Million-XBL-Users-127716.shtml Just in time to catch the Modern Warfare 2 launch, Microsoft decided to initialize its own war, that against pirated Xbox 360 consoles. The company issued a huge ban across Xbox Live on all modded rigs and an overwhelming amount of players were outraged by this decision. Discussions of a lawsuit even began to emerge, as at least one law firm decided to spearhead the attack against Microsoft. Reportedly, the number of banned consoles stretches from anything from 600,000 up to one million bans. If we're to judge from what was seen on Craigslist, that number might not be so far from the truth, but Microsoft denies these allegations.

According to Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten, this number is well beyond the real one. "We didn't release the number. I cannot explain to you why people would think it was a million people. It wasn't a million people," Whitten said while talking to VentureBeat. In the interview, he also stated that the whole banning XBL users thing was a "cat and mouse game," so it's a bit weird the company is insisting on proceeding with this. Still, if he really wanted to discard this rumor, he could have just issued an official number.

"These were people that were pirating software," Whitten added. "We try to keep sanctity of life from a safety and anti-cheating perspective and we pro... (read more)]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Denies-Banning-1-Million-XBL-Users-127716.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Denies-Banning-1-Million-XBL-Users-127716.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-May-Face-a-Lawsuit-Regarding-Its-Recent-Wave-of-Xbox-360-s-Bans-127664.shtml About two weeks ago, Microsoft decided to deal another blow to the underworld of piracy, as a considerable number of modified Xbox 360 consoles had been banned from the Xbox Live. A lot of people, mostly those that ended up getting banned, were seriously frustrated by this decision, as one can only imagine, and it didn't take long before the first voices of discontent began to be heard from the masses. Considering the reason for the bans, usually these things just cool down after some eggs are cracked on a few Microsoft windows or a few toilet paper rolls ornate the front yard of the company's higher-ups.

But it seems like things won't simmer down so easily this time. With at least one law firm being part of the angry mob, the whole problem might escalate beyond trivial college pranks and proper legal action might be taken against Microsoft. Abington IP is the firm that announced that it was considering filing a class action lawsuit against the Xbox 360's manufacturer and that it was urging others that had been affected by the bans to contact the firm and joint the lawsuit.

As far as Microsoft goes, the company doesn't feel that it has anything to worry about. According to it, its decision is supported and protected from legal action by the End User License Agreement. "Pirac... (read more)]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:09:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-May-Face-a-Lawsuit-Regarding-Its-Recent-Wave-of-Xbox-360-s-Bans-127664.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-May-Face-a-Lawsuit-Regarding-Its-Recent-Wave-of-Xbox-360-s-Bans-127664.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Banned-Xbox-360-s-and-Modern-Warfare-2-Affect-Xbox-Live-127531.shtml Modern Warfare 2 might have set yet another record when it came out as it determined no less than 2 million Xbox Live users to get on the service at the same time, probably in order to enter multiplayer matches as soon as the game is released.

But it seems that the huge launch, probably coupled with the decision by Microsoft to actually ban a big number, by some estimates as high as 600,000, modded Xbox 360 users from Live, might have had the effect of limiting sales on the service, which has grown in 2009 to actually represent a significant revenue stream for the company.

One of the most interesting titles offered on Xbox Live is Trials HD, which has the player controlling a motor bike in a quest to get through some very tough courses. The entries on the Leaderboards for the game were set at about 15,000 in one week before Modern Warfare 2 was released and before the modded console ban was enforced but they dropped to just 9,000 in the week after that one.

Similar drop offs were also noticed in releases like South Park, Zombie Apocalypse and Tower Bloxx Deluxe. The data is taken from an analysis performed by Ryan Langley, an editor of GamerBytes, who is a regular watcher of XBLA.

It will be interesting to see whether players who have gone out and bought Modern Warfare 2 will ... (read more)]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Banned-Xbox-360-s-and-Modern-Warfare-2-Affect-Xbox-Live-127531.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Banned-Xbox-360-s-and-Modern-Warfare-2-Affect-Xbox-Live-127531.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Warns-Against-Buying-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-127279.shtml We've already written about how Microsoft has begun to ban modded Xbox 360 home gaming consoles from the Xbox Live service, which includes severing access to multiplayer gaming and friend communication.

There are estimates saying that no less than 600,000 users have been banned for modifying their devices, most of them in order to be able to get access to pirated titles. The ban was designed to hit at the same time as the launch of Modern Warfare 2, the first person shooter widely targeted by pirates because of its popularity in multiplayer.

A spokesperson from Microsoft told IGN that “If you purchase a modified console second-hand, the warranty is not transferable and the purchaser assumes the risk for any previous modifications. If you purchase a console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to LIVE.” It seems that the company is pretty interested in making sure that all the revenue from the sale of the console comes back to it and none of it gets to secondary resellers.

The Xbox 360 was hit by a high failure rate early in its product cycle, the so-called “Red Ring of Death” syndrome, that affected around 20% of the devices. Some have even speculated that Microsoft is responsible for the high failure rate, which was introduced as a sor... (read more)]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Warns-Against-Buying-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-127279.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Warns-Against-Buying-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-127279.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Facebook-and-Co-Will-Go-Live-on-XBL-on-November-17-126972.shtml As weird as it may sound, Microsoft's loss of the Xbox 360 exclusivity of console Netflix streaming came in the nick of time. Last week, Sony also implemented this feature for its PlayStation 3, but it did so in a time window that offered Microsoft the perfect opportunity to strike back. Microsoft has a thing for the month of November, so it tends to make all new releases during this period. As such, the company took advantage of the situation, and launched a counterattack by providing some brand-new application support for the Xbox Live.

Starting November 17, Xbox 360 users will have access to Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune on-demand HD video support. First announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 press conference, the Xbox 360 Twitter will allow gamers to post tweets outside of the actual titles. They will also be able to sync their gamertags with their Facebook accounts, sharing photos or in-game shots. The Xbox Live dashboard will also allow them to check up on any updates concerning their online friends.

In the entrainment department, Last.fm will provide music streaming in a fashion similar to that of the Netflix application, displaying a dedicated menu window on the console's dashboard. Also, with the help of Zune, the Xbox Live users will be able to purchase or rent ... (read more)]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:13:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Facebook-and-Co-Will-Go-Live-on-XBL-on-November-17-126972.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Facebook-and-Co-Will-Go-Live-on-XBL-on-November-17-126972.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Time-Magazine-Added-Project-Natal-to-the-Best-Inventions-of-2009-126936.shtml Interacting with a game without holding any controller is probably the closest we're ever going to get to The Matrix. Still, playing a title by flapping your arms around like a chicken or by running around your bedroom from one corner to the other may be just another thing that makes video gamers seem like total nut cases to the outside world. Just like the Wii has proven, the motion-sensing technology isn't quite ready for hardcore gaming, but the future is the future and we have to take a first step to get there. The technology may not be quite there yet, but it is getting closer and closer, and we have to support it to make any kind of breakthroughs.

With things like facial and voice recognition, as well as three-dimensional motion sensing, Project Natal may receive more recognition from the scientific society than it would from gamers. After just being rumored that Project Natal may become available in November 2010, and even more, getting a price as low as $83, Microsoft's new motion device has entered the "50 Best Innovations of 2009" chart. The list, set up by Time Magazine, places the gaming device next to other inventions of the year, like the Ares 1 rocket, teleportation, the $20 artificial knee or the electric eye.

At the moment, Natal sits in the bottom half of the poll, a... (read more)]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:19:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Time-Magazine-Added-Project-Natal-to-the-Best-Inventions-of-2009-126936.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Time-Magazine-Added-Project-Natal-to-the-Best-Inventions-of-2009-126936.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Banning-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-126910.shtml Microsoft has gone ahead with its plan to ban from the Xbox Live service those users that have modified their gaming consoles and are using it in order to run pirated videogames. The move comes as more and more developers, as revealed by a survey from TIGA, are saying that they are afraid of the impact piracy can have on their businesses and are actually looking for new ideas, like digital distribution and free-to-play models, in order to combat it.

A representative of Microsoft told Gamesindustry.biz that “We have taken action against a small percentage of consoles have been modified to play pirated game discs. In line with our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox Live community, we are suspending these modded consoles from Xbox Live.” Why anyone is using a modded console actually registered to access Xbox Live is another question.

The software giant has refused to actually say how many consoles were banned but some are speculating that the number is close to 600,000 accounts, which is significant. Getting banned from using Xbox Live means that players will not be able to actually engage in multiplayer matches or socialize with their friends who are also playing on the Microsoft home console. The recent ban might be... (read more)]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Banning-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-126910.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Banning-Modded-Xbox-360-Consoles-126910.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Project-Natal-Could-Arrive-in-November-2010-Priced-as-Low-as-50-126789.shtml Microsoft first announced its Project Natal at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June, but it was rather unspecific regarding how close the project was to its finalization. Neither a release date nor any details regarding how much it might cost have been offered as of yet. The camera-sensing motion technology was faced with a rival from Sony, and, when the Japanese company announced that its motion-sensing LED-controller would arrive in spring 2010, Microsoft was expected to step up to the challenge and release Natal in 2010 as well.

But both aspects, the release date and an estimated price, have apparently been leaked, and MCV is proud to make them public. Keeping its sources anonymous, MCV has announced that it got its tips from people that attended a closed-doors meeting arranged by Microsoft with several British developers and publishers, most likely concerning software support for the device. In these meetings, Project Natal received a November 2010 launch date, which would make a lot of sense, since Microsoft seems to have a soft spot for this month. Most of its previous unveilings took place during the month of November, the one this year being the Xbox Live integration of Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm.

If MCV's tips regarding the launch date were, indeed, news, but not shock... (read more)]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:48:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Project-Natal-Could-Arrive-in-November-2010-Priced-as-Low-as-50-126789.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Project-Natal-Could-Arrive-in-November-2010-Priced-as-Low-as-50-126789.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Second-Season-of-1-vs-100-Begins-on-November-19-126793.shtml Microsoft has officially announced that on November 19, it will launch the second season of the 1 vs. 100 quiz game on the Xbox Live service. The company hopes that the popular social title, coupled with the introduction of Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter to the Xbox 360 console, will attract more casual players to the device, who will then discover the powerful game library it possesses and provide new revenue streams.

The software giant initially launched 1 vs. 100 as a sort of beta, which was available for about 13 weeks for those who subscribed to Xbox Live Gold.

Reports suggested that the proper launch season of the game would come with a price tag attached but Microsoft seems to be determined at the moment to maintain an advertising backed model, with companies like Sprint and Honda already signed up to feature during the commercial breaks. The game model depends on massive player presence, and at the peak of the first season, no less than 114,000 people were present to play 1 vs. 100.

In the game, players are selected randomly to be The One or part of the Mob. based on the answers they give to trivia questions they can win cash prizes. Those who are not picked, meaning the vast majority of players, can still answer questions together with them and are ranked according to the speed and accur... (read more)]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:27:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Second-Season-of-1-vs-100-Begins-on-November-19-126793.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Second-Season-of-1-vs-100-Begins-on-November-19-126793.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Xbox-360-Gets-the-Wireless-N-Networking-Adapter-126741.shtml The Xbox 360 is in for some real treats this month, as the Xbox Live will get a whole-new set of features. The firmware update, which, let's hope, will fare better than the PS3 ones, will integrate Twitter and Facebook and Music Marketplace that will enable Last.fm streaming. It will also bring a News tab with all sorts of updates, tips and gossip from Microsoft and NBC Universal's new mix, the MSNBC.com.

The other big thing is actually a lot bigger. The Xbox 360 will get a 1,080p high-def video feature through the Xbox Live Marketplace. Now, the real deal starts here. To better support this feature, Microsoft will introduce the Wireless N Networking Adapter, the device whose existence has been flying around only as a rumor since September. The new adapter will enable better online traffic in games, as well as in downloads.

The adapter will be priced at a tricky $99.99, in order to avoid the big 100 that might seem a little bit too much to some. It will use the higher-speed 802.11n wireless standard, which Microsoft promises to offer "increased speed, coverage, and reliability." The device will have two external antennas and the 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g outputs just like the single-antenna adapter, but it will also provide the above-mentioned 802.11n one. With the introduction of the new device, r... (read more)]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Xbox-360-Gets-the-Wireless-N-Networking-Adapter-126741.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Xbox-360-Gets-the-Wireless-N-Networking-Adapter-126741.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deadly-Premonition-a-New-Survival-Horror-For-the-Xbox-360-126654.shtml After working together on Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Arc Rise Fantasia, Ignition and Marvelous Entertainment, the two publishers, are now teaming up to bring us a survival horror. Deadly Premonition is a third-person horror developed by Access Games for the Xbox 360. Very pleased with the two publishers and their previous performances, Access Games Director Hidetaka Suehiro is overjoyed to have them publish Deadly Premonition.

"Ignition Entertainment has done an incredible job finding and targeting each game's primary audience and we could not be more excited to team up with them to publish Deadly Premonition," Suehiro said. "We've developed the graphic styling and game play of Deadly Premonition to uniquely trigger the suspenseful emotions in every player. We promise an astounding ending if you can meet the challenge to solve the mystery and make it there."

From the teaser trailer, the game's graphics look a little choppy, especially for an upcoming title, but that doesn't really matter that much. A survival horror is purely about the emotion, the sensation of fear and how well it manages to relay that feeling, and top-of-the-line graphics have little to do with that. The one thing the title needs to rely on to be a proper horror game is the story and the atmosphere that is better genera... (read more)]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:16:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deadly-Premonition-a-New-Survival-Horror-For-the-Xbox-360-126654.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deadly-Premonition-a-New-Survival-Horror-For-the-Xbox-360-126654.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Facebook-and-Twitter-Only-for-Those-Over-18-126582.shtml One of the big selling points of the Xbox 360 home gaming console, for this Christmas, is the social tools which Microsoft is promising to integrate, from Facebook and Twitter to Last.fm. They are being slowly rolled out over the coming weeks and the company is hoping that the new services, available to all those who are willing to pay up for Gold-tiered subscription, will make players spend more time on their consoles rather than switch to the old PC in order to engage in interactions with their friends. 

However, it seems that Facebook and Twitter are not for everyone. Larry Hryb, aka "Major Nelson", who leads the team taking care of Xbox Live, has recently posted on his blog that just those over 18 years of age will have access to the new services.
 
“We made this decision because as it stands now, parents aren’t able to use Family Settings to customize which of these applications their children can access” before adding “this has been a hot topic with the preview users. We want to make sure everyone was aware, however, that the development team is working on an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access,” he says. Of course, a lot of people might choose to just go in and change their age on the Xbox profi... (read more)]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:31:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Facebook-and-Twitter-Only-for-Those-Over-18-126582.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Facebook-and-Twitter-Only-for-Those-Over-18-126582.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-New-Xbox-Live-Project-Gets-a-name-Rewards-Squad-126101.shtml After nothing but rumors for the past couple of weeks, Microsoft has finally decided to break out the heavy guns and give a complete look at the rewards system for the Xbox Live. The program is only available as long as you've been invited, and Microsoft started handing the invitations out yesterday. The Xbox Live Rewards Squad invitations will stop at the end of April 2010, so, if you're not blessed by then, you can start looking for a new reason to live. The Rewards Squad will favor the Silver and Gold subscribers of Xbox Live, but the Gold members, as it could be expected, will get more out of the deal.

Every time you renew your Gold subscription for another month, you will be awarded Microsoft Points, starting from ten or $0.125 all the way up to 60 or $0.75. If you make a three-month commitment to the network, it will grant you anything from 30 Microsoft Points or $0.375 to, once again, 60 points or $0.75. If you decide to take the big step and ask the network to move in with you and establish the 12-month deal, you'll instantly receive 200 Microsoft Points or $2.50. The owners of the Xbox Live Silver subscription won't get to see a single dime back for their $49.99 invested every year.

Microsoft will also use the system to push the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Gold and Silver subscribers will ... (read more)]]> Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-New-Xbox-Live-Project-Gets-a-name-Rewards-Squad-126101.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-New-Xbox-Live-Project-Gets-a-name-Rewards-Squad-126101.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/It-s-the-Swiss-Army-Knife-of-Splinter-Cell-Conviction-126049.shtml In October, a Collector's Edition of Splinter Cell: Conviction made an appearance on an Australian retailer's website. The pack, meant for the PC and Xbox 306, included a bonus DVD, a comic, a Sam Fisher figurine, and a code to download the original Xbox game Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory over Xbox Live. Not to be outdone, the Americans will also get a special Sam Fisher treat, but a different one altogether. It's still a special release for the title, but the goodies inside are on a different level.

This Xbox 360 Collector's Edition of the title will feature a wide array of game-themed items, like an art book, an embossed Steelbook DVD case and "collectible" decals, but also some in-game surprises. The long-awaited and what seems like endlessly delayed game is still expected to reach the American soil on February 23, and, hopefully, everything will go smoothly this time. The Collector's Edition is priced at $79.99 and its entire content, as listed by Ubisoft itself, is listed below.

CUSTOM USB DRIVE - This credit card–sized 3rd Echelon USB drive can stealthily fit in your wallet, is compatible with Xbox 360, and is loaded to the max with exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, including:
• Full-length 'Making of Splinter Cell Conviction' video;
• Wallpaper;
read more)]]> Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/It-s-the-Swiss-Army-Knife-of-Splinter-Cell-Conviction-126049.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/It-s-the-Swiss-Army-Knife-of-Splinter-Cell-Conviction-126049.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kameo-Will-No-Longer-Get-A-Sequel-125976.shtml The camera-based motion controller from Microsoft is expected to arrive in 2010 and the company is scrounging up resources from wherever it can to give the new device proper software support. The new Xbox 360 controller has already managed to enlist Fable III as one of the big games that will support it, as Peter Molyneux announced last month. But one game isn't going to be nearly enough for Project Natal to succeed, so Microsoft has decided to take some drastic actions.

In 2002, game developer studio Rare was bought by Microsoft, and, as any colony of an empire is expected to do, it too has been enlisted to support the war effort. But becoming part of a bigger picture usually means sacrificing your freedom, and that is exactly what Rare lost. To accommodate the new project that it needed to get ready for Natal's big unveiling in 2010, the studio had to cut back on its work at the moment and even shut down some games altogether.

Apparently, Rare had to cease and desist any development for the sequel to Xbox 360's title Kameo: Elements of Power. According to CVG, which decided to keep its sources, at least for now, unnamed, the studio had to shut down work on the project due to its sales not matching Microsoft's expectations. Most likely, this won't be the only title that Rare won't be making anymore, with new rele... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Nov 2009 12:49:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kameo-Will-No-Longer-Get-A-Sequel-125976.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kameo-Will-No-Longer-Get-A-Sequel-125976.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Not-Threatened-by-Streaming-Services-125866.shtml The Xbox 360 division at Microsoft does not feel in any way threatened by the rise of cloud-based computers like the recently revealed OnLive and Gaikai, believing that the current distribution model, focused on disk-based releases and downloadable content, will be central for the coming years.

Jerry Johnson, who is the boss of the European division of Xbox Live, told a BAFTA audience at the London Games Conference, that “Streaming technology is something that the industry is betting on longer term. Right now I don't believe that technology can scale out against the experience we can offer on a local machine.” He acknowledges that “The technology will continue to improve. As an industry we'll have to accept that” but “I don't think it's on an accelerated timeline for the foreseeable future.”

There are two high profile cloud gaming projects entering the initial beta stages at the moment: Gaikai and OnLive. Both of them are based around the idea that content can be delivered via the Internet rather than being stored on the computer on the player interested in it. OnLive aims to actually offer a subscription service that delivers old and new titles, while Gaikai just aims to create the technology and then allow developers and publishers to actually offer the content to in... (read more)]]> Mon, 2 Nov 2009 18:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Not-Threatened-by-Streaming-Services-125866.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Not-Threatened-by-Streaming-Services-125866.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grand-Theft-Auto-Set-to-Move-Out-of-Liberty-City-125637.shtml This week, Rockstar and 2K Games are hitting gamers with a double blow of GTA IV content. Those who have picked up The Lost & Damned downloadable pack can now get, also via Xbox Live, a new add on, called The Ballad of Gay Tony. And those who have not been interested in exploring alternative stories for GTA can now pick up a disk-based release called Episodes from Liberty City, which combines the two stories mentioned above.

And it seems that the new releases might actually be the last Rockstar will offer set in the New York-like landscape of Liberty City.

A poster, attached to this article, can be seen in the manual for the game that has just been outed. It reads “Liberty City? It's over!” and “Next stop,” also mentioning March as the possible release date for some new content that is in no way related to the city featured so prominently in GTA IV.

It's not clear whether Rockstar is telling fans of the Grand Theft Auto series that it plans to actually move the action of further IV DLC to another place, like a rural setting or a new, smaller city, or whether it’s saying that no further content will be offered for the 2008 game, with the company settling to work on other projects, like Red Dead Redemption or even a fresh sixth GTA videogame.

It's well kn... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grand-Theft-Auto-Set-to-Move-Out-of-Liberty-City-125637.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grand-Theft-Auto-Set-to-Move-Out-of-Liberty-City-125637.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Gold-Won-t-Change-Its-Fee-to-Deal-With-the-Competition-125507.shtml Now with Netflix coming to the PlayStation 3, it seems like Microsoft is about to lose yet another exclusivity. So, the normal course of action would be to think of a way to sweeten the deal for the Xbox Live Gold membership that offers the service on its console. And maybe it is, who's to tell no. Well, Microsoft representatives, who say that they have no intention of doing that, are the ones that say no. Well, yes, that settles the matter and it's not really that big of a surprise. Microsoft isn't known for its flexibility or for lending an ear to the voice of the people.

Unlike the Xbox 360, the PS3, as a platform, offers Netflix for free, the fee itself asked by Netflix itself is, of course, present. Still, Microsoft doesn't see the difference in the two offers, and things actually seem like its garden is rosier to the company. “The Netflix experience on Xbox Live is unique and reflects our commitment for social entertainment. We believe we offer an experience today that is a generation ahead of what others are offering,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.

He further added that, “For a little over $4 a month Xbox LIVE Gold membership is hands-down the best value in home entertainment, and gives you exclusive access multi-player gaming and early demos as well as Face... (read more)]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:01:03 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Gold-Won-t-Change-Its-Fee-to-Deal-With-the-Competition-125507.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Gold-Won-t-Change-Its-Fee-to-Deal-With-the-Competition-125507.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Modern-Warfare-and-Halo-too-Tough-for-Some-Players-125453.shtml The common complaint echoing in various outlets coming from long-time gamers is that modern video games are getting easier and easier as time goes by, with developers and publishers pandering to the needs of new gamers, who are less experienced and less able to complete tough titles.

But research undertaken by Bruce Phillips, a user research expert working for the Microsoft Game Studios, shows that even with games allegedly easier, there are still plenty of players who do not complete them and get very low Gamerscores for titles because they do not explore them in depth. The problem is that some of the players who do not complete games and get to see very little of what they have to offer because of the difficulty tend to then slag the game off in front of other potential players, reducing sales and overall appreciation.

A chart compiled by Phillips from the stats of more than 14,000 Xbox Live users that Microsoft employs for its surveys shows that the medium Gamerscore completion rate for very popular titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Fable II hover just above 40%, with the rate for Madden NFL 09, Gears of War 2, Battlefield: Bad Company and Halo 3 staying just over 30%. In addition, only about 70% of players have made it to the end of Modern Warfare 2 on any difficulty and only those pl... (read more)]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:18:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Modern-Warfare-and-Halo-too-Tough-for-Some-Players-125453.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Modern-Warfare-and-Halo-too-Tough-for-Some-Players-125453.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-2-Pub-Games-Gets-a-50-Percent-Discount-125391.shtml Microsoft doesn't really seem to know what else it can do with Fable 2 in order to make sure every last drop of potential has been milked from the game. Not so long ago, it re-released the title in an episodic format and, now, it plans to make a move with the Fable 2 Pub Games. It probably doesn't really matter to the company that nobody really seems to want the game, it plans to go through with the idea anyway. Fable 2 Pub Games will get a 50-percent discount for next week, and a dropped price from 800 Microsoft Points or $10 to 400 points or $5.

All three casino games from Fable 2 will be available in Pub Games, including Keystone, Fortune's Tower and the Spinnerbox. The one trick of the Pub is that the money you win, but also that which you lose, will be part of your Fable 2 funds. With that in mind, the whole idea is pretty bad.

The only way you can lose money in the RPG is to buy something, so you trade in an impossible loss for the thrill of the risk and a gain that you don't really need. After all, if you're a fan of casino-styled games, there are plenty of dedicated titles for this that have a wider selection of games available. You'd have to be a very, very dedicated fan of Fable 2 to purchase Pub Games out of pure loyalty.

Also, money shortage isn't really a problem present in Mic... (read more)]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:01:03 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-2-Pub-Games-Gets-a-50-Percent-Discount-125391.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-2-Pub-Games-Gets-a-50-Percent-Discount-125391.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-Division-Reports-Increased-Income-125330.shtml Microsoft has revealed the results of its Entertainment and Devices Division, which oversees the strategy for the Xbox 360 home gaming console, showing that sales have remained pretty much unchanged from one year ago, but that the operating income has gone up by a whopping 96%, reaching 312 million dollars. The results are for the fiscal quarter that ended on September 30 and, in addition to the Xbox 360, the division also handles operations for the Zune media player, a direct competitor of the iPod, PC games published by Microsoft, online titles and other entertainment products.

The increased income was a direct result of the reduced manufacturing costs for the Xbox 360 and of the reduction in personnel that the unit saw over the year. The overall revenue was of 1.89 million dollars, but the numbers of the Xbox 360 consoles that had been shipped registered a fall, going from 2.2 million to 2.1, as less people had the disposable income needed to get a gaming device.

Bill Koefoed, who is the general manager for investor relations at the EED division of Microsoft, stated in a conference call that, “Overall gaming revenue was up almost $100 million,” before mentioning that, “Halo 3: ODST was the number one selling console title in the U.S. last month, along with five other Xbox 360 game... (read more)]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-Division-Reports-Increased-Income-125330.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-Division-Reports-Increased-Income-125330.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ballmer-In-the-Dark-About-Xbox-360-Blu-ray-125261.shtml It's all beginning to feel a lot like deja vu. A few days ago, Steve Ballmer, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, had an exclusive interview with Gizmodo, in which he touched on the subject of the Xbox 360 gaming console and the company's future plans for it. The Microsoft boss seemed to say that the home-gaming console would be getting a Blu-ray add-on soon, which would allow it to use the High Definition format.

Now, Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, the go-to guy when it comes to Xbox 360 news and comments, has posted on his blog that, in fact, his boss misspoke and that the division that he works for has no plans to bring a Blu-ray drive to the Microsoft home console.

His post says that, “I wanted to clear something up. Steve was referring to Blu-Ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360.” Taking a look at the statement Ballmer made, he was clearly not talking about the PC, but Major Nelson probably knows best and the Microsoft leader was known in the past to spread rumors and lies.

Major Nelson continues his post by saying that Microsoft is not interested in adding a Blu-ray drive to the Xbox 360, mainly because it is focusing on digital distribution as a way of introducing the same experie... (read more)]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:31:03 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ballmer-In-the-Dark-About-Xbox-360-Blu-ray-125261.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ballmer-In-the-Dark-About-Xbox-360-Blu-ray-125261.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-3-Will-Indeed-Support-Project-Natal-125027.shtml A lot of rumors have been flying around about a possible connection between Fable 3 and Project Natal. Most of the annoying little insects have been raised by Peter Molyneux, a game designer for Lionhead Studios with a history of talking out of place. Molyneux became a famous figure after the huge statements he gave regarding the first Fable game, in which he announced a huge number of appealing features. His enthusiasm for the title was no longer shared by the fans when most of these features weren't actually included in the game.

But those rumors have become actual news and Project Natal's involvement in Fable 3 has been set in stone. The confirmation comes, of course, from Molyneux himself. During a lecture at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA, Lionhead's game designer gave some definitive details about the RPG and its collaboration with the new motion controller. How exactly the two projects will interact and how Natal will help control the in-game character is still uncertain, but it's only a matter of time before Molyneux passes us another hot gossip.

Project Natal isn't the first device to make use of the motion-controller idea, but it's the first one that isn't designed as a hand-held controller. Natal will make use of the infrared specter to map out the entire environment i... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:31:01 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-3-Will-Indeed-Support-Project-Natal-125027.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-3-Will-Indeed-Support-Project-Natal-125027.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florian Totu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-III-Will-Have-a-Microtransaction-System-125007.shtml Fable II was one of the most interesting role-playing experiences on the Xbox 360 last year, and it's creator, the loquacious Peter Molyneux, has begun to talk about the next installment in the series and the features that players might expect from it. Speaking at the Annual Video Game Lecture session in London, which is organized by BAFTA, he confirmed that Project Natal would be supported in Fable III as a control system and that a micro transaction system would be implemented in the RPG allowing players to use real-world currency or Microsoft Points to directly purchase items and new content.

It's not clear whether the newly announced in-game shop will be accessible everywhere in the world through the game interface or whether players will need to travel to a special location in order to make purchases. Molyneux is saying that items, mostly armor and potions, might be sold for the price of one dollar for those who do not want to work to get them through Fable III mechanics and adding new game environments will cost more.

The main idea is to make downloadable content easier to access for players that might not be closely following news about a game they play. The game designer also said later in the evening that walkthroughs for Fable III might also be offered in the shop.

Lionhead and Mi... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-III-Will-Have-a-Microtransaction-System-125007.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fable-III-Will-Have-a-Microtransaction-System-125007.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Limiting-Freedom-of-Choice-on-the-Xbox-360-124979.shtml It's been reported that so-called “unauthorized storage devices” will not be allowed to work anymore with the Xbox 360 home-gaming console by the upcoming update for the device, which is due to arrive before November. The news has been reported by Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, one of the bosses of the Xbox business at Microsoft. He has posted a warning for all those who use the unauthorized devices to make sure that all their profile data and all their saves are on the internal memory of the gaming console to avoid losing any of them when the storage solutions no longer work.

Datel, a firm that produces Max Memory storage units for the Xbox 360 that will be disabled, has told CVG that, “We are following this issue and awaiting the outcome like everyone else. If the Major Nelson blog is to be taken at face value then we're disappointed to see that Microsoft are taking these steps to prevent customers from exercising their freedom of choice. Everyone is looking for ways to make their cash go further at the moment and we believe that Max Memory offers a good value, high capacity, alternative to the official Memory Unit.”

Microsoft might be making the move in order to limit the possibilities of hacking the Xbox 360, which arrive from the use of such storage devices... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:14:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Limiting-Freedom-of-Choice-on-the-Xbox-360-124979.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Is-Limiting-Freedom-of-Choice-on-the-Xbox-360-124979.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Steve-Ballmer-Confirms-Blu-ray-Drives-for-the-Xbox-360-124939.shtml One of the advantages that the PlayStation 3 has publicized since the beginning of the console battle of this generation has been the presence of an integrated Blu-ray drive, which allows for bigger capacity disks to be used and for the game console to play high-quality movies. The Xbox 360 has tried to counter by backing the HD DVD format, but, with that no longer supported, Microsoft has long been rumored to be preparing to get a Blu-ray unit for the Xbox 360.

Now, Steve Ballmer, who is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, has told Gizmodo as part of an exclusive interview that Blu-ray is a definite possibility for the Xbox 360 home-gaming console. When asked about getting the format on the Microsoft device he has said, “Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there – you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.” In other words, Microsoft does not intend to integrate the high-capacity drive in the console itself, but it might offer an add-on like the HD DVD one, which it sold for a while with little success.

A Microsoft spokesperson has then clarified Ballmer's comments by stating that, “Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:25:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Steve-Ballmer-Confirms-Blu-ray-Drives-for-the-Xbox-360-124939.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Steve-Ballmer-Confirms-Blu-ray-Drives-for-the-Xbox-360-124939.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Rewards-Program-Launched-by-Microsoft-124860.shtml Microsoft seems to be considering a rewards program for a segment of the Xbox Live subscribers, probably later to be extended to the whole service. An e-mail has been sent by the creator of the Xbox 360 to a select few gamers inviting them to join what is described as an “exclusive pilot rewards program.” There are some rewards promised but they are not detailed.

The message reads “This offer is for a select few - you can't send it to anyone else (why would you send something this awesome to someone else, are you nuts?). If you make the cut, you can pass or opt-out whenever you want. But then you'll never know how it ended,” adding that “you click the button below and register to let us know you want in and pretty soon we'll let you know if you got in or not - and not everyone will (that's why it's called exclusive).”

The tone is a bit too playful and unofficial for the software giant but it might be a sign that the company is interested in attracting the more active section of the Xbox Live community. There is no official comment on what rewards players who get in might receive in exchange for their participation.

Recently, analyst Michael Pachter suggested that Microsoft might be getting ready to introduce a tiered system of subscription options for Xbox Liv... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:10:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Rewards-Program-Launched-by-Microsoft-124860.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Live-Rewards-Program-Launched-by-Microsoft-124860.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Spin-Cycle-Microsoft-Emphasizes-Halo-3-ODST-124843.shtml Microsoft has outed the usual response to the figures released by the NPD Group for software and hardware sales for September in North America. The company is obviously happy to talk about the impressive numbers posted by Halo 3: ODST, developed by Bungie, managing to sell more than 1.5 million copies even though it is not starring Master Chief, the main character of the series.

The Xbox 360 gaming console was also home for five of the top ten videogames in the chart, as opposed to the PlayStation 3, which only hosted three of them.

The Redmond-based company is saying that since Halo 3: ODST was released, more than five million unique players have signed in for the single player element or to enjoy the Halo 3 multiplayer component, with complete map packs, offered on the second disk in the game box. Players have raked up more than 116 million hours of play time.

Microsoft has also stated that the Xbox 360 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Warner Bros. published and Rocksteady developed action adventure title, would have come in at number ten in the videogame charts if handheld releases were to be excluded. Still, it must be hard to see the PlayStation 3 version of the title selling better, at number eight in the chart. The software giant pointed out that third-party titles for the Xbox 360 gener... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Spin-Cycle-Microsoft-Emphasizes-Halo-3-ODST-124843.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Spin-Cycle-Microsoft-Emphasizes-Halo-3-ODST-124843.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Andrei Dumitrescu)