Softpedia News - Xbox

Xbox LIVE Update Drops November 17, 2009

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:11:00 GMT

Microsoft will make available the next update to the service it has built around its Xbox console, come next week. Larry Hryb, the director of programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live, revealed that the Redmond company would offer all members of the Xbox LIVE community the latest refresh to the service starting with November 17, 2009. At the time of this article, the Xbox LIVE update has been already offered to a select pool of testers. However, it appears that Microsoft’s Preview Program for the upcoming Xbox LIVE Update will soon be shut down, as the company will start delivering the fully-fledged refresh.

“I know some of you are already enjoying many of these features through the Preview Program, but I am happy to announce that the next update that contains Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune video will be available to all Xbox LIVE members launch Nov. 17,” Hryb noted.

When it comes to the Windows LIVE update there are a few things that Xbox console users need to be aware of. First off, the refresh is designed to kill unauthorized memory units. The Redmond company made it clear in October, when it debuted the Preview Program, that it would tackle the usage of unauthorized memory units with Xbox 360 consoles.

In addition, not all users will be free to enjoy the new en... (read more)

Microsoft Confirms Tackling Modded Xbox 360 Consoles

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:40:00 GMT

While there are Microsoft customers that indulge in the illegal use of pirated software without so much as slap on the hand from the company, others are less fortunate. Larry Hryb, Microsoft’s director of programming for Xbox Live, has confirmed officially that it is actively banning Xbox 360 owners that have modified their consoles in order to accommodate pirated games from Xbox LIVE.

In addition, Microsoft is cracking down on modded Xbox 360 consoles, although it is permitting users to run bootlegged copies of Windows, even providing Critical security updates for releases of the operating system that have been labeled as pirated by the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism. The Redmond company indicated that it would not stand for consoles to be modified in order for their owners to play pirated games (an operation dubbed modding) and that it would tackle the phenomenon by banning the devices from the Xbox LIVE community.

“Our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority. All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from ... (read more)

Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program Wave 1 Ships, Killing Unauthorized Memory Units

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Microsoft has started rolling out an update to Xbox LIVE that, among others, is designed to kill unauthorized memory units that customers are using with their consoles. On October 22nd, 2009, concomitantly with the worldwide general availability of Windows 7, the Redmond company gave the green light to Wave 1 of the Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program. The testing program is limited as far as the number of participants are concerned and Wave 1 will only be made available to selected testers. Microsoft warned participants in the Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program to use only authorized Xbox 360 Storage Devices since mid-October.

“When Preview Program members start receiving the Xbox 360 system update (…), one of the changes is that unauthorized Memory Units will no longer work with the Xbox 360. If you’ve moved your profile or saved games onto one to “back it up,” you’d better move it back onto an authorized Xbox 360 storage device prior to taking the update. If you continue to use an unauthorized Memory Unit after the update, you will not be able to access your stored profile or saved games,” revealed Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson), the director of programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live, on October 16th.

With the fal... (read more)

New Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program Now Live

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:21:00 GMT

Microsoft has debuted a new Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program, inviting users to become a part of the testing efforts for the development of the next refresh for the services built around its gaming console. In this regard, Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson), the Director of Programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live, revealed that the Redmond company was looking to start the testing of new features coming to Xbox LIVE, mainly related to social networking enhancements and to its digital media player. It is in fact for upcoming features including Zune, Facebook and Twitter that the software giant is introducing the new Xbox LIVE Update Preview program.

“Much like we have done in the past, you’ll need to visit the Microsoft Connect site from this link and sign in with your Windows LIVE ID that is connected to your Xbox LIVE Gamertag,” Hryb stated. “Once you do that, you need to fill out the "Xbox LIVE Update Preview Sign Up" survey in order to be considered for receiving the Preview System Update. We're asking a few questions about where you live, your home network, ISP connection and a few other pieces of information. We are looking for a good cross-section of our members in order to get the best feedback we can.”

Hryb noted that all applications would be reviewed by t... (read more)

Xbox 360 “Modern Warfare 2” Limited Edition Console Unveiled

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:40:00 GMT

Xbox 360 “Modern Warfare 2” Limited Edition Console is currently available for pre-order in the United States, with Microsoft promising that users in additional markets around the world will be able to also pre-order units by the end of this week. The result of a partnership between Microsoft and Activision Publishing, Xbox 360 “Modern Warfare 2” is designed to accompany Infinity Ward’s “Modern Warfare 2” to the market. In this regard, customers will be able to get their hands on the Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Console concomitantly with “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” come November 10th, 2009.

“It’s the highest compliment to the team and our fans to have a special themed Xbox 360 console,” noted Vince Zampella, CEO of Infinity Ward. “The precision and detail that’s been put into the console captures the intensity and feel of ‘Modern Warfare 2.’ We can’t wait for our community and fans around the world to see for themselves on Nov. 10.”

Microsoft revealed that it would make the limited edition Xbox 360 console available not just in the US but also in Europe, the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), the U.K., Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. “It i... (read more)

Xbox 360 Elite at Just $299.99 and Xbox 360 Pro for $249.99

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Come August 28th, 2009, Xbox 360 Elite units will be offered with a price tag of just $299.99, Microsoft confirmed officially. But the discounts for Microsoft’s consoles don’t’ stop at Elite. In fact, the Redmond company is also dropping prices for the Xbox 360 Pro. While the former will be sold for an estimated retail price of $299.99, down no less than $100 from the current price, customers will pay $50 less for the latter, namely just $249.99. Microsoft underlined that the prices were valid for customers in the United States.

“With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” revealed Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “If you’re looking for deep experiences that don’t require deep pockets, now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360.”

Microsoft is also getting ready to unveil Project Natal, the Redmond company’s latest venture into the evolution of user interfaces. The software giant reminded Xbox 360 buyers that the consoles they buy today will have no problems playing nice with the codename Project Natal natural user interface in the futur... (read more)

Introducing Xbox LIVE Tenure

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:00:00 GMT

On August 11, 2009 Microsoft shipped the latest update to Xbox LIVE, and members of the gaming community built around the company console will notice that the refreshed dashboard introduces a new feature dubbed Tenure. Microsoft explained that not all users would be able to see their Tenure immediately. However, the promise from the software giant is that by next week, the feature will be available for all members of Xbox LIVE with at least 1 full year in Xbox LIVE Gold status. The Redmond company revealed that it was rolling out the Gold Tenure to Xbox LIVE users, but that the process would take at least a few days to complete.

Essentially, Tenure will be a number that will appear at the top right of the gamercard. “This is a number that appears when you are looking at Gamercards on your Xbox 360 console. This number will show how many years someone has been an Xbox LIVE Gold Member. Working with the team here, we’ve put together some answers to some of the frequent questions that we’ve seen in the Xbox forums,” explained Larry Hryb, director of programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live.

Hryb revealed that the first gamertag, “e,” which was created on 8/13/2002, would turn 7 on 8/13/2009. The company however counts only the time gamers spend in Gold, all periods being c... (read more)

Xbox LIVE Update Rolling Out with New Dashboard Version

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:54:00 GMT

After the latest Xbox LIVE update is rolled out today, August 11th, 2009, users will be able to enjoy a refreshed version of the Dashboard, Microsoft promised. This is valid for all members of the Xbox LIVE community worldwide, and there are additional goodies in store on top of the new version of the Dashboard. Fact is that some users have already been able to get a taste of the latest Xbox LIVE update. In the second half of July 2009, Microsoft debuted a testing program for the refresh and allowed testers access via Microsoft Connect. Now the search giant is simply opening up the update to all Xbox LIVE members, on top of the participants in the Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program.

“For those of you who signed up for the Public Preview, you’re already running the latest and greatest version of the Dashboard. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the early access, and we’d like to thank you for all the great feedback in the Preview forums on Xbox.com. Starting [on August 11, 2009 in the] morning at 2AM Pacific we’ll be rolling it out to all Xbox LIVE users worldwide,” revealed a member of the Xbox Live Operations team.

But of course that the evolution introduced by the latest Xbox LIVE update is not limited to the new Dashboard. “This update has a ton of new functio... (read more)

Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program Is Live

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:33:00 GMT

The Preview Program for the next release of Xbox LIVE Update is now live, Microsoft revealed on July 20, 2009. In fact, the Redmond company is currently accepting participation requests into what Larry Hryb, director of programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live, referred to as the “Xbox 360 System Update Preview program for our next release.” Xbox 360 users who are also members of the Xbox LIVE community can sign up via Microsoft Connect. The first steps toward a potential participation in the program involve navigating to the Microsoft Connect site and signing in with the Windows LIVE ID connected to the Xbox LIVE Gamertag,” Hryb explained.

“Once you do that, you need to fill out the "Xbox LIVE Update Preview Sign Up" survey in order to be considered for receiving the Preview System Update. We're asking a few questions about where you live, your home network, ISP connection and a few other pieces of information. We are looking for a good cross-section of our members in order to get the best feedback we can,” Hryb said. “The Xbox team will then review all of the applications and if you’re selected we’ll send you an email notifying you of your acceptance in the program.”

Microsoft underlined that only testers from regions where Xbox LIVE was s... (read more)

Microsoft Working to Resolve Xbox LIVE Marketplace Intermittent Errors

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:20:00 GMT

At the start of July 2009, Microsoft acknowledged the fact that customers were experiencing intermittent errors on Windows LIVE Marketplace. The Redmond company indicated that it was actively working to resolve the issues. However, at this point in time members of the Xbox LIVE community have not received information on the source of the error messages they are coming across. Customer reports delivered as feedback to the Xbox Live Operations team reveal that the issues are not new in any manner, with some users pointing out that they first started experiencing sporadic errors on Xbox LIVE Marketplace after Microsoft introduced an update to the service in mid-June.

“We’re aware of intermittent errors in Marketplace that are affecting Xbox Live, Xbox.com, and Games for Windows. You may run into one of a few different status codes including 80004004, 807B01F4, and 8015000a. It may also show that you haven’t purchased content that you have – don’t worry, we haven’t lost your purchase even though it may appear so,” revealed a member of the Xbox Live Operations team. “This can occur whether you’re searching Marketplace from the Dashboard or from within a game.”

Microsoft explained that a team was investigating the problems an... (read more)

Xbox Live Update Issues Being Resolved

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:42:00 GMT

On June 16th, Microsoft took Xbox LIVE, the network built around the Xbox consoles, offline and started implementing a complex update designed to bump the services available to the community up a notch. June 17th found Microsoft validating the implementation of the update across its datacenters. A member of the Xbox Live Operations team, identified only as Derek, acknowledged that the update had introduced what he referred to as “a couple of bumps here and there” at 8 PM Redmond time. At 3:16 AM, Derek noted that all the glitches reported had been resolved. Not the case; in fact, even on June 18, Microsoft continues to hammer away at the problems introduced to Xbox LIVE by the update rolled out a couple of days ago.

“We are tracking and in the process of resolving an interesting issue around Marketplace. As a part of the work we did yesterday, there were some updates to the tools we use to load content onto the service, and there are some unexpected failures with those new tools that affect new content added to the service in the previous 12-24 hours leading up to the downtime. That is the only issue of significance we are tracking at this time,” Derek stated, admitting that Microsoft has failed to be flawless with the Xbox LIVE refresh.

Not until today, June 18th, did Microsoft reveal... (read more)

Xbox 360, 30 Million Sold Globally

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:51:00 GMT

Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are a hit with gamers. The Redmond company announced that it managed to break new milestones in 2009 in terms of the sheer volume of consoles sold, but also in the growth of the online community that has been building up around Xbox. The software giant has released the results of the year-over-year comparison of Xbox 360 sales, and has indicated that the number of consoles sold grew by 28% in 2009 compared to the previous year, according to data from the NPD Group. Microsoft sold no less than 30 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide. And the boost in sales was also reflected in the expansion of the Xbox LIVE community, which now accounts for in excess of 20 million active members.

”We’ve always been confident that Xbox 360 offers more entertainment value than any other console on the market, and these latest numbers show that consumers agree,” revealed Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “We expect our growth to continue to accelerate. Our news at E3 next week will underscore our commitment to bringing blockbuster entertainment experiences to everyone and to growing the Xbox entertainment brand globally.”

The Redmond company claims that the 28% growth rate for Xbox 360 sales in 2009 has all competitors ... (read more)

Microsoft Game Studios Grow with BigPark

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Fri, 8 May 2009 07:43:00 GMT

Microsoft announced that the Microsoft Game Studios would grow with the addition of BigPark. Approximately 50 people will join the company as a result of the acquisition, with Phil Spencer, general manager, Microsoft Game Studios, praising the talent that the Redmond software giant will benefit from. The online gaming company based in Vancouver has been developing a game for the Xbox, 360, Microsoft indicated, but offered no additional details on the matter. BigPark is a young company, having been founded in 2007. However, despite its age, experience is not a factor as its founders were involved in the success of gaming companies Distinctive Software and Electronic Arts Canada.

“We are delighted by the opportunity to welcome the BigPark team into Microsoft Game Studios,” Spencer stated. “The team is composed of some of the most experienced and creative minds working in the industry today. The combination of the BigPark and Microsoft Game Studios talent pools will be an accelerant for growth and innovation. We believe BigPark has tremendous potential to create new properties and innovative gaming experiences for our platforms, one of which we’re looking forward to showcasing at the E3 Expo in June.”

As Microsoft Game Studios will swallow BigPark, the company's current chief executive ... (read more)

The Ad Showdown Live on Xbox LIVE

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:49:00 GMT

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, but this is not stopping Microsoft from “hosting” its own Super Bowl, this time around with content featured during Sunday's game. The Redmond company is offering members of the Xbox LIVE community the chance to win a high-definition (HD) TV home theater system, but also an Xbox 360 Elite console along with a 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold Membership. The Xbox LIVE Ad Showdown Sweepstakes debuted on February 2, 2009, will come to an end on February 8, and will feature a single grand prize.

“One Grand Prize available, a prize package consisting of the following items: a Panasonic 1080p Full-HD Plasma 58" panel (Approximate Retail Value (ARV), $3,600.00), a 5-disc DVD home theater system with speakers (ARV, $549.99); an Xbox 360 Elite Console (ARV, $399.99); a 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription card (ARV, $49.95). The total Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of all prizes: $ 4,598.98,” Microsoft indicated.

All that Xbox LIVE members are required to do is cast votes for their favorite TV commercials during the game in order to be eligible for the grand prize. In this regard, extending the Ad Showdown from MSNBC to Xbox LIVE, the software giant made available over 35 TV advertisements on the Spotlight Channel on Xbox LIVE as of February 2. Use... (read more)

New Title Update to XNA Game Studio Connect

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 15:28:00 GMT

Microsoft revealed that a new update for the XNA Game Studio Connect application is cooking and will be made available, but failed to provide a timetable or any sort of deadline. Michael Klucher, program manager – XNA Community Game Platform, revealed that the title update to XNA Game Studio Connect would be offered “soon” to Premium Creator. The promise from the Redmond company is that, following the release of the update, developers will be able to better test the content they produce before the games go live on Xbox LIVE Community Games.

“Many of you have reported subtle differences (and in some case crashes) in the way your game behaves when playing from XNA Game Studio Connect versus the way it works on Xbox LIVE Community Games. When we set out to release XNA Game Studio 3.0 we worked hard to provide a very consistent experience between them. After we launched user-feedback helped us discover a few things Creators really needed to be able to test when developing and even peer-reviewing a game,” Klucher stated. “With this feedback we’ve added some new functionality that brings the XNA Game Studio Connect experience even closer to the experience consumers get when running an Xbox LIVE Community Game.”

In order to test drive Xbox 360 games built with the XNA G... (read more)

Microsoft: The Fun Starts on Xbox Live Primetime Beginning Spring 2009

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:31:00 GMT

Microsoft confirmed that it would debut Xbox Live Primetime in the spring of this year, at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (CES 2009). The company’s President of the Entertainment & Devices Division, Robbie Bach, previewed the interactive entertainment genre on stage at CES 2009 via the show 1 versus 100. Bach described 1 versus 100 as a “live game show, where Xbox Live members can play online against others.”

“This spring we will launch something called Primetime, which is a channel on Xbox. And the idea behind Primetime is to create scheduled programming, so that you can go at a specific time, find friends, and experience live events,” Bach added.

Via the Xbox LIVE Primetime channel, Microsoft is attempting to offer members of the Xbox LIVE community a single channel blending together TV and gaming. In this regard, the company's focus is to kick up a notch the level of interactive entertainment available to Xbox 360 owners via Xbox LIVE.

The confirmation that Xbox Live Primetime will premiere in spring 2009 comes on the heels of Microsoft announcing record sales for the Xbox 360 consoles. Earlier this week, the software giant indicated that sales of the Xbox 360 had jumped past 28 million units. Keeping up the p... (read more)

Xbox 360 Wins over PS3, Loses to Wii's Natural User Interface

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

While Microsoft is touting the biggest year ever for Xbox 360 sales, the company is only comparing its console with PlayStation 3 from Sony, and saying nothing at all about Nintendo's Wii. Having recorded what it called the biggest year in Xbox history for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Microsoft indicated that at the end of 2008 it managed to take the worldwide install base lead over PlayStation 3 to in excess of than 8 million units. According to statistics released by the Redmond company, the Xbox 360 has climbed over the 28 million sold consoles mark.

“For Xbox, 2008 will be remembered around the world as a pivotal growth year at retail and online — even in the face of tough economic conditions,” Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, revealed.

“Worldwide, a record number of players flocked to our broadest games and entertainment lineup ever, while the New Xbox Experience thrilled millions of fans by making our console even more engaging. And yet, we’ve only provided a glimpse into the new world of interactive entertainment that we’re imagining. The best of Xbox 360 is yet to come.”

Still,... (read more)

Microsoft: “Gears of War 2” Biggest Blockbuster of Holiday 2008

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 09:24:00 GMT

Microsoft is touting “Gears of War 2” as the biggest blockbuster of the 2008 holiday season, as the title is slated to hit store shelves in just a couple of days. Already applauded by the Redmond giant as the top entertainment premiere this holiday season, “Gears of War 2” will be released exclusively for the Xbox 360 come November 7, 2008. According to Microsoft, the title is planned to become available in 20,000 stores in no less than 20 countries worldwide.

“Each holiday season in this current console generation, Xbox 360 has led the industry with the best lineup of blockbuster video games, and we are poised to lead the charge again in 2008 with ‘Gears of War 2,’” revealed Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios.

Spencer indicated that Microsoft had every intent on surpassing the success of the initial release of “Gears of War” with the sequel scheduled for launch ahead of this weekend. “Holding the title of fastest-selling video game of 2006, ‘Gears of War’ has sold more than 5 million units to date, and this next chapter in the franchise will raise the bar yet again,” he added.

Cliff Bleszinski, creative lead of Epic Games team, indicated that the sequel to “Gears of War&rd... (read more)

Microsoft: 75% Xbox 360 Sales Still to Come, 33 Million Units

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 10:37:00 GMT

Microsoft is claiming that the approximately 11 million units of Xbox 360 sold in the United States from the product's debut until mid-2008, represent just 25% of the consoles' total sales. In this context, the Redmond giant is looking to push no less than another 33 million Xbox 360 consoles.

The software company indicated that, according to statistics, 75% of console sales are correlated with product prices lower than $200. The time is ripe for Microsoft, which announced that it has slashed the price for Xbox 360 Arcade to just under the $200 mark, namely $199.99.

"We are thrilled to be the first next-generation console on the market to reach $199, a price that invites everyone to enjoy Xbox 360," stated Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. The price tag for the plain-vanilla version of Xbox 360 console is $299.99 while Xbox 360 Elite goes for $399.99.

With almost 11 million units of Xbox 360 sold in the U.S. until the end of July 2008, according to data made available by market analysis companies, Microsoft is runner up to Nintendo which accounted for approximately 11.5 million sold consoles. By comparison, PlayStation 3 is just over the 5 million mark. But Microsoft is little shy of inviting millions... (read more)

Microsoft Brings the Political "Game" to Xbox 360 Users

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Microsoft has partnered with Rock the Vote and embarked on a new initiative designed to "harvest" new registrants for the 2008 election. In this context, the Redmond company announced that it has opened its Xbox LIVE network to Rock the Vote. As a direct consequence, users of Xbox gaming consoles will be able to get involved in presidential polls, have their opinions heard in relation to the two U.S. presidential candidates, and even register to vote. According to the software company, the first day of the Democratic National Convention, August 25, will also be synonymous with the start of the campaign. "The Xbox LIVE community is active, vocal and passionate," explained Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox LIVE. "We're thrilled to partner with Rock the Vote to make it easier than ever for youth voters - and our members - to register and be heard."Via Xbox, Microsoft will virtually "fight" on both sides of the U.S. electoral front, as the consoles will be present at both the Democrat and Republican conventions in 2008. And through Xbox LIVE, Microsoft is allowing Rock the Vote to reach in excess of 12 million users across the U.S. "Xbox is a natural partner to help us reach out to youth voters," added Heather Smith, executive director, Rock the Vote. "To realize our goal of registering 2 million young Americans by this f... (read more)

Xbox LIVE and Xbox 360 - a New Social Entertainment Experience

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:46:00 GMT

Microsoft is positioning Xbox Live and Xbox 360 for a new standard in social entertainment experience planned for debut in the fall of 2008, courtesy of a partnership with Netflix. The E3 Media and Business Summit acted as the stage where the Redmond company revealed that Xbox LIVE would permit users of Xbox 360 consoles to access and instantly stream a rich catalog of movies and TV episodes numbering in excess of 10,000 items. "Watching movies at home will never be the same. Netflix on Xbox 360 is an entertainment first, and we are bringing friends together with the best in entertainment content like no other device in the living room," promised John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Services Business at Microsoft. Via the alliance with the world's largest online movie rental service, Microsoft is advancing past what rivals from Nintendo and Sony are offering to users of Wii and PlayStation consoles. Xbox 360 will permit Netflix content to be streamed to a television, in what Microsoft referred to as a new home theater experience. The new offering comes with a price tag of $49.99 for a year-long subscription, and is available to Xbox Live Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers. "We are creating a completely new social entertainment experience, and Xbox 360 w... (read more)

Microsoft Declares Xbox 360 Winner over PlayStation 3 and Wii

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:19:00 GMT

As far as Microsoft is concerned, the Xbox 360 has left both PlayStation 3 and Wii in the dust. The Redmond company popped the champagne and started applauding Xbox 360 victory in the race against rival products from Sony and Nintendo, arguing that its console was the first of this generation to reach the 10 million sold units on the U.S. market. "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry", explained Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. Microsoft's gaming system sold in excess of 19 million items worldwide, the company revealed, but the strongest emphasis is placed on the U.S. market, which accounts for well over half of Xbox 360's install base worldwide. "This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad", Mattrick added. A total of 19 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide translates in a very strong gaming community for Microsoft. In fact, Xbox LIVE, the network built around the Xbox 360 increased in size to over 12 million members across the world, with Microsoft giving credit where credit is due for the expl... (read more)

When Microsoft Ninjas Attack

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 8 May 2008 15:21:00 GMT

No, Microsoft ninjas are not a secret project, a new solution, application or service. They are just employees on the payroll, walking the hallways of Microsoft buildings on a daily basis. Ninjas are normally not among standard personal in an IT company, and the Redmond giant makes by no means an exception to this rule. But this is not to say that the impossible can't happen, and loyal to the slogan "never say never," Microsoft has more ninjas than it knows what to do with. The only catch is that all of them would much rather throw a few lines of C# at you than a shuriken. Josh Poley, now with the Zune testing team, is an illustrative example of a fully-fledge Microsoft ninja (via James Senior)."If a fellow employee looks me up in the address book, he will be informed that my title is "EMULATION NINJA". Regardless to say, this continues to evoke the common 'what's with your title?' questions, especially since the original lore around this topic is quickly fading into obscurity. Interestingly, I've been getting this question a lot recently," Poley said.Apparently, it all started a while back when Microsoft was still building the Xbox 360 console. One of the critical tasks of the development team was to make Xbox 360 backwards compatible. "Unfortunately, the Xbox 360 is wildly different in its hardware compared to the first console. This means that... (read more)

Microsoft Introduces the Xbox 360 Panacea

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:23:00 GMT

In all fairness, Microsoft's console, the Xbox 360 is by no means a panacea but, at the same time, the Redmond company hopes that it will deliver a positive impact on patients in children�s hospitals. In this regard, Microsoft has joined forces with nonprofit organization Companions in Courage Foundation, and revealed that it is committing a few hundreds of Xbox 360 game kiosks for the benefit of children�s hospitals across the U.S. Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the first group of Xbox 360 kiosks in Seattle. "Microsoft is committed to keeping kids entertained in a variety of ways within a safer gaming environment, so partnering with Companions in Courage to offer children in hospitals a way to connect through something as universal as games is a natural fit for the work we do. The goal for this program is to give these kids a chance to have some fun and just be kids," Bach explained. Via the Xbox 360 kiosks in hospital playrooms across the U.S., hospitalized kids will be able to not only play a selection of games rated E and E10+, but also access Y-rated TV programs, G-rated movies, and even a private Xbox Live network. Morgan Stanley Children�s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Children�s Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the... (read more)

The Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator Free Download - Down from $2,999

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 09:19:00 GMT

Back in mid-December 2007, Microsoft made available Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator, with an one-time license of $2,999. Just three months later, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator is a free download, accessible through the Xbox Live Marketplace, via token requests at the product's official webpage. Ironically enough, the emulator is still being offered under the slogan "This isn't someday. This is now. This is HD DVD." The irony, of course, is that HD DVD is dead and without any future. A move that has prompted Microsoft to offer the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator for free. "This decision was made in light of Toshiba's recent announcement that they are discontinuing their HD DVD business. The reasons for offering the emulator for free are two-fold. Microsoft is committed to interactivity and giving content authors the ability to create more compelling entertainment experiences. Offering the emulator for free allows a greater audience to experiment with interactivity with little to no cost. Second, the emulator beta program had approximately 80 participants across the industry who relied on the emulator for testing HDi content. Continued access to the emulator will assist those post houses and developers in completing their outstanding HD DVD projects," explained Amy Dullard, Program Manager, Microsoft HD DVD. Microsoft is also lookin... (read more)

Kicking in a First-of-its-Kind Xbox 360 Entertainment Experience

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Mon, 7 Jan 2008 10:25:00 GMT

A new, first-of-its-kind entertainment experience is coming to Xbox 360 users, courtesy of a new partnership between Microsoft and BT, announced at 2008 International CES on January 6th, 2008. That is the promise of the Redmond company, as the duo is working to bridge the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system with the next-generation TV service BT Vision. As a direct result of the partnership, the Xbox 360 console will permit BT broadband customers access to high-definition gaming, TV and movie content. According to Microsoft, BT will debut the new set of offerings starting with the summer of 2008. "This is an exciting moment in home entertainment. Last year at CES, we announced Xbox 360 on Microsoft Mediaroom as a powerful platform capable of enabling new entertainment experiences for consumers, and we are pleased to team with BT to bring this service to market. Together we are enabling BT Vision customers to be the first in the world to enjoy this next-generation TV and gaming entertainment experience", revealed Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Connected Television Division at Microsoft. In fact, the deal between Microsoft and BT comes as a consequence of the bridging between the Xbox 360 console and Mediaroom, as BT Vision has as its foundation in the Redmond company's Internet Protocol TV ... (read more)

Microsoft Unveils HD DVD Emulator - One-Time License Is $2,999

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:08:00 GMT

The new HD DVD emulator is designed to offer a virtual environment perfectly suited on testing tasks, such as modeling the HD DVD disc content, and to get a preview of its behavior from encoded video to HDi interactivity, before burning a single HD DVD disc. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator is an offering addressed at studios and disc authoring companies, with Microsoft emphasizing the need for an advanced method to perform code troubleshooting of HD DVD content an interactivity. According to the Redmond company, the software-based Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator is a solution that will make obsolete testing processes involving hardware and the frenetic hunt for errors of HD DVD titles. "We are committed to supporting and advancing the HD DVD ecosystem, and the new Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator reflects these efforts by providing developers with the software-based tools they need to efficiently deliver the highest-quality content", said Jordi Ribas, general manager of HD DVD at Microsoft. "Microsoft developed the Emulator to help save studios and postproduction houses time, resources and costs involved with the creation of HD DVD content, and let them focus on what really matters - pushing the envelope with the format."Of course, that the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator is also connected with a piece of hardware, namely the latest versio... (read more)

$300 Million Worth of Halo 3 Sold in the First Week

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 4 Oct 2007 15:50:45 GMT

Microsoft has officially labeled Halo 3 as a global entertainment phenomenon announcing that it has sold no less than $300 million worth of the title worldwide, in just the first week of sales. Exclusively available for the Xbox 360 platform, Halo 3 has become the fastest-selling video game in history, although the Redmond company is acclaiming it as an entertainment property, not only as a gaming title. But Master Chief, the game's protagonist, apart from contributing to the global entertainment phenomenon that is Halo 3, also managed to push up Xbox consoles sales. "'Halo' is truly a cultural phenomenon, and the launch of 'Halo 3' is an important milestone for Xbox 360 and for video games as entertainment and as an art form," said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. "'Halo 3' embodies our vision for the future of entertainment, where some of the world's greatest creative minds will deliver a new generation of interactive storytelling." According to the Redmond company, sales of Xbox 360 consoles have more than doubled since Halo 3 hit the shelves on September 25. But on top of the record unit and console sales, Halo 3 has quickly become a hit with the Xbox Live online gaming platform. Microsoft announced that in excess of 2.7 million Halo 3 gamers engaged in no less than 40 million hours of online gameplay. In the first day... (read more)

Halo 3 Got All the Things the Vista Wow Didn't - See the Launch Event with Your Own Eyes

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:16:00 GMT

Microsoft spent Bill Gates' best $6 billion on building Windows Vista and another $500 million on top of that for the Wow marketing campaign. And yet the company's latest operating system failed miserably to attract crowds of Windows users hungry for an upgrade or to stir up decent levels of enthusiasm. In contrast, Bungie Studios' Halo 3 delivered it all, crowds of fans and top excitement over the first day when the title went on sale in the U.S. But don't take my word for it, just click on the thumbnails included at the bottom in order to get an idea of what the launch event was like. "With 'Halo 3,' Bungie Studios has further mastered the art of marrying fantastic gameplay with the intangibles that make the experience extraordinary for gamers, evoking incredible emotion through its story and character development," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "That emotion is at the heart of what makes this more than a game and why 'Halo' connects with its audience in the way other great stories like 'Star Wars' resonated with theirs. But unlike the static experiences of a great film or novel, 'Halo 3' offers a dynamic and social interactive entertainment experience that enables players to finish the fight themselves."Of course that Master Chief could not have... (read more)

Halo 3 Sells 1 Million - Not Even Out Yet

Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 15:56:00 GMT

Halo 3 has not even hit the shelves and Microsoft is already cashing in. On August 9, Microsoft has applauded the fact that Halo 3 has passed the 1 million milestone by counting just the pre-orders of the title. And by the looks of it, Halo 3 will not have the chance to jump off the shelves, as pre-orders ensure that the game will never even get to touch a store shelf. Microsoft is already referring to the release of Halo 3 as the entertainment event of the year, and judging by the rate of the presales for the title, the fastest in gaming history, Microsoft is not off by much on the actual success of Halo 3. "What we've experienced is nothing short of phenomenal," said Bob McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising at GameStop Corp. "'Halo 3' has eclipsed many previous records and will prove to be one of the must-have items of 2007.""The excitement for 'Halo 3' is incredible," said Jill Hamburger, vice president of movies and games at Best Buy. "From our preorders online and the buzz we're hearing in our stores, we know this release is going to be one of the biggest entertainment events of the year. We're thrilled to be able to bring it to our customers."Halo 3 will be made available on September 25 in no less than three versions exclusively for Xbox 360: Standard Edition, Limited Edition and the collectible Legendary Edition. Ac... (read more)