XBOX360 USB Pro
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
September 29th, 2010 | 
Author: From gamespot.com:
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According to a survey by the industry research group [NPD] spanning three months, 75 percent of consumers 13 and older did not download digital content on any platform at all. Some 15 percent downloaded content via a PC or Mac, 4 percent through a smartphone, and 2 percent connected via a Blu-ray Disc player or a digital video player, such as Apple TV or Roku. (The sample size of the study was not provided.)
The remaining 6 percent downloaded content via a connected “game player,” a category that covers the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii.
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Full Story: gamespot.com
Posted in 
From the MS press release:
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Brands are jumping in to a new era of engaging and connecting with consumers. Microsoft Advertising today announced at Advertising Week 2010 that a full lineup of forward-thinking companies is bringing its brands to Kinect for Xbox 360, the new controller-free gaming and entertainment experience that responds to body movement and transforms how people play, entertain and connect with family members and friends. Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile USA Inc. will each launch respective ad campaigns throughout the Kinect console experience, ?Kinect Sports,? ?Kinect Adventures? and ?Kinect Joy Ride? game titles.
?With Kinect for Xbox 360, we are removing the last barrier to interactive television ? the controller,? said Mark Kroese, general manager of the Interactive Entertainment Advertising Business Group at Microsoft. ?We have seen tremendous momentum from the advertising community, including big campaigns from Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile. These visionary marketers are leading the entertainment revolution with ground-breaking campaigns that are highly engaging.?
Advertising campaigns will commence with the much-anticipated North America launch of Kinect on Nov. 4:
* Chevrolet. As announced in June, Chevrolet is the first automaker to launch a multiscreen ad campaign that allows consumers to test-drive Chevrolet vehicles in ?Kinect Joy Ride,? the first controller-free racing game from Microsoft Game Studios. When Kinect for Xbox 360 launches this fall, consumers will have the opportunity to take the test-drive concept to a new level by driving the Chevrolet Volt in ?Kinect Joy Ride.? Also, after viewing the video advertisement in-dash on Xbox LIVE or on the Web, consumers will be able to unlock and download Chevrolet Cruze, Camaro and Corvette cars to drive in the game. Chevrolet will then kick off the new year with an ad campaign in the Kinect Hub showcasing the same vehicles.
* Sprint. As a longstanding and pioneering Xbox LIVE advertiser, Sprint understands the value of connecting with the Xbox community. This fall, Sprint is sponsoring the launch of ?Kinect Adventures? with a co-branded retail experience on Xbox LIVE and a sponsored contest in which ?Kinect Adventures? players have the chance to get their pictures featured on Xbox LIVE. Consumers attending New York Comic Con can play ?Kinect Adventures? at the Sprint booth.
* T-Mobile. Another Xbox advertising pioneer, T-Mobile is taking advantage of the immersive user experience in ?Kinect Sports? with fixed product placement throughout the games including volleyball net signage, custom bowling balls and foam fingers held by the arena audience. T-Mobile is further supporting the game title through a sponsorship on the Xbox 360 console. Xbox members can visit a website on the dashboard to access exclusive video content and participate in the first launch weekend Play & Win contest with prizes including Family Gold memberships. Also, during the holidays T-Mobile will support ?Kinect Sports? Play & Win programs with two Xbox Family Game Nights in November and January.
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From techradar.com:
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It has been confirmed that Sky Player on the Xbox 360 will indeed work with Kinect ? Microsoft’s new-fangled motion controller ? when it launches in the UK.
Microsoft has always been adamant that Kinect is not just about gaming, but an entirely new way to control everything on your console, which includes services like Sky Player.
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Full Story: techradar.com
From majornelson.com:
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I am happy to announce that we?re doing an Xbox 360 System Update Preview program for our next release, and the opportunity to sign up is now available. The Preview Program will give you the chance to check out ESPN on Xbox LIVE, Zune music, Netflix search, the new Xbox LIVE dashboard, and new updates to Zune video and Family Settings on your Xbox 360*. Much like we did last year, 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. Once you complete the survey that is presented to you, the Connect site will notify you immediately if you?ve been accepted. A couple of points before you head off to register:
* We?re looking for multiple thousands of participants, so your chances of making it in are good.
* This is not for Kinect. You will not be receiving a Kinect sensor if you are chosen to participate.
* This opportunity is open to all Xbox LIVE Members in regions where Xbox LIVE is available.
* To avoid any problems, read the survey carefully and double check all the information your provide.
* While both Xbox LIVE Gold and Silver members can sign up, Priority will be given to Gold members in the selection process.
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News-Source: majornelson.com
From kotaku.com:
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The eBox [Chinese game machine - dubbed "Kinect clone"] will come with 30 games built in and a set-top camera that can detect a player’s movements, according to the article. According to Eedoo Technology, the company behind the product, this is only the second controller-free console.
“I think it’s all about who builds the best experiences,” Microsoft Game Studios exec Phil Spencer recently told Kotaku. “I don’t think anybody longs to buy a piece of plastic to put under their TV. I think what it’s going to be able is who has the best games and experiences for people. I think it’s always been about that and should be.”
“We don’t really know anything about it other than that press release that went out,” a Microsoft spokesperson pointed out. “Nobody really knows what it is doing and how it’s doing it. We don’t know about its content. There isn’t a lot of clarity on it.”
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Full Story: kotaku.com
From the MS press release:
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Microsoft Corp. today announced the further international expansion of Zune, its digital entertainment service. This fall, Zune will expand its music and video footprint and bring the free Zune software, Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass1 music subscription service and enhanced features on Zune.net to new markets, providing a comprehensive entertainment experience on Windows-based PCs, on the go with Windows Phone 7 and in your living room through Xbox LIVE [Gold]
Zune Marketplace online store is accessible from within the Zune software and offers the ability to purchase millions of individual songs or albums from its catalog, all in MP3 format. Here, consumers can also subscribe to Zune Pass,4 which provides unlimited downloads and music streaming capabilities from the Zune music library, including content from major music labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music and Warner Music Group, as well as thousands of independent labels. Zune Marketplace also has a large library of videos from major studios such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution for purchase or rental. Video purchases will be accessible through Xbox LIVE and Windows-based PCs, and can also be added to a Windows Phone 7. Simply buy your favorite video from Zune Marketplace and watch it on the screen of your choice.
The fall 2010 international expansion of the Zune music and video service includes the following:
Zune Marketplace will extend services to several markets in Europe and beyond.
* Zune Pass (U.K., France, Italy and Spain). The monthly music subscription service will be available for 9.99 euros /8.99 pounds per month for unlimited download and streaming access to the Zune music catalog and will be accessible on Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE. The offer in the U.S. will remain at $14.99 per month for unlimited downloads and streaming access, with the ability to keep 10 MP3s per month.8
* Music purchase (U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany). Expansion to these markets will enable consumers to purchase MP3s and listen on their Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 or any other device that supports MP3 format. Users will also be able to purchase music videos to enjoy on Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 and Zune on Xbox LIVE.
* Video purchase (U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Consumers will now be able to purchase movies to download and watch anywhere ? on the big screen in the living room with Xbox LIVE or their Windows-based PC as well as sync it to their Windows Phone 7 to enjoy on the go.9
* Movie rental (U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). In addition to Zune video on Xbox LIVE, consumers in these countries will now be able to rent movies for viewing on their Windows-based PC or choose to sync the rental to their Windows Phone 7.
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Read the full press release here[microsoft.com]
From gamasutra.com:
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Greenberg is very bullish on Kinect, predicting three million sales this holiday season, globally.
“Our key indicators are feedback from retailers — I think you’d be surprised at how sophisticated they are, and they really have the pulse of the market. They’re looking at preorders, they’re talking to customers.
“We’re also done our own research. We believe this will be the biggest launch in our history, for Xbox. We will sell more Kinect sensors than we did [systems] at Xbox 360 launch.”
“Our estimates that we will sell in excess of 3 million units this holiday,” The company is spending “hundreds of millions” of dollars in marketing, “exceeding in what we did when we launched the original Xbox 360,” says Greenberg.
The generation, at this rate, seems to be tracking longer. Of course Sony has always talked about a 10-year cycle, but so does Greenberg. “We do think that this generation is unique. We’re treating the launch of Kinect as an entirely new platform launch, as almost a new generation. For us that does extend the product life cycle.”
At this point in the Xbox 360′s lifespan, he says, “we’re five years in. We think we have another good five years-plus, but that remains to be seen — but easily there’s another five years’ life.”
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
From the MS press release:
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It’s official: the “Halo” video game franchise has made history once again. Microsoft today announced that “Halo: Reach” generated more than $200 million in sales in the United States and Europe in the first 24 hours of its release. Based on U.S. sales alone, “Halo: Reach” is now the biggest entertainment launch of 2010 in the U.S., eclipsing the three-day opening weekends of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters like “Iron Man 2,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Toy Story 3″ in a single day.
“‘Halo: Reach’ is the biggest game Microsoft has ever released, and its launch has already surpassed every game, movie and entertainment launch this year,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. “Every major installment has grown in scope and popularity, firmly cementing the ‘Halo’ franchise as one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world over the past decade.”
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Full Press Release: here
From eurogamer.net:
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Microsoft has reassured Halo: Reach fans that it’s trying to fix an issue that prevents 4GB Xbox 360 owners from playing Reach’s campaign cooperatively, Eurogamer has been told.
Owners of the 4GB Xbox 360 (that 4GB is internal memory) who try to join a co-op campaign are greeted by this message: “One or more players do not have the hard drive required for this game type.”
This morning Microsoft insisted the limitation is “temporary”, but could not say when it will be fixed.
A Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer: “We are aware of the issue and are quickly working to resolve it.”
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Full Story: eurogamer.net
From eurogamer.net:
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EA Sports president Peter Moore doubts Microsoft and Sony will invest in new consoles for at least three years.
The ex-Microsoft and SEGA executive described the launch of Kinect and PlayStation Move as “tantamount to new platform launches”, and insisted “we’re nowhere near mass market pricing”.
“If you look at the history of the pricing, we’re in mid-cycle,” Moore told Eurogamer in a new interview published today.
“Chronologically, this is the last few years of previous cycles, but when you look at pricing, we’re mid-cycle.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net
