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Category : XBOX

		Microsoft Plans New Xbox 360 Arcade Console
	Product listings on Amazon.com and the Toys 'R' Us Web sites indicate that the Xbox 360 Core system is set to be replaced by a new console that focuses on its arcade game capabilities October 23. If earlier reports provided are correct, the console will come in a darker gray finish (being called a "standard finish") and include a 256MB memory card. An HDMI port will be added, and the device will include one wireless controller, although no headset. Central to the new SKU is the inclusion of five arcade games, two of which are expected to be UNO and Pac-Man. No other details were immediately available, and Microsoft had yet to publicly confirm the new model's existence as of press time.
		Farshad @ 08:14 | 3 October 2007 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(64)

		Microsoft Expands Xbox Live to Windows
	Microsoft continued to build on the success of its Xbox platform by extending it's popular Live gaming platform to Windows PCs. The service would debut on May 8, and would connect gamers on both platforms together. "Shadowrun" will be the first PC and Xbox 360 title to allow gamers on either platform to play one another in a single environment starting in June, although the Vista version of "Halo 2" due May 8 will permit person-to-person matches across either platform. "UNO," which has become a popular Xbox Live Arcade title, is slated for release later in the year. In a humorous twist, Microsoft's Live naming convention has forced the company to give the new service an odd name: "Games for Windows -- Live," with the double hyphen meant to signify that the office is not a Windows Live service, but a different type of "Live" service altogether. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 07:54 | 14 March 2007 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(17)

		Xbox 360 To Launch in China
	Microsoft is preparing to launch its next-generation console in China in the next few months, according to industry sources. As part of the process, the company is currently working with the Chinese government to gain approval and will be prepping sales channels shortly. Preparations have been ongoing since late last year, according to Reuters. The biggest roadblock to the availability of the Xbox 360 within the country would be the government itself. Video games are reviewed by the government before being approved for sale in China. While no date has been officially set, consumers have reportedly been told to expect systems to arrive next month. Launching the console in China has been a goal of the company since launch. The sheer size of the country and its market potential make it an attractive target. If it does launch in the country, it would be the first of the next-generation consoles to do so. The PlayStation 2, which launched in the country in 2004, would be the company's biggest competitor. They would also have to overcome the consumers' preference for PC-based gaming. Worldwide, the company has sold over 10.5 million units, and holds considerable leads over both the Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles.
		Farshad @ 03:00 | 15 January 2007 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(16)

		Xbox 360 HD DVD to Launch Nov. 22 in Japan
	Sensing a real possibility of dethroning Sony as the leading game console manufacturer worldwide, Microsoft has accelerated its marketing effort for Xbox 360. At the Tokyo Game Show this morning, the company announced it is increasing the target number of game titles available in Japan for the holiday season from 80 to 110, and will premiere the 360's HD DVD player accessory there on November 22 for about USD$169. At current exchange rates, the 20 GB Xbox 360 Core System sells for about $339 in Japan; in the US, its price averages about $300. If Microsoft's suggested retail price for the HD DVD add-on follows the same price scale, the company could be planning to market Xbox 360 plus HD DVD in the U.S. for a combined price of under $500. With the added bonus of 1080p (progressive scan) output for the accessory rather than the 1080i (interlaced) typical of first-generation HD DVD players, Microsoft may considerably undercut Sony's Blu-ray-based PlayStation 3 when it becomes available. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 05:53 | 27 September 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(29)

		Calif. Men Guilty of Xbox Modding
	Two California men will plead guilty to charges that they participated in a conspiracy to modify Xbox consoles so they could play pirated video games. Jason Jones and Jonathan Bryant, owners of the ACME Game store in Los Angeles, were selling the consoles for anywhere from $225 to $500 USD. The posh store counts among its customers Snoop Dogg and actor David Arquette. Pricing on the modded Xboxes depended on what changes was made to the console. However, Jones still denies the charges, and says the store would remain open, possibly moving to a bigger location. "I don't know how to modify a [expletive] Xbox," he told Reuters from the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. He said he settled to get the case behind him, and said that his customers have been extremely supportive. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 03:04 | 11 May 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(9)

		Xbox 360 USB HD DVD Drive Confirmed
	As E3 prepares to get underway in Los Angeles this week, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are holding their announcement cards close to the chest. However, Microsoft confirmed over the weekend that its previously announced HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will connect to the console via USB. The add-on will be showcased at E3 and bring support for the high-definition format to the Xbox. Sony, meanwhile, is building Blu-ray support into the PlayStation 3, which is expected to get its first unveiling at the gaming conference. However, Microsoft says "HD DVD is the best value" and notes, "the industry momentum we've seen has been behind HD DVD." Pricing and release dates for the add-on were not yet announced.
		Mohsen @ 21:24 | 8 May 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(11)

		Xbox Japan chief: Microsoft will succeed
	Takashi Sensui reconfirms his company's commitment to crack his country's game market; unveils new plans for Xbox Live. TOYKO--Microsoft's Xbox 360 press conference in Tokyo today started out with a greeting speech from Takashi Sensui, the new general manager of Microsoft Japan's Xbox division. While it wasn't until the beginning of this month that Sensui replaced former manager Yoshihiro Maruyama, he is actually one of the oldest staff members working in the office. The 42-year-old, who holds an MBA from Columbia, joined Microsoft Japan in 2002 when the original Xbox launched in the country, and he has been working as the head of Xbox marketing since then. In 2005, he also began working as the head of Xbox content promotion. Sensui started out the press conference with some strong words of confidence about the Xbox 360. "Since the launch of the original Xbox in 2002, there was one thing that we have consistently said: Microsoft will inevitably succeed in Japan['s gaming market]," said Sensui. "I believe that this year will be the stepping-stone to that success. The Xbox 360, which was released last December, is not just the only next-generation console available in the market, but it will also continue to be the best console for years to come. The Xbox 360 is a well-balanced console with high hardware capabilities. Furthermore, it is easy to exploit its capabilities to produce high-quality next-generation games." Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 19:02 | 10 April 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(27)

		Microsoft Committed to Xbox in Japan
	Microsoft told reporters in Tokyo Thursday that it planned to triple the number of games it will offer in Japan by the end of this year. The console has struggled in the country, largely out of a lack of Japanese-centric games and consumers' wishes to wait for Sony's PlayStation 3. Role-playing games like Final Fantasy are popular in Japan, much different from stateside gamers' preference for first person shooters. Also, Japanese gamers seem to prefer consoles made by companies based in the country, accounting for Sony and Nintendo's success. However, Microsoft is not ready to give up on the Japanese market. "Our message is this: We're prepared to do everything that's needed to make Xbox 360 a success around the world, including Japan," new Xbox Japan head Takashi Sensui told reporters. He took the reigns in the country at the beginning of this month. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 11:20 | 6 April 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(8)

		MS Ramps Up Xbox 360 Shipments
	Microsoft said Tuesday that beginning this week, it will ship two to three times the number of Xbox 360 consoles to retailers. The company says its component issues have been ironed out and manufacturing partner Celestica has begun manufacture of the console, allowing Microsoft to ship more units to its retail partners. The company will have 80 games available on the platform by June. Some of those new titles include "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," "Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter," "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend," and "X-Men: The Official Game." Additionally, Microsoft announced that its Xbox Live Marketplace has reached 10 million downloads, and that 85 percent of consoles have downloaded content from the marketplace.
		Farshad @ 20:24 | 21 March 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(29)

		Microsoft Replaces Xbox Head in Japan
	While not directly attributing his departure to the Xbox 360's lackluster debut in Japan, Microsoft announced Thursday that Xbox general manager Yoshihiro Maruyama is being succeeded by Takashi Sensui. Sensui previously worked as director of marketing for the division, building relationships with game publishers. "We acknowledge that achieving success in Japan will not come easily or quickly for Xbox," Sensui said in a statement. "But we are confident that because Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best content for Japanese gamers, enabled by the online capability of Xbox Live, we will earn more of their business moving forward."
		Farshad @ 13:11 | 17 February 2006 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(115)

		System update available for the Xbox 360
	DailyTech told us that Microsoft has just released the much hyped (everybody loves the hype) January 2006 update for the Xbox 360. The mandatory update will install when you sign on to Xbox Live. There doesn't appear to be anything to get excited about, but here's the list from Microsoft on what's included with the update: - Improvements to the Xbox Guide. - Option to retain your saved games when you delete a profile. - Increased accuracy of "last time played." - Network configuration improvements for Xbox Live® members in the Netherlands. - More detailed messaging for unreadable disk or region errors. Not much but its still something. Maybe its about time I bought an Xbox 360. Neah...
		Farshad @ 14:08 | 31 January 2006 | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(12)

		Hackers find first Xbox 360 cracks
	Only weeks after the introduction of the Xbox 360, hackers appear to have cracked their way into the software that runs the Microsoft game console. A group called "Team PI Coder" claims to have found a way to extract the source files of Xbox 360 games as they get loaded onto the console. The glimpse at game code represents the first move toward hacking the Microsoft device, said Steve Manzuik, a security product manager at eEye Digital Security. "All that has been done is that they have figured out the file system, which is not much different than the original Xbox file system," Manzuik said. "I would consider it a game hack, not really an Xbox 360 hack. But (it is) the beginning steps of one." Team PI Coder has posted details on several games to the Web along with an "extractor tool" that could potentially be used to copy games, according Xbox-Scene.com, an enthusiast Web site. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 09:56 | 17 December 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(19)

		Microsoft Xbox sells out in UK
	Retailers are warning that the new Xbox has completely sold out in the UK. Customers queued through the night to get their hands on the latest console, but the number of advanced orders exceeded the number of available units even before the launch. Some have questioned if this was a deliberate tactic to bring extra attention to the launch. "I think it's unlikely Microsoft has withheld supply," Paul Jackson, principal analyst for consumer markets for Forrester Research. "It's more to do with launching in three markets in close succession. The amount of units it had would satisfy either the US, EU or Far East, but not all at the same time." Meanwhile prices for the new console on eBay have reached stratospheric levels. Some auctions are offering the new machine at double the price in the shops.
		Amir @ 09:15 | 2 December 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(10)

		Unpacking the Microsoft Xbox 360 Premium
	Contents: Xbox 360 Console Power Cord Power Strip Headset 4 AA Batteries Media Remote HD Video Cord Wireless Controller 2 Manuals More photos at source
		Farshad @ 10:39 | 19 November 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(13)

		Xbox 360 games already on sale in the USA
	Scattered reports from the US suggest that Microsoft's first party Xbox 360 games are starting to ship, despite the fact the console itself won't launch until November 22nd. Both GameStop and EB Games are listing Kameo: Elements of Power as available to ship within 24 hours, and various gamers report receiving it. Meanwhile, Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 are expected to go on sale more than a week in advance of the console's US launch. So far there's been no sign of the same happening on this side of the Atlantic, however, where Xbox 360 is set to launch on December 2nd, although most shops are full of placeholder boxes and other point-of-sale promotions. Retailers are expecting actual stock closer to release. Games going on sale this far in advance of their home platforms is unusual, but it's not the first time games have made it out before consoles - some PSP games, for example, were widely available in the few days prior to the console's launch in the US and similarly in the UK.
		Farshad @ 03:39 | 11 November 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(14)

		Xbox 360 sales survey
	Market analysis firm Wedbush Morgan Securities has published a new survey on hardware sales in the US and Europe which predicts that combined Xbox 360 sales in both regions will top 2.5 million by 2006. The report's authors calculated the figure, which breaks down to 1 million consoles sold in Europe and 1.5 million in the States, based on the assumption that manufacturing began in August. The report also assumes that 100,000 consoles per week were initially being produced, with that figure rising to 150,000 or more by the end of the year - making for a weekly average of around 130,000 consoles. Wedbush Morgan also forecasts that Xbox 360 purchasers will buy two games at launch, and a further three games after two months - with the same ratio applying to rival consoles PlayStation 3 and Revolution when they go on sale next year. Xbox software sales will total USD 380 million in 2005, according to the report. The survey focuses on current generation hardware too, revealing that PS2 has an installed base of 51 million units in the US and Europe. The figure for Xbox stands at 18 million, while for GameCube it's 13.2 million. Wedbush Morgan predicts that Sony will slash the PS2's price tag from USD 199 to USD 149 on or near the Xbox 360 launch date - November 22 in the US, December 2 in Europe and December 10 in Japan. There's no suggestion that Microsoft might follow suit and reduce the price of the current generation Xbox, as Wedbush Morgan believes manufacturing costs are too high to make a further price cut viable. The report also predicts that hardware sales will rise to 40 million this year - up from 35 million in 2004. Well, this sounds prety decent. Maybe Microsoft will finally make a profit out of the Xbox 360. Wait and see.
		Farshad @ 16:20 | 15 October 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(20)

		Microsoft Licenses Princeton Digital Reverb for Xbox 360
	Princeton Digital and Microsoft have entered into a joint development and licensing agreement to develop professional quality audio processing software for Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Microsoft will include a custom version of the Princeton Digital reverb, the Reverb2016/360, with the Xbox Software Development Kit, thereby adding a powerful, flexible and natural sounding reverb to the game developer’s audio toolkit. Princeton Digital’s reverbs have been used on hundreds of recordings over the last 20 years. These reverbs are known for their natural sound but require processing power well beyond the capabilities of previous generation game platforms. The Xbox 360’s powerful processors have the power to run these natural sounding reverb simulations with ease. The Princeton Digital Reverb2016/360 is a 5.1 channel enhanced version of the classic Reverb 2016. Enhancements include multi-channel output, new parameters to control the size of the room, room resonance, independent position controls and filtering to simulate obstructions and occlusions. The Reverb 2016/360 brings a level of environmental simulation that previously has been only available in professional sound studios or high end audio workstations,” said Brian Schmidt, audio program manager for Microsoft. “We’re extremely happy to get these algorithms into the hands Xbox 360 game developers.” “We like to create audio effects and we’re happy that over the years recording engineers and producers have used our reverbs in uncounted records, movies and other media,” said Tony Agnello Princeton Digital’s founder and president. “By adapting and enhancing our classic algorithms, we’ve created a natural sounding reverb that gives sound designers the creative control that they need to simulate any kind of acoustic environment. And we were able to keep resource usage within fairly tight CPU and memory constraints important for game consoles.”
		Ramin @ 13:09 | 8 October 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(29)

		Xbox 360 launch line-up revealed
	At X05, Microsoft revealed that the following games will be released during the launch of the Xbox 360 console on Nov. 22 in North America, Dec. 2 in Europe and Dec. 10 in Japan: Kameo: Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero, and Project Gotham Racing 3. Later releases include: Crackdown, the over-hyped Gears of War, the new Bioware RPG called Mass Effect, FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, Superman Returns: The Videogame, MotoGP URT 2006, Quake 4, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 4, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Call of Duty 2, Castle Wolfenstein and more. So put aside those cents cause it's going to be a game-avalanche this Christmas courtesy of the Xbox 360.
		Farshad @ 18:52 | 6 October 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(9)

		Microsoft says Xbox, adidas in alliance
	Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said its Xbox brand has teamed with sporting-goods maker adidas-Salomon AG for a series of events leading up to next year's soccer World Cup. Under the deal, Microsoft said Xbox 360 kiosks will be installed in adidas stores across the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, Asia, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand for a variety of activities before World Cup 2006. Xbox will also have kiosks at all adidas grassroots soccer events. The companies are planning a platform integration in which adidas will install content on Xbox 360 consoles, while Xbox will be included in adidas' planned World Cup 2006 mobile portal. Additionally, Xbox and adidas will support "MTV Goal -- Germany 2006," a film following the progress of 10 rising soccer stars as they try for their national squads, as well as "Goal: The Movie" with cross-promotional activities. Read the entire story at source
		Ramin @ 10:53 | 5 October 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(11)

		Xbox 360 Pictures and movies
	xbox team: Last week's Tokyo Game Show brought lot of Xbox 360 goodies. We had the chance to play Xbox 360 games running on final XeDKs for the first time and we also got to see the console up close and play with the new controller. That is why we bring you today new pictures of the Xbox 360 system and peripherals as well as two movies, one featuring the production of the Xbox 360 and the other focusing on the console and the controller. View : Xbox 360 Pictures and movies
		Farshad @ 10:47 | 20 September 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(8)

		Xbox 360 Coming November 22
	Microsoft has solidified a launch date for the Xbox 360, announcing the system would hit store shelves on November 22 across North America, December 2 in Europe, and December 10 in Japan. The company said that this would be the first time a game console would be launched in three territories within a similar time frame. Details of the launch date were announced on the eve of the Tokyo Game Show 2005, Japan's yearly gaming expo. Manufacturing for the system has already begun, and units have begun to be produced in three production facilities in Osaka, Japan; Oxford, England; and Orlando, Florida. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 00:16 | 16 September 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(8)

		Microsoft unveils new Xbox Live pricing
	Microsoft on Thursday unveiled its pricing plan for the next-generation version of its online multiplayer video game service, Xbox Live. In addition to a new pricing structure that it hopes will encourage players to splurge for a full year's subscription, the company said it will no longer require a credit card to sign up. Later this year, Microsoft is expected to begin selling its much-anticipated next-generation console, the Xbox 360. The new Xbox, if released on time, would likely give Redmond a head start of several months over its console rivals, Sony and Nintendo, which plan to release their new machines, the PlayStation 3 and Revolution, respectively, next year. The company originally launched Xbox Live in 2002, and the service has grown to more than 2 million subscribers. Microsoft is positioning the online service at the center of its next-generation console strategy and said it will eventually try to connect a billion users. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 18:26 | 11 September 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(7)

		X05 Coming to Amsterdam - Xbox 360 plans and details to be unveiled
	Today Microsoft lifted the shroud of mystery surrounding the location for X05 and confirmed that Amsterdam will be the city to host this years X0 event. Often referred to as one of the most colourful and vibrant cities in the world, Amsterdam's sophisticated culture and modern mentality make it the perfect home for this year's Xbox invite-only brand experience for the games and entertainment industry. A highlight of the gaming calendar, Xbox enjoys this opportunity to bring together gamers from around the world and create a unique and immersive experience for their guests. X05 will be held on October 4th and 5th this year and will offer global industry leaders the chance to fully experience Xbox 360; including the first opportunity to play next generation games. As previous events have shown, location is a key part of the X0 mix. X01 was memorably held in Pierre Cardin's Bubble House in Cannes, whilst La Isla Magica (Seville) was the theme-park location of X02 and X03 saw guests at an exclusive beach club location in Juan-les-Pins. Read the entire story at source
		Amir @ 06:05 | 15 August 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(101)

		Xbox 360 keyboard
	Leaked photo's of a spanisch powerepoint presentation on Xbox 360, reveal a Xbox controller with a QWERTY keyboard, a camera and a wirelless LAN device. Read the entire story at source
		Amir @ 03:50 | 3 August 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(108)

		Xbox Live Passes 2 Million Subscribers
	Microsoft announced on Wednesday that its online gaming community Xbox Live had reached 2 million subscribers, doubling its size in just one year. According to the company, the service was signing up customers at the rate of about one every 30 seconds. "Reaching the 2 million member milestone in such a short time speaks volumes about the depth and vibrancy of the Xbox Live community," said Robbie Bach, senior vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division and chief Xbox officer at Microsoft. The company attributed the success of Xbox Live to the growing number of titles for the console that now allow for some type of online interactivity, as well as the option to download content to enhance certain games. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 07:55 | 21 July 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(10)

		X05 - It's Confirmed
	Microsoft have confirmed today that their X0 event for 2005 will take place later in the year. The X0 events have been held in previous years to mark important announcements and unveilings in the Xbox's history. In 2001, pricing details for the Xbox were revealed; in 2002 there was Xbox Live and the announcement of Microsoft's aquisition of Rare; and in 2003 a new partnership with Epic Games and the new Xbox branding were showcased. There wasn't an X04 last year - Microsoft were presumably too busy working on Xbox 360 for that - and instead their efforts are to be showcased at this year's X05 which is to be held in a secret location in Europe on 4th and 5th October. The event will allow international attendees to fully experience Xbox 360 and is set to "mark the beginning of the next generation of gaming in Europe", say Microsoft. In attendance will be the world's top retailers, media, partners, publishers and developers who will get a glimpse of Microsoft's more detailed plans for Xbox 360. And that's not all. Those lucky enough to be in attendance will also be entertained with musical acts taking to the stage. X03 had Massive Attack, for instance. Guests have been entertained by renowned acts such as Carl Cox, Groove Armada and Massive Attack, in stunning locations - X01 was memorably held in Pierre Cardin’s Bubble House in Cannes, La Isla Magica (Seville) was the theme-park location of X02, and X03 hosted guests at an exclusive beach club location in Juan-les-Pins. "We are very excited about X05 and believe this will prove to be a real highlight in the gaming calendar this year.", commented Chris Lewis, regional vice president, Xbox, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "We have a lot to say and even more to show people. Believe me, after X05 there will be no question that Xbox 360 is the next-generation". Xbox 360 is set to launch not long after X05 so we should get a great taster of the system just a matter of weeks ahead of launch.
		Farshad @ 11:39 | 16 July 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(8)

		MS Developing Online Game with Marvel
	In hopes of drawing more gamers to its new Xbox 360 platform, Microsoft on Thursday announced it had obtained the exclusive rights to produce massively multiplayer online games (or MMOGs) featuring the Marvel characters. But fans will have to wait; the first game isn't expected until 2008. The deal is the first for Marvel on a MMOG, and the first for a Microsoft console. Microsoft already had struck some deals with companies for games on the PC side. The Xbox 360 is expected to be launched in November. Read the entire story at source
		Farshad @ 07:02 | 15 July 2005 | Source | Printable version | Email this to a friend	Comments(14)

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