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E3 Predictions: Bungie's Next Game
By GameInformer, published 24-05-2012
Earlier this week, a leaked contract agreement between Activision and Bungie gave many fans their first hard facts about the former Halo developer’s next project. Bungie is hard at work on Project Destiny, a likely code name for a new “sci-fantasy, action shooter” series scheduled to be published by Activison in the fall of 2013. The game series mentioned in the contract is also said to be in a “massively multiplayer style,” but it’s unclear if that means Destiny is an actual MMO or whether it simply has some persistent online elements. The first Destiny game will release on current-generation consoles such as the 360 and PS3, but also next-gen consoles. Wording within the 2010 contract indicates a timed exclusive on Microsoft consoles, with later rele...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 05/24/12
By GameInformer, published 24-05-2012
We've got another week of entertaining blogs for you to enjoy, but before you read them, take a moment to pause and reflect that on this day back in 2006, Half-Life 2: Episode One went gold. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: May 14 – May 20, 2012Number of User Blogs: 110Number of User Bloggers: 59Number of User Blogs Herded: 10 Community Blogs: How To Create A Successful GameMost of us know a bad game when we experience it, but creating a successful game is far more challenging. Mike outlines a number of qualities present in nearly every successful video game. Improving Pokemon Stadium For The Wii UA clever and colorful post by iDreamRunner, offering up a few recommendations to improve the next version of Pokémon Stadium for the Nintendo Wii U. Pay To Play What You Pa...
Joy Ride Turbo Review – Marginally Better Without Kinect
By GameInformer, published 24-05-2012
Kinect Joy Ride was a great approximation of driving a car with a stuck accelerator. The game handled the gas and brakes automatically, leaving players with the odd sensation of steering an out-of-control vehicle with an imaginary wheel. The Kinect launch title did an adequate job of giving the peripheral’s new owners something to show off to friends, but it ultimately strengthened the case for traditional controls. Interestingly enough, Joy Ride didn’t start out as a Kinect title. When Microsoft revealed the game back at E3 2009, it was a free-to-play downloadable release. The plan was that players would take their newly announced avatars to the track in a series of microtransaction-fueled races. BigPark closes in on that original vision with Joy Ride Turbo, though the game i...
E3 Predictions: MS And Sony Talk Next-Gen Consoles
By GameInformer, published 23-05-2012
Both Microsoft and Sony have stated they won't debut new consoles at this year's E3, but we still expect to hear some next-gen talk during the show. The Internet kicked off 2012 with rumors that both Microsoft and Sony would be outlining their next-gen plans at this year's E3. A few days later, Sony's Kaz Hirai denied the rumor, stating the company is "not making any [next-gen console] announcements at E3" and that it will be sticking to its planned 10-year cycle for the PS3. In mid-March, Microsoft Studios' Group PR Manager Ryan James told us there will be "no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon." Given how definitive these statements are, we would be surprised to see any kind of next-gen hardware from Sony or MS at E3. But that doesn&#...
Dragon's Lair Review: Time Hasn’t Been Kind To Dirk And Company
By GameInformer, published 22-05-2012
Dragon’s Lair is finally (inevitably?) available on the Xbox 360, which begs the question: What took so long? The arcade game has been ported more than five dozen times to various systems since its 1983 release, and the Xbox 360 has been on the market for six years. What does that patience get you? Well, the Xbox Live Arcade version adds Kinect support and is a faithful recreation of the original. In other words, it’s the same awful experience that it was 30 years ago. Audiences were easily wowed in the early days of gaming. Compared to contemporaries like Spy Hunter and Mario Bros., the original release of the fully animated Dragon’s Lair was a revelation. The game’s attract screen did its job, drawing in passersby with the prospect of actually playing through a ...
Details On Bungie's New Project 'Destiny' Revealed
By GameInformer, published 22-05-2012
A previously sealed court document obtained by the Los Angeles Times outlines the contract developer Bungie signed with Activision back in 2010 to create a new franchise. According to the contract, Bungie will develop four "sci-fantasy, action shooter games," code named "Destiny," that will be released every other year starting next fall. Bungie will also put out four downloadable expansion packs, code named "Comet," every other year beginning fall of 2014. Additionally, the first "Destiny" game will be released first on Xbox 360 and potentially Microsoft's new console. The other three games will then be released on consoles from Microsoft and Sony as well as PC. Also detailed in the contract is that Bungie is potentially working on another Mara...
Microsoft Issuing Refunds To Certain Minecraft Xbox 360 Owners
By GameInformer, published 22-05-2012
Some Minecraft players on Xbox 360 couldn't wait to play the game split-screen. However, it turned out the split-screen option was only available to those playing on a HD television. The problem stems from Microsoft not putting a notice about the split-screen requirements on the game's product page when it first launched. The problem has since been corrected. “We updated our pre-sale notification to inform customers that an HD screen is required for the split-screen multiplayer feature on Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement sent to Game Informer. "If a player does not have an HD screen and purchased this game prior to the notification update, they are eligible for a full refund through customer support.” Minecraft o...
FarSight Building Twilight Zone Pinball Table Via Kickstarter
By GameInformer, published 21-05-2012
Bally's Twilight Zone pinball table is one of the most beloved pinball tables of all time, and Pinball Arcade developer FarSight Studios is trying to fund the digital creation of the table via Kickstarter. FarSight is seeking $55,000 to cover the licensing costs of the table (not including development costs) so it can bring it to Pinball Arcade on the game's various platforms. The developer also says that any overflow of money will be put towards digitizing other tables such as Star Trek: The Next Generation. For more info such as the tier rewards, check out FarSight's Kickstarter entry. $10 gets you the table as a reward – except on Xbox 360, due to Microsoft constraints. The table will be available on Xbox 360, just not as a Kickstarter reward. [via NeoGAF]
Mad Riders Heading Your Way In May
By GameInformer, published 18-05-2012
I was a fan of Nail'd, and if you were too, then you should mark your calendars for the arrival of Mad Riders on XBLA, PC, and PSN this month. The game comes out May 30, and will cost $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points. Mad Riders features 45 tracks, shortcuts, boosting, and aerial stunts, and if Nail'd is any indication (click for the review), it should be a pretty fast and crazy experience. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Time Warner, Bright House Now Support HBO Go Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 17-05-2012
When the HBO Go app launched on Xbox 360 in March, cable providers Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House did not support it. Now, all of them do. Comcast was the first provider to support the app a few weeks after. Today, Time Warner and Bright House are on board, too. " Believe it or not, we really, really do want our customers to enjoy the content they love on as many devices as possible," said Jeff Simmermon of Time Warner. "We take the 'any content, any device' mantra seriously, and we’re delivering on it this week in spades." [Source: Time Warner]
Prototype 2 Leads Grim April Sales
By GameInformer, published 05-11-2012
According to U.S. retail tracker NPD, total video game sales in April 2012 fell 32 percent year-over-year from $930 million to $630 million. Physical software sales dropped even harder, from $533.7 million to $307.2 million, a 42 percent decline. Microsoft's Xbox 360 led console sales for the month with 236,000 units sold. Sony and Nintendo have not released hardware numbers at this time. “This year, Easter fell very early in April, which means most Easter-related purchases may have fallen into March this year, whereas last year, Easter fell late in April causing most sales to fall in that month," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "We usually find that Easter-related purchases generate an extra 10 percent in revenue in the month they occur, so some of...
Rumor: Xbox 360 To Get Internet Explorer
By GameInformer, published 05-10-2012
Sony's PS3 had an internet browser since day one, and a recent rumor suggests that Microsoft's Xbox 360 is finally getting one of its own. The Verge, citing multiple sources, has a rumor that the system will get a fully functional Internet Explorer browser that can be controlled via Kinect voice and motion gestures (but Kinect will not be mandatory). The 360 currently only has a Bing search for media. If this is true, E3 would be as good a time as any to announce this move. In these days of tablets and smart phones, does anyone care about a browser on their system anymore?
Minecraft Breaks Xbox Live Sales Records
By GameInformer, published 05-10-2012
Microsoft said the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft has has broken all previous Xbox Live Arcade digital sales records, selling more than any other title in the first 24 hours. The company was unable to provide exact sales figures, but they say over 400,000 players are playing the game. Trials Evolution previously held the first-day Xbox Live Arcade sales record. Minecraft released yesterday. Check out our review of the game right here. [Source: Major Nelson]
Minecraft Review: Construct Your Own Adventure
By GameInformer, published 05-09-2012
The indie darling Minecraft has now forged its way onto consoles, giving those players a chance to see what all the fuss is about. To its credit, Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition is largely the same fascinating game as its PC counterpart, giving players an open world and the tools to make the most of it. If you’re not familiar with Minecraft, let me quickly break down the basics for you. You start out in a massive, randomly generated world with only your wits and a map (a nice starting bonus for console players). The game is divided into days and nights, and you’ll quickly learn that the difference is more than cosmetic. When you begin, you start by punching trees to collect wood, which can then be crafted into planks and sticks. You combine those materials with other scavenge...
EA Investing $80 Million Into Next-Gen Game Development
By GameInformer, published 05-07-2012
EA said today it plans to invest $80 million into game development for next-generation consoles. The company revealed the number during its latest quarterly earnings release. "We are very impressed and have decided to invest in the next generation of consoles," a spokesperson told Game Informer. Sony and Microsoft both stated they plan to not reveal any new hardware at E3 next month. Nintendo will use the opportunity to re-unveil the Wii U.
Microsoft Confirms $99 Subscription Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 05-07-2012
The rumors were true. Microsoft today confirmed a $99 subscription-based console available at its U.S. stores. In order to redeem the deal, you must bring the coupon seen here to a participating Microsoft store. The deal requires customers to sign up for a 2-year subscription to Xbox Live Gold at $14.99 per month. The console is a 4GB Xbox 360 and includes Kinect. Early termination fees apply, which you can read about here. [Source: Microsoft]
Haunted Temple Studios Changes Name to 17-BIT
By GameInformer, published 05-04-2012
The development team behind Skulls of the Shogun is changing its name from Haunted Temple Studios to 17-BIT. The new name represents the studio's "commitment to preserving classic gameplay ideals, using modern technology to innovate upon and super-charge them for the modern age." CEO Jake Kazdal said, "It's 16-bit, plus a bit more. When we test-drove the 17-BIT name and logo at PAX East, people instantly got it. It reached the point where people kept stopping us on the show floor and asking where they could get our t-shirts. "The new name sums up our goal perfectly -- taking your best memories of the 16-bit era, and making new experiences that look as good and play as well as you remember." Skulls of the Shogun is coming later this year to Micro...
Watch Microsoft's E3 Press Conference Through Xbox Live
By GameInformer, published 05-03-2012
For the first time ever, Microsoft is allowing Xbox Live users to watch its entire E3 press conference live through the console's dashboard. Microsoft's E3 2012 press conference is called "Xbox: Entertainment Evolved" and begins at 9:30 AM Pacific Time on June 4. It will run for 90 minutes total. For a list of the rest of the press conference times, check out our schedule right here. [Source: Major Nelson]
Dragon's Lair Kinect For XBLA Has A Trailer And A Release Date
By GameInformer, published 28-04-2012
UPDATE: Dragon's Lair is coming to XBLA with Kinect support, and now there's a trailer to prove it. It also has a release day of May 18, if the game's Xbox Live Arcade page is to be believed. (Please visit the site to view this media) ------------------------- Yesterday, we reported that it looked as though Dragon's Lair was coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Now it's official. Players will be able to take control of hapless hero Dirk the Daring using Kinect, too. According to Microsoft's Play XBLA blog, this is the first game on XBLA that will support both Kinect and controller-based inputs. Judging from the screen above, helpful icons will pop up when you need to react. This is great news for fans of classic arcade games, or for folks who enjoy watching animated knights...
Weekend Warrior 04/27/12
By GameInformer, published 28-04-2012
Summer feels like it’s closing in fast, which means that it’s time to check a lot of the year’s overlooked titled off our list. Some of us are even trying to fool people into thinking that we’ll do more physical activities, like jogging. Ben Hanson: This weekend will be oh so much fun! I hope to continue playing Driver: San Francisco, that game has derailed my love affair for Xenoblade. What kind of mad man prefers RPG grinding to controlling a man’s coma-spirit as he possesses two drivers and forces them to collide their two-ton vehicles in mid-air? Good times! Check that game out if you like arcadey driving games. There has also been talk of playing Left 4 Dead at Kyle Hilliard’s house, I’ve never played the game and am hoping to understand the...
The Rise And Fall Of Cortana In Halo 4
By GameInformer, published 27-04-2012
Most fans have noticed Cortana's prominent placement on the cover of the latest issue of the magazine. The new Halo team at 343 Industries is aiming to build her up as both a pivotal character in the plot and as a showcase for the new technology behind the scenes. We talked with Frank O' Connor about the evolution of Cortana throughout the series, why she chooses to be a naked blue lady, and how the impending end of her life affects both Master Chief emotionally and the overall story of Halo 4. Check out the video below and let us know what you think of the new direction for Cortana in the comments section below. (Please visit the site to view this media) To learn more about the rest of Halo 4, click on the link to enter our content-hub below.
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #229
By GameInformer, published 27-04-2012
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Game of Thrones, Twins Baseball (Even Though We Are Bad), NHL Playoffs, Audi R8 GT (I Really Need Audi To Give Me One, I'll Talk About It Every Month I Promise) Dislikes: When the Weather Is Nice During the Week And Horrible On Weekends, Comcast (Seriously, Minneapolis Cable Boxes Are Awful), That I'm So Behind On My Gaming I Haven't Gotten A Chance To Start Witcher 2 or Guild Wars 2 Yet Current Favorite Games: Fez, Xenoblade Chronicles Andrew Reiner Profile E...
Gadgets, Guns, And Devils: The Sound Design Of Halo 4
By GameInformer, published 25-04-2012
Not only is Halo 4 starting anew for the music of the game, but the audio team led by Sotaro Tojima is hard at work amassing a gigantic library of sound effects for the new game. Rather than overly relying on stock sound effects from an existing library or from past Halo games, Sotaro and his colleagues are doing everything they can to ensure that the soundscape of Halo 4 will be fresh. Check out the video below to learn about the team's unique sound sources and the guiding philosophy behind them. (Please visit the site to view this media) To learn more about Halo 4, click on the link to our content-filled hub below.
The Completionist: The Secret Ending Of Fez
By GameInformer, published 25-04-2012
Maybe you've beaten Polytron's perspective-altering puzzler. But have you gathered every cube and collectible, and seen the true ending? Our video reveals the game's final secrets. The Completionist exists to show off the game content most of us will never have the patience to reach, like our drive to find all the data fragments in Assassin's Creed Revelations or the full collection of Dragon Priest Masks in Skyrim. Today, we unveil our Completionist run of Polytron's Fez. If you're anything like most Fez players, you managed to complete the game with most of the golden cube shards, and a smattering of anti-cubes. Maybe you've been a real trooper and gone back into NewGame+ to get some more anti-cubes. But Game Informer editor Kyle Hilliard took it all the...
Forza 4 May Top Gear DLC Includes 10 New Cars
By GameInformer, published 24-04-2012
Starting on Tuesday, May 1, Forza fans can grab the latest DLC and expand their garage of available vehicles. Dubbed the May Top Gear pack, the new cars showcase an array of old and new machines for the price of 560 Microsoft points. You can see screens of the cars below, but here's the complete list of what you're getting for your money. 2012 Hennessey Venom GT 1977 AMC Pacer X 2011 Ford Transite SuperSportVan 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 1966 Lotus Cortina 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 2012 Smart ForTwo 1990 Subaru Legacy RS 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII For more Forza 4 DLC news, check out the Alpinestars and Porsche packs.
Darksider's II Avatar Items Make You Look Like Death
By GameInformer, published 24-04-2012
Face it: Your Xbox 360 avatar looks stupid (unless you are Robocop). THQ wants to help you fix that by allowing you to purchase some Darksiders II-related avatar items. The items, pictured below, range in cost from 80 to 400 Microsoft points, and are available today. THQ promises a similar collection for PlayStation 3, though no specifics regarding cost or release were announced. If that isn't enough dress-up for you, you can "like" the Darksiders II Facebook page to get a free virtual T-shirt for your avatar designed by Vigil Games' Joe Madureira.
First Look At ThreeA's Halo Line
By GameInformer, published 24-04-2012
ThreeA is finally giving us a glimpse of its upcoming Halo action figures. The image above teases the sculpt and paint for a figure based on Halo Reach's Carter. This 1:6 scale action figure (roughly 12" in height) is surprisingly true to the character model featured in the game. I was hoping ThreeA would flex its creativity a little more with this action figure line like it is with the Portal figures. No release date or pricing has been given just yet, but more details are expected soon on both ThreeA's website and Facebook page.
The World Of Halo 4
By GameInformer, published 24-04-2012
Halo 4 promises to introduce gamers to a whole new set of locations, enemies, and story lines surrounding the adventures of Master Chief and Cortana. While many elements of that new vision, including details about the new enemies in the game, remain under wraps, a closer look at concept art from the game helps to illustrate some of the most exciting new elements on the way. Lost in Space John-117 and Cortana have been floating through space aboard the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn for four years, seven months, and ten days. This interior shot of the shattered ship hints at some important story elements. Cortana's curled up form speaks to her distress, which will play strongly into some of the events of the game. As Halo 4 begins, Cortana will be facing her own imminent madness a...
Analyst: PS3 Doesn't Need A Price Drop
By GameInformer, published 23-04-2012
Price drops are always a popular move, but Jesse Divnich, vice president of insights and analysis at market research firm EEDAR, believes that the PS3 doesn't have to do that just yet. Although the PS3 is behind the Xbox 360 in sales, Divnich told GamesIndustry International he doesn't think it's time for Sony to do anything drastic. "I don't believe the PlayStation 3 needs a price drop at the moment. Sales have been consistent and in-line to what one would expect for a platform that continues to successfully grow its install base so late in a console cycle." We'll have to wait and see what this holiday brings, and whether the release of the Wii U will change Sony and/or Microsoft's mind about the prices of their consoles.
The Fez Soundtrack Is Full Of Hidden Messages
By GameInformer, published 23-04-2012
Apparently, when you look at tthe actual files of the Fez soundtrack with a spectrogram, you'll find images of historical figures and scannable QR codes, one of which reveals a series of dates. None of the secrets seem to interact with the game directly. It doesn't seem to reveal hidden areas of the game, or anything along those lines. Check out our original story below on how to get your hands on the soundtrack, which is great even without hidden pictures of eyeballs and smiley faces embedded in the song. [via Geek.com] Original story Fez released on April 13, and the soundtrack became available to pick up on Friday. Click here to grab the album from artist Disasterpeace. You can also stream the soundtrack from the site if you just want some pleasant background noises while you w...
The Essential Xbox Live Arcade List
By GameInformer, published 21-04-2012
PlayStation 3, Wii, iOS, and multiplatform downloadable games have had their shot. Today is all about the Xbox 360.This week, we've outlined some of the best games across the life of the major console download services. With an eye towards including the important early games on the service as well as the latest and greatest hits, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive survey of the essential titles on any given downloadable platform. You may recognize this feature from last year, which has now been updated with all the new great titles that have released since.Today, we’re tackling the first major console game download service that appeared. There are now over 480 games available on the Xbox Live Arcade service, an impressive collection that has been building since the c...
Trials Evolution Sets Xbox Live Arcade Record
By GameInformer, published 20-04-2012
Trials Evolution set a record for the highest grossing day-one sales in Xbox Live Arcade history, Microsoft said today. The sales total accounts for the first 24 hours since going on sale earlier this week. It's also currently one of the highest reviewed Xbox Live games. If you're unsure if Trials Evolution is for you, check out Dan Dyckert's glowing review and our Test Chamber episode. [Source: Microsoft]
Microsoft Revenue Jumps 6 Percent Ahead of Windows 8 Launch
By HotHardware, published 20-04-2012
Despite Apple's iPad trying to steal Microsoft's thunder and in spite of increasing competition from ARM in the mobile space, Microsoft still managed to drive its quarterly revenue up 6 percent year-over-year to $17.41 billion for the company's third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012. Net income topped $5.1 billion, resulting in $0.60 diluted...
Wired Explains Why The Halo Movie Project Failed
By GameInformer, published 20-04-2012
In an exhaustively researched and well-written article, Wired digs deep into the saga of the failed Halo film adaptation. It's an interesting look at the still-vast differences that exist between the film and video game industries. The article is long and detailed, so I won't attempt to summarize it. Suffice it to say that the Halo movie was undone by Microsoft's inability to understand the dynamics of Hollywood dealmaking. It's an interesting read, right from the first few paragraphs, which recount a team of men dressed in full Spartan armor carrying Alex Garland's (28 Days Later) script for the Halo movie to the headquarters of Universal, Fox, New Line, and DreamWorks. For the full story, click here.
Flood Of Trials Evolution Players Take Down Microsoft's Servers
By GameInformer, published 19-04-2012
Trials Evolution is an awesome game, and apparently I'm not the only one that feels that way. The game went live yesterday, and over 100,000 players downloaded it and began posting their scores to the leaderboards. Because of the onslaught of new users, servers went down and resulted in error messages when leaderboards were accessed. Developer RedLynx is aware of the situation, and released a statement saying "We apologise for the inconvenience, and obviously we're working closely with Microsoft's backend team to improve the situation and prevent this sort of thing from happening again." While you're waiting for the servers to come back online, check out this week's edition of Test Chamber if you'd like to see me fail over 150 times on a single cours...
Fez Caps Off XBLA Charts
By GameInformer, published 19-04-2012
Indie darling Fez just release last Friday, but already this puzzle platformer as risen to the top of Xbox Live’s downloadable charts. According to Major Nelson the top XBLA downloads for last week are as follows: Fez Skullgirls I Am Alive Pinball FX2 Gotham City Impostors Castle Crashers Fruit Ninja Kinect South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge Trials HD Toy Soldiers: Cold War It’s kind of crazy that Castle Crasher still sits so high on that list. How many of those games have you played? Have you downloaded Fez yet? What do you think? If you're still on the fence, check out our review to find out why you should give this goofy little title a shot. [Source: Joystiq]
Trials Evolution Review: More Addictive Than Ever
By GameInformer, published 19-04-2012
When it launched as part of Microsoft’s 2009 Summer of Arcade promotion, Trials HD quickly earned fans with its challenging physics-based gameplay. Almost three years later, RedLynx has released Trials Evolution, and it’s a more than worthy follow-up. It maintains the fantastic gameplay that made its predecessor a hit, but dramatically improves upon the stages and adds an entertaining multiplayer component. Virtually the entire Trials HD experience took place in the same bland warehouse environment. You may see glimpses of a similar area from time to time in Evolution, but they’re rarities amongst the sea of beautifully-designed outdoor environments. One stage has you careening down a floating roller coaster, another has you navigating the perilous rocks and ramps of mid...
Spartan Ops: The Bold New Co-Op Of Halo 4
By GameInformer, published 18-04-2012
In the second story for our week of multiplayer coverage we want to introduce and detail one of the largest new additions to the Halo package: the co-op mode called Spartan Ops. Broken up into seasons, these weekly doses of videos coupled with missions attempt to bring Halo fans back to the game on a regular basis, and give campaign players a reason to engage with the new narrative-focused multiplayer experience. Watch the video below to hear creative director Josh Holmes and lead Spartan Ops designer Chris Haluke explain the new mode and how they hope it will offer an inviting entrance into the integrated multiplayer world of Halo 4. (Please visit the site to view this media) To learn more about Halo 4, click on the link to enter our content-filled hub below. For more on both competitive...
Director's Cut: Interview With Robot Entertainment's Patrick Hudson
By GameInformer, published 18-04-2012
In the current issue of Game Informer, we published an interview with Robot Entertainment's Patrick Hudson. The company, formed by ex-Ensemble veterans has left Age of Empires behind in favor of innovative downloadable and mobile games like Orcs Must Die and Hero Academy. Unfortunately, there just wasn't space to print the entire interview in the magazine. Here are the questions that were cut from the print version. Why was the Halo MMO you'd Ensemble had been working on for Microsoft cancelled? Too big, too expensive. There was obviously a lot of turmoil within Microsoft at that time, it wasn’t long after that when Bungie spun itself out of Microsoft and what was going to become of the Halo universe within Microsoft was unknown. It was a big production, it would have be...
Update: Complete List Of Avatar Awards
By GameInformer, published 17-04-2012
The list has been updated with new Avatar Awards for Minecraft, Mass Effect 3, Prototype 2, Anomaly Warzone Earth, and a handful of other games. If you'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on games rather than clothing for your Xbox 360 Avatar, yet still like the idea of dressing him or her in video game garb, several games offer Avatar clothing and items as rewards when specific game challenges are completed. Below is a complete list of awards that are available so far, or have been announced for upcoming games. We'll continue to update this list as new avatar awards are unearthed. After Burner ClimaxAfter Burner T-Shirt – Unlock every EX optionGold Flight Helmet – Obtain one of every medal type in Score Attack Alan WakeJacket and Scarf – Play the Limited Colle...
The Essential PlayStation Network Game List
By GameInformer, published 17-04-2012
This week we return to the essential downloadable games of this generation, shining light on the newest titles that no gamer should miss. Last year we outlined some of the best games across the life of the major console download services, with an eye towards including the important early games on the service as well as the latest and greatest hits. This week we're taking an updated look at each platform, adding in all the great titles that came out since last year. We'll start with PlayStation Network. Launching almost two years after Microsoft rolled out its XBLA service, the PlayStation Network has had a lot of ground to cover in order catch up to its main rival. Thanks to developers like Jenova Chen and Hello Games, who have openly praised Sony's support for smaller studios...
Fez Fixes Coming Soon
By GameInformer, published 16-04-2012
Fez finally came out on Friday, and we liked it quite a bit, but its release to the general public hasn't been entirely without hiccups. Many Fez players are experiences game breaking glitches and in some cases, the game won't run at all. Developer Polytron has issued a statement regarding the glitches, promising that fixes will be coming soon. Polytron is working closely with Microsoft to issue a patch, but it doesn't have a date for when the patch will be available just yet. In the meantime, it is asking that anyone experiencing an error to e-mail support@fezgame.com with details. You can find out more by clicking here.
Weekend Warrior 04/13/12
By GameInformer, published 14-04-2012
It's Friday the 13th, so that means we're all playing scary games like Castlevania, Skyrim, Xenoblade Chronicles, Mass Effect 3, and Fez. Admittedly, none of those are horror games, except for maybe the first, but we all celebrate the holiday in our own special way. Jeff Marchiafava: This weekend I’ll probably return to Skyrim. It’s a daunting game to go back to (despite having already played about 50 hours, I barely scratched the surface of the main story and a couple guild arcs), but I’ve got a hankering for some more giant open-world action again. I think I’ll also play the Sniper Elite V2 demo, after watching Tim’s amazing nutshot video. Tim Turi: This weekend I aim to play a bunch of Skyrim and finish up my mage thief’s business in Winterho...
Shadowrun Creator Also Wants To Resurrect Crimson Skies
By GameInformer, published 13-04-2012
Jordan Weisman, the creator of Shadowrun, was so impressed at the result of his Kickstarter campaign to fund a new entry in the cyberpunk RPG series that he's considering bringing back the Crimson Skies franchise. Shadowrun's Kickstarter was a massive success, reaching its $400,000 goal in 24 hours, and has now raised over $875,000. This has given Weisman hope that Crimson Skies will see similar results. In an interview with Shacknews, Weisman said, "I'm hopeful [Crimson Skies] is another property that I can approach soon. I'm in discussions with them about that," he told us. "I'm hoping that we can bring that back to life as well." Crimson Skies for PC and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge for Xbox 360 were based on the original FASA board game. ...
Mass Effect 3 Leads March Sales
By GameInformer, published 13-04-2012
Research firm NPD revealed March video game sales results for the U.S. Total video game sales declined 25 percent year-over-year from $1.47 billion to $1.1 billion. On the hardware side, Microsoft led console sales with 371,000 units sold. Nintendo and Sony have not announced hardware numbers at this time. “The Xbox 360 is the best-selling console system for the last 15, and the best-selling hardware platform overall for the past 8 months," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. On the software side, Electronic Arts' Mass Effect 3 unsurprisingly took the top spot with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City coming in second with 582,000 units sold. “Mass Effect 3 sold more than twice as much as did Mass Effect 2 during its introductory month in January 2010," ...
Comcast, Time Warner Don't Support HBO GO On Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 04-07-2012
Update: Comcast issued a statement today saying its now onboard with HBO GO on Xbox Live. Xfinity customers will be able to access their favorite HBO content in yet another way: through the Xbox 360. Starting early next week, customers will be able to access HBO GO on Xbox Live in addition to the number of ways HBO programming is already available for Xfinity TV customers, including on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android phones and tablets; through HBOGO.com and XfinityTV.com; on Video-On-Demand and of course, on linear TV! To access HBO GO on Xbox Live, customers can use the same username and password that they use for Xfinity TV on Xbox. With these launches, it's been an exciting couple of weeks as we continue to branch out and deliver more ways for our customers to access th...
Expiration Date: Will Modern Video Games Go Bad?
By GameInformer, published 04-06-2012
We often think of video games as a timeless medium. Players with a love for retro gaming can still dust off an NES, blow in the bottom of a Super Mario Bros. cartridge, and experience the game the way it was played 25 years ago. Over the past few years, the video game industry has undergone an online revolution, opening up exciting new avenues for interaction and distribution. At the same time, these changes have introduced some troubling restrictions that impact the longevity of the games you buy. The day you can’t play your favorite modern game may be coming sooner than you think. This article originally appeared in issue 227 of Game Informer. The Authentic(ated) ExperienceAnyone who’s played a game in the past two years is aware of a pack-in many games come equipped with ...
May Cover Revealed: Halo 4
By GameInformer, published 04-05-2012
We've seen a surprising amount of speculation this month about our May cover, with all sorts of different games being suggested. At long last, we can pull back the curtain on our world-exclusive look at Halo 4. This 14-page cover story is stuffed full of details on the new game, including information on where the story is going, hands-on impressions of multiplayer, and intel on the surprising new approach governing every aspect of Halo's multiplayer experience. 343 Industries also shared a wealth of in-game screenshots and concept art revealing new locations within the Halo universe. Take a look at the May cover image below. Now, get a glimpse of the new look for Halo's longtime character, Cortana, revealed on our back cover for the first time. In addition to ex...
Fable Expands To The Page
By GameInformer, published 04-05-2012
People who like reading books based on video games are living in a truly marvelous age. The Fable franchise is the latest IP to make the transition, joining other big names including Mass Effect, Battlefield, and Hitman. Fable: At the Edge of the World will fill readers in on the events that transpired in Albion between Fable III and the upcoming Fable: The Journey. Random House and Prima Games have a few other Fable-related projects in the works, in addition to the Christie Golden-penned novel, which is due out this August. A series of digital shorts will be available in May and June, leading up to the release of the downloadable game Fable: Heroes. These eBooks focus on a separate character, including Reaver, Jack of Blades, and Theresa. “The Fable canon – the stories, ...
Lionhead Says Fable: The Journey Is For Serious Gamers, Reveals Box
By GameInformer, published 04-04-2012
Lionhead has revealed the box art for its upcoming Kinect game Fable: The Journey, while appealing to hardcore gamers. If the idea of hopping around your living room like a goof makes you ill, the studio is trying its best to reassure you that this is one Kinect game that deviates from that format. "If you own a Kinect – or are planning on buying one in the near future – and you are a serious gamer who doesn’t want to jump around their living room, then this is the game to look out for," Lionhead wrote on its official site. Since the game was announced at last E3, Lionhead has also battled against the notion that it's on rails. You can judge for yourself later this year, when the Xbox 360 exclusive hits. In the meantime, memorize every detail in the image b...
The Latest Steel Battalion Trailer Offers Insight On How The Game Is Played
By GameInformer, published 04-03-2012
Ever since a new Steel Battalion for Kinect was announced, we have been wondering how exactly the original game's 40 plus button controller would translate into motion controls. Now we have a much better idea. We've had some hands on time with the game, but the trailer below provides a much clearer picture of how it all works. You'll be gesturing to change viewpoints, change ammo types, and punch your teammates among many other things. It looks there is going to a self-destruct option that will be similar to the eject button from the original game. In the original Steel Battalion for Xbox, if you didn't eject from your mech in time when you were near death, your save would be deleted and you would have to start the game over. The self-destruct button looks like it may serv...
More Next-Gen Rumors Surface
By GameInformer, published 04-02-2012
More and more rumors begin to surface as we move closer to E3 this coming June. Earlier this year, reports from Kotaku said the next Xbox will use a Blu-ray drive and lock out used games to some extent. Other reports said the hardware will mirror a PowerPC CPU married to a modified ATI Southern Islands 7000 series GPU. However, a source told MCV the next Xbox is foregoing an optical disc drive entirely and is set for launch next holiday. Additionally, reports from last month say the next PlayStation console is codenamed Orbis and is also coming next holiday. Today, VG247 reports the next Xbox will not only use a Blu-ray drive, it also requires a constant internet connection as an anti-piracy measure. They also say Kinect will come standard with the console. The website additionally s...
Skullgirls Is Coming This Month
By GameInformer, published 04-02-2012
Reverge Labs' cartoony fighting game Skullgirls was due out back in 2011, but it got pushed back to a vague 2012 release window. Now we have a more accurate timeline for when we'll be able to download the game. Peter Bartholow, community manager at Reverge Labs, posted the info on NeoGAF. He said the game should be coming to Xbox Live worldwide on April 11, and that it will cost 1,200 Microsoft points. He added that while the dates are still being settled on for the PSN release, it should be available on the PlayStation 3 on April 10 for $14.99. Take a look at the game's story trailer to get acquainted with Skullgirls in the meantime.
Microsoft Investigating Xbox Credit Card Storage Claims
By GameInformer, published 30-03-2012
Microsoft said today it's investigating claims that the Xbox 360 console stores personal information, including credit card numbers, on the hard drive even after its been restored to factory settings. Researchers at Drexel University claim to have purchased a refurbished Xbox 360 from an authorized retailer and extracted personal data from the console's previous owner using mod tools downloaded from the Internet. "We are conducting a thorough investigation into the researchers’ claims," said Jim Alkove, General Manager, Security of Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, in a statement sent to Game Informer. "We have requested information that will allow us to investigate the console in question and have still not received the information ne...
This Generation's Must-Play JRPGs
By GameInformer, published 27-03-2012
It’s no secret that this generation of video games hasn’t been particularly kind to Japanese games in general, and Japanese RPGs in particular have fallen out of favor. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing in this once-beloved genre worth playing from the past five years. With this generation approaching its end, we decided to look back on the must-play JRPGs that came out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, and PSP. Blue Dragon (360) Of any new developer this generation, Mistwalker has been the greatest hope for JRPG fans. Founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, this team hasn’t had all hits, but they’ve still helped create some of the best Japanese RPGs in years. As Mistwalker’s first release, Blue Dragon seems like the true, cur...
Kinect Star Wars Launch Trailer
By GameInformer, published 26-03-2012
It's been a long time coming for Terminal Reality's Kinect Star Wars. After debuting as a proof of concept video at E3 2010, the game is finally coming out next week. Microsoft today released the final trailer for the game, which highlights its co-op lightsaber battles, pod racing, and Rancor destruction sequences. Conspicuously absent from the trailer, however, is the dancing section. Kinect Star Wars is out April 3. (Please visit the site to view this media)
South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge Release Date
By GameInformer, published 26-03-2012
THQ and Obsidian are already working on a South Park RPG, but that won’t be the only South Park game hitting consoles this year. Prepare for the revenge of Scott Tenorman. Other Ocean Interactive and South Park Digital Studios are working to release a new download-only platformer that let’s fans play as Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny as they travel through time and space to battle Scott Tenorman and his army of Ginger robots. The game features over 20 levels of co-op, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge hits Xbox Arcade this Friday, March 30 for 800 Microsoft Points.
Nvidia's GTX 680 Can Run Epic's Samaritan Demo
By GameInformer, published 22-03-2012
During GDC, Epic Games showed off its next-gen target demo Samaritan running off a single, unannounced Nvidia graphics card. You can now purchase that very same card. Nvidia today announced the GeForce GTX 680 Kepler GPU. "With Kepler we wanted not only to build the world's fastest GPU, but also the world's most power efficient," said Nvidia's James Wang. The company says the GTX 680 introduces two major changes: A completely redesigned streaming multiprocessor and a new GPU Boost feature to increase clock speeds. It also draws "at most" 195 watts of power compared to 244 watts on the GeForce GTX 580. At GDC last year, Epic Games showed off the same Samaritan demo running on three GTX 580s and using an insane amount of watts. Given...
GameStop: Next-Gen Consoles 'Unlikely' To Block Used Games
By GameInformer, published 22-03-2012
Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, retailer GameStop believes next-generation consoles won't lock out used games. In January, a report surfaced that said the next Xbox console may put a lock on used games. GameStop CEO Paul Raines doesn't think that is the case. “We think it’s unlikely that there would be that next-gen console because the model simply hasn’t been proven to work," he said today on the company's earnings call. "Remember that used video games have a residual value. Remember that GameStop generates $1.2 billion of trade credits around the world with our used games model. "So, consider taking used games out of that, you'd have to find new ways to sell the games, and our partners at the console companies have great relationship...
Minecraft 360, Fable Heroes Get Release Dates
By GameInformer, published 22-03-2012
Starting in April, Microsoft will roll out four new Xbox Live Arcade title as part of its "Arcade Next" promotion. Every week begining on April 18, a new game will be released until May 9. Additionally, all new Xbox Live Arcade games will include up to 400 Gamerscore points and up to 30 unlockable Achievements points. Here are the list of games and their release dates: Trials Evolution - April 18 - 1200 Microsoft Points Bloodforge - April 25 - 1200 Microsoft Points Fable Heroes - May 2 - 800 Microsoft Points Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition - May 9 - 1600 Microsoft Points (Please visit the site to view this media)
Here's What's Coming Soon In The World Of DLC
By GameInformer, published 22-03-2012
Whether it's on the disc, supposedly not on the disc, or definitely not on the disc, DLC is a major component of all current generation games. Here's a compendium of what's coming soon, and what recently released for the biggest games of the last few months. Street Fighter X TekkenStreet Fighter X Tekken's first batch of DLC adds new characters (sort of) and new costumes (sort of). The character pack is the collection of extra characters that will be available in the Vita version of the game. The new costumes are swaps that allow Tekken characters to wear Street Fighter clothes, and vice versa. There will also be a number of free updates to fix bugs and expand the gameplay. The costumes will be available on April 3, with the new characters appearing shortly after the Vita ...
Online Pass Invalid For Many Ninja Gaiden 3 Owners
By GameInformer, published 20-03-2012
[Update] Team Ninja has posted the following statement on their Facebook page: We are aware of the issue with the Online Pass for Ninja Gaiden 3 and are working to resolve the issue. For those of you with the PlayStation 3 version of the game, the online pass will be redeemable by 4pm Pacific time. For those of you with the Xbox 360 version, we are currently working with Microsoft to resolve the issue and we will keep you updated. Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this matter. --------------------------- You may have noticed that our Ninja Gaiden 3 review is not yet posted on the site, and there's a reason for that. A quick Twitter search reveals that many fans that bought the game at midnight (or this morning) are being met with error messages when they try to enter t...
Dragon's Lair Confirmed For XBLA, Will Support Kinect
By GameInformer, published 20-03-2012
Yesterday, we reported that it looked as though Dragon's Lair was coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Now it's official. Players will be able to take control of hapless hero Dirk the Daring using Kinect, too. According to Microsoft's Play XBLA blog, this is the first game on XBLA that will support both Kinect and controller-based inputs. Judging from the screen above, helpful icons will pop up when you need to react. This is great news for fans of classic arcade games, or for folks who enjoy watching animated knights collapse into piles of bones over and over and over again.
Smartphone Sucking Power? Blame the Ads
By HotHardware, published 20-03-2012
A joint study between Microsoft Research and Purdue University has taken a look at how smartphone applications handle power consumption and come to some damning conclusions where energy efficiency is concerned. This is an issue that's become more important as smartphone specs have skyrocketed without a similar increase in battery life. The...
Ads within Android apps found to consume 75% of the app's power
By GSMArena, published 20-03-2012
A team of researchers from Purdue University and Microsoft have made a rather starling discovery. It seems apart from being obnoxiously annoying, those pesky ads that pop-up within your Android apps are actually taking up to 75 percent of the app's total power consumption. This result was found with the help of an energy profiler named EProf that can analyze the power consumption of a...
Microsoft: No New Xbox At E3
By GameInformer, published 15-03-2012
Microsoft said today there are no plans to unveil its next Xbox at E3 this June. Ryan James, Group PR Manager for Microsoft Studios, said in a statement sent to Game Informer, "While we appreciate all the interest in our long-range plans for the future, we can confirm that there will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon. "For us, 2012 is all about Xbox 360—and it’s the best year ever for Xbox 360. The console is coming off its biggest year ever—a year in which Xbox outsold all other consoles worldwide." Sony president Kaz Hirai said in early January the company has no plans to unveil its next console hardware at E3, either.
Blog Herding: Community Edition 03/15/12
By GameInformer, published 15-03-2012
Last week witnessed a remarkable number of blogs, many of which focused on the release of Mass Effect 3. This week the numbers dipped slightly, presumably because the community is consumed with playing the final episode in Bioware's iconic series, which Game Informer rated a perfect 10. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: March 05 – March 11, 2012Number of User Blogs: 73Number of User Bloggers: 55Number of User Blogs Herded: 9 Community Blogs: The Truth That Deus Ex: Human Revolution Tells UsWhether the developers intentionally wove a philosophical element into Deus Ex or not, Zero Gravity Ewok relays how the game made him think about social equality and the quest for progress. Why I Don't Think Bioshock 2 Was A LetdownWhile Bioshock 2 was released roughly two years ago to...
Kung Fu Strike Delivers A Fast And Fluid Modern Brawler
By GameInformer, published 14-03-2012
Kung Fu Strike, at its base description, is a brawler. It’s you versus a ton of dudes who really want to punch and kick you into submission. It feels more modern though, than the old school brawler. You won’t be spamming the punch button waiting for enemies to walk into your fists, but you will be taking on many enemies at once, and with a buddy if you so desire.Kung-Fu Strike: The Warrior’s Rise is forgettable name, but it has an interesting art style that takes some inspiration from Street Fighter IV. You’ll see splashes of black ink highlight your punches and kicks, with special moves offering more substantial blots.Combat is relatively simple. You can punch with A and X (combing the buttons for special moves), counter with B, and dodge by holding the right trigg...
Alan Wake Sales Reach 2 Million
By GameInformer, published 13-03-2012
Sales of the original Alan Wake for Xbox 360 and PC have now reached 2 million sales worldwide, developer Remedy confirmed. "After a slow start it's turning into something really positive. It's definitely had legs," said studio head Oskari Häkkinen in an interview with CVG. "I think narrative experiences just have a tendency for that." Alan Wake's American Nightmare was released last month on Xbox Live Arcade. Häkkinen believes the franchise has a future. "Alan Wake is definitely very close to our hearts. It's our IP - we own it. It's not something that we're going to forget very easily," he said. [Source: CVG]
[Update]: Former Sony Head Harrison Joins Microsoft
By GameInformer, published 13-03-2012
[Update]: Microsoft has just officially announced Phil Harrison's new role as leader of Microsoft Studios in Europe. Harrison will oversee Microsoft's Lionhead, Soho, and Rare studios in the U.K. He will also join the Interactive Entertainment Business team as a corporate vice president, and try and bring in "culturally relevant entertainment experiences to Microsoft platforms, now and in the future." "I am excited to be joining the senior team at Microsoft at a pivotal time for our industry," said Harrison. "I am really impressed with the company's long-term vision for growing the market for interactive entertainment globally and also with the incredible wealth of talent, technology, and resources the company has available to succeed." [Or...
Confirmed: Microsoft Raising Gamerscore Max For XBLA Games
By GameInformer, published 03-12-2012
UPDATE: Xbox Live's Major Nelson has confirmed the previous rumor regarding an increase in Gamerscore for XBLA games. Games releasing next month will have the option to include 200 or 400 Gamerscore, and 20 or 30 Achievements. Starting in June, all XBLA games will be required to have 400 Gamerscore and 30 Achievements. ORIGINAL STORY: Achievement junkies rejoice! Xbox360Achievements.org has heard from a trusted source that Microsoft will be increasing the max Gamerscore available in downloadable games. Allegedly, the base Gamerscore allotment will increase from 200 to 400 per game, with the max Achievements raising from 20 to 30. Gamers could also snag even more Gamerscore than ever with the new DLC policy. DLC would come with 8 Achievements for a total of 100 Gamerscore each, but wou...
Microsoft's Patch Tuesday for March Contains Just One Critical Fix
By HotHardware, published 03-10-2012
Microsoft is planning to keep things relatively low-key on March 13th, otherwise known as Patch Tuesday, which will contain only six security bulletins. Only one of those is deemed Critical; the other five consist of four that are labeled Important and one that is rated Moderate. The critical fix applies to all versions of Windows since XP...
Rumor: Next Xbox Won't Have An Optical Drive
By GameInformer, published 03-09-2012
Could game collections be a thing of the past? If reports about the Xbox 360's successor pan out, you may not need to clear up as much shelf space when next-gen hardware rolls out. MCV has some interesting things to say about Microsoft's next-generation hardware. Citing an anonymous source, MCV says Microsoft has told its development partners that the console is foregoing an optical disc drive entirely. The source says the system will have support for a removable solid-state storage card instead, which could be another step toward a digitally distributed future. In addition to that tidbit, MCV is reporting that the system is set for a 2013 launch, which could mean we may see some sort of hardware announcement at this year's E3. At this time, details about the next Xbox are flu...
Peter Molyneux Leaves Lionhead For New Studio
By GameInformer, published 03-07-2012
Peter Molyneux, one of the founders of Lionhead Studios and the creative head at Microsoft Studios Europe, has announced that he was leaving those positions for a job at new company 22 Cans. Longtime gamers know Molyneux for his work on classic PC games such as Populous and Dungeon Keeper, though he's perhaps more well known among contemporary audiences for his Fable series. "I have left the lovely amazing Microsoft and lionhead. Now for something really amazing, scary and brave a new company called 22 Cans," he tweeted this morning. "It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in 1997, at the conclusion of development of Fable: The Journey," he later told Kotaku in a statement. Molyneux ...
Microsoft Reveals A Bevy of New XBLA Titles
By GameInformer, published 03-06-2012
The recent Spring Showcase was full of new announcements and details on the upcoming slate of XBLA games. Microsoft had a lot of new info to share at its recent Spring Showcase. With all the big announcements, it'd be easy to overlook some cool new Xbox Live Arcade announcements. And that would be an awful thing to do. Here's your first look at several upcoming (mostly newly announced) titles. First up is Bloodforge, a new game that seems to be mixing mythological fantasy with more than a touch of bloody, God of War-style combat. Check out the trailer: (Please visit the site to view this media) Then we have Deadlight. This interesting new project from Tequila Works is set in an alternate version of the 1980s in which a zombie epidemic is sweeping through the United States. You pla...
Microsoft Opens Registration For Dream, Build, Play Challenge
By GameInformer, published 03-05-2012
Microsoft's annual contest for the indie game development community is open for business. Do you have what it takes to win the prize?The contest, which allows players to submit games created for Xbox 360 built through the XNA development tools, will be accepting registrations at the Dream, Build, Play official site from anyone over the age of 14. After you register, your team must submit a game for the contest between May 15 and June 12.There's a new category this year for the Windows Phone platform, so aspiring mobile developers can also be a part of the action.To get an idea of what developers have done in the past, there are 13 semi-finalists from the 2011 Dream, Build, Play contest available for download on the Xbox Live Arcade indie channel.Finalists in this year's contes...
[Updated] Microsoft Says Xbox Live Arcade Will Eventually Be Phased Out
By GameInformer, published 03-05-2012
[Update] Through its PR agency, Edelman, Microsoft issued an official statement on this story, assuring gamers that Xbox Live is in no danger of being taken down. “Xbox LIVE Arcade is and will continue to be the premier destination for quality downloadable games at a great value, boasting an ever-growing, eclectic library of hundreds of games, spanning every genre. We are committed to providing new downloadable games for Xbox 360 and continuing our work with 1st and 3rd party developers on the platform. We have no plans to dissolve the service at this time.” [Original Story] In a new interview, Microsoft's Michael Wolf speculates that Xbox Live Arcade will eventually be phased out as digital distribution matures.In an interview with Vox Games, Wolf, Microsoft's global ...
Microsoft Flight Trailer Shows Off Its Free Goods
By GameInformer, published 03-05-2012
Microsoft Flight Simulator has been around since the early days of Windows, but it never looked anywhere near so good as it does in its latest incarnation. Though Flight lacks the "Simulator" in its name, this free-to-play PC game is as dedicated to recreating reality as ever. Not that you can tell from this techno-fueled trailer. (Please visit the site to view this media) Anyone can download the game for free and mess around the air above the Hawaiian islands in an Icon A5 aircraft. Activities include taking on simple courier missions, searching for the "aerocaches" that Microsoft is dropping location hints on a weekly basis for, or simply admiring the impressive scenery. Further areas, aircraft, and jobs can be purchased for cash money in the Games for Windows Live M...
Gears Of War 3 "Forces Of Nature" Map Pack Coming March 27
By GameInformer, published 03-05-2012
Still wall-bouncing and abusing the sawed-off for all it's worth online? Of course you're not, because Epic patched away those overpowered tactics launch week. Those of us still amused by Gears of War 3's nicely tuned multiplayer action are getting a shot at three new maps and two remastered classic ones in three weeks. As you can see from the screenshots, though, they're all up to Gears 3's visual standards no matter their age. Cove, Aftermath, and Artillery take the COGs to new places that share the series' trademark war-torn look, while Jacinto and Raven Down are returning locales from Gears of War 2. The "Forces of Nature" DLC map pack for Gears of War 3 is available March 27 for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). The full game makes its debut on the Xbox 36...
Forza 4 Gets Porsche Expansion Pack
By GameInformer, published 03-05-2012
Forza 4 has been getting its share of DLC content, but this is something else entirely. This spring the game will be getting its own Porsche Expansion Pack. The pack features 30 Porsche models (including 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic and 2010 Porsche Boxster S), 20 Porsche events, 10 achievements, Porsche-themed Rival mode events, and more. The Forza 4 Porsche Expansion Pack hits on May 22 for 1600 MS points ($19.99). Microsoft has not mentioned if this expansion is included in the game's Season Pass. We're guessing that it doesn't since from the outset it only encompassed six DLC car packs. For more on the base game, check out our review.
Crimson Dragon Gameplay Footage Hits The Web
By GameInformer, published 03-04-2012
We learned a little bit about the spiritual successor to Panzer Dragoon last month, but now we have a little more to go on. YouTube user duckroll uploaded an off-screen video of some gameplay from Crimson Dragon, and the Panzer Dragoon influences are very clear. Crimson Dragon is going to be a Kinect Xbox Live Arcade title sometime this year. (Please visit the site to view this media) [via Joystiq]
Microsoft Says Xbox Live Arcade Will Eventually Be Phased Out
By GameInformer, published 03-02-2012
In a new interview, Microsoft's Michael Wolf speculates that Xbox Live Arcade will eventually be phased out as digital distribution matures.In an interview with Vox Games, Wolf, Microsoft's global marketing manager for XBLA, said that the service might eventually be taken down due to the increasingly blurred line between large-scale retail games and ambitious XBLA games.When asked if XBLA would eventually be phased out of existence, Wolf answered, "Personally, I'd say absolutely, yes. I think digital distribution has to be like that. I don't think XBLA will be leaving soon. It is an incredible platform. We have XBLA fans, I don't think it's going to be announced anytime soon. One thing Microsoft has proven is that we continue to try and adapt and innovate in e...
Fable Creators Form New Studio
By GameInformer, published 03-02-2012
Dene and Simon Carter, who, alongside Lionhead's Peter Molyneux, created the Fable franchise, have formed a new studio with some former colleagues. The studio is called Another Place Productions.The Carters were the founders of Big Blue Box, which became one of the first Lionhead "satellite studios" and developed the original Fable. Simon had a long history with Molyneux, having worked with him in Molyneux's previous company Bullfrog Productions.The pair had left Lionhead last year to pursue other opportunities. At the time, they said their new venture would focus on games for emerging platforms like Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and mobile.They are joined at Another Place Productions by ex-Lionhead technical director Guilaume Portes and executive producer Jerem...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 03/01/12
By GameInformer, published 03-01-2012
Mass Effect 3 continues to be a popular topic this week, especially the closer we get to its imminent release date. Also, last week's Blog Herding marked the six month anniversary of its return and recognized thegodofwine7 as the most featured blogger. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: February 20 – February 26, 2012Number of User Blogs: 82Number of User Bloggers: 56Number of User Blogs Herded: 9 Community Events: Frag Fest March 4thWe're days away from the special edition Frag Fest hosted by Sheriff Warbuff and Alek389, featuring Halo Reach and a number of custom maps and game modes. It's not too late to sign up. Community Blogs: Musical Feng ShuiBlogs about video game soundtracks are rather popular around here, and this one posted by GoldvsSilver is right up there w...
Rumor: Next Xbox Dev Summit In London?
By GameInformer, published 29-02-2012
Both Microsoft and Sony have been downplaying the immediacy of the next-generation of consoles, but a new batch of systems is certainly inevitable. A tweet from a Crytek developer suggests that studios are working on something. Sean Tracy, a technical designer with Crytek, tweeted, "Enjoying the Durango developers summit in London. So far, great swag and interesting talks." The tweet has since been taken down. Durango is the rumored codename for the next Xbox, and although Microsoft hasn't announced anything regarding a successor to the Xbox 360, any console manufacturer would do well to loop in developers as soon as they could. [via NeoGAF. Thanks to PV_Archemist for the tip!]
First Batch Of CoD Elite Premium Content Hits PS3
By GameInformer, published 28-02-2012
Activision and Microsoft hashed out a deal before Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's release, which meant that DLC would hit the Xbox 360 before the PS3 and PC versions of the game. Well, now it's time for PlayStation 3 Elite Premium members to get their fix, with the first content drop for the service. Today marks the release of the Liberation and Piazza maps on the PS3. Here's what Activision has to say about them: "Call of Duty Elite Drop 1: Liberation, a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC, features a vast landscape ripe for long-range sniper and LMG kills. Mounted turrets on opposing ends of the map offer overwhelming firepower to anyone brave enough to man them. Elite Drop 2: Piazza, set in an idyllic Italian seaside village getaway gone rogue, offers blind c...
Making Of I Am Alive Video Revealed
By GameInformer, published 28-02-2012
Curious about the post-apocalyptic survival game coming to Xbox Live Arcade on March 7th? The developer's new video sheds light on how the project was crafted. I Am Alive has had a number of ups and downs over the course of a long development period. The final game is finally headed for release in just a few days. The developer at Ubisoft Shanghai put together the following video to help highlight some of the game's cooler features, including the focus on crafting a realistic and believable disaster setting, strategic interactions with other survivors, and an unusual approach to platforming and traversal. Ubisoft is busy hyping I Am Alive's presence in the Microsoft XBLA House Party promotion, with a release date on March 7. While that means there hasn't been a lot of talk...
Bethesda Hiring For Next-Generation Consoles
By GameInformer, published 27-02-2012
As if we needed more evidence that new consoles from Sony and Microsoft are coming sooner rather than later. The developer behind the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is hiring for a new game on future consoles. "Bethesda Game Studios is looking for experienced programmers to work on cutting-edge technology for an unannounced game on future-generation consoles," a job posting reads. To date, Skyrim has shipped 10 million copies worldwide. Parent company ZeniMax Media recently acquired the rights to develop a Fallout MMO title.
Panzer Dragoon's Spiritual Successor Officially Named Crimson Dragon
By GameInformer, published 27-02-2012
We learned that the Sega Saturn series Panzer Dragoon was getting a completely unofficial new successor a few years back, but now the Xbox Live Arcade game has an official name. Say goodbye to Project Draco, and meet Crimson Dragon. That's with one "O," by the way. Andriasang has translated details from a recent Microsoft event in Tokyo, which Famitsu attended. According to the story, Microsoft has dubbed the game Crimson Dragon, and revealed how it works. It's an on-rails shooter, in which player use their hands to paint targets with an on-screen targeting reticle. When a meter fills up, players can use more powerful attacks. The game also appears to have some dragon-customization options as well. Take a look at the game's opening sequence below. (Please visit the s...
Update: Fez Does Not Have A Release Date
By GameInformer, published 26-02-2012
[Update] After Joystiq posted a story about a release date for Fez, Polytron's Phil Fish, who is the lead designer and artist behind Fez, spoke to the site and said that the release date is inaccurate and that that game has not been certified by Microsoft. Fish also spoke up on twitter to make it completely clear that May 2 is not the release date for Fez. [Original story] We knew it would be this year, but the continually delayed game finally has a solid release date. For the unfamiliar, Fez was supposed to release back in 2010. It's a 2D platformer that allows perspective switching in 3D to rotate the environment, and it looks awesome. Fez will be available exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade (for the time being) on May 2. [via Joystiq and Xbox.com]
Shoot Many Robots To Shoot Many Robots In March
By GameInformer, published 24-02-2012
Are you hankering to shoot many robots? Ubisoft and Demiurge Studios' Shoot Many Robots will let you do that starting in March.The game, a side-scrolling shooter that places an emphasis on carnage and humor, will release for PlayStation Network on March 13 and Xbox Live Arcade on March 14. The game is priced at $9.99 on PSN and 800 Microsoft Points on XBLA.For more on the game, check out Ben Reeve's preview impressions from PAX, which also contains a trailer.
Alan Wake's American Nightmare Review: The Mystery Deepens For The Champion Of The Light
By GameInformer, published 20-02-2012
In the first installment of the Alan Wake series, developer Remedy Entertainment invited gamers to experience a mystery with no end. After leaving Alan in a precarious position at Cauldron Lake, gamers flocked to message boards to provide clarity to this game’s story. Was Alan an asylum escapee conjuring demons in his mind? Was he a writer whose typed words magically altered the world? Or was he fast asleep and trapped in a nightmare? Any one of these theories – not to mention a handful of others I’ve discussed with fellow Alan Wake fans – could be the answer guiding this tormented protagonist into the heart of hell. After I completed American Nightmare, the first sequel in this series, my coworker Joe Juba didn’t ask me the usual, “How was it...
343 Talks Halo 4 Master Chief Design
By GameInformer, published 17-02-2012
The long-awaited Halo game from 343 Industries is in the works, and the studio is talking about its take on the series hero. 343's community manager Jessica Shea (Bs Angel on the Halo forums) had some cool new info to share this week about the evolving character design for Master Chief. The post comes on the heels of an early look at the Halo 4 Master Chief in toy form that came out a few days ago. "Typically, from Halo to Halo, the Master Chief’s armor has changed and adapted, and there have been fictional reasons why," Shea states. "With Halo 4, we’re taking a different approach and focusing on the storytelling aspects of art from the design standpoint. We don’t do that everywhere in the game, but we wanted to take this opportunity to really focus on...
Gears of War 3 'Forces of Nature' DLC Announced
By GameInformer, published 17-02-2012
Epic Games unveiled the fourth piece of downloadable content for Gears of War 3.Excerpt] The "Forces of Nature" DLC pack includes Cove, Aftermath and Artillery. Two old maps will be making a return, Jacinto and Raven Down. As the title implies, natural disasters will be a theme for this pack. "Fog, snowstorms and tsunamis will make playing these maps quite an adventure," Epic says. The maps during Horde and Beast mode also have special hidden weapons called “Elemental Cleavers.” Also included are four character models, seven new weapon skins and 250 gamerscore points. Epic also says it's bringing back the Guardian game mode. The Forces of Nature DLC is out March 27 and costs 800 MS Points or free for Gears of War 3 Season Pass holders. [Source: Epic Gam...
Alan Wake's American Nightmare Introduces Fight Till Dawn Mode
By GameInformer, published 16-02-2012
The latest installment in Remedy Entertainment's developer diary sheds light on a new game mode for the XBLA title. Fight Till Dawn mode is an arcade mode that sounds like a survival horde mode filled with new enemies, lots of weapons, unlockables, and more. Be sure to check out the developer diary for another mysterious appearance of Alan's nemesis Mr. Scratch, as well as another surprise. Alan Wake's American Nightmare hits XBLA on February 22nd for 1200 Microsoft points. For more on the game and Mr.Scratch, check out this live action trailer. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Creating The Cars Of Forza 4
By GameInformer, published 16-02-2012
Real-life cars are a staple of sim-based racing titles such as Forza Motorsport 4, and getting those cars in the game takes more than simply signing some licensing paperwork. Check out this video from developer Turn 10 documenting what it takes to put cars into the game, as well as for its showroom-based Autovista mode. For more on the game (out now), take a look at the review. (Please visit the site to view this media)
THQ Preps Killer FPS Nexuiz for Microsoft’s House Party
By GameInformer, published 15-02-2012
THQ is set to release Nexuiz as part of Microsoft’s Xbox Live House Party this February 29. Denver-based studio, IllFonic, has been working on Nexuiz – a fast-paced arena first-person shooter that revolves around the use of Mutators, game-changing power ups that can turn the tide of battle at a moments notice. Nexuiz releases this February 29 for 800 Microsoft Points. Check out the video and screens below. (Please visit the site to view this media) To read more about Nexuiz check out our preview of the game here.
Register For Mysterious MechWarrior Tactics Game Today
By GameInformer, published 15-02-2012
Fans of the long-dormant MechWarrior series of robot-battling games may have perked up upon seeing that headline. Sadly, we don't yet actually know much about what MechWarrior Tactics is, but you can sign up for it now. The freshly-launched MechWarrior Tactics website features a countdown timer set to expire in a just over six-and-a-half days. There's also a registration form where you can enter your e-mail address and a "Commander Name," theoretically reserving the title you want to use in whatever this game ends up as. The Escapist discovered a Facebook page for the game that unhelpfully describes it as "a brand-new MechWarrior game set in the BattleTech universe," though that page also confirms that it's being planned for the PC and should be released t...
Google, Motorola Deal Gets Green Light of Approval, Let the Patent Wars Begin
By HotHardware, published 14-02-2012
Both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission gave Google their respective blessings to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, the two agencies said in separate announcements. Taking it one step further, the DoJ also said it would allow Apple, Microsoft, and Research In Motion (RIM) to purchase certain Nortel patents,...
Alan Wake's Psychotic Nemesis Introduced In Live Action Trailer
By GameInformer, published 13-02-2012
The enigmatic Mr. Scratch taunts Remedy's author protagonist, "You can't write your way out of this one, Wake. You don't get to change the ending!" at the close of this brief live action trailer. What does this mean for Wake's eventual fate?(Please visit the site to view this media)Mr. Scratch is in many ways Alan Wake's evil twin, except with less whining about writer's block and more murdering people with knives for fun. Wake gets the unenviable job of chasing him down through the twisted Arizona town of Night Springs.Alan Wake's American Nightmare, the downloadable follow-up to 2010's psychological thriller, will cost 1200 Microsoft points ($15) when it comes out February 22nd on Xbox Live Arcade.
Eurogamer Details The Troubled Marriage Of Microsoft And Rare
By GameInformer, published 02-10-2012
In a new article, writer Simon Parkin examines the history of Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, and ponders the decline of the studio.It's a well-researched article, entitled "Who Killed Rare?" It's peppered with quotes from insiders like former Rare programmer Martin Hollis, who helped create GoldenEye and Killer Instinct and former Microsoft executive Ed Fries, who helped launch the original Xbox and oversaw the acquisition of Rare.Hollis appears to think it was a bad fit from the start, saying, ""Rare was always looking East at Japanese and Nintendo's games in particular, with their open-hearted childlike vibrancy and playfulness. Meanwhile, Microsoft had a US-centric style to its games, a flair of machismo and testosterone. For the first decade after...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 02/09/12
By GameInformer, published 02-09-2012
The output of the Game Informer blogging community dipped slightly this week but that doesn't mean there aren't still some great posts to read, including a few of the best provided below. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: January 30 – February 05, 2012Number of User Blogs: 65Number of User Bloggers: 53Number of User Blogs Herded: 9 Community Blogs: What Makes Us Special?Continuing the ongoing debate of purchasing video games new or old, we get to hear from a voice who works in the industry as Sheriff Warbuff shares his thoughts on the often controversial subject. Why Free-To-Play Is GeniusA number of members in the community are debating purchasing new or old video games, but Jack, The Quixotic Gamer switches gears and talks about why the free-to-play business model is a...
Xbox Creator's New Mobile Team Is Ready To Impress
By GameInformer, published 02-08-2012
Last week, we reported on how Seamus Blackley, one of the architects of Microsoft's original Xbox was founding a mobile game studio with a group of Atari arcade veterans. Now Blackley has commented on how the future of games may look a lot like its history. Given THQ’s gradually sinking stock, you’d wonder why Blackley would choose to team up with the publisher. Blackley recently told Eurogamer, "We're prototyping everything on iOS and they may well come out on iOS, but there are games that we have that could fit on all sorts of different platforms, and having a partner who can do some marketing and can scale to the other platforms is really useful.” He also added, “I think that several publishers have been through this before. A couple of years ago E...
Microsoft Flight Release Date
By GameInformer, published 02-06-2012
The casual, free-to-play approach to Microsoft Flight Simulator is available later this month, the company said today. Microsoft Flight releases February 29 for free at www.microsoftflight.com with optional content packs for purchase, including the Hawaiian Adventure Pack, which has the remaining Hawaiian Islands, a new plane and 20 new missions for 1,600 Microsoft point ($20). “There was an overwhelming demand for access to the ‘Microsoft Flight’ beta and the number of requests was far more than what we initially planned for,” said executive producer Joshua Howard. “We received amazing feedback from the beta participants and it’s great to see this level of excitement from fans as we move toward the release of ‘Microsoft Flight.” (Please v...
Mass Effect 3 Demo Includes Limited Xbox Live Gold Access
By GameInformer, published 02-04-2012
When the Mass Effect 3 demo launches on February 14 it will include Gold access for Xbox Live members for a limited time, BioWare announced. The demo includes both single-player and multiplayer portions. Microsoft said it will give everyone playing the demo Gold access "for the time leading to launch." This also includes other perks like multiplayer gaming, Netflix, ESPN, Hulu Plus and more. Mass Effect 3 releases on March 6. PlayStation 3 and PC owners of course don't have to worry about this since multiplayer is free on those platforms. [Source: BioWare]
Update: Complete List Of Avatar Awards
By GameInformer, published 02-03-2012
The list has been updated with new Avatar Awards for Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, Disneyland Adventures, and Joe Danger: Special Edition. If you'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on games rather than clothing for your Xbox 360 Avatar, yet still like the idea of dressing him or her in video game garb, several games offer Avatar clothing and items as rewards when specific game challenges are completed. Below is a complete list of awards that are available so far, or have been announced for upcoming games. We'll continue to update this list as new avatar awards are unearthed. After Burner ClimaxAfter Burner T-Shirt – Unlock every EX optionGold Flight Helmet – Obtain one of every medal type in Score Attack Alan WakeJacket and Scarf &nd...
Rayman 3 HD Coming To XBLA, PSN In March [Update]
By GameInformer, published 02-03-2012
[Update] Ubisoft confirmed to Game Informer that Rayman 3 HD will launch in North America for PSN on March 20 and XBLA on March 21 for $9.99 and 800 Microsoft Points. [Original Story] If you need more Rayman in your life, help is on the way. Ubisoft's latest HD remake is coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next month. Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc HD will be available starting March 21. There's no word on how much it'll cost, but let's hope Ubisoft is mindful that the excellent Rayman Origins can be picked up at retail for a cool $20, and prices Rayman 3 accordingly. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Xbox Co-Creator Reunites Atari Arcade Vets For iOS Game Startup
By GameInformer, published 02-03-2012
Seamus Blackley was one of the architects of Microsoft's original Xbox. Now, he's set his sights on the mobile market, partnering with some revered game designers from the Atari's golden age. In an exclusive interview with Venturebeat, Blackley posits that the new frontier of gaming is actually a return to the medium's roots. “We are looking at the new arcade, and 99 cents on the iPhone is the new quarter,” Blackley commented. “People are playing on all these new devices and are finding the joy of the arcade games.” To tap this emerging market with a new startup company called Innovative Leisure, Blackley has assembled what he calls an Atari "dream team." Some of the designers involved include Ed Rotberg (Battlezone), Owen Rubin (Major Hav...
Submit To These UFC Undisputed 3 DLC Details
By GameInformer, published 02-02-2012
MMA fans itching to get back in the octagon with UFC Undisputed 3 have a lot to look forward to thanks to THQ's ambitious DLC offering. As always, fans can purchase the myriad add-ons à la carte or go in swinging and get it all at a reduced price with the Season Pass. All the goodies can be yours via XBLA or PSN after the game hits stores on February 14. The following is taken directly from THQ’s press release: Fighter Packs Fight of the Night PackFeaturing UFC fighters renowned for having the most exciting fights of the night – Joe Lauzon, Rory MacDonald, Charles Oliveira and Sam Stout, along with former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson – the Fight of the Night Pack will be available for a suggested purchase cost of 400 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 or $4.99 USD ...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 02/02/12
By GameInformer, published 02-02-2012
Of course there are a diverse collection of blogs again this week, but one of the prevailing topics breaking the headlines and being debated around the community is the focus on purchasing new video games versus used video games and the various techniques used by the industry to persuade the consumer to buy new. Read the blogs and join the discussion on an issue that affects us all. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: January 23 – January 29, 2012Number of User Blogs: 78Number of User Bloggers: 55Number of User Blogs Herded: 8 Community Blogs: Do Incentives Work Better Than Punishments?Oni no Tenshi provides a clever and colorful perspective on the sometimes controversial topic of buying new games versus used games and which technique yields the best results. It's NOT The End ...
Alan Wake PC Release Date
By GameInformer, published 02-02-2012
Remedy Entertainment announced the release date and game details for the PC version of Alan Wake. The game hits Steam on February 16 and soon afterwards through other digital retailers. A boxed version of the game is also coming, but there are no details on that just yet. Alan Wake costs 29.99 (game + DLCs) and $34.99 (LCE). “We’ve done our best to do justice to the PC version and do things the way they should be done for PC," says Markus Mäki, CTO at Remedy. ”The PC version looks absolutely beautiful. We’re bringing the game to life in a whole new way.” Here are the new enhancements to the PC version per Remedy: Experience Alan Wake’s Pacific Northwest in higher resolutions and higher fidelity than ever before. Refined and fully confi...
The Simpsons Arcade Game Confirmed
By GameInformer, published 02-01-2012
[Update]: Konami confirmed that the Simpsons Arcade Game comes to Xbox Live Arcade on Friday, February 3 and PlayStation Network the following Tuesday. It will cost 800 Microsoft points or $9.99. It is free for PlayStation Plus subscribers as noted below. The game includes four-player online cooperative play, new modes, and additional bonus content featuring a never-before-seen Japanese version of the game, view classic flyers and posters, and a characters guide. [Original Story] Last November, we reported on a rumor regarding the classic Simpsons Arcade Game coming to PSN. This rumor is now a reality, as today's Playstation Blog update confirms that it will hit the service on February 7 free for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Since quarters won't be necessary any more, maybe us bu...
Bungie.net Halo Services End March 31
By GameInformer, published 31-01-2012
At the end of March, Bungie will no longer handle player data for Halo games. The studio issued a statement today saying the transition process between it and 343 Industries, Microsoft's new internal Halo studio, will be completed March 31. After then, all live Halo data will be managed by 343. "Bungie will no longer be able to update game stats and player service records, to host new user generated content, or to operate the Bungie Pro service," they said. "All currently supported, Bungie-developed Halo titles will be impacted by this change. "Any replacement functionality, and all future Halo support, will be provided by Microsoft and 343 Industries via Halo Waypoint." Bungie said it will preserve all existing historical Halo data on Bungie.net "for as ...
The Next Xbox Will Not Be Released In 2012
By GameInformer, published 31-01-2012
While not ruling out the possibility that a new Xbox console could be revealed at E3, a French Microsoft executive stated that the company will not release new hardware in 2012.When asked to respond to rumors that a new Microsoft console was going to be unveiled at E3, Microsoft France marketing director Cedrick Delmas said, "We're in an industry that talks a lot, that likes telling stories. I am not convinced that things will happen this year. The Xbox 360's cycle is not over at all. The proof is that we haven't price cut this year. Afterward, what will happen at E3, it's still too early to say. What's certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012. If we wanted to counter Nintendo, we would have to be in a position to release something immediately, and that i...
Kinect Star Wars Duel Trailer Probably Better Than Game
By GameInformer, published 26-01-2012
The new trailer for Kinect Star Wars game stars that annoying kid you met in college who wanted to be exactly like Jack Black but was only mildly amusing. Kinect Star Wars is set to release in early 2012, but here is a taste of what the game will be like…actually this trailer doesn’t feature any gameplay, but from what we’ve seen of the game, maybe that was a wise choice. (Please visit the site to view this media) Check out our TGS coverage of the game, here.
Alan Wake's American Nightmare Release Date Announced
By GameInformer, published 23-01-2012
Microsoft revealed the release date and prices for its Xbox Live Arcade House Party titles this year. House Party kicks off February 15 through March 13 with a new game being released each week. For those that purchase all four games during the House Party weeks, you'll get 800 Microsoft Points for free. Below are the games available: Warp - February 15 | 800 Microsoft Points Alan Wake's American Nightmare - February 22 | 1200 Microsoft Points Nexuiz - February 29 | 800 Microsoft Points I Am Alive - March 7 | 1200 Microsoft Points
Inside Xbox Demos Trials Evolution
By GameInformer, published 20-01-2012
In a new episode of Inside Xbox (available on your Xbox Live Dashboard), Trials Evolution developer RedLynx shows off some of the game's hectic multiplayer action.As you'll see, Trials Evolution is quite an…evolution of Trials HD, with a new focus on larger, outdoor environments and real-time online multiplayer. For more, check out our previous preview of the game. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Shank 2 Release Date Announced
By GameInformer, published 19-01-2012
A sequel to 2010's 2D action title Shank is due out next month, EA announced today. Shank 2 hits Xbox Live Arcade, PC, and PlayStation Network February 7 for 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99. The game comes out on Xbox Live and PSN in Europe a day later on February 8.
Doom Returns To Xbox Live Arcade
By GameInformer, published 18-01-2012
After a three month hiatus, Bethesda today said the classic first-person shooter Doom is now available for download again on Xbox Live Arcade. In October 2011, Doom was pulled from the Marketplace store and no explanation was ever given. One theory is that Doom on Xbox Live was originally published by Activision prior to Bethesda Softworks' parent company Zenimax Media acquiring id Software and was causing a legal issue that has since been resolved. Regardless, the game is back on sale for 400 Microsoft Points.
Tropico 4: Modern Times Announced
By GameInformer, published 13-01-2012
A new expansion for Tropico 4 has been announced called "Modern Times." It will cost 1200 Microsoft points on Xbox 360 or $19.99 on PC. Modern Times gives players new buildings, challenges, additional presidential edicts and more. It releases during March 2012. Here's what you get: Make Tropico fit for the 21st century: Evolve the island from the Cold War era to modern times and even into the future 30 new buildings become available as time progresses, including condos, skyscrapers, organic ranches and biofarms. Replace obsolete buildings with these modern and inspiring designs. Upgrade old buildings to new variants – modernized apartment buildings, banks, museums and much more 10 new edicts allow even more control over your citizens’ lives. Block or limit ci...
A Picture Preview Of Alan Wake American Nightmare
By GameInformer, published 01-12-2012
In the world of Alan Wake, there is an Urban Legend about a man who took his wife out into the woods and murdered her. This man is Mr. Scratch, Alan Wake's dark doppelgänger who emerged from the Dark Place, a reality that was first featured in the first Alan Wake game.We previously detailed the first half hour of American Nightmare, but at this year's CES we got hands on time with another level of the game. This is our journey through Alan Wake's dark twisted fantasy. The first Alan Wake was a survival suspense title that drew inspiration from shows like Twin Peaks and writers like Stephen King. American Nightmare, on the other hand, has a more urban sci-fi vibe, and has drawn from sources like Route 66 and Quentin Tarantino's From Dusk Till Dawn. The game takes plac...
Cloud Gaming Company Predicts Sony Or Microsoft Will Not Have A Next-Gen Console
By GameInformer, published 01-12-2012
Yesterday Sony shot down persistent rumors that the PlayStation 4 will be debuting at E3 later this year. Now a representative of cloud gaming company Gaikai is saying that the truth about the next generation of gaming consoles could be even more shocking. Industry Gamers reports that Gaikai chief product officer Nanea Reeves commented on the future of gaming consoles during CES: "Not all of the current console makers will have one more generation. That will be the big news at E3." Reeves provided no further clarification on these statements as far as Industry Gamers notes. While this statement might seem surprising, it's worth keeping in mind that as a company focused on cloud gaming -- allowing consumers to play graphically high-end games on low-power computers by streami...
Sony's Kaz Hirai: No PlayStation 4 Announcement At E3 2012
By GameInformer, published 01-11-2012
We've heard plenty of rumors about both Sony and Microsoft prepping new console reveals for E3 later this year, but if the publisher itself is to be believed, at least one of these isn't happening. The Wall Street Journal reports that at CES, Sony bigwig (and rumored future president of the company) Kaz Hirai denied speculation that they would be revealing a next-generation console at E3 in June. "I’ve always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that," Hirai explained. Will you be disappointed if this year's E3 ends up not featuring the hardware announcements that some of us have begun expecting? Or do you secretly hope that Kaz is bluffing so that it will be a bigger surprise when the PS4 is on display?
Microsoft Details House Party Titles
By GameInformer, published 01-09-2012
The next selection of titles available during Microsoft's House Party have been announced. Once a week for four weeks a new Xbox Live Arcade game will be available for download. No release dates were revealed, but the program is expected to launch next month. The titles available include: Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Warp from EA, THQ's Nexuiz and I Am Alive from Ubisoft. Pricing details were not announced at this time. Game Informer has contacted Microsoft for additional information and will update this post when we hear back. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Vote On Facebook To Lower The Price Of Amy On The PSN
By GameInformer, published 01-07-2012
Amy is coming to Xbox Live Arcade and The PlayStation Network, but it's slightly more expensive on the latter console. The developer's behind the game say that the price difference has to do with the fluctuating value of Microsoft Points between countries. In response to the complaints from gamers who want to play the downloadable survival horror game, publisher Lexis Numérique is offering consumers the chance to vote the price of the PSN version of the game down to $10. It seems like a pretty obvious vote. The catch is that if it does seem that fans want the price of the game to come down, the PlayStation Network version of the game will have to be delayed in order to go back through the assorted approval processes related to the PSN. Click here to vote through facebook, a...
Xbox Live's Top Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 01-06-2012
Microsoft has revealed the top list of most played games on Xbox Live for 2011. As you can imagine, Call of Duty is a monster. As detailed on Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's blog, Call of Duty makes up five of the top 20 most played games on the service for the year. Below is the rest of the data, which includes Arcade titles and Indie games. The games data is based on unique users connect to Xbox Live or full versions purchased between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s) Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Modern Warfare 2 Halo: Reach Battlefield 3 Skyrim Gears of War 3 FIFA 12 FIFA Soccer 11 Madden NFL 12 GTA IV NBA 2K11 Battlefield: Bad Co. 2 Call of Duty 4 Battlefield 3 Beta Halo 3 Gears of War 2 Forza...
Rumor: Next Xbox, PlayStation 4 Debuting At E3
By GameInformer, published 01-06-2012
The next gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony will be revealed at E3 2012, according to a new report from MCV. The website says its unnamed sources claim that both consoles will be shown in some shape or form. "Microsoft has long been rumored to detail its next-gen plans at E3 2012, and MCV's third-party publishing sources claim the firm had signaled to partners this will happen," the reports says."The 360 is one of the longest-serving games consoles in history. But the real surprise is an early move from Sony. Execs at the PlayStation firm have made it clear to third-parties that they will not be left behind this time." Prices and launch details are not expected to be revealed. Rival Nintendo previously stated it will re-unveil the Wii U at E3 as well. [Source...
Epic Games Won't Support SOPA
By GameInformer, published 01-05-2012
Gears of War developer Epic Games says it does not support the current version of the Stop Online Piracy Act. "Epic Games supports efforts that would stop overseas websites profiting from pirating our games, but we have to do that in a way that's compatible with freedom of speech and due process of law," the company said in a statement. "Thus, we do not support the current version of SOPA." However, Epic Games, like many game publishers and development studios around the world, is part of the Entertainment Software Association, which came out last week in support of the bill. SOPA would allow content creators to effectively shut down websites that host copyright material. Other game companies, such as Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, have reportedly removed their nam...
NFL Blitz Hits The Gridiron On XBLA & PSN
By GameInformer, published 01-05-2012
EA's new HD, downloadable only NFL Blitz is now on sale. Get your popcorn ready.NFL Blitz offers up an update on the classic arcade football formula with 7-on-7 action and fast-paced gameplay. Developed by EA Tiburon, the game features full-HD, 60 fps visuals. However, it might not be as wild as the old-school NFL Blitz games you remember, as EA has removed late hits due to NFL concerns about sending the wrong message about player safety.NFL Blitz sells for 1200 Microsoft Points and $14.99 on PlayStation Network.NFL Blitz Preview
Microsoft Opens Door For Larger, More Affordable XBLA Indie Games
By GameInformer, published 01-04-2012
A new announcement by Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Team opens the door for larger XBLA indie games, and allows developers to set lower prices.On the XNA Game Studio Team Blog, Microsoft revealed the size restriction that had limited games on the Xbox Live indue channel to 150MB has now been raised to allow games of up to 500MB. The move should allow indie developers to create games of much great scale and ambition.In other good news, Microsoft also eased some of the minimum price guidelines for indie games. Previously, games that were larger than 50MB had to be priced at either 240 or 400 points. Now, indies can set games up to 150MB at the low price point of 80 points. Finally, each indie developer can now have up to 10 games on the indie channel, up from a previous limit of eight. Th...
[Update] Nintendo, Sony, And Microsoft Never Pulled Back On Supporting SOPA
By GameInformer, published 01-04-2012
[Update] The list in question, referenced below, never actually featured the names of Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. The three companies in question signed themselves onto a letter from the US Chamber of Commerce which urged Congress to support something like SOPA, but it was never an official endorsement of the act itself. This letter was signed before SOPA was brought forward. These companies are in favor of an act like SOPA, but have never, technically, endorsed the actual SOPA. This means that their names didn't suddenly disappear from the list of companies supporting SOPA, it just means they were never included to begin with. [via Techdirt] [Original story] The biggest video game companies in the world, and effectively some of the strongest voices behind the Stop Online Piracy Act...
The ESA Is Still Strongly In Support Of SOPA
By GameInformer, published 01-03-2012
Possibly in response to the recent plethora of news stories covering SOPA and Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony's engagement with the act, the Entertainment Software Association has issued a statement. The ESA issued the following statement to Joystiq.com in regard to its stance on SOPA: "As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection, and do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. Rogue websites – those singularly devoted to profiting from their blatant illegal piracy – restrict demand for legitimate video game products and services, thereby costing jobs. Our industry needs effective remedies to address this specific problem, and we support the House and Senate proposals to achieve this ...
Dust: An Elysian Tail Promised For Release This Year
By GameInformer, published 01-03-2012
Dust: An Elysian Tail was shown off when Xbox Live Indie Games were first being brought about in 2009. That is where the game was meant to release, but upon winning the Dream Play Build Challenge, Microsoft offered developer Humble Hearts a contract to release the game on Xbox Live Arcade. We haven't heard much of it since then, but Dean Dodrill, the developer of the game, recently said on Neogaf that he promised the game would release this year. That is good news, because Dust looks super slick. Check out some of the gameplay below. (Please visit the site to view this media) [via Destructoid and Extra Guy]
Super Meat Boy Exceeds One Million Sold
By GameInformer, published 01-03-2012
Team Meat has announced via twitter that its excellent and difficult tile, Super Meat Boy, has now sold over one million copies. That is an incredible milestone, and deserved for such a great game, but the statistic I am more interested in, is how many deaths have occurred across those one million sold?
Anonymous Has No Plans To Attack The PlayStation Network
By GameInformer, published 01-01-2012
Anonymous recently released a YouTube video threatening Sony for supporting SOPA. They have since clarified that if this attack were to take place, it would be focused on Sony Executives and not the PlayStation Network. Apparently, there were those among the hacker group who wanted to attack the PlayStation Network, but they concluded that they would not attack PSN. The plan now seems to be to post personal information about Sony executives online, deface Sony's website with anti-SOPA propaganda, and make copywritten Sony media available for free from links on Sony's assorted websites. Since the threat was brought up, Sony has scaled back its support of SOPA, which may have been a result of Anonymous' threat, and it could also be enough for Anonymous to drop the whole thing. [...
Nintendo, Sony, And Microsoft Pull Back On Supporting SOPA
By GameInformer, published 31-12-2011
The biggest video game companies in the world, and effectively some of the strongest voices behind the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), have withdrawn their support. SOPA seeks to allow companies to shut down sites like piratebay.org that illegally stream or allow users to download copywritten media. If SOPA were to pass, a company like Sony could make a request to bar advertising or shut down a down sites that give users an avenue to download illegal media. The internet does not like this bill, and hacker group Anonymous even threatened Sony with another attack becasue of its support of the bill. We know that Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft pulled its support, because those companies no longer appear on the list of supporters of the bill. The list does however still feature the Entertainment ...
Editorial: Gaming, Skyrim, And The Digital Have-Nots
By GameInformer, published 28-12-2011
A few weeks ago, I received an email from a longtime Game Informer reader asking about Skyrim. Usually, when I receive such emails from readers, they are asking me my opinion on a game – or complaining that I scored a certain game too low or too high. In this case, the reader was already sold on Skyrim. However, there was a problem. The reader lived in the South, in a remote area where he did not have access to broadband Internet service. He told me that he misses out on a lot of what makes up the experience of being a gamer in 2011. Given his lack of broadband access, multiplayer and DLC is out of the question – unless the DLC later comes packaged on disc (he cited his past purchases of games like Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Collection and the Game of the Year Editi...
Gears Of War 3 Demo Now Available On Xbox Live
By GameInformer, published 28-12-2011
Just in case you were still on the fence about the latest Gears of War, you can now download the free demo and check it out yourself. The only catch is that you do have to have a gold membership to Xbox Live. Click here to queue up the demo, and click here for our Gears of War 3 review, if you needed one more convincing push.
The 2011 Racing Game Of The Year Awards
By GameInformer, published 28-12-2011
Racing games are always a year-in-year-out staple of consoles, but was it just another year for the genre? Absolutely not. Whether you were looking for a definitive sim-racing experience or wanted to just have some arcade fun, 2011 was a great year for race fans. Check out some of the deserving games below, and be sure to let us know what you think about the games that won awards – and those that didn’t – in the comments section below.Best Track: Rainbow Road – Mario Kart 7 Rainbow Road is a mainstay in the Mario Kart franchise, but its appearance in Mario Kart 7 and how nicely it dovetails with some of the changes for this iteration, make it a standout experience. Instead of the usual three-lap race, Rainbow Road is just one long lap split into thre...
Analyst Predictions For 2012
By GameInformer, published 28-12-2011
The games industry had an interesting year. Some highlights from 2011 include the release of motion controllers from Sony and Microsoft - Kinect and Move - and Nintendo revealed it's upcoming console, the Wii U, due out sometime after this coming E3. The 3DS saw a massive price cut from $249 to $169 in less than six months after launch. In the digital space, EA launched Origin, its online retail store to compete with Valve's Steam. Sony launched PlayStation Vita, a new, powerful handheld. And Grand Theft Auto V was finally revealed by Rockstar Games. As this year comes to a close, we spoke to several industry analysts to get their take on what could happen in 2012. Their predictions are published below: Jesse Divnich - EEDAR 1. Pricing for Paid Mobile Apps Will Increase in 2012 Wi...
Kinect Vs. Move: One Year Later
By GameInformer, published 26-12-2011
It's been about one year since Microsoft and Sony both released their respective motion controllers, Kinect for Xbox 360 and Move for PlayStation 3. For sales, Microsoft reported in March 2011 it has shipped 10 million Kinect units worldwide since launch. It has not provided an update since. U.S. retail tracking firm NPD reported this month that 750,000 Kinects were sold during the week of Black Friday. Sony announced at E3 2011 it has shipped 8.8 million PlayStation Move controllers worldwide since launch, but has not provided an updated sales figure since. For a closer look at each platform, Game Informer worked with Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) for data on software, including average review scores, total release count, and release count by genre. The d...
Don’t Forget About Windows Phone 7; It Has Feelings Too
By GameInformer, published 24-12-2011
It's Christmas morning. You're excited about that one gift you've been begging for since June. You want an iPhone, but you have a pleased faux-smile waiting in the wings if you discover you've received an Android, just in case. You rip into your gift, and it is a phone, but it's a Windows Phone 7. Don't worry! No need to to be disappointed. There's plenty here for a gamer. With the stranglehold Android and iPhone have on the mobile market, it’s convenient to forget that Microsoft has a totally viable alternative that has some pretty cool features, especially for gamers. From the beginning, Windows Phone 7 has been built with gamers in mind, including Xbox Live and Live Arcade functionality. iPhone users were recently treated to a surprise Xbox Live app th...
Google's Holiday Gift to Mozilla: A Search Deal Worth Nearly One BILLION Dollars
By MaximumPC, published 23-12-2011
Mozilla on Tuesday announced it had inked a new search agreement with Google (we covered the story here) that would extend the mutually beneficial partnership for at least three years, but what we didn't know is how much the deal was worth. Now we do. The sultan of search will pay Mozilla just shy of $300 million a year for the right to to have Google featured as the default search engine in Firefox, making the total deal worth around $900 million, or more than a billion dollars if it goes beyond three years. These figures come from AllThingsD, whose sources said $1 billion was the minimum revenue guarantee Mozilla was seeking in a search deal. Microsoft was also in the running, and apparently was pretty aggressive in its attempts to supplant in its attempts to slide into Google's parking ...
In Depth: 8 brilliant gadgets that totally failed to launch
By TechRadar, published 23-12-2011
8 brilliant gadgets that totally failed to launchWhat would an alternate universe look like where Microsoft dominated with a slick newspaper-ready tablet, HP had won the smartphone wars, and we were all carrying around a Palm Foleo? Well, it'd certainly be one that is not quite so Apple-centric. And what's more, it could have happened. These gadgets and gizmos almost made it into the limelight, but never made it into stores. They at least offered something new or unusual, but while some never made it past the concept stage, others were announced but never actually made it onto the street. 1. Microsoft CourierThis rather famous failure comes directly from Redmond. Billed as a digital journal, and seen mostly through conceptual mock-ups, the Courier had the makings of a stellar tablet: the N...
Google and Bing battled over Firefox search deal
By TechRadar, published 23-12-2011
Some more details have emerged relating to the newly-renewed search deal between Google and Firefox, with sources claiming that big G is set to send a minimum of $300 million (£191 million) Mozilla's way every year. It seems that Microsoft was keen to replace Google with Bing as the default search engine on the Firefox homepage. Its bid is reported to have been aggressive but couldn't out-do the dominant search engine. Yahoo is also reported to have been sniffing around the deal but could not compete financially. No surprisesThe new $300m deal is significantly higher than previous agreements between Mozilla and Google. All Things D reckons that Google provided around 84 per cent of Mozilla's 2010 revenue ($123 million / £78 million). It's indicative of just how serious the battle for sha...
Google and Bing battled it out over Firefox search deal
By TechRadar, published 23-12-2011
Some more details have emerged relating to the newly-renewed search deal between Google and Firefox, with sources claiming that big G is set to send a minimum of $300 million (£191 million) Mozilla's way every year. It seems that Microsoft was keen to replace Google with Bing as the default search engine on the Firefox homepage. Its bid is reported to have been aggressive but couldn't out-do the dominant search engine. Yahoo is also reported to have been sniffing around the deal but could not compete financially. No surprisesThe new $300m deal is significantly higher than previous agreements between Mozilla and Google. All Things D reckons that Google provided around 84 per cent of Mozilla's 2010 revenue ($123 million / £78 million). It's indicative of just how serious the battle for sha...
Google to pay Mozilla almost $300 million per year in search deal to outdo Microsoft and Yahoo
By SlashGear, published 23-12-2011
AllThingsD has reported that Google will be on track to pay an impressive $300 million per year to Mozilla, for when Google and Mozilla renewed their search royalty deal, earlier this week. This exorbitant amount of money will allow Google to be the default search engine in Mozilla’s Firefox web browser. The deal has apparently [...]
Founder of Xerox PARC Jacob Goldman dies at 90
By SlashGear, published 23-12-2011
Founder and chief scientist of Xerox’s renowned Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) Jacob “Jack” Goldman has died at age 90. Goldman has been credited with spearheading many of the technological breakthroughs that are at the core of modern computing and that have been a huge influence on the success of Apple and Microsoft in personal [...]
Microsoft bowing out of CES in 2013
By GameSpot, published 22-12-2011
Xbox maker says 2012 keynote address, booth will be its last at annual Las Vegas technology show, citing expo's January timing. The Consumer Electronics Show returns to Las Vegas January 10-13, and with 2,700 exhibitors expected to draw 140,000 attendees, it's shaping up to be one of the trade show's biggest events yet. However, come 2013, the show will lose one of its most important exhibitors, and it remains to be seen what impact that will have on audience draw. Microsoft unveiled Avatar Kinect at CES 2011. Microsoft announced this week that it will not be participating in CES after 2012. The Redmond, Washington-based software company has been a key player in the annual technology show, as Microsoft CEOs Bill Gates, and then Steve Ballmer, have tr...
Microsoft Scaling Back CES Presence
By GameInformer, published 22-12-2011
Looks like the Consumer Electronics Show will be getting a lot smaller after next year. After nearly 20 years of participating heavily at the annual show in Las Vegas, Microsoft said the upcoming CES will be its last where it will have a keynote and booth presence on the floor. "We’ll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries, but we won’t have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing," said Frank Shaw, corporate VP of communications at Microsoft on the company's official blog. CES 2012 takes place next month on January 10-13. Game Informer will be there rounding up any and a...
Gary Marshall: Tech firms! Stop using us to beta test unfinished kit
By TechRadar, published 22-12-2011
Good news! The Kindle Fire's working properly now!Amazon's issued an automatic software update that adds a raft of new features including Buttons Reacting When You Press Them, Touch Commands Being Detected and Your New Gadget Actually Bloody Working Properly.It's free and came out quickly, so hurrah for that, but it's yet another example of what I like to call "the tech industry taking the proverbial out of its customers". The Kindle Fire update doesn't address obscure driver conflicts, or one-in-a-million entanglements between apps, individual system settings and particularly unpleasant wallpaper. It fixes some very basic flaws, flaws that pretty much every reviewer spotted immediately.There are only two possible explanations: one, everybody in Amazon's QA department is a dumbass....
Dungeon Defenders - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 22-12-2011
Reverb Publishing, an initiative of Reverb Communications, cdv Software Entertainment USA and Trendy Entertainment today announced that Dungeon Defenders will march onto the PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows-based PCs on Steam, Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s digital retail game site, Impulse and GamersGate this fall. Developed by Trendy Entertainment using Epic Games’ award-winning Unreal Engine 3, Dungeon Defenders throws action-RPG and tower defense gameplay into the proverbial blender to create a seamless mix of leveling, looting and high-action territorial combat for casual and core players alike. “We’ve w...
Microsoft, Nokia Reportedly Considering RIM Buyout
By HotHardware, published 22-12-2011
RIM is in trouble after delays to its core products and upcoming BlackBerry OS 10 sent investors diving for cover. During the company's last conference call, its co-CEOs promised to investigate every possible option for improving RIM's market position while it works on the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS and tries to strengthen the appeal of the...
Grand Slam Tennis 2 rounds the bases February 14
By GameSpot, published 21-12-2011
EA Sports' racket sim sequel dated; Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova to share cover space with John McEnroe. Electronic Arts is serving up love-love for Valentine's Day. The publisher today detailed release plans for its upcoming Grand Slam Tennis 2, saying the game would hit store shelves in North America on February 14, preceded by international launches on February 10. (A Japanese launch is expected later in 2012.) GameSpot regrets both the headline and the lead of this article. You deserve better. Beyond the release dates, EA detailed region-specific cover athletes for the game. Most countries will see John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, and Maria Sharapova adorning the box front, but gamers in France, Spain, and Germany will be getting different cover...
Gears of War 3's Fenix Rising Map Pack Coming
By GameInformer, published 21-12-2011
Microsoft and Epic Games have announced the Fenix Rising DLC Map Pack for release in the new year. The Pack comes out on January 17 for 800 Microsoft Points (or free if you've already bought the game's Season Pass), and it offers five new multiplayer maps, four new character skins, and a new "Re-Up" level system that lets you continue on past level 100 for a custom weapon skin and new rank icon color. The Maps (all descriptions straight from Epic) Academy (shown) –The lineage of the Fenix family can be traced back along a distinguished line of military officers. Officer training at the Oracle Academy was simply the expected path for Marcus, and he had visited the grounds many times in expectation that he would walk the same path as his ancestors. But it was not t...
VUDU Rentals Come To Microsoft's Xbox 360 Console
By HotHardware, published 21-12-2011
The Walmart-owned VUDU movie rental service is making big strides in the home entertainment realm, as they've just launched on Xbox 360. That's a super major platform to launch on, no doubt. Xbox LIVE customers can now shop VUDU's library using new, interactive features such as voice search, voice control and Kinect gesture commands to rent...
A Look At Batman: Arkham City's New Challenge Maps
By GameInformer, published 21-12-2011
In addition to releasing a free skin this morning, Warner Bros. also announced two new download content packs for Batman: Arkham City are available right now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The Challenge Map Pack, which includes The Joker’s Carnival, the Iceberg Lounge, and The Batcave is available right now for 240 Microsoft Points or $3.00 on PSN and PC.Also available is the Arkham Bundle, which includes the Nightwing Bundle Pack, Robin Bundle Pack and the Arkham City Skins Pack for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $14.99 on PSN and PC. Take a tour of the new challenge maps in the video below! (Please visit the site to view this media)
In Depth: The 10 biggest gadget letdowns of 2011
By TechRadar, published 20-12-2011
10 gadget letdowns of 2011You know all about the best gadgets of 2011. You probably own quite a few of them, and you'll still be paying for them well into 2013. But what about the numerous duffers? What about the products that promised a revolution, talked the talk, appearing looking exciting in advert breaks during the football, but in the end only delivered a whimpering lump of nothing good only for your friendly local landfill site?We like to be inclusive here at TechRadar, so here are the losers of 2011. The biggest letdowns in tech of the last 12 months, the products that ought to be recalled not for safety purposes, but to preserve the reputations of the manufacturers involved. If you get any of these for Christmas, it's a signal that not only does Santa Claus not exist, but also the...
We'll Be Dancing In Kinect Star Wars
By GameInformer, published 19-12-2011
Kinect Star Wars won't just be about smashing cities as a rancor or chopping storm troopers in half with a lightsaber. Microsoft and LucasArts are including dancing segments in Kinect Star Wars, too. According to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, players will perform activities in the game such as "dance tournaments, podracing, and Jedi duels." The description of the game continues: "In the dancing mini-game, some female characters perform suggestive moves (e.g., gyrating their hips/buttocks) and wear revealing outfits (partially exposed cleavage/buttocks)."Kinect Star Wars was given a T rating and is scheduled to ship sometime in 2012. It was originally delayed out of this holiday. Source: ESRB
Windows 8 to implement picture passwords
By TechReport, published 19-12-2011
Thanks to Windows 8, you won't have to wait for Thanksgiving to make rude gestures at family members. In the latest update to the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft reveals that Windows 8 will introduce a new "picture password" feature, which will let users log in by drawing gestures on a photo of their choosing.Zach Pace, a Program Manager in Microsoft's You Centered Experience Team, ...Read more...
Hands-on With Alan Wake's American Nightmare And The Extended Trailer
By GameInformer, published 19-12-2011
American Nightmare bears the Alan Wake title, and it is releasing after the original Alan Wake, but the story and gameplay make the Xbox Live Arcade exclusive more of a side story to Wake’s expanding battle with darkness. “It’s definitely not a sequel to Alan Wake,” says Oskari Häkkinen, head of franchise development for Remedy. “It’s a standalone spinoff experience that anyone can pick up and play.”My hands-on time begins with Alan’s former manager Barry Wheeler sleeping in a hotel room. Since Alan’s mysterious disappearance, Barry has become the manager of the band The Old Gods of Asgard. The camera pans past Barry and to a television playing an episode of Night Springs, and the show’s credits reveal that the episode was w...
Microsoft Pounces on Naughty Skype Domain, Redirects to Bing
By HotHardware, published 18-12-2011
Microsoft didn't waste any time swooping in and snatching up the domain name SkypeSexFinder.com after it became available, according to Whois records online. Fusible was first to discover the domain name registration and noted that it was redirecting visitors to its Bing search engine, though not Bing's homepage. Instead, it brings up Bing...
In Depth: Is Android Google's Achilles heel?
By TechRadar, published 18-12-2011
Patent wars and app store woesJust four years ago, the Open Handset Alliance, headed up by Google, released Android, the open source mobile operating system for smartphones (and later tablets).The first Google phone was the T-Mobile G1. Since then Android has enjoyed a meteoric rise, gaining popularity in the smartphone market much faster than even Apple's iOS did on its debut. However, that rapid increase in market share isn't the full story. There are big problems behind the scenes – problems that could turn Android into a poisoned chalice for Google. The cost of free First there are the patent wars, which may help its competitors squeeze Android off smartphones and tablets. Major companies like Microsoft, Oracle and Apple are claiming patent disputes against the manufacturers of devic...
Tutorial: How to recover from a hacking attack
By TechRadar, published 17-12-2011
Recover from an attack: are you infected?Your bank account is a tradable commodity on the black market. Over the past decade, the emphasis has shifted from destroying the contents of victims' computers to plundering them, and bank accounts are now harvested on a truly industrial scale. Every small time crook wants a slice of the action, but becoming a customer of the hardened gangs controlling the world's largest botnets can be difficult. A much easier approach is simply to grab a phone book and pretend. Sometimes, the fear induced by this new breed of fraudster can make people panic, and they can end up doing silly things that jeopardise their data, as the following true story shows.A familiar story A few weeks ago, a friend of mine received a phone call, apparently from Microsoft. Her co...
Review: Microsoft Xbox 360
By TechRadar, published 16-12-2011
OverviewThe Xbox 360 has changed since its launch in 2005.That much is transparently clear from the updated version that debuted in 2010.The Xbox 360 S is smaller, sleeker and quieter than the previous model and designed to banish the infamous 'Red Ring of Death' hardware failure that forced Microsoft to extend its warranty on the system.Likewise the arrival of Kinect, which has gone on to sell over 10 million units, has transformed the machine from solely the preserve of hardcore gamers to a casual gamer friendly environment.While some of the novelty of Kinect may have worn off, if anything the games are improving – finding new ways to take advantage of what is still fascinating technology.But Microsoft is and always has been a software company first and foremost and, fittingly, that's ...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #225
By GameInformer, published 16-12-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: I Really Want To Install A Giant Second Monitor In My Game Room For Sports Viewing (I Know, I Have First World Problems, I Didn't Say I Was Doing It), Winter Training (I'm Finally Able To Workout Since My Kidney Donation, And I Really Want To See If I Can Do An Olympic Length Triathlon This Coming Summer. I'm Gonna Crush The 3K Miles I Rode Last Season On My Bike), Having A Full Staff Again (This Death Star Is Fully Operational), Skyrim Dreams, Bananas Dislikes: Finding That Pa...
Black Ops, Call of Duty top Google gaming searches in 2011
By GameSpot, published 15-12-2011
Search engine giant lists Activision Blizzard shooter brands as most popular this year; Halo: Reach, Super Mario, Mortal Kombat round out top five. Given the game's record-setting opening sales and $1 billion lifetime total, it seems fairly clear that Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be the best-selling game of 2011. However, Modern Warfare 3 has lost this year's popularity contest, as measured by Google searches. The good news for Activision is that Modern Warfare 3 lost out to its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops. This just in: Black Ops is popular. Today, Google released its yearly analytics report for most searched-for terms of the year, revealing Black Ops as the leading term in the gaming spectrum. Perhaps not so su...
Microsoft So.cl official: Study group killer not Facebook killer
By SlashGear, published 15-12-2011
Microsoft has officially unveiled So.cl, and contrary to Facebook-challenger expectations it’s a hybrid system pulling together social networking and search and targeted at students. Found at so.cl, the new tool allows “montages of visual web content” including photos, video and text to be constructed and shared for collaborative editing and discussion, as well as “video [...]
The Gunstringer: Big Shootin' Impressions
By GameInformer, published 15-12-2011
Twisted Pixel’s second DLC offering for The Gunstringer lacks the humor of the core game and the insanity of the Wavy Tube Man Chronicles DLC, but does provide an intense shooting galley experience that rewarded me with 110 achievement points in just 20 minutes of play. That’s all the time that is needed to march through the entire DLC offering, which consists of 12 short rounds and a final boss that is more of an ode to Duck Hunt than a fight. Each round is far more challenging and fast-paced than any of the gameplay in the core experience, usually consisting of waves that require all six bullets to be locked on and fired as quickly as possible. A combat modifier is randomly selected at the beginning of each round. If the “shotgun” mod is in play, the round will b...
Microsoft finally brings auto-update to Internet Explorer
By TechRadar, published 15-12-2011
Microsoft has finally announced that it will roll out automatic upgrades for Internet Explorer; with a 'measured approach' starting with people in Australia and Brazil and then scaling up. Microsoft has previously eschewed automatically pushing people from one browser version to the next, principally because of its enterprise customers. However people in Brazil and Australia who have Windows Update set to automatic will be pushed from one IE version to the next. Auto upgrade"Today we are sharing our plan to automatically upgrade Windows customers to the latest version of Internet Explorer available for their PC," blogged Microsoft's Ryan Gavin. "This is an important step in helping to move the Web forward. We will start in January for customers in Australia and Brazil who have ...
More Talk Of Next Xbox In 2013
By GameInformer, published 15-12-2011
More rumors have surfaced regarding Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor, reinforcing the belief that the system will come out in 2013. CNET says it has a source within the Xbox team that has confirmed an earlier report by Develop that the next Xbox will hit in 2013. This tidbit is buried within a larger report saying that Dan Coyner, the leader of the Xbox design and experience group has found a new position within the company. Coyner has been involved in the branding, design, and marketing of both Xbox systems – including the overall user experience.
Anomaly: Warzone Earth Bringing Tower Offense To XBLA
By GameInformer, published 15-12-2011
Anomaly: Warzone Earth put a different spin on the tower defense genre, giving players a chance to take charge of a plodding convoy as it made its way through fortified enemy defenses across the globe. If you missed it on PC, Mac, or iOS, you'll have another shot at it this spring, when the game comes to Xbox Live Arcade. This new version of the game by original developers 11 Bit Studios adds six Xbox-exclusive challenges. You can see how it looks in the gallery below. Also, take a look at our review of the PC game to learn more about how it all works. Spoiler: Adam liked it.
Xbox design chief replaced ahead of 2013 “Xbox 720?
By SlashGear, published 15-12-2011
Microsoft is believed to have replaced the design architect responsible for the Xbox 360 user-experience, Dan Coyner, an acolyte of Apple-style consistency in user experience and a mainstay of the gaming project since its inception. Coyner, general manager of Design and Planning within the Xbox team, has been replaced with Emma Williams, CNET‘s sources claim, who led this [...]
Updated: 50 best free Android apps
By TechRadar, published 15-12-2011
Best free Android apps: 1-25OK, so the Android Market is more akin to Lidl or Asda than the iPhone's enormous, indulgent Selfridges-at-Christmas time approach, but the open source nature of Google's OS means there are plenty of apps for Android to be found.Most of the good stuff on Android is free, thanks to the work of developers who do it for love alone. So here's our pick of the top free Android apps you should install.And you can find more great apps at Top 150 best Android apps. Also why not check out our video of the top 10 free Android games?brightcove : 9719988620011. SeesmicThere are many Twitter apps on Android - and Twitter itself shook up the scene with the launch of its own-brand app recently - but we're sticking with Seesmic. Offering support for multiple accounts, a home pag...
StatCounter: Chrome 15 'world's most popular browser'
By TechRadar, published 15-12-2011
Google is not only dominating the search market but the browser market too, according to the statisticians at StatCounter.The web analytics company has been doing a spot of number crunching and found that Chrome 15 took 23.6 per cent of the worldwide market in the last week in November compared to Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8 at 23.5 per cent.It's not a massive lead over IE but the implication that Google has managed to usurp Microsoft - even for a week - as the browser king is massive.Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, StatCounter does note that IE is still leading by quite a margin if you add all the different versions of the browser together - this new stat fight is just between Chrome 15 and IE 8.When in ChromeSpeaking about the browser stat, Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter, sai...
Microsoft: Angriest Android Users Get a Free Windows Phone
By MaximumPC, published 14-12-2011
Been burned by Android malware? If so, Microsoft wants to hear from you, via Twitter, for a chance to score a free Windows Phone device. Microsoft's promotion ties into the recent RuFraud Android scam, in which third-party apps masquerading as legitimate programs like Angry Birds rack up premium SMS charges on the sly. Microsoft wants users to post their #droidrage story as it attempts to capitalize on the hysteria. "More malware on Android! bit.ly/rt7dpD Been hit? Share yr #droidrage story to win a #windowsphone upgrade. 5 best (worst?) win!," Microsoft's Ben Rudolph posted to Twitter. Microsoft's promotion has drawn some horror stories already, but it's also backfired with numerous tweets taking the Redmond software maker to task. "Android malware victims offered free WinPhones by MS (Ha...
Lionhead Hiring For MMO-Ish Project
By GameInformer, published 14-12-2011
A Microsoft job listing on behalf of Guildford, England's Lionhead Studios (Fable franchise) is searching for someone with MMO passion and experience. What's interesting about the listing, is that it doesn't straight out say it's looking for someone to work on an MMO, but rather is seeking "someone who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment." We may be reading too much into this whole thing, but could it be that Lionhead is looking for someone with enough MMO experience to fold those qualities into another genre? Will this be the other, non-Fable: The Journey project that Peter Molyneux has talked about? Given Microsoft's resistance to putting up an MMO on Xbox Live (at least for t...
Updated: Top 10 best iPhone alternatives
By TechRadar, published 14-12-2011
The iPhone 4S has been a massive success, selling tens of millions of units all over the world, but it's not for everyone and there are some great iPhone alternatives.In particular, if you want something larger or smaller, or with a physical keyboard, Apple won't be able to help you. Similarly, if you want something more customisable or with widgets, you'll need to look elsewhere.There are plenty of other manufacturers producing some great devices, however, so you don't have to look far for some worthy iPhone alternatives. So here are our 10 favourites, in no particular order. Of course, these aren't the only phones on offer – keep your eye on our top 20 mobile phones list for more great options. 1. Samsung Galaxy S2 What we think: What can we say? Superfast dual core processor, superla...
Sonic CD Coming Tomorrow
By GameInformer, published 13-12-2011
SEGA's re-release of the classic side-scroller Sonic CD is coming to Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow, December 14. It's also hitting PlayStation Network in Europe and iOS devices that same day. PlayStation Network users in North America can get it on December 20 and Android and Windows Phone 7 devices in 2012. This version contains the original Japanese and US soundtracks, and for the first time, the ability to play the game as Tails, who unlockable by completing the game. “Sonic’s 20th Anniversary has been a banner year for him – as well as for everyone at SEGA,” said Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America. “Gamers around the world are rediscovering their love of Sonic through his adventures, new and old. Whether you&rs...
Should You Play RAAM's Shadow?
By GameInformer, published 13-12-2011
The first Gears of War 3 campaign DLC is here; is it worth your time? We took the new campaign for a test drive from beginning to end to see how it stacks up with the on-disc campaign. With new playable characters, and a full extended storyline set prior to the first Gears of War game, there are lots of reasons to be hopeful about the release. While it might not hit the same high notes as the core campaign, this sort of robust standalone DLC is just the sort we like to see for a big game like Gears of War 3. Right from the start, RAAM's Shadow delivers something a little different. Namely, the total absence of Marcus Fenix and crew. Instead, players step into the shoes of Zeta squad, a team made up of both new and familiar faces from the storyline. The most central of these COG soldie...
Asia Shippin' Out Dec. 11-17: GTA III, Gears of War 3: RAAM's Shadow
By GameSpot, published 13-12-2011
iOS version of classic sandbox title, new DLC for third Gears of War game, and stunt-performing racer are highlights for the week. While this month has been moderate compared to November, new titles are still stockpiling local game shelves or, at least, on digital distribution sites like Xbox Live Arcade and the iTunes store. First up is the iOS version of Grand Theft Auto III. Subtitled as the "10 Year Anniversary" edition, the game now features touch-screen controls and revamped graphics resolution. For more information on the recent port, check out GameSpot's preview. Next up is the first downloadable content for Gears of War 3, entitled RAAM's Shadow. The story-based DLC follows Zeta Squad as it evacuates people from Illima City in a campaign set before the original Gears of War st...
Microsoft courting TV exec for Xbox Live - Report
By GameSpot, published 12-12-2011
Xbox 360 maker said to be on the hunt for person to head original TV show push for its console's online platform. In October, Microsoft announced plans to dramatically expand its efforts to bring content providers to Xbox Live, signing deals with the likes of Comcast, Verizon, and HBO. However, the company has shown an interest in creating original programming as well, going so far as to court late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien while the comedian was still a free agent. Microsoft apparently wants to make a Halo equivalent TV show. Microsoft hasn't given up on this goal, as Bloomberg reports that the company is aggressively pursuing a TV executive to develop original shows for Xbox Live. Citing sources familiar with Microsoft's plans, Bloomberg s...
NPD: Xbox 360 Kills It in November, U.S. Sales Top 1.7 Million Units
By HotHardware, published 12-10-2011
Microsoft's Xbox 360 had another record month in November and remained the top selling console for the fourth consecutive month with 1.7 million unit sales in the U.S. alone, according to data released by market research firm NPD Group. That's a 23 percent year-over-year jump, but perhaps more importantly, Microsoft was able to move almost...
New Xbox Live User Agreement Bars Lawsuits Against Microsoft
By GameInformer, published 12-09-2011
In the fine print of the user agreement you must approve to activate the new Xbox Live Dashboard that Microsoft rolled out this week, you must agree to waive your right to sue the company.This language is similar to clauses inserted in recent user agreements from Sony and Electronic Arts. The Microsoft agreement, it states that users whose claims against the company have not been satisfied through normal customer service channels must then submit to a binding arbitration process -- and are not able to engage in any lawsuit or class action against the company.Even more notable is the provision that states Microsoft's liability to any user is limited to around $5 for Gold Members and nothing for Silver users.Seems like you're giving up a lot of your legal rights just to use the new ...
Sine Mora Exclusive To Xbox Live
By GameInformer, published 12-08-2011
Sine Mora, the shoot-em-up from Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality, is coming to Xbox Live exclusively, Microsoft said today. Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame wrote the game's music. Along with scaling difficulty, Microsoft says Sine Mora has 60 combinations of planes, characters and time-manipulation devices. Check out the debut trailer below and our latest preview coverage. A release date has not been announced. (Please visit the site to view this media) [Source: PlayXBLA]
Alan Wake's American Nightmare Registered
By GameInformer, published 12-08-2011
The upcoming Alan Wake download title may be subtitled "American Nightmare." The new name for the game was registered today by the German ratings board USK. The game will get a full reveal this Saturday at the Video Game Awards show on Spike TV. Two things are happening here: Either developer Remedy has a second Alan Wake title in development and is set to announce it, or the previous name, which was thought to be subtitled "Night Springs," is being changed. Game Informer published the first screenshot of the game last month. You can check it out right here. [Source: Siliconera]
Blog Herding: Community Edition 12/08/11
By GameInformer, published 12-08-2011
This week marks the lowest number of blogs submitted by the community since the return of Blog Herding, but don't be alarmed by the decrease in output, there are still plenty of great blogs to read including the ones listed here. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: November 28 – December 04, 2011Number of User Blogs: 78Number of User Bloggers: 56Number of User Blogs Herded: 7 Community Blogs: My Ezio – What Really Drives HimHist discovers what motivates his control of Ezio while playing Assassin's Creed Revelations and chances are it's not what you think. Take a look at this clever blog sure to make you smile. Bonus PrizesOni no Tenshi blogs about her joyful shopping experiences with Club Nintendo and GameStop's Power Up Rewards program. Check out the blog for...
Gore Verbinski studio making a Kinect game
By GameSpot, published 12-07-2011
Pirates of the Caribbean director's production company signs development deal for Microsoft platforms; XBLA project up first. Blind Wink, the transmedia production company from Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, today announced that it has signed an exclusive deal to deliver "original interactive entertainment content" to Microsoft platforms worldwide. Gore Verbinski has Kinect-ed with Microsoft. The first fruit of this partnership is set to be an Xbox Live Arcade title for the Kinect, with a release window of late 2012. The project is being internally developed at Blind Wink. No other details on the project were revealed, but Blind Wink noted that the deal may include media beyond games. Verbinski has a history with game-related projects. ...
Gore Verbinski Creating Xbox 360 Games
By GameInformer, published 12-06-2011
A new deal between Microsoft and the film director's company, Blind Wink, means we'll be seeing new games as early as late 2012. The first project on the horizon is an unnamed Xbox Live Arcade game for Kinect, but the deal extends out to include other projects that may or may not appear on the 360. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft will act as distributor for those future projects. No matter the nature of those games, Verbinski aims to apply cinematic sensibilities to their production.Blind Wink's first major project was the animated film, Rango. What kind of games would you like to see Verbinski create for Microsoft?[via: Hollywood Reporter]
Microsoft to put IGF winner on Xbox Live
By GameSpot, published 12-05-2011
14th annual Independent Games Festival to introduce new prize; one selected game to get full suite of publishing services. The 2012 Independent Games Festival will mark the event's 14th anniversary, and in recent years, it has not been uncommon for at least a couple of games to land a publisher following the show. Although the IGF is still months away, one title is already guaranteed a publishing agreement through a partnership between festival organizers and Microsoft. Coming soon to an Xbox 360 near you: The 2012 IGF XBLA Prize winner. The IGF announced today a new multiyear partnership with Microsoft, in which the winner of the new XBLA Prize category will receive a publishing deal for the Xbox 360, PC, and Windows Phone 7. The category winner wil...
IDC predicts Windows 8 upgrade to be “largely irrelevant” beyond tablets
By SlashGear, published 12-05-2011
Research firm IDC has published its top 10 systems software predictions for 2012, and it is quite skeptical about the success of Microsoft’s Windows 8 in terms of the number of upgrades. It believes that very few users will choose to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 as the new Metro UI skin offers [...]
Choose Your Defender! 10 Anti-Virus Programs Reviewed and Compared
By MaximumPC, published 12-05-2011
We test 10 of the most popular AV programs lock, stock, and barrel! Selecting an Internet security suite is a lot like plodding through a Choose?Your?Own?Adventure book. Remember those? The path of the protagonist was entirely up to you, and if those books taught us anything at all, it’s that every decision carries with it potentially devastating consequences. The same thing applies to your choice of antivirus software, only the repercussions of malware are real, and if a shoddy security suite fires off a blank and leaves you exposed to danger, there’s no flipping back the pages for a do-over. The stakes are high, and it’s important you choose the right defense the first time. If you don’t, you risk leaving your system vulnerable to attack from an increasingly sophisticated arsena...
Borders Sells 65,536 IPv4 Addresses for $12 Each
By MaximumPC, published 12-05-2011
Bookseller Borders was unable to survive the crushing onslaught from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, eventually leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year. As the shell of a company continues to sell assets to pay creditors, it’s started scraping the bottom of the barrel. Borders has agreed to sell off its last significant asset; 65,536 IPv4 addresses. Software vendor Cerner will pick them up for $12 each. The $786,432 deal will give Cerner access to a dwindling resource. ICANN handed out the last blocks of IPv4 addresses to regional registrars earlier this year. In the past, a block of IP address space would have fetched such a price, but with questions around IPv6, some believe the older addresses will increase in value. This is only the second time a company has so...
Modern Warfare 3 ignites November retail growth - Analyst
By GameSpot, published 12-05-2011
Wedbush's Michael Pachter projects 3 percent software sales climb in US last month, led by Call of Duty; Saints Row hurt by crowd. The US retail industry has strung together back-to-back months of non-PC software sales growth, having posted 3 percent climbs in both September and October. And according to Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, November non-PC software sales make three's a charm. Modern Warfare 3 earned $775 million during its first five days of availability. As part of his monthly NPD preview today, Pachter projected November software sales of $1.45 billion, up 3 percent compared to the same period in 2010. Unsurprisingly, the primary catalyst for this growth was Activision Blizzard's first-person shooter juggernaut Call of Duty: Modern War...
YouTube, cable giants miss Xbox 360 dashboard update
By GameSpot, published 12-05-2011
HBO GO, Xfinity, Verizon FiOS, and more media partners conspicuously absent from new firmware update, now scheduled to arrive in early 2012. The second complete overhaul of the Xbox 360's user interface is set to take place tomorrow with the Metro-inspired 2011 system update. A myriad of content provider partnerships were announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo as coming later this year, and a recent Microsoft-issued update clarifies that many of the bigger offerings will not launch until as late as early next year. The new dashboard rolls out tomorrow, but some of the 360's more anticipated new features will have to wait until next year. Microsoft announced that while currently available content providers will continue to be available with to...
Gary Marshall: Without Google's cash Firefox is stuffed
By TechRadar, published 12-05-2011
Google's worth a lot of money to Mozilla. Firefox's search box delivers serious amounts of cash: in its latest financial statement, Mozilla notes that "a search engine provider" accounted for 84% and 85% of royalty revenue for 2010 and 2009 respectively".Mozilla might not want to name the provider in question, but let's face it, it isn't AltaVista.The Firefox deal ran out last month, and Mozilla is being very cryptic about whether it's been renewed. That means one of three things. One: we're still arguing about it. Two: we've come to an agreement, and we're bloody angry about it. Or three: the deal's off.We might not know the "what" just yet, but we do know the "why": Chrome. Three years ago, Google really needed Mozilla. Now, it doesn't.What about you?Firefox u...
Mozilla, Google Negotiating New Search Deal
By HotHardware, published 12-05-2011
Google and Mozilla have a common enemy in the browser wars in Microsoft, but perhaps more importantly, the two software companies have an even greater common interest: money. Since that's the case, it would be in both of their interests to work together if it means lining their pockets with cash, and that's what the two have decided to do....
Xbox LIVE app turns Windows Phone into 360 remote
By SlashGear, published 12-05-2011
Microsoft’s December 6 Xbox 360 Dashboard update will also bring a new smartphone app, Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone, turning your handset into a remote control and info terminal. Bing-powered content search will browse through movies, TV shows, music, games and apps, Microsoft’s Major Nelson confirms, all from the smartphone screen, as well as showing your own [...]
Xbox 360 update brings voice-based search, on-demand TV and video content
By Thinkdigit, published 12-05-2011
Microsoft will be rolling out an update for the Xbox 360 and LIVE platform tomorrow, which it says will bring about a revolution in the living room, bringing “all your entertainment, all in one box.” The update, apart from voice-based controls for the Xbox Live interface, will bring TV entertainment in the form of live and on-demand TV shows, movies, videos, sports, music and news. This new content for Xbox LIVE will be accessed through custom apps from the various content providers [...] Read the entire article
Tour The Xbox 360's New Dashboard
By GameInformer, published 12-05-2011
Microsoft is not afraid to shake things up when it comes to the Xbox 360's user interface. An update brings a fresh look to your 360 this Tuesday, bringing big changes to the way you navigate the console. This video tour by Gamesradar highlights the big changes to the UI. The biggest differences I can notice include the menu layout, achievement score organization, the bing search function, and cloud saving. While being able to search for anything available on the 360 by entering a single word is neat for finding games quickly, I'm more interested in the cloud save functionality. I'm someone who routinely loads my 360 profile onto a USB to bring to a friend's house, then 99 percent of the time forgets it and has to spend time recovering the stupid thing when I get home (if ...
In Depth: 16 best TV streaming services
By TechRadar, published 12-04-2011
16 best TV streaming servicesWithin the last few years there's been a new explosion of TV in our lives. Before, we were content to watch television on a schedule dictated by the broadcasters, but things have moved on a long way since then. We now have a huge range of services that let us to get our fix of programmes and movies at any time and through a multitude of devices. No longer are we confined to the living room - the internet lets us watch TV anywhere in the house, while portable media devices like smartphones and tablets keep us entertained on the move. Viewing habits haven't quite kept pace with technological advancement, so although the amount of time we spend watching television is increasing every year, we're still a long way from ridding our homes of the big TV - just 0.2 per ...
In Depth: 16 best TV streaming services
By TechRadar, published 12-04-2011
16 best TV streaming servicesWithin the last few years there's been a new explosion of TV in our lives. Before, we were content to watch television on a schedule dictated by the broadcasters, but things have moved on a long way since then. We now have a huge range of services that let us to get our fix of programmes and movies at any time and through a multitude of devices. No longer are we confined to the living room - the internet lets us watch TV anywhere in the house, while portable media devices like smartphones and tablets keep us entertained on the move. Viewing habits haven't quite kept pace with technological advancement, so although the amount of time we spend watching television is increasing every year, we're still a long way from ridding our homes of the big TV - just 0.2 per ...
Day 1 Studios loses Konami publishing deal
By GameSpot, published 12-02-2011
[UPDATE] Chicago-based developer lays off 95% of staff working on Konami's Silent Scope reboot; second, significantly smaller team trudges on. [CORRECTION:] This story originally reported that Day 1 Studios had laid off approximately 95 percent of its staff. GameSpot's source has clarified this information, saying the 95 percent figure pertains to the Silent Scope team, and not the entire studio. A significantly smaller team remains at work on a second in-development project. The original story can be found below. The sun has set on Day 1 Studios. Today, GameSpot learned that the company has laid off approximately 100 employees--or 95 percent of its staff--as it winds down operations in preparation for closure. Don't expect a F.3.E.R 2 from Day 1 St...
Carrier IQ Controversy: Your Phone Is Spying On You, And Your Wireless Carrier's To Blame
By MaximumPC, published 12-02-2011
Have you heard about that nasty little bit of software called Carrier IQ? A security researcher by the name of Trevor Eckhart discovered the mysterious software running on his Android phone earlier this month, dug deeper into things, and found Carrier IQ, a monitoring program that comes preinstalled on several phones, tracks all kinds of data – including HTTP requests, GPS location and app usage information – and in many cases, can’t be turned off. Millions of phones are affected. Carrier IQ’s been found on phones from Samsung, HTC and Apple– but wireless carriers could be the real force behind the rootkit-like software. Carrier IQ has been found on a bunch of HTC phones, and when ZDNET – who is maintaining an excellently updated article on which companies are using Carrier IQ,...
EA Stoops To Thrilling New Low With Subscriptions For iPhone Tetris
By GameInformer, published 12-02-2011
EA has released a brand-new version of Tetris on iPhone, adding a power-up based Galaxy Mode, lifetime rankings, and a special interface designed with touchscreens in mind. If the $.99 introductory asking price seems nice and reasonable, the publisher has a solution: Ladies and gentlemen, EA is proud to introduce the all-new T-Club, a paid service that gives fans exclusive discounts, content, and challenges. And it can be yours for $2.99 a month, or $29.99 for an entire year. For Tetris. Great job, marketing. This is the greatest innovation in fleecing consumers since someone at Microsoft realized they could crop concept art, call it a Gamerpic, and sell it for a buck. Suddenly this parody doesn't seem so far off. Enjoy your exclusively colored falling blocks?
Chrome surges past Firefox to become world's no. 2 Internet browser
By Thinkdigit, published 12-02-2011
Google's Chrome has surpassed Mozilla's Firefox to become the world's number two Internet browser, behind Microsoft's Internet Explorer, revealed the latest stats released by StatCounter. According to the Ireland-based research firm, Chrome grabbed 25.69 per cent of the total market share in November, while Firefox managed a share of 25.3 per cent. It's notable it is the first time when Chrome has edged Firefox in the browser popularity wars. Both the browsers trail Microsoft's Internet Explorer [...] Read the entire article
Skyrim Passes Battlefield 3 On Xbox Live
By GameInformer, published 12-01-2011
How popular is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim? It's pretty big, apparently. Microsoft revealed more unique users logged into Xbox Live and played Skyrim than EA's multiplayer shooter fest Battlefield 3 last week. Skyrim wasn't quite big enough to take down Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Black Ops, though. This just goes to show you how popular Call of Duty really is. Black out came out last year. Other new titles that charted were Saints Row: The Third at #10, Assassin’s Creed Revelations at #11, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary at #13. Regarding sales of Skyrim, Bethesda has only announced so far the game sold 3.5 million copies in the first two days of launch. The company has yet to provide an update since. Below is the top 20 games on Xbox Live for the week of No...
UFC On Xbox Live Starts This Month
By GameInformer, published 12-01-2011
As Xbox Live moves towards providing cable content, the online service is also set to debut UFC pay-per-view events and other UFC-related content on Xbox Live. Starting on December 20, UFC on Xbox Live launches, and Xbox Live Gold members* will be able to purchase pay-per-view fights (including old ones), make predictions on fights (including a friends' leaderboard), view the interactive fight cards, watch event previews, interviews, etc., and more. Kinect owners can also use the peripheral to navigate the service. This content goes live on the 20th, but the first UFC live fight won't be until December 30th with UFC 114: Lesner vs. Overeem. *Gold members will get access to premium features such as these (remember: pay-per-view fights are sold separately), although Microsoft...
Review: Samsung Epic 4G Touch
By TechRadar, published 12-01-2011
Overview, design and feelWith a slightly more appealing (brighter and clearer) AMOLED screen than the Samsung Galaxy S2, a similar processor, a gaggle of extra apps and a few added perks, the Samsung Epic 4G Touch is a decidedly powerful phone that matches the quality of the Apple iPhone 4S.?The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is essentially the same phone as the Samsung Galaxy S2, but there are some noteworthy differences. Both phones use the speedy 1.2GHz Exynos processor, which is designed to improve graphics speed for games, videos, photos and other apps.The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is the best phone on offer from carrier Sprint, and has the distinct advantage of coming at a lower price of just $199 when you sign a two-year contract. At 9.59mm thin and weighing just 128.9g, the Samsung Epic 4G Touc...
How to Install & Configure the Windows 8 Developer Preview
By MaximumPC, published 30-11-2011
With Windows 8, Microsoft is reimagining the most basic premises of personal computers. CEO Steve Ballmer recognizes the drastic changes coming in Windows 8, even calling the platform one of the biggest risks taken by the industry giant. The UI changes and fundamental paradigm shifts that Windows 8 brings to the table are making a lot of power users eager to give the platform a trial run, even in its current state as a Developer Preview. If you want to take the plunge and give Windows 8 a try, there are some things you should know ahead of time. First, the current build of Windows 8 is intended as a Developer Preview. This is pre-beta software, meaning there will be bugs and even major missing features. We don’t recommend installing Windows 8 as your primary system, but we do encourage y...
Capcom puckering up for Sour Patch Kids
By GameSpot, published 30-11-2011
Soundtrack featuring Method Man song "World Gone Sour (The Lost Kids)" sweetens the deal for downloadable Xbox 360, PS3, and PC action adventure game based on top American sour candy brand. Capcom may be best known for franchises like Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter, but the publisher has also produced games based on unconventional licenses like Yo! Noid for the NES (starring the Dominos Pizza mascot of the time) and Mr. Bill for iOS, featuring a clay character from Saturday Night Live decades after his last appearance on the show. Capcom today expanded its menagerie of unusual licenses with the announcement of a new Sour Patch Kids-based downloadable game. This could be the biggest gaming-candy crossover since 2002's Skittles-based Darkened Sky...
Xbox 360 sees its biggest week of sales ever
By TechRadar, published 30-11-2011
The Xbox 360 has had its biggest sales week ever and it's all to do with the US' Black Friday sales extravaganza.According to sales figures 960,000 Xbox 360 units were shifted in the US last week which is the most in a week since the console launched seven years ago.And it's not just the console that's flying off the shelves but Kinect too. In the same week, 750,000 Kinects were sold either separately or as part of an Xbox 360 bundle.Proving popular"Entering the seventh year of its lifecycle, Xbox 360 just closed the biggest sales week in the history of the hit digital entertainment system, selling more than 960,000 consoles in the US during the week of Black Friday," said Microsoft's blog about the landmark figure.According to Microsoft, if sales continue as they are, then the Xbo...
Consumers Are Over Windows on Tablets, Says Report
By MaximumPC, published 29-11-2011
Whenever someone in recent months questioned Microsoft’s intention to make Windows 8 its tablet OS, the company would emphatically point to surveys showing that users actually wanted Windows-based tablets. A new Forester Research report however, claims that consumer interest in Windows tablets has declined sharply in the last six months. According to the report, Microsoft may have missed the boat on the tablet market. Back in the first quarter of 2011, a Forester survey found that 46% of consumers wanted a tablet device running Windows. That certainly buoyed Redmond’s spirits. The new numbers show that only 25% of consumers are interested in what Microsoft is selling. if Microsoft has really passed the peak of interest in its tablet products, its sluggishness may have just ceded the ma...
Microsoft Champions Black Friday Sales
By GameInformer, published 29-11-2011
Microsoft is claiming its biggest sales week in the history of Xbox. The company says it sold more than 960,000 consoles in the U.S. during the week of Black Friday, of which more than 800,000 were sold within a period of 24 hours, according to internal sales data. Additionally, more than 750,000 Kinect for Xbox 360 sensors were sold in the U.S. – standalone and bundled. “We have seen tremendous excitement from customers for our hot holiday gaming offers,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment at Best Buy. “Xbox 360 was among the best-sellers at Best Buy this Black Friday, and is a testament to the continued popularity of the gaming category this holiday.” Nintendo yesterday said it sold more than 500,000 Wii ...
Hulu takes aim at German VOD market
By TechRadar, published 29-11-2011
On-demand TV and movie streaming service Hulu could well be about to launch in Germany.German publication Horizont.net claims that Hulu reps are currently in talks with German TV networks, hoping to strike deals that will see programmes set for a launch in Germany at some point in the near future. Senior vice president Johannes Larcher and consultant Olaf Kroll are apparently heading up the talks. Hallo to HuluAnd why should we care? Because if Hulu launches in Germany, a UK launch might not be far behind. Hulu, however, offers a service not dissimilar to SeeSaw, the VOD service which was forced to close earlier this year when it failed to succeed in the UK. The American company hasn't been without troubles of its own, too – Hulu was up for sale, with major companies like Google, Apple, ...
Review: Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich
By TechRadar, published 29-11-2011
InterfaceWe've finally got our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, so we've taken an in-depth look at Google's latest OS: Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich to its friends.Google has told us that this is one of the biggest overhauls of the operating systems since it unleashed the Android project three years ago - and there's certainly a lot to plough through. From enhanced contact menus to improved keyboards and NFC capabilities, even the most ardent Android users will have to spend some time getting used to the new OS - so let's dive in.InterfaceThe most noticeable change with Ice Cream Sandwich is the interface - it might follow the same principles as the Android of old, but the way it's used is radically different in a number of ways.Firstly, Android 4.0 is designed to work without b...
In Depth: OnLive vs Gaikai: cloud gaming explored
By TechRadar, published 29-11-2011
OnLive vs GaikaiWe're not usually in the business of predicting the weather, metaphorical or otherwise. Lately though, the clouds over the current technological landscape have grabbed our attention. A few got drizzled on in the early days of cloud data storage - it had its teething problems like any new tech - but now most of us enjoy saved games backed up in Steam's cumulonimbus of information, and trust our most treasured documents within the altostratus of LiveDrive. There are yet more strange shapes forming in the sky above PC gaming; namely Gaikai (pronounced guy-kai pop-pickers) and OnLive (pronounced on-live). They both offer gamers an ever-increasing library of PC games to play instantly on your PC, Mac or smart TV.OnLive review It might sound like Steam without the download time, ...
In Depth: OnLive vs Gaikai: cloud gaming explored
By TechRadar, published 29-11-2011
OnLive vs GaikaiWe're not usually in the business of predicting the weather, metaphorical or otherwise. Lately though, the clouds over the current technological landscape have grabbed our attention. A few got drizzled on in the early days of cloud data storage - it had its teething problems like any new tech - but now most of us enjoy saved games backed up in Steam's cumulonimbus of information, and trust our most treasured documents within the altostratus of LiveDrive. There are yet more strange shapes forming in the sky above PC gaming; namely Gaikai (pronounced guy-kai pop-pickers) and OnLive (pronounced on-live). They both offer gamers an ever-increasing library of PC games to play instantly on your PC, Mac or smart TV.OnLive review It might sound like Steam without the download time, ...
Cyber Monday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 28-11-2011
Eight is Enough Kingston: Solid state drives will finally supplant hard drives in second half of 2012 - Maximum PC Engadget: Best Buy bids farewell to the UK with blowout sale id Software's John Carmack tweets TVs The Verge: Siri hacks control your car and media center techAU: Microsoft Tellme is NOT the same as Siri [video] RIP, PC: How Ubisoft managed to be wrong and right - VG24/7 GamesDot: Fix Windows 7 input lag with vsync on GameInformer reports e-mail survey points to new Call of Juarez game Read more...
Microsoft Not in Awe of Siri, Says We've Had Similar Tech for Over a Year
By MaximumPC, published 27-11-2011
While its harsh to judge a device against the oft-outlandish rumors preceding its launch, the disappointment surrounding the iPhone 4S launch was justified as the upgrades did not seem commensurate with the long gap between the 4S and its predecessor. However, the smartphone’s voice-activated personal assistant Siri is an entirely different matter, with even Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently calling it a “significant development.” Microsoft’s Craig Mundie, though, is not in awe of Siri. Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategic Officer is not willing to concede that Siri is a technological breakthrough, but views it as another instance of people being “infatuated” with Apple products. "As a technological capability, you could argue that Microsoft has had a similar capability in...
Microsoft: We've had Siri-like tech for more than a year
By Thinkdigit, published 27-11-2011
Is Microsoft jealous of Siri? No, according to chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie, because Microsoft has had its own version of Siri available for over a year. In an interview with Forbes tech writer Eric Savitz (below), Mundie said Siri probably got so much press because "people are infatuated with Apple." Apple is blessed with "good marketing," but "you could argue that Microsoft has had a similar capability in Windows phones for more than a yea [...] Read the entire article
In Depth: 10 ways PCs will change over the next 25 years
By TechRadar, published 27-11-2011
The PC in 25 yearsThe best way to predict what the future holds, they say, is to look to the past, but such a philosophy isn't necessarily the best option when it comes to computers. It's a useful way of extrapolating the numbers to see how fast the processors of the future may be; that's one reason Moore's Law continues to work. We can even use it to predict how much RAM future machines will have access to and how big hard drives are going to get, but given that the biggest changes to computers come in the way we use them, any predictions of the future would be better left to futurologists, industry wishlists and brief glimpses of roadmaps. You need only look at the rapidly changing way in which we use our computers to see that it's not just technological advances that have pushed the PC ...
Sony Comments On PlayStation 3 Follow-Up
By GameInformer, published 26-11-2011
Sony hasn't made any official PlayStation 4 announcements, but PlayStation Europe deputy president Jim Ryan has commented on the future of the PlayStation 3 follow-up. In an interview with Eurogamer TV, Ryan said, "I think we would consider it undesirable to be significantly later than the competition [with the next PlayStation]." The Wii U has been officially announced, and rumors of a new Microsoft console have been somewhat prevalent, but Sony hasn't offered much information in regard its future console endeavours. Ryan goes on to say that there is still a lot of life left in the PlayStation 3, commenting on the new lower price point, and how the PlayStation 2 really hit its stride when it dropped to a similar price. Microsoft got a year head start with the Xbox 360 co...
Security Researcher Demos Windows 8 Bootkit
By MaximumPC, published 26-11-2011
Windows 8 Bootkit Demo from Peter Kleissner on Vimeo. Few men can lay claim to being ahead of their time like Peter Kleissner. While most of us were busy playing around with the Windows 8 Developer Preview, this Austrian security researcher was vetting it for possible vulnerabilities. Whatever he was up to seems to have worked. Kleissner has successfully identified a vulnerability in this early version of the upcoming operating system and even posted a video of his proof-of-concept “Stoned Lite” bootkit successfully exploiting this flaw. Hit the jump for the video. Here is a video of his 14KB bootkit called Stoned Lite successfully bypassing Windows 8 User Account Control. “This shows how to use Stoned Lite to get SYSTEM rights on Windows 8 through the cmd privilege escalation (done...
Explained: How Windows protects your PC
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
How Windows protects your PCYour Windows computer should, if you're sensible, already have formidable defences in the form of advanced anti-malware. However, we're now entering an age of cloud computing, filled with downloadable applets, at a time when we're also fighting an intense arms race against ever more ingenious malware writers. Because of this, your PC's defences have to handle code from many sources and still protect you from outside threats. How is this possible, and what ways have the bad guys already found to thwart these efforts? Most importantly, how can you be sure your computer only runs what you think it's running? Signing in Unlike applications purchased from trusted vendors, when you download applets or freeware made by individuals, there's no way the average user (or e...
Explained: How Windows protects your PC
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
How Windows protects your PCYour Windows computer should, if you're sensible, already have formidable defences in the form of advanced anti-malware. However, we're now entering an age of cloud computing, filled with downloadable applets, at a time when we're also fighting an intense arms race against ever more ingenious malware writers. Because of this, your PC's defences have to handle code from many sources and still protect you from outside threats. How is this possible, and what ways have the bad guys already found to thwart these efforts? Most importantly, how can you be sure your computer only runs what you think it's running? Signing in Unlike applications purchased from trusted vendors, when you download applets or freeware made by individuals, there's no way the average user (or e...
Explained: How Windows protects your PC
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
How Windows protects your PCYour Windows computer should, if you're sensible, already have formidable defences in the form of advanced anti-malware. However, we're now entering an age of cloud computing, filled with downloadable applets, at a time when we're also fighting an intense arms race against ever more ingenious malware writers. Because of this, your PC's defences have to handle code from many sources and still protect you from outside threats. How is this possible, and what ways have the bad guys already found to thwart these efforts? Most importantly, how can you be sure your computer only runs what you think it's running? Signing in Unlike applications purchased from trusted vendors, when you download applets or freeware made by individuals, there's no way the average user (or e...
Windows 8 security loophole demoed by researcher
By SlashGear, published 25-11-2011
Microsoft’s Windows 8 isn’t due out in full until fall of next year, but security researcher Peter Kleissner has already found a way to exploit the platform. Kleissner created a Windows 8 bootkit that can bypass the User Account Control using just 14KB of exploit code. It’s said to be the first proof-of-concept to find [...]
Do Your Folks A Favor On "Update Your Parents' Browser Day"
By MaximumPC, published 25-11-2011
If you’re a Maximum PC reader, there’s a good chance that you’re the computer geek that relatives call when they get infected with a nasty piece of malware. With it being the day after Thanksgiving, there’s also an above-average chance that you might be over at your folks’ house at some point today. It’s time to strike and make things easier for your future self! Leave Black Friday to others and hop on the new post-Turkey Day bandwagon: Update Your Parents’ Browser Day. You’ll be glad you did. The Atlantic’s Alexis Madrigal dreamed up the new nerd holiday a few days ago in a post that was heavily tongue-in-cheek. But lying in the center of all that sarcasm was a glistening gold nugget of a great idea, and other big names quickly took up the call to arms. Google’s search...
Black Friday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 25-11-2011
Eight is Enough Reuters: AT&T braces for T-Mobile deal collapse Engadget: Cisco, Telia to activate 'world's fastest Internet connection' at 120Gbps C|Net reports Europe rules your ISP can't be forced to block pirate sites Intel: Unification of hp's Unix and x86 server architectures will not harm Itanium Fudzilla reports SSD sales to soar thanks to drop in NAND price and Intel new 500 series SSD still not out and GTX 560 448 officially launches on 11/29 and Asus ENGTX 560 Ti 448 pictured WinRumors: Microsoft planning beta of next-generation Office 15 suite in January Fudzilla reports Microsoft planning two new Xboxes VR-Zone: Sony PlayStation 4 inbound amidst difficulties Read more...
Delayed Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 24-11-2011
2011 is quickly becoming one of the best years for gamers in recent memory. But it should have been even better. Game delays are common, especially nowadays where timing is everything. Publishers such as Microsoft and Activision seem to own the fall months with their big holiday shooters every year. You can also count on Rockstar Games to put out a big title every spring, too. But the rest of the year is up for grabs. Below is a list of some major titles that were supposed to come out in 2011, but were delayed until next year and beyond. Kinect Star Wars (Xbox 360) Then: Kinect Star Wars was pegged as one of Microsoft’s big exclusive titles for the holiday. The company even planned on releasing a Star Wars themed Xbox 360 Kinect bundle. After a recent press event, howeve...
Review: BlackBerry Curve 9380
By TechRadar, published 24-11-2011
Overview, design and feelAfter playing it cool for a few years, RIM has apparently decided that there's something to this touchscreen phone lark after all, releasing a budget all-touch device in the shape of the BlackBerry Curve 9380. In the last few months we've seen a touchscreen added to the Bold in the form of the BlackBerry Bold 9900, an update to the Torch line in the BlackBerry Torch 9810, and a new, all-touch addition to the Torch family in the BlackBerry Torch 9860. Now it's the Curve family's turn, even though we thought it was doing fine without touch in our BlackBerry Curve 9360 review. Instead of taking the Bold route and adding touch capability to the screen above the keyboard, RIM has been somewhat more aggressive with the BlackBerry Curve 9380. The keyboard's gone completel...
Updated: Xbox 720: every rumour about the new Xbox
By TechRadar, published 24-11-2011
Rumours about the new Xbox (or Xbox 720, as it's often referred to as) are now more than just internet gossip. It's one thing to wildly speculate about the next Xbox console. It's quite another to find out that Microsoft is gearing up to build one.brightcove : 1069237327001New Xbox release dateRecent job postings reveal that the Xbox Console Architecture team is hunting for new blood. Successful candidates will join a team that will be "responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation."ITProPortal also suggested in October 2011 that several employees were giving away their involvement on their LinkedIn profiles, such as "Xbox Next Gen Creative Director."It also came to light in August 2011 that the next Xbo...
Microsoft believes the smartphone battle has just begun
By phoneArena, published 23-11-2011
Eric Savitz from Forbes had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie, about Microsoft’s mobile strategy. Mundie firmly believes that the competition between smartphones is just beginning, particularly when viewed from a global perspective.
Editorial: Preserving The Status Quo
By GameInformer, published 23-11-2011
By all reports, 2012 should be a pretty action-packed year. We expect to hear about the next-gen systems – including the full unveiling of Nintendo's Wii U, and titles like Mass Effect 3 and BioShock: Infinite will make their mark. As much as 2012 will host a number of new experiences, in some ways I expect the past to be prologue, because sometimes the more things change the more they stay the same. Here's a list of some of the things I expect to see carry on in 2012.HD CollectionsPublishers re-releasing old favorites is perhaps a win-win situation for everyone. For the cost of cleaning up their old titles, publishers get to make money in a way that they previously couldn't, and fans get to re-experience (or play for the first time) titles that are either hard to f...
PC-optimized Kinect in the works
By TechReport, published 23-11-2011
Microsoft continues to push its Kinect motion controller toward the PC. The SDK is out, promotional videos are pimping the device's programmability, and changes are being made to the hardware to make it friendlier to typical PC environments. The upcoming PC version of Kinect will have shorter cables and a dongle that plays nicely with other USB devices. Tweaks are also being made to the firmware to support motion tracking at closer proximities. ...Read more...
PC-specific Kinect hardware in early 2012
By GameSpot, published 23-11-2011
New version of Microsoft's camera peripheral optimized for PCs will be able to precisely detect motion as close as 50cm, include shorter USB cable. Microsoft has been vocal about its plans to foster development of Kinect software for the PC, but the console maker is planning to adapt its motion-sensing hardware to the platform as well. In a post on the Kinect for Windows blog, the company announced that new PC-specific Kinect hardware will launch as part of the Kinect for Windows commercial program. This is the Xbox 360 Kinect, with its intolerably long USB cord. The new version of the Kinect hardware is being created in response to requests from developers and customers alike. First and foremost, the PC Kinect will have new firmware featuring "near mode," e...
Microsoft acquires video indexer VideoSurf
By GameSpot, published 23-11-2011
Xbox 360 video discovery to get a boost with new media analytics technology; Kinect integration planned. The Xbox 360 is set to expand its media offerings substantially this holiday with a host of new providers bringing fresh content to the console. With a large influx of media on the way, Microsoft is looking to make content discovery a bit easier. VideoSurf technology may let users search for appearances of actors within film clips. Microsoft today announced that it has acquired video content discovery company VideoSurf. The company's back-end technology allows individual frames in videos to be seen and indexed, allowing for easier searching of a piece of the media's content. Along with Kinect integration, Microsoft hopes to improve the content dis...
Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Goes Live Next Month
By GameInformer, published 22-11-2011
Xbox 360 owners can download the latest dashboard update starting on December 6, 2011, Microsoft said today. This free update includes a variety of new features, including: New personal and social features including Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile Beacons and Facebook Sharing Enhanced Family Settings Integrated voice and gesture controls across the dashboard and in apps Bing voice search (Available this year in the US, UK and CA) Microsoft says additional dashboard features will be added on an ongoing basis through the holiday months, such as applications for television, movies, sports, and music programming. [Source: Major Nelson Blog]
Microsoft buys video-searching VideoSurf for Bing and Media Center
By SlashGear, published 22-11-2011
Microsoft has snapped up intelligent video search specialist VideoSurf, in a deal worth around $70m that could see Bing and future Media Center releases dig through streaming media content more accurately. VideoSurf uses computer vision to actually scan through footage hosted by YouTube, Hulu, DailyMotion and others, indexing them by content rather than just whatever [...]
Tackling the Tablet Conundrum: Which One is Right For You?
By MaximumPC, published 21-11-2011
Do you even need a tablet? If so, which one? We review the current crop of tablet mainstays. We explain the hardware and OS features that matter the most. Follow along as we unravel what tablets are actually good for. When a consumer electronics category confuses the masses, it’s usually because the technology is hard to understand on a fundamental level. Have you ever tried to explain texture fill rates to your GPU-ignorant brother-in-law? Or RAID levels to your mom—who shouldn’t even be asking about RAID in the first place? Videocards and storage devices can confuse the lay consumer, but at least the prospective hardware buyer usually knows he or she needs a videocard or storage device in the first place. Your game won’t play at a high resolution? A new videocard is probably the...
Microsoft announces Kinect incubator
By GameSpot, published 21-11-2011
Xbox 360 maker giving 10 groups $20,000 and three months to develop the next big thing using motion-sensing camera peripheral. The Kinect was released last year primarily as a closed commercial product, but it quickly drew interest from indie coders who hacked it to do everything from helping pilot a helicopter-like device to improving operating room efficiency for surgeons. Microsoft is looking to foster more of that sort of experimentation by giving small teams money to build a business around the Kinect's functionality. Microsoft is watching to see what developers can do with the Kinect. Announced today, the Kinect Accelerator program will offer 10 teams three months and $20,000 to create a business based around the Kinect and Natural User Interfa...
Updated: Windows 8 tablets: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 21-11-2011
WIndows 8 tablets: what you need to know Microsoft's been pushing tablet computers for the best part of a decade, so you can imagine how happy the iPad's success makes them.But Microsoft doesn't give up easily, and Windows 8 tablets will be one of the big tech stories in 2012. So what's Steve Ballmer going to be shouting about when he shows them off?Windows 8 tablets will have the new Metro interfaceAs we saw from the Windows 8 preview, Windows 8 tablets will have a marvellous new interface that looks rather like Windows Phone 7, called Metro. "Fast, fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact," says Microsoft's head of Windows Experience Julie Larson-Green. "Although the new user interface is de...
Funny Numbers Peg Apple Being on Pace to Become Largest PC Vendor in 2012
By HotHardware, published 21-11-2011
When it comes to Macs versus PCs, Apple versus Microsoft, and iOS versus Windows, haters gonna hate no matter which side you choose, if in fact you're not completely platform agnostic. There's nothing we can do about that. All we can do is observe and report the facts, and in this case, a market research firm is saying Apple is on track to...
In Depth: 9 growing threats to the success of Windows 8
By TechRadar, published 21-11-2011
9 challenges facing Windows 8The news is full of tablets but popular as they are, they're still a tiny fraction of the million PCs that ship every day. That's one of the things Microsoft is counting on with Windows 8; that it can build on the scale of PC sales to sell tablets with the same Windows 8 Metro experience. But Android and iPad aren't the only challenges Windows 8 is going to have to overcome next year, and some of the biggest problems come from Windows' own popularity. Even if Apple and Samsung battle each other to a standstill in court, that doesn't leave the market open for Windows 8.1. The iPadApple's tablet has singlehandedly defined the tablet market - as it turns out, because Steve Jobs was determined to teach Microsoft how to do tablets properly. It's got powerful apps - ...
In Depth: 9 growing threats to the success of Windows 8
By TechRadar, published 21-11-2011
9 challenges facing Windows 8The news is full of tablets but popular as they are, they're still a tiny fraction of the million PCs that ship every day. That's one of the things Microsoft is counting on with Windows 8; that it can build on the scale of PC sales to sell tablets with the same Windows 8 Metro experience. But Android and iPad aren't the only challenges Windows 8 is going to have to overcome next year, and some of the biggest problems come from Windows' own popularity. Even if Apple and Samsung battle each other to a standstill in court, that doesn't leave the market open for Windows 8.1. The iPadApple's tablet has singlehandedly defined the tablet market - as it turns out, because Steve Jobs was determined to teach Microsoft how to do tablets properly. It's got powerful apps - ...
Watch This Trailer For The Fan-Made Halo Helljumper Miniseries
By GameInformer, published 20-11-2011
With no real Halo movie in the near future, devotees of Microsoft's flagship series can watch a fan-made miniseries beginning in January. The project, called Halo Helljumper, is an episodic series set in the Halo universe, and judging from the trailer below, the production values are surprisingly high for an unofficial production. According to Helljumper's site, the miniseries is adapted from the Halo short story "Dirt" by Tobias S. Buckell. The description reads: "Halo Helljumper is a short series of films that follows the life of one human ODST from his enlistment in the UNSC before the Human-Covenant War to around the Fall of Reach." Check out the video and see what's in store: (Please visit the site to view this media) (Source: Halo Helljumper via Dest...
Microsoft in Search of Beta Testers for Next Security Essentials Build
By HotHardware, published 20-11-2011
Microsoft is looking to wrangle a handful of guinea pigs adventurous users to help test the next version of its 'Microsoft Security Essentials' (MSE) antivirus software. Beta registration for the next-generation build of MSE is currently open, and Microsoft said it will be selecting a "limited" number of people who will be notified when it's...
Tutorial: More hidden Windows tips tricks and shortcuts
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
More hidden Windows tips: Beyond the registryAfter you've used a PC for a few years it's easy to assume you know everything there is to know about Windows – but that may not be entirely true. It's a complex operating system with many layers, and there are almost certainly some very useful hidden features you've yet to encounter. Take 'UserAssist', for example. It's a Registry key where Windows records details of every program you run, the date you run it and information on how it's used. It does all this for perhaps the last thousand launched apps. This data can answer all kinds of questions. What are your kids really doing on their PC, for instance? How is an employee spending their time on a company computer? What was a friend running just before their system crashed? - Check out our o...
Tutorial: More hidden Windows tips tricks and shortcuts
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
More hidden Windows tips: Beyond the registryAfter you've used a PC for a few years it's easy to assume you know everything there is to know about Windows – but that may not be entirely true. It's a complex operating system with many layers, and there are almost certainly some very useful hidden features you've yet to encounter. Take 'UserAssist', for example. It's a Registry key where Windows records details of every program you run, the date you run it and information on how it's used. It does all this for perhaps the last thousand launched apps. This data can answer all kinds of questions. What are your kids really doing on their PC, for instance? How is an employee spending their time on a company computer? What was a friend running just before their system crashed? - Check out our o...
Tutorial: More hidden Windows tips tricks and shortcuts
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
More hidden Windows tips: Beyond the registryAfter you've used a PC for a few years it's easy to assume you know everything there is to know about Windows – but that may not be entirely true. It's a complex operating system with many layers, and there are almost certainly some very useful hidden features you've yet to encounter. Take 'UserAssist', for example. It's a Registry key where Windows records details of every program you run, the date you run it and information on how it's used. It does all this for perhaps the last thousand launched apps. This data can answer all kinds of questions. What are your kids really doing on their PC, for instance? How is an employee spending their time on a company computer? What was a friend running just before their system crashed? - Check out our o...
Tutorial: More hidden Windows tips tricks and shortcuts
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
More hidden Windows tips: Beyond the registryAfter you've used a PC for a few years it's easy to assume you know everything there is to know about Windows – but that may not be entirely true. It's a complex operating system with many layers, and there are almost certainly some very useful hidden features you've yet to encounter. Take 'UserAssist', for example. It's a Registry key where Windows records details of every program you run, the date you run it and information on how it's used. It does all this for perhaps the last thousand launched apps. This data can answer all kinds of questions. What are your kids really doing on their PC, for instance? How is an employee spending their time on a company computer? What was a friend running just before their system crashed? - Check out our o...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 19-11-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThis week we've reviewed the humungous HTC Sensation XL as well as the long awaited Amazon Kindle Fire. And it doesn't stop there - we've looked at the new Sony Alpha A77 DSLR, complete with an immense 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor.We've also checked out the 11-inch Acer Zenbook UX21 too. Read on for all our reviews from what's been a bumper week on the site. HTC Sensation XL reviewThe HTC Sensation XL is the third in HTC's new Android range, and offers a larger screen than the original Sensation, but with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 16GB of built-in memory, and Beats Audio (like the XE). However, despite the screen being larger it's actually a lot less sharp - what we've got here is a 480 x 800 display, compared to the 540 x 960 qHD screen in ...
Review: Updated: Nokia Lumia 800
By TechRadar, published 18-11-2011
Overview, Design and FeelUPDATED: We've now updated the software on our review device to match that available at release for consumers, so take a look at our updated findings, complete with star rating.The Nokia Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone handset to spring from the Microsoft / Nokia tie-up announced in February, and we've got our hands on an early sample to check it out.The Nokia Lumia 800 shares its exterior styling with the previously substantially less hyped Nokia N9, a Meego-based smartphone, although the screen size is reduced from 3.9" (854x480 pixels) to 3.7" (800x480 pixels) to conform to the Windows Phone spec list. brightcove : 1276810377001The CPU, however, increases from the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 to the 1.4GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon/Scorpion which certainly helps add...
Review: Updated: Nokia Lumia 800
By TechRadar, published 18-11-2011
Overview, Design and FeelUPDATED: We've now updated the software on our review device to match that available at release for consumers, so take a look at our updated findings, complete with star rating.The Nokia Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone handset to spring from the Microsoft / Nokia tie-up announced in February, and we've got our hands on an early sample to check it out.The Nokia Lumia 800 shares its exterior styling with the previously substantially less hyped Nokia N9, a Meego-based smartphone, although the screen size is reduced from 3.9" (854x480 pixels) to 3.7" (800x480 pixels) to conform to the Windows Phone spec list. brightcove : 1276810377001The CPU, however, increases from the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 to the 1.4GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon/Scorpion which certainly helps add...
Review: Updated: Nokia Lumia 800
By TechRadar, published 18-11-2011
Overview, Design and FeelUPDATED: We've now updated the software on our review device to match that available at release for consumers, so take a look at our updated findings, complete with star rating.The Nokia Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone handset to spring from the Microsoft / Nokia tie-up announced in February, and we've got our hands on an early sample to check it out.The Nokia Lumia 800 shares its exterior styling with the previously substantially less hyped Nokia N9, a Meego-based smartphone, although the screen size is reduced from 3.9" (854x480 pixels) to 3.7" (800x480 pixels) to conform to the Windows Phone spec list. brightcove : 1276810377001The CPU, however, increases from the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 to the 1.4GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon/Scorpion which certainly helps add...
Review: Updated: Nokia Lumia 800
By TechRadar, published 18-11-2011
Overview, Design and FeelUPDATED: We've now updated the software on our review device to match that available at release for consumers, so take a look at our updated findings, complete with star rating.The Nokia Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone handset to spring from the Microsoft / Nokia tie-up announced in February, and we've got our hands on an early sample to check it out.The Nokia Lumia 800 shares its exterior styling with the previously substantially less hyped Nokia N9, a Meego-based smartphone, although the screen size is reduced from 3.9" (854x480 pixels) to 3.7" (800x480 pixels) to conform to the Windows Phone spec list. brightcove : 1276810377001The CPU, however, increases from the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 to the 1.4GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon/Scorpion which certainly helps add...
Friday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 18-11-2011
Eight is Enough Microsoft: Manufacturers that 'play fair' harmed by piracy - TechFlash VR-Zone: Intel Ivy Bridge-E slated for Q4 2012, compatible with Sandy Bridge-E and Sandy Bridge Xeons: Dual Socket 2011 designs coming in 2012 and Qualcomm unveils new Snapdragon processors TR alum Dustin Sklavos reviews Toshiba Portégé Z835: a new ultrabook appears and Bulldozers for servers: Testing AMD's "Interlagos" Opteron 6200 series Attach rate of SSDs will go up due to insufficient HDD supply - Dell SemiAccurate: More bits on HD 7000 / Southern Islands / GCN leak AllThingsD: Amazon KindlePhone for 2012? Ars Technica reports security researcher defeats Windows 8 secure boot Gamasutra: Stardock bringing games to Steam following Impulse sale Read more...
GameStop Sold 600,000 Call of Duty Elite Subscriptions
By GameInformer, published 18-11-2011
The game retailer revealed a surprising statistic in its recent earnings call -- it has sold over 600,000 subscriptions to Activision's Call of Duty Elite service in its retail stores.While many have questioned the demand for digital content sold at traditional brick-and-mortar retail, in this case it appears to be a huge success.GameStop president Tony Bartel commented, "In the case of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, we worked closely with Activision, Sony and Microsoft to pre-order and deliver nearly 600,000 instances of the Modern Warfare Elite DLC to date. This places the launch of Elite as one of our top 10 launches of the year so far."Now, if Activision could just get Elite to ACTUALLY WORK. Source: Gamasutra [Full Disclosure: GameStop is the parent company of Game Inf...
Past and Present Geek Heroes: 8 Innovators and Legends
By MaximumPC, published 17-11-2011
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes have been wowing us with his fierce intellect, uncanny forensic prowess and rampant drug abuse since 1887. In 1939, Batman hit the scene, filling the criminals of Gotham with dread thanks to his highly developed detective skills, an encyclopedic knowledge of multiple sciences, wicked gadgets and a deep grief-fuelled psychosis. Montgomery Scott —Scotty—the beloved Chief Engineer of the U.S.S Enterprise: Thanks to his knowledge of particle physics, warp theory and a lifetime’s worth of hands-on experience, he was able to pluck his crew mates from the clutches of a fiery death countless times. Sadly, he too had his faults: routinely lied to his superior officers about repair times and spent his off-hours soaking himself in scotch, whiskey and something ...
Halo Anniversary Review: Melding The Old And The New
By GameInformer, published 17-11-2011
Ten years ago, Halo single-handedly managed to make gamers sit up and pay attention to the fledgling Xbox. Redefining the potential scope and ambition of a console FPS, Bungie’s original game established a benchmark for control, pacing, universe-building, and multiplayer options that would be emulated for years. The revamped anniversary edition of the game does an excellent job of honoring that legacy, even if the project as a whole feels like it’s seeking an identity in the middle ground between new and old. While longtime fans will remember Combat Evolved as the birth of the series, newer players should note that Anniversary picks up the story right where Reach left off. Master Chief awakes from cryo-sleep as a Covenant armada descends on the ship from which he escaped Reac...
Sony prepping cable TV rival - Report
By GameSpot, published 16-11-2011
PlayStation maker reported to be in talks with media companies to offer streaming television channel package to TVs and consoles. Sony and Microsoft have been offering downloadable movies and TV shows on their respective consoles services for years, but the current pay-per-download model may be changing if a recent report is to be believed. Sony could be looking to cut the cable. Specifically, yours. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sony has approached several big media companies in an effort to secure TV channels for a planned Web-delivered content service. The list of content providers purported to be in the mix include Comcast's NBC Universal, Discovery Communications Inc., and News Corp. Rather than offer a full lineup of channels like traditi...
Xbox 720 release date: late 2012?
By TechRadar, published 16-11-2011
Microsoft is set to unveil the Xbox 720 at CES 2012 in January, with developer versions of the next-gen console landing before Christmas.This is according to Edge magazine – owned by the same publishers as TechRadar – which is reporting that it has a source close to the matter working at Ubisoft Montreal.Both Sony and Microsoft have denied that next-gen versions of their consoles are close to being released but Edge believes that Microsoft is hard at work prepping the Xbox 720 for a late 2012 release date and a surprise showing at CES 2012, which takes place in January.According to Edge, Ubisoft Montreal – which is not commenting on rumour or indeed speculation – is already working on PCs which have been kitted out with the Xbox 720's specs.Although these specifications aren't know...
Xbox 720 release date: late 2012?
By TechRadar, published 16-11-2011
Microsoft is set to unveil the Xbox 720 at CES 2012 in January, with developer versions of the next-gen console landing before Christmas.This is according to Edge magazine – owned by the same publishers as TechRadar – which is reporting that it has a source close to the matter working at Ubisoft Montreal.Both Sony and Microsoft have denied that next-gen versions of their consoles are close to being released but Edge believes that Microsoft is hard at work prepping the Xbox 720 for a late 2012 release date and a surprise showing at CES 2012, which takes place in January.According to Edge, Ubisoft Montreal – which is not commenting on rumour or indeed speculation – is already working on PCs which have been kitted out with the Xbox 720's specs.Although these specifications aren't know...
Android snaps up 52% of mobile phone market
By TechRadar, published 16-11-2011
Google has reason to celebrate this week, with a recent study showing that Android, its mobile phone operation system, has now take 52 per cent of the smartphone market.This percentage is even more impressive when you consider that Android only had 25.3 per cent market share in Q3 2010.According to Gartner this means that when it comes to worldwide sales, Android trounced the opposition with over 60 million smartphones sold.Its nearest rival was Symbian, which took 16.9 per cent of the market – a drop of 20 per cent when you compare the OS to how it was doing at the same time last year.When it comes to iOS, it also saw a drop in its share of the market, albeit a small one. Over 17 million iOS handsets were sold which equates to a 15 per cent market share, down from 16.6 per cent a year a...
Bing's video search page looks to leapfrog Google
By TechRadar, published 16-11-2011
Bing's UK site has offered up a dynamic search page – with a frog video playing in the background as you make your query. The main search page at www.bing.co.uk features a tree frog climbing a branch and builds on Bing's already well-received graphical search pages. The hotspots are still in place although, obviously, they are all themed around videos to mark the event. DynamicMaking search pages more interesting is clearly at the forefront of the major players' minds – with Google also working hard on jazzing up its traditional page. Its Google Doodles have evolved ove the years, and Halloween brought a timelapse video of pumpkin carving. That, however, did require the user to press play, whereas Bing's page animates without user action.
Bing's video search page looks to leapfrog Google
By TechRadar, published 16-11-2011
Bing's UK site has offered up a dynamic search page – with a frog video playing in the background as you make your query. The main search page at www.bing.co.uk features a tree frog climbing a branch and builds on Bing's already well-received graphical search pages. The hotspots are still in place although, obviously, they are all themed around videos to mark the event. DynamicMaking search pages more interesting is clearly at the forefront of the major players' minds – with Google also working hard on jazzing up its traditional page. Its Google Doodles have evolved ove the years, and Halloween brought a timelapse video of pumpkin carving. That, however, did require the user to press play, whereas Bing's page animates without user action.
Catalyst 11.11 drivers arrive with Flash 11 support
By TechReport, published 15-11-2011
Wow, already? Only two weeks after releasing its Catalyst 11.10 WHQL drivers, AMD has a new, Microsoft-certified set of graphics drivers fresh and ready to go. The Catalyst 11.11 release is available now from AMD's Support & Drivers page in the usual assortment of 32-bit and 64-bit variants for Windows 7, Vista, and XP.Where last month's release was all about Battlefield 3 and Rage tweaks, this one introduces support for Adobe's Flash Player 11 and its Stage 3D architecture. Adobe claims Stage 3D enables "console-quality" 3D graphics in your browser, which sounds ...Read more...
Microsoft Xbox 360 cloud features hinted at
By TechRadar, published 14-11-2011
Brian Prince, Senior Architect Evangelist for Microsoft, hinted that he was working on some new cloud-gaming features for the Xbox 360.Speaking at GDC China Microsoft's cloud expert said that he was "excited" about the features he was working on for the Xbox platform and mentioned that services like OnLive did represent the future of gaming.When speaking about Onlive and the Intel-funded Gaikai, he said: "These are really gaming platforms as a service."There are some limitations here, but I really do think this is the distant future of gaming in the cloud."He did note that there were some problems, explaining: "typically these platforms focus on AAA PC game titles."If you're not in that space, they don't want to talk to you as much. Another problem is that your ...
Windows Phone overtakes RIM in developer interest
By SlashGear, published 14-11-2011
Windows Phone 7 has apparently overtaken RIM’s BlackBerry OS to be the third most interesting platform for app developers, according to new research, with Microsoft’s partnership with Nokia a key driving factor. Apple’s iOS remains in the top spot for developer attention, Appcelerator‘s Q4 2011 report suggests, with 91-percent of those coders questioned reporting that they [...]
In Depth: How Microsoft developed Metro for Windows 8
By TechRadar, published 14-11-2011
Metro in Windows 8The not-always-positive reaction to the new Metro Start screen in the Windows 9 developer preview continues to bubble away in the comments to the official Building Windows 8 blog (whatever the topic happens to be). We know that the interface we're seeing at the moment isn't the final look, so before you get hung up on how green it is, the question is how well it works for what it's supposed to do.It's deliberately different, explains Jensen Harris, the head of the Windows User Experience team, also known as the man behind the Office ribbon. "For years, Windows was always about adding stuff. We added bars and panes and doodads and widgets and gadgets and more bars and stuff everywhere and that was how we defined our user interface, based on what new widgets we added. N...
Microsoft Encourages Creativity With "The Art Of Touch" Site
By HotHardware, published 14-11-2011
Art? Microsoft? Together? Yep. The company is encouraging artistic creativity through the launch of an international art project called “The Art of Touch,” inspired by the Microsoft family of Touch mice consisting of the Microsoft Touch Mouse, Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse and Microsoft Explorer Touch Mouse. We've seen companies do...
In Depth: Could technology make your brain redundant?
By TechRadar, published 11-12-2011
Could technology make your brain redundant?Back in June, Fujitsu's K Computer became the fastest supercomputer on Earth - so fast, in fact, that it outperforms the five next fastest supercomputers combined. It can process an astonishing eight quadrillion calculations a second (eight petaflops), and Fujitsu had hoped that by 2012 it would have cracked the 10-petaflop barrier. That would have been a significant achievement for several reasons. The first is that it shows just how quickly technology is progressing - as recently as 2006, scientists were getting excited about supercomputers cracking the one-petaflop barrier. The second is that some pundits believe 10 petaflops is the processing power of the human brain - so on that basis, the K Computer will outperform the human brain within mon...
Limbo sells 1 million
By GameSpot, published 11-11-2011
Playdead announces milestone for macabre side-scroller; Mac version coming before the end of the year. Limbo launched as part of Microsoft's 2010 Summer of Arcade promotion. After a successful critical reception on the Xbox 360, the game saw release on the PlayStation 3 and PC, and it has now crossed a significant sales milestone. Who knew such a stark game would have such wide appeal? Playdead announced that its silhouette-heavy side-scroller has crossed the 1 million units sold mark across platforms. Accompanying this milestone comes word that a Mac version of the game is set to land before the end of the year. As part of its announcement, Playdead also said that Limbo's success has allowed the studio to become fully independent by buying out early inves...
Limbo Sells Over One Million Worldwide
By GameInformer, published 11-10-2011
The sales of Playdead's haunting puzzle-platforming title still haven't slowed down. Today the developer announced that Limbo has sold over one million copies worldwide. The impressive sales aren't surprising considering that the game, which came out on Xbox Live Arcade in July 2010, still holds on to the top spot in XBLA sales charts and has also expanded to the PC and PS3 platforms. With Limbo heading to Macs in the near future, look for these sales to keep skyrocketing. The success allowed developer Playdead to eventually purchase itself back from investors. I can't wait to see what Playdead has in store for its "weird" follow-up.
Watch Seven Seconds Of The New Alan Wake Game
By GameInformer, published 11-10-2011
Spike TV is sharing a sneak peek of the new Alan Wake trailer appearing in full at the 2011 VGAs. Judging from this brief glimpse, Alan still has short hair, still has full use of both legs, and still loves to wander the world with a flashlight. If you want more intel than that on the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game, tune into the Video Game Awards on December 10 on Spike TV, MTV2 And Spike.com at 8:00 p.m. EST.Alan Wake ReturnsGet More: Alan Wake Returns
Xbox.com Adding More Social Functionality To Prep For 360 Update
By GameInformer, published 11-09-2011
Xbox 360 owners will be able to get a taste of what's coming to the latest dashboard update in a few days, via the newly redesigned Xbox.com. While the added features won't be hitting the console quite yet, it'll be a decent way to test out some of the enhanced social functionality while players wait for the fall update. The biggest change is that players will be able to set beacons for games. Say you're interested in playing some Forza after work, as shown in the picture below. Rather than send out invites to everyone on your friends list, you can flag the game, add a optional message, and hop back online when you're ready to play. Meanwhile, your friends who own the game will get an alert saying that you'd like to hit the track. For now, you'll have to check ...
Wednesday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 11-09-2011
Eight is Enough Reuters has an exclusive: hp weighing sale of webOS unit X-bit labs: Nidec resumes production of motors for hard drives in Thailand TechRadar: Analyst predicts Windows 8 running 'Ultrabook Touch' Computerworld: Microsoft to 'align' Windows Phone, future Windows OSes The Guardian: Huawei confirms that Microsoft is chasing it for Android patent license Huff Post Tech: Researcher Charlie Miller discovers iPhone app security bug X-bit labs: Microsoft Xbox "Loop" to feature ARM processor, Windows 9 core - report Joystiq: Skyrim is getting a day one patch, more DLC than you can shake a giant sword at Read more...
EyeAsteroids turns your peepers into a games controller
By TechRadar, published 11-08-2011
A new arcade game has been released which does away with any controllers – all you need is a pair of eyes to play.Kinect may have taken the world by storm when it comes to hands-free game controlling but Tobii has decided to go one further and release EyeAsteroids, a game controlled by a person's eye movements.This is all done by something called 'gaze interaction' which is said to beat hand gestures when it comes to latency.Significant evolutionSpeaking about the new arcade game, Henrik Eskilsson, chief executive officer of Tobii Technology, said: "We believe the addition of eye control to computer games is the most significant evolution point in the gaming industry since the introduction of motion control systems, such as the Nintendo Wii. "Gaze interaction is fast and intuitiv...
Tutorial: Shell folders: the best-kept Windows time saving secret
By TechRadar, published 11-08-2011
Windows shell folders explainedMost of the important Windows user folders are quite easy to access. If you need to view your desktop, Documents, Pictures or Videos, say, they're usually just a click or two away.Windows has many more system folders which you might need to access occasionally, though, and they're much harder to find. Would you know exactly where Windows stores your cookies, for instance? Your SendTo shortcuts, desktop themes, saved searches?Spend a while browsing in Explorer and you'll probably find whatever you need, eventually, but there's a much quicker and easier way: the shell command. Click Start (or Start > Run in Windows XP), type shell: and the folder name and you'll see the folder immediately. So entering shell:Cookies will display the cookies folder; shell:Sen...
Mass Effect 3 beta leaks online
By GameSpot, published 11-08-2011
Xbox Live gaffe exposes single-player, multiplayer details for BioWare's upcoming sci-fi role-playing game; Microsoft issues cease-and-desist order. Mass Effect 3 is due for release on March 6, but over the weekend, a number of gamers got an unintended advance look at BioWare's next sci-fi role-playing game. On Friday, the client for Mass Effect 3's beta surfaced on Xbox Live, offering gamers a look at the single-player and multiplayer component of the upcoming game. Commander Shepard is not yet ready for primetime. Spoilers Click to Reveal Though the beta client was quickly removed from Xbox Live, its contents were posted to Internet message forum NeoGAF. Of the more interesting details revealed in the leak was a new single-player optio...
Kinect For Windows Coming In Early 2012
By GameInformer, published 11-08-2011
Today, Microsoft re-affirmed that Kinect functionality is coming to Windows in 2012, and launched a new beta of the Kinect for Windows SDK."I know many of you are eagerly awaiting the Kinect for Windows commercial program coming in early 2012. My team is working hard to deliver a great product and I’m confident that it will be worth the wait," said Kinect for Windows general manager Craig Eisler on his official blog. "Currently, we have more than 200 companies taking part in our pilot program. They are telling us how Kinect for Windows will help them transform their products, their processes, their brands, and their businesses. Putting the power of Kinect + Windows into the hands of business leaders and technical visionaries will give them the tools they need to devel...
First Look At The Next Alan Wake
By GameInformer, published 11-07-2011
Below is the first screenshot of the next Alan Wake title, a downloadable adventure available through Xbox Live Arcade. Developer Remedy is promising a fully standalone experience for Microsoft's digital platform. Do you like the flannel look? You can expect more details to be revealed about the new Alan Wake on December 10 at the Video Game Awards show on Spike TV, MTV2 and Spike.com at 8:00 p.m. EST. Be sure to check Game Informer's earlier reveal of BioWare's new franchise from this morning.
Review: Nokia Lumia 800
By TechRadar, published 11-07-2011
Overview, Design and FeelThe Nokia Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone handset to spring from the Microsoft / Nokia tie-up announced in February, and we've got our hands on an early sample to check it out.We have to point out at the start that this is a pre-production sample from Nokia, and as such further features will be added – it's close enough to completion that we can give you a good idea what the phone is all about, but in line with TechRadar's reviews guarantee, we won't be giving the phone a score until the final software is releasedThe Nokia Lumia 800 shares its exterior styling with the previously substantially less hyped Nokia N9, a Meego-based smartphone, although the screen size is reduced from 3.9" (854x480 pixels) to 3.7" (800x480 pixels) to conform to the Window...
Windows Phone hardware requirements relaxed
By TechRadar, published 11-07-2011
Microsoft has lessened its vice-like grip on the minimum hardware requirements for Windows Phone, no longer requiring manufacturers to include a camera on their handsets. The primary camera and front-facing camera now fall under the heading of 'optional hardware', along with the compass and gyro. No doubt the relaxation is down to Microsoft's partnership with Nokia, with the latter set to release lower-spec handsets in order to get Windows Phone into the pockets of the less tech-savvy and those with less cash to splash on a phone. What else is new?Still present and correct are the start, search and back buttons, the WVGA display, the capacitive multi-touch screen, Wi-Fi and cellular data, a minimum of 256MB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage, GPS and an accelerometer. The first two Nokia Wind...
Google lawyer: Microsoft is leeching off Android
By TechRadar, published 11-07-2011
Google's patent lawyer has let rip at Microsoft, accusing the company of leeching off Android's success due to the shortcomings of its own mobile OS, Windows Phone. Referring to the fact that most Android handset manufacturers now pay Microsoft a royalty on every device sold, Tim Porter, patent counsel for the search giant, looked to history to support his theory that when Microsoft gets "marginalised", it goes after income from competing products. "This is a tactic that Microsoft has used in the past, with Linux, for example," he told SF Gate. "When their products stop succeeding in the marketplace, when they get marginalised, as is happening now with Android, they use the large patent portfolio they've built up to get revenue from the success of other companies' produ...
Activision Asks That You Don't Play Modern Warfare 3 Online Early
By GameInformer, published 11-05-2011
Activision says it has no interest in banning users who purchased legitimate copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and play online before Tuesday. “We value and appreciate the community’s support. We have no interest in banning legitimate copies in these last few days," an Activision spokesperson told Game Informer. "We just ask for everyone to wait for Tuesday when everybody can play the game together.” This statement comes after reports yesterday were citing Microsoft's Stephen Toulouse who said Xbox Live user accounts may be affected for those who play online before the game's November 8 release. Early copies of Modern Warfare 3 have already appeared for sale on eBay, with one game being sold for over $1,700.
Kinect: One Year Later
By GameInformer, published 11-04-2011
One year ago today, Microsoft introduced an add-on to the Xbox 360 that the company believed would change the way we game forever. Building on the motion gaming trend started by Nintendo’s Wii, the Kinect got rid of the controller altogether, allowing players to use their whole body while playing. To use Microsoft’s marketing phrase, “You are the controller.” One year later, where has becoming the controller taken us? Let’s take a look. Kinect launched to some skepticism in November 2010, but it quickly proved itself as a success among consumers. Ten days after the launch, Microsoft announced that it had already sold one million units of the new hardware and expected to sell five million before the end of the year. Of the 11 Kinect launch titles, only Harmon...
Prepare For Skyrim With Xbox Live Avatar Clothing
By GameInformer, published 11-03-2011
You've pored over the skills and perks, watched the 20-minute E3 demo over and over, and even spent time learning about its music and sound design. What else is left to do before Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is finally out? Dress up your Xbox Live avatar, that's what! Bethesda sent along this list of all of the Skyrim-themed clothing options now available for your 360 avatar on Xbox Live: Dragonborn Armor – 400 Microsoft points ($4.99) Dragon Bone Armor – 400 Microsoft points ($4.99) Mage Robe – 320 Microsoft points ($3.99) Dark Brotherhood Armor – 400 Microsoft points ($4.99) Dragon Bone Helm – 240 Microsoft points ($2.99) Dragon Prop – 240 Microsoft points ($2.99) Elder Scroll Prop – 240 Microsoft points ($2.99) Magelight Prop – 240 Mi...
PC Prescriptions: 21 Free Apps to Keep Your PC Healthy
By MaximumPC, published 11-03-2011
An ounce of prevention is worth, what, a working version of your operating system? A few hours of a Windows reinstallation? All of your system’s data? When it comes to dealing with issues with your desktop or laptop PC, apps that help you prevent problems before they occur are worth their file size in gold. A clean, efficient, and smoothly running PC only makes your life that much easier as a user: Your data is organized and accessible; your operating system is free of errors and other third-party problems; your system, well, works – and it works nearly as well as it did the first day you installed the OS. In short, apps that help protect your system from yourself, from the outside world, and from its persistent push toward chaos are critical parts of the PC user experience, period. As...
Exclusive: Samsung: Bada is diesel to Android's petrol
By TechRadar, published 11-03-2011
Samsung has told TechRadar that it is happy with the performance of Bada - insisting that its mobile OS is diesel compared to the mass-market Android's petrol. Samsung's Bada platform may be approaching two years old, but the company has only shifted 300,000 Bada-toting handsets in its Wave range since the 2010 launch. But the company seems happy with these figures as Keith O'Brien, head of content at Samsung, explained in an interview with TechRadar. "We've been responsible for 5.3 million downloads, which, from 300,000 devices, is 17 downloads per device – so from our point of view it demonstrates the engagement we're achieving with Bada and reinforces the strength and appeal of the content we're providing," he told us. Baby stepsThat's despite having only about 40,000 apps in ...
2K Sports Adds To NBA 2K12's Legends Showcase DLC Roster
By GameInformer, published 11-03-2011
NBA 2K12 is adding to its legendary status with the addition of a separate mode: The Legends Showcase. The DLC includes 160 NBA greats in cell-shaded fashion. Publisher 2K Sports has just announced the addition of 45 previously unannounced players to the DLC package, including everyone from Bob Cousy to Jalen Rose. The Legends Showcase will come out sometime this holiday season for $9.99 on PSN or 800 Microsoft Points for Xbox Live, and features cell-shaded showdowns in New York's Times Square. Minigames like 21 and horse complement more traditional 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 gameplay. You can also play Classic Quick Match online with legendary teams in a regular simulation setting if you like. For more on the game, be sure to check out Bertz's review. Here's A List of the 45 New Playe...
Microsoft: social search is like Buffy the Vampire Slayer
By TechRadar, published 11-03-2011
We don't know about you, but every time we use social search, we feel like a feisty young Sarah Michelle Gellar running about staking vampires with the Scooby Gang in tow and getting by on an infeasibly small amount of sleep. Well, that's a lie. We never feel like that – but Microsoft does, with Paul Yiu, a Microsoft program manager in Bing's social search team, likening friend-powered search to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "I compare the difference between search and social search to Knight Rider and Buffy the Vampire Slayer," he said in conversation with the Microsoft News Center. Awkward pauseDon't worry – he does go on to explain. "Knight Rider is one man and one machine doing stuff – and doing a decent job. But Buffy had a bunch of friends that helped her. Social search...
Joe Danger backflipping to XBLA
By GameSpot, published 11-03-2011
Previously PSN-exclusive title coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Christmas in new special edition; no PlayStation release planned for updated version. Joe Danger was released to critical acclaim on the PlayStation Network last year, and today it became the first downloadable PSN exclusive to make the jump to Xbox Live Arcade. Hello Games is producing a special edition of the game--as previously rumoured via a ratings slip-up from Microsoft Korea--that will be exclusive to Microsoft's downloadable platform and will be out in time for the holidays. The laboratory will open to gamers' experimentations sometime before Christmas. The special edition of Joe Danger will have double the gameplay time of the original, according to Hello Games, which estimates t...
Fruit Ninja dev on new Sydney studio
By GameSpot, published 11-03-2011
Q&A: Halfbrick marketing director Phil Larsen talks about the Aussie studio's expansion plans and the future of its franchises. Last month Aussie developer Halfbrick, the studio behind popular iOS title Fruit Ninja, announced it would be opening up a second studio in Sydney. Although Halfbrick has been around for 10 years, the critical and commercial success of Fruit Ninja--which was also launched on Microsoft's Kinect platform in August--put the studio in the spotlight, leading it to expand its operations. GameSpot AU reached out to Halfbrick's marketing director Phil Larsen to ask about setting up shop in Sydney and the studio's future plans. GameSpot AU: So Phil, why a new studio? And why Sydney? Phil Larsen: One of the major reasons we're looking to expand is we want to...
Child's Play launches 2011 charity drive
By GameSpot, published 11-02-2011
Penny Arcade-founded organization kicks off ninth annual children's hospital toy drive; auction set for December 8. Last year, the Child's Play charity raised a record $2.2 million in donations to help provide hospitalized children with toys, games, and books. The organization kicked off its 2011 charity drive yesterday with hopes of helping even more kids in need. Krahulik and Holkins host the Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction each year. A number of events are slated through the end of 2011. The fifth annual Desert Bus for Hope event set from November 18 to 23 is among the biggest, with a lifetime total $400,000 raised. Umloud!, a community-driven rock band concert event is set for December 8 in San Francisco. The 6th Annual Charity Dinner Auction will...
Survey Shows Businesses Already Interested in Windows 8
By MaximumPC, published 11-02-2011
Are you concerned that Windows 8 with its radically redesigned UI and Metro style Start menu will be too much to swallow on the desktop? It's a valid concern, though it doesn't appear to be scaring off businesses and IT departments, both of which are already showing strong interest in Microsoft's upcoming OS well ahead of its 2012 launch. InformationWeek surveyed 973 tech professionals working at business IT organizations and found that many of them have already started mapping out plans for deployment. "We were surprised that, even at this early stage, Windows 8 is already on the radar for many IT organizations," said Art Wittmann, VP and director of research and reports at InformationWeek. Windows 8 is a bit of a gamble for Microsoft. Even though it will be possible to work within a trad...
Review: HTC Radar
By TechRadar, published 11-02-2011
Overview, design and feelThe HTC Radar is the latest smartphone to run Windows Phone 7.5, following on from the HTC Titan. With a smooth unibody design, HD video recording and 5MP camera, will it be enough to make Windows Phone a success?If HTC was at school right now, you can't help feeling it'd be getting an A for effort. The Taiwanese manufacturer is certainly churning out handsets like nobody's business. For the last few years, it's been concentrating mainly on Android - but now Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is here, it's going for gold. Probably much to the annoyance of Nokia, which adopted WP as its main operating system months ago, but is still being pipped to the post by HTC when it comes to getting handsets on the shelves.Little brother of the HTC Titan and the second handset from HTC t...
Official: Kinect commercial SDK coming in 2012
By TechRadar, published 11-02-2011
The Microsoft Kinect software developers' kit will hit the commercial sector next year, the company has officially confirmedThe SDK will be made available to developers who wish to make and sell applications of the ground-making, motion-sensing technology, which is beginning to grow beyond the Xbox 360.In a blog post entitled "Feeling The Kinect Effect", Frank X. Shaw, the company's head of corporate communications, says that the launch will see more innovation and imagination.Confirming a story we first covered on Monday, Shaw wrote: "To further fuel innovation and imagination, we will offer a Kinect for Windows commercial program early next year. "We recognize the intense commercial interest in harnessing the capabilities of Kinect, and are working with a wide range of co...
[Update]: Gears 3's Horde Command Pack DLC Now Available
By GameInformer, published 11-01-2011
[Update]: After a short delay, Epic's Mark Rein has announced that Gears of War 3's Horde Command Pack is now available. [Original Story]: Epic has delayed the release of Gears of War 3's Horde Command Pack DLC due to "a technical issue." A post on Epic's official forums from a community manager explains the situation: The scheduled Horde Command Pack release for Gears of War 3 is temporarily delayed due to a technical issue. We apologize to those of you who are anxiously awaiting to play. We know this is disappointing news as we’ve seen a lot of posts today showing excitement for this content. We have folks working around the clock to resolve this issue ASAP so you can all play and enjoy the Command Pack. As you can see, Epic hasn't given a time...
MechWarrior Online stomping in 2012
By GameSpot, published 11-01-2011
Team-based mech simulation title to use free-to-play model; exclusively for PC. The last time PC gamers heard about a BattleTech title (specifically, the MechWarrior series) was back in 2009 when IP holders Smith & Tinker announced that Piranha Games was developing an all-new MechWarrior title for the Xbox 360 and PC. Fast forward to today, and Piranha Games has announced its game as MechWarrior Online. Tired of beach bullies kicking sand in your face? The MechWarrior Atlas program will change all that, guaranteed! According to the game site's FAQ section, MechWarrior Online will be solely for the PC and will be using a free-to-play model. The title will focus on team play and multiplayer, with class types like scout and assault along with various Batt...
Malware Removal Guide 2011: How to Get Rid of All The Latest Malware
By MaximumPC, published 31-10-2011
Four steps that will keep your PC happy, healthy, and crap-free Malware sucks. In the best-case scenario, it craps up your system with unwanted files and occasionally makes itself known in the form of a persistent pop-up window or annoying browser-based toolbar. In the worst-case scenario, malware completely takes over your desktop or laptop and ruins your life. Your system slows to a crawl. You can’t even boot into Windows in the time it takes you to walk to the kitchen and back. Your data gets sent off to a faraway Internet land or, worse, your actual keystrokes are recorded for some unsavory individual to see. Malware locks down your browser, making you unable to actually do any browsing without being carted off to some bogus domain. You can barely run a program in Windows without ge...
Kinect for Windows commercial program hits next year
By GameSpot, published 31-10-2011
Microsoft readying tools to help businesses like Toyota, Razorfish build applications using motion control peripheral; launch expected in early 2012. The Kinect is about to cross its one-year anniversary on the Xbox 360. With the full-body sensor heading into its second holiday season, Microsoft announced that it intends to bring official motion controller tools to businesses next year. Toyota and other companies are working on projects using the Kinect. The Kinect for Windows commercial program will provide businesses with tools for creating industry-focused applications. Microsoft hopes to help "revolutionize entire industries" with its multi-camera peripheral. Several companies have joined a pilot program before the official launch of the initiat...
EA Addressing Battlefield 3 Online Issues
By GameInformer, published 31-10-2011
Electronic Arts says Battlefield 3 players should begin experiencing smoother online sessions. The game's launch last week was met with many server issues, which have apparently been ironed out over the weekend. "We are happy to report that PS3 and PC players experienced server stability all weekend, and Xbox 360 servers are at 95 percent and climbing," an Electronic Arts spokesperson told Kotaku. "There were a number of different factors that impacted server connectivity across the platforms. Regardless of the cause or platform, our Online teams are standing by to identify the issues and addressed them as they arise. We will not rest until we're at 100 percent." "There are a number of different factors impacting server connectivity on Xbox 360," the...
In Depth: Is Amazon Silk sinister, or just speedy?
By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011
Amazon Silk: sinister or speedy?The Kindle Fire hasn't started shipping yet, but it's already embroiled in a controversy: its web browser, Amazon Silk, effectively gives Amazon access to its users' browsing history.It's almost certainly less sinister than it appears, but it raises some interesting questions: how much privacy are you willing to give up for a slightly better online experience?On the face of it, Amazon's Silk doesn't do anything that Opera Mini doesn't already do, or that Google's short-lived Web Accelerator didn't do six years ago. Is there a substantive difference?Chester Wisniewski, senior security adviser with Sophos, thinks there is. "Opera promises not to log or use the information they get from operating the proxy servers used by Opera Mini, whereas Amazon specific...
DisplaySearch Report Bad News for Intel and Microsoft
By DigitalVersus, published 31-10-2011
Only a few days after our first look at Windows 8 left us impressed, analysts at DisplaySearch have published their predictions about the OS' likely performance as well as the...
DisplaySearch Report Bad News for Intel and Microsoft
By DigitalVersus, published 31-10-2011
Only a few days after our first look at Windows 8 left us impressed, analysts at DisplaySearch have published their predictions about the OS' likely performance as well as the... Read more...
In Depth: Best web browser for Linux: 5 tested
By TechRadar, published 30-10-2011
Best Linux browser: 5 testedHow the mighty have fallen. During the early days of what some might, slightly hysterically, have called the 'browser wars' the two companies vying for browser dominance were Netscape and Microsoft. While this feud might have only directly affected Windows users, Netscape's demise and Microsoft's dominance in the late nineties left Linux users with oft-neglected browsers that sometimes struggled with web pages that had been designed solely with Internet Explorer in mind. The defeat of Netscape lead to the creation of Mozilla's Firefox, whose open source ethos complemented Linux's raison d'être. Its rising popularity helped level the playing field and finally lead to a well-supported alternative to Internet Explorer that was embraced by web developers. Firef...
Tutorial: How to make OS X Lion like Snow Leopard
By TechRadar, published 30-10-2011
How to make OS X Lion like Snow LeopardNew features that make your Mac easier to use are always welcome, and Lion is packed with plenty of them, but it also changes a few things that can be hard to adjust to. Many of them can be rolled back in System Preferences and in applications' preferences. In addition, there's a bunch of covert settings that can be amended by typing commands into Terminal. So, if you're finding it hard to settle in with Lion, here's how to restore a sense of normality to many aspects of OS X. The first thing that will hit you is what Apple calls 'natural scrolling'. It makes moving around a document or website more like pushing a piece of paper around your desk, rather than making you interact with artificial elements like scrollbars and a viewport onto a document. E...
ARM Details ARMv8 64-Bit Architecture
By HotHardware, published 29-10-2011
ARM's breakout might be just a step ahead. While ARM chips have always been vital, they've become even more so with the proliferation of mobile products. And now that Microsoft has committed to making Windows on ARM a reality, the sky's the limit. Now, ARM's detailing and disclosing the inner specs behind the next version of the ARM architecture....
Saturday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 29-10-2011
Eight is Enough X-bit labs: ARM unleashes ARMv8 64-bit architecture VR-Zone reports AMD's next-gen GPUs to ship in 2011 and more next-gen GPU codenames revealed SemiAccurate's exclusive: AMD far future prototype GPU pictured The New York Times on what's really next for Apple in television AppleInsider reports all prospects for an internal hp webOS largely destroyed C|Net: Microsoft holding Windows Phone 'backstage' event Nov. 7 Windows Phone Blog: Demo of the Xbox Companion app The Guardian: Apple engineers contacting iPhone 4S owners to solve battery life puzzle Read more...
ARM Grabs Hold of Its First 64-bit Architecture
By MaximumPC, published 27-10-2011
With all the success ARM is enjoying in the mobile market, including tablets PCs, smartphones, and just about every handheld device you can think of, it's somewhat surprising the company hasn't had a 64-bit instruction set up to this point. That's about to change. ARM just disclosed some technical specs of its new ARMv8 architecture, the first to include a 64-bit instruction set. The new architecture consists of two main execution states, AArch64 and AArch32. As the name implies, the AArch64 is the one that introduces a new A64 instruction set for 64-bit processing, while the AArch32 state supports existing ARM instruction sets. "With our increasingly connected world, the market for 32-bit processing continues to expand and evolve creating new opportunities for 32-bit ARMv7 based processor...
Mozilla And Microsoft Introduce "Firefox With Bing"
By MaximumPC, published 27-10-2011
For a long time, Mozilla and Google were a match made in heaven. Both of them were spunky open-source aficionado and that common goal sent them into each other’s arms; even now, the vast majority of Mozilla’s funding comes from a search deal between the two organizations. Then, with the launch of Chrome, things got complicated. Google wasn’t quite the same search engine Firefox fell in love with. And now, Mozilla is officially Keeping Its Options Open with the unveiling of the new “Firefox with Bing” Browser. The name pretty much says it all. It’s the same Firefox you know and love/hate, but with Microsoft’s Bing replacing Google as the default search engine and homepage. It isn’t a complete split for Google and Mozilla, though; while Microsoft hosts the simply named Firefo...
Microsoft concept video peers into the future
By TechReport, published 27-10-2011
Microsoft's Office Division has released an intriguing concept video outlining the company's vision for the future of productivity. Office Division president Kurt DelBene expects technology to help "manage our time better, focus our attention on the most important things, and foster meaningful connections with the people we care about." That's all on display in the video, which is slickly produced and filled with interesting interface ideas. ...Read more...
What XBLA Games Sold Well In September?
By GameInformer, published 26-10-2011
Though sales numbers are hard to come by, some careful analysis reveals a competitive month of games released on Xbox Live. Thanks to some time-intensive investigation by Gamasutra, we've got what should be a reasonably accurate picture of how new Live Arcade games fared in a busy month of releases. By examining the number of entries on the online leaderboards for various games, an approximation of sales numbers begins to emerge. Several interesting statistics show up within the data. Crimson Alliance far outstripped its competitors among other new titles that released in the September timeframe, with over 88,000 new players. However, it's worth noting that Crimson Alliance came free to players who bought all five of the Summer of Arcade games back in July and August. Crimson Alli...
Windows Phone 7 App of the Week: Crafting Guide
By MaximumPC, published 26-10-2011
If you’ve ever spent any time playing an RPG or RTS of any kind, you know the biggest learning curve is figuring out what items or materials you need to build that sweet piece of gear your buddy carries around. The different combinations, tools, and techniques required by different games can also add to the confusion. The reality is learning the build tree in a particular game is the key to your survival and is the biggest obstacle between you and world domination. Age of Empires Online is the latest in Microsoft’s long line of Real-Time Strategy games. While not the most well-received RTS in history, the game is free to play and is worth a look for gamers on a budget. To aid in the learning curve of building items in Age of Empires Online, Microsoft has released Cr...
Minecraft for Xbox 360 pushed to spring 2012
By GameSpot, published 25-10-2011
Console version of Mojang's PC indie hit to be exclusive to Microsoft's hardware; playable version planned to be shown at MineCon fan convention next month. At Microsoft's Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing in June, the company announced a Kinect-enabled version of Mojang's PC indie hit Minecraft would be released for the Xbox 360 this winter. However, construction on the world-building Xbox Live Arcade title is taking longer than anticipated. Minecraft XBLA is taking a bit longer than expected to forge. Microsoft producer Stuart Platt posted on his Twitter account yesterday that the game is now slated for a spring 2012 release. As for a specific release date, Platt said that likely would not be revealed until next year. The console version ...
Rumor: First Joe Danger On Its Way To Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 25-10-2011
We've known since its announcement that Joe Danger sequel Joe Danger: The Movie may be expanding to multiple platforms beyond PlayStation Network, but it looks like Hello Games' original awesome downloadable game may be shifting to new consoles as well. Eurogamer reports that a Microsoft-submitted rating for a game titled Joe Danger: Special Edition has appeared on the Korean Ratings Board. Hello Games declined to comment on the rating, but it's becoming increasingly common for games to be revealed earlier than planned via foreign ratings. This is definitely still rumor territory for now, but personally I'd be happy to see this excellent game gain access to a wider audience.
Entire Dance Central Catalog On Sale To Celebrate Dance Central 2
By GameInformer, published 25-10-2011
If you're planning to pick up the solid sequel to Harmonix's Kinect-based dancing game, Microsoft has a great deal for you. Major Nelson reports every single downloadable track released for the original Dance Central is now on sale on Xbox Live. Most of these tracks are available in packs rather than as singles, but you can save up to 2100 Microsoft Points ($26.25) per pack if you purchase them between now and Saturday, November 5. All of these downloadable songs will work in Dance Central 2, which hits stores tomorrow, October 25. Check out the Major Nelson post to see the full list of tunes available and enjoy dancing! [via Joystiq]
Microsoft lands Joe Danger Special Edition rating
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
Xbox 360 maker's Korean arm secures rating for currently PSN-exclusive title; platform(s) unknown. Joe Danger is apparently revving up for an appearance on a new platform, as Microsoft Korea has a Special Edition of the PSN-exclusive racer in the works. Developed by the four-man Hello Games team, Joe Danger first hit PS3 in 2010. According to a listing from the Korean ratings board--as spotted by Eurogamer--a special edition of the title is set to be published by Microsoft Korea. No firm details on pricing or what the special edition entails have been released, however. The debut title from UK-based indie developer Hello Games, Joe Danger is a comedic stunt-racer, requiring players to navigate the eponymous stuntman and his bike across increasingly ...
Microsoft lands Joe Danger Special Edition rating
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
Xbox 360 maker's Korean arm secures rating for currently PSN-exclusive title; platform(s) unknown. Joe Danger is apparently revving up for an appearance on a new platform, as Microsoft Korea has a Special Edition of the PlayStation Network-exclusive racer in the works. Developed by the four-man Hello Games team, Joe Danger first hit the PS3 in 2010. According to a listing from the Korean ratings board--as spotted by Eurogamer--a special edition of the title is set to be published by Microsoft Korea. No firm details on pricing or what the special edition entails have been released, however. The debut title from UK-based indie developer Hello Games, Joe Danger is a comedic stunt racer, requiring players to navigate the eponymous stuntman and his bike across...
Minecraft Playable On Xbox At MineCon
By GameInformer, published 24-10-2011
Want to check out the smash indie PC hit on the next platform it's headed to? Drop a hundred bucks on a ticket to the first ever Minecraft convention – now co-sponsored by Microsoft – taking place in Las Vegas on November 18-19.Months ahead of its planned spring 2012 Xbox Live Arcade release, convention goers will get a chance to see how closely XBLA developer 4J manages to replicate the original PC experience.Headed to MineCon? Excited about the Xbox version of the PC game? Just want to taunt us about it being a slow news day? The comment section awaits below.
Shippin' Out October 23-29: Battlefield 3
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
EA sends DICE shooter to the front lines as Dance Central 2, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, and Daytona USA also head to market. The din of anticipation for EA's Battlefield 3 can finally come to an end, as it finally hits store shelves this week. Dance Central 2 is set to follow up last years Kinect-only dance game from Harmonix. The Wii is getting one of its biggest games of the holiday in Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Telltale's adventure game take on Back to the Future is on the way for PlayStation 3 and Wii, and Daytona USA is back for another "rolling start." Battlefield 3 deploys this week. After countless trailers and a beta that garnered more than 8 million participants, DICE's latest deploys this week. Set to hit the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, Battlefield ...
Shippin' Out October 23-29: Battlefield 3
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
EA sends DICE shooter to the front lines as Dance Central 2, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, and Daytona USA also head to market. The din of anticipation for EA's Battlefield 3 can finally come to an end, as it finally hits store shelves this week. Dance Central 2 is set to follow up last years Kinect-only dance game from Harmonix. The Wii is getting one of its biggest games of the holiday in Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Telltale's adventure game take on Back to the Future is on the way for PlayStation 3 and Wii, and Daytona USA is back for another "rolling start." Battlefield 3 deploys this week. After countless trailers and a beta that garnered more than 8 million participants, DICE's latest deploys this week. Set to hit the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, Battle...
Review: Zotac Zbox Nano AD10 Plus
By TechRadar, published 24-10-2011
Zotac has been the recent master of the small-form factor motherboard. We've seen H67 boards rocking the mini-ITX style, with the top-end Intel Z68 and AMD A75 chipsets getting the same sort of treatment. These boards all had something in common (aside from the scale); a surprising amount of serious functionality in a frankly silly size. Now Zotac has turned its shrink ray on full devices and has created a PC with what has to be one of the smallest footprints ever. The Zbox Nano AD10 Plus is absolutely tiny. It's shorter than a Rubik's cube and smaller than a CD case. Ickle. But in there you've got a full PC. Well, so long as your idea of a 'full PC' means something sans optical drive and you have no interest in doing anything beyond multimedia playback and some light web browsing. The Zbo...
Google linked to Yahoo bid
By TechRadar, published 24-10-2011
Google could be ready to make a bid for Yahoo, with the Wall Street Journal suggesting that the current giant of the internet may purchase one of the behemoths of the past and is in talks with private equity companiesYahoo recently reported better than expected financial results, but the waning impact of a company that defined search before the rise and rise of Google is clear. However, the company remains a massive potential purchase, holding key IP and patents and still holding on to a significant proportion of the global search market – most tellingly in the US. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal states that, although a bid is still far from certain, discussions with private equity companies had happened with a view to buying the core Yahoo business.Hype...
Friday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 21-10-2011
The Pick 6 Engadget reports Microsoft has record Q1, rakes in $17.37 billion in revenue (updated: Skype plans revealed) WDD: HDD industry will be supply-constrained due to Thailand flooding Taipei Times reports Apple suppliers in China scrutinized Fudzilla reports Ivy Bridge readying for Christmas and no desktop Radeon this year SemiAccurate reports Nvidia Tegra roadmap slips a year Microsoft Research shows holodesk Read more...
20 Essential Tips and Tricks for Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
By MaximumPC, published 20-10-2011
Windows Phone 7 is one of our favorite mobile platforms, and the Mango update brings some core functionality that was missing in the original release. With all of the new features and tools, there is a minor learning curve, but this list of tips will get you using Mango like a pro in no time. We’ll go through many of the individual apps and utilities that you are familiar with in Windows Phone 7, and show you the new enhancements that can make your life easier. Bing Local Scout Bing really comes into its own as a key part of the Windows Phone platform in Mango, and Local Scout takes center stage. Local Scout makes it easy to discover restaurants, events, and attractions based on your phone’s location data. Using Bing's resources, Local Scout can provide you with contact information, r...
Windows 8 streamlines searches
By TechReport, published 20-10-2011
Although many PC enthusiasts cringe at the touch-friendly Metro user interface that will be a big part of Windows 8, it's clear that Microsoft hasn't forgotten about power users. Over the past few months, the Building Windows 8 blog has highlighted a number of new interface elements designed to make the OS more efficient for notebook and desktop users. The latest to be outlined is the expanded search functionality built into the start screen. Microsoft Program Manager Brian Uphoff explains: ...Read more...
Thursday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 20-10-2011
Eight is Enough WSJ reports Microsoft, others work on Yahoo! bid Intel: hp must keep its PC business unit - X-bit labs Wired reports hard disk space can be increased with a pinch of salt X-bit labs: Intel begins volume production of 22nm microprocessors VR-Zone reports AMD Radeon HD 7000 GPUs listed in leaked driver AnandTech on ARM's Cortex A7: Bringing cheaper dual-core and more power efficient high-end devices VR-Zone: Gigabyte teases near final G1.Assassin 2 X79 motherboard and MSI X70A-GD65 8D motherboard pictured Red Orchestra 2: Rising Storm - debut trailer Read more...
OmniTouch reminds us of the science fiction future of all things touchscreen [Video]
By SlashGear, published 19-10-2011
It’s time again to talk about touchscreens on every surface imaginable, this time through Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon University. These groups have brought forth a solution for the age-old first-world problem of how a person who wants dial their phone using only the surface of their hand might do so. The solution is this: [...]
New Kinect experiment turns skin into screens
By TechRadar, published 19-10-2011
Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon University have unveiled a new project that uses Kinect and a projector to turn any surface into an interactive touch screen.The project, dubbed OmniTouch, will track surfaces such as the palm of a hand, and lets users use taps and multitouch gestures to interact with them.The project consists of a shoulder-mounted Kinect camera coupled with a Pico projector to recognise surfaces, and project interfaces on to them.The surface can even be moved around, for example on a user's wrist, or expanded onto nearby flat surfaces.Palm computerIn an example sequence, the user is alerted to a new email on the palm of their hand."Rather than viewing the message on the small confines of the hand, the user instead approaches a nearby wall, and selects a region fo...
Double Fine Leads Kinect Kids Push With Happy Action Theater
By GameInformer, published 19-10-2011
It turns out Double Fine's recent Sesame Street game wasn't the only thing the fan-favorite developer has in store for Kinect or children. Microsoft is pushing kids and family-friendly games for the 360's motion-sensing Kinect add-on, and Double Fine is leading the charge. At an event last week, Double Fine unveiled Happy Action Theater, a mini-game collection that includes such as activities as smashing buildings, playing a simplistic Space Invaders-esque shooter, and more. The new game is expected to release in time for the holidays this year. In addition to Happy Action Theater, Microsoft has revealed a number of other upcoming kid-focused Kinect releases. A collaboration with Pixar code-named Rush will be out next year and will feature challenges based around popular Pixar...
Pixar getting a Kinect game
By GameSpot, published 19-10-2011
Microsoft's family focus sees fan-favorite Pixar characters star in minigame collection; Double Fine developing new kid-friendly experience. Microsoft's push to reach a wider swath of gamers with Kinect was reaffirmed today with the announcement of several new kid-oriented projects. Toy Story 3 is just one of the Pixar properties to be featured in an upcoming Kinect game. Looking to broaden its family portfolio, Microsoft today announced a Pixar game being developed under the codename "Rush." This collaboration with Disney will let players scan themselves into the settings of popular Pixar films, including The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, Toy Story 3, and Cars 2. Gameplay will center around completing time-based challenges, with a release set for sp...
Microsoft reveals projected, pocketable touch interfaces
By TechReport, published 18-10-2011
Microsoft's annual R&D budget is huge—$9.6 billion for 2011, to be exact. Over the years, a chunk of that research money has gone into exploring touch-based interfaces. Some, like the Metro GUI that will appear in Windows 8, are ready for public consumption. Others are still a little ways off—but are much bolder in their design.At the Association for Computing Machinery's 24th Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, Microsoft is unveiling a couple of touch-based interface projects that its researchers have been working on for a number of years. The first and most outlandish is OmniTouch, which ditches touchscreens in favor of an interface that can be projected on any surface the user chooses. OmniTouch relies ...Read more...
Find Deus Ex's Missing Link
By GameInformer, published 18-10-2011
What is Deus Ex's Adam Jensen like without his augmentations? Gamers are about to find out in the title's Missing Link DLC and this trailer. The DLC is out today, and will cost you $14.99 on PlayStation 3 and PC, and 1,200 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360. The Missing Link finds Jensen hostage aboard a freighter, stripped off his augmentations. He must find out what's going on, where he's going, and why people are going missing. Don't worry, along the way you'll also rebuild Jensen's augmentation set. Check out the trailer below, as well as Reiner's review. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Can You Build A 2560 x 1600 Gaming Rig Without Breaking the Bank? We Find Out!
By MaximumPC, published 17-10-2011
It's easy to build a gaming machine on a budget if you're playing at 1650x1080 or 1920x1200, but if you're rocking 2560x1600, you need a little more oomph As Maximum PC senior editor Gordon Mah Ung puts it, building a budget gaming rig for a 30-inch panel is the metaphorical equivalent of slapping a Ferrari engine into a crappy Ford car. If you can afford a display that rings up north of $2,000, then why the heck are you trying to cut corners on the system you’re connecting it to? I can’t answer that one for you. But what I can tell you is exactly how you can go about getting the best frame rate for your buck without purchasing a PC that’s more expensive than your mega-monitor. That’s my task for this build-it: killer gaming performance without needless budgetary destruction. And ...
Windows 8 Task Manager An Impressive Update To Venerable Functionality
By HotHardware, published 17-10-2011
The Windows Task Manager has historically been a vital (if boring) workhorse in an OS not generally described with adjectives like "sexy." Windows 8 has set out to change that, and the preliminary information available suggests the new manager is a significant advancement over the old. Microsoft's research indicates that the most common actions...
OEMs Consider Switching to Windows 8 Tablets to Avoid Price War with Kindle Fire
By MaximumPC, published 17-10-2011
Amazon did more than just throw down the gauntlet when it announced its $200 Kindle Fire tablet, the e-tailer may have also scared off some of the competition altogether. Oddly enough, the Kindle Fire might actually help Microsoft increase its presence in the mobile market, as OEMs look to Windows 8-based slates in order to avoid a price war among Android tablets. News and rumor site DigiTimes says Hewlett Packard and Dell are two of several PC vendors planning to invest more heavily in Windows 8 tablets rather than try to compete with low cost Android slates. For this strategy to work, OEMs will try to target business users, somewhat similar to what Research In Motion tried to do with its BlackBerry tablet. Those who are sticking with Android are finding they have no choice but to cut pri...
Experimental "OmniTouch" Projector Turns Any Surface Into A Multi-Touch Interface
By MaximumPC, published 17-10-2011
Remember that nifty little “Skinput” interface that researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University were working on about a year and a half ago? It registered touches made to your skin, allowing you to use your body as an input device – hence its name. Well, it turns out that’s not all CMU and Microsoft were working on. They’re working on a device called “OmniTouch” that projects interfaces onto any surface – and includes multitouch touchscreen capabilities. That’s right, you can dial home on a loaf of bread. The project is only in the research, proof-of-concept phase, TechCrunch reports, so don’t expect to waltz into a Best Buy and pick up an OmniTouch any time soon. The shoulder-mounted rig includes a pico projector and a 3D scanner to pick up your movem...
Win8 Task Manager simplifies process killing
By TechReport, published 17-10-2011
Microsoft's seems intent on simplifying the user interface with Windows 8, and the Task Manager hasn't escaped its attention. The Building Windows 8 blog has a new post detailing efforts to streamline the Task Manager for mainstream folks while adding functionality for power users.Most people use the Task Manager to kill unresponsive applications, and that's pretty much the only thing you can do from the new simplified view. This new default view displays a list of ...Read more...
This Is How Master Chief Uses The Kinect
By GameInformer, published 16-10-2011
It had already been revealed that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition would be taking advantage of the Kinect at some capacity, but now we know exactly how. There are a few different ways the Kinect has been implemented, none of which require wild gesticulations while in the middle of a firefight. You will be able to use voice commands in the middle of a gunfight to do things like reload your weapon, throw your grenades, and switch to the original Xbox Halo graphics. You will also be able to say the word scan while focusing your reticule on points of interest to learn more about the Halo universe and fill a sort of database called the Library, similar to what you were able to do in the Metroid Prime series. The Library will be explorable with gesture controls so that you can look ove...
Microsoft Launches New Browser Security Test; Declares Themselves the Winners
By MaximumPC, published 16-10-2011
Earlier in the week Microsoft unveiled a new online security test to help educate users on the dangers of surfing with outdated browsers. The concept is noble, but they also succeeded in stirring up the Mozilla folks, and with just cause. The site yourbrowsermatters.org gives visitors the impression it is verifying features to assign a well-researched security score between 0-4, when in reality, it does little more than check the agent string to see what brand and version you are using. Internet Explorer 9 rakes in a perfect score of 4, IE 8 comes in at 3, and the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome come up at 2 & 2.5 respectively. Mozilla has so far been the most vocal opponent of the site, and sounded off during an interview with Computerworld. "Mozilla is fiercely proud of o...
Halo Waypoint shouldering ATLAS, redesign due this fall
By GameSpot, published 16-10-2011
343 Industries revamping sci-fi franchise's community network, emphasizing cross-platform parity, custom challenges; new Windows Phone 7 app; no premium tier for now; Halo: Anniversary goes gold. It's hard to argue with Halo Waypoint. Launched in late 2009, Microsoft and 343 Industires' online hub offers Halo players a granular breakdown of their multiplayer exploits across the franchise. Beyond tracking data, it also operates as a community hub by linking up members with one another and hosting a variety of gameplay videos and tutorials. [ Watch Video ]Check out some of the new features coming soon to Halo Waypoint. Comment on this videoWatch this video in High Def With Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary slated to arrive for the Xbox 360 on November 15, 343 Indust...
Halo Waypoint shouldering ATLAS, redesign due this fall
By GameSpot, published 16-10-2011
343 Industries revamping sci-fi franchise's community network, emphasizing cross-platform parity, custom challenges; new Windows Phone 7 app; no premium tier for now; Halo: Anniversary goes gold. It's hard to argue with Halo Waypoint. Launched in late 2009, Microsoft and 343 Industries' online hub offers Halo players a granular breakdown of their multiplayer exploits across the franchise. Beyond tracking data, it also operates as a community hub by linking up members with one another and hosting a variety of gameplay videos and tutorials. [ Watch Video ]Check out some of the new features coming soon to Halo Waypoint. Comment on this videoWatch this video in High Def With Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary slated to arrive for the Xbox 360 on November 15, 343 Indust...
Tutorial: Hidden Windows tips tricks and shortcuts
By TechRadar, published 15-10-2011
Uncover hidden Windows featuresYou're an experienced Windows user. You know your way around a PC and can bend it to your will (most of the time, anyway), so there's nothing left about the operating system that's going to surprise you - right? Windows might have a few more hidden features than you think. For example, you may already know that installing network-related software will often add filter drivers to your PC - small pieces of software that can intercept and work with your network traffic. That's fine, but what you may not know is that Windows 7 artificially limits your system to a maximum of eight filter drivers. If you already have eight and try to install a package with another, it won't work, and you almost certainly won't get any proper explanation as to why. What to do, then?...
In Depth: The death of money
By TechRadar, published 15-10-2011
The death of moneyEvery day, all over the world, currency is minted and printed in huge quantities. That currency gets jammed into pockets and organised in tills, folded inside wallets and stuffed into envelopes, paid into bank accounts and stored underneath mattresses. Money is all around us, and yet none of it actually exists. Our notes and coins and the numbers we see in our online bank accounts are mere IOUs - promises from people we'll never meet that we'll never redeem. Currency is just information, and if there's one thing computers are good at, it's dealing with information. Will the future of money be electronic? Google, Apple and a whole host of tech firms believe that the answer could be yes. By 2015, cash could be looking like an endangered species. Oyster-style smartcards will...
Updated: Windows 8 tablets: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 14-10-2011
UDPATE: Check out our Hands on: Windows 8 tablet reviewMicrosoft's been pushing tablet computers for the best part of a decade, so you can imagine how happy the iPad's success makes them. But Microsoft doesn't give up easily, and Windows 8 tablets will emerge. So what's Steve Ballmer going to be shouting about when he shows them off?Windows 8 tablets will have a new touch interfaceAs we saw from the recent Windows 8 preview, Windows 8 tablets will have a marvellous new interface that looks rather like Windows Phone 7. "Fast, fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact," says Microsoft's head of Windows Experience Julie Larson-Green. "Although the new user interface is designed and optimized for t...
Updated: Xbox 720: every rumour about the new Xbox
By TechRadar, published 14-10-2011
Rumours about the new Xbox (or Xbox 720, as it's often referred to as) are now more than just internet gossip. It's one thing to wildly speculate about the next Xbox console. It's quite another to find out that Microsoft is gearing up to build one.brightcove : 1069237327001Recent job postings reveal that the Xbox Console Architecture team is hunting for new blood. Successful candidates will join a team that will be "responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation."ITProPortal also suggested in October 2011 that several employees were giving away their involvement on their LinkedIn profiles, such as "Xbox Next Gen Creative Director."It also came to light in August 2011 that the next Xbox could actually over...
Update: Complete List Of Avatar Awards
By GameInformer, published 14-10-2011
The list has been updated with new Avatar Awards for Saints Row: The Third, Dance Central 2, Worms: Ultimate Mayhem, and Orcs Must Die. If you'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on games rather than clothing for your Xbox 360 Avatar, yet still like the idea of dressing him or her in video game garb, several games offer Avatar clothing and items as rewards when specific game challenges are completed. Below is a complete list of awards that are available so far, or have been announced for upcoming games. We'll continue to update this list as new avatar awards are unearthed. After Burner ClimaxAfter Burner T-Shirt – Unlock every EX optionGold Flight Helmet – Obtain one of every medal type in Score Attack Alan WakeJacket and Scarf – Play the Limited Collector'...
Friday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 14-10-2011
Eight is Enough X-bit labs: Apple may become a viable chip designer - analysts Michael Dell: hp's PC strategy change is a bad move - Mashable Intel CPUs overclocked: Sandy easy, Ivy easier, Haswell easiet - VR-Zone TC Magazine: Kingmax going up with 1TB with new SSD line iFixit's iPhone 4S teardown Building Windows 8: The Windows 8 Task Manager PC infected? Blame yourself, Microsoft report concludes - Network World AMD Catalyst Application Profile 11.9 CAP2 Read more...
Ex-Rare devs create Starfire Studios
By GameSpot, published 14-10-2011
Four former staff members from the Kinect Sports maker have formed their own development studio; first title to be published on Xbox Live Arcade. In February this year, Microsoft Studios subsidiary Rare was hit with a spate of staff layoffs, despite the good performance of the studio's previous title, Kinect Sports. Fusion: Genesis is coming to XBLA. Four ex-Rare developers have now teamed up to create Starfire Studios. The team consists of programmer Mark Edmonds, designer Chris Tilston, and artists Ross Bury and Phil Dunne, who have collectively previously worked on the Killer Instinct franchise, the Perfect Dark franchise, and the Halo franchise. The team, based in Leicestershire, UK, is already working on its first offering, a twin-stick space s...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 10/13/11
By GameInformer, published 13-10-2011
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." is a quote from the classic Charles Dickens story, A Tale of Two Cities, but it also describes this week in the video game industry. Many gamers continue to experience the Battlefield 3 beta; others are enjoying the recently released Rage. While all this is going on, we should pause in memory of the passing of Steve Jobs, one of the greatest pioneers and visionaries the world of technology has ever witnessed. Blog Herding Stats: Period Reviewed: October 03 - October 09, 2011Number of User Blogs: 106Number of User Bloggers: 63Number of User Blogs Herded: 12 Upcoming Events: Need A Good Karma Boost? Help Some Sick Kids And All Will Be ForgivenThe Extra Life 24 hour gaming marathon is nearly upon us. The next day or two will ...
31 Apps, Games, and Utilities to Enhance Your Chrome Experience!
By MaximumPC, published 10-12-2011
Like any dependable sidekick, Google Chrome has proven to be reliable, fast, and easy to work with; so much so, in fact, that we decided to feature the various apps, games, and utilities Chrome has to offer in a weekly series. But to make things easier for all you Chrome fans, we've decided to compile the last 30 weeks worth of posts and bring them to you here, in one huge comprehensive list of reading apps, games, utilities, and more. Check em' out below, and by all means, let us know what we missed in the comments. Enjoy! Gaming Gun Brothers No matter how much we love Gun Brother’s special brand of shoot ‘em up gunplay on Android and iOS devices, we couldn’t recommend it for use as a Chrome web app. When it was released to the Chrome Web Store several months ago, it was a glitchy, ...
Daytona USA revs up for late October
By GameSpot, published 10-12-2011
Sega's arcade-classic racer returns on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network for $10. The first indication of a forthcoming Daytona USA rerelease came with a Classification Board of Australia listing last month. Sega revealed today that a "tuned up" version of the classic arcade racer will be landing on October 25 on the PlayStation Network and October 26 on Xbox Live Arcade. The new Daytona USA will bear a striking resemblance to the old. Among the changes to this version are enhanced graphics, steering wheel support, and online multiplayer for up to eight players. Sega characterized the graphics as retro, but also said they will be presented in a 16:9 widescreen format. All traditional modes will be present in this version of the game, including Arcad...
Review: HTC Titan
By TechRadar, published 10-12-2011
Overview, design and feelHTC is doing fairly well right now. From the days of making (not so great) Windows Mobile handsets for networks, it's found its identity and is now riding high with a hugely recognisable brand around the world. Android was its saviour (and still is) but Windows hasn't been forgotten. HTC was the first to roll out Windows Phone 7 devices when they launched in the UK last year. And, true to form, it's in the lead with Windows Phone 7.5 devices too. The HTC Titan is one of its two first Mango-powered handsets - the other being the Radar. So, what's in a name? Well, quite a lot actually. The Titans were giant beasts from ancient Greek mythology. So by giving the phone a name like this, HTC's certainly aiming high. And you see that as soon as you take the HTC Titan out ...
Sega Confirms Daytona USA Re-Release
By GameInformer, published 10-12-2011
Sega has confirmed reports from earlier this month that it's bringing the classic racer Daytona USA to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. This port includes enhanced graphics with 16:9 widescreen support, steering wheel support, and online multiplayer with up to eight players. The game's original soundtrack has also been preserved and now includes a Karaoke Mode. Daytona USA is available in North America on October 25 for Xbox Live Arcade and October 26 on PlayStation Network. Those in Europe will have to wait until "late November." The game costs 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99. [Note: This image is from the original game.]
Microsoft entangles Twisted Pixel
By GameSpot, published 10-12-2011
Developers of 'Splosion Man and The Gunstringer to develop exclusively for Xbox 360. Today, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Texas-based developer Twisted Pixel Games to work exclusively with the Xbox 360. The move will see the developers brought to Microsoft Studios to continue development of their games for Microsoft's platform. 'Splosion Man put Twisted Pixel on the virtual map. Twisted Pixel, founded in 2006, is known for bringing the generally well-received 'Splosion Man to Xbox Live Arcade, following up with the sequel Ms. 'Splosion Man. The firm's latest game, Kinect-enabled title The Gunstringer, was also met with positive reviews. The company also brought The Maw and Comic Jumper to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Before the acquisition, T...
Microsoft Acquires Twisted Pixel
By GameInformer, published 10-12-2011
It turns out that gamers weren't the only fans of Twisted Pixel. The studio behind games including The Maw, 'Splosion Man, and The Gunstringer has been scooped up by Microsoft Studios, joining other devs including Lionhead and Rare. “Twisted Pixel has an incredible track record of innovative, critically acclaimed, and most importantly, fun, games,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. “Microsoft Studios is home to cutting-edge entertainment experiences, and the incredible creativity of the Twisted Pixel team will help drive further innovation around Kinect and Xbox Live.” “It is really exciting for us to solidify our long-standing relationship with Microsoft Studios, who we consider to be the leader in digital distribution...
Updated: Top 200 best iPad apps 2011
By TechRadar, published 10-12-2011
Top 200 best iPad appsIf you've just bought yourself a new iPad, you're going to want to start downloading the best apps straight away.It's the Apps that really set iOS apart from other platforms - there are far more apps available for the iPad than any other tablet. So which which ones are worth your cash? And which are the best free apps?Luckily for you we've tested thousands of the best iPad apps so that you don't have to.So read on for our best-in-class apps for each major category, followed by some more specific lists of the best free and paid for apps and games.brightcove : 971998882001.Best iPad app: BooksApp name: Kindle Developer: AMZN Mobile LLC Price: FreeLink: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/kindle/id302584613Why list a free e-book reader as the top pick when Apple's own iBook i...
Eat Your Vitamins, Say Your Prayers, And Play Literally Any Other Game
By GameInformer, published 10-12-2011
For decades now, Hulk Hogan has been obsessed with getting his orange face plastered anywhere and everywhere he can. He tried to become a movie star with Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, and No Holds Barred. He attempted to become a television star with Thunder in Paradise. His film and television acting never really seemed to take, so this year he’s going after the gaming industry. A voice-over role in Saints Row: The Third doesn’t seem to be enough for the Hulkster, however, as he’s now the star of his own game: Hulk Hogan’s Main Event.Actually, calling him the “star” of this game is like saying that the little paper clip guy is the star of Microsoft Office 98. His hideously deformed character model is mostly seen during your character’s entrance, ...
Age of Empires Online Review
By MaximumPC, published 10-12-2011
So AOE, World of Warcraft, and Farmville walk into a bar… Playing Age of Empires Online is like greeting an old friends for the first time in years, but instead of returning your friendly fist-bump, your pal socks you in the gut. Don't get us wrong: AOEO isn't a bad game, and somewhere benearth its mountain of MMO-influenced bling, the AOE of yore forms the online version's steel-sharp strategic center. Problem is, this isn't so much an instance of old meeting new as it is old and new getting thrown haphazardly into a blender. As a result, some of the game works, and some of it really, really doesn't. Truthfully, AOEO is two games in one. There's the classic Age of Empires RTS that in the innocent days of your youth taught you how to wage bloody, ruthless war, and there's, well, World of...
Review Round-Up: Aliens, Sesame Street, And More
By GameInformer, published 10-11-2011
Today's game releases are a testament to how much variety there truly is in contemporary gaming. Whether your tastes run toward racing, flying, learning, or killing zombies, you'll find something new on store shelves today. Take a look at our reviews for today's new releases.Be sure to click on a game's title to check out the full review (and to see the score).Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (360, PS3)"If you’ve been looking for an entryway into the flight combat genre this is a great place to start, and if you’re already a fan, Assault Horizon has something a little bit different to offer you that you can definitely appreciate."–Kyle HilliardAliens: Infestation (DS)"There are a few minor frustrations, and the mortality of the characters was sur...
Remote Desktop functionality comes to Chrome web browser
By TechReport, published 10-11-2011
Last year, Google's Gary Kacmarcik revealed Chromoting, a feature of the company's Chrome operating system that would allow "legacy PC applications" to be accessed through the included web browser. Kacmarcik didn't provide many details on Chromoting at the time, but he did confirm it was "something like" Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection, which allows Windows PCs to be controlled remotely.We haven't heard much about Chromoting since, but the technology behind it appears to have migrated from ChromeOS to Google's standalone web browser. Say hello to Chrome Remote Desktop , a new browser extension that offers RDC-like ...Read more...
Microsoft Now Selling 320 GB Hard Drive Separately
By GameInformer, published 10-11-2011
If you're running out of hard-drive space on your Xbox 360, Microsoft is here to help. Later this month, the company will be selling a 320 GB hard drive for the console. Previously, you'd have to buy a special hardware bundle to get that much storage space. The hard drive retails for $129.99, inexplicably including a download code for LucasArts' LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. Not that we're complaining. There's not much else to say about it, other than the fact that it's black, it has "Xbox 360" printed on it, and it appears to be larger than Yoda. Also, it's significantly more expensive than its PC equivalent. That must be because it is also significantly better or something. Right?
Batman: Arkham City 'Nightwing' DLC Dated
By GameInformer, published 10-11-2011
The first downloadable content pack for Batman: Arkham City will hit on November 1, Warner Bros. announced today. The content includes Nightwing, who has his own arsenal of special gadgets and moves, in addition to two challenge maps: Wayne Manor and Main Hall. Nightwing will be playable in the game's challenge maps. A version of Nightwing from the animated series will also be included. The publisher also announced the Robin Bundle, which was previously only available through pre-order, will arrive on November 22 for all owners of the game. Both content packs will retail for 560 Microsoft Points or $6.99 on PlayStation Network.
Windows 8 will use less memory than Win7
By TechReport, published 10-10-2011
Memory is cheap these days. Case in point: Newegg is currently selling an 8GB kit of Corsair's Vengeance DDR3-1600 DIMMs for less than $50. Despite the availability of cheap RAM, Microsoft is taking steps to reduce the memory usage of Windows 8. Redmond's efforts are detailed on the Building Windows 8 blog, which starts by comparing the new OS's memory usage with Windows 7. On a system with only a gig of RAM, Windows 7 idles at the desktop with a 404MB memory footprint. Windows 8 consumes just 281MB running on the same hardware.Microsoft lists several changes that have lowered Win8's memory utilization, including a memory combining capacity that looks at the contents of system memory to see if any data is unecessarily duplicated. If it is, the ...Read more...
Zune creative director leading Next Xbox development
By GameSpot, published 10-10-2011
LinkedIn profiles indicate Jeff Faulkner tapped to head design on Microsoft's as-yet-unannounced console. Speculation is rampant that Microsoft will be unveiling its next-generation Xbox at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo next June. And while specifics on the next Xbox remain under wraps, information has begun to leak out on who will be leading development on the new console. Microsoft's Xbox division is at work on the Xbox 360's successor. Today, online supersleuth Superannuation unearthed a handful of LinkedIn profiles that point to Jeff Faulkner as creative director on "Xbox Next Gen." According to his profile, Faulkner's previous experience includes Zune brand creative director. Faulkner is no stranger to the Xbox brand, having also previo...
Microsoft Explains How it Will Dramatically Decrease Windows 8’s Memory Usage
By MaximumPC, published 10-09-2011
Microsoft has been pretty clear in its message regarding the system requirements for Windows 8. If it will run Windows 7, it will run Windows 8. Promising to add new features, all while keeping the OS footprint steady is no easy task, but why stop there. In a blog post yesterday, Microsoft announced isn’t looking to just hold the line on resource usage; they actually believe it’s possible to make Windows 8 even more efficient than 7. When compared to Vista….. lets not go there. According to Windows 8’s lead designer Steven Sinofsky, “Fundamentals such as memory usage represent a key engineering tenet of Windows 8. In building Windows 8 we set out to significantly reduce the overall runtime memory requirements of the core system. This is always good for everyone and especially in ...
In Depth: Easy ways to make money with your PC
By TechRadar, published 10-09-2011
Easy ways to make money with your PCLet's be positive. Forget the credit crunch and the age of austerity - we're going to help you make some money. Don't worry if you're no Alan Sugar; thanks to the internet and your PC, all you need is a good idea. If you don't even have one of those you can transform your spare time into cold hard cash - legally. This isn't a guide to selling sell your old vinyl on eBay or flogging knackered paperbacks on Amazon. We've done our homework, trawled the web and put together a list of new, exciting and innovative ways in which technology can help you make money. We'll explore topics like human intelligence tasks: jobs that computers and software can't do, but are essential to the function of an electronic business. All you need do is sign up for a service, se...
Opinion: Linux needs a better solution than yet another app store
By TechRadar, published 10-08-2011
There's something spooky about the rise of the app store. It's like some richly decorated room in an old mansion. It looks fantastic and offers a wealth of original features. But something just doesn't feel right. There's a whiff of some damp spirit hovering in the corner, or behind the faux chestnut panelling. And yet, from the one in your mobile or behind a browser tab, to their rise in desktop computing, app stores are now hiding everywhere. I could never have guessed how successful they would become, and I suspect, neither could Apple - at least initially. They seem to go against the grain of why many of us use technology - we want to bend it to our will, not to what someone else thinks we'd like. But for Apple, the creation of its app store must have seemed the easiest and most obviou...
Weekend Warrior 10/07/11
By GameInformer, published 10-08-2011
The weekend is among us! Game Informer staffers share their weekend gaming plans. You should do the same in the comments section! Jeff Akervik: With the NHL and collegiate hockey season starting in earnest this weekend, I won't be spending as much time gaming as I'd like to. That, and a trip up north will eat into what little free time I'll have. Regardless, I'm hoping to put whatever time I can into trying to polish off Red Dead Redemption. That game has been bogging me down for quite some time – and mostly in a good way. I'm itching to get her finished off since I've got Deus Ex: Human Revolution waiting in the wings. But at the pace I'm going, it will be a long, long time. Such is life… Jeff Cork: Finally, I have some free time. I’ve spen...
Forget the iPad, What People Really Want is a Windows Tablet
By MaximumPC, published 10-07-2011
Take a look around and it's easy to come to the conclusion that Apple's iPad is what the masses want. After all, nobody's standing in line overnight to purchase a PlayBook. Next on the list is Android, though only if the price is right (and Amazon's Kindle Fire is priced right). Where does Windows fit in with all this? Maybe much higher than you think. AllThingsD dug up some interesting stats and surveys that paint a picture of Windows lust on the tablet form factor. Boston Consulting Group (BCG), for example, recently conducted a survey and found that 42 percent of Americans want a Windows tablet, compared to 27 percent for iOS, 20 percent for Android, 9 percent for BlackBerry, and 3 percent for webOS. "The interest rises to 53 percent of the market when non-users of tablets are factored ...
Get A Taste Of UFC On The Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 10-07-2011
Microsoft has been positioning the Xbox 360 as a media hub for quite some time now, and today's batch of screens certainly reinforces that intention. As the company announced at E3, UFC matches will soon be available for live viewing on the console. These new screens show off some of the functionality that Microsoft hopes will entice viewers to reach for their controller instead of their cable box the next time a big pay-per-view match comes along. In addition to getting HD streams of the events, viewers who watch UFC matches on the Xbox 360 will have several interactive options available as well. These include event previews, press conferences and weigh-ins, interviews, and other pre-match goodies. Once the bell rings, viewers can predict the winners and see how those hunches fare in...
Capsized righted on XBLA in December
By GameSpot, published 10-07-2011
indiePub bringing Alientrap's 2D action-platformer to Xbox 360 download hub this winter for $10; Koolhaus Games handling development. In April, developer Alientrap released the 2D action platformer Capsized on the PC to a warm critical reception. However, the PC won't be the game's exclusive platform for much longer, as IndiePub has announced it is bringing Capsized to Xbox Live Arcade this winter. Capsized is coming to a console! Developed by Koolhaus Games, Capsized for XBLA will carry a price tag of 800 Microsoft points ($10). The XBLA iteration won't be a simple port of the PC version, promises IndiePub. According to the publisher, it will include exclusive levels, enhanced graphics, achievements, and new downloadable content. In Capsized, players...
Capsized righted on XBLA in December
By GameSpot, published 10-07-2011
IndiePub bringing Alientrap's 2D action platformer to Xbox 360 download hub this winter for $10; Koolhaus Games handling development. In April, developer Alientrap released the 2D action platformer Capsized on the PC to a warm critical reception. However, the PC won't be the game's exclusive platform for much longer, as IndiePub has announced it is bringing Capsized to Xbox Live Arcade this winter. Capsized is coming to a console! Developed by Koolhaus Games, Capsized for XBLA will carry a price tag of 800 Microsoft points ($10). The XBLA iteration won't be a simple port of the PC version, promises IndiePub. According to the publisher, it will include exclusive levels, enhanced graphics, achievements, and new downloadable content. In Capsized, players...
Be The Boss In Might & Magic Clash Of Heroes' DLC
By GameInformer, published 10-07-2011
Ubisoft's Might & Magic Clash of Heroes DLC is now available, and you can check out what it's all about in this trailer. The DLC features four playable bosses in multiplayer for only $2.99 (PSN/PC) or 240 Microsoft Points (XBLA). For more on the title, check out Adam's review of the game. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Microsoft Considers Making Another Run at Yahoo
By MaximumPC, published 10-06-2011
There's something about Yahoo that Microsoft finds irresistible. Maybe it's the fact that others are interested and it's driving Microsoft crazy, or perhaps it's because Yahoo rejected the software jock's advances three years ago. In any event, new reports are surfacing that suggest Microsoft still wants what it couldn't have and is considering making another bid for Yahoo. According to Reuters, Microsoft is one of many companies preparing offers for the $20 billion search entity. The other parties don't have same name recognition as Microsoft -- DST Global, for instance -- but they're loaded with cash. Microsoft, while interested, has yet to fully decide if it will submit an official bid, and it's possible it would do so with a partner, Reuters heard from one of its sources. Despite all t...
Gotham City Imposters Go At It
By GameInformer, published 10-06-2011
Gotham City Imposters is a forthcoming downloadable game that is just that: A bunch of wannabe superheroes going at it. Take a look at this animated trailer showing what happens after work. The game is scheduled to come out in the first quarter of next year for the PSN, XBLA, and PC, ($15 or 1200 Microsoft Points) and the FPS pits two teams (The Batz and The Jokerz) in competitive multiplayer contests with plenty of weapons, customization, and gadgets. Check out our hands-on impressions of the game, here. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Microsoft: Metro Start screen is the evolution of the Start menu
By TechReport, published 10-06-2011
The new Metro Start screen in the Windows 8 Developer Preview has drawn a wide spectrum of responses—some positive, some not so much. In a new post on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky and Chaitanya Sareen have gone into a fair amount of detail about their vision for Metro and the future of the Start menu.Sinofsky notes that, although some are calling the new Start screen a "Metro shell," Microsoft sees it more as "the evolution of the Start ...Read more...
Navigate Xbox Live With Windows Phone 7 App
By GameInformer, published 10-06-2011
Tired of using your controller? A new Windows Phone 7 app will allows users to browse Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace on their phones. According to Microsoft’s Windows Phone blog, users of the upcoming Xbox Companion App will be able to interface with Xbox Live Marketplace in the following ways: Finding Content: Just like on your Xbox, the Xbox Companion gives you instant access to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace catalog of games, movies, music and TV shows. I used it to search “Featured Content” and pulled up the X-Men: First Class. Learn more about what you’re watching, listening to, or playing: Once I found the movie and touched the movie tile, the Xbox companion app took me to an info page that has all the related details about. And the content is really ri...
Xbox 720 logo appears in 'Real Steel' trailer
By GameSpot, published 10-05-2011
Microsoft branding for supposed Xbox 360 follow-up spotted in Hugh Jackman's near-future robot boxing film. Hugh Jackman's latest film, Real Steel, is set in the year 2020, a time when robots have replaced humans as boxers. While that may seem a bit far-fetched, the latest trailer contains another prediction of the future, specifically that Microsoft will have a new console out by then. The Xbox 720 ad is visible on the right side of this shot of the robot boxing arena. During a scene in the latest trailer for Real Steel, a logo for the Xbox 720 is briefly visible, mirroring the imagery Microsoft has used for the Xbox 360. In addition to the Xbox 720 branding, the trailer shows the logo for Bing, Microsoft's proprietary search engine. Other corporate ...
Xbox Live adds dozens of TV and film partners
By GameSpot, published 10-05-2011
Microsoft rolling out new deals with Comcast, Verizon, HBO, BBC, TMZ, YouTube, and UFC this holiday season. Last week, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft was in talks with "nearly two dozen" content providers to introduce new music, TV, and film content to Xbox Live. Microsoft today confirmed the report and then some, releasing a list of 38 partners whose shows will be newly available through the Xbox 360 online service starting this holiday season. Xbox Live is expanding its offerings again. Among the biggest names on the list are cable TV providers Comcast and Verizon. When the services go live, Comcast Xfinity subscribers will have access to more than 10,000 episodes of on-demand TV, while Verizon FiOS customers will be able to watch 26 channels of l...
Sony To Debut "Only On PSN" Games Program
By GameInformer, published 10-03-2011
Gamers have grown to anticipate and love Microsoft's Summer of Arcade XBLA program, and now Sony is starting its own version that includes everything from exclusive PSN games like Rochard to PS2 classics like Ring of Red. Sony's Only on PSN promotion starts tomorrow, and games will debut every week ranging from $9.99 to $14.99.October 4: Eufloria and RochardOctober 11: Sideway: New YorkOctober 13: Sodium CollectionOctober 18: Okabu (shown above) and RocketBirdsOctober 25: Infamous 2: Festival of Blood and PixelJunk SidescrollerPlayStation Plus members will get 20 percent off during the week the above games come out, and additional savings can also be had: If you spend $60 in the month of October from your PlayStation Network wallet, you'll get $10 free to spend in the marketpl...
Footage Of Xbox 360's Fall Update Apparently Leaked
By GameInformer, published 10-03-2011
Some footage of the upcoming Xbox 360 fall update has apparently leaked online. While the text is all in French, you'll still get the gist of it. It's a dead ringer for the updated UI that Microsoft showed off at E3, though the background looks slightly different. As far as new functionality goes, this update should add Bing searching, YouTube videos, and live television broadcasts. It's all packaged to be easier for Kinect users to navigate, too. There's no official release date on the update (heck, this video isn't exactly official, either), but it's rumored to be arriving in the middle of November. Will this update make Joe happy? Good luck with that, Microsoft. He's the youngest cranky old man I know. (Please visit the site to view this media) Via N...
Bloomberg: Xbox Live Set To Add For-Pay Comcast And Verizon Cable Programming
By GameInformer, published 29-09-2011
The news service Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft is set to pull off a major coup in its efforts to make the Xbox 360 a one-stop home entertainment hub. According to a story posted today, Xbox Live is readying agreements with Comcast, Verizon, and other cable TV providers to bring live for-pay TV to the 360.The report says that Microsoft may announce these new TV deals as early as next week. In addition to Comcast and Verizon, the company is talking to Time Warner, HBO, Sony Picture Entertainment's Crackle streaming service, and the NBC-owned Bravo and Syfy channels, among others.Bloomberg contacted Microsoft, Comcast, and Verizon, but received no comment.While many of you might now be dreaming of ditching your cable boxes, there appears to be a catch. According to the story, two...
Gears of War 3 stomps 3 million in first week
By GameSpot, published 29-09-2011
Epic Games' Xbox 360-exclusive third-person shooter goes triple platinum in seven days as lifetime series sales eclipse $1 billion. Over the summer, Gears of War 3 designer Cliff Bleszinski said he hoped the third-person shooter would reach sales of over 6 million units in its lifetime. Just a week after launch, the gritty game is halfway there. Marcus Fenix does his best Carnac the Magnificent impression. Microsoft today said the Xbox 360-exclusive Gears of War 3 has sold through more than 3 million units since its worldwide launch on September 20. Microsoft also trumpeted sales of the Gears of War series as a whole, revealing the blood-soaked franchise has hauled in more than $1 billion in lifetime sales. Strong sales of Gears of War 3 come as littl...
Gears 3 DLC Won't Feature The Usual Cast
By GameInformer, published 29-09-2011
We've known for a few weeks that Gears of War 3 will feature a season pass system for its DLC, and design director Cliff Bleszinski has thrown out a little information regarding it on NeoGAF. In the post, he states that the DLC "will have all new campaign content that doesn't have Marcus, Dom, Cole, and Baird in it." One character we know for sure is Michael Barrick, seen above. Bleszinski mentions that while the character is from the first Gears graphic novel, the DLC will not be a retelling of that story. [Source: IGN]
Witcher 2 Devs "Don’t Like To See Gamers Treated Like Dairy Cows"
By GameInformer, published 28-09-2011
CD Projekt RED development director Adam Badowski expressed his disdain for the mercenary attitude many publishers take toward DLC in an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The Polish company is talking the talk – "We don’t see the idea [of paid DLC] as wrong, but we definitely don’t like to see gamers treated like dairy cows that are primed for milking," Badowski declared – after walking the walk with its exemplary post-release support for both The Witcher and its sequel, including the huge 2.0 patch coming to The Witcher 2 tomorrow.Badowski's comments on DLC are music to the ears of gamers who find themselves paying $80 or more to unlock everything in their games. "We’re not only in this industry to make games, we’re also here to do...
Twisted Pixel’s Gunstringer Pitch To Microsoft Was Bulls***
By GameInformer, published 27-09-2011
Can you imagine how harrowing it must be to pitch a game to a huge console manufacturer with their brand new hardware in mind? Twisted Pixel, the developer behind ‘Splosion Man, had to do just this with Microsoft for their new motion control device. However, the two creators attending the meeting only had three minutes to force a eureka moment. The story goes that Twisted Pixel had a game in mind for the Kinect (then Project Natal) which incorporated precise finger movements. After getting to know the tech, the Twisted Pixel guys realized they couldn’t pitch the idea. They were forced to come up with something fresh in the three minutes the Microsoft representative took to use the restroom. "Mike [Wilford, CEO]'s kind of chatting with other Microsoft people, and I'...
Windows 8 will store settings in the cloud via Windows Live
By TechReport, published 26-09-2011
If you jump back and forth between multiple PCs on a regular basis, you probably know how annoying it is to keep track of various customizations and other settings. You can always train yourself to be content with the defaults and use easy-to-remember passwords, but that's no real solution. What Microsoft is implementing in Windows 8, however, sounds like a better way to address that problem.As Microsoft's Katie Frigon explains on the Building Windows 8 blog , Windows 8 will use Windows Live IDs to store user ...Read more...
Shippin' Out Sept. 25 - Oct. 1: FIFA 12, Pro Evo 12
By GameSpot, published 26-09-2011
Footy sims joined on new release shelves by Child of Eden on PS3, X-Men Destiny, and ICO & Shadow of the Colossus HD collection. Last week's new releases were led by Epic Games' critically praised Gears of War 3. This week's debut slate trades in lancers and blood for green grass and soccer balls. Leading the pack of new releases this week are two soccer simulators: FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 12. The final week in September also sees non-sports titles hit shelves, including Child of Eden for the PlayStation 3, the latest Cabela's Big Game Hunter title, a new X-Men game, and two Sony-exclusive bundles. Time to hit the pitch. Charging forward first this week is FIFA 12 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, PSP, Wii, and 3DS. EA Sports has updated the ...
Tutorial: How to create your own cloud with Linux
By TechRadar, published 25-09-2011
How to create your own cloud with LinuxWe've prodded cloud computing from a technical point of view several times but, from a user's perspective, it's a lot more than your always-available hard drive on the internet. It's omnipresent across platforms and, with the proliferation of smartphones, even devices. Apple created a lot of buzz when it announced its iCloud service earlier this year. It's designed to enable users to store content so it's accessible from all of their devices. Guess what? With Linux you can do it better. In the following article we'll show you how to harness the power of the cloud to access all types of data stored on remote services on your devices - from Chrome on your office laptop running Ubuntu, to Firefox on your Fedora desktop at home, to your Android mobile pho...
Rocksmith - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 24-09-2011
First and Only Video Game that Plugs Into Any Real Guitar London, UK – March 15, 2011 – Today, Ubisoft announced the development of Rocksmith, a new video game franchise that is set to revolutionize the music genre. Rocksmith is the first and only game where players can plug any real guitar with a standard quarter-inch input jack into an Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, a PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system or PC, and play through an in-depth library of music including everything from the latest hits to classic rock songs. Featuring gameplay that automatically adjusts to the player’s skill level and innovative game design that makes reading music visually fun and intuitive, Rocksmith engages experienced musicians and those wh...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 24-09-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarThe world of tech might be on tenterhooks awaiting the launch of a new iPhone, but we're not treading water.We've a heap of reviews of the latest kit for you this week, including Sony Ericsson's new Xperia Ray. We've also got hands on with the new Nikon J1 and V1. We've also got a whole batch of motherboard and peripheral reviews, too.Read on for all this week's TechRadar reviews.Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray reviewThe Xperia Arc was the flagship of 2011's Sony Ericsson mobile range.Arriving in the spring, it became the skinny poster girl for the Swedish-Japanese hybrid, showing off its amazing screen presence with the help of the Sony Reality Display (the bit that reproduces colour on the screen and makes it look great) but in the Xperia Ray, Sony Ericss...
Weekend Warrior 09/23/11
By GameInformer, published 24-09-2011
IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY! That means the weekend is here, which means more time to play video games! Here's what some of the GI staff have planned for their weekend gaming. Let us know your plans in the comments. Kyle Hilliard: I'll be spending the weekend driving an RV carrying my pregnant wife and two cats (Agro and Colonel Mustard) from South Carolina to Minnesota. After that, I should be all moved into my new home state. I'm thinking I probably won't be able to squeeze in any gaming this weekend. Unless of course the cats feel like putting some time in behind the wheel. Tim Turi: This weekend I’ll be continuing my battle against the Chimera in Resistance 3. I’m hoping to finish the excellent campaign so I can spend some time in multi...
Microsoft Responds To Windows 8/Linux Secure Boot Concerns, Fails To Alleviate Said Concerns
By MaximumPC, published 23-09-2011
At first glance, Microsoft’s decision to go with UEFI instead of BIOS seemed like a decent security-minded step. Microsoft plans on requiring that all PCs shipping with Windows 8 implement the secure boot option included in recent UEFI specifications. That’s good, right? It stops malware from playing around with the boot path and disabling antivirus programs! The smiles faded into looks of concern when it was pointed out that a PC with OEM and Microsoft secure boot keys couldn’t launch Linux distros. The ‘Net raged, and yesterday, Microsoft responded to the allegation. “The security that UEFI has to offer with secure boot means that most customers will have their systems protected against boot loader attacks,” Tony Mangefeste of the Ecosystem team wrote on the Building Windows...
Portico spreads tablet touch beyond the screen
By SlashGear, published 23-09-2011
Tablets that can respond not only to touchscreen contact but taps and motions in the area around them could deliver a combination of Microsoft Surface-style expansive gestures in a portable form-factor, if researchers have their way. Portico, the handiwork of three computer scientists at Intel, Microsoft Research and the University of Washington, uses a pair [...]
Apple to continue tablet dominance for years
By TechRadar, published 23-09-2011
New research for Gartner suggests that Apple is going to see off the growing threat of Android tablets for years to come.The iPad is the dominant tablet at the moment, nabbing 14.6 million sales in 2010 and is likely to up that to a whopping 46 million in 2011 - and will stand at a staggering 148 million by 2015.In the same period, Android tablets sold just over 2.5 million in 2010, will hit 11 million in 2011 and will only begin encroaching on Apple's dominance by 2014, with an estimated 116 million Android-based tablets sold in 2015.The other interesting area to note from the research is Microsoft's tablet share will put it squarely in third place in three years, despite having almost no presence in the market now, with an estimated 34 million sales.Cheaper is betterThe main drivers for ...
Review: Microsoft Wireless Optical Dekstop 700
By TechRadar, published 23-09-2011
Obscure Washington outfit Microsoft present us with this, the Wireless Optical Desktop 700. It's been fairly inconsistent in the design and quality of its peripherals lately, swinging from the sleek Arc Touch to the almost unusable Windows 7 Touch mouse. Recommended at £30 but available for a shade over £20, the Wireless Optical Desktop 700 features a well-built keyboard running on AAA batteries and a slightly flimsy mouse running on AAs, each communicating with your PC or laptop via a wireless receiver. Key feature As far as this reviewer's weary fingers are concerned, the best thing about this package is the weighting of the keys. The mouse, however, is less satisfying underhand. It's extremely light, which makes it a bit of a nightmare in a gaming scenario. Despite this and some flims...
Can You Use Windows 8 as Your Primary OS?
By MaximumPC, published 22-09-2011
I’m writing this right now using Microsoft Word on the recently released Windows 8 Developer’s Build. I’m using a real PC, not a tablet, and it’s a system any Maximum PC user would be proud of: a Core i7 990X system running 12 GB of RAM plus an eVGA GeForce GTX 580SC. The system also has a pair of 1080p monitors attached. The goal was to live with the OS for a few days as my primary operating system and see just how usable it is in its current state. The bottomline: not ready yet. That’s not a criticism. After all, the Windows 8 Developer’s Build released during last week’s Microsoft Build conference was labeled pre-beta. The OS itself seems pretty solid. Installation was similar to installing Windows 7, though you do need to be careful, or you’ll end up with a login ...
Microsoft 'has lost $5.5 billion on Bing'
By TechRadar, published 22-09-2011
A new report suggests that Microsoft is losing $1 billion a quarter on Bing, its search engine, with total losses so far reaching $5.5 billion.This is according to CNN Money, which has gotten its calculator out and totted up the total losses Microsoft has made on Bing and revealed that the company's online search division has never actually made a profit. According to CNN, since it started revealing the finances of the unit in 2007 it has made a total loss of $9 billion.People will expect more from searchThe losses are despite Microsoft gaining good ground in the search market. ComScore is tracking the search engine as having a 14.7 per cent share of the market, with Google at 64.8 per cent. Despite the massive disparity in percentages between the two companies, Microsoft is gaining in the...
Analysis: The elephant in the room for Windows 8
By TechRadar, published 22-09-2011
Windows 8 is coming. We've heard all about it, poked around with it and really rather like it. What Microsoft is doing is good and, what's more, it might breed a whole new range of multipurpose computing devices that go beyond the tablet.But the OS presents one massive issue that Microsoft has yet to fully answer: how will it tell people they can't run legacy apps on ARM versions of the OS?At a closed Windows on ARM demo I attended at CES in January, Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky made it crystal clear that legacy x86 apps wouldn't have any way of working on new ARM-based Windows systems.So how will Microsoft tell people and help them to work out what's what?After all, we're all used to buying a Windows PC and sticking all and sundry on it. If people can't do this with an ARM-based Windows ta...
3D-enabled Flash Player 11 coming next month
By TechReport, published 22-09-2011
Unfazed by the cold shoulder Microsoft seems to be giving it, Adobe has announced a new version of its Flash Player designed to usher in real-time, "console-quality" 3D graphics. Adobe Flash Player 11 is due out in early October, and it will be accompanied by a new AIR 3 runtime, the company says.Flash Player 11's new three-dimensional functionality is dubbed Stage 3D, which Adobe defines as a "new architecture for hardware accelerated graphics rendering that delivers 1000x faster rendering performance ...Read more...
Is NBA Jam: On Fire Edition Worth The Price of Admission?
By GameInformer, published 21-09-2011
Wondering what the On Fire Edition of NBA Jam brings to the hardcourt? Producer Cody Sawatsky breaks down all the new features in a new video. Take a gander at the over-the-top arcade action yourself as Sawatsky does his best to sell you on throwing down your hard-earned cash to throw down thundering dunks with a who's-who of NBA all-stars. (Please visit the site to view this media) NBA Jam: On Fire Edition costs $14.99 (that's 1,200 in Microsoft carnival money) – not bad considering a lot of people paid $50 for the retail version of the game last year. It hits PSN on October 4, but if you're a 360 owner you'll have to suck it up and wait another day for the game to hit Xbox Live.
NPD is dead wrong, Android has nothing to worry about
By SlashGear, published 21-09-2011
Just yesterday a report was released that we reported on which essentially said that Android had better watch its back because Microsoft’s Windows phone 7 was coming. It certainly is true that the release of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango may boost sales a bit, the report, created by research firm NPD’s Connected Intelligence unit, should [...]
Oracle To Phase Out x86-Based Servers
By MaximumPC, published 21-09-2011
When Oracle acquired Sun last year, it did so for things like the Java platform and the Solaris operating system, not servers running on Intel's x86 architecture. In fact, even though Sun thought it could become a major seller of x86 servers prior to the buyout, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison now says that the company makes next to no money on them and plans to start phasing x86-based servers out entirely in 2012 favor of more profitable Solaris/SPARC-based hardware. "I do not care if our commodity x86 business goes to zero. We do not make any money selling those things,” Xbit Labs reports Ellision as saying in a conference call with several financial analysts. “We have no interest in selling other people's intellectual property; commodity x86 includes Intel (intellectual property) and Micro...
Metro styling injected into Windows 8 boot process
By TechReport, published 21-09-2011
Microsoft has updated its Building Windows 8 blog again, and this time, it's talking about changes to the boot process. With Windows 8 focused on bringing tablets into the fray, it's no surprise that elements of the boot process have been optimized for touch-based input. They've also been given a Metro-style makeover, which is at least a visual improvement over current text-based boot options that look straight outta DOS. Take it away, Billie Sue: ...Read more...
Burnout Crash comes to Xbox 360 and PS3
By SlashGear, published 21-09-2011
EA has announced that the latest Criterion video game is on Xbox 360 Xbox Live Arcade on the Playstation Network for the PS3 console and is called Burnout Crash. The video game is $9.99 for PS3 owners and 800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 gamers. The game seems to be based on the Crash Mode [...]
Tutorial: 50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets
By TechRadar, published 21-09-2011
50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secretsIt's far from finished, but the Developer Preview edition of Windows 8 is already packed with important additions, from the colourful Metro interface, to a revamped Explorer, appealing desktop applets, useful system repair options, and more.In places, though, Windows 8 is also very different to what's gone before. So if you've installed the new Windows 8 build, perhaps on a virtual machine but found yourself a little lost, don't worry - read our Windows 8 tips and tricks and you'll soon be back on track, and taking a close-up view at some of the best features Windows 8 has to offer.Windows 8 tips: getting started1. Lock screenLaunch Windows 8 and you'll first see the Lock screen, which appears whenever your system boots, resumes or you otherwise need to...
Report: 360 Getting Cable TV Later This Fall?
By GameInformer, published 20-09-2011
Microsoft may be in talks with cable companies to transform the 360 gaming console into a cable box. The news comes via a post at Digiday that went up yesterday, which cites multiple unnamed sources regarding conversations that the media giant is having with both Comcast and Verizon FiOS. The same reports indicate that the potential partnership would offer Xbox Live users the ability to access cable services without installing a separate cable box. Timing on the potential deals remains in flux, but one source indicated to Digiday that the new company relationships might be "imminent." The news comes in the wake of significant buzz about Microsoft expanding its Live TV options, both at E3 this year, and more recently a financial analyst meeting earlier this month. If the deal is ...
35: HotHardware's Two and A Half Geeks Webcast - Sept. 19, 2011
By HotHardware, published 19-09-2011
In this latest episode of HotHardware's Two and Half Geeks, Dave, Iyaz and Marco discuss the many announcements and happenings at the Intel Developers Forum 2011, Microsoft's Windows 8 Developer Preview, AMD's Guinness Book World Record-breaking 8GHz overclock of their upcoming FX processor, the OCZ Z-Drive R4 and details of our Labor Day...
Tokyo Game Show 2011 Report: Big Booths, Small Impact
By GameInformer, published 18-09-2011
I’m sitting at the airport in Japan right now with Tim Turi, waiting for our flight back to Minnesota. With the Tokyo Game Show behind us, we’re left with little in the way of blockbuster announcements or new hands-on experiences with upcoming titles. Even with this being my first time at the show, I could sense an air of disappointment amongst fellow gaming journalists that had been attending for years. The first indicator that something was amiss was when I went to the Microsoft booth on day one to see what they had available. I saw displays for huge titles like Skyrim and Rage, so I asked the PR rep if they were new builds specifically for the Tokyo Game Show. She informed me that all of the demos were identical to the ones from GamesCom and PAX that have already been shown...
Shippin' Out Sept. 18-24: Gears of War 3
By GameSpot, published 18-09-2011
Epic Games' trilogy capper joined by Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, Kirby Mass Attack at retail; Black Ops: Rezurrection comes to PS3, PC. Gears of War 3 marks the end of Epic Games' current story arc starring Marcus Fenix and his merry band of cogs, and early reviews indicate the trilogy is going out with a bang. However, Epic's sci-fi shooter isn't marching to the front lines alone, as the third week of September also marks the arrival of two DS exclusives from Nintendo as well as a stockpile of downloadable fare. Sera's fate will be determined next Tuesday. As for Gears of War 3, the game begins with the last human city having been obliterated and series hero Marcus Fenix trying to protect the remaining humans from the Locust horde, as well as fr...
Saturday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 17-09-2011
Eight is Enough Calgary Herald: CRTC tells Rogers to stop slowing down the speed of online games Microsoft Windows 8 (Aero + Metro) running on 128MB RAM Wired: Experimental Intel chip shows future of chip efficiency X-bit labs brings LGA 2011 and Sandy Bridge-E news from IDF 2011 VR-Zone covers IDF day 3: Multi-core, many-core, and many more Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture exposed at AnandTech Adobe Flash Platform Blog talks Flash support on Windows 8 and Metro Bethesda Blog announces Rage is ready Read more...
Friday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 16-09-2011
Eight is Enough Reuters: hp execs misled investors before August stock crash: lawsuit VR-Zone reports AMD benchmarks FX against Intel CPUs X-bit labs: Intel unveils details about research near-threshold voltage processor X-bit labs on Intel's Hybrid Memory Cube: When ultra high-density meets high-speed SemiAccurate reports Supermicro shows off a Larrabee box Fudzilla reports Intel SSDs to get SandForce and AMD switchable graphics support Intel CPUs Planet Battlefield: Battlefield 3 PC beta ready, waiting on Microsoft & Sony Research@Intel: Wolfenstein gets ray traced - now with more horsepower and new effects Read more...
Daytona USA rated for multiple platforms
By GameSpot, published 16-09-2011
Australian Classification Board shows new listing for a multiplatform version of Sega's classic arcade racer. According to a recent Classification Board of Australia listing, Sega could be gearing up for a rerelease of its smash hit arcade racer Daytona USA. The classifcation listing simply says the game was submitted for classification by Sega, was classified with a G rating on September 14, 2011, and will be multiplatform. Daytona USA already made a comeback last year when it was released in arcades under the name Sega Racing Classic. Sega has shown a predisposition in recent years to mine its catalog for rereleases, with Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and more finding their way to downloadable storefronts. The publisher's arcade ra...
The Zen Of Twisted Pixel: An Interview With Michael Wilford
By GameInformer, published 16-09-2011
[Photo by Lance Rosenfield] Twisted Pixel Games is a tight-knit studio in Austin founded by ex-High Voltage developers Michael Wilford, Josh Bear, and Frank Wilson. The studio is known for humorous, challenging XBLA games like The Maw, Splosion Man, and the upcoming retail Kinect game, The Gunstringer. We recently spoke with CEO Michael Wilford about the company’s unique story, development philosophy, and view of the game industry.You worked at High Voltage, which is known more for licensed products and porting. How did that experience inform your vision for Twisted Pixel?It’s really important, because High Voltage generally have a reputation for turning out games pretty quickly and doing a lot of licensed stuff….While I was there the teams were small for what they were...
Honey Badgers And Basketball Are Together At Last
By GameInformer, published 15-09-2011
Playing off of the Honey Badger video narration internet meme, the latest NBA Jam: On Fire Edition trailer shows that the game will feature cameos from the world's most fearless animal. The trailer offers more than that though, confirming the price of the game on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network as well as a huge roster of modes and features that intentionally fly by too fast to be able to see them all. NBA Jam: On Fire Edition releases on Xbox LIVE on October 5 and the PlayStation Network on October 4. The games will cost 1200 Microsoft points and $14.99 respectively. (Please visit the site to view this media) If you don't know what the big deal is about the Honey Badger, then click here (warning: the video contains some racy language, as well as snake eating). If you w...
Windows 8's Metro browser won't support plug-ins—or Flash
By TechReport, published 15-09-2011
There's been talk of replacing Flash with HTML5 across many corners of the industry, but Microsoft might have taken the boldest step yet. On the official Building Windows 8 blog earlier this morning, Microsoft revealed that the Metro version of Internet Explorer 10 will be "plug-in free." Translation: no Flash.Users will encounter the Metro version of IE10 when they boot up into Windows 8's new, touch-friendly tile interface. Windows Division President Steven Sinofsky notes that plug-ins like Flash will remain supported in the ...Read more...
Crimson Alliance - GR Review
By Game Revolution, published 14-09-2011
Hack. Pay ten bucks. Slash. Pay fifteen. THUNDERBOLT! Crimson Alliance is the latest hack-'n'-slash game to hit the Xbox Live Arcade. This time, though, they're trying something different; not exactly with the gameplay—as the game is pretty much what you've come to expect in a console dungeon crawler, with a lot of enemies to kill and loot to crave for—but with microtransactions. The thing that you should pay attention to first when playing Crimson Alliance is what class you want your character to be, if you want to pay less for the game. To put it simply, the first payment option is to pick a class and stick to it. There's the option to just buy all the classes at once and pay a bit more, but in my experience with the game, this 'select-a-class'...
Minecraft Adventure Update launched
By GameSpot, published 14-09-2011
Version 1.8 of open-ended PC game introduces randomly generated dungeons, new creatures, sprinting, critical attacks, and more. Gamers now have more ways than ever to lose themselves in Mojang's indie gaming phenomenon Minecraft. The developer today launched version 1.8 of the game, "The Adventure Update," with an array of requested and anticipated new features. How deep can Minecraft go? Among the changes found in the patch notes are randomly generated houses, ravines, and dungeons, experience orb drops from monsters, silverfish, cave spiders, Endermen mobs, critical hits, and sprinting. Also, pigs have snouts now. Minecraft--still in beta--has been in development since 2009. However, that unfinished state hasn't prevented the game from garnering acc...
BUILD Conference: What We Know Now About Windows 8
By MaximumPC, published 14-09-2011
We share our updated impressions of Windows 8 from Microsoft's BUILD Conference Day one of Microsoft’s BUILD Developer conference is over. Conference attendees have received their Samsung Developer Tablets, and information overload has set in. Though this event is specifically targeted at developers, there is a wealth of information for the consumer to digest. Let’s look at some of the key features we learned about today, as well as some that we’ve received more detail into. Metro Apps The number one difference you will see in Windows 8 is all about Metro Apps. If you’ve been following the evolution of Windows Phone 7 you won’t need much of an introduction to the Metro design language. Essentially the idea stems from Microsoft attempting to create consistent interface elements an...
Xbox Live Confirmed For Windows 8
By GameInformer, published 14-09-2011
Microsoft is eager to expand its Xbox Live service beyond the console space, as demonstrated by its integration with Windows Phone 7, and it looks like that strategy is going to expand even further next year. Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox Live is coming to PCs next year, when the new Windows 8 operating system launches. "Bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy," wrote Microsoft's Larry Hryb on his Major Nelson blog. "At BUILD we are showing that it is easy for developers to create games for Windows 8 that take advantage of the power of Xbox Live. We have much more detail to share about the capabilities of Xbox Live on Windows and look forward to the opportunit...
Question Of The Month Reader Responses: Issue #222
By GameInformer, published 13-09-2011
A few months ago we asked our readers what their favorite announcements were at this year's E3. The latest issue of Game Informer breaks down the love readers have for Halo 4 and Luigi's Mansion, but there was plenty more to get excited about at this year's show. Here are some more responses from your fellow gamers. Hello, Halo: What was my favorite E3 announcement? That is easy, Halo 4! Why? Halo is the best franchise ever. It has given so much to the gaming industry and it is the only reason I own an Xbox 360.Matthew Prestage My favorite announcement from E3 was when 343 Industries announced Halo 4. When I heard that Bungie would no longer be producing the series, I was heartbroken. They did such a good job with the series, I wasn't ready to give it up. But when I saw ...
Google commits to optimise Android for Intel smartphones
By TechRadar, published 13-09-2011
Google and Intel today announced a continuation of its 'strategic alliance' specifically aimed at making sure its Android operating system is "optimised the best it possibly can be for the Intel architecture."A rather flustered-looking Andy Rubin, Senior VP Mobile for Google, took to the stage with Intel CEO, Paul Otellini, at this year's Intel Developer Forum here in San Francisco to make the announcement.Rubin announced that going forward all future releases of Android will be optimised, from the kernel level upwards, for the Intel mobile platform."Every time we collaborate with Google good things come out of it," said Otellini.Intel is targeting the first half of 2012 for the release of its first Medfield-based smartphones via multiple worldwide manufacturers. Otellini a...
Google commits to optimise Android for Intel
By TechRadar, published 13-09-2011
Google and Intel today announced a continuation of its 'strategic alliance' specifically aimed at making sure its Android operating system is "optimised the best it possibly can be for the Intel architecture."A rather flustered-looking Andy Rubin, Senior VP Mobile for Google, took to the stage with Intel CEO, Paul Otellini, at this year's Intel Developer Forum here in San Francisco to make the announcement.Rubin announced that going forward all future releases of Android will be optimised, from the kernel level upwards, for the Intel mobile platform."Every time we collaborate with Google good things come out of it," said Ottelini.Intel is targeting the first half of 2012 for the release of its first Medfield-based smartphones via multiple worldwide manufacturers. Otellini a...
SanDisk Teams with Intel and Other Industry Heavyweights to Promote Low Power SATA Spec
By MaximumPC, published 13-09-2011
SanDisk is pushing hard for a new SATA standard that will purportedly enable OEMs to offer solid state drives with SATA performance while consuming significantly less power than today's devices. The spec is called SATA DEVSLP, and SanDisk has the support of several tech giants, including Intel, Samsung, and Microsoft, all of which have a vested interest in reducing power requirements for mobile devices. "Mobile computing platforms such as Ultrabook devices and tablets are challenged to deliver the high performance and long battery life demanded by consumers," said Jeff Janukowicz, research director, solid state drives, IDC. "The intent of this initiative is to extend the SATA high-performance standard to better address these low power mobile applications. It's encouraging to see industry-w...
In Depth: 8 ways Windows 8 improves on Windows 7
By TechRadar, published 13-09-2011
Windows 8's key differencesWindows 8 has been shown off for developers at the Microsoft conference Build - and although the version is not complete, there are some key differences that we can pluck out from its popular predecessor. Windows 7 was a big hit for Microsoft, following on from the troublesome Windows Vista and reminding people that the Redmond giant was not quite ready to hang up its code just yet. And Windows 8 will now try to build on that and show that Windows can work on anything from tablets to televisions, and still dominate on laptops and desktops. Hands on: Windows 8 reviewHere are 8 key differences that Windows 8 brings...1. Touch friendlyObviously the most obvious difference between Windows 8 and its popular predecessor is the user interface. Windows 7 supported touch,...
In Depth: Hands on: Windows 8 review
By TechRadar, published 13-09-2011
Hands on: Windows 8 reviewAs expected, Microsoft is using its Build developer conference to distribute a pre-beta, developer preview version of Windows 8 (for x86 PCs only; the hardware to run the ARM version on isn't finished yet). Windows 8 is Microsoft's combined desktop, laptop and tablet operating system, designed to go from 10-inch touch-only tablets to big screens in your living room, from ultra-portable notebooks to massive gaming systems and business desktops. It's got the Windows Phone 7 Metro-style touch interface of live tiles, the Metro programming model for building web apps and native apps that run full screen and share information. Windows 8 also features gestures to put two apps on screen side by side, and the traditional Windows desktop for when you need richer apps like ...
Hands on: Fusion Garage Grid 10 review
By TechRadar, published 13-09-2011
Fusion Garage Grid 10The Fusion Garage Grid 10 is an Android tablet unlike any other.Of that there is absolutely no question.It uses a new operating system called Grid OS, which is only related to other Android tablets in that it's built on top of the Android kernel. The kernel is the basic central component of the OS, which acts as the communications bridge between the apps and the hardware.The upshot of this to the user is that the graphical user interface is completely different to any version of Android, but it still has the capacity to run Android apps. We'll come back to that a little further down the page.Fusion Garage's Chandra Rathakrishnan with the Grid 10The Grid 10 is fairly standard-sized for a 10.1-inch tablet. It weighs 689g, and is powered by the familiar Nvidia Tegra 2 chi...
Black Ops Rezurrection DLC Invades PlayStation 3, PC Next Week
By GameInformer, published 09-12-2011
Come September 22, Call of Duty: Black Ops owners on the PlayStation 3 and PC will be knee deep in undead. For $14.99, you get remade versions of the four World at War maps that kicked off the Call of Duty zombie craze, plus a new map that takes the undead invasion to the moon. You can take a look at the trailer showcasing the space action here, or read Dan's impressions of the DLC pack here. To give you incentive to stop the zombie uprising, Activision will host a double XP marathon September 23-25.
Can The Console Version Of Crysis Stand Up To Its PC Predecessor?
By GameInformer, published 09-12-2011
As we reported back in June, there was a likelihood that the PC classic Crysis was headed to consoles via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Now you can see how the demanding PC game performs on consoles with a new gameplay video. The game that brought PCs to their knees and wowed critics with its impressive graphics and open-world gameplay is finally getting its due on consoles. Built on the back of CryEngine 3, the remastered port sports a number of enhancements, including a new lighting system, new effects, and additional Nanosuit controls. One thing it won't have is multiplayer; this is strictly the single-player campaign. Check out the trailer here: (Please visit the site to view this media) I'm glad console owners will finally have a chance to play this game, but the timing...
Shippin' Out Sept. 11-17: God of War Origins
By GameSpot, published 09-11-2011
PS3 compilation of Kratos' PSP exploits joined in stores by NHL 12, and Twisted Pixel's Gunstringer; downloadable debuts topped by free Red Dead Redemption add-on. Between Resistance 3, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, Driver: San Francisco, Dead Island, and Star Fox 3DS, the first full week of September was chock full of high-profile new releases. The second week lets up ever so slightly, with a new PlayStation 3 compilation of Kratos' portable conquests leading a slate featuring EA Sports' annual hockey sim, Twisted Pixel's first Kinect game, and a free downloadable add-on to last year's smash hit Red Dead Redemption. God of War Origins will let gamers find out what makes Kratos tick. Besides all-consuming rage. The God of War: Origins Collection brings togeth...
Shippin' Out Sept. 11-17: God of War Origins
By GameSpot, published 09-11-2011
PS3 compilation of Kratos' PSP exploits joined in stores by NHL 12 and Twisted Pixel's Gunstringer; downloadable debuts topped by free Red Dead Redemption add-on. With Resistance 3, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, Driver: San Francisco, Dead Island, and Star Fox 3DS, the first full week of September was chock-full of high-profile new releases. The second week lets up ever so slightly, with a new PlayStation 3 compilation of Kratos' portable conquests leading a slate featuring EA Sports' annual hockey sim, Twisted Pixel's first Kinect game, and a free downloadable add-on to last year's smash hit Red Dead Redemption. God of War Origins will let gamers find out what makes Kratos tick. Besides all-consuming rage. The God of War: Origins Collection brings toge...
Patriot Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 09-11-2011
7 Up Microsoft download from The Garage: Mouse without Borders Computerworld: Adobe brings Flash-free-Flash to Apple iPad, iPhone ZDNet: Nokia chief outlines Windows Phone strategy; warns of Android 'uncertainty' Joystiq reports Minecraft 1.8 update leaked by Mojang RPS: Actually, it's okay to complain Discovery Channel: Boost your Wi-Fi signal using only a beer can BBC News: Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 Read more...
Xbox 360 dashboard update beta in October
By SlashGear, published 09-10-2011
Microsoft is getting ready to launch a major update for its Xbox 360 dashboard later this fall, with beta testing to roll out in October. The revamped interface will mean easier, faster navigation, and integration of more Kinect voice commands to search for movies, music, games, and more. VentureBeat got an early preview and had [...]
Review: BlackBerry Torch 9810
By TechRadar, published 09-09-2011
Overview, design and feelThis time last year, BlackBerry fans were salivating at the imminent release of the Torch 9800. For the first time, those who'd been demanding a touchscreen smartphone from RIM (without SurePress, which we'll just gloss over) were getting their way with the safety net of a keyboard below that slid out. On top of that was 3G, a 5MP camera and the brand spanking new OS. What wasn't to love?And 12 months on we feel like we're experiencing a bit of deja-vu, because the Torch 9810 is now hitting shelves. And to look at it, not much has changed. The only thing that you'll notice as being really different on the exterior is the material it's made from. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 has been given less a makeover and more a new jacket. Gone is the black and dark chrome fascia,...
Original Crysis Coming To XBLA/PSN
By GameInformer, published 09-09-2011
Earlier this summer, the ESRB and other worldwide ratings boards let slip that EA was looking to bring 2007's PC title Crysis to consoles, and today the company has confirmed it. The single-player portion of the game will be available as a downloadable title for Xbox 360 and PS3 sometime in October. The game will be remastered for consoles, adding new visual effects, lighting, and more. Although given how crazy the tech specs were for the original, it'll be interesting to see if today's consoles can match how good a top-notch title from four years ago looked on PC. Crysis will be available for $19.99 on PSN and 1600 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live Arcade.
Windows 8 to cut boot times dramatically
By TechReport, published 09-09-2011
Judging by our latest poll, nearly half of TR readers still shut down their PC when it's not in use. Those folks will no doubt be happy to hear that, with Windows 8, Microsoft will reduce boot times substantially.The company says it has implemented a "fast startup mode" that's a "hybrid of traditional cold boot and resuming from hibernate." User sessions are closed, just like during a traditional shutdown, but the kernel session is hibernated. That kernel session has a small memory footprint, so it can be written to the disk ...Read more...
Super fast Windows 8 boot time demoed
By TechRadar, published 09-09-2011
Microsoft has revealed that Windows 8 will boot in just 8 short seconds and to prove it, the company has posted a video of the upcoming OS doing just that. In a lengthy blog post explaining the whys and wherefores of how Microsoft teased the software into an 8 second boot-up, Gabe Aul explains that the new solution is "a fast start-up mode which is a hybrid of traditional cold boot and resuming from hibernate." It's all down to hibernating the kernel session rather than closing it down completely and starting it back up again. Hibernate that kernelIn addition, the development team added a new feature that uses all the cores in a multi-core system in parallel; this splits the work of reading the hibernating kernel file and decompressing the contents - so both can be done at once, he...
Zen Studios And Team Meat Scuffle On Twitter, Promptly Make Up
By GameInformer, published 09-09-2011
Team Meat hasn't minced words when discussing their experience dealing with Microsoft during the development and release of Super Meat Boy. Recently another indie developer, Pinball FX 2 creator Zen Studios, offered their own take on working with Microsoft, which caused some heated words between the two studios – only to lead to a cordial invitation to work together. Zen Studios provided Gamertag Radio with an email response the studio wrote regarding Team Meat's GDC speech, which was highly critical of Microsoft. The email, which Zen Studios describes as "a bit of a rant on the other side of the Team Meat negativity," calls out Team Meat for publicly bashing Microsoft so severely and so often. This led to some harsh Twitter exchanges between Team Meat and Zen Stud...
3DS sales soar 260% in August
By GameSpot, published 09-09-2011
Nintendo touts dramatic surge in demand as Sony blames supply constraints for PS3 demand; Xbox 360 again tops hardware. Nintendo took drastic action in August to breathe some life into the 3DS. Suffering from anemic demand since its introduction in March, the $250 3D-enabled handheld became the $170 3D-enabled handheld in the US. The good news for Nintendo and its third-party partners is the price cut seems to be having its desired effect. The 3DS showed signs of life in August. As part of NPD's US retail sales report today, Nintendo announced that, following the price cut, 3DS sales in August were up 260 percent over the comparable 19-day period in July. All said, the 3DS sold 235,000 units during the month, making it the second-best-selling gaming ...
Nokia boasts higher app download numbers than Apple
By TechRadar, published 09-08-2011
Nokia might not be the most popular smartphone manufacturer any more, but it seems its Ovi Store is the place to be for budding developers.According to mobile analytics specialists research2guidance, which rated the amount of times a single app was downloaded on average, a single app on Nokia's Ovi Store will be downloaded 160% more often than an app on Apple's App Store.Of course, this should be put in context: there are nearly ten times more applications on Apple's platform than Nokia's, but it seems that lack of competition combined with a thirst for apps from users means developers will get a higher download ratio on their efforts from the Finnish firm.Smaller is biggerThe numbers show that smaller app stores on mainstreams platforms are the place to be, with Microsoft's Windows Phone ...
Rotastic Hitting XBLA In Two Weeks
By GameInformer, published 09-08-2011
Dancing Dots' DLG Rotastic is swinging over to Xbox Live Arcade in just a couple of weeks. Get ready to practice your swinging. And no, not that kind. The game plays like a hybrid of Bejeweled and Cut the Rope, with characters frantically swinging around 2D levels to snatch jewels as quickly as possible. It'll be available September 21 on XBLA for 800 Microsoft Points. PS3 and PC players, don't fret. It'll be out on those platforms in the first quarter of 2012.
Updated: Windows 8: everything you need to know
By TechRadar, published 09-07-2011
Windows 8: what you need to knowThe Windows 8 picture is becoming clearer. Following on from the slides allegedly leaked in June 2010 by a software engineer at HP, Microsoft has outed far more details about the interface design. Microsoft says Windows 8 is a reimagining of Windows, "from the chip to the interface" and has launched an Engineering Windows 8 blog. The corporation has promised that a pre-release Windows 8 build will be available to the public. Microsoft says that "a Windows 8-based PC is really a new kind of device, one that scales from touch-only small screens through to large screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse." Opinion: Windows 8 could make you rethink buying iPad 3Indeed, the new OS appears to have two completely separate interfaces - one, a trad...
Yahoo 'open to selling itself' after ousting CEO
By TechRadar, published 09-07-2011
Busy day for Yahoo – not only has the company given ex-CEO Carol Bartz the old heave ho, but it may also be up for sale. At least, that's what an insider would have us believe, having told the Wall Street Journal that 'Yahoo is open to selling itself to the right bidder'.Rumours are now swirling about which companies may be interested in picking up the once popular search engine company. Any old ironMicrosoft made an unsuccessful bid for Yahoo shortly before Carol Bartz was hired in 2009, so it is currently considered one of the front-runners. AOL is also cropping up in most of the speculation; rumours that the company was interested in merging with Yahoo have surfaced before – with AOL currently in a state of flux, could Yahoo provide the anchoring it needs?The other possibility is th...
Gary Marshall: What Yahoo needs now is an innovator
By TechRadar, published 09-07-2011
Yahoo fired its boss yesterday- and it did it by phone: as Tapbot developer Paul Haddad quipped, "they were going to use Yahoo! Messenger but couldn't find anyone with it installed." Carol Bartz was hired to sort out Yahoo, but it seems the job was too big for her.That's not a surprise. "Let's fix Yahoo!" is a challenge akin to making the Dundee accent sexy or persuading people that merchant bankers are good guys. It's tough enough at the best of times, and tougher still if you bring in the wrong person.The problem's much bigger than having the wrong boss, though. It's that Yahoo doesn't appear to know what the hell it's doing.The vision thingYahoo is trying to be two kinds of company: a technology firm and a media firm. Sadly it isn't being too successful with either role....
In Depth: Top 50 best Linux apps 2011
By TechRadar, published 09-07-2011
Top 50 best Linux apps 2011For everyone at Linux Format magazine and most of its readers, computers and Linux are a passion. Linux is perfect: its open source nature and excellent shell make it the ultimate hobbyist's operating system. Fortunately, there's a huge number of top-class applications available as well: market leading packages for professional and consumer level media creation, tools for developers, systems administrators and students - as well as great games to help you procrastinate on a Friday. Here we introduce you to the 50 best apps for Linux. We didn't just want the 50 most popular, so we asked our readers on TuxRadar for their favourites in a bid to discover some little-known gems. The response was overwhelming. You introduced us to great programs that we'd never heard o...
Scrub Your PC Clean: Remove Malware in Four Easy Steps
By MaximumPC, published 09-06-2011
Malware sucks. In the best-case scenario, it craps up your system with unwanted files and occasionally makes itself known in the form of a persistent pop-up window or annoying browser-based toolbar. In the worst-case scenario, malware completely takes over your desktop or laptop and ruins your life. Your system slows it to a crawl. You can’t even boot into Windows in the time it takes you to walk to the kitchen and back. Your data gets sent off to a faraway Internet land or, worse, your actual keystrokes are recorded for some unsavory individual to see. Malware locks down you browser, making you unable to actually do any browsing without being carted off to some bogus domain. You can barely run a program in Windows without getting bombarded by fa...
Two Saturn titles from Treasure dated for Xbox Live
By GameSpot, published 09-06-2011
Vertically scrolling shooter Radiant Silvergun hits September 14 for $15; Guardian Heroes follows October 12 with $10 price tag attached. Two tough-to-find Treasure games are set to get a lot less scarce in the coming weeks. Microsoft has confirmed a September 14 downloadable release for Radiant Silvergun on the Xbox 360, while Sega sent word separately that Guardian Heroes will arrive on Xbox Live October 12. Guardian Heroes will have an optional filter to bring the visuals into HD. Released to critical acclaim in 1998, Radiant Silvergun has never seen an official release in North America. The vertically scrolling shooter has players controlling the titular starfighters as they fly through a variety of time periods with three main weapons that can b...
Halo 4 narrative designer jumps ship
By GameSpot, published 09-06-2011
[UPDATE]: Ryan Payton leaves 343 Industries to start new studio, says he was no longer "creatively excited" about upcoming first-person shooter; Microsoft downplays impact of departure. Halo 4 may mark the return of Master Chief when it is launched next year, but the game has already marked the departure of a high-profile developer. As reported by Kotaku, Halo 4 creative director Ryan Payton has left 343 Industries to start his own new studio, Camouflaj. Halo 4 wasn't creatively exciting its narrative designer. "I had a great run at Microsoft," Payton told the blog. "I don't regret one day of it. But after a few years, there came a point where I wasn't creatively excited about the project anymore…The Halo I wanted to build was fundamentally differ...
Review: BlackBerry Torch 9860
By TechRadar, published 09-06-2011
Overview and designIt's taken a ridiculously long time to come, but this is it. This is the one. After the clickable screen of the BlackBerry Storm 2 and the touchscreen-with-slide-out-keyboard shenanigans of the original BlackBerry Torch, RIM has finally released a proper touchscreen smartphone.No ands or buts – the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen, and that's it. Granted, the iPhone managed a similar-ish feat in 2007, but RIM's insistence in holding on to the designs that made it big in the first place have held it back from this moment.This 3.7-inch touchscreen the largest RIM has ever made, it's also the highest resolution, with a handy 480 x 800 pixels on display. Which is good, because you want the new BlackBerry OS 7 to look its best, don't you?Powering t...
Not A Review
By GameInformer, published 09-05-2011
A few weeks after launch, my initial judgement of Age of Empires Online holds up: This MMO take on real-time strategy is a great fit for casual and moderate RTS players, but can't compete with StarCraft II or Company of Heroes for competitive multiplayer. The good parts of AOEO are like if you stretched out a traditional RTS single-player campaign over hundreds of hours and mixed it with the multiple progression paths of a traditional MMO like World of Warcraft. How appealing that sounds to you is an excellent indicator of whether or not AOEO is worth your money. Most of AOEO's hundreds of scenarios fall into the same major categories we've seen in RTS for years. Defend your base, or an ally or two's bases, for a set time. Blow up the enemy base. Rescue these guys from the...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 09-03-2011
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadarIn case you haven't noticed this week has seen the IFA gadget and tech show taking place in Berlin and as such, we've been able to get our hands on a host of new tech toys.We've been playing with tablets, TVs, phones, cameras and more.Read on to discover the kit that's impressed us this week.Hands on: Sony Tablet S reviewSony has officially launched its new Tablet S at IFA 2011.The new 9.4-inch tab is powered by Nvidia's Tegra 2 processor and features the Android Honeycomb operating system. It's version 3.1 which will be upgradeable to 3.2.The Sony Tablet S UK release date is September. A Wi-Fi/3G version of the Tablet S has a UK release date of November 2011 - this will ship with Android 3.2 from the off.Hands on: Sony Tablet P reviewYes, it's an od...
Everything You Need To Know About Modern Warfare 3 (So Far)
By GameInformer, published 09-02-2011
For the last few years, there hasn't a surer bet in the gaming industry than the annual Call of Duty incarnation putting up astronomical sales numbers. With the shakeup at Infinity Ward and the looming threat of a serious competitor in Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3 is a critical moment in the series' history. Will it continue to dominate the FPS market, or has the franchise already seen its peak? Read on to learn everything we know about the game so far. World War 3 From the very first teaser trailers, we knew this direct followup to Modern Warfare 2 would be a globetrotting affair. Thirty-second clips made it clear that populated urban areas in France, Germany, England, and the USA were under attack. As we neared E3, more details began to emerge. Our own Phil Kollar got to che...
New Call of Duty-Themed 360 Model Announced
By GameInformer, published 09-02-2011
Want a 360 that proves how much you love Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Activision and Microsoft have you covered. The new limited edition 360 bundle was announced at the Call of Duty XP event. It costs you $399.99, and it's apparently gone through war itself before arriving at your house. At least, that's what we can take from the release which lists the new console coming with a "battle worn" 360 S console and two "battle worn" controllers. Personally, after the trouble we've had with our red-ringed 360 consoles, we wouldn't mind a little less battle-wear, but maybe that's beside the point. The new systems will come with a copy of Modern Warfare 3 packed in when it releases on November 8th. Not coincidentally, that's the same day MW 3 will be...
IFA 2011: Hands on: Ford SYNC review
By TechRadar, published 09-02-2011
Yesterday Ford announced plans to bring its SYNC in-car infotainment platform to millions here at IFA 2011. But is it any good? To find out, TechRadar got its sticky fingers on a SYNC-equipped Focus.Initial impressions are good. SYNC boasts a big 8-inch touchscreen. It's much larger than those found in most competing C-segment cars, such as the VW Golf or Vauxhall Astra.Just as important, the interface looks slicker and responds more swiftly, too. Admittedly, the SYNC screen is clearly lower resolution and the graphics aren't as polished as BMW's market-leading iDrive system. But given the Focus's positioning, SYNC's visuals look best-in-class.In terms of both interface layout and core functionality, SYNC is based on a "four corners" structure, including connectivity, media playbac...
Update: Complete List Of Avatar Awards
By GameInformer, published 09-02-2011
The list has been updated with new Avatar Awards for Forza 4 and Castle Crashers. If you'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on games rather than clothing for your Xbox 360 Avatar, yet still like the idea of dressing him or her in video game garb, several games offer Avatar clothing and items as rewards when specific game challenges are completed. Below is a complete list of awards that are available so far, or have been announced for upcoming games. We'll continue to update this list as new avatar awards are unearthed. After Burner ClimaxAfter Burner T-Shirt – Unlock every EX optionGold Flight Helmet – Obtain one of every medal type in Score Attack Alan WakeJacket and Scarf – Play the Limited Collector's Edition Bonus disc Alien Breed 2Barne's Helmet &...
Lawsuit alleges Microsoft collects WP7 location data without permission
By Thinkdigit, published 09-02-2011
iOS came under fire a while back, and now, Windows Phone 7 might just share a similar fate for its alleged location tracking. A report published by a security researcher apparently shows WP7’s camera application transmitting a variety of location data, the user’s unique ID, as well as nearby Wi-Fi access points, to Microsoft. A lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft, asking for class-action status, claiming that the Redmond giant is in violation of a variety of communications and [...] Read the entire article
[Update] Radiant Silvergun Dated For XBLA
By GameInformer, published 09-01-2011
[Update] A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that the September 14 release date Treasure revealed on its site is indeed a worldwide date. Start practicing those twitch reflexes. [Original story] At last year's TGS, Microsoft announced that Treasure's classic arcade/Saturn shooter Radiant Silvergun would be coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Since then, there hasn't been any information about when it's coming. Well, it looks as though Treasure may have outed the game's release date on its own. According to the studio's official website, Radiant Silvergun is coming on September 14 for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15). Of course, that could only apply to Japan. Microsoft is typically cagey about providing release dates for Xbox Live Arcade, aside from when it's running lo...
Burnout Crash skids out Sept. 20
By GameSpot, published 31-08-2011
Criterion Games' downloadable destruction-focused spin-off to arcade racing series set to arrive on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 with $10 price tag attached. Burnout Crash may have missed its August appointment with Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, but Electronic Arts isn't letting its racing series spin-off drift too far into the future. The publisher today announced that the Criterion Games-developed downloadable game will debut on September 20 at a $10 price point. It's the combo multipliers that really make your insurance premiums soar. Burnout Crash is a top-down take on the Burnout series' signature crash mode, which challenges players to wreck their rides in spectacular fashion, taking as much municipal property and other vehicles with...
Buy A Kinect, Get Child Of Eden Free
By GameInformer, published 31-08-2011
Microsoft has announced that gamers who purchase a Kinect will now get Child of Eden free in addition to the peripheral's pack-in title, Kinect Adventures. Major Nelson revealed that Q Entertainment's trippy shooter will be available via a download code in new Kinect bundles, which will retail at the peripheral's standard $150 price tag. The bundle features a sticker of Child of Eden on the front of the box for easy identification, but there are reportedly limited quantities, so be prepared to bludgeon your way through a throng of casual gamers to get your copy. Don't worry, though – casual gamers probably won't put up much of a fight. For more on Child of Eden, check out our review. [via Gamasutra]
Child of Eden added to Kinect bundle
By GameSpot, published 30-08-2011
Motion-sensing camera peripheral to be packed in with code to download Tetsuya Mizuguchi's latest music-driven on-rails shooter starting next week. Child of Eden may have been orphaned upon its retail launch, but the Ubisoft-published on-rails shooter has been adopted by Microsoft for inclusion in a new Kinect hardware bundle. Microsoft has announced that starting next week, a limited number of specially marked Kinect packages would hit stores with Kinect Adventures and a code to download Child of Eden packed into the box. The bundle will be priced the same as the standard Kinect package (suggested price of $150), and it will be available in all Xbox Live markets except Japan, where Child of Eden has not yet seen release. Kinect: Now with a free Child ...
Windows 8 offers native ISO mounting support
By TechReport, published 30-08-2011
Microsoft has a new post up on its Building Windows 8 blog. This time, the company is detailing the operating system's native support for ISO files. Double-clicking on an ISO will automatically mount it using a virtual optical drive. To kill the virtual drive, simply eject the virtual disc.In addition to mounting ISO files, Windows 8 will perform a similar trick with the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files used by virtual machines. The approach here is almost identical: double-click ...Read more...
Updated: Windows 8 tablets: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 30-08-2011
Microsoft's been pushing tablet computers for the best part of a decade, so you can imagine how happy the iPad's success makes them. But Microsoft doesn't give up easily, and Windows 8 tablets will emerge. So what's Steve Ballmer going to be shouting about when he shows them off?Windows 8 tablets will have a new touch interfaceAs we saw from the recent Windows 8 preview, Windows 8 tablets will have a marvellous new interface that looks rather like Windows Phone 7. "Fast, fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact," says Microsoft's head of Windows Experience Julie Larson-Green. "Although the new user interface is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse and keyboard. ...
Go Back In Time With Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection Trailer
By GameInformer, published 30-08-2011
The Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection is available for download today on the PlayStation Network and tomorrow on the Xbox 360. It bundles the first three arcade games in the series—Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3—for about $10. A new trailer shows off the old-school action, in case you forgot what it looked like. The collection supports online multiplayer and includes leaderboards, achievements, and trophies. It'll set you back $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points. Watch the trailer below to see what it took to create hysteria nearly two decades ago. Yes, we lived in a simpler time. Memories... (Please visit the site to view this media)
What's Coming In Halo 4?
By GameInformer, published 30-08-2011
If you care about the Halo franchise, it’s likely that you’re already clued in to some big changes on the way to the series. Creator and longtime steward of the series, Bungie, has finally moved on to its own new venture, leaving one of video games’ most beloved series in the hands of an untested studio – 343 Industries. But while 343’s development muscle is yet to be confirmed, the company has been working behind the scenes for years now as the overseer of the Halo brand. With a new studio in place, and an open universe of stories to explore, what can we expect out of Halo 4? We’ve examined info that has emerged from E3 back in June all the way up through this weekend’s Halo Fest at PAX, and pulled together some educated guesses about just what c...
Tetris Meets Minecraft Meets Cute Platformer In Microsoft Dream, Build, Play Winner
By GameInformer, published 29-08-2011
Microsoft has picked out a Dream, Build, Play winner for 2011, granting a single winner from the Xbox Live Indie Games channel a whopping $40,000 in cash. This year's winner combines a seemingly random bunch of gameplay styles into something surprisingly awesome. Blocks That Matter is a cutesy puzzle platformer created by Guillaume Martin. In the game, players control a tiny robot that can drill away at blocks or collect them and create Tetris shapes elsewhere in the level to help him progress. In addition to the nice check, Martin now has the option to turn his indie game into a proper Xbox Live Arcade release. Runner-ups this year include a space sim called Solar 2, an adventure title called TIC: Part 1, and an RPG/rhythm game mash-up titled Sequence. Each of these winners received ...
Microsoft wraps ribbon around Windows 8 Explorer interface
By TechReport, published 29-08-2011
Think Windows 8 is all about tablet-centric tiles? Think again. The Building Windows 8 blog has an interesting post on changes Microsoft is making to Windows Explorer. The old look is out, and an Office-style ribbon is in. Before you get too worried, note that Microsoft has attempted to "respect Explorer's heritage" by bringing back some features from the Windows XP Explorer, including the "up" folder navigation button.The post has quite a lot of information on how frequently various Explorer commands are used and whether those commands are invoked via the toolbar, hotkeys, or right-clicking. According to Microsoft, the new ribbon UI will put the most commonly used functions up front, while keeping the rest of Explorer's commands in "scenario-focused ...Read more.....
Gears of War 3 $30 season pass to include first four DLC packs
By GameSpot, published 29-08-2011
Microsoft and Epic Games offering bundled preorder for add-ons that would cost $45 if purchased separately; first content drop arriving in November. Gears of War 3 may have gone gold last week, but the game is far from finished. Epic Games and Microsoft today detailed downloadable content plans that will keep the development cogs turning for some time. Gears of War 3 lets players step into the gigantic shoes of Marcus Feenix one more time. The third-person shooter will receive at least four expansions in the next year, with the first arriving in November. If purchased separately, those packs will cost players 3,600 Microsoft points ($45). However, starting on the game's September 20 launch, players can enlist for the long haul, purchasing a "Season Pa...
Halo 4 First Part Of "Reclaimer Trilogy"
By GameInformer, published 28-08-2011
The final day of Penny Arcade Expo is upon us, and the exhibit halls are surprisingly empty. People didn't leave a day early, mind you. They're all crammed into an auditorium to catch 343 Industries' Halo 4 panel. Much of this discussion involved "we can't talk about this yet" and "we'd love to share more info with you, but at this time we can't'" type of responses, but one big piece of information was revealed: The new series of games is called the "Reclaimer Trilogy." "This trilogy is a direct continuation to the events in Halo 3. "It will deal with the fate of John and the fate of Cortana," says 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor. According to the Halo Nation wiki a Reclaimer is "an individual who, whethe...
First Hands-On
By GameInformer, published 28-08-2011
Valve's new entry in the Counter-Strike series feels very familiar, yet looks a lot better. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will include seven classic maps that feature the traditional bomb diffusion and hostage rescue modes. I played the former for a match and was instantly reminded of how different Counter-Strike is than most of today's shooters. There's no iron sight for most weapons. Deaths come quick and you're dead until the next round. You have to buy weapons between rounds with earned cash. The last entry in the series was in 2004, so the updated graphics bring things up to par with other modern shooters. But this isn't just an HD remake. The game will also include eight new maps with all-new modes. Unfortunately, Valve isn't talking about these yet, but t...
Researchers Say Cellular Networks Have Major Issues
By HotHardware, published 27-08-2011
A group of researchers from the University of Michigan and Microsoft Research released a paper titled An Untold Story of Middleboxes in Cellular Networks in which they reveal why and how cellular service is both sub-optimal and insecure. How did they do it? They developed a tool called NetPiculet, which uses intelligent measurement to probe...
Crimson Alliance Has A Pricing Plan For Every Type Of Player
By GameInformer, published 27-08-2011
I've been personally excited for Crimson Alliance ever since first playing it at E3 2011. Now only a couple weeks from release, we have exclusive details on the unique pricing options Microsoft and developer Certain Affinity are offering with this Xbox Live Arcade hack-n-slash. Crimson Alliance is a co-op-focused action-RPG that features three classes -- the sword-wielding mercenary, the magical wizard, and the stealthy assassin. If you want to be able to freely choose between these classes, you can download the regular edition of the game for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). However, here's where things get interesting: If you're one of those people (like me) who knows for sure that you're only going to be playing one class, you can download a single class pack for 800 Micro...
Halo: CE going 3D
By GameSpot, published 26-08-2011
Xbox 360 remake of first game in sci-fi franchise to include full stereoscopic 3D support. While Sony and Nintendo have respectively made much of their console and handheld stereoscopic 3D pushes, Microsoft has mainly sat on the sidelines when it comes to the technology. That may be changing, as today the Xbox 360 maker announced that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will feature stereoscopic 3D support when it arrives in stores November 15. Halo: CE HD in 3D! Microsoft has said it is using a "custom made top-and-bottom 3D technology" to allow the game to run in stereoscopic 3D (a 3DTV will still be necessary to view the effect). Attendees to this year's Penny Arcade Expo will be able to see the game in 3D for themselves as part of the show's Halo Fest...
Halo: Anniversary going 3D
By GameSpot, published 26-08-2011
Xbox 360 remake of first game in sci-fi franchise to include full stereoscopic 3D support. While Sony and Nintendo have respectively made much of their console and handheld stereoscopic 3D pushes, Microsoft has mainly sat on the sidelines when it comes to the technology. That may be changing, as today the Xbox 360 maker announced that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will feature stereoscopic 3D support when it arrives in stores November 15. Halo: CE HD in 3D! Microsoft has said it is using a "custom made top-and-bottom 3D technology" to allow the game to run in stereoscopic 3D (a 3DTV will still be necessary to view the effect). Attendees to this year's Penny Arcade Expo will be able to see the game in 3D for themselves as part of the show's Halo Fest...
Seen At PAX 2011: Halo Fest
By GameInformer, published 26-08-2011
Gamers of all walks of life are slowly converging on PAX, the annual Penny Arcade Expo, one of the largest fan-centric gaming expos in the country. In the midst of all the video game hijinx, Microsoft and 343 Studios have set up Halo Fest, an elaborate tribute to Halo's 10 anniversary. Here fans can play Halo Anniversary, scope out all kinds of Halo memorabilia, and meet up with their Xbox Live gamer friends. Here are some of the sight and sounds of Halo Fest (real sounds not included) Weta's Worthog sits proudly displayed for fans to see Several statues of the Halo: Reach team are scattered around the event Some of the walls are lines with Halo fan art But this fan made pixel are might be the best thing on display A cool display made out of Halo Mega Blocks Other displays are a...
EA keeping Porsche out of Forza 4 - Turn 10
By GameSpot, published 25-08-2011
Microsoft racing studio says Need for Speed publisher took a U-turn on sublicensing sports car brand for latest installment in the Xbox 360-exclusive racing sim series. When Forza Motorsport 4 hits the street October 11, it will do so with a host of cars, modes, and features not seen in its predecessors. However, the new Forza is losing a series standard in the form of the Porsche license. Forza 4 will have plenty of cars, but no Porsche. In a post on the game's official site, Turn 10 community manager Brian Ekberg explained the absence. "As many of you know, since the beginning of the Forza franchise, the Porsche license has been available only through a sub-licensing deal with EA," Ekberg said. "In Forza 3, we were able to feature more than 35 dif...
Digital Release Of Sonic CD Confirmed
By GameInformer, published 25-08-2011
Today Sega confirmed Monday's rumor that Sonic CD is being re-released as a downloadable title, which is sure to please Sonic fans everywhere. Except one. News of a possible Sonic CD re-release originally arose on Monday, when Microsoft's Major Nelson fingered the title as being available to play at Microsoft's PAX booth. Today's official announcement from Sega reveals that in addition to coming to XBLA, Sonic CD will also be released on PlayStation Network, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Windows PC, Android, and Windows Phone. The title, which features the debut of Metal Sonic and Amy Rose, is a favorite among Sonic fans, according to Sega's vice president of digital business, Haruki Satomi. "Ask any Sonic fan to name their favorite games, and Sonic CD always ranks ne...
Sony Ericsson Xperia Android 2.3.4 update incoming
By TechRadar, published 25-08-2011
Sony Ericsson has announced that it is to give its Xperia 2011 range an Android spit and polish in October, with news that the handsets are to get an Android 2.3.4 update.The new Android update offers such niceties as improvements to video calling (with the integration of Google Talk) and a number of bug fixes to stop freezing and the like.New featuresSony Ericsson is also adding some of its own touches with new features such as 3D sweep panorama and better integration with Facebook announced.The new update will also allow you to connect PC peripherals to an Xperia phone, as long as you use the Sony Ericsson Live Dock multimedia station, and swipe text input and screen capture will also be added.As these features are coming to the 2011 Xperia line-up, the following handsets are set to get ...
Report: Microsoft Doesn't Want Competitor Leftovers
By GameInformer, published 25-08-2011
Ever wonder why you don't see a lot of former third-party PlayStation 3 or Wii exclusives eventually released on Xbox 360? It's official Microsoft policy to refuse them if 360 doesn't get at least a simultaneous release alongside other platforms. In a new report from Eurogamer, the site claims to have seen the third-party contract documentation, which reads in part as follows: "Titles for Xbox 360 must ship at least simultaneously with other video game platform[s], and must have at least feature and content parity on-disc with the other video game platform versions in all regions where the title is available. If these conditions are not met, Microsoft reserves the right to not allow the content to be released on Xbox 360." This applies to both retail and Xbox Live A...
Slice More Fruit In Upcoming Fruit Ninja Kinect DLC
By GameInformer, published 24-08-2011
Fruit ninjas might not get a lot of respect from their fellow martial arts brethren, but slicing fresh produce into tiny pieces still feels pretty cool in Halfbrick's popular Summer of Arcade downloadable title. Today the developer announced a new DLC pack for Fruit Ninja Kinect that will continue keeping gamers busy. The new DLC pack is called Storm Season and contains a new background, silhouette, and "Lightning Bolt Blade." It also adds 50 Gamerscore points to the title and will only set you back 160 MS Points ($2). If you still think Fruit Ninja Kinect sounds like the stupidest game in the world, you may be in the minority -- Halfbrick stated that the game sold 100,000 copies within its first week of release. The Storm Season DLC is available today. Check out our review...
StarCraft Invades Bars Across The Country
By GameInformer, published 24-08-2011
Couldn't give two craps about baseball or football? Still like to hang out with people and down a few choice beverages? You may have a reason to get out of the house sooner than later if the Barcraft movement touches down in your town.According to The Wall Street Journal, the wave of sports bars setting up StarCraft II streams on big-screen TVs in order to bring in patrons who traditionally don't frequent such establishments started with the Chao Bistro in Seattle. Seattle is not only home to Amazon, Microsoft, and more geek-staffed companies, but is mired in the worst sports abyss in the country. Their basketball team moved to Oklahoma City, of all places, just when it was finally getting good. The Mariners (baseball) are terrible, even worse than the godawful Twins. The Seahawks ...
Review: Updated: HTC Evo 3D
By TechRadar, published 24-08-2011
UPDATE: We've now re-reviewed this phone for the UK market, so check out our findings below.It seems like there are a bazillion Android phones on the market, which means any phone with a brand new feature seems like a colossal improvement. The latest of these big steps forward was the 'glasses-free' 3D screen on the LG Optimus 3D. Now splashing down is HTC's Evo 3D, with 3D features intended to be less alarming those on the Optimus 3D.We've got a cheeky little video of the HTC Evo 3D if you want to see the phone in action ahead of our full and in-depth review:In fact, at first glance, you might mistake the Evo 3D for any other slightly chunkier Android phone with a bright screen and HTC's Sense user interface. The problem is that the Android line-up has recently moved on to greener pasture...
The Force Is Weak With This One: Kinect Star Wars Delayed
By GameInformer, published 24-08-2011
Microsoft and LucasArts are pushing back the release of Kinect Star Wars and the Star Wars themed Xbox 360 bundle until 2012. This new broke in an exclusive interview with OXM, where Microsoft said that the delay is to "ensure the full potential of this title is realized." The delay isn't surprising. Each time we've played the game, we've walked away with major concerns. Our latest hands on report brought up issues with motion recognition, and Phil Kollar's E3 test run addressed potential game design flaws. Microsoft didn't outline a new release date plan, but I wouldn't be surprised if it pushes well into 2012 to address both the motion problems and overall design of the game. Instead of delaying the bundle, I would much rather see Microsoft release the...
Updated: Windows 8: everything you need to know
By TechRadar, published 24-08-2011
The Windows 8 picture is becoming clearer. Following on from the slides allegedly leaked in June 2010 by a software engineer at HP, Microsoft has outed far more details about the interface design. Microsoft says Windows 8 is a reimagining of Windows, "from the chip to the interface" and has launched an Engineering Windows 8 blog. The corporation has promised that a pre-release Windows 8 build will be available to the public. Microsoft says that "a Windows 8-based PC is really a new kind of device, one that scales from touch-only small screens through to large screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse." Opinion: Windows 8 could make you rethink buying iPad 3Indeed, the new OS appears to have two completely separate interfaces - one, a traditional (and, on the surface of it, unchanged) W...
Windows 8 to spruce up Explorer file management
By TechReport, published 24-08-2011
In Monday's preview of USB 3.0 support in Windows 8, Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky hinted that we'd soon get a glimpse of the upcoming operating system's revamped file copy interface. Well, Sinofsky delivered on that promise yesterday evening. Check it out: ...Read more...
Sonic CD spinning onto Xbox Live
By GameSpot, published 24-08-2011
Microsoft's Larry Hryb confirms an XBLA release for Sega's iconic hedgehog; PAX Prime 2011 appearance confirmed. This week's Penny Arcade Expo won't go by without a handful of announcements and reveals. In addition to the debut of Portal lead Kim Swift's new title at Airtight Games, the show will serve as a coming-out event for Sonic CD. Amy and Metal Sonic did not hit it off. The news comes by way of Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's company blog. According to the Xbox Live director of programming, Microsoft will be showing Sonic CD at its PAX Prime 2011 booth alongside other Xbox Live Arcade titles, such as Trials Evolution, Skulls of the Shogun, Crimson Alliance, Splatters, Orcs Must Die, and others. Major Nelson offered no other explanation on the her...
[Update]: Mortal Kombat Arcade Collection Dated
By GameInformer, published 23-08-2011
[Update]: Warner Bros. has clarified a mistake in its earlier information about the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, which offers a trio of Mortal Kombat classics in their original arcade states. The company has just sent out a press release clarifying that the PSN version of the game comes out first on August 30, and will then be available on the 31st for Xbox Live and PC. [Original Story]: Warner Bros. has officially dated the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection for PSN, PC, and Xbox Live Arcade, and it offers Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 in their arcade states. The Kollection hits on August 31 for the price of $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points. It's developed by Other Ocean in conjunction with NetherRealm Studios, and the games feature online play, le...
Black Ops Rezurrection DLC Pack Shuffles To Xbox 360
By GameInformer, published 23-08-2011
Get out your shotguns and moon suits – the fourth, zombie-centric Black Ops DLC pack invades the Xbox Live marketplace today. For 1,200 Microsoft points, you get remade versions of the four World at War maps that kicked off the Call of Duty zombie craze, plus a new map that takes the undead invasion to the moon. You can take a look at the trailer showcasing the space action here. PlayStation 3 and PC owners should gain access to this download in roughly a month.
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection koming August 31
By GameSpot, published 23-08-2011
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment sets worldwide downloadable debut for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC compilation of original MK, MK2, and Ultimate MK3. It's a fine time to be a fighting game fanatic with an Internet connection, as publishers are putting out downloadable donnybrooks left and right. This week has already seen the release of Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition and the announcement of Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, and it turns out next week will welcome the arrival of Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that its flagship fighting franchise compilation will launch around the world on August 31. Will the Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 kheat kodes still work? (Previously released Xbox 360 v...
Microsoft building native USB 3.0 support into Windows 8
By TechReport, published 23-08-2011
Getting those blue USB ports on your motherboard to work should be much simpler next year. According to the Building Windows 8 blog on MSDN, Microsoft will offer native USB 3.0 support in its next PC operating system. The implementation will involve a new software stack, which will co-exist with the existing Windows USB stack we all know and love.As Windows chief Steven Sinofsky points out in the post, starting over with a clean slate and re-architecting Windows' USB support from the ground up wasn't an option. "Countless devices and their drivers rely on the behavior of our existing software," he says. Rather, Windows 8 will have ...Read more...
Yahoo Japan coming up with Android-based Yahoo Phone
By Thinkdigit, published 23-08-2011
Yahoo is set to launch an Android-based smartphone called “Yahoo Phone” in Japan, in collaboration with the country's third largest mobile operator Softbank. The move has come as a surprise for many as Yahoo is considered to be close to the Microsoft, the search and productivity rival of Google, with Yahoo going so far as to power its search by Microsoft's Bing. However, it's notable that Yahoo owns each of its international sites with the exception of Yahoo Japan in which it has o [...] Read the entire article
National Spongecake Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 23-08-2011
Eight is Enough NY Post: Autonomy buy could make hp an Oracle takeover target Former hp CEO Carly Fiorina talks about hp's business strategy, PC business spinoff on Bloomberg West (video) "A sort of PC": Ars on how Windows 8 will invade tablets (and why it might work) Building Windows 8: Building robust USB 3.0 support DigiTimes: Ultrabook and Windows 8 to drive sales momentum for notebooks in 2012, says Wistron chairman C|Net: Intel executive talks Ultrabook form, function (Q&A) Mac Otakara shares rumor: Apple to introduce a significantly different Mac lineup by year-end? C|Net shares rumor: Apple testing new MacBook Air powered by same A5 processor as iPad 2 Read more...
Rumor: Sonic CD Coming To Xbox Live Arcade
By GameInformer, published 23-08-2011
It looks like Microsoft's Major Nelson spilled the beans on Sega's big PAX announcement. The official Xbox blogger posted Microsoft many scheduled events and activities at PAX and nestled away in the middle somewhere is Sega's unannounced project. "Xbox 360 Booth #432Mass Effect 3 has landed… in the Xbox 360 booth! Come on by to check it out, along with a slew of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles: Trials Evolution, Skulls of the Shogun, Crimson Alliance, Splatters, Orcs Must Die, Ms. Splosion Man, Retro City Rampage, Sonic CD, War of the Worlds and Trine 2." This title seems to get left out of the many Sonic re-releases over the years so it's good for it to finally get its due. And we only have to wait a few days until it's officially confirmed...or not.
Rumor: Lionhead Working On Fable IV, Too
By GameInformer, published 22-08-2011
The poorly received Kinect exclusive Fable: The Journey may not be the only Albion-based fantasy game Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios is conjuring up in its England headquarters. Many fans were turned off by the E3 debut of the on-rails looking Fable spin-off The Journey – even series creator Peter Molyneux seemed underwhelmed when presenting the game for the first time on stage. Perhaps his enthusiasm is reserved for another project. In the latest issue of OXM, the publication speculates that Lionhead is also chipping away at a proper Fable sequel, due out in 2013. The rumor should come as no surprise considering Microsoft's dwindling collection of reliable first-party franchises. Once you get past Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and Fable, there isn't much left outside ...
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