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Week of September 26, 2010
Mattrick Officially President Of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft on Friday made official the promotion of Don Mattrick to president of the company's Interactive Entertainment Business, following the formal retirement of 22-year Microsoft veteran Robbie Bach.
Mattrick, formerly SVP of the Interactive Entertainment Business, will oversee consumer entertainment initiatives at Microsoft, including Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Kinect, Zune Music and Video, Mediaroom, PC and mobile entertainment.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft: 'No Need' For Kinect Processor, Removal Not Cost-Related
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft removed a standalone processor from Kinect because there was “no need” for its inclusion, not as previously rumored, to merely reduce the cost of the device.
“We didn’t know how much processing Kinect was going to take at the start of development,” said Tsunoda. “Obviously, you don’t want to lose any of the things that are important to Xbox customers. Graphic fidelity is something that Xbox has always been known for, and you want to make sure that you still hit that level."
"Forza is a graphical showpiece, and we had Forza with Kinect at E3… the graphic fidelity has actually improved in some areas from what they shipped with Forza 3. It’s still running at 60 FPS and it’s supporting Kinect, so there’s just no need to have that extra processor.”
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Spend 2400 MS Points on LIVE in October, Get 800 Back
>> From xbox.com:
[QUOTE]
Purchase at least 2400 Microsoft Points [30USD] worth of Xbox LIVE Arcade and/or Game add-on content between 12:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST) October 1 and 11:59 pm EST October 31, 2010 and receive 800 Microsoft Points [10USD] added automatically to your membership. Limit one gift per person. The free points will be deposited automatically into your Xbox LIVE account after the end of the promotion period. Please allow four weeks for delivery, on or around November 30, 2010.
Offer available Worldwide in all Xbox LIVE countries, excluding Japan, Italy, and France, while supplies last, is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot be combined with any other offer.
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Full Story: xbox.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Snes360 Save Game Converter v1.01
>> Scuba156 of Team XeLove released Snes360 Save Game Converter:
[QUOTE]
Snes 360 Game Save Converter can extract the SRM battery saves out of Snes CON saves. It can also inject your SRM battery saves into a Snes 360 CON Save so you can use your save files from another Snes emulator with Snes360.
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Official Site: http://code.google.com/p/snes360savegameconverter/
Download: here
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(Thursday 30 September 2010 15:56 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
MS advises against 'clutter' for Kinect
>> From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has warned that messy floors "with clothes all over the place" will prevent Kinect from working properly. Better have a quick tidy.
The company also advised against putting the sensor in "a noisy environment", using the examples "on top of your Xbox" and "on top of your subwoofer".
"We rely on the floor for a number of different parts of the technology," said Mark Plagge, Kinect's senior project manager, during a set-up video.
"The ideal play space starts about six feet away from the Kinect sensor. Some games will need you to move side to side quite a lot, so you'll want to know there are three-to-four feet on either side of you."
The requirements don't stop there. People with halogen spotlit rooms may encounter difficulties, as the Kinect sensor prefers an even light source throughout.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net
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(Thursday 30 September 2010 01:30 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
A Letter from Marc Whitten: The Fall 2010 Xbox LIVE Update
>> From the MS press release (letter from Marc Whitten - corporate vice president of Xbox Live):
[QUOTE]
Just three months ago at E3 2010, I shared with you the latest entertainment experiences coming to Xbox LIVE, including ESPN and Zune music. Today, I’m excited that tens of thousands of you will receive an advanced look at these new experiences through the Xbox LIVE Preview program.
What you’ll find is that we’re continuing to bring you amazing content to enjoy on Xbox LIVE, we’re making your entertainment social and interactive, and we’re continuing to refine and build on our best experiences.
With this update, we are adding 3,500 live and on-demand sporting events per year, including out of market games, from ESPN3.com and 11 million music tracks from Zune at launch in the US. We are also adding Netflix search to existing features like movie parties to ensure Xbox LIVE continues to be the best way to enjoy Netflix.
With ESPN on Xbox LIVE, available to members in the US, we’re building in interactive features that will let you keep up on the latest scores from around the sports world without leaving the game you’re watching, follow your favorite leagues, predict a winner and see how the rest of the community voted on a particular game. The social nature of our LIVE platform will let you voice chat with up to seven friends on the other coast while watching the big game as if they were sitting next to you in the stadium.
Last year, we delivered tens of thousands of videos instantly in up to 1080p HD to Xbox 360 for the first time, and this fall with the expansion of the Zune music experience on Xbox LIVE, members in the US, U.K., France, Italy and Spain can enjoy unlimited, instant streaming of millions of songs via a Zune Pass music subscription and see what their friends are listening to on the largest screen in the house. What’s better is that you’ll be able to enjoy Zune music and video across your Xbox 360 console, PC and, this holiday, Windows Phone 7.
Also included in this Xbox LIVE update is the launch of Netflix on Xbox LIVE in Canada, a refreshed Xbox LIVE dashboard and updated Xbox LIVE Family Settings so you can help choose the right play and viewing settings for your family.
But this is only the beginning. With the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360, I truly believe that the best of Xbox LIVE will become extraordinary. This amazing technology will allow you, your friends, and family to navigate ESPN, Zune, Sky Player, and Last.fm on Xbox LIVE with just the sound of your voice and the wave of your hand.
I’m also excited to confirm that Video Kinect will integrate with Windows Live Messenger at launch, so Xbox LIVE members can video chat with hundreds of millions of PC users around the world. Video Kinect will use Kinect to bring the people you care about right into your living room without a headset, and adjust automatically to capture everyone in the room.
Every year we’ve pushed ourselves to deliver the best games and entertainment, and I’m incredibly proud of my team, and what we’re delivering to Xbox LIVE this fall. Our goal is to continue innovating and delivering experiences that are meaningful to you. So you can enjoy the entertainment you want, with the people you care about, in a simple way. Keep playing, keep sharing, and keep pushing us.
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(Wednesday 29 September 2010 12:19 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
NPD: Only 6pct of consumers buy console DLC
>> From gamespot.com:
[QUOTE]
According to a survey by the industry research group [NPD] spanning three months, 75 percent of consumers 13 and older did not download digital content on any platform at all. Some 15 percent downloaded content via a PC or Mac, 4 percent through a smartphone, and 2 percent connected via a Blu-ray Disc player or a digital video player, such as Apple TV or Roku. (The sample size of the study was not provided.)
The remaining 6 percent downloaded content via a connected "game player," a category that covers the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii.
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Full Story: gamespot.com
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(Tuesday 28 September 2010 23:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Some XLink Kai Support Coming to FreeStyleDash v2.x
>> W.I.P. screenshots of the new upcoming FreeStyleDash v2.x build for homebrew 360s has been posted on their official forums. Besides pictures of the Games List and Achievements screens, we also see they are working on integrating some XLink Kai support in the homebrew dashboard. From what we heard you will still have to run XLink Kai on your PC, FSD will just use the remote function of XLink to give access to some features of XLink directly from within the dashboard.
Like on the Original Xbox, XLink Kai allows to play system-link enabled multi-player Xbox360 games over the internet, which became useful since the Dash Launch plugin removing the 30ms-ping-limit on the Xbox360.
Official Site: http://www.teamfsd.com (more pictures)
Download: n/a (W.I.P. screenshots - no ETA/don't ask)
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(Tuesday 28 September 2010 17:18 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Dash Launch v2.02
>> cOz released a new version of Dash Launch for homebrew 360s.
What's new/fixed:
* consider this a beta as we still have no clue why some ini issues occur*
- added version info to data struct exported at ordinal 1
- made number of times button holds are scanned variable, longer window at boot time to sync controller and hold a button
- added region spoofing for XGetGameRegion
- DVD video play from NXE now plays DVD regardless of default setting
Official Site: n/a, by cOz
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
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(Monday 27 September 2010 22:04 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Kinect for Xbox 360 Connects Advertisers and Consumers
>> From the MS press release:
[QUOTE]
Brands are jumping in to a new era of engaging and connecting with consumers. Microsoft Advertising today announced at Advertising Week 2010 that a full lineup of forward-thinking companies is bringing its brands to Kinect for Xbox 360, the new controller-free gaming and entertainment experience that responds to body movement and transforms how people play, entertain and connect with family members and friends. Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile USA Inc. will each launch respective ad campaigns throughout the Kinect console experience, “Kinect Sports,” “Kinect Adventures” and “Kinect Joy Ride” game titles.
“With Kinect for Xbox 360, we are removing the last barrier to interactive television — the controller,” said Mark Kroese, general manager of the Interactive Entertainment Advertising Business Group at Microsoft. “We have seen tremendous momentum from the advertising community, including big campaigns from Chevrolet, Sprint and T-Mobile. These visionary marketers are leading the entertainment revolution with ground-breaking campaigns that are highly engaging.”
Advertising campaigns will commence with the much-anticipated North America launch of Kinect on Nov. 4:
* Chevrolet. As announced in June, Chevrolet is the first automaker to launch a multiscreen ad campaign that allows consumers to test-drive Chevrolet vehicles in “Kinect Joy Ride,” the first controller-free racing game from Microsoft Game Studios. When Kinect for Xbox 360 launches this fall, consumers will have the opportunity to take the test-drive concept to a new level by driving the Chevrolet Volt in “Kinect Joy Ride.” Also, after viewing the video advertisement in-dash on Xbox LIVE or on the Web, consumers will be able to unlock and download Chevrolet Cruze, Camaro and Corvette cars to drive in the game. Chevrolet will then kick off the new year with an ad campaign in the Kinect Hub showcasing the same vehicles.
* Sprint. As a longstanding and pioneering Xbox LIVE advertiser, Sprint understands the value of connecting with the Xbox community. This fall, Sprint is sponsoring the launch of “Kinect Adventures” with a co-branded retail experience on Xbox LIVE and a sponsored contest in which “Kinect Adventures” players have the chance to get their pictures featured on Xbox LIVE. Consumers attending New York Comic Con can play “Kinect Adventures” at the Sprint booth.
* T-Mobile. Another Xbox advertising pioneer, T-Mobile is taking advantage of the immersive user experience in “Kinect Sports” with fixed product placement throughout the games including volleyball net signage, custom bowling balls and foam fingers held by the arena audience. T-Mobile is further supporting the game title through a sponsorship on the Xbox 360 console. Xbox members can visit a website on the dashboard to access exclusive video content and participate in the first launch weekend Play & Win contest with prizes including Family Gold memberships. Also, during the holidays T-Mobile will support “Kinect Sports” Play & Win programs with two Xbox Family Game Nights in November and January.
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(Monday 27 September 2010 12:49 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Control Sky Player with Kinect
>> From techradar.com:
[QUOTE]
It has been confirmed that Sky Player on the Xbox 360 will indeed work with Kinect – Microsoft's new-fangled motion controller – when it launches in the UK.
Microsoft has always been adamant that Kinect is not just about gaming, but an entirely new way to control everything on your console, which includes services like Sky Player.
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Full Story: techradar.com
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(Monday 27 September 2010 12:47 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
RegionPatch Plugin for DashLaunch 2.x
>> A new plugin has been released for DashLaunch 2.x:
[QUOTE]
Dash_launch_v2.0_for_9199 plugin file will bypass new region locks.
Please read the Dash_launch read me carefully. All of the information is contained.
The location of this plugin must be added to the launch.ini file and reflashed to the nand using the dl installer.
This ran Quantum Theory PAL on my ntsc/u
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Official Site: n/a, by ?
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbox-360.logic-sunrise.com
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(Sunday 26 September 2010 01:21 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
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