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Playing live - Thom Dinsdale looks at Microsoft's novel TV campaign for Gears Of War 3.
Playing live - Thom Dinsdale looks at Microsoft's novel TV campaign for Gears Of War 3.
Gears Of War 3 sold more than three million copies worldwide in its first week on sale, publisher Microsoft has announced. The game has already grossed more than any other release this year, and the series has become the first Xbox 360 exclusive franchise to gross more than a billion dollars. More >
2Microsoft is to manufacture 17,000 Xbox 360 consoles in Brazil every week following the opening of a new factory in Manaus. The move means Microsoft will be able to sell the Xbox 360 for 40 per cent less than in the past. More >
An internal PayPal email seen by Kotaku reveals that the new Xbox 360 dashboard will be released on November 15 - the tenth anniversary of the release of the original Xbox. More >
Final part of Epic's Unreal-powered trilogy enjoys the best launch of the year so far.
1Microsoft's unique take on the slider smartphone comes from a USPTO filing which covers a "mobile communication device having multiple, interchangable second devices." More >
Epic's personality-rich shooter delivers the definitive Unreal experience.
11Kinect goes to the old west on Twisted Pixel's on-rails shooter.
Microsoft’s online gaming and entertainment service will be built into its latest operating system.
In a post on the Xbox Live support forums a Microsoft spokesperson confirms a new wave of bans affecting those who are deemed to have "illegitimately accessed" Marketplace content. "Our investigation reveals that this access was intentional and not accidental, constituting a blatant violation of the terms of use for the service," the post reads. "Please know that we are being very careful regarding these suspensions, and have clear evidence regarding each account issued a permanent suspension from the service."
Ryan Payton, one of Halo 4’s creative directors, has left Microsoft's 343 Industries to establish his own development studio, Camouflaj. Having previously served as a producer on Metal Gear Solid 4, Payton joined Microsoft to help create the new Halo trilogy, focusing largely on story and developing the fictional universe with franchise director Frank O'Connor. "I had a great run at Microsoft," Payton told Kotaku. "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 different and I don't think I had built enough credibility to see such a crazy endeavour through." He added: "I think time is the most valuable thing we have and I've decided that I'm not going to waste one more day working on something that doesn't speak to my values.” Payton is currently working on two unannounced titles of his own. "Some people say I'm crazy, but I want to make a game that one billion people play at once, and it's something that hits them harder than a great book or film.”
Platform holders and alleged developer all deny knowledge of supposed RTS.
3Game Group is to no longer sell older model second-hand Xbox 360s, according to an internal memo passed to Eurogamer. It reads: "As of Saturday September 3 we will not be selling pre-owned Xbox 360 Cores, Arcades and 20GB non-HDMIs. This is due to the high failure rate of the console and the difficulty and cost of repairing them." While the retailer will continue to accept trade-ins of the older models, they will be returned to its distribution centre "as a regular faulty return where they will exit the business."
Says terms demanding feature and release date parity are holding back creativity for the sake of "protecting an inferior technology."
17Guillaume Martin's XBLIG puzzle-platformer won the $40,000 grand prize in Microsoft's fifth annual XNA development contest, which gives "aspiring game developers the opportunity to showcase their innovation and talent to the world." Other winners were Solar 2, TIC: Part 1, and Sequence, with honourable mentions for Alien Jelly, The Bridge, and Ninja Crash.
The upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will feature an optional 3D mode, Microsoft has announced. Dennis Reis of developer 343 Industries told CVG: "It's a fun way to increase the immersion of the game, and if you've got the technology, you definitely want to take advantage of it."
The platform holder has just announced that the first two DLC packs for Bethesda's sprawling RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, will be exclusive to Xbox 360 for 30 days from release.
12Valve boss wants platform holder to understand "that the barbarians won't tear down the walls of Xbox and turn it into some chaotic wasteland."
5A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to OXM: "Microsoft and LucasArts have elected to move the launch of Kinect Star Wars standalone game beyond holiday 2011 to ensure the full potential of this title is realised." The delay also applies to the Star Wars-branded Xbox 360 console, sadly, and Microsoft has declined to pin down revised release dates.
1Firm reserves the right to deny Xbox 360 release for games released first on rival platforms.
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