Gear of War fans rejoice! For the sequel to many people's favorite Xbox game is on it's way! Apparently, and according to an article that is featured in the June issue of the UK Magazine X360, the game has stepped up. There were all sorts of rumors of the multilayer feature; well there definitely is a huge difference. How about 5 vs 5 multilayer mode! Well, below is a full list of everything that will be new in the game.
Activision is packaging their answer to 'Rock Band'; 'Guitar Hero: World Tour", in a bundle package that will cost you anywhere from $179-189.99; about 20 dollars more than Rock Band's bundle. Below is the of possible packages from the company:
GH: World Tour Game ($59.99 on PS3/360 - $49.99 on Wii/PS2),
GH: World Tour - Guitar Kit ($99.00 for Guitar Kit Alone)
GH: World Tour - Full Band Kit (Guitar, Mic, and Drum Kit - $189.99 360, PS3 & Wii, $179.99 PS2)
If you are a fan of the Xbox 360 like myself, or the Playstation 3, it's usually the quality of the graphics that separate these systems from the Nintendo Wii. Well, Madworld Developer Takanori Ishikawa has something in store to settle the score. And it is worth your attention; so much so, that I am about to go get me this game.
Everyone knows that 'Guitar Hero' started it all; but took a hit when 'Rock Band' debuted and allowed a full band to play in cooperative mode. Well, if you want something that seems the most realistic, then Activision and 'GH' has fought back with some of the most realistic fake drums around! Plus, the whole crew can too join to rock and record their own songs for the 'World Tour' edition of this growing cult classic. You decide how you want to rock out. Check it out below:
The world's numero uno system; The Wii along with the Playstation3 are the hottest systems in Japan, Well, Micorsoft is trying to go down with a fight and revive the slumped sales if the Xbox 360 in the Asian Country.
Just days after going on sale, the limited Xbox 360 Elite console is out of stock at major online retailers reports i4u. The Xbox 360 Elite offers a HDMI port and gives you a 120GB HDD.
Zoozen is showing off the Ovo 360. The Ovo 360 for Xbox 360 is the first case which transforms the complete look of Microsoft's next-generation machine.
Sporting a sleek, white and sophisticated shell, the Ovo 360 fuses the awesome power of the Xbox with an elegant and breathtaking modern day design to match.
Chris Liddel - Microsoft's chief financial officer says the software giant expects Halo 3 to boost Xbox 360 sales.
Speaking in a conference call, Liddell said, "Halo 3 is clearly going to have a positive impact in two senses. One, it gives us more confidence in the number of consoles we think we're going to be able to sell next year.
"In terms of the direct impact, obviously it's a first-party product so it's reasonably profitable from our point of view, and it will be several hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue next year."
Software giant, Microsoft Corp. is set to launch a gaming platform that ties together Windows PCs and the Xbox 360 console , in hopes of boosting PC gaming in Japan and in turn mean better business for its console
"I believe the PC gaming market in Japan has been under-developed. We hope to revitalize that market in Japan, and that will in turn create momentum for Xbox 360," said Takashi Sensui, general manager of the Xbox division at Microsoft's Japan unit.
The "Games for Windows - Live" platform will allow PC and Xbox gamers to exchange text chat messages, signing on to each system with a common username and seeing a common friends list. A more advanced version will allow cross-platform gaming so, on software that supports it, PC and Xbox 360 gamers will be able to battle each other. This latter version will be included in Microsoft's Gold membership account, which costs $49.95 per year.
In a chat with GamesIndustry.biz, Electronic Arts' boss Gerhard Florin says he is holding off judging the next generation consoles for 2 years. As Florin see it, in the first 2 yrs - all the consoles will do well, and though critics are suggesting the Playstation 3's price is hampering sales, EA's executive VP of international publishing doesn't believe the price tag will hold back sales in the first twelve months.
"Look at the price in two years' time, and then you can say whether it's too high," said Florin.
"Whether it's too high or not the consumer has to decide, but I don't think for the first year the price will be a problem which holds anything back," he added.
It's not just Sony's latest home console that EA is withholding judgement on. Florin believes that both Microsoft's and Nintendo's recent launches also have a niche to find and sales to exploit.
"I wouldn't make any judgments within the next two years," commented Florin.
"The first two years will clearly be an open race, everybody will do very well. I believe all three [consoles] are worth supporting in different ways."
Xbox Scene Shares a Xbox 360 hack that shows you how to install your own 120GB Xbox Drive, saving $100 along the way
With the release of an official 120GB drive by Microsoft you can now use this tool to make your own 120GB Xbox360 HDD using a Western Digital Scorpio BEVS-LAT drive (that's a cheap (~80usd for 120GB) SATA 2.5" PC/laptop drive):
* Works with Wired and Wireless controllers
* Only 7 wires needed
* Install in 10-15 minutes
* Easily Enable/Disable tilt mod without an ugly switch
* Easily change tilt threshold in all four axis
* USB Configurator for changing any settings
* FW is upgradable (not end user)
* Xilt Advanced: Full configuration of Tilt angle to Controller Axis direction
Xilt Xilt
xbox-scene has an image , supplied by some source that shows an Xbox 360 motherboard with a HDMI-port. Fanboys are going crazy with speculation
xbox-scene's source has reportedly seen 3 of these motherboards already, so it looks like Microsoft might be working on a new Xbox 360 version with a HDMI-port. However it's totally unknown when/if it'll be released to the public and if this will be included with all packages or only on the Premium.
Robert Sanchez, editor of The Movie Reporter, claims to have gotten his hands on the Transformers's script and reveals a few more new Transformers that may make it into the movie.
"I almost forgot to mention one of the most stupid scenes in the script," he writes on the site. "For reasons that I won't get into, we see an iPod, Xbox 360, and plasma screens sprout legs and transform just a bit." It's unclear whether the Xbox 360 Transformer is an Autobot or Decepticon.
Devil360.com is causing quite a stir in the gaming community. The site is touting a working Xbox 360 modchip ... or so they say.....
The Devil360 will be a modchip for the Xbox 360 console, the 'small' security hole has been found! This device is in no way related to the DVD firmware exploits - it's a totally different approach writes Xbox360fanboy
Devil360.com says they did not manage to get the product ready for (6/6/6), because they are working hard on improving it to:
* Try to protect it from any type of update
* Make it programmable via PC
* Boot unsigned code
* Allow to swap HD with larger drive with a special interface between the 360 and the HD (all types IDE/SATA).
According to Merrill Lynch analysts the Xbox360 will kill the Play Station 3, mainly due to pricing.
The report states:
"The PS3 will not only be significantly more costly than Xbox 360 at launch, but will continue to operate at a cost disadvantage for several years... The Xbox 360 could be selling at half the price of PS3 in the latter half of 2006. Taking Sony’s weakened financial condition and Microsoft’s deep pockets into consideration, we conclude that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 should emerge as the early winner in the next round of the game console wars."
According to GI.biz , retail sources in the UK have said that Microsoft has intimated to them that the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will be priced such that console and peripheral combined are cheaper than Sony's PS3.
At E3 last week, Microsoft discussed its plans to launch a HD-DVD component for the Xbox 360 later this year, but did not reveal any further information regarding the pricing of the unit.
The Xbox 360 retails at GBP 279 in the UK, with the Core System version selling for GBP 209, while the 60GB model of the PlayStation 3 is expected to cost between GBP 399 and GBP 419 when it arrives in late November.
Microsoft's alleged comments to UK retailers seem to suggest that the HD-DVD peripheral, which allows playback of high definition movies using Toshiba's next-generation DVD standard, will be priced below GBP 130, making an Xbox 360 and HD-DVD player bundle into a potentially attractive option at Christmas.
Lik-Sang, has revealed details about the Xbox 360 HDMI Cable. When Microsoft announced the HD DVD for the Xbox 360, fans wonderedwhether HD DVDs would be capable of playing at full resolution on analog component cables, since there was no HDMI cable available for the 360 reports Gizmodo.
Datel has announced XSATA, a new plug ‘n’ play peripheral that sits between your Xbox 360 and the hard drive.
Using your Xbox 360 file manager software such as the free PC app Xplorer360, you can transfer materials from your console's hard drive to your PC, using your computer's hard disc space to store demos, game saves and other such materials you're not currently using. When you need them again, just transfer back to the XB360's drive. Once the data is on your PC, you can email anything that's not locked to your machine or LIVE account to your friends for them to use on their own consoles too.
nimblesoft has created 360 Friends , a Xbox Live friend list notifier. It will tell you who is online/offline, let you view gamercards and notify you when a friend's status changes.
Nyko Technologies has unveiled a forced-fan cooling device for the Xbox 360 game console.
The $19.99 Intercooler 360 add-on peripheral cools the console by forcing air out of the 360 through a snap-on attachment. The device competes with the Pelican PL-3619, a device that retails at about the same price as the Intercooler 360.
Microsoft Corp. has announced that they are cutting the Xbox 360 Core System from it's product lineup effective immediately. The news comes after Sony's announcement to make a hard drive a standard feature for it's upcoming PlayStation 3 console.
Microsoft is also pressuring 3rd party developers to make their games require the hard drive add-on, in order to get existing Core System customers to buy the hard drive add-on.
Microsoft is looking to capitalize on World Cup fever as the Xbox and Xbox 360 have been named the official game consoles of the international tournament. In Japan, MS is collaborating with FIFA, Adidas, and Electronic Arts to release a limited edition Xbox 360 bundle themed around the World Cup.
Microsoft will release a limited edition Xbox 360 bundle--the Xbox 360 Blue Limited Edition: 2006 FIFA World Cup--alongside the launch of Electronic Arts' 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany soccer game on April 27 in Japan.
gamersreport has a how To Make An Xbox360 Arcade feature.
When I first bought DOA4 I realized how much it sucks to play fighting games on a control pad, especially the XBox 360 controller. The D-pad just doesn't cut it for fighters. I then saw the DOA4 Hori stick, and that stick looked like crap to me.
Then I heard Street Fighter 2 was coming out on XBLA and I knew I had to find a solution quickly in preparation for SF2. Then out of nowhere I remembered that I built a joystick out of arcade parts and the inside of a PSX controller for my PSX back in the day. I then thought why not use my SF:AC joystick as the basis for this, and use a wired XBox 360 controller for the guts. So that's where this tutorial begins.
Electronic Arts has finally revealed the first official trailer for the upcoming, Superman Returns: The Videogame. A pre-rendered video made from Xbox 360 in-game assets, the new teaser shows the Man of Steel battling against his ore-powered foe Metallo in the skies of Metropolis. Giant rockets, scared citizens, and the classic 1970s Superman score are also included.
On display at Microsoft’s Belux headquarters, is a chocolate XBox 360 . The chocolate XBox 360 was made especially for the X05 annual event in Amsterdam, October last year.
In addition to touting plans to ship over 100 million PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles, Tetsuhiko Yasuda, Sony Computer Entertainment Asia’s corporate executive managing director and senior vice president of Asia said Sony may work with Microsoft in the future.
Sony has not finalized the specific time frame for the PS3 launch, as well as pricing, he said. The company aims to launch the PS3 at the same time throughout Asia. However, not all the regions in the global market will see the same launch day, as the Internet infrastructures differ in each individual market, Yasuda said.
Sony does not regard Xbox as a competitor. Rather, the company may even consider working with Microsoft to develop games together, Yasuda noted.
A scan of the March 2006 issue of Official Xbox Magazine reveals "that a DirecTV blade might be added to your Xbox 360 Dashboard to accompany the Xbox Live, Games, Media, and System blades. Using blade, you could download TV episodes in high definition, HD movies on demand, and standard-definition streaming DVR (i.e., TiVo) functions."
Nullriver has created a great media server application for Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later) users that converts the Xbox 360 into Mac-friendly streaming digital media adapter reports ehome. The application, called Connect360 (free trail available - $10), indexes your iTunes and iPhoto libraries then lets you access music by song, artist, genre, or playlist, and photos can be viewed by album or shown in a slideshow.
360GameSaves.com has released a new application to access the Xbox 360 HDD (all 3 partitions) with full write support!
The highly anticipated release of xplorer360. This is beta software and needs testing. What better way then let you guys find the bugs!
Too many features to list but here are a few:
* FULL Read/Write to 360 HDDs.
* FULL Read/Write to 360 Memory Units.
* Physical and Logical drive access.
* Support for opening of dumps of both devices.
* Backup/Restore dump options.
Xbox-SceneXbox-Scene
Any bugs you may find can please be directed to our forums.
Brought to you by Roofus and AngerWound of the 360GameSaves.com Team!
Be on the lookout for some cool hardware we'll be making available in the near future as well!
Microsoft's Peter Moore has announced that Xbox 360 shortages should soon be at an end, stating: "Within the next four to six weeks, anybody will be able to walk into a store and buy an Xbox 360."
Moore's comments came as part of his keynote speech at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas. He attributed the stock supply problems to component shortages, adding that these issues have now been resolved reports GameIndustry
"Now we're starting to cook. We're building a vibrant, rich and profitable business model for the future," Moore said.
The folks over at gamersreports has a how to : Browse The Internet On Your Xbox360.
You NEED WindowsXP Media Center Edition, it will not work with Windows 2000 or any other form of Windows XP
1) Go to http://www.anpark.com/software.aspx
2) Click on "Download Now (591 Kb)"
3) Double click on MCEBrowserSetup.msi and just click next
4) Start your Xbox360 and go into Media Center
5) Go into "More Programs" and choose the "Browser" Entry.
6) Add Favorites to your 360 from your PC, by going into:
C:, then "Documents and Settings" folder, then the "MCX#" folder
(# is a number, it depends on how many times you did manually reconnect the 360 to the PC , so it changes for everyone. The highest number is the latest, so choose that folder)
Go into the Subfolder called "Favorites" and either add links by drag'n'drop from Internet Explorers Address Bar to it, or right click and choose "Create Shortcut", enter the URL, click next, and now Enter the Name of the Website (This will be how it appears on the 360)
7) Choose One of your "Favorites" on the 360 and enjoy!
Datel has launched a new hard drive for the Xbox 360. The 4Gb hard drive acts like a Flash drive for the Xbox 360, it connects via USB 2.0 to the 360. It does not require any external power source and has a green glowing power Xbox 360 button on the case. The Datel XBox 360 4GB is compact and weighs only 4 ounces.
Microsoft Corp. reaffirmed its target to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million Xbox 360 consoles by the end of June despite supply shortages in its fiscal second quarter, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.
The world's biggest software maker said it expects to make up the shortages over the next two quarters, Colleen Healy, Microsoft's director of investor relations, said.
Microsoft has announced a new launch date in Australia and New Zealand for the Xbox 360. The new launch date is 12:01am on March 23 2006.
The new launch dates have been set due to unprecedented global consumer demand stemming from challenges in ramping supply for a complex product like the Xbox 360. This is a short term manufacturing challenge and steps have been taken to increase supply to provide adequate supplies at launch.
Major update for Dashboard and games “out soon”; webcam on the way
An inside source at Microsoft informed the guys at xboxic about an upcoming update for the Xbox 360. Microsoft hopes the update will address the common problems in both games and the system itself writes xboxic. It will contain fixes for all currently known lockups in games, missing or impossible to get achievements and a bunch of new functionality in the Dashboard.
The Xbox 360 webcam accessory is going to be released simultaneously or slightly after, because one of the Dashboard modifications is going to be camera support.
CNET News.com recently caught up with Reggie Fils-Aime, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Nintendo America, and asked him about the company's plans going forward.
Shorthand Goodies
True Xbox 360 Experience will cost you $700 - Nintendo plans to target poor folk.
"For American consumers to get into the Xbox 360 franchise, with games and extra contollers, they had to spend more than $700, not including an HD TV, which is really the only way to positively experience 360. We resolve at Nintendo to remain within reach for the vast majority of our consumers.
The next-generation console from Nintendo, code-named Revolution, will cost less than $300. ... Fils-Aime adds
Sony's PSP has more buzz the Nintendo DS?
The DS is outselling PSP across the world. The DS is also generating huge buzz in the blogosphere. The fact is, we have a number of not only worldwide but even U.S.-centric million-unit selling games, and Sony doesn't.
We have games that are successfully expanding the audience for gaming for DS, and that's not true for Sony. The buzz for the DS is huge and growing, and the most anticipated handheld titles are on our platform, not on Sony's.
Microsoft may not offer an external Blu-ray Disc drive for the Xbox 360 after all reports theregister, The software giant this week said it remains "fully committed" to HD DVD and has "absolutely no plans to support other optical formats".
The company issued the official statement made this week in response to comments earlier this month by Peter Moore, head of Microsoft's entertainment division. Moore indicated that if Microsoft could add an external HD DVD drive to the console, it could just as easily offer an external Blu-ray box.
Microsoft Corp. has sold 600,000 of its new Xbox 360 video game consoles in the United States since its November launch, reports Reuters
The Xbox 360 debuted to much fanfare on November 22 in North America. Since then it has been in short supply. Analysts, video game publishers and retailers have said shipments during the key holiday season fell short of expectations.
Microsoft said in a statement that its challenge has been to meet consumer demand for the Xbox 360. The company, which did not comment on the NPD numbers, said its manufacturing facilities are running at full capacity and that a third manufacturer will come online next month.
In an interview with Japanese site ITmedia , Xbox VP of marketing Peter Moore said that if HD-DVD loses the next-generation DVD war, Microsoft could still develop a Blu-ray Disc drive for the Xbox 360.
"Since we're using external drives [for next-gen media], we can change as the market changes," said Moore, according to remarks translated by Gamasutra from the Japanese original. "Sony can't do that. If Blu-Ray wins, that's a big chance for Sony. But if Blu-Ray fails, it will be a considerable blow for them."
Moore did not address the possibility that Sony, like Microsoft, would also consider add-on drives for the PlayStation 3 in the event of a shift in popularity to HD-DVD, which currently has fewer Hollywood supporters than Blu-Ray.
Direct TV has announced plans to make their digital television available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, as well as on PCs running windows reports GameShout
With support for the Apple iPod and other portable sound devices, HDTV support, videogames ability and now DVR capabilites the Xbox360 is shaping up nicely
CoolIT Systems Inc.has announced plans to show off a liquid-cooled Xbox 360 in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show from Jan. 4 – 8, 2006.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 has been the topic of much discussion since its release on Nov. 22, 2005. Aside from its limited supply, many headlines have been about problems related to the excessive thermal output of Microsoft’s latest gaming console product.
To provide gaming consumers with a high performance option, CoolIT Systems touts the retrofit product that will transform the stock forced air cooling system with a state-of-the-art liquid-chilled system that employs the exclusive MTEC technology pioneered by CoolIT Systems.
Dead or Alive 4 for Xbox 360 will be released tommorrow for the lucky few xbox 360 owners. The new game takes advantage of the superior technology of Xbox 360, to redefine 3D fighter games.
Go wild with a new fighting system, larger tournament groups, detailed scoreboards and more. Form clans, or just enter the lobby areas to talk with other DOA fans. Best of all, the fighting system allows even more mastery and strategy of your favorite character -- including the most complex DOA countering system yet!
Microsoft has announced the Xbox Live Diamond Card. Well, here's what you're in for:
* Your own card: Did you sign up for a digital gamer card on Xbox.com? Of course you did. Now, how about a real, live, flash-it-to-your-friends card personalized with your gamertag? Ask no more! The Xbox Live Diamond Card is here.
* That's not all: The card does much more. Xbox Live has partnered with your favorite stores, restaurants, and other retailers across the country for discounts and promotions exclusively for Xbox Live Diamond Card program members.*
* It gets even better: Xbox Live isn't going to sit still, either. We'll continue to bring you new partners and more opportunities to use your Diamond Card.
* The best part: The Xbox Live Diamond Card is free! It's our big thank you to our most loyal Xbox Live subscribers.
"Best Buy was getting a new shippment of Xbox 360's. So people started to camp out of the store the night before, hoping to grab one in the morning. Anyway, these teenagers thought it was funny to drive by and show off their Xbox 360 to everyone in line. They drove by like 5 times untill the 6th time, they accidentally drop the console. My buddy grabs it and runs away... via Technie Diva
Gaming stores in the US are taking orders for the Xbox 360 release of 2006, Halo 3. Some stores are already displaying banners and assorted goodies with Halo 3 logos, inscribed ‘Coming 2006 – Reserve yours today.’
This whole pre-order thing is going a little to far, Microsoft has been mute on the Halo 3 launch. The only hint the company gave was when Bill Gates said that the PS3 would ‘walk right into’ Halo 3 upon its release.
So that could be Spring or it Could be November 2006. Knowing Microsoft that will probably be November.
Now that the Xbox 360 has bombed ( I kid), Internet gaming gossips are speculating on the release date of the PlayStation 3 following an announcement in the US Playstation Magazine stating that Unreal Tournament 2007 would be available on the PS3 when it launches spring of 2006. I have heard spring so many times I am starting to believe it, at the every least Japan should have the Playstation 3 spring 2006.
And chances are, we should have the PS3 in America in time for thanks giving 2006.
Japanese carmaker, Nissan is showing off a new six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive sports car that will come with a built-in Xbox gaming system and driver-integrated cockpit. According to Gadget Buzz no word on whether this Xbox system is based on the new Xbox 360 platform or how it works. I imagine if the Xbox 360 takes off like say the iPod this concept car could be paving the way for that Xbox 360 option on new cars.
If a report in Japan's Jiji News service is to be believed, Microsoft has entered final stages with Toshiba and other HD-DVD backers on the development of an HD-DVD capable Xbox 360. The company is looking into the possibility of releasing the updated version of the hardware next year reports IGN
Previously, Microsoft Japan representatives have suggested that HD-DVD will be a part of the Xbox 360's future, albeit for movie playback only.
A group of crackers called Team PI Coder says it has discovered the basic workings of Microsoft's Xbox 360 file system reports BBC. The information has helped the group dig out the raw data from the console for 13 Xbox 360 games.
The data is said to be similar to current generation Xbox games.
"Once you get past the protections and down to the raw bits on the disc, it's just the standard xboxdvdfs, however the offset and layer breakpoint are different," the group wrote in release notes.
In response Microsoft said its console had several security systems in place that would prevent pirated games being played on it.
Microsoft has launched its Xbox 360 games console in Japan to what seems like a more subdued response than it received in Europe and North America reports BBC.
Surveys by Gaming Fan-sites, leading up to the Japanese launch, showed Japanese gamers pulling for the Sony Playstation 3, even though its a year away from release. Microsoft hopes to overcome Sony and Nintendo by being the first to release its next-generation console.
Queues formed for its main launch event in Tokyo but early sales were reported to be slower than at other launches.
Japan's games market is traditionally dominated by Sony and Nintendo.
The country is the biggest market for console games, after the US.
Microsoft is selling only the premium Xbox 360 package in Japan. It is priced at 37,900 yen and includes a removable hard drive that lets owners play games written for the first Xbox.
Microsoft is expected to easily surpass that number with its new console, which will have the market all to itself for several months while Sony and Nintendo ready their next-generation PlayStation 3 and Revolution consoles for launch next year.
Microsoft is working with some of Japan's top game developers, such as Hironobu Sakaguchi, who created the role-playing game series ``Final Fantasy,'' and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who made the ``Sega Rally'' racing game series, to develop software for its 360.
Microsoft in October said the first shipments of Xbox 360 sold in Japan will come with a trial version of Square Enix Co.'s ``Final Fantasy XI.'' Games in the Final Fantasy series were the best-selling in Japan in 2003, 2001 and No. 2 in 2000 and 1999, according to Enterbrain.
``They've done better with the software lineup this time, but it's not spicy enough,'' said Yuuta Sakurai, a video game analyst at Nomura Securities Co. ``I still think they are lacking that killer software'' that will attract users away from PlayStation. via
To celebrate the release of Microsoft's new gaming system, the Xbox 360, Paris-based concept shop Colette enlisted Karl Lagerfeld and a few other local designers to put their own twist on the gadget. Sonia Rykiel's interpretations sport stripe-adorned figures ripped from the Rykiel Homme runway. Andrée Putman, credited with conceiving and designing the first boutique hotel, encases hers in sleek chrome, and Irina Volkonski and DJ Pedro Winter contributed pink polka-dotted and chartreuse-sequined versions, respectively.
The units are on display at Colette through Sunday, Dec. 11, after which they'll be available for purchase (prices: Andre, €350; Lagerfeld, €1,000; Putman, €1,000; Rykiel
A Microsoft Xbox 360 owner from Chicago has sued the world's largest software maker, saying the new video game console has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up reports Yahoo News
Robert Byers, who brought the suit, said the power supply and central processing unit in the Xbox 360 overheat, affecting heat-sensitive chips and causing the console to lock up.
Complaints of similar freezing problems began to surface as soon as the Xbox 360 went on sale November 22. Owners reported some systems crashed during both normal and online game play.
Microsoft has stated it has received isolated reports of problems, but emphasized the possible glitches represented a small fraction of units sold.
The proposed class action suit claims that in Microsoft's bid to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market, the company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony and Nintendo that it sold a "defectively designed" product.
Microsoft plans to only have about 300,000 units of its new Xbox 360 console available for the European launch.
Industry analysts' estimates of 300,000 Xbox 360s available at launch "were not far removed from reality", said Chris Lewis, the Microsoft executive responsible for the Xbox in Europe, in German weekly financial newspaper Euro am Sonntag reports Reuters
Xbox 360s sold out in many US stores after the launch there on November 22 and are still in short supply, with the console selling at a premium to its $400 (233 pound) retail price on Internet auction sites.
Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said some Xbox 360 owners are reporting problems with the new video game console.
"We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected," Microsoft spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell told Reuters in a telephone interview.
According to postings found on www.xbox-scene.com, users are reporting that systems crashing during regular play as well as during online game play using the Xbox Live service.
Problems included screens going black and the appearance of a variety of error messages.
Read More at Reuters
According to researcher iSuppli, Microsoft will sell every Xbox console at a big loss.
An up-close look at the components and other materials used in the high-end version of the Xbox 360, which contains a hard drive, found that the materials inside the unit cost Microsoft $470 before assembly. The console sells at retail for $399, meaning a loss of $71 per unit -- and that is just the start.
Other items packaged with the console -- including the power supply, cables, and controllers -- add another $55 to Microsoft's cost, pushing the loss per unit to $126. These estimates include assumptions that Microsoft is getting a discount on many components.
If paying $2000 for a system that should cost a maximum of $600 sits well with you, I have some good news. Ebay has tons of Xbox 360s most of them over $1000 dollars.
In a recent Fortune feature, Peter Lewis asks if gamers should you wait for the Sony PS3?
So should you wait a year for the PS3 or buy the Xbox 360 today? Current Xbox owners are likely to upgrade to the 360, and current PS2 owners will probably stick with Sony. New gamers, however, have little reason to wait nearly a year for the PS3, and Microsoft is almost certain to gain some ground on Sony.
Microsoft Corp. today announced that 18 Xbox 360 games, spanning all the popular genres, and 13 Xbox 360 accessories will be available when the video game and entertainment system launches in North America on Nov. 22.
Logitech, today announced the Harmony Advanced Universal Remote Control for Xbox 360, providing gamers and home-entertainment enthusiasts with a single remote that can completely control their game console and any other components in their entertainment system.
Out of the box, the Harmony remote for Xbox 360 can control the console, because the remote is preprogrammed during manufacturing. Users can navigate the Xbox 360 interface with the remote´s X, Y, A and B buttons. These buttons coincide with commands in different Xbox 360 screens for selecting and navigating games, settings, music and media. The Harmony remote can perform any Xbox 360 navigation that is possible with any other infrared remote control.
After completing the intuitive online setup, a Harmony remote owner can use the remote to control any other components that are used while gaming. The Play Xbox 360 activity button can be easily programmed to turn on the television, home-theater receiver and any other devices used for gaming, and to set all of the components to the correct inputs.
The Harmony for Xbox 360 remote control will be available in the U.S. beginning in late November for a suggested retail price of $129.99 in the U.S. If purchased with the Xbox 360 before March 31, 2006, there is a $30 manufacturer´s mail-in rebate available.
Microsoft Corp. expects to sell as many as 3 million Xbox 360 consoles in the first three months after launching the newest version of its video game machine, the financial chief of the giant software company's Xbox business said on Tuesday.
The sales target of 2.75 million to 3 million Xbox 360 units in the first 90 days after the launch date of November 22 was outlined by Xbox Chief Financial Officer Bryan Lee at an investors' conference in New York. That target comes nearly two weeks after Microsoft cautioned that initial Xbox sales might not be as high as some in the gaming industry have expected reports Reuters
According to reports the hot new marketing tool is to claim your product is totally out of stock. This reportedly drives interest and panic buys.
Apple's iPod Video and Microsoft's Xbox 360 shortages are being questioned for legitimacy.
Business week has an article about how the iPod demand is surpassing the supply. While a shortage might be legitimate, it is also surprising that the iPod video, which uses industry standard components, would have such a shortage writes UberGizmo
According to Arstechnica , Microsoft is engineering the supply chain so the Xbox 360 will sell out at most locales. Why? Two reasons. First, widespread sellouts would create the appearance that the console is so popular that retailers can't keep it in stock--actually it wouldn't be an appearance, since it would technically be true. Then the media would pick up on the shortages, generating even more buzz about the console and giving it more free publicity writes GameSpot
As reported here yesterday, the Xbox 360 has sold out online. i4u is reporting on a few outlets still offering Xbox 360 bundles for those with a little extra cash. Some of the deals are pretty good considering people are hawking just the system for over $2000 on ebay
Microsoft's Xbox 360 is already sold out online, forcing Wal-Mart.com to suggest to consumers that they line up outside its stores at midnight on November 22, the date it will be released in the United States reports Red Herring
"We're sorry, but we're sold out of our initial launch quantity of Xbox 360 hardware," said the site. "However, the Xbox 360 will be available in Wal-Mart stores at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22."
Amazon.com also said the unit is not available in the U.S. Buy.com is out of stock and the list goes on...
Meanwhile Bids on eBay reached as high as $4,100 this week, according to PortalIT. On Friday, eBay bids were over $1,200. Microsoft plans to sell the unit for $299, or $399 with extra accessories.
Microsoft Corp. is likely to win the next round of the game console fight against Sony Corp based on a potentially huge cost difference that could see the Xbox 360 selling for half the price of a PlayStation 3 (PS3) by the end of next year, investment firm Merrill Lynch said in a Wednesday analysis reports MacCentral
I am no rocket scientist, but let's say the PS3 is priced at $500, why would Microsoft hawk a system so much cheaper, when they could potentially make big bucks with just a small price cut. Also as mentioned here before, the debate of brand comes into play, cheaper works for a users' pocket but as far as the gamer's brain goes, cheaper usually equals inferior
Based on a breakdown of the parts being used inside the two game machines, Merrill Lynch said the "PS3 will not only be significantly more costly than Xbox 360 at launch, but will continue to operate at a cost disadvantage for several years."
The investment banker said Sony's PS3 is an impressive machine, but the costly components inside could raise the price of a PS3 to around US$500 when it launches in the spring of 2006. By then, the Xbox 360 could be selling for US$249, Merrill Lynch estimated.
It's a possibility, but it won't have any relationship to gaming," Maruyama is quoted as saying. "If the Xbox 360 uses a next-generation DVD drive in the future, it will only be used for watching movies that run on next-generation DVDs. The format for games will remain as [standard] DVD. That's not going to change."
While it seems odd to add on hardware that could benefit game developers and then disallow them from using it, Microsoft might have good reason for it. Introducing an HD-DVD-equipped Xbox 360 would create at least three (and possibly four, if it came with or without the hard-drive add-on) significantly different hardware setups for developers to work with. Microsoft has already indicated that it wants every Xbox 360 game to play on a no-frills core system.
Tuesday, IBM announced plans for a new microprocessor for Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console, due later this fall.
CNET reports the IBM and Microsoft custom-designed microprocessor features a customized version of IBM's 64-bit PowerPC core. The chip includes three of these cores, each with two simultaneous threads and clock speeds greater than 3GHz.
IBM is also working on a processor, called Cell, for the PlayStation3 game console, in conjunction with Sony and Toshiba.
In preparation for the steamy Xbox 360 launch, Microsoft will close its online console gaming service Xbox Live and the associated Xbox.com website for one day.
Scheduled for October 24th, with full services to be resumed the following day, the company has confirmed that a number of enhancements and additional community and global ranking functionality will launch to coincide with the launch of its next generation console reports Games Industry
Continuing their push to have the Xbox 360 console be considered more than just a game player, Microsoft has announced an update to its Media Centre Edition of Windows that will enable customers to stream music, videos, movies, television and photos to any television set or device via the Xbox 360 console.
Will Poole, senior vice president of the Windows Client Business at Microsoft stated:
"We introduced Windows XP Media Centre Edition three years ago with a vision to simplify the way people experience digital entertainment on their PC using something as familiar as a remote control. Now, Media Centre Edition and Xbox 360, together with offerings from hundreds of industry partners, are providing fantastic interactive entertainment experiences that can be experienced throughout the home."
According to a notice on the Xbox 360 page at Amazon.co.uk, Microsoft's steamy Xbox 360 console will be in short supply on the day of release, and, unfortunately, this means Amazon can't guarantee that pre-orders will be delivered by day of release. Amazon is reportedly working with suppliers to ensure that they fulfil all orders as soon as possible.
Gadget Sites Engadget & Gizmodo spent a few hours with the Microsoft Xbox 360 during a preview event yesterday. Err. My invite was probably lost in the mail.
Anyway both sites basically want to have Xbox 360 babies - Gizmodo more so than Engadget.
According to reports out of Germany ten Xbox 360 development kits were stolen from a warehouse in Duren, Germany, with the hardware believed to have fallen into the hands of hackers reports GamesIndustry. A few weeks ago Andre Vrignaud, Director of Technical Strategy for Xbox Live touted the security of the Xbox 360. Vrignaud said Microsoft took 2 and a half years on security this time round, whereas the Xbox only had around a year. Vrignaud prompted: "I thinks it's going to be a long time before the Xbox 360 gets modded.
According to an article on Spiegel Online, the shipment of ten dev kits was delivered to a warehouse in Germany in unmarked packaging. The kits were supposed to be distributed onwards to developers in order to create games for the new console platform. A few days after the shipment went 'missing', photographs of the kits appeared on the Internet, with the serial numbers edited out. Police raids in Austria and Germany recovered three of the units, but seven kits remain untraced at present as the investigation continues.
According to two analysts spilling to Chris Norris at CNN, getting your hands on the Microsoft Xbox 360 might be a little hard to do.
Wall Street has been expecting Microsoft to deliver more than 2 million of its next generation consoles to retailers worldwide this year. On Monday, though, P. J. McNealy of American Technology Research lowered his expectations to the 1.8 million - 2 million range. Friday, Banc of America's Gary Cooper said he believes the company will ship just 1.4 million - 1.6 million.
The shortage could lead to even higher priced game sets in a market that already seems to be on the verge of price gouging writes Chris
Speaking in an interview with GameInformer at the recent Tokyo Game Show Dead or Alive 4 creator Tomonobu Itagaki said the Microsoft Xbox 360 was better than the PlayStation 3.
"I think Xbox 360 is the best game console on the earth. It's better than PlayStation 3." He went on to add that the "PS3 has too complicated architecture."
At the Tokyo Game Show 2005 Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox 360 will be region locked for both games and DVD movie playback.
The Xbox 360 game console will be launched on November 22 in N. America, on December 2 in Europe and December 10 in Japan. The first version of the Xbox 360 will feature a 12x DVD-ROM drive (Toshiba), as well as a 20GB hard disk drive. The device will be able to playback DVD Video movies.
After 3 days of touching at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show, the folks over at IGN are in love with the Xbox 360 controller.
The beauty of the 360 controller is that it is small and lightweight without feeling cheap. It also posses an excellent layout that puts every button within easy reach of your thumbs. When prompted to press the start button I found myself lifting my hand off of the controller out of instinct. This was unnecessary seeing as I could easily reach both of the buttons next to the central guide button with my thumbs. The guide button itself is an excellent addition that quickly brings up the Live menu. We entered the Live guide on numerous occasions out of curiosity and the irresistible urge to push a shiny sphere surrounded by glowing lights.
Microsoft today announced that Xbox 360 will arrive on store shelves Tuesday, November 22 in North America, Friday, December 2 in Europe, and Saturday, December 10 in Japan. The announcement, made on the eve of Tokyo Game Show 2005, marked the first time that a game console will be launched in three territories in the same time frame. In preparation for what is expected to be massive worldwide demand for the new system, Microsoft also announced that Xbox 360 manufacturing is under way, with state-of-the-art facilities producing millions of units ultimately bound for frenzied gamers' homes from Osaka, Japan, to Oxford, England, and Orlando, Fla.
Last week, I touched on a comment, made by Andre Vrignaud, Director of Technical Strategy for Xbox Live during the Xbox 360 presentation at the GDC Europe 2005 in London. Vrignaud basically said it will be hard to hack the Xbox 360. BBC Online has a piece, which spawned a piece on Joystiq on how Microsoft plans to make its next generation games console, the Xbox 360, as difficult as possible to hack.
I am going to assume that Vrignaud is challenging folks to try to hack the Xbox 360. That 'you can't' psychology."
Xbox engineer Chris Satchell, says the Xbox 360 will have security built directly into the hardware.
"One of the reasons we went with custom hardware design for all our silicon is that it allows us to build security at the silicon level," he told the BBC News website.
"There are going to be levels of security in this box that the hacker community has never seen before."
Part of the motivation behind this is to prevent people from using the 360 to watch pirated films or TV shows.
Microsoft has confirmed the various pricing plans for the Xbox Live service on Xbox 360.
The basic pricing for Xbox Live Gold is $7.99 per month, with a three month subscription priced at $19.99 and twelve months at $49.99.
The Xbox Live Premium Gold Packs will be available in three-month and one-year variants, priced at $39.99 and $69.99 respectively. Both packs will include all of the Gold features, along with an Xbox Live headset and access to an Xbox Live Arcade game - Joust for three-month subscribers, and Bankshot Billiards for twelve month subscribers.
Three month subscribers will also receive a $10 mail-in rebate coupon for any Xbox 360 games, and 100 points to spend in the Xbox Live Marketplace, while twelve month subscribers get a $20 rebate and 200 marketplace points.
The folks at teamxbox.com are all over Microsoft's OrigenXbox360.org. The site features a backward countdown, in addition to a tree, a green shape that looks like a rabbit and behind that shape a hidden item that looks like an Xbox 360 placed in its vertical position writes TeamXbox 360. What will happen once the countdown ends is still a mystery, but Xbox 360 fans are searching the tree at OrigenXbox360.org for clues.
So far the guys found a Latin line
"in hoc spatio arbor noster floruit, fecundus pomies Elysii ignoti, qui in loco ludent electi, ab Originis angelis circumdati."
Translated as (via Team Xbox):
"In this space our tree has flourished abundant with the unknown fruits of Elysium, who will play in the chosen place, surrounded by the angels of Origen.
According to the French website XboxLive.fr, Microsoft Xbox 360 owners will be able to choose from multiple Xbox Live packages.
For Pro-Gamers - Premium Gold Pack will be available for US$69.99. 12 month subscription to Live, an Xbox Live headset, $20 off an Xbox 360 game and 200 Xbox Live marketplace points.
A non-Premium Gold Card will be available for US$59.9. 12 months of Live subscription.
3 Month Premium Gold Pack will be available for US$39.99.
Standard 3 Month Gold subscription will be available US$19.99.
Standard 1 Month Gold Card, will be available US$7.99.
Gamasutra.com posted an in-depth article from the Xbox 360 presentation at the GDC Europe 2005 in London. One very sad/interesting bit from Andre Vrignaud, Director of Technical Strategy for Xbox Live.
More interestingly, a question from an audience member on the security for Xbox 360 in terms of 'mod chips' and other devices that modify for imported/illegal content prompted a reply that Microsoft took 2 and a half years on security this time round, whereas the Xbox only had around a year. Vrignaud prompted: "Never say never", but he thinks it's going to be a long time before the Xbox 360 gets modded.
According to three US retailers, Microsoft plans to launch the Xbox 360 , Friday, November 25, the day after Thanksgiving, with software potentially hitting shelves earlier that week reports IGN.
The three retail chains reportedly received an email describing launch data late Monday.
According to a report in today's The Seattle Times reports Microsoft Corp. may open a retail store in New York City's Times Square with a four-story space at One Times Square being a potential location for the store.
A Microsoft spokeswoman refused to comment on the rumor saying that: "At any given time, Microsoft evaluates and pursues real-estate opportunities and needs. Out of respect for all parties, and a desire to not perpetuate rumors, we do not have a comment on this at this time."
Meanwhile, ITmedia Japan snapped some pics of a construction shielding surrounding what they suppose is an Xbox 360 store.
EBgames is taking pre-orders for the Microsoft Xbox 360. The company is offering the Xbox 360 Ultimate Bundle aimed at offering unsurpassed gaming and entertainment experience right out of the box.
* Xbox 360 Premium System ($399.00)
- Xbox 360 Game Console
- Wireless Controller
- Combination High-Definition Component and Standard A/V Cable
- 20GB Hard Drive
- Ethernet Cable
- Headset
- Bonus Media Remote
- Xbox Live Silver
- Xbox Live Gold 30-Day Trial
* Perfect Dark Zero Limited Edition
* Dead or Alive 4
* Kameo: Elements of Power
* Project Gotham Racing 3
* Extra Wireless Controller
* Play & Charge Kit (for extra controller)
* Rechargeable Battery Pack (for included controller)
Amazon DE. (399.00 Euros) is taking pre-orders for the upcoming Microsoft Xbox 360. Microsoft announced the official pricing for the Xbox 360 on August 17th. Amazon UK sets the shipping date of the Xbox 360 to November 28th writes i4u
Microsoft has announced the pricing for the Xbox 360 game console. There will be two editions of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 Premium Edition will sell for $399.99 USD. The Xbox 360 Premium edition comes with a 20GB Xbox 360 Hard Drive, Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Faceplate, Xbox 360 Headset, Xbox 360 Component HD-AV Cable, Xbox Live Silver membership and a bonus Media Remote Control (limited time only).
The Xbox 360 Core System is priced at $299.99USD.
It comes with a wired Xbox 360 controller.
Xbox 360 prices
Xbox 360 Hard Drive (20 GB) - $99.99
Xbox 360 Memory Unit (64 MB) - $39.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $49.99
Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit - $19.99
Xbox 360 rechargeable battery pack - $11.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter - $99.99
Xbox 360 Headset - $19.99
Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote - $29.99
Xbox 360 S-Video AV Cable / Xbox 360 SCART AV Cable - $29.99
Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable - $39.99
Software Giant, Microsoft will launch their next generation console, the Xbox 360 in America this Christmas with two different bundles priced at $299 and $399 reports LA Times
The cheaper of the two deals will offer just the console and one wired controller, while the $399 package will include a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Ethernet cable and wireless TV remote control.
Xbox 360 represents a dramatic leap forward in high-definition gaming and entertainment experiences. Fusing powerful hardware, software, and services, Xbox 360 fully engages you in a gaming experience that is more expansive, dramatic, and lifelike, where the possibilities are limitless and your imagination knows no boundaries touts Microsoft
PJ McNealy, an analyst at American Technology Research, claims that this pricing "will put pressure on Sony come Christmas 2007 because, by then, Microsoft will cut its premium price to $299 or below, while PS3 will still be north of $399."
Microsoft Xbox executive J Allard has confirmed, that the Xbox 360 may not always ship in a configuration with a hard drive.
Speaking in the September issue of US magazine Game Informer, J Allard said that Microsoft isn't yet ready to announce details of possible multiple models of the Xbox 360 writes Games Industry
"It's something we're not ready to announce yet," he said. "I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all [approach] over the next five-year horizon."
"We've said [to developers], 'Hey look, don't bank on the hard drive always being there,'" he revealed. "'There may be a scenario in the future where we don't want to have a hard drive, and in that case, we have to make sure that the games that you've created are accessible to the broadest possible audience.'"
A German games site is reporting that retailers are hinting at a 349 Euros price tag for the Microsoft Xbox 360. US analysts predict two distinctive console bundles, one costing $299 US, the other $399.
Amazon.co.uk has begun listing Xbox 360 games for pre order with the prices at either 29.99 Pounds or 32.99 Pounds. Games listed include Call of Duty 2 - 29.99 Pounds, Kameo: Elements of Power - 29.99 Pounds, Perfect Dark Zero - 32.99 Pounds, Quake 4 - 29.99 Pounds, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland - 29.99 Pounds and GUN - 29.99 Pounds.
Quake 4 and Tony Hawk's listed for release on October 28th, Call of Duty 2 listed for release on November 25th, GUN on November 11th, Perfect Dark Zero on December 2nd and Kameo on December 9th. , via theinquirer.net
Only Microsoft approved accessory makers will be able to produce Xbox 360 game pads, steering wheels, joysticks and other controllers reports CNet.
In order to ensure that only authorized products connect to the new console, Microsoft is adding a security mechanism that will be available exclusively to those who sign a deal with the company, according to documents from a peripheral company filed with the SEC. The Xbox 360 console, announced in May, is slated to go on sale this holiday season.
According to a set of estimates released by analysts at Piper Jaffray, Europe may get as few as 400,000 Xbox 360 units by January '06.
The figures, which were reported by Forbes Magazine, show 1 million Xbox 360s shipping in North America during 2005, with 400,000 units going to Europe and 200,000 to Japan reports GamesIndustry.
Piper Jaffray belives that Microsoft will hit a November launch in the USA and Europe, with Japan following a few weeks later .
According to "highly placed" sources speaking to GamesIndustry.biz Microsoft will ship its Xbox 360 console on Friday, November 25. The console could cost up to Euro 299.
"The original plan was Euro 249, but now that Sony is talking about the PS3 being expensive, Euro 299 is looking more likely,"
The European launch date will, apparently, be announced next Monday to the trade, followed two days later by the public announcement reports the Register.
As the Microsoft Xbox 360 release date approaches, folks are speculating that Microsoft will raise the as yet unannounced price of the Xbox 360 from an expected Euro200 - Euro250 to as high as Euro300.
WHY The rumored $499 price of the PS3 . Logic. Microsoft can raise the price of the Xbox 360 and still not be the most expensive console on the market.
Brand.Logic. If the Xbox 360 is significantly cheaper than the PS3 consumers will see the Xbox 360 as an inferior product.
According to a X-bit Poll Sony's PlayStation 3 seems to be a little bit more popular than Microsoft's Xbox 360 among X-bit labs readers, who mostly come from the U.S. or Europe: 23% of the polled said they were going to acquire Sony's game machine, while 20% said they were planning to buy Microsoft's console. Only 5% indicated intention to get Nintendo's Revolution device, which is due later than the new PlayStation and Xbox. About 46% of surveyed answered that they had no plans to get gaming machines at all.
At PSP Vault, a game developer has posted screenshots that show the Sony PSP connected to the Xbox 360:
"I finally got an xbox360 dev kit today, and was able to see how well it interacts with the PSP. It worked great - I was able to listen to mp3s right off the PSP through the Xbox360 Music Player, and view images from the PSP at full screen."
The Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, which is now being promoted by Microsoft as "an integrated music, picture, games, and movie center", is equipped with USB 2.0 ports that allows it to connect with portable music players, digital cameras and any other device with a USB interface such as the PSP.
Reports from Walmart employees suggest the US retail price for the Xbox 360 will be $299 and its launch titles such as Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 will be priced at $59.99. The unconfirmed reports also suggest the Xbox 360 will ship to retail on November 4th.
Microsoft will reportedly confirm retail pricing for its next-gen console, the Xbox 360 at this month's Games Convention 2005 in Leipzig, Germany. The rumored start price for the Xbox 360 is $299. via
In addition to revealing a QWERTY keyboard add-on for the Xbox 360 Controller, at a Spanish event, Microsoft also released a snippet of information to wet taste buds on Half-life 3 for Xbox 360
On a slide titled "XNA Technology Map," if you look closely in the center of the image and there's a box labeled 'Game Engines." In that box there's a list of developers and associated technology. Half-life 3 is listed
Speaking at the Xbox Summit 2005 in Japan, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates revealed plans for the Xbox 360, the new Microsoft gaming console to include HD-DVD drives.
Considering that such a decision would postpone the launching date, initial Xbox 360 models will ship with standard DVD drives, once HD-DVD systems are go, the Xbox will incorporate them reports Softpedia.
Xbox 360 incorporating HD-DVD is nice push for its creator Toshiba in battle for next generation DVD. Sony's Play Station 3 will incorporate the Blu-Ray standard.
Gates also said that the Microsoft-Toshiba alliance is not a unilateral partnership and that many of the equipments manufactured by the Japanese company, such as the Tablet PCs will be based on Longhorn, Microsoft's future operating system.
According to retail sources speaking to Spong.com Sony is planning to cut the price of the skinny PlayStation 2 to 60 Euro, in an effort to undermine the launch of the Microsoft Xbox 360.
The price reduction will probably be worldwide, with the console priced at $100 in the US Nintendo may also cut the price cut of the GameCube in an effort to take some buzz of the Microsoft Xbox 360
"You can expect significant reductions in the price of everything this Christmas, but most noticeable will be the PlayStation 2," our well-placed source told SPOnG. "We've been briefed to expect a price as low as 60 Euro beginning at the start of December. Sony's probably looking at a global price cut - around $100 in the States and a serious Platinum range announcement too."
An image purporting to be from Espanol Xbox 360 presentation is making the rounds. As shown on the shot above, the Xbox 360 controller has a QWERTY keypad. The keypad would be attached to controller so you could send text messages or chat during the game
.via Engadget
At the Xbox Summit 2005, Microsoft showed off its first mock-up of the Xbox 360's retail packaging: a simple white and green box that matched the console's color scheme reports Game Spot
According to the Xbox 360 packaging, Microsoft will ship a hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox Live, headset, and Ethernet cable with the Xbox 360
At the Xbox Summit 2005 event in Japan, Software Giant Microsoft gave a first look at the additional accessories which Microsoft will be shipping alongside Xbox 360 - including wired joypads, memory units, and additional hard drives.
Accessories such as additional wireless controllers, additional headsets, faceplates for the unit and a selection of audio-visual cables (including a VGA cable for high definition PC monitors) will be made available.
Microsoft will offer additional hard drives, a USB wireless adapter, and wired controllers for the console.
Today at the Xbox Summit 2005 in Tokyo, more than 50 of Japan's game publishers pledged their support for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. The games announced today span a full range of genres and include titles previously exclusive to other video game systems. These next-generation games, including major titles such as "Resident Evil" and "Ridge Racer," showcase the incredible experiences enabled through Xbox 360. Xbox 360 Game Titles Shown at Xbox Summit 2005
Microsoft Corp, the world's largest software maker revealed on Monday that 45 game titles available for Japanese users of the Xbox 360 game console are scheduled to go on sale in time for the year-end holiday shopping season reports CNN.
"I've always said that Japan is a vitally important market for the Xbox platform," Peter Moore, Microsoft's vice president in charge of Xbox marketing, said at an event to introduce upcoming games for the console.
"I know that the success in this country is the ultimate tribute to the compelling power of our new platform," he said.
38 publishers, including Square Enix Co. Ltd., Electronic Arts Inc., and Namco Ltd., are developing 45 game titles. More than 100 other titles are being worked on.
Xbox marketing head in the UK Stephen McGill stressed that Microsoft wanted to reach out to "the untapped market of female gamers" by designing games that are more female friendly and, critically, emphasizing less of the marketing efforts on appealing to teenage boys in a chat with the Inquirer
At a media briefing in Dublin on Thursday Microsoft confirmed more than 25 titles to launch with its next-generation console, with a further 160 in development. Games planned for the Xbox 360 include Perfect Dark Zero, a prequel to the Rare game Perfect Dark; Kameo, a family-orientated game; Project Gotham Racing 3; Dead or Alive 4; Quake 4; FIFA 2006; and Ghost Recon 3.
Microsoft plans to make its console backwards compatible with current Xbox games. Stephen McGill, head of Xbox marketing, revealed that the company was planning to make the best-selling Xbox games -- of which he claimed there are hundreds -- compatible with the console, and work backwards down the list. He admitted, however, that there may be some Xbox games that simply won't work with the Xbox 360.
Graphics are controlled by a 500MHz ATI graphics chip, and the console is powered by three 2GHz cores. Its 20GB hard drive is removable, so you can attach it to a friend's Xbox 360, almost eliminating the need for memory cards.
A picture purporting to be of a Xbox 360 motherboard has surfaced on a French Xbox modding site. The site claims to have received an anonymous tip yesterday with the picture attached.
The Xbox 360, Microsoft next-generation game console, the Xbox 360 will come equipped with an age restriction feature.
If the age of children using the console is entered in advance, software that has an age restriction above that age cannot be viewed. The Xbox 360 is reportedly the first home game console to provide such a feature.
Microsoft officials said the console reads data from the DVD when the software is loaded, including the age restriction for that software. The age restrictions on the console follow the four categories classified by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization -- age 12 and up, age 15 and up, and age 18 and up, and all ages.
In an interview with Famitsu magazine, Tecmo executive and Team Ninja chief Tomonobu Itagaki revealed that Dead or Alive 4 is scheduled to be a launch title for the Xbox 360 and will likely ship later this year in Japan. Itagaki leaked a few new details about Dead or Alive 4. The main character in Dead or Alive 4 will be the opera singer Helena, who has now become the head of the evil DOATEC organization that Kasumi and the other ninjas fought against in the previous installments. Itagaki also revealed that the new blond fighter Elliot is a disciple of Gen-Fu, the elderly Chinese master who has been appearing in the DOA series since its original release. However, it isn't known whether Gen-Fu will be appearing in DOA4, since he stopped fighting after DOA3.
In interview with TeamXbox.com , Todd Holmdahl, corporate vice president of the Xbox product group, revealed new facts about the exact capabilities of the Microsoft Xbox 360.
1. "Xbox 360 games do not require the HDD or a memory unit, but Xbox Live requires one or the other to save the gamers' account information."
2. Xbox 360's Ethernet network port can be used to enable two different network connections at one time, and that the console can support four wireless controllers and four wireless headset communicators simultaneously, using custom 2.4GHz technology and not Bluetooth or WUSB.
3. PS3 more powerful than Xbox 360
"I dispute the notion that the PS3 is more powerful than Xbox 360. We outperform where it matters, and our system is much more balanced, making sure we can actually harness all the power of the system, unlike Sony. We believe that their teraflop calculations are wrong, and we put them at a similar teraflop number as Xbox 360."
Speaking to Eurogamer a Sega representative said "Lindbergh is not based on next-generation consoles," killing rumors that the board was based on Xbox 360 hardware.
"While SEGA has announced a new arcade version of House of the Dead, the company cannot confirm a next-gen console version at this time," said the representative.
The representative also denied rumors of Virtua Fighter 5 appearing on the Xbox 360.
Some Kid just got his daddy fired for posting shots of his xBox 360 experience.
His step dad just started working for Microsoft under the title of Regulatory Compliance Manager, and is currently hardware testing the Xbox 360. The hardware is apparently complete, and although there were no 360 games to test, the kid gave Halo 2 a spin in backwards compatibility. He is claiming the power supply is external, and is enormous. He also raved about the user interface/dashboard and the feel of the controller.
The dream killers or if you prefer realist at GameSpot are all over the rumored Microsoft Xbox 360 Launch date of November 4 . 2005. Continuing their bogus -- not bogus feature GameSpot also tackles the black Xbox 360 rumor.
GameSpot
$20 says the Xbox launches in November around the fourth anniversary of the first Xbox hitting the market. However, odds are Goth gamers will have to do their own case-modding or just settle for a Skinny Puppy faceplate.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 will launch on November 4, according to a leak from a Microsoft Partner Site. Xbox365.com reports that the announcement of the date is said to have been an accident on Microsoft's side.
The Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system places you at the center of the experience. Available this holiday season, Xbox 360 ignites a new era of digital entertainment that is always connected, always personalized, and always in high definition.
In an interview with Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu , Electronic Arts Vice-President David Gardner reportedly talked briefly about how EA will focus on Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. According to reports Gardner did not Nintendo Revolution at all.
Since no specifics have been announced it's possible that EA could continue the trend of porting popular games to the Revolution, as it's been doing with the Gamecube reports GameCube Advanced.
According to arcade distributors in Japan SEGA's new "Lindbergh" arcade board uses Xbox 360's architecture. If true, a 360-based Lindbergh would mean that the next wave of SEGA arcade games could easily be ported to Microsoft's next-generation console reports GameSpot. If series such as Virtua Fighter also appear on the Lindbergh, it may help build up the 360's library with games of proven popularity in Japan.
Sega staged a beta test in Tokyo for House of the Dead 4, the forthcoming light-gun shooter that uses the company's new "Lindbergh" arcade board
UK website The Inquirer is reporting that ATI has succeeded in delivering Xenos chips for the Microsoft Xbox 360 running at the full 500MHz speed, with some key developers already working with full-speed GPUs in their development kits.
According to The Inquirer, the Xenos part could theoretically run at speeds higher than 500MHz -- but Microsoft appears to have pegged the speed of the part at that level in order to ensure that it gets a large enough numbers of chips to supply demand at launch later this year reports GamesIndustry.
OK. Even though Microsoft's Xbox 360 console is expected to be available in months, Japanese consumers are more interested in the PlayStation 3 according to a survey of 1000 people in "JAPAN".
According to the study, 60% of consumers claimed PlayStation 3 to be the most interesting among the next-generation consoles, 8% were looking forward Nintendo Revolution gaming machine and only 2% were to acquire Microsoft Xbox 360. About 30% could not decide.
In response to this IGN has pointed out two things to note
1. Nintendo has revealed very little about the Revolution at this point
2.Microsoft intends an "E3 level" event in Japan at the end of July to promote the Xbox 360.
2% of a new survey of 1,000 Japanese consumers from the ages of 10 to 59 on the next generation of video games consoles picked Microsoft's Next Generation Xbox console called Xbox 360 as the most appealing of the next generation consoles.
60% saw the PlayStation 3 as the most appealing of the next generation consoles, 8 percent picked the Nintendo Revolution.
The poor showing for the Revolution is perhaps understandable, given that Nintendo has released only sketchy outline details regarding the console so far - but the figure for the Xbox 360 will come as a disappointment to Microsoft, which has focused heavily on the Japanese market in recent months reports GamesIndustry
.
The most popular reasons given for choosing the PlayStation 3 were that it was thought likely to have the largest range of software, that it is a Sony product, and the PS3's perceived technological superiority -- including Blu-ray support
The Taiwan Economics News reports that two companies, Foxlink International and Ji-Haw Industrial will begin delivering Xbox 360 components to Microsoft assembly lines next month, with separate reports claiming that debugging units are already rolling off lines in preparation for upcoming Xbox 360 showings reports Spong.
Last week, rumors began to surface that the Xbox 360 would let gamers download Micrsoft-developed games onto Nintendo's DS handheld. Evidence has surfaced confirming that the company is indeed developing games for the DS reports GameSpot.
The Evidence - two job listings on the Microsoft owned Rare Ltd., the Britain-based developer of Conker: Live and Reloaded for the Xbox and Perfect Dark Zero for the Xbox 360.
The first advertisement, under the "Artist Vacancies" subsection, calls for submissions from "EXPERIENCED 3D ARTISTS (NINTENDO DS)." The position requires a "Good understanding of 3D packages (preferably Maya), strong modeling and texturing abilities, imagination and motivation are all required from anyone hoping to join our Develop award-nominated team in creating key DS titles."
The second advertisement, under "Software Vacancies," asks for "GAMES PROGRAMMERS (NINTENDO DS)." Applicants must "be motivated, enthusiastic and skilled in C/C++ to join our dedicated handheld team, recently nominated for a Develop Industry Excellence Award. 3D skills also an advantage in creating high-profile titles for this unique system."
Jeff Minter's latest creation 'Neon' will be preloaded onto Microsoft Xbox 360 at launch. Neon is a mix of game and musically inspired light show writes finali.com
In an inteview with The Guardian , British head of studio LlamaSoft, Minter hints that it'll be possible to hook-up an iPod or other independent device to the Xbox 360 in order to drive Neon, stating also that up to four-controllers can steer the game, with other 'layers' in the image taken over by the game's AI.
"In an interview published in the latest issue of Famitsu Xbox, Microsoft Japan Xbox platform development chief Shinichi Manaka reveals that there are currently no plans for the Xbox 360 to support the controllers used by the current-generation Xbox console.
'It won't connect, and we have no plans to support that. The Xbox 360 is designed to be wireless, and we would like everyone to get used to this new environment. You just can't go back once you get used to a wireless environment,' commented Manaka to Famitsu Xbox."
GameSpot leaves down open on the Anandtech.com article titled "Microsoft's Xbox 360 & Sony's PlayStation 3 - Examples of Poor CPU Performance"
The article which made the claim that both Sony and Microsoft are using stats to make their next-gen consoles seem faster than they really are is no longer available on Anandtech.com. The article singles out the 360 in particular, saying that "game developers will most likely only be using one of [the 360's three 3.2Ghz] cores for the majority of their calculations." That would mean that the console would run much slower than advertised.
"Right now, from what we've heard, the real-world performance of the Xenon CPU is about twice that of the 733MHz processor in the first Xbox," wrote Shimpi. "Considering that this CPU is supposed to power the Xbox 360 for the next 4-5 years, it's nothing short of disappointing."
According to Xbox Japan boss Yoshihiro Maruyama, Microsoft's planned Xbox 360 event in Japan later this month will be a "product unveiling on the scale of E3. Microsot with show off a number of new first- and third-party games at the big party.
A number of new deals between Japanese developers and Microsoft Game Studios are expected, building on the existing relationships that the company has announced with Mist Walker, Game Republic and Q Entertainment reports GamesIndustry
Speaking to Famitsu magazine, Team Ninja chief Tomonobu Itagaki expressed 'anxiety' over Microsoft's decision go with the DVD disc format on the Xbox 360 console. (Xbox 360 DVDs will hold 9GB of data)
"The screen resolution for Xbox 360 games will be in high definition, so the prerendered movies are going to be pretty large,"
"If we encoded the Dead or Alive 4 trailer from E3 in high definition in a quality acceptable to us, it will easily be about 2GB."
"With DOA4, we'll be using the disc's capacity to its full extent. We started development on DOA4 pretty early, and we didn't know what disc format the Xbox 360 was going to adopt. So when we learned about it, we were really knocked out."
"The Xbox 360 is said to be a machine that's easy to develop for, but that's because it has a good line-up of middleware and infrastructure... If you try to take advantage of the Xbox 360's full hardware specs, you'll find out about the difficulty in programming for a multicore machine," he said.
However, "Even if just a single core is used for a game, it will still be several times more powerful than machines up until now. But we aren't satisfied at that kind of level," admitted Itagaki.
"Our programmers are having fun playing around with the machine. They're swinging around all the cores and making a game that shows the powers of the Xbox 360."
According to multiple sources working on titles for Microsoft's Xbox 360, updated versions of the development hardware for the Xbox 360 console have begun shipping to studios at last, replacing the Apple PowerMac G5 based systems which were used to demonstrate games at E3 in May reports GamesIndustry.
The Beta kits have a processor and graphics chipset configuration much closer to the final hardware that will appear in Xbox 360.
Developers who spoke to GamesIndustry.biz said Microsoft's Beta kits still aren't up to full speed, the "Final" development kits aren't expected to ship for another few months.
Speaking to GameSpot, Microsoft officials denied plans to license the software underlying its Xbox gaming machine to a variety of outside companies in a bid to expand the market share for the Xbox machine. "To be clear, Xbox will continue to be manufactured exclusively by Microsoft," said a rep for the company. "There's certainly a potential for other hardware companies to manufacture Xbox some day in the future, but that is not something we're focused on right now."
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates hinted Thursday that his company might license the software underlying its Xbox gaming machine to a variety of outside companies in a bid to expand the market share for the Xbox machine reports Yahoo News.
Microsoft is considering offering "the basic software" for Xbox, although no decision has been made, Microsoft Japan spokesman Kazushi Okabe said Thursday, confirming the Gates' comments reported in Thursday's editions of Japan's top business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Microsoft plans to start selling its next-generation game machine Xbox 360 later this year while Sony plans to introduce the PlayStation 3 next spring.
According to the latest issue of Famitsu, Microsoft Japan will be making an announcement in July during which it will reveal new third-party publishers and game titles for the Xbox 360 aimed at the Japanese market. A representative from the company told the magazine that "there could be some major surprises" at the conference. More
Scottish game designer David Jones (creator of the first Grand Theft Auto) has announced that All Points Bulletin (APB), (his new multiplayer online role-playing game set in "a highly volatile world filled with dramatic car chases, shootouts, busts, escapes, and arrests") will be available for Microsoft's next-gen console, the Xbox 360 in 2008, around one year after the PC version ships. "We are confident APB will take full advantage of Xbox 360's impressive capabilities," said Webzen CEO Nam Ju Kim. The game will be Webzen's second for the 360, after the postapocalyptic shooter Huxley reports GameSpot
Speaking at a joint event with HD-DVD creator Toshiba in Tokyo, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates reaffirmed Microsoft's commitment to the HD-DVD standard and confirmed that the company is already thinking about future revisions of the Xbox 360 hardware (company may incorporate a HD-DVD drive into the console). The HD-DVD standard currently faces a battle against the competing Blu-Ray next-generation DVD standard, created by Sony reports GamesIndustry.
"The initial shipments of Xbox 360 will be based on today's DVD format," Gates explained. "We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional capability of an HD DVD player or something else."
Sony's PlayStation 3 will use Blu-Ray system for both HD movie playback and game storage. Sony and Toshiba have held talks to try and establish a joint format for next-generation DVD, but these collapsed recently after Toshiba refused to accept Blu-Ray - which boasts higher capacity discs but is more expensive to manufacture - as the basis for the joint standard.
In a continuing effort to make sure the Microsoft Xbox 360 is hit in Japan, Microsoft has reportedly signed on another Japanese developer for Xbox 360. 3rd party developer Gargoyle Mechanics is reported to be working on one new game for the system reports IGN.
Gargoyle Mechanics has had a hand in the development of a number of past titles. Members of the company worked on planning, programming and graphics for the first Shenmue on Dreamcast, programming for Zombie Revenge and also ported Capcom's Dino Crisis to the system. Most recently, the company developed Azumi for D3 Publisher.
Microsoft is said to be considering making their next generation Xbox 360 connectable with the two rival firms' portable machines, the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS. Based on company Statements made last week Microsoft has developed technology to allow its next-generation video game console, Xbox 360, to be connected online with portable game machines of rival firms. Users of the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) and the Nintendo DS will be able to connect their machines with the Xbox 360 and play Microsoft's games over the Internet, Microsoft officials said reports Tech News World.
ATI touts the power of the Xbox 360 GPU , and reveals the Xbox 360 GPU is far more powerful than the GPU for Revolution. At the ELSPA International Games Summit, ATI's Richard Huddy said: "[The GPU will have] 256 Gigabytes per second of render bandwidth... fifty times the power of the original Xbox." Huddy went on to say that the Xbox 360 would have, "Five times more [power] than any other next generation console."
In other news ATi is also providing the GPU for Nintendo's next-generation console, Revolution.
In an interview published in the current issue of Famitsu, Japanese Xbox boss Yoshihiro Maruyama said he expects that Japan will see a "good lineup" of titles at launch for the Xbox 360 --somewhere in the double-digit range. He added that seven or eight will be Japanese-developed games. One of the major impediments to the growth of the Xbox installed base in Japan was the low number of games geared specifically toward Japanese gamers, available at launch and during the console's ongoing life span reports GameSpot
According to preliminary projections of a study scheduled to be released next week by Kagan Research, Microsoft's Xbox 360 is poised to take an early lead in the market of next-generation console-based video game systems, and the flood of titles for all three systems--Xbox 360, Sony's PS3, and Nintendo Revolution--will drive the U.S. market for console software to more than $8.1 billion by 2008 Reports Media Weekly .
Xbox360, Kagan projects, will capture a majority of the initial market share among the next-generation consoles, due to its early release date--the console is expected to be out late this year, with the Revolution slated for an early 2006 release and the PS3 following in Spring '06.
The study predicts that in 2006, the Xbox 360 will have a market share of 54 percent, followed by the PS3 at 27 percent and the Revolution at 19 percent. In 2007, however, the Xbox 360 will lose its lead to the PS3, dropping to a market share of 37 percent, with the PS3 capturing 45 percent.
Speaking at the ELSPA International Games Summit in London, Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore predicted that the early Xbox 360 start will allow the console to reach 10 million installed base "very quickly."
Asked what position he expects the Xbox 360 to be in by the time Sony's PlayStation 3 arrives on the market, Moore commented that it was "difficult to say until we know what 'Spring' means," referring to Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi's stated launch window for PS3 of Spring 2006.
Peter Moore said Microsoft has a target of 10 million units, explaining that the firm believes that historically, reaching that threshold has given consoles "tremendous momentum" in the marketplace.
"I'm not in any way saying that he who gets to 10 million first wins," he continued, "but that's a target that we in Redmond believe that we can get to very quickly." Read More
Microsoft has signed a deal with NVIDIA to license the company's technology in order to enable backwards compatibility in the Xbox 360, which uses an ATI graphics chipset that isn't natively compatible with Xbox titles. Sources close to the company indicated that a form of recompilation would be required to make Xbox games work on the 360, with the resulting patched executables being shipped on the system's hard drive for certain popular games, and patched versions of other games gradually being added over the Xbox Live network. Read More
During in a GarageGames press release it was revealed that Microsoft's Xbox 360 will have downloadable games. "GarageGames now has three powerful engines, and we're constantly improving our development toolset. We've got several exciting projects on the horizon including a killer casual game being developed in partnership with another company and a downloadable title for the upcoming Xbox 360."
It seems the Xbox 360 Live service will allow purchases of games online. Microsoft has yet to release official information on this. Read More
More than 160 games are in development for the backward-compatible Xbox 360. 25 to 40 games are slated for release this calendar year. All are optimized for high-definition output (720p and 1080i). The following games are among the exciting new titles, many console-exclusives, in development from the biggest names in publishing today:
* Blue Dragon (Microsoft Game Studios, Mistwalker Inc.) from Hironobu Sakaguchi, original creator of the FINAL FANTASY series, is an epic roleplaying game (RPG) featuring the original artwork of Akira Toriyama, creator of the Dragonball series of manga and anime.
* Call of Duty 2 (Activision Inc., Infinity Ward), the sequel to the 2003 Game of the Year, delivers a vivid portrayal of the chaos and cinematic intensity of World War II through stunningly detailed graphics, advanced artificial intelligence (A.I.), and explosive action.
Further enhancing the gaming experience, Xbox 360 Memory Units allow you to save your in-game achievements and unique gamer profiles. The Memory Units are easily portable and enable quick and easy access to previously established benchmarks, putting you in control of your games and your lifestyle. You can save your games, your Xbox Live profile, and more with Xbox 360 Memory Units.
* Transport your Memory Unit in the portable carrying case that fits on your keychain.
* The Memory Unit (64 MB) requires no setup. Just plug it in, and you can save your favorite games.
* Xbox 360 holds up to two Memory Units, so you can easily upgrade to more storage space.
Fonix Speech, has announced an agreement to continue to deliver Fonix voice command technology for Microsoft's Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system.
:Microsoft is pleased to continue its relationship with Fonix for Xbox 360,: says Brian Schmidt, Program Manager, Audio and Voice Technologies, Microsoft. :By incorporating Fonix's speech recognition technology into our Xbox 360 development kit, game developers can give players a fun and natural way of interacting with their games."
Logitech has confirmed it will have products on the market when Xbox 360 hardware launches.
"One of the best ways for gamers to take advantage of the graphics, games and processing speed of Xbox 360 is with first-class peripherals," said Fred Swan, Logitech's director of strategic marketing for interactive entertainment. "Like our current controllers, the products for Xbox 360 will be designed to give gamers the edge they want - and need - to be the best."
The guys at unmediated.org have scored images demonstrating the fresh clean look for the Xbox 360 Dashboard. In addition to Control Panel and Xbox Live settings, you can see the new Media tab - showing off Music, Pictures and linking to Windows Media Connect. More XBox 360 dashboard
Speaking to TheStreet.com, Microsoft corporate vice president J Allard said that he was "not sure" about the final price point of Microsoft's Xbox 360, with a decision on pricing still "probably about two months away" - but confirmed that the price would "be in the neighbourhood" of the $300 price tag of Xbox at launch.
Hironobu Sakaguchi of Final Fantasy fame hopes to create a new game of Final Fantasy proportions for Microsoft's new console, the Xbox 360. It is hoped that a successful game could help push Xbox 360 units in Japan.
The original Xbox has fared badly there (Japan), struggling to sell in one of the world's liveliest video games market. Only 1.7 million have sold in Asia. That compares with more than 13 million in the US and another five million in Europe reports BBC. "While the top-selling Xbox games in the US are shooting titles such as Halo, in Japan, the big hitters tend to be role-playing and adventure games."
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