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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Says Blu-ray on the Way for Xbox 360

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that a Blu-ray accessories are on the way for Xbox 360, though he was quick to point out that the console will be emphasizing on-demand movies. In a recent interview with Gizmodo Ballmer said:

Well I don’t know if we need to put Blu-ray in there — you’ll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.

Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we’re not ready to comment.

After betting on the wrong horse with HD-DVD, there really wasn’t much of a choice for Microsoft. While a lot of gamers are satisfied with streaming or downloading movies, some customers prefer the superior video quality of Blu-ray, while others rather have physical media instead of a digital download.

Are any of you surprised that Blu-ray is coming to Xbox 360? Will you be picking up a Blu-ray peripheral for your console?

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Windows 7 Poll: Are You Taking the Plunge?

Windows 7 box Microsoft’s Windows 7 is available today. The company’s latest operating system promises to be its best since Windows XP. After a rough ride with Windows Vista, most reviews point to Windows 7 being a vastly superior experience. The question is, are you going to buy it? Let the RPad.tv community know by voting in this poll. If you have time, explain why you voted the way you did in the comments section.

[poll id = 2]

Google Set to Launch Music Service

It looks like Google is partnering with iLike (MySpace) and Lala for an upcoming music service. TechCrunch claims that the service will be announced on October 28. Supposedly called Google Audio, the effort gives Google yet another way to serve ads. Perhaps more importantly, it gives the company a music service that can be leveraged by products that use Google Android. TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington reported:

Google will soon launch a music service, we’ve heard from multiple sources, and the company has spent the last several weeks securing content for the launch of the service from the major music labels. One source has referred to the new service as Google Audio.

This new service will be available for at least U.S. users, our sources confirm, although it isn’t clear if it’s a download or streaming service, or both. Google already has a decent (if little used) music search engine that can be accessed by simply typing “music:” before a query. But songs are not available for streaming or download from those searches.

Apple and Google have been competing in more and more areas, with the companies growing increasingly icy towards each other. Google has had recent difficulty integrating its products (Google Voice) into Apple’s (iPhone). A recent rumor stated that Apple was working on its own mapping program to remove Google Maps as the default on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Google starting a service that competes head-on with Apple’s iTunes is an even bigger shot. Hopefully there will be blood soon.

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Sony Patents New Mystery Controller

Sony has applied for a patent for an upcoming controller. The controller appears to be for simple games that require minimum input, such as the Buzz series of quiz games. According to Siliconera:

A design patent application for this unannounced device was filed in the US by Sony Computer Entertainment. The document is light on details, but calls the device a “hand held game controller”.

It seems like this controller is being developed in the USA since all of the inventors are from southern California. More specifically, one of them works at Sony’s Electronics Design center in Los Angeles.

Sony Mystery Controller

Judging from the pictures, I can’t see this being for anything but games like Buzz. That said, it could be more complex than it looks. I also find it curious that Sony will have three distinct first-party controllers: the DualShock, the magic sex toy of motion, and this thing. While gamers like you will know what’s what, this might confuse casual consumers.

Any thoughts on the controller?

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Marvel Comics Online Comic-Book Creator Rules!!!

Silver Surfer

My friend at Marvel sent me a link to this online Marvel Superhero Squad comic-book creator. It’s cute and fun…so much so that I’m worried about my productivity for the day. The system is pretty simple, allowing you to manipulate characters, backgrounds, text, sound effects, and objects. You can create simple comic strips or longer comic books. When you’re all done, you can save your masterful work as a PDF file.

If you get a chance, check it out! I’d love to see some of your creations.

Datel Whines About Microsoft’s Stance on Xbox 360 Memory

Datel Xbox Memory Card

Datel was unhappy to learn that Microsoft’s Major Nelson warned Xbox 360 gamers about using “unauthorized memory”. The good Major said that gamers that continue to use unofficial memory units will not be able to access their profile or game saves. A Datel rep told CVG:

If the Major Nelson blog is to be taken at face value then we’re disappointed to see that Microsoft are taking these steps to prevent customers from exercising their freedom of choice. Everyone is looking for ways to make their cash go further at the moment and we believe that Max Memory offers a good value, high capacity, alternative to the official Memory Unit.

I’m split on this one. On one hand, gamers should absolutely have a choice. On the other hand, there are a lot of crappy third-party peripherals out there and many of them aren’t certified by Microsoft. Also, Datel’s Xsata memory card has been used by gamers to hack save files and add unearned achievements. If you’re going to sell a product that can be used to violate Microsoft’s terms of service then you shouldn’t whine when you get shut out.

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Coffee Talk #8: Why You Should Support Borderlands

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, A-Rod discovering how to play in the post-season, Apple’s $999 unibody MacBook, or T-Mobile’s mysterious Project Dark, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Borderlands is one of those games that I hope sells likes crazy, but probably won’t. While I won’t go as far as to say the game has been “sent to die”, like Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter did, I acknowledge that it has several things going against it. Even though it’s an action-RPG, a lot of people view it as a shooter based on screenshots and Gearbox Software’s history. This is an extraordinarily crappy time to release a shooter — especially a new franchise. Halo 3: ODST recently came out and Modern Warfare 2 is a few weeks away. While all three games are different enough, there’s definitely a lot of audience overlap and a limited amount of dollars that can be spent. Most people are going to go with the sequels to established franchises instead of the new game with the funky art.

Borderlands

I hope I’m wrong — I really do. Borderlands is the kind of game we should all be supporting. The developer has a strong track record, the reviews have been great, the game is unique, and the art style rocks (well, it rocks me anyway). A lot of people complain that the gaming business is too sequel happy and not enough effort has been made to generate new IPs. Well here’s your chance to stand up for originality and against sequel-itis!

Of course it’s your money and you should do what you want with it. You should buy whatever game you think will entertain you the most. It’s just upsetting that a good, original game from a quality developer is likely to get brushed aside in favor of sequels. Again, I hope I’m wrong and Borderlands sells millions of copies.

With all of that in mind, here are my questions for you this morning. Does supporting originality or developers come into play when you buy games? Or is it all about entertainment for you?

PSA: Autograph Session at GameStop Koreatown

Smackdown vs Raw 2010 a

Hey all! Here’s a friendly reminder that I’ll be signing copies of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 at the GameStop in Koreatown today. Here are the specifics:

What: Raymond Padilla autograph session for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010

Where: GameStop — 3183 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010

When: October 21, 2009, 3:00PM to 9:00PM

(By signing autographs, I mean that I’ll be pestering GameStop customers that are interested in the game, telling them about my role in it, and forcing my signature on their box whether they want it or not. Hmmm…maybe I better not do this.)

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Sony Australia Hurls PS3 Slim into Bravia LCD at 50MPH

What happens when Sony’s irresistible force (PlayStation 3) meets its immovable objects (Bravia LCD television)? Sony Australia has the answer in this stylish commercial. I’m not sure what the point is, but the spot is pretty cool.

And also — Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Japanese Release Date

Square Enix’s highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep for Sony PlayStation Portable has been slated for January 9, 2010 according to Andriasang. While a general January time frame was given by the company during Tokyo Game Show 2009, the date is now set in stone by way of keyblade.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Hopefully localization will be quick and North American Kingdom Hearts fans will get Birth by Sleep a few months later. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was released on May 2009 in Japan and September 2009 in North America — a four-month gap. However, that’s a Nintendo DS game; Birth by Sleep will require more localization time, especially with the voice acting. I’d love an American version by June, but wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t arrive until August.

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