Microsoft has opened up the Xbox Live Rewards program to all users. The company tested the program in early November and worked out some kinks. Now all of you can take advantage of it! Check out some of the goodies:
Microsoft has opened up the Xbox Live Rewards program to all users in the United States and United Kingdom. The company tested the program in early November and worked out some kinks. Now all of you can take advantage of it! Check out some of the goodies:
Did any of you sign up? Are you excited by the program? Do you think it makes Xbox Live Gold more valuable than PlayStation Plus?
Eurogamer posted a hot rumor that the original Halo is going to be remade using the Halo: Reach engine. When asked about this rumor, Microsoft PR responded with the following:
Right now our focus is on supporting Halo: Reach. We have nothing to announce at this time.
In my head this is the PR equivalent of *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*, “It’s coming!” What do you think? Is a Halo remake in the works? Would you buy it?
Kindly check out these screens of Sega’s upcoming Binary Domain for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This squad-based shooter is being headed up by Toshihiro Nagoshi, best known as the producer on the Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball Games.
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Kindly check out these screens of Sega’s upcoming Binary Domain for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This squad-based shooter is being headed up by Toshihiro Nagoshi, best known as the producer on the Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball Games. In a recent press release, Nagoshi described his vision for Binary Domain:
What I wanted to create this time was a dramatic and energetic sci-fi shooter. When you hear sci-fi you may think of cold, clinical environments but with Binary Domain I wanted to combine this with a deep human drama. The keyword we have in mind for this project is ’Life’. I wanted to make something that will be accepted by both the Japanese and Western markets, and this fundamental theme is something everyone knows but which the full extent of can be difficult to grasp.
It sounds cool on paper! What do y’all think of Binary Domain’s concept and screens?
Microsoft has sold 2.5-million units of Kinect for Xbox 360, getting the company to the halfway point for its projection of five-million units sold in 2010. In a recent press release, Microsoft president Don Mattrick said:
We are thrilled about the consumer response to Kinect, and are working hard with our retail and manufacturing partners to expedite production and shipments of Kinect to restock shelves as fast as possible to keep up with demand. With sales already exceeding two and a half million units in just 25 days, we are on pace to reach our forecast of 5 million units sold to consumers this holiday.
Those are some impressive sales figures and I’m sure Kinect will be under millions of Christmas trees in December. Do you think Microsoft will reach its goal? Or will the momentum die down?
Microsoft is in the early stages of planning a televisions service that can be accessed through devices like its Xbox 360 gaming console. The company has been holding talks with various networks for a service that could end up being like virtual cable or a la carte cable. According to Reuters:
Microsoft Corp has held talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service through devices such as its Xbox video game console, two people familiar with the plans told Reuters.
Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling more individual channels directly such as an HBO or Showtime. It already has Walt Disney Co’s ESPN on the Xbox Live online service for example.
This could develop into something huge and game changing. Cable and satellite companies are crap, requiring customers to buy packages containing dozens of channels, most of which are unwanted. If Microsoft sells individualchannels — particularly premium ones like HBO — through Xbox 360 and its future consoles, I’d drop my cable service in a heartbeat. Being able to pick the channels you want would be brilliant.
Integrating the television service with Windows Phone 7 would be tremendous. Microsoft’s mobile operating system will have a difficult time catching up to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Offering premium television through Windows Phone 7 would make the battle easier.
While the service appears to be a year away — if it happens at all — it has a ton of potential. I will dream about features like a la carte channel selection and streaming HBO boxing on a phone, but I fully expect the networks to give the bare minimum.
What do you think of a potential Microsoft television service? What would you want it to have?
Here’s an updated list of Xbox Live Black Friday deals. They’re good until November 29, 2010. Kindly check out the list and let me know if any of the goods interest you!
Here’s an updated list of Xbox Live Black Friday deals. They’re good until November 29, 2010. Kindly check out the list and let me know if any of the goods interest you!
Games Add-Ons
Splinter Cell Conviction Deniable Ops: Insurgency Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Alan Wake The Signal Regular Price: 560 Discount Price: 320 Savings: 43%
Trials HD The Big Pack Regular Price: 400 Discount Price: 240 Savings: 40%
Rock Band 3 – Lady Gaga Pack 01 Regular Price: 560 Discount Price: 280 Savings: 50%
Rock Band 3 – Nirvana Pack 01 Regular Price: 880 Discount Price: 640 Savings: 27%
Rock Band 3 – Nirvana Pack 02 Regular Price: 440 Discount Price: 240 Savings: 45%Games
Monkey Island: Special Edition Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Monkey Island 2 Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Puzzle Quest 2 Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 800 Savings: 33%
Serious Sam TSE Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 600 Savings: 50%
Zombie Apocalypse Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Portal: Still Alive Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 67%
VooDoo Dice Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Mega Man 10 Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Magic the Gathering Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%
Madden NFL Arcade Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 400 Savings: 50%Dolly Avatar Clothes
Secret of Monkey Island – Cotton Swab Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%
Fantasy Pets – Red Dragon Regular Price: 240 Discount Price: 120 Savings: 50%
Lara Croft – Xolotl Mask Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%
Modern Warfare 2 – Gas Mask Regular Price: 240 Discount Price: 120 Savings: 50%
Gears 3 – COG ArmorRegular Price: 320 Discount Price: 160 Savings: 50%
Street Fighter – Dudley Outfit Regular Price: 320 Discount Price: 160 Savings: 50%
Street Fighter – Chun Li Outfit Regular Price: 320 Discount Price: 160 Savings: 50%
Diesel Matic 8B3 Jeans Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%
Diesel Viker 8A7 Jeans Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%
Quicksilver Fuze Flannel Shirt Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%
Roxy Enough Said Woven Shirt Regular Price: 160 Discount Price: 80 Savings: 50%Video Content (US Only)
Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 720 Savings: 40%
Clash of the Titans Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 720 Savings: 40%
Cop Out Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 720 Savings: 40%
The Losers Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 720 Savings: 40%
Sex and the City 2 Regular Price: 1200 Discount Price: 720 Savings: 40%
300 Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Batman: Gotham Knight Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Goodfellas Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Michael Clayton Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
P.S. I Love You Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
RocknRolla Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Twister Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Unforgiven Regular Price: 800 Discount Price: 380 Savings: 53%
Microsoft has revealed some of its Xbox Live Black Friday specials. Check ’em out…
Microsoft has revealed some of its Xbox Live Black Friday specials. Check ’em out:
Xbox 360 Games
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar Games) – 400 Microsoft Points
Halo: Combat Evolved (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft PointsXbox Live Arcade
Trials HD (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points
‘Splosion Man (Microsoft Game Studios) – 160 Microsoft Points
Monkey Island: Special Edition (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points
Madden NFL Arcade (Electronic Arts) – 400 Microsoft Points
Portal: Still Alive (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft PointsZune Movies
Clash of the Titans – 720 Microsoft Points
Sex and the City 2 – 720 Microsoft Points
Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore – 720 Microsoft Points
300 – 380 Microsoft Points
I never got around to Monkey Island. Perhaps I’ll pick that up. If you haven’t played Portal then I suggest you buy it this week. It’s excellent. If you even think about buying Clash of the Titans, I’ll fly to your house and smack you. Any of this stuff interest you?
After 72 years of delays (not really), Sony is finally releasing Gran Turismo 5 for PlayStation 3. Whether or not the game is worth the wait, it’s sure to sell millions. The games I’m looking forward to this week are from Namco Bandai: Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom and Splatterhouse. Need some pop in your life? Then check out Michael Jackson: The Experience. Last, but not least, is Raving Rabbids Travel in Time.
Random note: as of this writing, GT5 is #2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience is #11 on Amazon’s videogame best seller list.
Any of you picking up new games this week?
Here are some fresh new screens and a video for the upcoming Deus Ex: Human Revolution. As a fan of the original games, I’m super psyched for this one. I think it’s looking hot, but I’d love to hear what you think. Kindly check out the goods and share your thoughts!
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In the immortal words of that Spike TV guy, I have a “worldwide exclusive”! Heroes actor Greg Grunberg confirmed his role in Rockstar Games’ upcoming L.A. Noire at EA’s Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launch event. The video above features Grunberg talking about the game and the unique motion capture used by Depth Analysis. Check it out and let me know what you think (please)!
