The Prelude to Halo 4 sounds pretty good

As far as promotional video's go, the Halo Prelude released by 343 Industries today is pretty cool. The music, which much has been said about, definitely isn't classically Halo, and yet- it is.

Harry Potter Kinect coming this Fall

This Autumn, you'll be able to cast your way through the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Kinected fashion as Hogwarts goes controller free.

Get Ballin' with NBA Baller Beats

It's NBA jam in the most literal of meanings as Majesco and HB Studios bring court skills head to head with slick tunes.

Flash Mob. Zumba: Fitness Rush Style.

2,000 Zumba fanatics in one place, working it with Zumba innovators Beto and Gina Grant is honestly a little frightening.

New Halo 4 Shots Released

A small dripping of new in-game shots from this Falls Halo 4 in action was released today by Microsoft. Any kind of meaningful details are beyond scarce right now, but if these screens are anything to go by- at least we know it's gonna be pretty.

Microsoft Laments it's Great Faceplate Experiment

In an interview with Official Xbox Magazine, Xbox global marketing director Albert Penello says that the faceplate failed right from the start for the simple reason that nobody bought one.

This is actually news to me- I knew quite a few people that got several when the console launched. In fact, the branded plates like Gears of War and Halo were in pretty big demand for a while. The only reason that I stopped picking them up was because Microsoft, for all intents and purposes, stopped offering them.

Now, of course, all this is meaningless. The new Xbox 360 s model has no ability to switch out faceplates at all.

E3 '10 -- Microsoft Press Conference

There were a few surprises today at the MS Brief. The chief among them being that 'Natal' is now 'Kinect', and that the speculated Xbox 360 'lite' is a reality. The lite has all the stuff that the regular 360 has, but it adds built in wi-fi (you're probably saying something like: the 360 should have had this since the start- but what's nice here is that it's wireless 'N'. Very nice indeed.), a built-in HD, and a special port for the aforementioned Kinect. Regular 360's will need a seperate power adapter for the camera system.

Two cool things here: it's going to cost the same as the current Elite unit, aaaand it'll be in stores at the end of the week.

There's tons of stuff after the break about the briefing with plenty about Kinect- enjoy

Microsoft Teams with US Dept. of Health & Human Services for New Bing App

Now you'll be able to overlay health and disease information over Bing maps to chart the overall healthiness of an area. You can get pretty detailed apparently, right down to the population of smokers in a neighborhood.

I'm not sure if this is good or just really, really, creepy at this point.

Read on for the release and link

Did Microsoft kill Natal before it even debuts?

If the rumor going around right now is to be believed- then in my opinion -yes.

$149.99 for (essentially) a controller? This is not a new console, it's a controller. I'm sure there are plenty of amazing ways to implement Natal in a bunch of games- really I am, but that price point... Ouch.

Think about this for a sec: Take 'Halo: Reach', which will not have Natal integration, but just for argument's sake... Take Reach and add Natal-

• Maybe you actually slap your hand against the back of the Xbox pad to load a new mag into your assault rifle
• Maybe you make a throwing motion to toss a grenade
• Maybe you lower your shoulder to barrel through some Grunts

Whatever you want to include here, it's all imagined anyway, the point is that all that stuff sounds cool right? Would (and will) Reach be cool to play with 'just a pad' too? Sure it will. And that's the problem with $149.99

If you're a traditional gamer, then you really have no need for the extra bells and whistles that Natal could bring. They'd be cool and all, but not for $149.99. I mean seriously, I like the Wii and it has a lot of great titles, but if there is an option to play with the 'chuck or classic controller- I use it. 

I think Microsoft would sell a boat load of the things at $49, $59- hell even $89. I'm a pretty early adopter and even I would have trouble justifying almost double that.

Now, before I go, just to remind everybody- I'm probably getting crazy here for nothing. Remember that the speculation surrounding the iPad's price turned out to be a joke. I mean I had actually heard $1500+ at one point for the base 3G model. And we all know how that turned out. 

Just food for thought.

Spring into a new Xbox 360 bundle!

This is a pretty awesome deal actually- the new bundle deal from Microsoft contains a 360 Elite (120 gig HD) plus Halo 3: ODST AND Forza 3. I'm really not tryig to sound like a commercial here but that's freakin amazing. Two of the best games from last year and the best 360 on the market for the regular Elite price of $299. Excellent.

If you don't have a 360, or if you were thinking about a second one and don't have either of these two games- you might want to consider getting one of these. I have three of the damn things (and both of those games) and I'm still trying to come up with a reason to get it.

Have nothing to do on Christmas Day?

Here are some helpful tips from your good friends at Microsoft.

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You’ve wrapped your gifts, put the finishing touches on decorations, and created your version of frosty the snowman in the front yard. Whether you’re spending the Holidays with your (crazy?) extended family, close friends, or just that special someone this year, Xbox LIVE has lots to keep you entertained (and sane) at home during the Holidays. So grab a blanket, a hot cup of cider, and let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

The Gift of Holiday Knowledge

There’s always that one know-it-all in every family, so challenge Aunt Connie or Cousin Johnny to a special Holiday trivia showdown. Tune into a special “1 vs 100 Live” Holiday episode on December 26 at 6:00 pm PT which will feature Holiday-themed trivia, a decked out set, and laughs with Chris Cashman. Didn’t get an Xbox LIVE Gold membership in your stocking this year? No problem. From December 24, 9:00 am PT – December 28, 9:00 am PT, Xbox LIVE Silver members in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France and Germany can enjoy the “1 vs 100” premium entertainment experience reserved exclusively for Gold members. If you enjoy making your Avatar bust a move, you can also cast a vote for your favorite dance in the “1 vs 100” Dance Contest (www.avatardancecontest.com) from now until December 26. The winner will be notified on January 4, and have their moves immortalized as an Avatar dance in “1 vs 100.” And, to ring in 2010, tune into another special “1 vs 100 Live” episode on January 1 at 7:00 pm PT, which will test your knowledge of the New Year.

The Gift of Rocking Out

Sick of caroling? Do the jingle bell rock! The new Xbox LIVE Music Games Stores open December 22 making it easier than ever to find and choose from more than 1300 tracks for your favorite music games: “Rock Band” (MTV Games), “Rock Band 2” (MTV Games), “The Beatles: Rock Band” (MTV Games),“Lego Rock Band” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), “Guitar Hero® 5” (Activision), “Guitar Hero® World Tour” (Activision/Red Octane), “Band Hero™” (Activision), “Lips” (Microsoft Game Studios), and “Lips: Number One Hits” (Microsoft Game Studios). There’s no need to argue between Metallica and the Beatles – search, sort, and preview clips from songs in one convenient place on the new Music Marketplace on Xbox LIVE.

The Gift of Fame

We all need a little action (and humor) to snap us out of the Holiday dinner coma. On Sunday, December 27 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PT, funny man and actor, Dane Cook, will play against Xbox LIVE Gold members in “Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2” (Infinity Ward/Activision.) If you want to go head-to-head with the comedian, then Oscar Mike and send a friend request to the Gamertag DCook GwF. Be on LIVE 30 minutes (6:30 pm PT) before the Game with Fame session starts and you might receive an invite to play. It can be your claim to fame this Holiday. For more information, please visit:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/1227-danecook.htm

With so much entertainment to keep your Holiday merry and bright, remember to dress your Avatar to the nines (or in an ugly Holiday sweater) and check out Major Nelson on Twitter from now until December 31 as he unveils daily deals that will be sure to bring you cheer.

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Fable II, now in bite-sized pieces!

I don't really know what to make of this:

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Any “Fable II” fan can share experiences of their life in the rich world of Albion, and wild stories about glory or mischief they’ve gotten into as consequences of their choices in the game. For everyone missing out, Microsoft now presents a completely new way to experience “Fable II” through the power of Xbox LIVE and Games on Demand: “Fable II: Game Episodes.”

Debuting today on Xbox LIVE*, “Fable II: Game Episodes” gives players the choice to purchase and download “Fable II” one episode at a time. This marks the first time in Xbox history that a major blockbuster title will be distributed not only digitally, but episodically as well. “Fable II: Game Episodes” delivers the entire “Fable II” experience in five consecutive installments, with all the Achievements, challenges and excitement of the disc-based game, as well as full compatibility with the previously released Game Add-ons, “Knothole Island” and “See the Future.”

As an incentive for those curious about the adventures that await them in “Fable II,” Microsoft Game Studios is making the first episode free to download. In this initial episode, players are introduced to the vibrant world of Albion where every choice has a consequence, and are able to experience childhood and the trials of being a young adult. Players can then choose to purchase additional episodes on Xbox LIVE at their own pace.

Players who decide to purchase “Fable II” either digitally or on disc after a foray into the first game episode will find their saved progress, character profile, and items from the first episode will be transferred seamlessly as they continue their journey. All editions of the game offer cooperative play with friends on the same couch as well as on Xbox LIVE.**

For more information about “Fable II: Game Episodes” and “Fable III” please visit http://www.lionhead.com.

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So it's basically a way to taste F2 without buying into the whole retail package. In a way, I like this a lot- The idea of carrying over all of your decisions and saved games from a demo (which is really what the first episode is) into the complete game (either as a retail box or DLC) is a great one. I often don't play demo's of game that I pretty much know I'm going to get at launch. This isn't because I'm not excited to play, it's because I have no interest in playing the same section twice and I get annoyed when I get into a great game only to have it end at a cliffhanger. I'd rather just wait for the release. This format takes care of half my 'demo issue' quite nicely.

On the other hand, why the hell bother with wasting this on Fable II? The game is a year old. I understand that hype has to build for part 3 but come on, It's a year old!

 Here's a little something from Microsoft about Project Natal's presence at the Tokyo Game Show:

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TOKYO — Sept. 24, 2009 — Xbox 360 today announced widespread enthusiasm from the world’s leading video-game publishers for “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play — no controller required. Developers across the globe have embraced the technology and have begun work on titles that will deliver extraordinary entertainment experiences for everyone to enjoy. Coming just three months after “Project Natal” was unveiled at E3, the announcements at the Tokyo Game Show underscore the swift industry support for the revolutionary controller-free experiences being developed exclusively for Xbox 360, the premier games and entertainment system.

Among the elite publishers actively working on games for “Project Natal” are Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, CAPCOM, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft. Together, these publishers account for more than 70 percent of third-party software sales for this generation of console and most of the world’s most recognized video game franchises.

“‘Project Natal’ gives the industry’s creators and storytellers the freedom to dream of new experiences and to tell stories never before possible,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “The support of these creative partners testifies to the excitement that ‘Project Natal’ is generating among the most innovative minds in the industry, and is proof that Xbox 360 not only offers the best games and entertainment today, but will lead with innovation and new ways to have fun in the future.”

Further details of publishers’ new “Project Natal”-inspired projects will be released at a later date.

Underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for “Project Natal” among the industry’s top creative forces, Xbox 360 is hosting a high-powered panel at the Tokyo Game Show featuring three acclaimed Japanese industry luminaries: CAPCOM’s Keiji Inafune, creator of “Mega Man” and “Dead Rising,” Sega’s Toshihiro Nagoshi, creator of “Super Monkey Ball,” and Konami’s Hideo Kojima, creator of the “Metal Gear Solid” series. The three developers will discuss the possibilities for the groundbreaking new experiences that can only be achieved with “Project Natal.”

Unveiled for the first time in June, “Project Natal” is a code name for a whole new way to play. Combining an RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone running proprietary software, “Project Natal” enables gamers to play in a natural and inviting new way, free from the boundaries of a controller through the use of sight, sound and motion.

Publishers, who received development kits from Microsoft in early June, used the opening of the Tokyo Game Show to voice their excitement about “Project Natal.”

“Microsoft ‘Project Natal’ could fundamentally change the way players experience sports games,” said EA Sports President Peter Moore. “At EA, some of our top development teams are experimenting with these tools with the goal of delivering a completely fresh take on genres like sports and racing.”

“Activision is encouraged by the innovation that Project Natal will bring to the industry and how it can transform consumers’ video games experience. We have development teams working on Project Natal development kits to explore the creative possibilities this new technology affords,” said Dusty Welch, senior vice president and head of Publishing at Activision/Blizzard.

“I strongly feel that ‘Project Natal’ will expand the possibilities of gaming. It’s yet another component that adds to the appeal of Xbox 360 and demonstrates to users the broad level of entertainment it provides,” said Keiji Inafune, managing corporate officer and head of Research & Development Management Group at CAPCOM. “Personally, I too am extremely excited about ‘Project Natal.’ It’s really going to stir up our creative spirits. I think it’s going to bring new ways to play and new surprises to Xbox 360 fans and help further the development of completely original content. ‘Project Natal’ is definitely something people should look out for.”

“Ubisoft sees enormous opportunities with ‘Project Natal.’ With the 3-D camera, your body can become the interface,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer of Ubisoft. “Any barrier related to the use of pad controllers that may have existed for potential gamers is now abolished. Ubisoft is already taking advantage of this major evolution to design new types of gaming experiences and attract more people to play video games.”

In addition to the broad industry support, Microsoft Game Studios is busy at work creating a diverse slate of experiences that will appeal to a wide variety of entertainment interests.

“‘Project Natal’ is enabling our team of developers to create experiences we couldn’t have accomplished before,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Game Studios. “Microsoft Game Studios will help lead the way in bringing ‘Project Natal’ to life.”

While laying the foundation for tomorrow with “Project Natal,” Xbox 360 remains the premier device for home entertainment today. Hot new titles for Xbox LIVE Arcade were also unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show, including “Toy Soldiers,” “Snoopy Flying Ace,” “Bomberman Live: Battlefest” and “RayStormHD,” positioning Xbox LIVE Arcade as the premier destination to enjoy the most innovative downloadable games.

Xbox 360 is also set to deliver the best new gaming, entertainment and social experiences for consumers this fall. Not only is Xbox 360 home to the most-anticipated exclusive games such as “Halo 3: ODST,” “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Left 4 Dead 2,” and new content from Rockstar Games including the Xbox retail exclusive “Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City” featuring “The Ballad of Gay Tony,” which will also be available for download over Xbox LIVE, it will also be the only place to watch instant-on HD in 1080p¹ with Zune video, and listen to personalized streaming radio right in the living room with Last.fm on Xbox LIVE. And with new social experiences custom-made for the television, Xbox LIVE continues to offer the most ways of any console to connect and share with friends and family on Facebook, and post tweets on Twitter.²

Additional information about Xbox 360 at the Tokyo Game Show can be found at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/press/2009/tgs.

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Halo 3: ODST release

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The latest addition to the blockbuster Xbox 360 series delights fans and critics alike with a gripping new story and riveting cooperative multiplayer gameplay
The wait is finally over. Today, a new chapter in the legendary “Halo” saga opens up with the highly anticipated launch of “Halo 3: ODST.” After finishing the fight with Master Chief in “Halo 3,” players now have the opportunity to take a step back in time and experience the “Halo” universe from a whole new perspective.
Last night, more than 7,000 retail stores in the United States and a host of retailers in other countries opened their doors at midnight to usher in a flood of fans who sought to be the first to play the critically acclaimed title. Launch festivities were capped off with a “Halo” franchise celebration at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, where Bungie and 343 Industries luminaries were on hand to meet and greet fans and celebrate the launch together.
Xbox 360 exclusive “Halo 3: ODST” is already winning critical acclaim from the nation’s top media outlets. Here’s what they are saying about the game:
“The best Halo game yet,” and “An action-packed thrill ride from start to finish.”
--Game Pro
“It's part Blade Runner, part Saving Private Ryan, and yet in the end it's still definitely Halo.”
--1UP.com
“ODST is simply an excellent game.”
--G4TV’s X-Play
With “Halo 3: ODST,” developer Bungie takes the “Halo” franchise into all new territory. Players are put in the boots of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, some of the toughest and bravest soldiers of the UNSC. Players must search for clues to find out what happened to their squad when a drop into the city of New Mombosa goes wrong, and discover the secret behind the Covenant’s interest in the city.
In addition to a full-fledged campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer mode where up to four players battle waves of unrelenting Covenant onslaughts. The game also introduces three new “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer maps and contains the complete, standalone “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a second disc. “Halo 3: ODST” will also act as a key to entry into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta at a later date.
The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” for Xbox in 2001, the rich fiction of the franchise has since inspired a series of blockbuster Xbox and Xbox 360 video games, New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.
Published by Microsoft Game Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the games are optimized for the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 27 million copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 2 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.
To keep abreast of the latest “Halo” news, follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint. You can also learn more by visiting the Halo Waypoint page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint. For more information about Bungie, visit www.bungie.net.

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360 price cut confirmed by Engadget

Engadget ran this the other day but just in case you missed it, here it is again:

The Xbox 360 Pro (soon to be extinct?) is going to be $250 staring this Sunday, It will join the Elite at it's already 'announced' $299 price point.

Pro no go

It looks like the rumors of Microsoft discontinuing the 'standard' Xbox Pro Bundle were true.

According to Edge, Argos (a UK retailer) is no longer taking orders for the Pro SKU and are telliing their shoppers that Microsoft is no longer producing that specific model.

It remains to be seen if MS will indeed lower the price of the Elite SKU to the level of the Pro but it's probable at this point. This is a very smart move on MS end - providing an Elite at the price of a Pro while still keeping the base Arcade price point, should really move some machines. Of course, this would really look smart if Sony does release the long rumored PS3 Slim for the holidays.

Either way - advantage consumer.

“I think we’ve got the best thumb-based controller ever created,” Mattrick told Edge.

And I definitely agree.

I picked this up from an Edge.com article about Microsoft's potential plans to drop the standard pad in favor of using the Natal as a full time human interface.

Dan basically says that there no plans to implement such a control scheme - and that's a good idea. I'm floored by Natal, I think it's an amaziong leap in control devices. At the same time though, even if Natal were used to play a game like Halo, you would still need the controller in hand in order to fire your weapon. Used in conjunction, the camera system/controller combo would be an awesome gameplay experience.

Microsoft E3 Press Briefing

Wow would be a good word to describe the Xbox showing at the newly re-energized E3. There's been a lot of buzz about '09 being a big year for Sony and it's PS3/PSP, but they're going to have to have one hell of a lineup to top the stuff Microsoft has showed off here.

Here are the top five points that stuck out in my mind:

5) Third party games (multiplatformers too) being treated as Xbox exclusives.

This includes Final Fantasy (which looks awesome), Modern Warfare 2, Rock Band Beatles and one really big one that you'll read about further down the list.

4) Exclusive games

Crackdown 2 looks amazing, Alan Wake looks like it used that extra development time to become a real stunner, Splinter-frickin-Cell Conviction (YESSSSS!!!!), Left 4 Dead 2 -- see where I'm going with this?

Video Games | Splinter Cell: Conviction | E3 09: Microsoft Press Conference Gameplay Demo

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

"

Video Games | Crackdown 2 | E3 09: Debut Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

3) HALO returns with a double whammy

Halo ODST was shown off and looks really good and really different than H3 thanks to a pseudo-squad mechanic that looks pretty neat. The big bomb though, was Halo: Reach.
Presumably this is based on the novel of the same name and is a prequel to the trilogy. It features the fall of the human military stronghold planet Reach to the Covenant. My best guess is that this is a true squad-based game like Rainbow 6 since the trailer seems to show a team of Spartans integrated into the logo.

"

Video Games | Halo: Reach | E3 09: Debut Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Play to your core fans and you will never lose. ODST hits this year but you'll have to wait for Reach, it's not coming out until 2010.

2)Metal Gear Solid (!)

No, not a port of MGS4, a true multiplatform release of the next Gear -- Metal Gear Solid Rising. If you've played MGS4 on the PS3, then you know Hideo Kojima makes with the next-gen awesome.

It's really a gigantic coup for the Xbox team. MGS has always been Sony's darling. Even when the earlier games came to the first Xbox, is was well after they had already dropped on the PS2. Now that they've gone fully multiplatform, there really aren't any marqee titles exclusively on the PS3 other than Sony's own in-house stuff. Which is great stuff but, what are they thinking letting MGS go?

"

Video Games | Metal Gear Solid: Rising | E3 09: Debut Teaser

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

and finally...

1) Project Natal

The full body motion controller/camera/voice recognition system makes it's appearance. Now, I don't like motion controllers. I don't. I like Wii games in spite of the controls, not because of them. I just know that Natal is going to be blown off by a lot of players who consider themselves 'hardcore', but I wish they would give it a chance. Read on and keep an open mind.

That being said, Natal is amazing with a capital 'A'. The camera system picks up movement in three dimensions and is does it well. Watching the demos, I was more and more impressed by each until we met 'Milo'.

Milo is a creation of Fable designer Peter Molyneux. He's a 'real' person that you can interact with, talk to, play games with, etc... It's not so much Milo that impresses me so much (he does, but go with me here...) as it's the sheer amount of possibilities that the imagination conjures up for this incredible piece of tech. Watch the demo, use that imagination that's rattling around up there, you'll see what I mean.

"

Video Games | Project Natal | E3 09: Project Natal Intro

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

I don't know what kind of controller Sony is going to be showing off, but Natal blows the Wiimote into atoms. Truly next-gen.

It happened again.

The Xbox 360 outsold the Wii and the PS3 in Japan. That's like, what, the fourth time in the last few months? I wonder if it has anything to do with the JRPG's that seem to drop at the exact same time as the surges in sales?

Hmmmmmmmm.... Nah.

Read more on Edge

Welcome to the Microsoft store

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:7e5976b4-c39a-4340-99d8-06fae91fb582&showPlaylist=true" target="_new" title="Microsoft Retail Future Vision">Video: Microsoft Retail Future Vision</a>

Watch the vid? Okay, that was from a little while back when MS was looking into future retailing methods and how tech might be adapted to better fuel the world's retail shopping engines.

I guess the research must have been positive because Microsoft isn't going to wait for anyone else, they're going to be opening up their own Microsoft branded shops. No word on where these shops will be opening up yet, or even when for that matter, but they're a comin'.

It really seems as natural as Apple stores to me- load up the store with Xbox games, Windows software, and PC's and it really can't lose. Have a steady slate of midnight madness events for launches and maybe even a few early releases and you've got gold. Gold Jerry, gold!