Could Xbox 720 be completely digital? During a conversation with Shane Kim, the new Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Microsoft offered very general commentary on the next Xbox console.
When asked if his new role includes looking at how Microsoft is going to transition into the next console, Kim said:
"How [do] you think about next generation? What is that next generation going to encompass? How are you even going to define that? All of that is part of the equation. What kind of geographic expansion do we need to see? Is the world more of an online world than a hardware-oriented world? I think there are some really fascinating opportunities in front of us."
While the statement offers no details, it does suggest that Microsoft is at least exploring the idea of launching a digital system rather than a traditional expensive piece of hardware.
We're likely several years from the next Xbox, so enjoy t... More »
The lawyer in the case says he will proceed with efforts to depose Gates unless Microsoft settles for at least $25 million.
The lawyer for the family of a teenage girl who was horribly burned in a house fire allegedly sparked by a faulty Xbox game console is threatening to have Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) chairman Bill Gates testify about the safety of his company's offshore manufacturing practices.
Attorney William Tinning said in a letter to Microsoft last week that he would seek "an apex deposition for Mr. Gates given his worldwide speeches about the inadequacies of capitalism and the need for his Warren Buffet-funded charitable trust to bridge the gap.
"This is in direct contrast with his business organization policies," wrote Tinning. Microsoft is "one of the largest employers of low wage earners in China for products built to the specification of his company which have resulted in massive recalls for safety issues," he added.
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Yeah, that's right: why don't they enter the competition? Is the bid for Yahoo too expensive and they're out of money now?
In the recent period Microsoft went from the acquisition-spree that characterized the burst of the "dot-com bubble" era to a more pragmatic approach to business. And by pragmatic I mean " building products in house".
Just think of this classical example. In 2000, Microsoft had two options in order to enter the increasingly profitable gaming market: one was to buy the ailing Nintendo, which at that time was valued at "only" $13 billion (compare that to the $70.89 billion today) and the other was to build its own console. Guess what: top representatives from Redmond thought that Nintendo was too expensive, so they went on with crafting the Xbox, which debuted in 2001.
Fast forward four years later and Microsoft unveils the second generation of Xbox, dubbed Xbox 360, after reporting a whooping $4 billion loss at the Xbox divisio... More »
Sega is finally pulling the plug on the Xbox version of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II in Japan.
The last day online play will be available is January 31, 2008, five years after the initial launch date. When this happens Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst Episode IV will be the only version of original PSO that gamers in Japan can still play online.
Please note that this announcement is only for Japan. Sega has made no announcements about shutting down Xbox servers in other regions yet.
Microsoft today released latest version of its XNA game development tools. XNA Game Studio 2.0 adds support for X-Box Live, allowing upstart game developers to utilize the Live environment to create online multiplayer games for the X-Box 360 and Windows.
Developers can now implement a wide range of Live features into their applications, such as matchmaking, which uses Live to find the best games for you to play based on your location and Internet connection.
Microsoft will also provide a free academic trial membership in the XNA Creators Club beginning in January, allowing faculty members and students to use XNA Game Studio 2.0 and X-Box 360 for instructional purposes. Under normal circumstances, a license to use XNA development tools on the X-Box 360 costs $99 per year, $49 per four months.
To quote: Microsoft Corp. today marked the next step in its initiative to democratize game development and unleash the creativity of the community with the re... More »
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