Joystiq

Now Playing: May 28 - June 3, 2012

Steven Wong — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:59:00 EST

Fight for the survival of humanity this week with Resistance: Burning Skies...

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Now Playing: May 28 - June 3, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass Effect 3 'Rebellion Pack' DLC live on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC 'soon'

David Hinkle — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:30:00 EST

Xbox 360 owners will find the Rebellion DLC pack available for download in Mass Effect 3 right now. The Rebellion pack is free to those who have activated their Online Pass and adds a new objective type, two new maps, and three new playable characters to the multiplayer side of BioWare's latest RPG.

PC and PS3 owners will have to wait for Rebellion. Chris Priestly, BioWare's community guy, says that it'll be available on those platforms "soon." We'll be sure to update as soon as BioWare reveals new details.

Mass Effect 3 'Rebellion Pack' DLC live on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC 'soon' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 has generated more than $56 billion in retail

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:30:00 EST

Microsoft has sold 67 million Xbox 360 consoles since its launch in 2005, raking in more than $56 billion at retail. Kinect has sold 19 million units and Xbox Live has 40 million members, leaving us to question what the remaining 27 million people are doing with their Xboxes if they aren't downloading games or watching video on Amazon Instant, a service announced and rolled out just today.

It would appear the current generation of gaming consoles has sustained itself on its broader entertainment options, and Xbox 360 sales have increased from years four to five, five to six and six to seven, as the above graph indicates.

"The more entertainment options we add, the more time people spend on Xbox," Microsoft said.

Xbox 360 has generated more than $56 billion in retail originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 gets Amazon Instant starting ... right now!

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:10:00 EST

Ever since PlayStation 3 owners got Amazon Instant back in April, those of us with just an Xbox 360 have been left in the lurch. No more! Amazon let loose the Instant Video app today on Xbox Live under the Video Apps marketplace, allowing Amazon Prime owners streaming access to "over 17,000 Prime Instant videos" and both Prime and non-Prime customers to purchase access to "a library of over 120,000 movies and TV episodes."

As you might've guessed, Microsoft's Kinect functionality is also part of the service, allowing you to shout "Xbox Play/Stop/Pause/etc." as much as necessary before it finally works. The app is also locked to Xbox Live Gold accounts, so, uh, no dice for you Silver folks. Sorry about that!

Xbox 360 gets Amazon Instant starting ... right now! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Kinect in space is like the first dog in space but it has more use

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:30:00 EST

Engineers in Surrey are using Kinect technology in a pair of satellites, hoping to make them dock together, in orbit, using the peripheral's motion-sensing capabilities.

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited's STRaND 2 satellites will use components of Kinect tech to scan their immediate surroundings and gather spatial awareness from all directions: They are planned to launch, separate and perform safety checks, and then dock with each other again. In space.

In-orbit docking has so far been reserved for the rich kids at space camp, only available in multi-billion-dollar ships. The STRaND 2 satellites will be the smallest yet to link up in orbit.

We think this raises the Gaming vs. Miscellaneous Uses For Kinect tally to 36-5,690, or something in that area. Space points count as triple, because seriously, that's awesome.

First Kinect in space is like the first dog in space but it has more use originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

JC Fletcher — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:11:00 EST

The last time Harry Potter used the magic of Kinect, the results were less than magical. Now, WB and developer Eurocom are bringing the world of Hogwarts to Kinect with a much more "traditional" Kinect experience; minigames. It's called, of course, Harry Potter for Kinect.

The game follows the whole Harry Potter saga, with Harry, Ron, Hermione ... and you(r face scanned onto a player-created character!) You'll cast spells with gestures and voice commands, play Quidditch, choose a house, take part in duels, battle against Voldemort, and other Potterly activities.

Harry Potter for Kinect will be in stores this fall, where it will sell many, many copies.

Gallery: Harry Potter for Kinect

Continue reading WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crank, twist and pull down a Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor demo on Xbox Live

David Hinkle — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:00:00 EST

Most of us will never know what it's like to pilot a gigantic, bipedal mech in real life - that technology is years off - but the next best thing can be experienced if you've got an Xbox Live Gold subscription and a Kinect sensor.

A demo for Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor is available for download on Xbox Live right now. Perhaps you'll enjoy it as much as we did during our preview session back in March. If not, it's much easier to eject those gigglebites from your storage unit than it is to eject yourself from one of those massive machines.

Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor launches on June 19 in North America.

Crank, twist and pull down a Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor demo on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This dude can control a pipe organ using Kinect [Update]

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Last year Chris Vik modded a Kinect to play the Melbourne Town Hall Organ, and he did it with way more style than any of those sweet Dance Central moves we've attempted to throw down in front of our own little camera boxes. The Melbourne Town Hall Organ is four stories tall, but Vik used his own software, Kinectar, with the organ's MIDI connection to play the whole thing from one moodily lit spot on the stage.

Vik and vocalist Elise Richards composed Carpe Zythum and performed it in November, and finally the full video will be available next week, according to Kinect Hacks. The above teaser plays a clip of the performance and reveals the madness behind the music, waving arms and invisible instruments included.

Update: As a few of you have mentioned below, the full performance is available now on YouTube. Enjoy!

This dude can control a pipe organ using Kinect [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Games Live at E3: Journey, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Earthworm Jim and more

David Hinkle — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:15:00 EST

During the week of E3, on June 6, Video Games Live will take over the Nokia Theater L.A. Live arena. Being E3 and all, and L.A. being one of the most frequently played venues for Tommy Tallarico's live video game concert, this year he wanted to add some special scores - like Austin Wintory's Journey score, conducted by Wintory himself.

It's just one of the more recent audio accompaniments added for the June 6 show. There are also select tunes from Skyrim, which will be handled by a secret guest conductor; composer Russell Bower will conduct some Diablo 3 tunes. Donkey Kong Country, Star Fox and even a Street Fighter segment - to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Capcom's fighter - are planned. Akira Yamaoka will also play guitar at some point.

Finally, there's Earthworm Jim to consider, a game that Tallarico himself worked on. Apparently folks have been asking him to add it to Video Games Live for quite some time now, which we're totally in favor of - as long as we get that thrash metal remix of "Use Your Head" we've been waiting our entire lives for.

Video Games Live at E3: Journey, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Earthworm Jim and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crimson Dragon swoops into Japan on June 13

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Crimson Dragon will careen into Japan on June 13 for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15), Andriasang reports. Crimson Dragon is a Kinect exclusive created by Panzer Dragoon director Yukio Futatsugi that will allow players to ride six different types of dragons while shooting fireballs and laser-inspired projectiles.

Yeah, we think it sounds like pretty much the best thing ever, too. Unfortunately, there is no word yet on a western release date.

Crimson Dragon swoops into Japan on June 13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche joins Forza 4 lineup today

David Hinkle — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:55:00 EST

Porsche was not included in the launch of Forza 4 due to complications with EA, who had the license at the time. But Porsche makes its return to the Forza franchise today (as promised) with the Porsche Expansion Pack DLC.

The Porsche Expansion Pack is available to download right now for 1600 MS Points ($20) in Forza 4, and adds 30 new rides to the virtual garage and new Porsche events in World Tour and Rivals modes.

Continue reading Porsche joins Forza 4 lineup today

Porsche joins Forza 4 lineup today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warn your family: Kung-Fu Superstar is motion-controlled martial arts

JC Fletcher — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:25:00 EST

Kung-Fu Superstar is a new Kinect game from Kinesthetic Games, a developer formed from former staff at "Codemasters, EA, Climax, Lionhead Studios and others." It's also a really good excuse to clean up your living room and perhaps send your kids to their friends' houses, lest they all be kicked.

Kung-Fu Superstar purports to teach you real martial arts techniques, which you use to play out the story of kung fu enthusiast Danny Cheng, who hopes to "discover the secrets of Kung Fu and become the most popular martial arts stuntman Hollywood has ever known."

The game is clearly made for Kinect, but studio head Kostas Zarifis tells Joystiq, "We're developing the game for multiple platforms (Kinect definitely being one of them). The game will have a very important controller component too!" Wii and PS3 are both listed among the tags for the YouTube clip embedded above.

Warn your family: Kung-Fu Superstar is motion-controlled martial arts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sit down before you read about Kinect SDK update 1.5

Mike Schramm — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 EST

The 1.5 update for the Kinect SDK has been released to developers, and it adds a solid list of new capabilities, including something called Kinect Studio (that allows developers to record user movements and play them back for the code later), a development kit for Face Tracking (which enables Kinect to track facial features), and new Human Interface Guidelines and other documentation improvements.

But the marquee feature here is that Microsoft has finally laid to rest the question of whether the Kinect works when seated or not. Now there's a full Seated Skeletal Tracking mode, which only tracks a person's head, torso and arms. Microsoft recommends this not only for when games players are seated, but for any application where the lower half of the body doesn't need to be tracked. Finally, there are also new language packs. In addition to languages like French and Japanese, you get Kinect support for regional differences in languages, like English/Canada and English/Australia. Crikey, devs will be well chuffed about that, etc.

Sit down before you read about Kinect SDK update 1.5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Babel Rising should've been named 'Babel Falling,' this trailer suggests

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:00:00 EST

What would life be like if you could fell entire civilizations with a flick of your wrist, crush hordes of men with a downward swat and destroy worlds with a ridiculous, wide-armed downhill skiing motion? You'd either be Lord Voldemort, or you'd be playing Babel Rising on Kinect, like the stylish young man in the video above.

Babel Rising is set to launch in June for PlayStation Move and Xbox 360's Kinect.

Babel Rising should've been named 'Babel Falling,' this trailer suggests originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now Playing: May 21-27, 2012

Steven Wong — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:50:00 EST

Become a high-tech warrior in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier...

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Continue reading Now Playing: May 21-27, 2012

Now Playing: May 21-27, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HBO Go Xbox 360 app now available to Time Warner users

JC Fletcher — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:00:00 EST

Finally - FINALLY - Time Warner and Bright House cable customers have a way to watch HBO on their televisions. The HBO Go app for Xbox 360 previously only worked for Comcast and a variety of other services, but not TWC, so even if you were an HBO subscriber, you couldn't use the app. Which is terrible. Today, Microsoft announced Time Warner compatibility.

Celebrate by watching some Not Necessarily the News tonight, or some episodes of Fraggle Rock. Look, it's been a while since we've had HBO, okay?

HBO Go Xbox 360 app now available to Time Warner users originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lionhead listing for 'MMO-like title for next generation consoles'

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:00:00 EST

Lionhead's latest job post brings up two salient points:

That listing for a multiplayer level designer with "a deep understanding of online multiplayer games" may encompass more than a simple FPS title with online capabilities.
Microsoft could be looking to bring MMOs to its console market in a big way.

The most recent want ad, spotted by Superannuation and since removed, described the potential game as an "MMO-like title" and an original IP for the "future generation of platforms." It "will be an RPG-based game with a radical new take on how co-operative and multiplayer gameplay feeds into the experience, while blending online and single-player into one complete experience," the listing read, as reported by MCV.

The title "will have a complex progression system, multiple routes through the campaign and an MMO-like multiplayer experience that will affect the outcome of the player experience, and many other attributes surrounding their profile (such as the environment and the outcome of certain actions)." Superannuation notes that it was labeled as a multithreaded RPG with four-player co-op.

Lionhead's specific use of "MMO-like" and the description's emphasis on a "radical new" genre leaves the game's direction open to interpretation, while nodding at the style of former creative lead Peter Molyneux.

MMOs can be a big gamble, even for an established studio, and especially if its audience is tethered to a single console unfamiliar with the genre as a whole. Good luck, Lionhead. You may need it.

Lionhead listing for 'MMO-like title for next generation consoles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ sees net loss of $239.9 million, still in business

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 EST

THQ saw a net loss of $239.9 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, $100 million more than the previous fiscal year's loss of $136.1 million.

"We have made significant changes to our business, and are on track to execute our strategy of delivering quality connected core gaming experiences, beginning with the sequel to the award-winning Darksiders in August," president and CEO Brian Farrell said in a THQ earnings statement.

THQ has seen a rough year, with plummeting revenue despite the success of Saints Row: The Third and WWE '12. THQ laid off 240 employees, slashed the salaries of its head honchos and cut its "kids' licensed video games" department earlier this fiscal year, following quarter losses of nearly triple the previous period.

THQ has sold through 84 percent of its shipped uDraw tablets and expects to sell its remaining inventory in fiscal 2013. The company's "future kids' license commitments" have been reduced by $30 million, THQ reports.

THQ describes its emergency layoffs, salary cuts and company rehashing as follows: "The company exited the traditional kids' licensed games business, and streamlined its product line, organization and cost structure to support a smaller company positioned for sustained profitability."

THQ sees net loss of $239.9 million, still in business originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft profits in 2012, 'core gamers' drive rise in sales

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

Ubisoft ended the 2012 financial year on the up, reporting a gross profit of €718 million ($917 million) and sales up 2.1 percent to €1 billion ($1.4 billion) year-over-year, according to its financial results for 2011-2012.

Ubisoft ended fiscal 2011-12 with net income of €37.3 million ($47.6 million), up from a net loss of €52.1 million ($66.5 million) in the 2011 fiscal year.

Sales from "core gamers" in Assassin's Creed Revelations, Rayman Origins, Driver San Francisco and free-to-play title The Settlers Online generated €578 million ($738.1 million) in revenue, Ubisoft reported. Casual games brought in €483 million ($616.8 million) in revenue, mainly from Just Dance, Rocksmith and free-to-play title Howrse.

Core and casual titles contributed to a 110.8 percent jump in online and digital sales, bringing that figure to €80 million ($102.1 million), Ubisoft reported.

Ubisoft's net cash position is down from €99.2 million ($126.6 million) in 2011 to €84.6 million ($108 million) in 2012, while current operating income rose 90 percent to €56 million ($71.5 million) year-over-year.

Ubisoft profits in 2012, 'core gamers' drive rise in sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joy Ride Turbo skids onto Xbox Live Arcade May 23

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 EST

Joy Ride Turbo, the Kinect-free sequel to Kinect Joy Ride, will be released on Xbox Live Arcade on May 23, according to a new release schedule from Major Nelson. As previously revealed, Joy Ride Turbo features several different modes, including a new Stunt Park, and generally sounds a lot more like the Joy Ride Microsoft originally announced way back in 2009.

If your Kinect is feeling lonely as a result, this week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week revolves entirely around downloadable Kinect titles. You can grab Fruit Ninja Kinect for $7, while Hole in the Wall, Leedmees, Double Fine Happy Action Theater, Rhythm Party and Haunt have been knocked down to $5 each.

If your 360 controller is now feeling double-reverse lonely, next week will see discounts to some old-fashioned regular XBLA games. Specifically, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes will be reduced to $7.50, while Outland and Beyond Good & Evil HD will be available for $5 each.

Joy Ride Turbo skids onto Xbox Live Arcade May 23 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now Playing: May 14-20, 2012

Steven Wong — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:30:00 EST

Traverse the depths of Hell once again in Diablo 3...

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Continue reading Now Playing: May 14-20, 2012

Now Playing: May 14-20, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Xbox 360 most popular non-PC device for watching video ads

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

The Xbox 360 is the most popular non-PC device for viewing online video, beating out iOS and Android handhelds, according to a study by online-video ad company Freewheel. Freewheel measured "professional content" only, meaning video that runs with ads -- meaning it really conducted a study on how many online ads we watch -- from companies such as NBC, CBS, ESPN and Vevo. The study didn't account for Netflix or YouTube viewership.

Xbox 360 took 28.2 percent of all viewership, followed by iPad with 27.1 percent, then iPhone, Android and iPod Touch on a decreasing scale.

In March, Microsoft announced that Xbox 360 owners use the console more for its entertainment apps than for any actual gaming purposes, spending more than half of their Xbox time on Netflix and other music and video applications. Even though the Freewheel study doesn't include Netflix views, it does support the console evolutionary theory: One day our gaming consoles will have mutated so drastically that we'll have an entirely new species, called simply "entertainment consoles."

Study: Xbox 360 most popular non-PC device for watching video ads originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:31:00 EST

The results for April are in, and things are looking a little rough out there in consumer video-game electronics land. As a whole, the gaming industry (which for our purposes includes all hardware, software and accessories sales between April 1 and April 28, 2012) brought in $630.4 million, a 32 percent decrease over the same period last year, where its various machinations resulted in collective sales of $930.9 million.

Breaking the industry down into its three major components, hardware sales accounted for $189.7 million (down 32 percent year over year), while software sales contributed $292.1 million to the cause - a 42 percent decrease year over year. Accessories, on the other hand, posted a 1 percent increase year-over-year at $148.6 million in 2012, as compared with $147.8 million in 2011.

The average amount of money spent on hardware increased year-over-year, however, due in part to the 360 Star Wars Kinect Bundle, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier. Generally though, the period's lackluster performance is due to the month's release schedule: "Last April, the top seven titles outsold the top-selling title this year, and, simply stated, there were notably fewer new market introductions. I think it's a simple as that because when we see compelling content come into the market, the games are still selling as well as ever - we just saw a lot less this April as compared to last."

The list of April's top 10 best-selling titles can be found after the break as per usual, with newcomers Prototype 2 and Kinect Star Wars leading the charge ahead of Modern Warfare 3, Mario Party 9 and Mass Effect 3.

Update: According to Microsoft's Major Nelson, the Xbox 360 sold 236K units during April.

Continue reading April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year

April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Kinect-enabled Internet Explorer browser coming to Xbox 360

JC Fletcher — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:00 EST

Good news: the Xbox 360 will finally have a web browser in the near future, according to a Verge source. Bad news: It's Internet Explorer.

The source tells The Verge that the new web browser is based on Internet Explorer 9, and features Kinect functionality, allowing users to search with voice input just like the Bing search tech used in the current dashboard. Users will also be able to browse the web without talking to it, reportedly.

Rumor: Kinect-enabled Internet Explorer browser coming to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth on Kinect and Wii U from Ubisoft

JC Fletcher — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:10:00 EST

Ubisoft and Marvel are partnering on an Avengers game for ... Kinect and Wii U? It's an unlikely pairing - the controller-free format and the format with a giant controller and an extraneous screen; but for a franchise that pairs a half-naked monster man with an armored plutocrat, perhaps it's appropriate.

Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth is in the works at Ubisoft Quebec, and will allow players to use motion controls to fight off the alien Skrull. "The idea that we're making a motion-control version of 'The Avengers' is a unique proposition if you compare that to superhero games of the past," said Ubisoft marketing VP Tony Key, as reported by the Washington Post. "This is the perfect type of game for that because these characters are very action oriented. They're always fighting and throwing things." Those rowdy kids.

As suggested by the Skrull invasion storyline, the game deviates from the movie, instead drawing from the "Secret Invasion" comic crossover event, which featured Skrulls posing as Earth superheroes.

Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth on Kinect and Wii U from Ubisoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 'Kinect Play Fit' and 'Joule' are Kinect-ercise tools

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:00 EST

Microsoft is prepping for Kinect Play Fit and releasing hardware codenamed "Joule" to accompany it, according to sources speaking to The Verge. Kinect Play Fit will track exercise across "most Kinect games," providing metrics that'll be stored in the cloud. Joule is expected to be a heart-rate monitor, allowing wireless monitoring to keep exercise "within a target goal for weight loss, strength, or cross-fitness workouts."

Joule and Kinect Play Fit are compatible, but are two separate products. There is no expected launch window, but Verge sources also claim a future dashboard update will introduce the system. We're checking with Microsoft if it has any comment, but most of this (if true) will likely be revealed at E3 in a month.

Update: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."

Report: 'Kinect Play Fit' and 'Joule' are Kinect-ercise tools originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May's Dance Central 2 DLC here to spice up your life

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:00 EST

Every boy, every girl, spice up your life with this month's DLC tracks for Dance Central 2. The saucy selection begins today, May 8, with the Spice Girl's 1997 hit "Spice Up Your Life." Don't waste any thyme grabbing that track.

Over the next three Tuesdays, you'll also have the option of moving to the beat of "Hello Good Morning" by Diddy-Dirty Money, A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario" and Flo Rida's "Low."

All tracks are 240 MSP ($3). Remember, to be like shawty, you need the apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur and then get low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low.

Continue reading May's Dance Central 2 DLC here to spice up your life

May's Dance Central 2 DLC here to spice up your life originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I suggest a new strategy, R2: Let them have a Kinect Star Wars demo

David Hinkle — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:00:00 EST

We can understand why you may be a bit hesitant to take our verdict on Kinect Star Wars as gospel. It's got Vader fights, rampaging rancors and is the closest physical manifestation of that one kid's dream journal we may ever get.

Now you can discover how not good the game is yourself with a free playable demo - if you're a Gold subscriber and own a Kinect sensor, that is. We may all have The Force inside us, but you still have to purchase your own Kinect sensor.

I suggest a new strategy, R2: Let them have a Kinect Star Wars demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now Playing: May 7-13, 2012

Steven Wong — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:45:00 EST

Build, fight, and conquer this week with Starhawk...

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Continue reading Now Playing: May 7-13, 2012

Now Playing: May 7-13, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's $99 Xbox 360 part of a 'pilot program,' sold exclusively at MS Stores

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Today's big Xbox 360 news isn't without tempering, it seems. "On May 7, we launched a pilot program at Microsoft Stores in the United States to test a new pricing model for the Xbox 360," a Microsoft spokesperson told Joystiq this morning when we followed up on the $99, two-year contract Xbox 360 announcement.

A pilot program, you say? Apparently the program's a "pilot" based on its extremely limited availability - the $99 Xbox 360 is only offered in "the 16 Microsoft Stores in the US." As for that two-year Xbox Live commitment, that won't include any of the rumored "various types of streaming content," as it's identical to a normal Xbox Live Gold subscription.

According to MS, the program, "aligns with our ongoing commitment to test new products and offers to understand how to best serve our customers." According to us, this is all very weird.

Continue reading Microsoft's $99 Xbox 360 part of a 'pilot program,' sold exclusively at MS Stores

Microsoft's $99 Xbox 360 part of a 'pilot program,' sold exclusively at MS Stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Stores offering $99 Xbox 360 with contract now

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:31:00 EST

The rumored $99 Xbox 360 with two-year $15 a month contract is official. It includes a Kinect, Xbox Live Gold service and a two-year warranty. The offer is now available on the Microsoft Store site.

The math works out to roughly $460 for the bundle over the next two years. Currently the 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle has a suggested retail price of $299 (although it can be found for less), with Xbox Live Gold subscriptions costing about $50 a year, for a grand upfront total of $399 (or less) if you bought today.

Microsoft Stores offering $99 Xbox 360 with contract now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's E3 presser to stream through Xbox Live, Spike TV

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:30:00 EST

Are you hoping to experience the thrill and excitement of a game manufacturer E3 press conference, but lacking the credentials to attend? Microsoft thinks that's just the dumbest, so the company's blowing the doors off of its upcoming E3 presser - at least virtually - with both Spike TV and Xbox Live streaming the event for all to see. Democracy!

Spike and Xbox Live's coverage begins one day ahead of the big show on Monday, June 4 - Microsoft likes to kick things off before anyone else at E3, you see. Interested parties can tune in at 12:30PM ET/ 9:30AM PT to catch the whole thing live. Keep an eye out for us in the crowd! You can tell us apart from everyone else because we're all 11 feet tall, by the way.

Microsoft's E3 presser to stream through Xbox Live, Spike TV originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Xbox 360 getting $100, contract-subsidized Kinect bundle next week

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:30:00 EST

Microsoft is preparing to take a page from the cell phone carrier playbook by offering the Xbox 360 at a substantial initial discount, followed by a two year subscription service, according to The Verge. The bundle, which would cost $100 up front and $15 a month afterwards, includes a Kinect, Xbox Live Gold service, a two-year warranty and possibly various types of streaming content. The package deal may go on sale as early as next week at Microsoft's various retail locations across the country.

Also like modern cell phone plans, an early termination fee would be associated with the service contract and levied against those who wish to leave their commitments early. Those who ride the entire contract out would end up paying roughly $460 for the bundle and its associated years of service. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and will update as this story develops.

Update: Microsoft issued Joystiq the following statement: "We haven't made any announcements and we don't comment on rumor or speculation."

Rumor: Xbox 360 getting $100, contract-subsidized Kinect bundle next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK pride Xbox Kinect bundle available in May

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:15:00 EST

Microsoft has revealed a distressed Union Jack Xbox bundle for the United Kingdom, featuring a flag-wrapped 4GB console, controller and Kinect. The bundle also includes Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports, along with three months of Xbox Live gold membership. It marches to retail on May 25 for £249.99.

Don't live in the UK and still want to get your Union Jack on? Well, turns out GelaSkins has a similar (and prettier) Xbox wrapping available for $30. There's also the Stars and Stripes package for those who feel offended by all this non-Amurikan talk.

UK pride Xbox Kinect bundle available in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama administration teams up with the ESA on fitness promotion

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:15:00 EST

For all its talk of "putting down the video games and getting outside," it looks like President Barack Obama's administration is lightening its past rhetoric and embracing video games. Well, at least some video games - what it's calling "active video games." Think Wii Fit, Just Dance, and Zumba Fitness.

The Entertainment Software Association is collaborating with the US Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition to launch the "Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge," which will task kids and adults with taking on 60 or 30 minutes of "active video gaming activity," respectively, five days per week over the course of six weeks.

Moreover, the collaboration means that your favorite game publishers are adding "PALA+" functionality to their games, allowing gamers to "stay motivated and track their progress in the program." Electronic Arts, Konami Digital Entertainment, Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Take-Two Interactive Software/2K Play, and Ubisoft are all listed in the official announcement.

And what will that functionality entail, exactly? The ESA ambiguously describes it as the following:

Interactive tools to help kids and families monitor the progress of their physical activity and healthy eating goals
Tracking tools to help participants in different schools and communities engage in competition
Helpful tips and information on healthy living from PCFSN [President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition]

We're not expecting a ton from the initiative beyond logos slapped into several exergames and another press release trumpeting the program's "enormous success" in a few months, but if some chubbos drop a few pounds due to the initiative, then we've all won.

Obama administration teams up with the ESA on fitness promotion originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skyrim Kinect patch out tomorrow; here's a list of voice commands

David Hinkle — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST

Tomorrow Bethesda hatches its scheme to coax your inner Dragonborn into speaking - well, Dragonborn with a second-language credit in English, anyway. The free Kinect update adds over 200 different voice recognition commands to English-speaking regions; there are a bunch of new things to memorize, so Bethesda made a handy glossary for you to load up on your iPad or print out. The .pdf files can be accessed by clicking here.

Simply boot up Skyrim and install the mandatory Xbox 360 update tomorrow. After spending some time with it ourselves earlier this month, we liked how it bypassed a lot of menu work. The Bethesda Blog says the German, Italian, Spanish and French versions are all "in final testing" and that we should hear more regarding those territories soon.

Skyrim Kinect patch out tomorrow; here's a list of voice commands originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now Playing: April 30 - May 6, 2012

Steven Wong — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 EST

Team up and get blasting this week with Awesomenauts ...

Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:

Continue reading Now Playing: April 30 - May 6, 2012

Now Playing: April 30 - May 6, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon's Lair swings onto XBLA May 18

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Come May 18, the Xbox 360 will join historical icons like the Sega CD and Philips CD-i as one of the many proud platforms to receive a port of Advanced Microcomputer Systems' classically animated laserdisc fable, Dragon's Lair.

If you count the horrible Game Boy version and various other non-digital-media pseudo-ports from the 80s, the XBLA rerelease will be port number 67 for Dragon's Lair, although its Kinect capabilities make it distinct from its predecessors in that Dragon's Lair is the first XBLA title to support both regular controllers and Microsoft's all-seeing eye. The port also features a "full watch" mode for people too lazy to use either control method, as well as those who enjoy buying ancient animated feature films with MS Points.

Dragon's Lair swings onto XBLA May 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Baller Beats will work on carpet, comes with its own basketball

JC Fletcher — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST

Yes, Majesco has considered the fate of living rooms when faced with the threat of NBA Baller Beats, the Kinect game that asks players to dribble a real basketball in time to licensed music. "In NBA Baller Beats, dribbling is and should be contained very close to the body," Majesco's Chief Marketing Officer, Christina Glorioso, told Joystiq in an email interview.

"And in real life too, or the defender will steal it from you!" She said that in QA testing, "if a ball got away, it was more likely a ball rolling out of view of the Kinect rather than a flying object."

Continue reading NBA Baller Beats will work on carpet, comes with its own basketball

NBA Baller Beats will work on carpet, comes with its own basketball originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Baller Beats: Make Space to Jam in your living room

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST

You're gonna need all of Majesco's Mamas to help clean up after destroying your living room with the publisher's latest Kinect game, NBA Baller Beats. What in the world is NBA Baller Beats, pray tell? Why it's, "a fun, high energy and first-of-its kind participative basketball video game launching this fall exclusively on Kinect for the Xbox 360," of course! Yes, you read that right: it's a Kinect game played with an actual basketball in your living room.

It looks like Majesco is going all out for this one, with a tracklist featuring the likes of "Kanye West, Run DMC, Gorillaz, Them Crooked Vultures, Common, Tiesto and more." No word is given on Majesco partnering with any insurance companies alongside the game's launch this fall, but we expect to hear more on that at E3.

Update: USA Today's exclusive on the game describes it as more of a rhythm/music game than a dribbling coach. "Players bounce the ball to the beat of the music; your visual cue is a line of basketballs that flows on a musical trail," it reads.You'll also need to perform specific moves along the way. "An icon prepares you for an upcoming basketball move you need to perform, also in time with the music. That may be a crossover from one hand to the other, a dribble between the legs, a pass fake or shot fake." Color us intrigued! We're still terrified for our living rooms, of course.

Continue reading NBA Baller Beats: Make Space to Jam in your living room

NBA Baller Beats: Make Space to Jam in your living room originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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