Shown off back in July last year, the bundle – and the game – has been a long time coming. Originally, Microsoft promised to have the console and title on sale by the 2011 holidays, but plans changed in August when the firm began telling eager gamers that it would instead drop in 2012 giving the developers time to fettle it to its “full potential.”

That game tweaking looks to be at an end, and the promo bundle is finally ready for primetime. Kinect Star Wars itself is priced at around $50, and allows you to hold lightsaber fights, pilot Speeder Bikes and other vehicles, and navigate various puzzles, all using gestures tracked by the Kinect.

There’ll also be a “Jedi Destiny Mode”, Microsoft’s Major Nelson reveals, allowing gamers to duel with Count Dooku and Darth Vader, while those looking for more Lucas-style whimsy can take part in the ‘Galactic Dance Off” mode. That includes a Star Wars-themed pop playlist, and if you have the limited edition console you can also unlock an exclusive C-3PO Dance Mode.

My issues with motion gaming have prompted me to turn my back on the Wii. In fact, I haven’t even seen my Wii in well over a year, since it’s been sitting in my closet with the rest of the obsolete and boring consoles I’ve bought over the years.

[Image credit: Cha già José]

Sony’s PlayStation Move is similarly useless to me. The wands add no value to my gaming experience and as far as I’m concerned, should be relegated to the junk heap in the PlayStation 4.

And now, we move to the Kinect. I’ve said here before that while the Kinect comes with a really cool technology, I’m not a fan of the peripheral. I do, however, acknowledge — like the Wii — that there are some people out there that see some value in a product like the Kinect.

But what saddens me is that Microsoft’s motion-gaming peripheral is, well, the next big thing in gaming.

Microsoft is doubling down on the Kinect. A software development kit that allows PC software developers to take advantage of the device’s technology is in the wild, and there is a very good chance that it might also become the go-to device for laptops.

In the beginning, that might mean PC gaming will be enhanced, but I can also see the device becoming a useful accessory for those developing other programs across a wide array of industries, including medical, manufacturing, and retail.

But it’s that gaming element that keeps holding me up.

According to the latest rumors, it’s possible Microsoft will launch the Xbox 720 with a Kinect camera built into the console. What’s more, there is some speculation that Sony might try to find a way to come close to matching the Kinect’s controller-less functionality.

Add that to the fact that the Kinect is selling exceedingly well and it quickly becomes clear that it could very well be Microsoft’s ticket to gaming dominance in the coming years.

I hate to say it, but the Microsoft Kinect is the next big thing in gaming. It’s already changed how console makers think, and it’s well on its way to transforming Windows PCs. But it’s the fact that it might play an even greater role in the next generation that’s enough to make me cringe.

Just when I hoped you would be out of my life, Kinect, you’ve found a way to become a part of it for the next several years.

Maybe it’s a good thing I own a Mac, eh?

The second unit will be a bit more unique – unique to people that’ve not yet experienced the current Xbox TV world, that is. This little unit will cost significantly less than the larger Xbox made for gaming, this little unit made instead to sit on top of your television and work with you via Kinect. This unit will be using Kinect controls, just like you can now with Xbox TV’s Kinect-based set of gestures, and will feature all the great abilities Xbox 360 has right now working with your television to bring all the Smart TV functionality you could possibly want.

This has been described in part, or at least in wishes in an article written up this past week by Don Reisinger. This fellow has compared Microsoft’s Xbox to the Apple TV more than once, and filets them a new one divining the existence of this futuristic Xbox TV set-top box as he does so. Would you purchase an Xbox 720 unit if it were small enough for the average person to afford but impressive enough to use as your one and only smart TV unit?

Kotaku says that the tip that the next-gen console will use some sort of tech to block the play of used games comes from a reliable industry source. There is no indication of how this might work, but Kotaku thinks this might be as simple as tying a game to one Xbox Live account. I don’t think Microsoft should have the right to say you can’t play used games. The rumors are also pointing to the next Xbox getting a Blu-ray player. Microsoft threw its might behind HD DVD with the current console and that turned into a failure when Blu-ray won the format wars.

Seeing Blu-ray on the next gen console will mean larger games with more code can be played from the disc. It should also mean that you could finally use the Xbox as your Blu-ray player. Another source is telling Kotaku that the next Xbox will ship with a next-gen Kinect sensor as well. Kinect has done very well for Microsoft so that would be no surprise. One of the more interesting rumors that Kotaku has been told about the next Xbox is that the device will be eight times more powerful than the current console. I hope it doesn’t have several times the price tag of the current console.

[via Kotaku]

The Radeon 6670 itself costs upwards of $79.99, so we’re likely not looking at an inexpensive device in the end here. That said, the Xbox 720′s graphics processing power because of this beast of a GPU will be six times the Xbox 360. Compared to the upcoming Wii U (as seen in some lovely hands-on videos back a few months here on SlashGear), the Xbox 720 will be set to have a 20-percent greater performance on the whole.

For those of you out there in the world of developing for consoles can expect kits for the system in August. Now we’ve just got to wait for the third PlayStation and we can have the whole three mouskateers in the ring for 2013! Which one will you be picking up given the information we’ve got currently? Not one whole heck of a lot of information is out there, but the names are all here!

[via IGN]

Cutler has recently been part of the Windows Azure team and rumors started going around that Cutler was done with his part of Azure. ZDnet reports that a tip came in that Cutler had moved to the ISS Console Development team. ZDNet also reports that a contact has said Cutler is focusing more on moving Xbox beyond a gaming platform than anything.

With all the rumors, floating around it appears that Microsoft has finally decided to go official with Cutler’s new role. The official statement confirms his role to move the Xbox outside gaming alone and can be read below.

“Dave is one of our brightest minds and is currently working on projects that will help advance our goals in the consumer space as we continue to grow the Xbox from a game-centric console to a complete home entertainment device.”

[via ZDNet]

Meanwhile, navigating through weapons is also made easier, with the ability to simply shout out which one you’d like to use. As each game character has its own set of special abilities – and in fact BioWare is promising an altogether more fleshed-out back story for each - they’re also controllable using speech commands, such as “singularity.”

In general, BioWare has used speech where it saves gamers’ hands to focus on the control pad. On-screen buttons along with locked doors and even picking up objects will all support Kinect-recognized instructions; the sensor-bar’s indicator light turns blue when it recognizes a command, or red if you’re not making any sense.

Mass Effect 3 is expected to launch on March 6, while a demo will be released through Xbox LIVE come February 14.

[youtube ddT1KdLGxs0]

The exact nature of the Kinect media box’s connectivity is apparently yet to be finalized, but coax or an optical output for audio is also a possibility. Integrated WiFi would get the STB online, though there’s no word on wired ethernet as on the Xbox 360.

Navigation, unsurprisingly, would rely on voice commands and gestures, the Kinect tracking technology used to move viewers through menus and options. However the Xbox Companion app released recently for Windows Phone handsets would also be compatible. Unknown is whether existing Xbox 360 gamepads could be connected, or indeed if Microsoft will bundle a traditional remote for those turned off by voice/gesture and without a Windows Phone device.

Microsoft is supposedly aiming for a sub-$200 price tag, or more likely in the region of $150, to better compete with rival smart TV boxes such as the new breed of Google TV hardware. Previous rumors have also suggested the software company is shopping for an ex-TV exec who could help it create unique shows and other content.

Talk of a two-pronged next-gen Xbox attack was rumored back in November, and these new leaks seem to fit in with talk last year. Casual gaming, such as Fruit Ninja Kinect, would be supported on this STB Xbox version, though serious gamers would be expected to pick up the true next-gen console for more immersive play.

Whatever the year, it’s clear that Sony will eventually launch a new console. Microsoft will do the same. And Nintendo is already planning to do so in the coming months.

But all this talk of consoles has me thinking: do we really need more hardware?

The fact is, we’re inching closer to the day where hardware connected to our televisions will be a thing of the past. Samsung and DirecTV at CES this week announced a “boxless” solution that lets users have the full DVR experience on their 2012 Smart TV without actually needing to hook the device up to the set. There’s talk of Apple wanting to include apps, iCloud, and other features into its own television.

And all that fails to mention we have downloadable games already available to us both on the PC and on game consoles. We’ve already come to the point of being able to enjoy content without being required to have a set-top box to do it.

So, how important will consoles be in, say, 2014 or 2015? Will broadband speeds be fast enough to accommodate downloading a big game, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Will televisions come with application stores in them to allow us to access games without requiring that middleman?

It’s certainly a possibility. But there’s one major issue standing in the way of us finally detaching ourselves from the console life support: the hardware companies themselves.

Like it or not, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all rely heavily upon hardware to make their businesses as big as they are. And there’s a good chance that they will be the first companies to denounce ideas of eliminating hardware and getting direct access to titles from game makers.

Microsoft and Sony might be especially outspoken about such a plan. Those companies have not done nearly as good of a job as Nintendo delivering first-party content consumers actually want to play. If television makers and game developers sync up, there’s a solid chance those companies’ game divisions will be marginalized, to say the least.

As for us? Well, we can only hope to get the best experience, regardless of whether that comes via consoles or downloadable content. But I suspect the latter will deliver a better experience at some point in the future.

Who’s with me?

Back in December, Microsoft had detailed its Xbox LIVE roadmap, revealing an impressive list of upcoming content partners. There were also talks about incorporating Microsoft’s Kinect voice and motion control capabilities into its TV service for navigating channels.

Rumors suggested that Microsoft had more ambitious plans to completely replace cable TV for consumers and offer paid subscription packages similar to Netflix. But unlike Netflix, Microsoft wanted to also offer current shows and live networks on its service, which meant much higher licensing costs.

“They built Microsoft TV, they demoed it for us, they asked for rate cards but then said ‘ooh ah, that’s expensive,’” said one senior media exec involved in the discussions. Media sources say that the plan is being scaled back, but Microsoft is still working closely with TV companies and seeking content partners to extend its current Xbox LIVE service.

“Xbox LIVE Mobile team is looking for a passionate and experienced developer to join us brining [sic] Xbox LIVE entertainment experiences to various mobile platforms. As the team inside IEB (Interactive Entertainment Business) dedicated to mobile experiences, we work closely with console software team and Xbox LIVE services team to bring the latest and greatest gaming and entertainment experience to mobile platforms including Windows Phone, iOS and other mobile platforms. Combining Xbox LIVE experiences together with mobile devices has enabled many new opportunities and interesting user scenarios such as location based gaming and social networking, avatar with presence, etc. As a software development engineer on the team, you will have the opportunity to help define and design the experiences for the project, you will get to work with a team of energetic and talented developers, and you will have the luxury to work with all sorts of mobile devices to create the official Xbox LIVE mobile experiences.” Microsoft job description

Although until now Xbox LIVE and the Xbox gaming experience has concentrated on Windows Phone, where Microsoft has positioned the smartphone OS’ integration as a differentiator from rival platforms, the company has dabbled in games on other devices. Last month, Microsoft released a version of its Kinectimals companion game for iPhone and iPad, while earlier this month the company’s Microsoft Studios gaming division inked a deal with a casual game developer known for its iOS and Facebook games.

Meanwhile, a My Xbox LIVE app for iOS was also released in December, allowing iPhone and iPad users to IM with their LIVE contacts, tweak their avatar and call up a list of recent achievements. However no actual gameplay is supported, and the app is reminiscent of the fledgling support the first iteration of Windows Phone had for Xbox services.

That, however, may well be changing in the coming months, as Microsoft apparently broadens its approach to mobile gaming. Of course, there’s also Windows 8 tablets to consider, something else Microsoft is believed to be looking to flesh out with gaming options, and the person selected for this new role might end up working on better integrating Xbox LIVE into Windows-proper.

[via Business Insider]

MCV reports that Microsoft has been rumored for a long time to be talking about next-generation console plans at the show. MCV also notes that Microsoft has hinted to partners that it will be talking about the next gen hardware at the show. Rumors have been hinting that we will see two next-gen Xbox consoles.

Sony is also tipped to be teasing next gen hardware this year at E3. MCV claims that Sony has been telling third parties that it won’t be left behind in the next gen console wars this time around. The details offered at the show are expected to lack things like launch details and pricing on the future PlayStation and Xbox devices. I hope they aren’t too expensive.

[via MCV]

The art you see here came from patent number 8,083,593 that was granted to Microsoft in late December. It shows a way to have a DVR app running along with TV content to allow the ability to record media and pause on the console. The awesome thing is that the tech allows the gamer to be playing a game and recording TV content at the same time.

Microsoft has been adding in a lot of media options of late with Netflix and more. The writing on the wall is clear; Microsoft wants the Xbox to be for more than gaming. I would love to be able to shed my satellite cable boxes and just toss a Xbox on top of the TV instead. I hope that the tech will actually make it to market. Sometimes patents are just ways to force others to pay; I hope that’s not the case here.

[via Kotaku]

The new Xbox Live TV channels include 4 on Demand (C4) and Demand 5 (Five) in the United Kingdom, M6 and MSN Video in France, UFC and VUDU in the United States, ABC iView in Australia, and Dailymotion available in 34 countries globally.

Xbox Live was just updated last week with its first wave of new content and video services from YouTube, Rogers on Deman, Verizon FiOS TV, iHeartRadio, TMZ, and MSNBC. Video service outside of North America include SBS on Demand in Australia, Blinkbox in the UK, RTVE in Spain, and MUZU TV in several European countries.

[via WinRumors]

Originally at the helm of Xbox marketing, Coyner’s role broadened with the arrival of the Xbox 360 to encompass user experience. In that position he espoused a so-called unified design philosophy, where all elements of the UI, whether for gaming, multimedia or something else, fall together in a consistent manner. Although ostensibly a straightforward ambition, unification is something Microsoft has historically struggled to achieve in Windows, with multiple groups and teams working on disparate elements of the software.

“He wanted to whole user experience to be consistent, like an Apple product,” Xbox biographer Dean Takahashi wrote in 2006 of Coyner’s strategy, “where everything from the screen to the package looked like it was designed by just one person.”

It’s unclear at this stage why Coyner moved, and what his future role within Microsoft may be. The company itself has declined to comment “on personnel issues” but the sources suggest the exec is remaining in Microsoft’s employ. Williams will now lead design on the next-gen Xbox, tongue-in-cheek referred to as the “Xbox 720“, which a source in the team has confirmed is on the roadmap for a 2013 release as per earlier rumors. In fact, Microsoft is believed to be readying a pair of new consoles, one hardcore gaming flagship and a second, slimmed-down model with a focus on casual gaming and multimedia use.

Microsoft is also believed to have demoted former Windows Phone chief Andy Lees recently over concerns that the division chief wasn’t achieving the sort of smartphone market penetration he was publicly promising.

[Image credit: Wired]

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 dashboard update would also bring with it a comprehensive package of streaming media options spread across global markets. In the US, the rollout – set to go through into 2012 – would include Hulu Plus, EPIX and ESPN, while the UK will receive BBC iPlayer and 4oD. Full details on the roadmap here. Microsoft also released a Windows Phone Xbox controller app, turning the smartphone platform into a remote for the Xbox 360.

According to the sources, who are said to have knowledge of the Microsoft plans but not permission to talk about them publicly, two former NBC executives, Marc Graboff and Jeff Gaspin. Graboff left NBC last month, and was responsible for high-level negotiations including those that kept the cast of Friends on the network’s payroll for two years longer than initially expected; Gaspin left back in late 2010, and was in charge of programming – including returning Jay Leno to his late-night slot, after a failed attempt at primetime – until the Comcast acquisition.

“Microsoft is only interested in making a hire if it can find the right person” one source says, “and it’s possible no one will be chosen for the job.” The company already runs Channel9, producing video content giving an inside view on projects inside Microsoft, though the Xbox TV aspirations would be significantly more ambitious.

We speculated earlier this month that Xbox TV – in its new, streaming form – put Microsoft ahead of Apple and Google; with the prospect of original content exclusive to Xbox LIVE, the software company could well present a signifiant challenge to studios and networks.

Although frustrating for eager gamers, it seems the new Xbox Dashboard is still expected today. Microsoft will simply be throwing the switch later on than planned, something which could impact on users outside the US who may find their software update now isn’t ready until the middle of the night.

Among the changes Microsoft is introducing to the Xbox 360 is the use of gesture and speech-controlled navigation through the console’s menus. There’s also a comprehensive streaming media update for Xbox LIVE, which will bring on-demand content to the 360 in multiple countries. We suggested that Microsoft’s handiwork on the “Xbox TV” system could well put it ahead of Apple and Google.

Finally, there’s a Windows Phone controller app, turning your smartphone into a remote control for your Xbox 360. We’ll let you know when we hear more on the update schedule.

[Original image credit: Lewis Dowling]

Microsoft isn’t alone in that, mind. Apple’s television intentions are well-rumored, with the latest batch describing a Siri-powered trio of HDTV sets that use the virtual personal assistant technology to streamline navigation through cable, free-to-air, on-demand and recorded content. Google TV, meanwhile, has had the advantage of being on the market, but that’s about the only positive thing you can say so far. Its complex first-gen interface could well have been all the inspiration Microsoft required to push ahead with Kinect-powered speech and gesture control.

A Siri-powered TV isn’t here yet. Google TV v2.0 is yet to convince that it can deliver not only on usability with its pared-down but still technically-focused UI, but on content and access deals with providers that have proved to be wary of the Google-powered free-for-all. An Xbox 360 costs $299.99 with a Kinect thrown in the box, and you can buy one today.

I’m no gamer. I fall well outside the target audience for an Xbox 360 – or a PS3, or, despite what Nintendo might hope to convince me about “casual” gaming, a Wii – at least until today. And yet, Microsoft’s comprehensive roadmap of content partners (notable for not limiting itself to merely the US audience, too) has me reconsidering. The straightforward Kinect-based control holds no small amount of appeal, too, since anything I buy for home entertainment purposes has to satisfy that all-important spousal-approval factor.

Last Christmas I bought my parents a Blu-ray player. Not because of the Blu-ray support, but because it was internet-connected: through it they would be able to access BBC iPlayer along with other UK on-demand TV show services, in addition to streaming movies and other content. Yes, I could’ve strung across some sort of A/V connection from their PC, which just so happens to be in the same room, but the idea was to make it easier to access IPTV, not force them to jump between computer and TV.

I’m not entirely sure how much they’ve actually used it, however; I’d wager less than once a month since I first plugged it in for them last December. Sony’s Blu-ray UI is neatly familiar with that of its PS3, but since my parents aren’t gamers that’s not exactly given them a head-start. How much simpler to merely instruct their TV to search through the various on-demand services. They don’t care whether they’re talking to the TV, or actually to a Kinect sensor bar plugged into an Xbox 360, or whatever: all they’re bothered about is that, rather than having to stab at buttons on a cluttered, confusing remote, they can pull up any shows they like.

Where next? Live TV is the obvious answer; Boxee has shown that by adding a cheap USB TV tuner it can instantly bolster its streaming media service with access to what’s on right now. Even with the tuner, the Boxee Box won’t allow for PVR-style video recording, but Microsoft has a lengthy history of offering time-shifting and scheduled recordings with its Media Center PCs.

A less gaming-centric design might be the stage after that, again something that has been rumored in recent months. According to next-gen Xbox speculation, Microsoft is readying not one but two models of “Xbox 720″: an all-singing, all-dancing flagship, to sate the demands of needy gamers, and a more streamlined, cheaper alternative that targets the set-top box crowd.

Finally, there’s a sense that Microsoft is finally getting to grips with the value of platform integration, something Apple has long held the advantage in. The Xbox LIVE update tomorrow will bring a new UI to the console for gamers, as well as the Xbox TV functionality, but also see Windows Phone brought comprehensively into the fold with a free companion app for smartphones. Rather than just showing your scores and your Xbox LIVE avatar, there’ll finally be a reason to have your Windows Phone to hand while you’re watching TV, with the smartphone acting as a remote as well as showing information on what’s playing and more.

Xbox’s huge established user-base gives Microsoft an instant IPTV footprint Google could only dream of. The Kinect sensor, though not supporting such advanced voice recognition as Siri, has the benefit of being here today, not somewhere in the pipeline. Microsoft may have its faults, but in smart TV it’s definitely doing something right.

That will include your recently played games, as well as any apps you’ve used on the Xbox 360. There’ll also be access to the Zune video catalog, with extra detail on the movie, TV show, music or game currently playing through the console.

Microsoft has baked more friend activity support into the WP7 app, including the ability to see which friends are online, which friends have beacons, and see a list of friends who have recently played, in addition to showing achievements and related items. You can invite friends to join you in a game, directly from the smartphone app.

Finally, there’s support for remotely controlling the Xbox 360 from your Windows Phone. In addition to picking a search result and triggering play, buying media and navigating through the console in general there’s play/pause and skip forward/back for video and music.

Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone will be a free download from the Windows Phone Marketplace, and will be available from tomorrow.

“The power of Kinect combined with the intelligence of Bing search is turning your voice into the ultimate remote control. With Bing on Xbox, you can use your voice to effortlessly find the games, movies, TV shows and music you want and discover the best offerings on Xbox LIVE, by simply saying what you’re searching for. You say it, Xbox finds it” Microsoft

Just as Apple is rumored to be planning for Siri on its own TV hardware, Microsoft’s Kinect sensor will be used as a more natural way to control the XBOX Live interface. Voice control will recognize English in the US, Canada and the UK for Zune video, the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and certain of Microsoft’s content partners. Those who don’t have the Kinect sensor bar itself – or who fall outside of those countries – will get a text search bar instead.

Microsoft’s content provider list makes for impressive reading, especially given so many IPTV services are US-centric. Set to roll out in phases, from December 6 through to the end of this month, and then sometime in 2012, the immediate line-up includes ESPN in the US, LOVEFILM in the UK, Netflix in Canada and Sky Go in Germany.

The roadmap for the XBOX Live partners is as follows:

Dec. 6:

• EPIX. United States
• ESPN on Xbox LIVE (ESPN). United States
• Hulu. Japan
• Hulu Plus. United States
• LOVEFiLM. United Kingdom
• Netflix. Canada, United States
• Premium Play by (MediaSet). Italy
• Sky Go (SkyDE). Germany
• Telefónica España – Movistar Imagenio. Spain
• TODAY (MSNBC). United States

Later in December:

• 4 on Demand (C4). United Kingdom
• ABC iView (Australian Broadcasting Corp.). Australia
• AlloCiné. France (AlloCiné), Germany (Filmstarts), Spain (Sensacine), United Kingdom (Screenrush)
• Astral Media’s Disney XD (Astral Media). Canada
• blinkbox (Blinkbox). United Kingdom
• Crackle (Sony Pictures). Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States
• Dailymotion. Available in 32 countries globally
• Demand 5 (Five). United Kingdom
• DIGI+ (CANAL+). Spain
• GolTV (Mediapro). Spain
• iHeartRadio (Clear Channel). United States
• Mediathek/ZDF (ZDF). Germany
• MSN. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom
• MSNBC.com. United States
• MUZU.TV. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
• ninemsn. Australia
• Real Sports (Maple Leaf Sports). Canada
• Rogers On Demand Online (Rogers Media). Canada
• SBS ON DEMAND.Australia
• Sky Go (SkyDE). Austria
• TMZ (Warner Bros.). Canada, United States
• TVE (RTVE.es). Spain
• UFC on Xbox LIVE (UFC). Canada, United States
• Verizon FiOS TV. United States
• VEVO. Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
• Vudu (Wal-Mart). United States
• YouTube. Available in 24 countries globally

Early 2012:

• Antena 3 (Antena 3 de Televisión). Spain
• BBC (BBC). United Kingdom
• CinemaNow (Best Buy). United States
• HBO GO (HBO). United States
• MLB.TV (MLB Advanced Media). Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States
• Telenovelas/Sports (Televisa). Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom
• Xfinity On Demand (Comcast). United States

“A pared down machine is to be released as cheaply as possible, and positioned more along the lines of a set-top box” it’s suggested, targeting streaming media services like Netflix as well as more casual gaming in what’s described as “a Kinect-themed portal.” Meanwhile, those gamers chasing the cutting edge would have the option of a true 360-replacement, with an optical drive and HDD storage, along with backward compatibility with older titles. It would obviously carry a higher price tag and likely deliver more capable graphics performance.

Such a double-headed strategy would certainly fit with previous talk of a Microsoft IPTV push, leveraging the company’s established gamer base that already takes great advantage of media integration. The Xbox LIVE dashboard update will go live on December 6, bringing with it multiple streaming TV and movie options; however there have also been STB-style hardware rumors circulating from early in the year.

They were fueled by a former Microsoft hardware lead being put in charge of the company’s TV project, with a “Santa Fe” device tipped to deliver streamed content and more. More recently, Microsoft was said to be developing the Xbox “Loop” next-gen console, said to be cheaper and smaller than the current console and based on an ARM processor. That could well fit in with the “pared down” hardware mentioned by Digital Foundy.

Microsoft has recently purchased VideoSurf, an intelligent video search company, with the promise of integrating it into its Bing search: that’s something that could certainly be useful on home entertainment devices. Meanwhile, there’s also talk that the company could license its Kinect sensor technology to TV manufacturers, potentially opening the door to a straightforward hardware pairing of a Kinect-enabled display and an affordable Xbox-branded STB that could take on Google TV and Apple TV.

[via Kotaku]

Such scams use malware, such as viruses, to infect user’s computers and steal login credentials for services like Xbox LIVE, or alternatively present themselves as legitimate messages from companies like Microsoft, generally asking users to log in at a fake site. Those logins are then used to access Xbox LIVE accounts and extract credit card details or make unwanted purchases.

Microsoft is now apparently working with those Xbox LIVE users affected by the scams to re-secure their accounts, as well as suggesting that all gamers take care over what emails they open and what links they click on. The company’s more than prompt reaction to the allegations are likely to avoid any possibility of the phishing being compared to the embarrassing and costly PlayStation Network hack earlier in the year, which saw personal information for millions of users stolen.

Microsoft statement:

Xbox LIVE has not been hacked. Microsoft can confirm that there has been no breach to the security of our Xbox LIVE service. In this case, a number of Xbox LIVE members appear to have recently been victim of malicious ‘phishing’ scams (ie. online attempts to acquire personal information such as passwords, user names and credit card details by purporting to be a legitimate company or person). The online safety of Xbox LIVE members remains of the utmost importance, which is why we consistently take measures to protect Xbox LIVE against ever-changing threats. As a result, we are currently:

Working closely with affected members who have been in touch with us to investigate and/or resolve any unauthorized changes to their accounts resulting from phishing scams;
Warning people against opening unsolicited e-mails which may contain spyware and other malware that can access personal information contained on their computer without their knowledge or permission;
Reminding all customers that they should be very careful to keep all personal information secure whenever online and never supply e-mail addresses, passwords or credit card information to strangers.

Microsoft remains vigilant at all times regarding the security of Xbox LIVE customers. As always, Xbox LIVE customers who have any queries or concerns should contact Xbox LIVE Customer Service on 0800 587 1102 or visit www.xbox.com/security.

There’s also cloud storage for Game Saves and Xbox LIVE Profiles, together with a new social broadcasting feature called Beacons. YouTube and Bing access will also be integrated, the latter supporting voice search for movies, music, and other content on the console.

In addition to the revamped interface, Microsoft is promising new multimedia content – including music and movies, as well as live TV access – that will be streamed direct to the console. The refreshed Xbox 360 dashboard began rolling out to beta testers back on November 10.

[via TeamXbox]

Naturally, that is unconfirmed by Microsoft. A new rumor is swirling today that claims the codename for the next generation Xbox console is Loop. That is an odd codename, but opens the chance to make some funnies at Microsoft’s expense I guess. According to the rumors, the Loop will pack a custom ARM-based processor that is a modded Win9 core. The processor is supposed to have assistant cores as well for graphics, AI, physics, sound, encryption and other core services.

The new console is supposed to be smaller and cheaper than the current console. I wonder if that will make it cheaper by consumer purchase price or just cheaper to make than the current Xbox. The new console will also be highly integrated with the Kinect for gesture gaming. There are no new rumors about the launch date of the console at this time.

[via TechRadar]

The Xbox is getting long in the tooth and with the next Wii already unveiled; the next Xbox will be coming soon. According to a new rumor, the next Xbox will be unveiled at the E3 gaming show in 2013. That gives us more than a year to wait for the next Xbox to bow in. That said, the tip that the next Xbox will land then is hardly confirmed.

The rumor comes from chipmakers and software middleware firms that are part of the project. I wonder if the console will be called the Xbox 720 as earlier rumors had suggested. I wonder when the rumors and hints about the next PlayStation will start, you know Sony has to be working on that as well.

[via GameSpot]

Over the last several months were have heard a few rumors that Microsoft was at work on the Xbox 720. This is the first “confirmation” from someone claiming to work on the project that another console is coming. The tip comes from the resume pages of some Microsoft workers on LinkedIn. I guess someone didn’t think about what they were writing on the resume thoroughly.

The tips come from the resumes of Jonathan Harris, the Senior Creative Director for Xbox, Patrick Corrigan that says he does groundwork integration for Xbox, and Joe Langevin, an Xbox hardware intern working on high-speed data buses in next gen devices. All cite work on next generation console on the resume.

[via Winrumors]

If you are a pure console gamer, you may not have had the chance to check out the original Crysis from 2007. EA and Crytek have announced that they have now delivered the game to the console gamers out there for the first time. The game is on the PlayStation Network for download for $19.99. If you are an Xbox 360 purist, it is on Xbox Live Games for 1600 Microsoft points.

Both versions use the CryENGINE 3 and have been tweaked specifically for smooth gamely on the console. They are also made to support stereoscopic 3D as well. The game is the single player mission from the original PC version. That means you get no multiplayer action here. I am curious to see how this game plays on the console.

The announcement is that the Xbox 360 will become much more like a cable box. The Xbox won’t turn into a cable box as you get from your local company or satellite. It will be more of an extension of TV anywhere that many networks like HBO and Cinemax already allow subscribers to do with apps on smartphones and tablets.

The Xbox will require that the users subscribe to cable for now rather than offering direct subscriptions to content that the user wants to buy. This is why Ballmer has promoted the 360 as an entertainment device that allows users to switch between games, DVDs, and TV rather than a way to ditch your cable company according to AllThingsD. The full details on Microsoft’s plans should surface today so stay tuned.

The Xbox 360 console is being promoted as a central entertainment hub where you can easily switch between playing games and watching DVDs or pay-TV. Microsoft will also be adding its Bing search engine and enhancing Kinect integration so that users can easily search for shows on the web or browse through content using voice commands.

Time Warner Inc., HBO cable channel, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Crackle streaming service, NBC Universal’s Bravo, and Syfy are among other content providers expected to sign deals with Microsoft for Xbox LIVE streaming. Although no dates are confirmed, Microsoft has revealed previously that many of the changes planned for the Xbox and Kinect should arrive by this holiday season.

[via Bloomberg]

According to the message, PayPal employees are being roped in to test the Xbox Dashboard, given that the company is one of Microsoft’s payment option partners with the service. That was added back in May, allowing those registered with PayPal to purchase Microsoft Points, Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions, and Game On Demand titles.

As for the new Dashboard, that will take a leaf out of Windows Phone with a Metro UI style interface consisting of dynamically updated tiles. It will also add in gesture and voice navigation support, using the Microsoft Kinect sensor to allow gamers to move through the interface via movements and spoken commands. More information on the changes here.

[via Neowin]

Nonetheless, Sensui still holds out hope for a surge in Japanese Kinect popularity. “We have received good reviews from the people who have used it” the exec insists, perhaps suggesting that the peripheral needs to be experienced in order for gamers to add it to their must-have list. Meanwhile, he also points to Windows 8′s support for Kinect, and the growth in Windows gaming, as a likely motivator for sales.

Previous reports have anecdotally suggested that Kinect’s vision-based tracking system could prove an issue in small Japanese apartments, with the sensors being designed to recognize players in larger US rooms. Add-ons like the Nyko Zoom promise to address that, being lens adapters that modify the Kinect’s field of view to suit smaller spaces.

Microsoft had announced that Xbox LIVE would be a part of Windows 8 back in June, with VP of global marketing Mike Delman describing it as “the service where you get your entertainment.” LIVE would become a “pervasive media service” across not only Xbox and Windows 8, but on Windows Phone too.

“Xbox LIVE brings your games, music, movies, and TV shows to your favorite Microsoft and Windows devices” Major Nelson suggests, saying that the integration “is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy.” Exactly how developers will do that is unclear at present, though we do know that the LIVE dashboard shown in Microsoft’s Windows 8 tablet mockup above will also be transitioning to Xbox 360 come October.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is readying Fast Async, a system which will support three-screen gaming through Xbox LIVE. That should eventually allow play between phones, Xbox 360 consoles and Windows PCs.

According to AMD, the graphics on the console will be of the level of the smash-hit Avatar movie that put 3D on the map in a big way. Along with the graphics at Avatar levels of detail, AMD’s Neal Robison also claims that the next generation game console will also allow for higher degrees of game AI. This power will allow the game AI to give each of the characters on the screen their own mentality.

That means in Grand Theft Auto for instance whipping out your gun and shooting won’t see all the characters on screen do the same thing. Microsoft still hasn’t officially announced any plans for a console to replace the Xbox 360. You can bet that the company is hard at work on the successor.

[via Neowin]

Now, several years later, it’s clear motion gaming did work, and looking ahead, it will seemingly play a key role in all Nintendo products.

But Nintendo isn’t the only company that’s doubling down on motion gaming, as we saw last year when Sony launched its PlayStation Move motion-gaming peripheral to some success.

But it was Microsoft’s controller-free Kinect motion-gaming device that stole the show.

When Kinect launched, the Xbox 360 seemed ripe for a refresh. The platform was losing ground internationally to the PlayStation 3, and it was trailing far behind the Wii in the U.S. But after the Kinect launched, the Xbox 360 got a new lease on life, and given sales of the console as of late, it likely won’t be replaced anytime soon.

Like it or not, Kinect has been integral to the Xbox 360’s success. The device has caught on with casual gamers that are intrigued by the idea of playing a video game with only the movement of their bodies.

But as we look into the future of the Xbox franchise, we now need to determine if Kinect should work with the Xbox 720 (or whatever the device will be called at launch). Undoubtedly, casual gamers will want to see it. But what about the hardcore segment?

Yes, games are launching in the coming months with Kinect functionality that might appeal to those folks, but so far, the hardcore segment hasn’t been so quick to jump on the motion bandwagon.

Inevitably, Microsoft will need to determine if Kinect makes sense with the Xbox 720 by evaluating how much value it could add to its next console. And that can only be determined by properly estimating consumer response.

Since I’m a consumer who will undoubtedly buy the Xbox 720, allow me to make my opinion known right now: I don’t want to see the Kinect make its way to the upcoming console. I don’t like motion gaming, I see no value in it, and I’m willing to bet I never will.

I am an old-fashioned, hardcore gamer that enjoys sitting on my couch, and using a controller to play video games. Though the Kinect wouldn’t stop me from buying the Xbox 720, I wouldn’t be happy to see it included.

Do I think Kinect is a neat technology? Absolutely. Do I think it has potential? Of course. But motion gaming isn’t for me. And if the Xbox 720 relies heavily upon it, I won’t be happy.

But that’s just my opinion. Should Microsoft’s Kinect play a role in the Xbox 720? Let us know in the comments below.

What you’ve got here is a game where you’re supposed to free Splosion Man from the grips of the scientists at Big Science. They’re utterly enamored with the idea of stopping him from sploding all of their machinery, so they’ve trapped him in the box. Of course once they started to celebrate their victory over splosions, they began to drink some bubbly – and what do you know? Chaos ensued. The birth of Ms. Splosion man had happened and the Splosion Man we all know and love was made in a lady version – complete with lipstick and a bow.

Now we’ve got word that this magical game will be coming out on the 13th of July with revamped network support, fifty levels for both single player and multiplayer, and lots and lots of colors! New gameplay mechanics, a whole new collection of boxes, new music, and of course a whole pack of humor and unlockable content. This content consists of behind-the-scenes videos of the game’s creation, a bit that the creators are quite proud of.

“We are incredibly proud of Ms.
Splosion Man and feel like it is our best game to date. We are very excited to launch it this
summer on XBLA,” says Twisted Pixel CEO, Mike Wilford.

Of course they are! This game is created by Twisted Pixel games, a group that’s also brought you such classics as The Gunstringer and The MAW. Have a look at their blog here or have a whole heck of a lot of fun in our Xbox Portal for ultimate excellence in reports and analyzation.

Microsoft revealed in this latest demo some of the new ways that the Xbox Kinect can interact with your Windows Phone. For instance, if you’re watching a commercial for a show you will get a prompt to say “Xbox Schedule” to add the show to your reminders list. Once it’s added, your Windows Phone will automatically get a reminder of when the next episode airs.

Another example given in the video is that of a Toyota commercial. If you’re interested in the car and want to find out about a local dealership, you can simply say “Xbox Near Me” to get a map and have the information sent directly to your phone. Both these examples were talked about last time we mentioned the Xbox Kinect’s NUads that will create more interactive TV commercials and bring more useful and targeted information to viewers.

[via WinRumors]

Free-to-play games are gaining in popularity. So much so in Asia that Activision has recently announced a free-to-play version of Call of Duty specifically created for the Chinese market. And more recently, Ghost Recon Online has also gone free-to-play. This comes at a time where the lines between console games and casual social games are beginning to blend.

Leading in the free-to-play social games arena is Zynga, which has seen huge success with this method of gaming monetization. And with Microsoft poising Xbox LIVE as their main games and media platform in their ecosystem of phones, PCs, and game consoles, this transition to free-to-play with micro-transactions seems logical. It’s believed that Microsoft will build the micro-transaction support based on their existing Microsoft Points system, where players use points to buy in-game items and content.

[via Develop]

The name of the game with NUads is audience engagement. Right now, there are plenty of things to distract us while adverts are on live TV, and little reason not to skip past them on recorded content. Microsoft’s ploy is to make ads social and “irresistibly interactive” by building in simple to use commands and gestures, while advertisers themselves get vital feedback on who is actually paying attention rather than playing Angry Birds on their phone while the promo is showing.

Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE TV service, announced at E3 2011 earlier this month, met with scratched heads as people wondered exactly why the console should be their smart TV STB of choice. With the addition of NUads, however, the reasons that users and content providers might want to get Xbox involved in the viewing experience becomes far clearer. Set to launch in the fall – though with no US partner(s) yet announced – Xbox LIVE TV will compete with the STBs provided by satellite/cable TV providers (many of which are rented to viewers for a monthly fee) and use voice commands to search for shows through Bing on Xbox. Meanwhile the same Xbox LIVE TV functionality will also be available on Windows 8 PCs.

It’s not perfect yet, though. One of the commands – “Xbox Schedule” – automatically prompts the system to send a text message reminder to a user’s phone, prompting them to watch a show when it’s broadcasting. More useful, however, would be the ability to turn your 360 into a DVR, automatically setting the console to record an upcoming film or show. Viewers often fast-forward through the adverts in recorded content, but if Microsoft slotted in fresh NUads – themed to the show as well as other interests as tipped by your Xbox LIVE activities – then that might be enough to persuade them to keep watching. “Xbox Near Me” pulls up a map of nearby retailers offering whatever product is being advertised, but why not do the same for movie times, showing nearby theaters and allowing viewers to book tickets and even reserve specific seats, all by pointing to where they want to be in the theater.

Charge it directly to the Xbox LIVE Points in a user’s account, perhaps, and then shuttle a digital ticket to their Windows Phone device. We criticized Microsoft in our Windows Phone Mango technical preview for not yet making the most of its smartphone/Xbox pairing, and NUads would be a great way of doing that. Something catch your eye on-screen? Flick it over to your phone with a quick gesture or keyword, and watch as a digital coupon shows up on the handset.

Remember, it’s not really end-users that Microsoft has to convince on NUads, it’s content owners and advertisers. If the company can get enough of those onboard, then Xbox LIVE TV will gradually start to offer more shows than rival systems. Once that happens, the users will naturally gravitate toward it. Selling them on the idea of a motion and voice controlled interface wouldn’t be too hard: a Minority Report style advert or two ought to do it.

The sticking point may well be getting everything to gel, something the company has arguably struggled with the most in the past. Microsoft has all the pieces for an advertising rescue mission: now it just has to put them together.

Crytek denied any knowledge of Microsoft’s future hardware plans Friday and denied that it had in its possession any future hardware from Microsoft in the form of the Xbox 720. Obviously there is nothing Crytek could really do except deny the rumor. Crytek sent IGN an official response to the rumor and in the response took the time to talk up its focus on DirectX 11 and the fact that support for DirectX 11 would be coming to Crysis 2 shortly as an update.

The full Crytek statement sent to IGN reads:

“Relating to the recent rumors, Crytek do not have any next generation hardware from Microsoft, nor do we know when Microsoft may announce future hardware or what that hardware will entail.”

“Crytek are working at pushing the boundaries of what current technology can bring, including our focus on DX11 which will be released shortly as an update for Crysis 2, and we believe this work, added to our estimations of what the new hardware will provide, set up CryENGINE as a next generation engine for all consoles.”

[via IGN]

However, Crytek has already produced a demo of TimeSplitter 4, a new game intended for the next-gen Microsoft console. The developers are using DirectX 11 and building TimeSplitter 4 on their CryEngine 3; apparently private demonstrations of the title were being given at E3 2011.

DX11 brings support for tessellation, multi-threaded rendering and compute shaders to the table, and Crytek has apparently been making the most of that. Tessellation in particular is credited as “having a huge impact on the visuals” which are supposedly “noticeably improved over current generation technology.”

The Xbox 360 was announced back in May 2005, and while the “slimline” model replaced the original hardware in late 2010, the core specifications are unchanged from that six year old original. Nonetheless, Microsoft is still seeing sales growth in comparison to its Sony and Nintendo rivals, with a 29-percent year-on-year increase recently announced.

Part of that success has been Microsoft’s gradual refinements to the Xbox 360 experience, including the addition of integrated WiFi b/g/n, an S/PDIF digital audio output, more USB ports and greater storage, among other things. The Microsoft Kinect sensor bar also raised the 360′s game, as well as paving the way for greater integration between the PC and the console.

However, Microsoft claimed at the slimline 360′s launch that their hardware was only halfway through its lifecycle, suggesting a roughly 2015 replacement date. Whether that was primarily sales hyperbole or an indication that talk of an E3 2012 refresh is too early remains to be seen.

[via WinRumors]