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Week of July 19, 2009
Xbox Indie Games get new pricing structure, improved update system
>> From xboxindies.com:
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Microsoft has begun the transition to Xbox LIVE Indie Games with an update today to the XNA Creator's Club website. The full details of the update can be found in this post, but the parts that really matter to consumers are the following:
* Japanese and German Creators can now submit Indie Games. So hopefully we'll see some of those crazy Japanese shoot-em-ups. Or maybe the next Cave Story will find its way to Xbox LIVE Indie Games.
* Update notifications! Finally you will get a nice prompt when starting an Xbox LIVE Indie Game if that game has an update. Then you can do a quick update and know you have the latest version.
* New pricing. Xbox LIVE Indie Games sheds the old pricing system for a new three tier system: 80 MS Points (about $1 USD), 240 MS Points (about $3 USD), and 400 MS Points (about $5 USD). Developers are able to change price as they want, but as is all 200 MS Point games will be automatically moved to the 80 MS Point price point if the developer does not choose another price.
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Full Story: xboxindies.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Slow, but impressive: hands-on with the Xbox 360 update
>> From arstechnica.com:
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Microsoft has given the press a limited preview of some of the new features that will be coming to the Xbox 360 dashboard, and while the Twitter and Last.fm functionality has yet to arrive, what is there points to a rosy future for the 360 as a media box... not to mention a more friendly platform for advertising. Let's take a look at the changes coming to the system.
* Netflix is now browsable, without an extra computer
* Rate games, spiff up your avatar
* Indie games, Games on Demand, and other updates
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Full Story: arstechnica.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft, Xbox 360 Division See Revenue Declines
>> From gamasutra.com:
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Tech giant and Xbox creator Microsoft's fourth quarter ended with revenue 17 percent down to $13.10 billion, and profits down 29 percent to $3.05 billion.
The company's Entertainment and Devices Division, which contains its games business, as well as the Zune and other miscellaneous items, saw a 25 percent year-over-year fourth quarter revenue decrease to $1.19 billion.
But this primarily reflected shrinking Zune and Mediaroom revenue -- Xbox 360 platform and PC game revenue decreased $110 million or 12%. The company shipped 1.2 million Xbox 360 consoles in the quarter, slightly down compared with 1.3 million Xbox 360 consoles during the same timeframe last year.
In documents released alongside its financials, Microsoft noted that its software attach rate is 8.6 games per console and "growing." Finally, the company says that Xbox Live membership is now up to a total of 20 million.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Says Still No Blu-ray Addon Plans for the Xbox 360
>> From teamxbox.com:
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What happened to Toshiba? The Japanese corporation announced its exit of the HD DVD business and now, a year and half later, it is completely admitting the success of Blu-ray Disc by announcing plans to manufacture and sell Blu-ray Disc players. Toshiba plans to sell Blu-ray Disc players by the end of the year and will consider the production of Blu-ray Disc recorders.
Peter Moore left the door open once. Microsoft has denied a Blu-ray Disc drive several times. Following Toshiba's announcement, we contacted Microsoft just to find out if they changed their mind. A Microsoft spokesperson provided the following statement:
"As we have stated before, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360. We have a long-standing high definition strategy that runs across gaming and premium content, and it's a strategy that continues to pay off for us. Today, we offer the largest library of blockbuster games and offer a growing library of nearly 20,000 movies and TV episodes on Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace (more than 5,000 in HD). In addition, people have access to 12,000 films and TV episodes on Netflix Instant watch. And coming this fall, Xbox LIVE will launch digital movies with instant on 1080p HD streaming so you can experience the best video quality with no disc, no download and no delay. "
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Full Story: teamxbox.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Natal Xbox 360 in 2010 rumor is back on - Aptina to Supply 1.3M CMOS
>> From digitimes.com:
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Aptina has won exclusive rights to supply 1.3-megapixel CMOS image sensors (CIS) for a new version of the Xbox 360 console under Microsoft's Project Natal technology, and shipments of the new Xbox 360 are slated for the second half of 2010, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
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Full Story: digitimes.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox Live Dashboard update arrives Aug. 11
>> From joystiq.com:
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Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Xbox Dashboard update will be hitting Xbox Live on August 11. The update is set to include many new features, including Games on Demand, improved Netflix performance (along with Movie Parties), Avatar Awardables, Avatar Marketplace, the ability to rate games, new Friends list sorting options and more. The announcement also mentions that previously announced Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm support is slated to arrive this fall.
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Full Story: joystiq.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
New Dashboard Commercials Bring Ad Breaks To Your 360
>> From kotaku.com:
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As many of you have no doubt probably seen by now if you've been connected to Xbox Live, Microsoft's new dashboard advertisements have begun appearing for Xbox 360 owners.
Rather than the standard, static advertisements you're used to seeing, these bring running commercials to your 360, in some cases complete with video and, more annoyingly, sound. You can see an example of one running in this video here.
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Full Story: kotaku.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Adam Thole's Tilt Board v3 - Source Code
>> From adamthole.com:
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I am releasing my source code for Tilt Board v3. It is released for personal use only. Please contact me if you would like to use any part of it commercially. The project files were written in C using the Source Boost IDE and the BoostC compiler. It was originally written for a Microchip PIC16F88 microcontroller, but should be easily modified to work with most microcontrollers. I tried to comment the code well to make it easy to understand. The download includes the C source code files and the compiled hex file. The source will allow you to make your own modifications, and the hex will allow you to program your own PIC without the trouble of setting up the compiler.
This completes the information I have to release about the Tilt Board v3. You should now be able to make your own and modify the code to suit your needs. If you need any help, make any improvements to my code, or just like what I am doing please e-mail me and let me know. Have fun!
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Full Story/Download: adamthole.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program
>> From majornelson.com:
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I am happy to announce that we're doing an Xbox 360 System Update Preview program for our next release, and the opportunity to sign up is now available. Much like we did last year, you'll need to visit the Microsoft Connect site from this link and sign in with your Windows LIVE ID that is connected to your Xbox LIVE Gamertag.
Once you do that, you need to fill out the "Xbox LIVE Update Preview Sign Up" survey in order to be considered for receiving the Preview System Update. We're asking a few questions about where you live, your home network, ISP connection and a few other pieces of information. We are looking for a good cross-section of our members in order to get the best feedback we can.
The Xbox team will then review all of the applications and if you're selected we'll send you an email notifying you of your acceptance in the program. A couple of points before you head off to register:
* We're looking for multiple thousands of participants, so your chances of making it in are good
* This opportunity is open to all Xbox LIVE Members in regions where Xbox LIVE is available.
* Just completing the survey does not automatically get you access to the Preview Program. We'll be making final selections from the completed surveys and send you an email if you are selected.
* While both box LIVE Gold and Silver members can sign up, Priority will be given to Gold members in the selection process.
If you are accepted, you'll hear from us in about a week. Make sure your information on
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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