Category Archives: Xbox Live
Microsoft acquires VideoSurf
Microsoft announced this week the acquisition of “video discovery technology company” VideoSurf.
VideoSurf is a video discovery technology and how will it “enhance” Xbox Live?
“This holiday we will launch voice search across our entertainment partners on Xbox LIVE,”
Microsoft’s Alex Garden said in a press release. “Over time, as we integrate VideoSurf’s technology into our system, we are excited about the potential to have content tagged in real time to increase the speed and relevance of the search results.” VideoSurf’s back-end technology “‘sees’ frames inside videos,” an ability that Microsoft appears to want to couple with the integrated Bing voice search coming to Xbox 360.
Rage demo now available on Xbox Live, coming December 6 to PSN
The Rage demo is now available on Xbox Live, and is expected out on PSN on December 6.
Xbox 360 Dashboard update coming December 6th
While many of you have been involved in the Xbox LIVE Preview Program and have been busy getting an early look at the next Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE features, I wanted to let you know that the official release for the update for all Xbox LIVE members will be Tuesday, December 6th. In this update, free to all console owners, you will see:
- New personal and social features including Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile
- Beacons and Facebook Sharing
- Enhanced Family Settings
- Integrated voice and gesture controls across the dashboard and in apps
- Bing voice search (Available this year in the US, UK and CA)
In addition to all these great dashboard features, starting on December 6th and continuing on an ongoing basis through the holiday months, a wealth of new content will be coming to Xbox 360. New, customized applications for television, movies, internet videos, sports and music will begin rolling out from world-leading providers in more than 20 countries.
Source: www.majornelson.com
Grand Theft Auto V Trailer
Here it is! The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V. All centered around Vinewood, a stand-in for Los Angeles. We’re definitely getting back into some of the GTA: San Andreas stomping grounds.
Our hero is a dad who says he’s trying to be a good guy but, it’s a Grand Theft Auto game, so you know how well that works out. What do you notice?
Gears of War 3 DLC ‘RAAM’s Shadow’ Coming in December
Microsoft and Epic Games have announced “RAAM’s Shadow,” an add-on campaign for Gears of War 3 that precedes the events of the first game and brings back a few familiar, snarling faces.
Due on Dec. 13, “RAAM’s Shadow” sees Zeta Squad attempting to evacuate Illima City in the wake of Emergence Day. Your muscular protagonists for the trip are Michael Barrick (plucked from Gears of War comics), original character Alicia Valera, Gears of War 2′s tattooed Tai Kaliso, and a perforation-free version of Lt. Kim. (Presumably, he’s still got the codes.)
RAAM’s running time is pegged at three hours, and it offers a couple of other bonuses. For $15 / 1200 MSP you’ll also get six more multiplayer characters, the “chocolate” weapon set (we’re unclear if that refers to a color scheme or a dairy-based construction), Achievements amounting to 250 Gamerscore and — oh, what’s this? “In addition to fighting as a new squad of Gears, players will step into the boots of RAAM himself, and for the first time storm the human stronghold from the perspective of one of the series’ most legendary bosses.”
Rumor: Next Xbox
Microsoft maybe targeting a Christmas 2013 release for the Xbox 720 (or what ever it will be called), with a reveal to occur at E3 2013, according to a number of industry sources.
Industry site Develop claims that Microsoft already has several next generation projects underway including the next Fable game, code-named ”Fable Next.”
“Multiple sources across the industry, from processor chip manufacturers to middleware firms, have told Develop they expect the console to be fully unveiled at E3 2013, months before its release. The collection of data points to a 2013 launch for the system across all main regions, though early 2014 remains a possibility,” says the site.
Battlefield 3 high-res texture pack explained for 360
A few weeks ago, a report began circulating that the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 3 would ship with a high resolution texture pack to increase its graphical fidelity. Now GamerZines has uncovered additional info on the feature. According to executive producer Patrick Bach, the texture pack isn’t “magic” and is “the same thing we do for PC and PS3, so there’s nothing extra.”
Specifically, the pack installs to the Xbox 360, allowing Battlefield 3 to stream higher resolution textures from the hard drive. The practice is common on PC and PS3, which come standard with hard drives. On the Xbox 360 version however DICE had to make the texture streaming optional, as not all Xbox 360 consoles are guaranteed to have a hard drive. “No one has really tried to do it properly,” said Bachman, “so us doing it will create question marks.”
Without the texture-pack installed, noted Bachman, users are basically getting the “standard-def” version of the game, whereas the texture pack will enable “a more detailed, varied and vivid experience.”
L.A. Noire The Complete Edition coming this November
L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 15th in North America and November 18th elsewhere, just a week after the game debuts on PC. And like the PC game, The Complete Edition comes packed with every piece of DLC released thus far. It will retail for $49.99.
The bonus cases include “The Nicholson Electroplating,” “The Consul’s Car,” “Reefer Madness,” “The Naked City” and “A Slip of the Tongue.” They cover the arson, vice and traffic beats, and are offered alongside The Badge Pursuit Challenge and all unlockable outfits and weapons.
Sonic Generations Demo (Xbox 360)
Content: Sonic Generations Demo
Price: Free
Availability: Check availability in your Xbox LIVE region
Dash Text: Race through the iconic Green Hill as Classic and Modern Sonics in this Sonic Generations demo. As Classic Sonic tackle a re-imagination of the original Sonic The Hedgehog level. Then grind along rails to escape giant enemies, boost round corkscrews and fly through the air, in a unique level designed to challenge Modern Sonic.
Add the free demo to your Xbox 360 download queue
Like the demo? Purchase the full game
Source: MajorNelson.com
