Microsoft has pulled yet another "Xbox One-80" it seems, confirming that the Xbox One no longer requires Kinect. The Kinect sensor, which will still be included in every Xbox One retail box, can be turned off completely while the Xbox One is still being used. The news comes as yet another reversal of a policy Microsoft originally created when revealing the Xbox One earlier this year. The Kinect sensor will still be required for certain game- and entertainment-related functions, including issuing voice commands in a … [Read more...]
Microsoft May Pay Royalties to Apple for Every Xbox One Sold
When the Xbox 360 and PS3 launched, the consoles underscored the brief battle between the HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 backed HD-DVD via a peripheral, while Sony’s PS3 used an embedded Blu-ray drive to introduce the format, much like the PS2 doubled as many consumers’ DVD player. Part of Microsoft’s support for HD-DVD over Blu-ray was to avoid paying royalties to a staunch competitor. But with the Xbox One, Microsoft could end up paying royalties to Apple Inc. for every console it sells. And one … [Read more...]
Doodle Jump for Kinect Debuts on Xbox 360
Doodle Jump for Kinect has hopped onto the Xbox 360 today, the first time Doodle The Doodler has rocketed into gamers' living rooms. Doodle Jump for Kinect is available now for download on Xbox Live as an Xbox Live Arcade game for 400 Microsoft Points. It requires Kinect for Xbox 360 to play. But you knew that by its name, right? Crafted specifically for Kinect for Xbox 360, Doodle Jump for Kinect blends the series' traditional gameplay with a new gesture and motion control system, delivering a new play scheme that … [Read more...]
Xbox 720 May Include Projection, Fill Room with Video
Forget about the next generation of gesture controls...it looks like Microsoft's next Xbox may include technology that turns your entire living room into a video screen. When the original Kinect released, people did all sorts of crazy stunts with it, including restructuring the hardware and turning it into a sort of 3D projector. Microsoft's Research department apparently had a similar idea, and their idea may be incorporated into the next Xbox ("Xbox 720") and/or into the next version of the Kinect Hardware ("Kinect … [Read more...]
Forza Horizon Review
The word “forza” is Italian for “force,” an accurate description of Microsoft’s first-party racing franchise. Developed originally as the counterpoint to Sony’s Gran Turismo series, Forza has evolved significantly over the years, going from a super-simulator that ate casual gamers for breakfast into Forza Horizon, a game that masterfully blends simulation-like elements with arcade-infused accessibility. I always appreciated what Forza did, even in those instances where I frankly wasn’t very good at it. With Forza … [Read more...]
Dance Central 3 Review
Dance Central 3 is one of those rare sequels that doesn’t try to break the mold, doesn’t provide much innovation from previous outings, makes only incremental improvements yet still delivers an outstanding experience. The Dance Central series has been one of the best-selling Xbox 360 Kinect games to date, so it doesn’t really need to do much to be successful. Not surprisingly, then, nothing really got blown up from Dance Central 2. However, that’s not to say nothing changed. To Harmonix’s credit, although they didn’t do … [Read more...]
Kinect Nat Geo TV Review
Microsoft has been highlighting its goal of thinking differently with regard to software and hardware, but while gadget geeks may have been the first to cling to those comments, educators may actually see the most immediate results. And it may come from a most unusual source: video games. Specifically, Kinect Nat Geo TV, one of two “two-way TV experiences” to release recently for owners of an Xbox Kinect. While Kinect Sesame Street TV (read our review) misfired in its execution and target audience, Kinect Nat Geo TV … [Read more...]
Kinect Sesame Street TV Review
The current console generation has come full circle, it seems. Nintendo came out of the gate swinging, selling millions of Wiis to families everywhere while Sony and Microsoft battled it out for the older gamer with the PS3 and Xbox 360, respectively. Now Nintendo’s aiming high (in age) with the Wii U, while Sony and Microsoft go for the younger crowd. The latest evidence comes courtesy of Kinect Sesame Street TV, the first of two “two-way TV experiences” for Xbox 360 (the other is Kinect Nat Geo TV). The target … [Read more...]
Marvel Avengers Battle for Earth Demo Now Available for Kinect on Xbox Live
A playable Xbox 360 Kinect demo for Marvel Avengers Battle for Earth is now available for download worldwide via Xbox Live. The download is only currently available for Xbox Live Gold members, but it will be available to all in one week. The timing, of course, is due to the Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray release of The Avengers this week. During the Marvel Avengers Battle for Earth demo, players will travel back in time to the iconic tropical preserve The Savage Land, a hidden region surrounded by volcanoes and prehistoric … [Read more...]
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Review
For those of us old enough to remember the first “next gen” console called the original Xbox, the name “Steel Battalion” is the stuff of lore. Nowadays you’ll see Street Fighter games release on occasion with special peripheral controllers, or you’ll see interesting props that extend the gameplay like Sony’s Wonderbook for the PlayStation Move. But Steel Battalion took the concept of a peripheral and jacked it to 11. Since when did a game predicated upon driving a tank-like structure actually ship with (and require) a … [Read more...]