Games

Short Takes: May 24, 2013

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:30:00 +0000

An often irreverent look at this week's other news, including a new report about Windows 8 usage that has been misunderstood by most, a hope that Intel’s Haswell chip will save the PC industry, an ITC ruling that clears Microsoft of violating Google patents, an FTC probe of Google display ads, Samsung sells 10 million Galaxy S4 handsets in less than a month, and a US District Court judge preliminarily sides with DOJ in its price-fixing suit against Apple.

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Xbox One Preview: A Look at the Reveal Games

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:22:00 +0000

You want games? We got games

While complaints about the Xbox One have been surprisingly muted, one issue I’ve seen raised repeatedly is the lack of game-related announcements at the reveal event. That’s unfair, as Microsoft is providing a staged launch for the Xbox One, with the next stage, at E3, focusing solely on games. But even in this week’s reveal event, there were some great game-related announcements.

Xbox One Preview

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

Microsoft appears to have made the console to beat for the coming generation of devices

On Tuesday, Microsoft revealed the Xbox One, giving us a broad but only partial understanding of its upcoming video game console. Here’s what we’ve learned so far, and my take on Microsoft’s third stab at jumpstarting a major new market for living room entertainment.

Xbox One Unveil Video

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:22:00 +0000

All hail the new Xbox

Here’s Microsoft’s promotional video for its new entertainment console, the Xbox One. Looking good!

Xbox One Photos

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Here it is, the next-generation Xbox entertainment console

As expected, Microsoft revealed its next-generation Xbox, the Xbox One, today. Here are some photos showing off the new console, the next-generation Kinect sensor, and the new Xbox One hand controller.

Microsoft Reveals Next-Gen Console, Xbox One

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:43:00 +0000

At a gala event at its Redmond campus, Microsoft on Tuesday revealed that its next-generation Xbox video game console will be named Xbox One and will include the expected feature-set, including a bundled next-generation Kinect sensor and Blu-Ray optical drive. The system will hit the market in November alongside Sony’s PlayStation 4.

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On Eve of Xbox Reveal, Microsoft Issues Defense of Gaming Market

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:24:00 +0000

While Xbox has given Microsoft a valuable consumer brand with absurdly loyal customers, it has also paradoxically never directly repaid the billions of dollars in R&D that Microsoft invested, let alone the unexpected warranty repair costs of the current generation console. But on the eve of a reveal event for its third Xbox device, Microsoft issued an interesting defense of the video game console, arguing among other things that more people are playing games than ever before.

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New Angry Birds for Windows Phone Free Until May 15

Sat, 04 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

A classic touch-based game is reissued on Windows Phone with 100 new levels

If you’re the only Windows Phone user on earth who doesn’t have Angry Birds yet, now’s the time to jump: A new version of the original game is available for free until May 15. Actually, you may want to snag this even if you already have Angry Birds, as this version comes with an additional 100 new levels.

Microsoft's Billion-Dollar Businesses, Past and Future

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:36:00 +0000

People like to compare Microsoft and Apple, but the truth is, they couldn't be more different. Microsoft's businesses are more diverse than Apple's and are of course far more business oriented. A quick examination of Microsoft's billion-dollar businesses shows where the company makes all its money today. How that will change in the coming years?

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Here Comes the Next Xbox

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:38:00 +0000

Microsoft on Wednesday confirmed that the next Xbox video game console, codenamed Durango, will be revealed to the public at a special event at its Redmond campus on May 21. That event will kick off a multi-event unveiling which will continue through June, and then the release of the device, which is expected in early November.

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