Mature Gaming » 360

The Witcher 2 enhanced edition 360 trailer grabs over 1 million views

gazzara — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:14:48 +0000

Over a million people have watched the latest trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition for the Xbox 360 console, which is due to hit the store shelves on 17 April 2012. The movie is praised by the gamer community and received a 9.9/10 score on many popular sites.

The trailer consists of the game’s new intro, which uses spectacular visuals to depict an important event in the Witcher universe – the assassination of King Demavend during a cruise along the Pontar River. The intro was created by forty artists from Platige Image, including BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Tomasz Bagiński.

The intro is one of many new features being added to the Enhanced Edition of the award-winning game The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. The Xbox version of the game will hit store shelves on 17 April 2012. That same day, all PC players will be able to upgrade their game copies to the PC Enhanced Edition through the game’s launcher, absolutely free of charge. The PC version of the game with the additional content will be also available in retail.

“In creating the Xbox 360 version of the game, we’ve gone beyond simply porting it to the new platform. Instead, we’ve created a full adaptation of The Witcher 2 for the console. We’ve changed the game’s controls and its menus to reflect the differences between the platforms, and we’ve made extensive modifications to the RED engine to make sure that the graphics are jaw-dropping for Xbox 360 players. We’re proud of the fact that this will be one of the best-looking games ever to come to the Xbox 360, while also being one of the most complex RPGs ever brought to console gamers. Current PC gamers should be pleased to know that they will receive all new content free of charge, including 4 more hours of gameplay” says Adam Badowski, head of the CD Projekt RED studio.

Netflix not only on PS3 and 360 but now the Wii too!

gazzara — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:24 +0000

Didn’t catch the last series of The Only Way is Essex, fancy watching great movies such as The Expendables or The Aviator or see a full seasons of Breaking Bad, Top Gear or Torchwood?

Wii owners in the UK and Ireland can now stream their favourite films and TV programmes onto their TV via their Wii, after Netflix announced its service expansion into the UK. Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), is available from 9^th January for a low monthly subscription of £5.99.

With more than 20 million streaming members in 47 countries and territories, Netflix has revolutionized entertainment by providing seamless and unlimited access to tens of thousands of hours of Hollywood and international feature films, full seasons of new and classic TV series, global documentaries, independent cinema and an incredible range of kids programming in a specially designed area of the service called “Just for Kids.” Thanks to a recent partnership announcement, fans can also watch the BBC Worldwide back catalogue via Netflix on their Wii.

To access the Netflix on your Wii, simply visit the Wii Shop Channel. Then select the “Wii Channels” from the main menu and choose “Netflix Instant Streaming for Wii.” If you then select “Free 0 Wii Points”, you will begin the download. Once Netflix Instant Streaming for Wii has finished downloading, it will appear on the Wii menu and you can view on your TV.

Dawn Paine, Marketing Director and Assistant General Manager at Nintendo UK, said: “Netflix has been a partner of Nintendo of America for many years now and we are delighted to be able to extend the service to our fans from UK and Ireland. I for one look forward to be able to view my favourite TV shows and films via my Wii.”

“We’re thrilled that Netflix is now available on Wii in the UK and Ireland coinciding with our launch,” said Bill Holmes, vice president of business development at Netflix. “The Wii has been among the most popular devices used by Netflix members to enjoy unlimited TV shows and movies streaming over the Internet from Netflix on their TVs. We expect the Wii will be one of the most used devices to enjoy Netflix in the UK and Ireland and are delighted to offer this additional value to Wii users.”

Mad Catz releases MLG branded Pro Circuit Controllers for 360 and PS3

gazzara — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:24:11 +0000

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. announced today the shipping of the licensed Major League Gaming (“MLG”) Pro Circuit Controller. The new tournament grade controller has been specifically designed for the competitive and professional gamer.

Engineered to perform at the highest possible level, the MLG Pro Circuit Controller is available now for the Xbox 360and the PlayStation 3.

“The MLG Pro Circuit Controller with its tournament grade components and ProModule™ system has been very well received by the pro gaming community.” said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. “We anticipate the MLG Pro Circuit Controller will be the weapon of choice for the most demanding gamer and professional player.”

Microsoft release Xbox 360′s progress in 2011 – a record year apparently!

gazzara — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:16:50 +0000

At CES Microsoft announced record-breaking consumer response for Xbox 360 and Kinect; more unique entertainment experiences on Xbox 360 and availability of Kinect for Windows commercial program. Here are the key highlights.

2011: Biggest year in Xbox history

Microsoft announced that Xbox 360 was the top selling console in North America in 2011.

· Xbox 360 has sold more than 66 million consoles, with nearly 40 millionXbox LIVE members around the world.
- · Kinect has sold more than 18 million sensors around the world.
- · Xbox 360 with Kinect was the must-have gift this Christmas, selling almost 800,000 Xbox 360 consoles on Black Friday alone.

Transforming TV through the power of Kinect

Microsoft showcased how Kinect and leading TV and entertainment providers deliver extraordinary experiences on Xbox 360 globally.

· More TV is coming to Xbox LIVE; in December, Channel 4OD and 5 On Demand launched on Xbox, with more to come. With more than 50 active and announced partnerships worldwide, more live TV and on-demand TV will be lighting up Xbox 360 consoles around the globe this year.
· Xbox 360 owners are excited about this new, fun, and interactive way to enjoy their favourite content:
- o In December more than 60 percent of U.S. Xbox LIVE Gold members used entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE – for an average of an hour a day each.
- o The number of people using entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE increased by nearly 50 percent globally from November to December.
- · We are going to make TV more social and personal; from watching to engaging, from passive to active.

The hours of video consumed globally on Xbox LIVE increased 140 percent from 2010 to 2011.

In close collaboration with trusted brands such as Sesame Workshop and National Geographic, Kinect for Xbox 360 is delivering a new kind of interactive learning experience that places children inside their favorite television shows and storybooks and allows them to engage, interact and learn in entirely new ways.

Not just fun and games; the ‘Kinect Effect’ inspires new industries worldwide

Just like Kinect for Xbox 360 is helping to reinvent games and entertainment, companies around the globe are exploring how Kinect for Windows will help them to re-invent their industries.

· Microsoft announced the Kinect for Windows commercial program launching 1^st Feb 2012. Through the commercial program, Kinect will reach far beyond entertainment to revolutionise education, healthcare, manufacturing, science, and more.
· Microsoft is already working with more than 200 innovation leaders including United Health Group, American Express, Mattel, Telefonica, and Toyota to utilise Kinect in revolutionary new ways.

New Primer wireless headset ships from Mad Catz

gazzara — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:28:51 +0000

Mad Catz Interactive announced today the shipping of the Primer Wireless Stereo Headset, for use with the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. stated, “The Primer is the third of our co-branded headsets to be released for the Xbox 360 and the first wireless product in the range. We are excited to bring passionate gamers high quality, wireless gaming.”

The Primer Wireless Stereo Headset uses 5.8GHz wireless technology to connect with the Xbox 360. In addition, the Primer includes precision balanced 40mm neodymium drivers and controls which allow gamers to separately adjust volume and in-game chat levels.

Joe Danger coming to 360

gazzara — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:12:06 +0000

Hello Games, the bright UK indie start-up, today announced that everyone’s favorite stuntman Joe Danger will be blasting onto Xbox LIVE Arcade this holiday season.Speaking earlier today founder Sean Murray, said; “We’re stupidly excited to be coming to XBLA, it’s frankly the most exciting day in Hello Games history so far. It’s such an amazing opportunity for us to finally be able to reach all those millions of beautiful XBLA gamers. My brother has a 360, and he says he’ll buy it for sure. Well, he promised he’ll download the Trial at least.”

Hello Games also announced that the critically acclaimed Joe Danger Special Edition will come with huge additions and improvements, exclusively to Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Sean added “This is a game we care so much about, we couldn’t wait to go back and refine this idea we’ve now watched hundreds of thousands of people play through. We’ve basically added a whole new game’s worth of content too, including all new challenges, gameplay modes, and some awesome playable characters to unlock. The main addition is the Laboratory though. It’s sort of a masterclass, a set of developer challenges that will test 360 gamer’s to their limit.”

Speaking of their future “Hello Games is still a small team independently making games that we deeply care about. We’re currently developing Joe Danger Special Edition, Joe Danger 2 : The Movie, and two unannounced titles. When Microsoft approached us with this opportunity, we knew the fit was a good one, and it’s important to us that Special Edition was developed personally by Hello Games. It allows us to focus on doing what we enjoy most, making a great game.”

Kinect celebrates its first anniversary

gazzara — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:24:52 +0000

Almost one year ago this week Xbox 360 set out to change the way we interact with games and entertainment with the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360. Controller-free games and entertainment – once the stuff of science fiction – had become a reality through the magic of Kinect.

Sales immediately soared with more than 10 million Kinect sensors sold, setting the Guinness World Record as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device in 60 days along the way. Kinect opened up Xbox to a broad set of new audiences, bringing new categories of entertainment to the platform. Leading brands such as Disney, Sesame Street and National Geographic were inspired by the simplicity and intuitiveness of Kinect’s voice and gesture control technologies, developing immersive, fun experiences for everyone. Nearly 40 world-leading entertainment providers, including Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, LOVEFiLM, MSN, YouTube, Blinkbox and Muzu, will join current providers like BskyB on Xbox 360 this Christmas and beyond, to deliver TV entertainment experiences that are more personal, effortless and social.

Six months ago, a diverse group of hobbyists and academics from around the world embraced the possibilities of Kinect. In a wave of creativity, they downloaded the Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK and began developing creative applications and innovative uses in healthcare, education, art and so much more. Microsoft has recognised this phenomenon as “The Kinect Effect.”

Marking the US 4^th November and UK 10^th November anniversary of Kinect, Xbox 360 today announced that the Kinect for Windows commercial program will be launched early next year. The commercial program will give businesses the tools to develop applications that not only could improve their own operations, but potentially revolutionise entire industries. To date, more than 200 businesses worldwide – including Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Razorfish – have joined a Kinect for Windows pilot program to begin exploring the possibilities of Kinect. While no one knows what the future holds, if the past year is any indication, it’s going to be inspiring.

Fancy a Battlefield 3 makeover?

gazzara — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:52:21 +0000

Style and function come together with the Battlefield 3 Vault. EA and Calibur11 team up for this exclusive customizable high-end case for your Xbox 360 Slim and PlayStation 3 Slim.

Available later this year the Battlefield 3 Vault features a stunning Battlefield 3 smoke body, a 3-mode LED light up claymore, DICE logo smoke grenade and more. Not only stylish, the Battlefield 3 Vault also contains a performance grid that enhances cooling of your video game system by increasing airflow as well as a highly customizable body that allows owners the ability to attach a range of accessories including the popular controller holder.

Battlefield 3, developed by DICE in Stockholm Sweden, has been lauded by game critics for advancing the state of the art in every category — graphics, sound, animation and gameplay, and is the only game that can deliver the physicality and emotion of being on the battlefield. It is thanks to the expertise of the development team at DICE and the power of their Frostbite 2 software engine that the game creates a massive sense of scale, completely destructible environments and lets you pilot a whole range of vehicles from trucks and tanks to choppers and jets. Battlefield 3 will deliver this holiday’s most authentic shooter experience with an immersive single-player campaign, intense multiplayer and action-packed co-op gameplay.

The Battlefield 3 Vault for the Xbox 360 Slim and PlayStation 3 Slim will be available at www.calibur11.eu, as well as all major (online) retail stores this fall with a SRP of £69.99. Battlefield 3 Vault customizable nameplates are also available for a SRP of £17.99. For more information on the Battlefield 3 Vault please visit http://www.calibur11.eu/battlefield-3. For a complete list of retailers please visit http://www.calibur11.eu/calibur11-resellers/.

Battlefield 3 hits retail stores on 27^th October 2011 in Europe.

Tritton Detonator headset released

gazzara — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:29:25 +0000

Mad Catz Interactive announced today the shipping of the Detonator Stereo Headset, the world’s first official co-branded gaming headset designed for use with the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

In addition, the Detonator is compatible with a wide range of MP3 players, cell phones and audio devices.

“We are excited to be shipping the first product in our highly anticipated co-branded headset range.” saidDarren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. “Releasing a co-branded range of headsets has enabled us to offer an enticing feature set and quality audio which we are certain will appeal to the passionate gamer this holiday season.”

The Detonator Stereo Headset includes 50mm Neodymium Drivers, Detachable Boom Mic and Selectable Voice Monitoring and is expected to be joined by additional products in the range in time for the 2011 holiday season.

Additional information is available at: http://www.trittonusa.com/detonator

Gears Of War 3 flies past 3 million sales. Franchise top $1 Billion in revenue

gazzara — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:08:19 +0000

The most anticipated video game of the year arrived last week with the worldwide launch of “Gears of War 3.”

Following more than 22,000 midnight madness launch events, Microsoft and Epic Games today announced that the Xbox 360 exclusive sold more than three million copies worldwide in its first week since release, cementing “Gears 3” as the biggest game of 2011 and catapulting the franchise beyond one billion dollars in lifetime sales.

In just one week, “Gears 3” has already grossed more than any 2011 video game to date. In addition to topping this year’s sales charts, the “Gears of War” franchise joins the elite ranks of only a select few game franchises to surpass one billion dollars in lifetime sales. Taking the milestone even further, “Gears” now stands as the first Xbox 360 exclusive franchise introduced this console generation to eclipse the billion dollar milestone.

“‘Gears of War’ was the first killer app for Xbox 360, and the series has continued to contribute directly to the overall success of the platform ever since,” said Microsoft Corporate Vice President Phil Spencer. “‘Gears of War 3’ kicked off the biggest Christmas period in Xbox history, setting the standard for the kind of amazing, action-packed experiences gamers should expect on Xbox 360 this year.”

Game modes like Beast and Horde 2.0, along with the addition of dedicated servers, has driven more than three million unique users to log onto Xbox LIVE to play “Gears of War 3” since launch.