by Rainier on Feb. 9, 2008 @ 5:55 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Last week Microsoft sent shockwaves through the internet by offering to buy ailing Yahoo for no less than $44 billion. After a few days of deliberation, even considering outsourcing its ads business to rival Google, Yahoo will
turn down the offer, claiming the unsolicited offer undervalues the company, saying it needs an extra $12 billion.
by Rainier on Feb. 1, 2008 @ 4:43 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Looks like Bill Gates might want to go out with a bang as Microsoft announced that it has offered to acquire Yahoo for $31 per share, 62 % above the current trading price on Wall Street, making for a total of $44.6 billion in cash and stock.
by Rainier on Jan. 10, 2008 @ 10:59 a.m. PST | Filed under
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Logitech shares surged 12 % today amid speculation that Microsoft might be preparing to acquired the Swiss-based computer peripherals maker. While neither party gave any comment on the rumor, Logitech co-founder Daniel Borel, the biggest shareholder, said he
was not interested in selling, but with only 6% of the shares he would neither be able nor prevent a sale of the company.
by Rainier on Jan. 8, 2008 @ 4:52 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Microsoft and the U.S. Army announced that U.S. gamers will have a chance to prove their skills in the first ever Halo 3 Championship Tournament, hosted exclusively on Xbox Live. Registration will begin in March, and the actual tournament kicks off in April 2008, preceded by Basic Combat Training exercises.
by Rainier on Jan. 3, 2008 @ 7:18 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
The holidays are traditionally a good time for hardware/software sales, and with the Wii still in short supply, it was up to the PS3 and X360 to pick up the slack. Today, Microsoft revealed that it has sold more than 17.7 million X360 units worldwide, while Halo 3 breaks records with no less than 8.1 million copies sold since its Sept. 2007 launch. In little over a month, Mass Effect has already sold 1.6 mill. units, and according to November NPD data, consumers keep spending money on Xbox software and accessories, with a record-high attach rate of 6.9.
by Rainier on Dec. 14, 2007 @ 3:16 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Microsoft released the X360 HD DVD Emulator, enabling film studios and disc authoring companies to test the behavior of HD DVD disc content, including encoded video and HDi interactivity, in a virtual environment before committing to burning a single HD DVD disc.
by Rainier on Dec. 13, 2007 @ 4:38 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
After being
lauded by Time Magazine yesterday, MCV's annual independent retailer survey reveals that UK stores pick Halo 3 as the best single moment in 2007, while Microsoft was voted the best in terms of overall quality and attitude throughout the year. To complete the hat trick, 49% of the UK retailers think Xbox 360 will win the next-gen battle.
by Rainier on Dec. 4, 2007 @ 10:17 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
As promised Microsoft has rolled out its fall dashboard update, adding new features such as Xbox Live members being able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox Live members, chat and compare games and Achievements, utilize the family timer, Xbox Live Arcade Hits and new video features with DivX/Xvid support.
by Rainier on Dec. 3, 2007 @ 11:19 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Timed with the Xbox LIVE Fall Update, Arcade Hits can be found within the Xbox LIVE Arcade section of the new Game Store, making it easier than ever to build a library of great downloadable games, and offering some of the best-selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games at permanently reduced prices.
by Rainier on Nov. 30, 2007 @ 9:08 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Earlier, Microsoft revealed that with the Dec. 4th fall dashboard update, Xbox Live members would be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox Live members, chat and compare games and Achievements, as well as utilize the family timer. Today more details were revealed, such as Xbox Live Arcade Hits and new video features (we can confirm this includes DivX/Xvid).
by Rainier on Nov. 27, 2007 @ 11:03 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Announced way back in 2003, Microsoft Train Simulator 2 provides the opportunity to command a 200-ton modern diesel locomotive or operate a steam-breathing behemoth from the past.
by Rainier on Nov. 13, 2007 @ 11:13 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
On Nov. 15, Microsoft will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Xbox Live, and as a gesture of thanks, all 8 million members will have a 48 hour opportunity to download a free Xbox Live Arcade game, while every active member who joined the service in 2002 will receive 500 free Microsoft Points. On top of that Microsoft also confirmed the
Xbox download rumor from earlier today.
by Rainier on Nov. 11, 2007 @ 6:17 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
The latest 1upYours podcast has stirred up a lot of ruckus over the weekend after EGM's Shane Bettenhausen revealed that he has fairly reliable information that next week, Microsoft might announce the cancellation of a big first-party title. Speculations include Alan Wake, Banjo Kazooie 3, Fable 2 or Too Human. Remedy and Lionhead have already responded and said it is not their respective titles, so Too Human (which is currently over budget, overdue and in a lawsuit with Epic) or Rare's Banjo 3 (no news in a long time) are currently the prime candidates ....
by Rainier on Nov. 7, 2007 @ 1:43 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
As the Nov. 20 launch date for Bioware's sci-fi action-RPG Mass Effect draws nigh, Microsoft teams up with
Sci-Fi TV channel for a 30-minute 'Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect' special,
sweepstakes, as well as premiering the two-hour extended episode of Battlestar Galactica: Razor in select movie theaters. A
new micro-site was launched, and a soundtrack is now available for pre-order.
by Rainier on Nov. 7, 2007 @ 9:53 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Revealed a few days ago, Microsoft unveiled new parental tools as part of the second year of the "Safety is no game. Is your family set?" campaign. The Family Timer will enable parents to set the appropriate amount of gaming and entertainment time on the X360 for their kids, on a daily or weekly basis.
by Rainier on Oct. 25, 2007 @ 4:06 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Unlike the gloomy Sony news from earlier today, Microsoft's latest quarterly financial result reveals that its Entertainment and Devices Division (Games for Windows and Xbox branch) has turned its longtime red numbers into black. While its overall business keeps thriving, with a 27% revenue increase amounting to $13.76 billion, the games division came back from a $142M operating loss to close September with $165M profit, probably in no small part due to Halo 3's success.
by Rainier on Oct. 5, 2007 @ 9:48 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Microsoft announced a plan for Halo development studio Bungie Studios to embark on a path to become an independent company, although Microsoft will retain an equity interest and own the Halo franchise, in addition to other future properties that Bungie may develop.
by Rainier on Sept. 25, 2007 @ 9:01 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
If, for any reason, you have a damaged Microsoft Xbox 360 disc and
like to replace it, Microsoft will send you a replacement disc. This program is good only for X360 console owners in countries where Xbox 360 is sold at authorized retail locations. This program covers the Halo 3 Limited Edition Game Disc and Essentials Disc at no charge through 12/31/07.
by Rainier on Sept. 12, 2007 @ 11:18 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
While the official start of the Tokyo Game Show 2007 is not until next week, Microsoft got an early start with its pre-TGS Media Briefing, revealing various new titles, and plenty of assets from :
by Rainier on Aug. 23, 2007 @ 12:54 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Microsoft is taking a precautionary measure and voluntarily providing customers with a free retrofit to the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel, due to a very small number of incidents of a malfunction, where a component in the Wheel chassis may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel.
by Rainier on Aug. 18, 2007 @ 12:44 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Already revealed by SEGA's Universe at War Live compatibility on Vista/XP, Microsoft's official
Gamerscore blog confirms it is indeed working on bringing the Games for Windows Live service to XP. The development team first wanted to get the service working on Microsoft's newest OS to support Halo 2 and Shadowrun, but now that both titles are out, work on finalizing GfWL on XP has commenced. Gears of War, which is Vista/XP compatible, will support the Live service on both platforms.
by Rainier on Aug. 15, 2007 @ 11:02 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
A few days ago gossip magazine The Inquirer claimed that it had received information regarding the upcoming DirectX10.1 update not being compatible with current DX10 hardware. Microsoft's DirectX lead program manager Sam Glassenberg
debunked that rumor as false, and confirmed that all DirectX10 enabled cards will work fine with the minor DX10.1 update, it may just be that the new features are not incorporated.
by Rainier on Aug. 13, 2007 @ 4:31 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
In Halo 3 Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. With preorders in North America already exceeding the 1 million milestone, Microsoft has high hopes for the Halo 3 debut. Director of creative marketing Chris Di Cesare claims
the goal is to reach $155 million in a single day, surpassing both Halo 2's $125 million, as well as Spider-Man 3's $151 million opening record.
by Rainier on Aug. 6, 2007 @ 9:49 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Microsoft kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in video game history by announcing it will reduce the estimated retail price (ERP) of Xbox 360 by $50 (U.S.) beginning Aug. 8. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title Madden NFL 08 on Aug. 14.
by Rainier on July 25, 2007 @ 2:55 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Massive, Microsoft's in-game advertisement provider, has signed an agreement with EA to provide in-game ads for its lineup of sports titles, such as Madden, NASCAR, Tiger Woods, SKATE, NHL etc... Microsoft has been under mounting pressure from Google, which recently acquired Adscape, as well as Double Fusion.