Microsoft

Microsoft shutters Pioneer Studios

by Salat on May 21, 2011 · 0 comments

Microsoft announced today that it has closed Pioneer Studios, a small contingent studio in downtown Seattle it has operated for the past three years, stating it’s part of “a broad consolidation of workspaces over the last 18 months.” The company also confirmed “most employees” have been moved to other locations “to continue their work as a team” so it would appear at least some dodged the axe.

Formed by J. Allard during his days overseeing Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, Pioneer Studios was designed by local architectural firm, SkB Architects, to be a place where employees could “breathe a culture of innovation into the all-too-often stolid company.” Basically, they came up with consumer gadgets like the aborted Courier.

Pioneer was one of many idea incubation groups at Microsoft, including FUSE Labs, The Garage, Startup Business Group and The Hardware Incubation Lab.

[Image: CNET]

Joystiq Microsoft shutters Pioneer Studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 May 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: Joystiq

{ 0 comments }

News: Spike TV to broadcast Microsoft E3 briefing

by Salat on May 16, 2011 · 0 comments

Spike TV is to broadcast Microsoft’s 90 minute E3 press conference, showing new Gears of War 3 and Forza 4 footage alongside the next wave of Kinect titles.

The show will also air live on GameTrailers.com in high-definition, and will be available as a live stream on Facebook, mobile platforms, MTV.com, Spike.com and Xbox.com – as well as broadcast in Times Square.

“Spike continues to be the leading partner for the video game industry year-round, and our ongoing relationship with Xbox at E3 is a key part of that success,” said Kevin Kay, president of Spike TV.

Rumour – Microsoft to “serve the hardcore” at E3 with Kinect reveals

by Salat on May 16, 2011 · 0 comments

Microsoft will affirm its support to hardcore Kinect titles at E3, with announces of Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports 2 to come in Los Angeles in two-and-half weeks.

Eurogamer is reporting that Kinect Sports 2 is set to be unveiled for a Christmas launch later this year, with another title for the motion camera in development at Rare. The second title won’t use familiar characters from past franchises, such as Banjo.

Meanwhile, Dance Central 2 from Harmonix – which was already confirmed to be in development as far back as November last year – is set to have a Christmas 2011 launch exclusivity period.

Announcements will also be made regarding two new titles from a developer who has already launched titles for Kinect, although it’s unknown who that developer is.

Two new studios have also opened and are working on Kinect titles, according to the site: one in Soho, London and another near Microsoft’s HQ in Redmond, Seattle.

Another recently opened studio in Vancouver is thought to be working on a core FPS for the controller.

The Kinect announcements will “serve the hardcore,” according to one of the site’s sources.

EG’s also reporting that a brand new open-world Forza title is on the way from ex-Codemasters staffer Gavin Raeburn. This is not the first time open-world and Forza have been mentioned together: a survey for Forza 4 already mentioned the possibility earlier this year.

Microsoft said following the release of NPD data for April that it would triple the output of Kinect titles by the end of the year.

MS has refused to comment.

Micrsoft’s press conference takes place at the University of Southern California’s Galen Theatre on Monday, June 6 from 9am PST (5pm BST).

Source: VG247

{ 0 comments }

News: Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5bn

by Salat on May 10, 2011 · 0 comments

Microsoft has confirmed the acquisition of communications business Skype for $ 8.5 billion, and intends to incorporate its services into video game and business offerings.

The company said that Kinect and Xbox Live will benefit from new real-time video and voice communications from the Skype business, as well as Windows Phone.

“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”

Microsoft And Sony Targeting 2014 For New Consoles, Leaving Nintendo In The Clear [The Future]

by Salat on April 20, 2011 · 0 comments

Click here to read Microsoft And Sony Targeting 2014 For New Consoles, Leaving Nintendo In The Clear

The next Xbox and the next PlayStation won’t be released until 2014, if Microsoft and Sony have their way, industry sources tell Kotaku. More »

Source: Kotaku

{ 0 comments }

Is Microsoft Getting Serious About Next-Gen? [Xbox 720]

by Salat on March 8, 2011 · 0 comments

Click here to read Is Microsoft Getting Serious About Next-Gen?

Console makers are always working on new stuff – you know, tinkering. But Microsoft is putting its money where its mouth is and hiring up for what could very well be a new console. More »

Kotaku

{ 0 comments }

Microsoft Reportedly Discontinuing SideWinder Brand (Again)

by Salat on March 1, 2011 · 0 comments

The tech heads over at VR-Zone.com claim Microsoft is pulling the plug on its SideWinder line. If true, this would be the second time Microsoft discontinued the SideWinder brand. The first time came in 2003, and the SideWinder brand stayed in a coma up until Razer helped resurrect it in 2007. Now it appears to be down for the count.

VR-Zone says poor sales aren’t to blame this time around, and instead Microsoft’s retiring the SideWinder label because of increased competition in the gaming peripheral market. Razer is just one of many in what’s now a crowded field of participants that include the likes of Logitech, SteelSeries, Mionix, Saitek, and more. It seems like everyone is making gaming devices these days.

Where Microsoft goes from here is anyone’s guess. VR-Zone points to the possibility of Microsoft scooping up a smaller competitor, but we have a hunch the Redmond bunch will be more content to focus its efforts on the console side than worry about competing in the PC game peripheral market.

Image Credit: Microsoft

Maximum PC – News

{ 0 comments }

Turns Out, Microsoft was Right About Autistic Kid Cheating

by Salat on January 29, 2011 · 0 comments

Color me surprised.

Remember the story I wrote incredulously yesterday about Microsoft labeling an 11-year-old autistic player a cheater on his Xbox Live Gamertag, and stripping him of his gamerscore and achievements? I owe Microsoft an apology (sorry, Microsoft), because it turns out, they were right. Kid cheated.

To be fair, he and his mother may not have been aware he was cheating when Julius Jackson took up another player on the offer to unlock the Recon Armor for him in Halo 3. Microsoft Director of Police and Enforcement Stephen Toulouse wrote an email to his mother, Jennifer Zdenek, explaining Microsoft’s smackdown of her son’s account with the following:

The account Zombie Kill67 transferred from the Xbox it is normally seen on, to an Xbox in another city. The account earned several achievements for Halo-3 that can only be done online and in succession. It was clear they were unlocked out of order and offline. Earning successive online achievements out of order and offline is an impossible feat, not due to skill, but due to the technology of the system. It can only be done by modifying the account and faking the achievements.

But yeah, having someone else earn your achievements for you is called cheating.

Zdenek told Seattle’s Q13 Fox News, “My son did give his Gamertag. I did warn him about this but seeing it wasn’t a bank password or anything big, it’s just a game, we didn’t worry about it too much and the boy just offered to give him Recon Armor, which he did.” By cheating.

I feel sorry for Julius, though, as it sounds like someone just offered to do him a favor and he didn’t realize the consequences the situation might have. Now he’s out his gamerscore and his mom has put him on TV and embarrassed him. Microsoft sent him a month free of Xbox Live in the form of one of those promotional cards, but according to Zdenek, it didn’t work.