Tuesday 15 June 2010

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!


Xbox 360 slim poll: Worth the wait?

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 12:36 PM PDT

The Xbox 360 slim is out in officialdom, at long last. It’s smaller, quieter, and finally has Wi-Fi built in. But has it really been worth the wait? Have your say in our poll!

On stage at E3 in LA today, Microsoft’s Don Matrick revealed the new Xbox 360 slim that leaked out yesterday with a flourish – by pulling it out of the inside of a hollow current gen Xbox 360.

It should be a welcome move: the Xbox 360 hasn’t changed size since 2005, while the Sony PS3 has already been trimmed down. But dig a little deeper and the changes are only skin deep. The 250GB hard drive of the new Xbox 360 slim was already available in certain limited edition current gen 360s, while the N-standard Wi-Fi was already available as an accessory, albeit a pricey one.

And then of course, there’s the dreaded Red Ring Of Death issue which caused many Xbox 360s to conk out. Microsoft’s only recently plugged this gaping hole – will a new motherboard in the Xbox 360 slim trigger it all over again?

So, we want to know, has the Xbox 360 slim been worth wait? Will you be buying one? Vote in our poll, then hit the comments with your two cents, and we’ll be back with your verdict on the Xbox 360 slim before you know it.


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Xbox 360 slim official: Out this week!

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 12:06 PM PDT

The Xbox 360 slim we heard rumours about is official. It’s got Wi-Fi, a bigger hard drive, a smaller shell, and yes, it’s out this week.

Speaking at Microsoft’s E3 keynote,? senior vice president of interactive entertainment Don Matrick? revealed the new Xbox 360 slim by pulling it out of the case of a chunkier, older Xbox 360.

The new Xbox 360 is black, smaller, supposedly quieter (Not that that’d be hard), packing a 250GB hard drive, and perhaps the biggest selling point of all, comes with built in N standard Wi-Fi, so you don’t have to fork out for an extra peripheral if your hours isn’t made of CAT-5 cables. Microsoft says it’s “Kinect ready” but we wouldn’t take that to mean it’s got the new motion sensing kit built in, since it didn’t say so explicitly.

Matrick says the new Xbox 360 slim is shipping to retailers today for the same price as older models, and will be available this week. Hooray! Stay tuned, we’re hunting down UK specifics for the Xbox 360 slim now.

Out this week | £TBC | Microsoft

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Microsoft Kinect dated for the US

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:57 AM PDT

We knew that Microsoft Kinect was due out before Christmas, or the “Holidays” as they like to call it in the US, but now Redmond has finally seen fit to be a bit more specific, giving a launch date in one country at least – and the UK can’t be far behind.

Speaking on stage at Microsoft’s Xbox 360 keynote at E3, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer announced that Microsoft Kinect, the motion sensing add on for xbox 360 formerly known as Natal, will go on sale in the US on 4 November.

Spencer unfortunately didn’t reveal a UK Microsoft Kinect release date, but since the company has already confirmed it will work with Sky Player for Xbox Live (Only available in Britain), we’re prepared to bet it won’t be far behind. Stay tuned, and we’ll update as soon as we get anything more exact – or a pricetag.

Out 4 November | £TBC | Microsoft

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Your Shape for Kinect limbos up at E3

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:49 AM PDT

Ubisoft has shown of Your Shape for Microsoft Kinect on the Xbox 360. Think a glorified Wii Fit where you use your whole body and you’ll get the idea.

We got so see how players prep themselves by stretching before engaging in calorie burning workouts. Here’s how it works. You have the freedom to choose how you work out. You can get an in-game personal trainer, workout on your own or take part in other exercise related activities.

The games provide feedback on every exercise you do. It’ll even correct poor form to help you get the most out of your virtual workout. You can even do combat training. With every virtual punch and kick you’ll be fighting fit in no time.

Want to take it easy? Take part in some virtual Tai Chi to relax your aching gamer muscles. We hate to say it Ninty, but it looks a whole lot more impressive than Wii Fit.

“We put your body in a virtual world like never before” said Ubisoft.

Out TBA | £TBC | Ubisoft

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Kinect Sports: Rare’s motion control game revealed

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:40 AM PDT

Kinect Sports, one of the launch games for Xbox 360 motion control add on Microsoft Kinect, has been shown off in public for the first time at E3. Developed by Rare studios (Legendary developer of GoldenEye and Banjo-Kazooie for the Nintendo N64), it’s eerily similar to Wii Sports, right down to a boxing mini game, using your avatar.

Microsoft will no doubt deny any similarity between Kinect Sports and the phenomenally popular Wii Sports for Nintendo’s rival console until the cows come home, but using your Xbox Live avatar to compete in a series of short athletic events which involved you flailing around the living room sounds, well, exactly like Wii Sports.

Still, Rare is one the most venerated game developers in the world, so Kinect Sports is at least in good hands. On stage at Microsoft’s E3 keynote, 200m hurdles was demoed, with two players sprinting on the spot and leaping to clear the obstacles, so expect to break a sweat to win.

Some of the other events in Kinect Sports were shown in a promo reel, including football, bowling, table tennis, boxing (sound familiar), and javelin and long jump. We can’t fathom how the latter at least won’t end up with you knocking over your flatscreen TV, but we’ll find out for sure when Kinect Sports goes on sale later this year. Hey Microsoft, how about you take another leaf out of Nintendo’s book and make it free?

Out 2010 | £TBC | Rare

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Kinectimals pet sim for Kinect demoed!

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:35 AM PDT

Microsoft Kinect creative director Kudo Tsunoda has just shown off the Milo of pet simulation with an adorable demo of Kinectimals, showing how players can look after a pet tiger, of all things.

Speaking about Kinect Tsunoda said that with Kinect “you interact with Xbox 360 just as you do in the real world using your body and your voice”. He promised experiences that are “truly social”. And with that he showed off the Milo-like pet simulator.

It was already outed earlier on, but we got to see pet sim Kinectimals in cutesy action. Players can tickle, stroke and play games with a virtual pet like never before. Visually it’s as impressive as anything we’ve seen on the console and a far cry from those Tamagotchis of yesteryear. We’re not sure if it’ll tempt the hardcore though.

Out TBA | £TBC | Microsoft

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Microsoft Kinect Xbox Live skills shown off: chat and voice select!

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:17 AM PDT

Thought Microsoft Kinect was just about motion control and games? Think again. Microsoft has just shown the finished Natal kit in action summoning films on Xbox Live, using just your hands – or your voice. And yes, it’ll work with Sky Player in the UK.

A Microsoft Kinect engineer came on to the stage to show how the Xbox 360 peripheral can be used for more than just games, flicking through services with a wave of the hand, then summoning up a movie on Zune simply by saying “Xbox Zune”, then pausing and playing it with one word commands.

Corporate vice president for Xbox Live Marc Whitten confirmed that Microsoft Kinect would also work with Sky on the Xbox 360 in the UK, before showing off video chat using the kit, which was working with Xbox Live users and Windows Live users on PCs. Two Xbox Live users were shown watching the same movie and talking at the same time in three separate windows, albeit with some forced banter.

Even if you’re not excited by the launch line up Microsoft Kinect games, there’s no denying its entertainment powers are impressive. Who needs remotes anymore? Who needs Skype or iPhone Facetime? Not us.

Out 2010| £TBC | Microsoft

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Peter Molyneux outs Fable 3 in new trailer!

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:02 AM PDT

Peter Molyneux took to the E3 stage to talk up Fable 3 saying it will be action filled and give players the chance to take on more responsibilities than ever before.

Players will be able to rise to power in a game described as “more than a journey” but a revolution.

Little was said of the game but we did get to see a teaser trailer for Fable 3 showing off the cinematic sequences we’ll soon be engaged deep in. One things for sure, it’s looking legendary.

Out Autumn | £TBC | Lionhead

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Gears Of War 3 demoed at E3

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 10:58 AM PDT

We know Gears Of War 3 is headed to the Xbox 360 next year, but now we’ve just got our first glimpse of the shooter in action, at Microsoft’s E3 keynote going down in LA right now.

Epic Games design director Cliff Blezinski took the stage at the Xbox 360 keynote at the world’s biggest gameshow to demo a 4-player co-op level – but one that forms part of the game’s storyline.

As you’d expect, the Gears Of War 3 graphics are visceral, glorious and pumped to the max on steroids, with some seamless transitions between cut scenes and gameplay, as the squad defend a base.

Cliff also revealed that a new gameplay mode for Gears Of War 3, Beast, would debut at E3 later this week, so if you’re tiring of Horde on Gears Of War 2, stay tuned for more reasons to keep up your Xbox Live gold subscription.

Out 2010 | £TBC | Epic Games

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Metal Gear Solid Rising gets first ever showing!

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 10:52 AM PDT

Hideo Kojma took to the stage to introduce our first ever look at Metal Gear Solid: Rising. And yes, Raiden is back in super sword wielding action.

Little has been known of the latest from Kojima Productions. But now we’ve been treated to a first ever glimpse of the games awesome cinematic sequences.

We got to see Raiden butchering a rather menacing looking robot before looking very cool indeed. Speaking about the game Kojima Productions said it will be a “solid action game unlike anything you’ve seen before.” We can’t wait.

Out TBA | £TBA | Kojima Productions

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