The Xbox One Windows 10 Experience Releases November 12

The Xbox One will be facing a lot of changes begins this month. With the launch of Halo 5: Guardians last Monday, Microsoft announced its launch for the Windows 10-powered new Xbox One Experience (NXOE) on Thursday, November 12. The new Windows 10 update will bring a flavored look and underpinnings to the Xbox One, along with backwards compatibility for certain Xbox 360 games.

The new preview has been available for testers for a while, but they found Microsoft's digital personal assistant, Cortana, hiding in the settings menu. It's not certain that the feature will be part of the launch in November.

Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb, Xbox Live Director of Programming, said in early October that Cortana wouldn't be part of the update. Otherwise, the official version will be available for preview testers later in 2015 before the official launch for regular users in 2016.

The Xbox has had voice-powered features for a while with the Kinect. Adding Cortana will offer helpful cross-platform integration features, like viewing reminders on an Xbox One that were made on a Windows 10 PC, Cortana for Android, or a Windows 10 smartphone. Cortana is also said to work with game-related functions like sharing video clips and forming parties.

Microsoft wants to become a unified, multi-device platform, so by adding the Xbox One into the Windows 10 family, they are closer to reaching their goal. The limit of how unified the Xbox One will be in Windows 10 is still in the air. For example, Halo 5 that just launched is exclusively made for Xbox One, meaning no support for the game exists on Windows 10 desktops.

All-in-all, more integration between Windows 10 devices and the Xbox One will be making its way to us in these upcoming months. There's also going to be a DVR for the Xbox One's TV tuner peripheral. So if you have an Xbox One, Keep checking for that update in about 2 weeks!

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Microsoft Debuts New Elite Wireless Controller For Xbox One And PC

Microsoft recently debuted the new Elite Wireless Controller for Xbox One and PC and, according to multiple reports, it's one of the most comfortable controllers ever. In terms of other controllers from Microsoft, the Elite Controller is miles ahead. In fact, if you had to pick something about this controller to complain about the only thing you would be able to come up with is the rather hefty price. That's because the Elite Wireless Controller will run you $150 in the US, £120 in the UK and $200 in Australia.

In reality, you probably don't need to spend that much money on a controller. I mean that price is over double of what a normal one costs. However, if you have that kind of money to spend then the Elite is a luxury that delivers in pretty much every way possible.

The first thing you will notice about the Elite Controller is its weight. It is noticeably heavier than the original Xbox One controller and feels more substantial and luxurious as well. Every single button on the controller offers tactile feedback and are exceptionally smooth. A matte rubberized coating embodies the almost all of the controller with grips receiving some extra texture. Essentially this controller makes it feel as if you are holding a high-end piece of equipment. This is made even more evident with the molded carrying case that you won't want to leave just lying around.

The main selling point here is the incredible amount of customization options you have with this controller. Three sets of magnetic, stainless steel analog sticks are included and can be easily swapped in and out along with two sets of concave-topped sticks (one normal height and one twice that height) and one set of domed sticks that you can mix and match to your desired preference. In addition to that, the analog ball joints are also very solid and have a nice spring to them.

There are also two D-pads included with the controller, a traditional one and a circular one that makes it a bit easier to hit diagonal directions. Like the analog sticks, both D-pads are able to be easily swapped in and out thanks to their magnetic fittings. You can even mess with the triggers too. There is a level underneath each trigger that can activate hair-trigger mode, preventing you from having to actually pull the trigger all the way for it to function.

Remapping buttons is probably one of the coolest features. The Elite Controller comes with four detachable paddles that can be programmed through a free Xbox app specifically designed for the controller. This allows you to bind commands to the back of the controller, which could make some things that much easier to accomplish. However, these back paddles will take some getting used to and it's going to feel really weird at first.

The free app for the controller allows you to program the back paddles as well as allowing you to tinker with any of the 14 digital inputs from the controller. You can store up to two different control streams that can be accessed through a switch below the Xbox Guide button. Microsoft also noted that developer-created alternate control schemes for specific games will be offered through the app in the future.

$150 is pretty expensive, which is why it is a very good thing that this controller works with Windows 10 PCs, as does the app. The controller is ready to use on your PC out of the box and will include a USB cable for connectivity. You can even use it with your PC wirelessly if you want, though you will need the Xbox Wireless Adapter for that, and that'll cost you an additional $25, £25, or AU$30.

If you're hyper competitive and you really think that this controller will give that extra edge you need online, or you simply have the money to spend, then the Elite Wireless Controller from Microsoft may be precisely what you're looking for.

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How Windows 10 Affects Gamers

Microsoft has released what gamers will have to look forward to with the new Windows 10 upgrade, as well as details on the new Xbox App.

Microsoft discusses on the post for Xbox Wire, numerous key reasons why the new Xbox App will help improve gaming for Xbox One players that have Windows 10 devices.

"Windows 10 is kind of a big deal," states Microsoft. "With countless improvements and a ton of new features, it’s putting a whole new face on the personal computing world. But of course, what we’re most excited about are gaming features – and fortunately, Windows 10 is bringing with it a renewed focus on gaming. One of the most visible elements is the new Xbox app."

Apparently the new Xbox App will stream almost any Xbox One game to any Windows 10 tablet or PC. This includes controller support and backwards compatibility, as well as giving you the ability to remotely turn on your Xbox One from your device.

As quick and easy as a click of a button, you'll be able to edit and share recorded game clips and you'll be able to access Xbox Live's social features from your Windows 10 device. This also includes being able to set-up and join Xbox Live parties, no matter if your friends are playing an Xbox or PC game, or on a Windows 10 PC device or Xbox One.

Did I also mention that multiplayer gaming that use Xbox Live in PC games is FREE? But of course that's not all. Along with the Xbox App refresh and the functionality boosts we already know about, Windows 10 is also promising better scaling for 4K monitors, native controller support, which includes the new Xbox One Elite controller, and super-fast boot times.

If you have yet to upgrade to Windows 10 make sure you prepare you PC beforehand. There are a lot of benefits in it for Xbox One gamers, further pushing Microsoft's plan of having all-in-one entertainment functionality in your home. So if you're as big of a nerd about Halo as I am, then you should be stoked!

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Full Roster for Mortal Kombat X Includes 29 Characters

Photo Courtesy of BreathCast

Mortal Kombat is, arguably, one of the most well-known game franchises in the entire world. The original Mortal Kombat started as an arcade game from the Chicago studio of Midway Games back in 1992 and brought plenty of controversy with it thanks to its realistic looking fighters, harsh combat and, of course, the extremely graphic fatalities. Parents across the country were horrified and kids and gamers were on cloud 9.

It's been 23 years since the first game came out and now, under the leadership of NetherRealm Studios, the franchise is adding its newest title, Mortal Kombat X. Mortal Kombat X (or Mortal Kombat 10) is technically the 20th game to be released with under the Mortal Kombat brand but gets its name from being the 10th game in the standard Mortal Kombat series.

The game has been hyped up a lot lately, mainly due to the fact that there was a lot of speculation as to which characters would be appearing as playable fighters in the game. Over the years Mortal Kombat has expanded its list of characters to include over 70 kombatants, so narrowing that list down to the handful that would appear in the latest game couldn't have been easy and, naturally, every hopes that their favorite character would make the list. It's like peewee football tryouts, you're just hoping you make the team. 

Well with the game set to be released in less than 2 weeks NetherRealm has finally confirmed a total of 29 characters that will be rounding out the full roster. This roster is highly unique as it adds some of the most well-known and loved characters from the series with characters that are unique to this specific game. In addition to that, this game adds characters that exist in the Mortal Kombat universe but haven't actually been in any games yet.

Photo Courtesy of IGN

Oh, and remember the cool DLC characters that came with the previous Mortal Kombat game from 2011? The ones that included Kratos from God of War and Freddy Kreuger from A Nightmare on Elm Street? Well NetherRealm has done the same thing with this game. NetherRealm has announced 5 DLC characters that will make their way to the game. The first is fan favorite Goro, who will initially be released as a pre-order bonus but will be available as paid DLC in the future. Then there's the Kombat Pack which adds fan favorite characters Tanya and Tremor and unique characters Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th film series and the Predator alien from the Predator mythos. 

This brings the final fighter tally to a whopping 29 playable characters! To top it all off, each character has three unique fighting styles to choose from, meaning if you're a perfectionist and you want to master it all you will have an astounding 87 different fighting styles to master. I'll give you a moment to process that.......good? This is definitely the biggest Mortal Kombat game to be released and from the looks of it hardcore Mortal Kombat fans won't be disappointed. 

Here's a full list of all 29 characters:

• Tanya
• Predator
• Tremor
• Sonya Blade
• Liu Kang
• Jason Voorees
• Jacqueline Briggs (daughter of Jackson Briggs)
• Takashi Takeda (son of Kenshi)
• Kung Jin (son of Kung Lao)
• Cassie Cage (daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage)
• Goro
• Mileena
• Ermac
• Scorpion
• Sub-Zero
• D'Vorah
• Kotal Kahn
• Ferra/Torr
• Raiden
• Kano
• Reptile
• Kenshi
• Kung Lao
• Quan Chi
• Jackson "Jax" Briggs
• Kitana
• Erron Black
• Shinnok
• Johnny Cage

As you can see the most beloved characters, like Scorpion, Raiden, Sub-Zero and Johnny Cage are still on the list. What's interesting is the inclusion of the children of characters, like Cassie Cage. These characters play into the storyline of the game as Raiden has come to these characters to carry on saving Earth Realm, much in the same way he did their parents. There are still some rumored characters that people are hoping for, including Sindel, Kabal, Baraka, Nightwolf, Stryker, Cyrax, Smoke, Rain, Fujin and Bo Rai Cho. Some of these characters, like Bo Rai Cho, were spotted in trailers advertising the storyline of the game so while some of these characters may actually be in the game their roles may be restricted to NPCs.

This game is definitely high on the list for many gamers, whether they be hardcore Mortal Kombat fans that have played all the games since the original or casual gamers that like the style and prefer to dabble and have fun with friends. However you associate with the game, Mortal Kombat X is sure to be the best in the series. Mortal Kombat X is rated M for Mature and will be released on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on April 14 and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on June 2. 

TMNT Video Game For Xbox Kinect Has Been Confirmed, And It Is FREE!

Everyone loves the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Everyone also knows about the new movie that is coming out in August. Paramount Pictures is the company behind the brand new TMNT movie, and they have officially confirmed that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Training Lair is a real game, and it's actually coming out soon.

Paramount Pictures announced that they are partnering with Microsoft and that they have developed the game for the Xbox Kinect. The game is going to be using images and designs from the new movie coming out, and it will probably be the coolest thing ever. Can you imagine standing in front of your TV and literally becoming a Ninja Turtle? I guarantee there are going to be millions of 30 year old dudes who will wait for their wives to leave the house so they can call off work, that will have to go out and replace their TVs because they accidentally karate kicked it over and broke it.

The new game is a part of the marketing strategy for the movie. It is going to be free for a LIMITED TIME starting on July 22nd. So be sure to download it that day to make sure you get it.

There were a lot of rumors floating around the internet about this game before its existence was confirmed. There were even pictures, screenshots, and box art showing up on xboxacheivements.com. This made everyone think that it was going to be an Activision game, but as it turns out, Activision isn't even involved with the game at all.

Other pictures show some pretty neat action scenes. One of the first ones to pop up showed a guy playing the game, and he was karate chopping across the screen to slice things like a Ninja. Judging from of that, it could be like a Fruit Ninja type of game, just way cooler and you would actually use your body to do the moves. Either way, it's going to be a blast. Who wouldn't like to be a Ninja Turtle? The 8 year old in me is having a happy heart attack right now.

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The Biggest Gaming Convention Of The Year, E3! (And Other Gaming News You Should Be Aware Of)

Anyone who is anyone that loves video games knows about 2 things for sure: the ongoing console wars, and the upcoming E3 event. E3 is where all of the magic is going to happen. Think of it as a "pre-Christmas" for gaming nerds like myself. June 10-12 will be a madhouse of video games, gaming companies, gaming tech, cosplayers, and more all at the Los Angeles Convention Center in LA, California. I can only imagine how many new, and unannounced games that will be brought into the light. As a huge gamer myself, I'm way too excited to see what all is going to go down at this year's event. There is bound to be another extensive look at the PS4 and Xbox One. After all, this will be the first E3 event since both of the new platforms have dropped. We should expect all eyes to be on these two powerhouses.

The press conferences will basically tell us what we can expect in terms of the console wars. At least, in my eyes they will. You have to figure, it's always a business competition correct? Well naturally, each one of the three competitors (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) will be painting themselves in the best light. Notice I've not talked much about Nintendo or the Wii U. Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo, and have loved them since I was playing "Super Mario" on the Super Nintendo back in the day. All nostalgia aside however, that doesn't negate the fact that Nintendo's sales and business performance have been less than extraordinary in comparison to both Sony's and Microsoft's systems. As much as some of us may hate, love, or find the Wii U strictly used for a light-hearted/family oriented gamer(s), as long as there are "Legend of Zelda" and "Mario" games out, Nintendo is going to be alive.

If you've been keeping up with the 2 "hardcore" systems/gaming giants, then I'm sure you're aware of the exclusive titles that are to be coming out. Where there are exclusive titles however, there are a laundry list's worth more multi-platform titles. Expect one of the top talked about games to be Bungie's new "Destiny" game. This one I'm very excited for just for how much hype it's getting due to the developers being the same people who who created the massive "Halo" franchise that essentially put the Xbox on the map. I feel that the new game "Watch Dogs" will be talked about quite a bit as well simply because of it's release date being so close to the E3 date.

"Watch Dogs" has been being hyped up now for quite a while. It's incredibly immersive open-world set in Chicago, IL is looked at to be the most dynamic open-world created in any game to date. The graphics look incredible so far. The gameplay looks amazing. It really looks to be an incredible game.

Other games such as the new "Uncharted" and "Titan Fall" will definitely be getting talked about as well. If nothing else, the press conferences will give us more fuel to fight with in terms of our favorite consoles. I'm definitely a Sony fanboy, is I'm rooting for Sony's press conference to make the biggest splash this year. Having said that, I know that Microsoft's Xbox fanbase normally outshines Sony's by a bit of a margin, so I wouldn't be shocked if Microsoft came out of the gates swinging.

Sony's PS4 is still ahead of the Xbox One in terms of sales, which is a big step for Sony, but that doesn't mean that Microsoft is down for the count. Nintendo also has the opportunity to catch everyone off guard. This year's E3 Conference could be anyone's game still, and I'm more than excited to see what we have to look forward to in the future.

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Will The New Steam Machine Takeout The New PS4 and Xbox One?

It seems like over the past 15 to 20 years, we have seen the top three contenders in gaming continue to make their rise. Sony's Playstion, Microsoft's Xbox, and the multitude of Nintendo's consoles. As of recently, we have seen Nintendo fall off where as Sony and Microsoft have taken the console wars head on. But then again, we also know how big PC gaming still is, and how ruthless PC gamers can be about their opinions on console vs. PC gaming. PC's are widely looked at as being more powerful than gaming consoles. Whether it be better graphics, better frame rate, better anti-aliasing, the ability to mod, etc., PC gamers are very adamant on their stance.

Console gaming is still very, very much alive, as the recent 4.2 million PS4 units sold has shown us. But now PC wants to move into the console world as well. Valve and Alienware have joined forces to see this dream lived through. Their new Steam Machine looks to make its own push on the console wars.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Steam and it's gigantic community, Steam is ran by the PC gaming company Valve. Steam is both an app and game store that offers a multitude of different games for your gaming pleasure. They even boast games that have been out of the loop for a while on normal console multi-player formats. Games like Team Fortress 2. The only catch is that it is PC only.

With the new Steam Machine, Valve and Alienware are now able to expand their app and game store to the living room where the other console heavy hitters reign supreme. The system itself is basically a smaller version of a normal gaming PC. It runs on the SteamOS that allows for the Steam App to run via standard console methods. Since it is looked at as a console, it is also designed to be hooked up to your TV. So should you have a brand new 4K TV and , essentially, a small gaming PC/console hybrid, you have the ultimate gaming set up.

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The controller for the Steam Machine is a bit different then what most console gamers are used to. Instead of  analog sticks and D-pads, you are met with a touch screen and two track pads. The controller is also compatible with almost all versions of Steam and Steam games. The touchscreen in the center of the controller is not to be confused with the touch pad idea that is on the current PS4 controllers. Instead, it is designed to keep players on track in terms of their game. While the touchscreen is in use, it will appear on your game as a visual overlay so you can see exactly where your finger is placed. The 16 total buttons might be a bit more than one most gamers may be used to as well.

The fact that the SteamOS was designed with streaming purposes in mind shows just what this new gaming machine could do. The OS is Linux based, and allows for Mac and Windows games to be streamed directly onto the machine, and then from the machine to your TV. All of your first person shooters, action adventures, online multi-player, and even MMO's will now be available from your living room instead of your bedroom desk. Should the application of this prove to be both easy and beneficial, Sony and Microsoft may have a whole new monster to worry about.

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Two Very Different Versions of the Next-Gen Xbox Coming

More rumors about the next generation Xbox console have surfaced recently, this time in the form of how the gaming system will be marketed toward consumers. According to recent reports, the next generation Xbox console will come in two highly different models that are designed to appeal to two very different groups of gamers on the spectrum.

The first console model is the one that gamers have been waiting for and expecting. It will provide a true, next-gen gaming experience, allowing you to play all of the newest titles as well as any Xbox Live Arcade game. In addition to that, you will have access to all the latest and greatest apps that have recently taken the Xbox 360 by storm, allowing you to watch all of your favorite movies, listen to music, catch up on all the latest sports scores and more. 

The other version is targeted more toward the casual gamer. It will use Windows 8 as the basis for its operating system and will be unable to run any Triple-A titles, which means no playing the latest Halo, Gears of War or Call of Duty games. It will, however, be able to play downloadable games from the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace. In essence, this version will function like a set-top box and give you access to the growing variety of Xbox entertainment apps, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, ESPN, Vudu, etc... There are also reports of an "instant on" feature that will allow you to resume whatever you were doing with little downtime.

These new reports come from The Verge, which cites multiple sources that are "familiar with Redmond's (Microsoft's headquarters) plans."Moreover, The Verge also claims that this two-model approach is part of a larger strategy by Microsoft to ensure that its core Xbox software is scalable to run on a plethora of different devices. There are even rumors of having a Microsoft phone that delivers a full Xbox Live experience, though that is probably a long way away. 

This marketing strategy by Microsoft is actually quite brilliant. It allows the company's console to appeal to two completely different cores of consumers. On the one hand, hard core gamers longing for the good ol' days when a gaming console was strictly used for gaming will be drawn to the traditional model, while people who really just want an entertainment hub and something to play fun games with family or friends can have that too, presumably at a lower price point. Both models are expected to be announced sometime in 2013 and become available before the end of that year. 

Microsoft Unveils MyAchievements, Actually Rewards You for Your Gamerscore

Hey! You know those points you get for achieving....well....achievements on Xbox Live? Of course you do because since you figured out what they were you have been wondering what in the world they are even good for. Well, up until recently, the only thing they were good for was to show off to your friends about how many games you play and how good you are at them. However, Microsoft is finally putting those points to use and rewarding gamers for their gamerscores.

Microsoft just unveiled the all new MyAchievements program, a program that is set to offer rewards to gamers based on the amount of achievements they have completed and the coinciding gamerscore that comes with it. MyAchievements is only available to Xbox Live Gold members and is separated into three different categories, or levels, based upon the amount of achievements you have completed and how high your gamerscore is.

The first level is labeled Contender. This rank will be given to gamers who have a gamerscore between 3,000 and 9,000G. The Champion rank is reserved for those gamers that have a gamerscore between 10,000 and 25,000G with the final rank, Legend, being reserved for those gamers that have a gamerscore of 25,000+G.

Aside from having a fancy rank that you can show off to your friends, each rank will also offer you a special gift during the month of your birthday. In addition to that, Champion level players will receive a 1% rebate on Xbox Live Marketplace purchases (in addition to the birthday gift) while Legend level players will receive a 2% rebate in addition to their birthday gift.

The new MyAchievements program is simply a continuation of Microsoft's Xbox Live Rewards program. The Xbox Live Rewards program offers up Microsoft Points in exchange for taking surveys and launched back in 2010. If you haven't already signed up to be a part of MyAchievements (and I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't) then you can do so now by clicking here. Joining is free and you get rewards....what could possibly be better? (Side note: Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I just happen to fall in the Legend ranking....oh yeah).

Rumor: Xbox 720 to be 6x as Powerful as Xbox 360

The next Xbox console, which is being dubbed the Xbox 720 until an official name is announced, has been confirmed for a Fall (October/November) 2013 release date. It is being rumored by sources at IGN that the next model will have approximately six times the processing power of the current Xbox 360.

There have already been reports from SemiAccurate and Fudzilla, two tech blogs, that have confirmed that mass production of the next-gen console's GPU will begin by the end of this year. What was also confirmed was that this new GPU will not be the rumored AMD 7000 Series Southern Islands GPU but will instead be the current-gen AMD 6000 Series. To be more precise, the next-gen Xbox will contain a GPU similar to the Radeon HD 6670. That GPU offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and full 1080p HD.

To put all of this into a number, the new Xbox 720 will be at least six times as powerful as the current Xbox 360 console. In addition to that, the console will have 20% better performance than Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console. It has already been leaked that developers will be receiving development kits based on the console's final configuration in August of this year.

If all of this proves true, you can be sure that Microsoft will unveil the console at this year's E3, or Electronic Entertainment Expo, the biggest gaming convention in the United States. It has already been reported that Sony is definitely not announcing a new console at E3 and Nintendo has already unveiled its new Wii U, so if Microsoft wants to start building hype before the PlayStation 4, then this year's E3 will be the only place to do it.

Source: IGN - Xbox 720 Will Be Six Times as Powerful as Current Gen
SemiAccurate - Exclusive: XBox Next/Xbox 720 chips in production
Fudzilla - Oban initial product run is real: It is SoC strategy for Next Xbox

Short-throw projectors only require half the projection distance of traditional projectors. The projector can be placed just a foot or so from the screen. This is nice because it keeps the projector and screen near each other instead of having a long throw projector that people can accidentally block.

Kaz Hirai Squashes Rumors of a PlayStation 4 Reveal at E3 2012

E3, otherwise known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the world's largest convention for video games, consoles and gaming technology and the 2012 event is right around the corner. Last year's E3 saw a few very nice announcements, like Halo 4 and the PS Vita, but the big thing everybody is going to be looking for this year is the next generation of consoles. It's been seven years since we've had a new console debut for any of the top names in the business and many people believe that E3 2012 will show us the "PlayStation 4", "Xbox 720" and whatever boring piece of motion-controlled crap Nintendo decides to pollute the industry with, or will it?

Gaming website MCV launched a story not too long ago rumoring that the PlayStation 4 would see its world premiere on the stage at E3 2012. However, ever since that story dropped, there have been an exorbitant amount of contradictory stories, including one from gaming analyst Michael Pachter, who stated, "there's zero chance of a tease from Sony for PlayStation 4 at E3." But if Pachter's thoughts weren't enough to convince you, maybe news from Sony itself will.

Sony has officially declared that the PlayStation 4 will not premiere at this year's E3 convention. Sony's Kaz Hirai spoke with a roundtable of reporters at CES this week, as the Wall Street Journal reports, and answered a question about the PlayStation 4 debuting at the show set to take place this summer. Hirai stated, "Andy [House] is absolutely right in that we are not making any announcement at E3. I've always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away with that."

If Hirai and Sony seriously commit to the 10-year life cycle, that means we won't see the PlayStation 4 for another four years in 2016. With this report it seems pretty official that the PS4 won't be popping up its head at E3 anytime soon. However, that still leaves a serious opening for Microsoft and Nintendo to debut new consoles. The only real threat to Sony would be if Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 720 (or whatever they decide to call it) at this year's E3. Getting that big of a jump on the competition could completely obliterate Sony while nobody is really threatened by anything Nintendo could release.

I, for one, am not too hip to the idea of a new console anytime soon. I am deeply in love with my Xbox 360 and I see no real reason to upgrade at the moment. I feel like both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 both have a lot left to offer the gaming community so waiting another four years for a new console is fine by me. What do you think? Are you disappointed in Kaz Hirai's announcement? Do you think it's time for another console war? Sound off in the comment section and tell me what you think.

Source: IGN - Sony Executive Says No PlayStation 4 at E3 2012

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Xbox Live Doing Away with Xbox Live Avatar Guns

Ever since Barack Obama took office in 2008, there has been a lot of talk about our nation's 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. There was talk of the Obama administration attempting to abolish this amendment, making it illegal for Americans to own firearms. While that law will more than likely never pass, ever (come on, do you wanna be the one to try to take guns away from the South?), it does appear that it will be "illegal" for your Xbox Live avatar to carry a piece, or at least buy a new one.

Sure, you may love playing your "M" rated, death dealing games like Gears of War and Call of Duty on your 360 but that doesn't mean that your avatar has to be so violent! The Xbox dashboard is usable by every single Xbox 360 owner, so naturally it is more family-friendly. However, that family-friendliness seems to be going a bit too far as you will no longer be able to buy guns for your avatar.

Epic Games saw a post on its forums that reveals, starting January 1, 2012, that the Lancer and Hammerburst Avatar accessories will no longer be available for purchase. January 1, 2012 marks the launch of a brand new Xbox Live policy that will see the complete removal of "all gun-like avatar items on the Marketplace." Fortunately, you will still be able to keep whatever gun-like items you have already purchased, but don't expect to find them, or any new ones, after the New Year rolls around.

I'm not going to lie, this makes me a little mad. While I don't particularly see the need for such an item, some gamers love decking out their avatars to look exactly like in-game characters. If they want to have their character hold a gun, that is their choice. I honestly do not see how a little cartoon character holding a virtual gun is going to harm anybody. I find this whole change to be incredibly ridiculous.

Source: G4TV - Xbox Avatars Lose Right To Bear (New) Arms on January 1

DVD Video Projectors are exactly what they sound like. A combination unit that combines a DVD media player with a video projector, cutting out the need for multiple pieces of electronics and wiring.

Could FIFA Be the Link to the Recent Xbox Live Hacks?

During the past couple of weeks, reports of Xbox Live hackings have been appearing on the Internet. Allegedly, there are purchases that are showing up on some users' credit cards that are linked to their Xbox Live accounts. Obviously, a few hacks here and there are to be expected, but some are speculating that there is a common link between these recent hackings.

Many of the hacks that have been reported state that that FIFA Soccer 11 and 12 have been played on their account, although they have never owned or played the game. This is causing people to believe that these recent hacks might be FIFA-specific.

Despite all of these speculations, Microsoft is saying that they do not have any kind of evidence of a widespread Xbox Live hack. They issued a statement saying: “We do not have any evidence the Xbox LIVE service has been compromised. We take the security of our service seriously and work on an ongoing basis to improve it against evolving threats. However, a limited number of members have contacted us regarding unauthorized access to their accounts by outside individuals. We are working with our impacted members directly to resolve any unauthorized changes to their accounts. As always, we highly recommend our members follow the Xbox LIVE Account Security guidance provided at www.xbox.com/security to protect your account.”

So is it all just coincidence? Are these truly random occurrences that just happen to appear as if there is a pattern? Electronic Arts believes that this is most definitely the case.

“With the popularity of FIFA globally and the sheer number of players playing the game online, FIFA is an obvious target for phishers and frauds,” an Electronic Arts told Giant Bomb.

“It’s not a title-specific issue and is coincidental that FIFA has been tied to a number of compromised accounts,” a Microsoft representative said.

Microsoft and EA seem very confident that all of this is a coincidence. I’m not exactly convinced yet. We’ll just have to see how things go the next couple of weeks. All I can say is make sure to pay close attention to your account because you don’t want to have to deal with the stress of being hacked.

Computer Service Now

Update on Xbox-integrated TV

According to a Bloomberg report, Microsoft will be partnering with such providers as Comcast and Verizon Communications for its Xbox-integrated TV experience which will be released sometime in the near future.

Bloomberg reports that users will sign in via the Comcast Xfinity and Verizon FiOS apps on the Xbox 360. Users will be able to use their existing account information. The report states that it is likely that content deals will be contracted with HBO, Sony’s Crackle, the Bravo and SyFy channels, and Amazon’s Lovefilm.

Microsoft first talked about its Live TV plans at this year’s E3 conference. Microsoft kicked off the plans with the release of Sky TV in U.K., Canal Plus in France, and FoxTel in Australia. Earlier this month at Microsoft’s BUILD conference, Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer discussed some more details concerning what users in the U.S. can expect.

"It's quite obvious that we need to increase the amount of video and TV content that are available on the Xbox," Ballmer said. "Our goal this year is to dramatically increase the total amount of content, the total entertainment catalog available on the Xbox, particularly by working in partnership with a number of video suppliers."

"The content choices on Xbox will grow dramatically from hundreds of thousands to millions," Ballmer said.

Ballmer went on saying that Microsoft will be incorporating Bing into the Xbox TV experience. They will be offering Bing’s search engine capabilities with voice-activated access.

"You say it, Xbox finds it," Ballmer said. “We all know the frustrations of using guides and menus and controllers, and we think a better way to do all of this is simply to bring Bing and voice to Xbox.”

It might be a little while longer until Xbox-integrated TV is available for the public, but I think that it will be worth the wait. I can’t wait to see everything that Microsoft has to offer with this new feature.

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Bungie Says A Heartfelt Farewell to Halo

Bungie is singing the sad song of goodbye as the company parts ways with its flagship franchise, Halo, which is being taken over by internal Microsoft studio 343 Industries. In an open letter to fans that was posted on Bungie.net, the developer expressed its thanks to fans for their devotion to the franchise. This letter also marks the end of Bungie's 20th anniversary celebrations which have been a truly heartfelt celebration of the Halo franchise.

Eric "urk" Osborne, Community Manager for Bungie, wrote, "Halo is yours now. In many ways, it always has been. Its new caretakers will strive, just as we did, to be worthy stewards but you have the package. Hold these characters and stories and worlds to the same unflinching standards you did while we were at the helm, but allow them all to blossom and change and grow in the ways that they must."

The letter pays tribute to the dedication and passion of the fans and restates that all the proceeds from the 20th Anniversary activities will be donated to charity. The end of the letter gets a tad bit emotional as well. "One day, we will awaken to a wondrous new place and we will remember just what it was that drew us together at the beginning of it all. We will look up to the heavens and find hope."

Osborne also teased in the letter about Bungie's next project as Bungie.net prepares to relaunch. According to Osborne, "We'll be undergoing a metamorphosis of our own. Very soon Bungie.net will change, culminating with the launch of our next universe at some unknown time in the future."

"Afterwards, we'll be going dark on our studio's next major endeavor - the creation of a brand new universe. You'll have a home here should you choose to stay, but our next project demands an unwavering focus. We owe it to ourselves to make something better then we have before. We owe it to you, as well."

While it is a sad day for Halo fans in terms of Bungie's departure from the franchise, it is a good day due to the fact that the company isn't going anywhere in terms of making video games. Whatever this new project is, I'm sure it will be just as good as Halo if not better. Farewell Bungie, you did us proud.

Source: IGN - Bungie's Halo Send-Off

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Live TV Coming to Xbox

One of the biggest announcements for Microsoft at this year’s E3 gaming conference involved the launch of Live TV on the Xbox 360. This will allow users to enjoy a variety of different things including live TV streaming, built-in DVR capabilities, voice-powered Bing searches and YouTube content.

"Quite simply we believe TV is more amazing with you as the controller," said Marc Whitten, vice president of Xbox Live.

The amazing thing about these new additions to the Xbox is that users will be able to control them with motion. The Kinect will help to power Live TV with both gestures and voice controlled commands. Users will be able to control Live TV content without the need for a physical remote.

It was also announced by Whitten that Bing would be featured on the Xbox as well. Users will be able to conduct voice powered searches on Microsoft’s Bing search engine and different Xbox content like Hulu Plus, Netflix and Xbox Live marketplace.

Here’s an example of how this will work: Say you want to watch Lord of the Rings. All you have to say is “Xbox Bing Lord of the Rings.” Immediately, Bing will pull up any Lord of the Rings related games as well as any movies stored on your console. Then all you have to do to watch The Fellowship of the Ring is say “Xbox Play The Fellowship of the Ring” and the movie will start playing.

Whitten also announced the new partnership with YouTube that will give users access to the top YouTube content from the console. Microsoft also said that they plan to greatly increase the number of its Xbox partnerships this year.

Lastly, Whitten confirmed that Live TV will bring local channels live-streamed to your Xbox to your TV.

Live TV will launch in the fall, Whitten said.

"This is our vision for the future of TV—effortless, approachable, because TV is more amazing when you are the controller," he said.

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Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.

Xbox 360 Selling Like Hotcakes! Nintendo 3DS...Not So Much

According to data released Monday, June 13 by NPD, it seems as though for the month of May, the Xbox 360 has remained the top-selling console, and while the Xbox has flourished, the highly anticipated Nintendo 3DS’s sales are being described as “light.”

In relation to the year-to-date revenues of video game hardware, content and accessory sales, Xbox has grabbed 34 percent so far. The Xbox 360 and the PS3 combined sales are also doing well. They are currently up 28 percent for the month and 21 percent up from last year.

"The PS3, PSP, and the Xbox 360 all experienced unit sales increases over May 2010," NPD analyst Anita Frazier said in a statement. "The top-selling platform for the month was the Xbox 360, which has realized nearly a year and a half of month-over-month unit sales increases."

A little bit earlier this month, Microsoft announced that they have sold more than 55 million Xbox 360 consoles since November 2005, and they claim that “sales are accelerating.”

On the other side of things, as mentioned above, Nintendo’s 3DS is simply generating “light” sales; however, it is expected that those sales will shoot upward. On Sunday, June 19 “Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D” will be released, and Frazier seems positive that the release of the game “should help to significantly boost sales of hardware during the remainder of 2011."

Nintendo also showed off some more games at E3 that could boost the 3DS’s numbers in the next few months. Some of these games include: "Mario Kart," "Starfox 3D," "Super Mario," "Kid Icarus Uprising" and "Luigi's Mansion 2."

The Nintendo 3DS first made its debut in the U.S. in March of this year. It was originally sold for $249.99. By April 15, less than a month after the release of the device, Nintendo said that they had sold just under 400,000 units, but the president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata said, “Nintendo 3DS has not been selling as expected since the second week [of availability], and this is not just in the Japanese market but also in the United States and Europe…therefore, we recognize that we are in a situation where we need to step up our efforts to further promote the spread of Nintendo 3Ds."

Frazier said that the declines in the sales of console hardware are due to the Wii but that the platform "remains the best-selling of this generation at nearly 36 million installed in the U.S." Nintendo is expecting some more success in the form of its new Wii U, which was announced at E3. The next-generation console is scheduled to be released sometime next year.

"At the current rate of growth and decline (on a year-to-date basis) for each of the respective console systems, a year from now the Wii will still enjoy the lead in install base in the U.S., although both the Xbox 360 and PS3 will close the gap," Frazier said. "Of course, new details on hardware introduction could certainly change the picture."

It will be interesting to see how the numbers fluctuate once the Wii U is released. Microsoft is currently in the lead with the Xbox 360, but will Nintendo make up some lost ground with their next-generation console? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Power Point Projectors
Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.

New Xbox to Debut at E3 2012?

So, this current generation of gaming consoles has been around for quite some time, six years to be exact, and a lot of people are wondering just how much life the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii have left in them. Many gamers are calling for a new wave of consoles and the newest Xbox could be revealed sooner than anyone might have thought.

E3 2011 has come and gone and any announcement of a new console would have been given at the event. Aside from Nintendo's Wii U, which I still can't figure out if it's a new console or a new controller, nothing about the next generation of consoles was talked about. Everything was based in the present and focused mainly around motion controlled gaming with the PlayStation Move and Kinect.

However, it has just been revealed that the highly anticipated successor to the Xbox 360 will be revealed at E3 2012. It has also been revealed that Crytek is making a next-gen Timesplitters 4 game. That is, of course, if the sources speaking on Videogamer.com are correct.

According to Videogamer.com, a "high-ranking industry source at Crytek" told the site that even though specifications for the next Xbox have not been finalized, Crytek is using Microsoft's DirectX11 for next-gen game development. The "source" also stated that Microsoft will announce the new console next year, most likely at E3.

According to the source, "Crytek believes that Microsoft will announce and launch its new machine ahead of rival Sony, though the developer is also investing resources into next-generation PlayStation development."

In addition to that, the source also claims that Timesplitters 4 is currently in development and using the CryEngine 3. It was also said that the game is already being demoed internally. Timesplitters 4 was also supposedly shown off in private last week at E3 2011. If that is true, then it is the best kept secret from E3.

The source went on to say, "As for the game itself, the new Timesplitters is reported to focus on the series' branching paths and exploratory nature, with sandbox-style gameplay elements a big priority. The current goal is for levels to feature multiple routes that lead to the same overall conclusion."

Naturally, both Microsoft and Crytek declined to comment on this news. While the announcement of a new Timesplitters game isn't too crazy, the thought of a new console at E3 2012 is insane. If this is true, and not some well developed hoax, and Microsoft does manage to pump out a console before both Sony and Nintendo, then Microsoft can easily sweep the competition in the next-generation console wars.

Source: IGN - Report - Next Xbox Debuting in 2012?

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The Newly Redesigned Xbox 360

Of course Microsoft couldn’t let Sony release their Playstation 3 Slim without giving them some competition. Their new Xbox 360 is sexier, sleeker, and less prone to problems than the original.

On Monday, Microsoft released their new Xbox 360 at the E3 press conference. Although it does not have a new name like the newest version of the PS3, it does have a multitude of new features. The first most noticeable difference with the new Xbox 360 would be the design. It is much smaller and sleeker than the original 360 and now features a sheen black gloss exterior. Although the shiny new Xbox does look sexier, you can expect fingerprints to cover its exterior the moment you pop it out of the box.

One criticism that many people had about the original Xbox 360 is that it seemed loud. You could definitely always tell when you accidentally left the console on. The new and improved 360 still hums slightly but is extremely quiet compared to its predecessor.

Basically, the new Xbox is replacing the Elite 360. It now offers 250 GB of storage standard. If you want to transfer your data from your current 360 to your new one, Microsoft is offering a data transfer cable for $19.95 that will allow you to connect your old hard drive to your new console with a USB cable. This makes data transfer pretty painless.

One of the most useful things to be found on the new Xbox 360 is the built-in WiFi. This has been one of the advantages that PS3 has had over Xbox, but it is an advantage that will no longer exist. Although PS3 does have free online play, unlike Xbox, that still keeps the Sony console slightly ahead of the Xbox 360 in my opinion.

Another thing that I was happy to hear about the new 360 is that Microsoft claims that it cannot get the dreaded “red ring of death.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t exactly mean that it can’t have issues though. Instead of displaying the red ring when there are problems with the console, the new 360 will display a variety of various combinations of green lights. I guess Microsoft just wanted to get away from the whole “red ring” criticism.

One last thing to note is that Microsoft has stated that they will no longer be producing the Original Xbox 360. Once the original consoles sell out, they are gone for good. So if you’re considering purchasing the original 360 for $199, you better do it quick.

Well, all around I’m pretty impressed with the new sleek Xbox 360. Microsoft has definitely made some great improvements. Although the 360 is really stepping it up, I still personally prefer PS3. You can get a PS3 slim with 250 GB of storage for $349.99, but basically it comes down to your personal preferences when choosing a console. If you think the new Xbox 360 sounds good to you, then you should check it out because it’s now available for $299.99.

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Xbox 360 Planning to Update to Allow for an External USB Hard Drive

On Thursday, a post on Joystiq reported that Microsoft was preparing to allow third-party USB storage on their Xbox 360. This will allow for more game saving and loading capabilities. The sources from Microsoft stated that the new ability would be released for the Xbox sometime this spring.

The new USB hard drives would allow for a lot more storage space on your Xbox. Microsoft will let gamers utilize 16GB external hard drives with 512 Mbytes that are used for system data. The Xbox will support up to two of these 16GB storage devices.

Once the update is released, gamers will be able to download Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Indie games, DLC, Games on Demand, and Title Updates on their new external hard drive. When you insert the device into your Xbox, you will be given to options: “Configure Now” or “Customize.” If you choose “Configure Now,” the whole device will be utilized up to 16GB, but if you select “Customize,” you will be able to select how much space on the hard drive you wish to use for storage. This “Customize” setting allows you to save some space on your device for other purposes such as music.

This update is due on April 6th. In May, SanDisk well be releasing a Xbox-branded USB stick that you will easily be able to use right out of the box, but if you choose to utilize your own USB stick or external hard drive, you will need to run a small formatting utility through the dashboard of the Xbox 360.

Although the expansion space is limited, I’m sure that Xbox 360 users will be excited at the possibilities of more hard drive space. Now gamers will have at least a decent amount of extra space for game saving and loading. Just a little over a week, and Xbox users will have their update. It will be interesting to see what updates come next.

For information on USB hubs see:
Buffalo Kokuyo Reveals 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub

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