Sydney chicks get to play Kinect tomorrow
Sorry guys, your out of luck, geek chicks its your lucky day. Xbox Australia just posted a deliciously inviting tease, an offer to the ladies of Sydney to get hands on with Kinect.
Sydney area ladies (and only ladies—sorry dudes) if you’re free tomorrow arvo and want to have a go at Kinect, @ me for details! –jinx
This comes only days after Tech.Ed attendees were disappointed they missed out on a chance to have a go at the latest in Xbox tech. Specific details of the event are being kept quiet, if you want in, @reply Jinx at Xbox Australia on twitter for more info.
Update
Looks like the boys aren’t happy with another post from XboxAustralia
Sorry guys, there will be times for you too. this happens to be at a ladies-only event. Send the lady in your life to spy! – jinx
Since I won’t be in Sydney tomorrow and don’t have a vagina, I’m after ladies who do get hands on with Kinect and get photos. Please send them to jason@techAU.tv and I’ll post with credit. Extra points if you can score video.
Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7: killer feature ?
In a press release today, Microsoft took the wraps of what the Xbox Live experience would be like on Windows Phone 7. Playing to one of the companies strongest assets, at least in mind share, Xbox Live is looks to be shaping up to be a strong aspect of the new Windows Phone 7 OS.
Included in the announcement is what to expect from Xbox Live on WP7:
- Be omnipotent. View, access and launch your full game library from one easy-to-navigate hub.
- Get mad props. Earn, view and track Achievements, view Xbox LIVE leaderboards and build your Gamerscore every time you play an Xbox LIVE title.
- Release your inner Mini Me.Connect to your Xbox LIVE profile and Avatar, or easily create a new one right from the phone.
- Get tricky. Access Spotlight feeds, including the latest game titles, breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, and more.
- Play before you pay. Easily find, try and buy the games you want, either in the Marketplace or Games hub.
- Flaunt your skills. Invite, connect and play against friends on other Windows Phone 7 phones or PCs with turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming.
Along with features, Microsoft also announced launch titles for Xbox Live on Windows Phone. The list includes many casual games, as well as some more impressive 3D games in what Microsoft say is a line-up that will have something for everyone. The full list of titles can be seen at Xbox.com. Australians should remember this is the US launch line-up and Windows Phone content may vary per country, so treat this as indicative, not definitive for WP7 in Australia.
Engadget has a great run down of the announcement complete with hands on videos, if your interested in Xbox Live on WP7 I strongly recommend you take the time. Personally I’d love this feature on my iPhone and while the Bing app made it across the pond, I think Microsoft will keep this feature close to home as a point of difference.
Will closing the mobile gaming “Loophole” hurt innovation ?
The Labor government is putting an end to what they call a ‘loophole’ in the gaming industry that allowed mobile gaming to go largely unregulated. Is that such an issue though, limited or no regulation of an industry can let innovation flourish and in the largest mobile gaming platform in recent years, Apple has accomplished just that.
The app store currently has tens of thousands of games available direct to consumers. Other branches of gaming like PC and console games require classification before being approved for sale. While Apple does their own vetting of applications against their set of rules, the government classification boards don’t get a look in.
Current legislation is unsurprisingly out of date and does not provide specific guidelines for games on mobile devices. If Labors changes get through parliament, mobile application developers may face classification fees of between $470 and $2040. So what does this mean for free applications ? An application developer looking to create a free game may opt for a paid version instead to cover costs, or worse yet, not bother developing it at all, effectively squashing development and innovation. A dangerous move indeed.
So what’s the real motivating factor behind closing the mobile loophole, is it really that regulatory board want to appropriately grade an application to ensure inappropriate material isn’t seen by those that shouldn’t, or does the Government just seen an opportunity to get a cut of the millions being made in mobile.
Right now the biggest company affected by this change would certainly be Apple, but the change would have far reaching affects including Google with it’s Android OS and Microsoft’s upcoming WP7 OS. This “problem” will only grow as the popularity of mobile gaming increases.
More @ News.com.au
Guild Wars 2 ready to set the world on fire
One of my most anticipated titles this year is Guild Wars 2. For those uninitiated, Guild Wars is a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) with a difference. Once significant difference is the lack of a monthly fee, what’s great for fans is that developers ArenaNet are diametrically opposed to the idea. Differences don’t stop there, they also have a completely different approach to how a MMORPG should work.
Guild Wars 1 was released in 2005 and has sold more than 6 million copies. The revenue from the first has funded development of its sequel due later this year. Guild Wars 2 has been in development since 2007 and is looking every bit like the wait has been worth it.
ArenaNet have been providing fans with updates on the progress as well as early previews of what will be included in the game. There’s a stack of videos and information about the different professions or characters you can play in the game. So far details of the Elementalist, Warrior and Ranger have been released, with more information coming in strategic staged releases in the lead up to the games completion.
So what is so special about Guild Wars 2 ? What sets it apart from the competition ? Well when you read the documentation on the Guild Wars 2 website, you get an insight into the thinking that went into the development of the game. Gone are the days of waiting through pages of text over a characters head, why can’t that character actually tell you the relevant information in the story line ? And how bought dynamic effects, like shooting an arrow through fire actually makes the arrow catch on fire doing increased damage to your enemies. I mean this game is shaping up to be all kinds of awesome.
My only request is they get it out ASAP. I’ve been playing the original with a few mates over the past 6 months, it’s a great way to get prepared for the next chapter – Guild Wars 2.
Can’t wait, sadly have to.
More @ Guild Wars 2
Kinect Australian pricing revealed: $199 RRP
Xbox Australia have finally announced local pricing for Kinect. The price for Kinect in Australia will be A$199 as a recommended retail price to stores, however your likely to find competition will reduce that price by around $20. Whilst the official release date for Kinect hasn’t been announced for Australia, it is scheduled for release on November 5th in the US.
Along with the Kinect announcement, Microsoft have confirmed the upcoming release / bundle of a new Xbox 360 S model. Designed to replace the Xbox 360 Arcade, the new model will come with just 4GB of storage. This is obviously a cost saving measure, and will be bundled with the Kinect sensor and Kinect Adventures game for A$449.
With full body play, Kinect is a unique and accessible way for everyone to enjoy controller-free fun. With more than 15 games available at launch, Aussie living rooms will become fitness rooms, dance clubs and sports stadiums.
Read the full press release over @ InsiderX
More info about Kinect @ Xbox Australia
EB estimates Kinect price as A$198
Overnight Microsoft got official about Kinect pricing, listing it as US$149.99 with Kinect Adventures included. That begs the question, what price will Kinect be in Australia ? After hunting around some online stores, many still have TBA listed, but EB Games lists the price as an estimated A$198.
Are they just guessing like the rest of us, or does EB actually have the word from Microsoft. It’s possible EB have to list the price as estimated until Xbox Australia make the official Australian pricing announcement.
Based on the exchange rate today, US$149 translates to A$168.59, but remember there’s additional taxes and import duties on top, so the price of A$198 doesn’t sound too far off.
Xbox 360 slims down under tomorrow, [updated] HNCS sucks!
Update
The Xbox 360 is now available in Australia. I have mine, but want to update you on the painful Harvey Norman Customer Service. Asking an employee if they have the new Xbox 360 he replied yes and proceeded to retrieve one from the back room. Strangely there were none on shelves. He proceeded to ring up the sale at $449, I said to him, that’s not the price is it? He replies yes. I explained that it’s listed as $398 on your website. After dissapearing for 10 minutes he returned to say that price was for the Elite. I said no, that’s for the new Xbox 360 and showed him their own website on my iPhone. With a shocked look on his face he asked me to follow him to his managers office. I did and discovered the 10 minutes he’d been away was spent with his manager trying to find the Xbox 360 on their own website and were unable to. I showed the manager my phone and he instantly approved the price of $398.
Long story short, don’t buy from Harvey Norman, just go to JB Hi-Fi or get somewhere else to price match.
Announced at E3 earlier this month, the new Xbox 360 slim goes on sale in Australia tomorrow. So far there are no reports of any retailers leaking it early here, so gamers will have to wait till most stores open at 9am, 1st July 2010.
The updated console hardware comes with a slew of new additions..
- Xbox 360 250GB Hard Drive: A glossy black fingerprint attracting finish, the console looks great. With a 250GB hard drive, it should be plenty of space to save games, demos, add-ons, movies, music and pictures. New internals and heat vents should once and for all end reliability (RROS) issues.
- Built in Wi-Fi: The addition of 802.11n Wi-Fi built-in, makes the Xbox 360 the only console that supports N. While it still accepting B and G networks, N provides enough bandwidth to stream all of your HD content wirelessly. This saves having an add-on Wi-Fi N accessory for current models that cost $149.
- Project Natal ready: Coming in November, Kinect will connect via a specialized port to the new Xbox 360, avoiding a separate power brick.
- Whisper quiet: Jet engine be gone. It’s incredibly frustrating hearing the noise of the Xbox over a quiet scene in movie, the new model puts an end to that with what Microsoft say is ‘whisper quiet’ operation.
- Ports: Now with 5 USB ports (2 front, 3 back), HDMI, AV, Ethernet, Optical out.
- Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black)
- Xbox 360 Headset (black)
- Dimensions: Width: 27cm, Depth: 26.4cm, Height: 7.5cm, Weight 2.9kg
As an owner of a 20GB, component only launch console, I’m overdue for a new one, so I’ll be grabbing one tomorrow. Will you ? While the new Xbox 360 S is certainly an upgrade on older models, I doubt many people seriously considering a PS3 would choose this instead. People new to the Xbox market now have a new shiny option.
Best place to buy
It doesn’t happen very often and quite frankly I’m surprised I’m about to do this, but I’d have to recommend to grab your new Xbox 360 from Harvey Norman. They’re offering the best price of any retailer so far at only A$398 despite the RRP being $449. This tip comes from Kotaku.
Bargain existing models
The price of existing models have been slashed in price since the announcement at E3. So if you can put up with the smaller hard drive and louder volume, you can pick up an Elite (which used to cost $450) for $250 now, but be quick these are no longer being produced.
More @ Xbox Australia
