SPOnG can confirm emerging reports that claim Microsoft is poised to announce a warranty extension for Xbox 360 early adopters in the US, with the program expected be rolled out across the world during the coming weeks.
We placed a call to Microsoft's Xbox customer support centre in the US today whereupon an operator outlined that indeed, there is some good news for some Xbox 360 owners. If your console is manufactured in or before January 2006, a one year warranty extension will be offered. The warranty extension will be from the date date of manufacture of your console, unless you have a sales receipt showing that you bought a machine manufactured before January. In which case your extension will be one year from date of purchase.
What's more, if you have a machine that would qualify for the extension and you've had to pay for a repair already, Microsoft will issue a cheque for the full repair amount, usually $139.90.
In the wake of yesterday's 1080p news from Microsoft, Sony has responded by downplaying the Xbox 360 upgrade. Sony also said it is "unfortunate" that the upcoming HD DVD player for 360 won't improve gaming on the console. [Update: Microsoft responds]
Yesterday we reported on Microsoft's HD DVD plans (in Japan) and the somewhat surprising news that with the fall software update the Xbox 360 will be 1080p capable.
Many industry observers have viewed these moves by Microsoft simply as "me too" announcements. Sony has invested a lot in the PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray, and you can bet their marketing team will soon be emphasizing the Blu-ray functionality and 1080p output. Microsoft surely doesn't want to be buried by all this talk, and so they can now claim to have a high-definition movie player and 1080p output as well—at least that seems to be the general thinking.
So what is Sony's reaction to this latest Microsoft news? Brian Crecente of the popular Kotaku blog heard from Dave Karraker, senior director for corporate communications at Sony Computer Entertainment America, who harped on the fact that the HD DVD player won't improve the gaming experience on the 360 (MS still insists it won't be used for games).
Microsoft has confirmed the release of a new Xbox 360 bundle, to hit UK retail shelves tomorrow.
As revealed by GamesIndustry.biz, the package consists of the Xbox 360 console, two wireless controllers and copy of Bizarre Creations’ Project Gotham Racing 3.
"Project Gotham Racing 3 is such a popular game and a great first title for the Xbox 360," commented Stephen McGill, head of console marketing at Microsoft UK.
"Not only can you experience the seriously impressive graphics for yourself but now we’re bundling this game with the console and an extra controller, so you can take on your friends too. This will make a lot of gamers in the UK happy this Christmas."
Viva Piñata™” Xbox 360 Video Game Breaks onto the Scene with Special Edition Game for Hours of Family Fun.
When the highly-anticipated “Viva Piñata” video game for the Xbox 360™ hits store shelves this November, kids and adults can break into the two-disc Special Edition
“Viva Piñata”™ Xbox 360 game with added bonuses for the whole family to enjoy. The Special Edition game, available for a limited time, will include playable demos of the season’s hottest family-friendly titles and an episode from the “Viva Piñata” animated series.
“Viva Piñata,” the high-energy, mass-appeal entertainment property created by Rare and brought to life by Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment, reveals a vibrant world of living piñata animals designed to capture and inspire the imagination of people of all ages. Kids were recently introduced to the cast of characters from the “Viva Piñata” animated series now on air and available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace in the US and Canada and soon around the world. They can look forward to even more piñata fun when the Xbox 360 game hits store shelves this holiday season.
In addition to the “Viva Piñata” game, which will allow players to create their own environment where they can attract and host more than 60 species of wild piñatas and customize piñata-filled adventures in their unique-ever-growing world, the Special Edition “Viva Piñata” game, priced at $49.99 USD.
Viva Piñata will include:
- A playable demo of LucasArts’ “LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy,” which combines the fun and endless customization of LEGO play and with a hilarious tongue-in-cheek take on the epic story, characters and action from the classic Star Wars: Episodes IV, V and VI films
- A playable demo of the arcade classic “Frogger” that is enhanced and reinvigorated for the Xbox 360. The game features new artwork that matches and compliments the original style
- A playable demo of “Cloning Clyde” for gamers to explore a visually compelling world filled with hilarious action and crazy adventure as they struggle to escape the clutches of the evil company Dupliclone, Inc.
- A “Time Pilot” playable demo for gamers to fly a futuristic fighter jet with the capability to travel through time to destroy wave after wave of enemies.
- A return to AstroLab for a playable demo of “Marble Blast,” where players guide their marbles through a rich cartoon landscape of moving platforms and perilous obstacles
Also included in the Special Edition “Viva Piñata” game will be a sneak peek at the wacky, zany, anything-can-happen animated TV series, produced by 4Kids Entertainment & Bardel Entertainment. With this full-length episode of the colorful animated series, Kids can experience Piñata Island for themselves, where multitudes of happy, colorful piñatas live the sweet life.
"Blue Dragon” Leads Holiday Lineup of Games; “Pac-Man” World Championship, Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in Japan and 1080p Support for Xbox 360 unveiled.
TOKYO — Sept. 20, 2006 — Today at the Tokyo Game Show 2006, Microsoft Corp. delivered information on new and improved entertainment experiences for Japanese gamers, including details of the Xbox 360™ library of nearly 110 high-definition games available this holiday season in Japan, which will include the highly anticipated “Blue Dragon” from Microsoft Game Studios. Microsoft also paid tribute to NAMCO BANDAI Games and “Pac-Man,” announcing that the first “Pac-Man” World Championship will be held in early 2007 using Xbox 360 and Xbox Live® Arcade. Microsoft also revealed details of other entertainment offerings enabled through Xbox 360, with availability date and pricing provided for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player in Japan, as well as news of an update that will allow the Xbox 360 console to output full 1080p games and video.
At the best-attended gaming convention in the world, Microsoft showcased games that will boost the Xbox 360 software library in Japan to nearly 110 titles by holiday season 2006 as well as more titles coming well into 2007. The Xbox 360 games showcased include “Blue Dragon” (Microsoft Game Studios), “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition” (Capcom), “Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2” (Tecmo Inc.) and the newly announced “Trusty Bell” (NAMCO BANDAI Games), and a host of anticipated Xbox Live Arcade titles. For 2007, Microsoft also announced a pipeline of great games that include the epic role-playing game (RPG) “Infinite Undiscovery” (Microsoft Game Studios).
“The key to winning the hearts and minds of the Japanese market is great games, and this great lineup demonstrates that Xbox 360 has those games in spades,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Our lineup of role-playing games from the acknowledged masters of the genre is proof positive that there has never been a better time for Japanese gamers to jump in and pick up an Xbox 360 system.”
Many game titles, including the much-anticipated epic RPG “Blue Dragon,” will be playable for the first time in the Microsoft® booth at the Tokyo Game Show. Other playable titles include “Lost Odyssey™” (Microsoft Game Studios) and “Viva Piñata™” (Microsoft Game Studios).
Xbox Live Arcade and the “Pac-Man” World Championship
The creator of “Pac-Man,” Toru Iwatani, announced onstage with Moore that Microsoft and NAMCO BANDAI will host the first “Pac-Man” World Championship in early 2007. The top 10 players in the world for “Pac-Man” on Xbox Live Arcade will compete for the title in New York City. More details, including how to qualify for the championship, will be made available in the coming months.
Continuing its tremendous momentum, Xbox Live Arcade has also announced in Tokyo a host of exciting new games, including some that will be exclusive to the Japanese market. Gamers will have the opportunity to try a host of new games on the show floor, including the classic side-scroller “Contra” (Konami Corp.), the space-shooter “Gyruss” (Konami), the enemy-popping classic “Dig Dug” (NAMCO BANDAI Games), arcade favorite “Track & Field” (Konami), “New Rally-X” (NAMCO BANDAI Games) “Rush’n Attack” (Konami), a favorite 1980s side-scroller, and the inimitable “Ms. Pac-Man” (NAMCO BANDAI). In addition, the Japan-exclusive Xbox Live Arcade game “Yie Ar Kung Fu” (Konami), one of the very first fighting games, was announced for release in 2007.
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player and 1080p Support
Microsoft announced pricing and availability details for the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in Japan. The accessory will launch on Nov. 17, 2006, priced at ¥19,800 (estimated retail price), and will come with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.
“Xbox 360 and the HD DVD Player together deliver the most powerful and affordable games and movie system for Japanese consumers,” Moore said. “The freedom to choose their entertainment experiences is extremely important for consumers as they enter the next generation.”
In addition, Microsoft announced that its fall software update, scheduled for release later this year, will allow all Xbox 360 consoles around the world to output game and movie content in 1080p resolution.
XNA
Demonstrating its pledge to democratize game development for tomorrow’s game developers, Microsoft announced that four Japanese universities will use its XNA™ Game Studio Express software in educational material and research within their course offerings. The XNA software allows hobbyists, students and independent game developers to create games for Windows® and, for the first time, Xbox 360 with the goal that user-generated games made with XNA will arrive on Xbox Live Marketplace. Tokyo University, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Ritsumeikan University and Osaka Electro-Communication University join the dozens of universities worldwide that have pledged support for Microsoft’s XNA vision and are recognizing the potential of XNA Game Studio Express as an educational tool. As a result, these four schools will integrate XNA software into their game development curricula, labs and games-related research.
“As I turn my attention and passion toward teaching the next generation of game developers, I am thrilled with XNA Game Studio Express and related products,” said Toru Iwatani, a lecturer at Tokyo Polytechnic University and original creator of “Pac-Man.” “I believe that these products are attractive and effective because they create a development environment that matches the skill level and area of expertise, widening the entry of future developers into game development.”
XNA Game Studio Express beta was made available to users worldwide on Aug. 30, 2006. The final version of XNA Game Studio Express will be made available this holiday season.
After only one week on store shelves worldwide, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy has already established itself as one of 2006’s strongest forces in video games. Since its release by LucasArts and TT Games on September 12, the biggest family game of the year has sold more than 1.1 million copies spanning eight platforms (PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360™ and Xbox® video game systems from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube™, Windows, Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo Game Boy® Advance).
“There’s definitely something for everyone in LEGO Star Wars II, and the sales and reviews so far are proving it,” said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “This is the type of fun, accessible game everyone in the family can enjoy. It appeals to so much more than just the traditional gaming audience.”
HQ Network: 6,828 | 
Guests: 3728 |
Members: 2
