Last Thanksgiving, Joe Wilcox compiled a list of 10 things for which Microsoft should be grateful. It's a year later and there are 10 more reasons for which Microsoft should give thanks.
The list is in reverse order, starting with No. 10.
10. Anti-piracy Efforts - Five years of piracy-fighting tactics, including the much customer maligned Windows Genuine Advantage, are paying off for Microsoft. They had better. Microsoft estimates that PC shipment growth is 20 percent in emerging markets compared to 8 percent for established markets. Greatest growth is in markets with typically high piracy rates.
The payoff is impressive. Revenue CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in Russia is 80 percent, with Microsoft revenue jumping in three years from $200 million to more than $1 billion. In what Microsoft calls BRIC—Brazil, Russia India and China—revenue is about $3 billion, up from about $900 million three years ago. While some of the gains can be attributed to sheer volume of PC shipments, increased sales of "genuine," or legally licensed, versions of Windows are up, too.
Click the read more link to read the full article..
The greatest year in the history of games continues this week with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Also making a splash this week is the PC arrival of Gears of War and Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-Am. Are you grabbing any of these this week, or are you holding out for something more grand? Let us know what your plans are below.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 360, PS3, PC, DS
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - 360, PS3, Wii, DS
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Wii
Gears of War - PC
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am - PS2 Read more for the entire listing.
One of the most popular electronic games of all time – Tetris – is back and returns with enhanced graphics and beautiful aquatic playscapes in “Tetris Splash.”
“Tetris Splash” will be available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).
Since its introduction, Tetris has gone from Russian sensation to worldwide phenomenon, attracting more than 60 million enthusiastic players. Thanks to its unique and simple randomness, it's never the same game twice. “Tetris Splash,” developed by Tetris Online Inc., features multiplayer gameplay over Xbox LIVE for up to six players and two player head to head battles, as well as a virtual fish tank that is customizable through gameplay achievements and add-on content.
1 South Park
2 Comedy Central Stand Up
3 UFC Fights (HD)
4 Robot Chicken
5 Star Trek: Enterprise (HD)
6 Mercy Reef/Aquaman
7 Chappelle's Show: Uncensored
8 Jericho (HD)
9 The Sarah Silverman Program
10 Avatar: The Last Airbender
Top 10 Movies:
1 The Departed
2 Snakes on a Plane
3 Employee of the Month (HD)
4 Crank (HD)
5 Beerfest (HD)
6 Saw III
7 Jackass Number Two
8 Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing
9 Sublime
10 The Illusionist
365 Days Later, Xbox 360 Unveils First Wave of TV Shows and Movies on Xbox Live
Xbox 360 offers the latest in entertainment options for everyone, from a library of 160 high- definition games expected by holiday to downloadable standard and high-definition TV shows and movies.
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 22, 2006 — With a robust library of 160 high-definition games expected by holiday, Xbox 360™, the video game and entertainment system from Microsoft Corp., will get even better today. On its one-year anniversary, Xbox 360 will digitally deliver an initial lineup of TV shows and movies to gamers in the U.S. via Xbox Live®, the online games and entertainment network from Microsoft.
As announced earlier this month, Xbox Live Marketplace will now provide gamers with easy access to hundreds of full-length TV shows for download to own and movies for download to rent from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with more content rolled out through Xbox Live Marketplace every week. Xbox 360 is the first gaming console to offer standard and high-definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution.
Since its launch on Nov. 22, 2005, Xbox 360 has gained impressive traction fast. Xbox 360 was the fastest console to reach 5 million sold, and 6 million Xbox 360 consoles had been sold by the end of September 2006. At least 10 million are expected to be sold by holiday. Expected to be available in 37 countries by holiday, Xbox 360 continues to retain record game and accessory attachment rates, according to NPD. With more than 4 million members and an expected 6 million by June 2007, Xbox Live continues its leadership as the first and most comprehensive online games and entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire Xbox 360 experience.
Xbox 360 is prepared to have a booming holiday season, with consoles readily available at retail along with a host of new accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, Xbox Live Vision camera and Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, not to mention blockbuster games such as “Gears of War” and “Viva Piñata™.”
“We’re exactly where we wanted to be this holiday with Xbox 360 retail stock availability,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “With an incredible library of games, more than 4 million gamers playing online with Xbox Live, and a growing catalog of high-definition gaming and entertainment content, why would anyone wait in line when you can get a superior experience from Xbox 360 right now?”
Examples of the download-to-own TV shows and download-to-rent movies available on the network on Nov. 22 include the following:
· “CSI,” “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” “NCIS” and “Star Trek” from CBS
· “Chappelle’s Show,” “Drawn Together” and Emmy and Peabody award-winning “South Park” from COMEDY CENTRAL
· “Pimp My Ride” and “Punk’d” from MTV
· “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” from Nickelodeon
· “Skyland” and “Invader Zim” from Nicktoons Network
· “Chinatown,” “Star Trek VII: Generations,” “Patriot Games,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “The Sum of All Fears,” “The Untouchables” and “We Were Soldiers” from Paramount Pictures
· “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” “Frisky Dingo,” “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law,” “Sealab 2021” and “The Venture Bros.” from Turner Broadcasting
· Some of the most intense fights from Ultimate Fighting Championship
· “Breaking Bonaduce” and “Hogan Knows Best” from VH1
· “Perfect Storm,” “Poseidon,” The Shining,” “Strange Brew,” “Three Kings” and “V for Vendetta,” as well as “The Nine” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” along with the CW show “Veronica Mars” from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Using the Family Settings feature, parents and individuals can choose the video content that can be played on their family’s Xbox 360. With the availability of this new entertainment content, gamers now can set controls based on movie, TV and video ratings, or they can entirely block explicit and unrated video content for themselves or their children.
Xbox 360 gamers in the U.S. can access Xbox Live Marketplace with a free Xbox Live Silver subscription or a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription and a broadband connection. Pricing is competitive and will vary based on format, media type and whether the content is a new release movie or a classic feature film. High-definition TV shows will be 240 Microsoft® Points per episode, and standard-definition TV shows will be 160 Microsoft Points per episode. New release movies in high definition will be 480 Microsoft Points, and standard-definition new release movies will be 320 Microsoft Points each. Classic feature films in high definition will be 360 Microsoft Points, and standard definition will be 240 Microsoft Points. After purchasing a high-definition TV show or movie, gamers can download the standard-definition version at no additional charge.
Microsoft Points can be purchased at retail or via Xbox Live. For example, gamers can get a 1,600 Microsoft Points card at retail for $19.99 (U.S.) or 1,000 Microsoft Points through Xbox Live for $12.50 (U.S.). More information about Xbox Live Marketplace is available at http://www.xbox.com/marketplacentertainment.
About Xbox 360:
Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 is expected to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games and to be available in 37 countries by the end of 2006. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
About Xbox Live:
Xbox Live is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live connects millions of members across 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox Live Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
And the Xbox Live Marketplace just got a tad bigger, as Microsoft has recently and finally unveiled the Xbox Live Video Marketplace for everyone to enjoy, quashing all rumors along the way. With this new service, Xbox 360 owners will now be able to download full-length HD movies, television show episodes, music videos, or game videos - all of which would be available to Xbox Live Silver and Gold members and can be purchased for a set number of Microsoft Points.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Video Marketplace options with TV Shows, Movies etc etc are only available to XBOX LIVE USA MEMBERS..
You can however create a second gamertag and leave your profile as a USA based address so you can access the TV Shows & Movies Tab..
Regarding pricing, the video tutorial over at the Xbox site notes that HD movies will cost 480 MS points (US$ 6), while the standard definition version of the movie will cost only 320 MS points (US$ 4). As for television shows, either version of one episode would cost 240 MS points (US$ 3).
There's still a few things to remember though, including the fact that episodes will be for the user to keep, the way that Live Arcade games are yours to do with as you please. On the other hand, movies will be on a "rental" basis, meaning, after downloading it, one will have 14 days to sit down and watch the film, but after watching it, the movie will be "returned" after 24 hours, when the rental expires.
And then there's the issue of download speed, though Microsoft says that this is covered since a new service has been launched to handle these types of downloads specifically. This is a good move on Microsoft's part, considering that an HD movie can be as big as almost 5GB, and has to be downloaded overnight or perhaps in the background while you play a game.
In the meantime, the new Video Marketplace has the following up for download:
"Robot Chicken" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" from Adult Swim
"CSI," "Survivor", and "Star Trek" from CBS
Emmy and Peabody award-winning "South Park" and "Chappelle’s Show" from COMEDY CENTRAL
"The Real World" and "Pimp My Ride" from MTV
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" from Nickelodeon
"Skyland" and "The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival" from Nicktoons Network
"M:i:III," Nacho Libre" and "Jackass: The Movie" from Paramount Pictures
"Carpocalypse" and "Raising the Roofs" from Spike TV
"Race Rewind" provided by NASCAR.COM
Select episodes of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and the "UFC: All Access" shows from the UFC
"Breaking Bonaduce" and "Hogan Knows Best" from VH1
"The Matrix," "Superman Returns", and "Batman Forever" from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
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