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October 2006 - Posts

Major Checks in From Six Flags New England

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:00 PM by johnporcaro
Megadeth was there, and so was Major Nelson.  He shares a bunch of photos from the Match Made in Hell Tour, hitting Six Flags New England.  Looks like fun!  [Edit 1: GK128 posted some pix on Flickr] [Edit 2: Totally360 posted some photos, Read More
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Halloween at Microsoft

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 8:50 PM by johnporcaro
So at about 4PM, all the parents bring their kids in for office "trick or treating."  The kids go from office to office to pick up candy.  My kids each walked away with 100+ small candy bars, after maybe 30 minutes.  Some older kids Read More
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New Kameo Deck and UNO Game Type Coming

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 3:02 PM by johnporcaro
Starting tomorrow, you can download a new “UNO Kameo Theme Deck” from Xbox Live Arcade, for 100 Microsoft Points.   The deck includes a new way to play, with a new card that allows gamers to trade their hand with any other player. Read More
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Trade Hands With Kameo-Themed UNO Deck on Xbox Live Arcade

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 3:00 PM by johnporcaro
This new, custom “UNO Kameo Theme Deck” brings larger-than-life, morph-into-monster action to living rooms around the world. Read More
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N'Gai's Blog...

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:58 AM by johnporcaro
Our buddy (and technology editor) at Newsweek, N'Gai Croal, just started a blog (well, a month ago).  Always interesting to see the unique perspective the "pro writers" bring to their personal blogs.  Subscribed! I noticed a link to an Xbox Read More
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Perfect Dark Zero Platinum Hits Edition to feature New Multiplayer Maps!

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
Microsoft Game Studios will be releasing “Perfect Dark Zero” Platinum Hits Edition which will feature six additional multiplayer maps, including four that are currently available only on Xbox Live Marketplace, and two brand new ones in one convenient package. Read More
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Happy Halloween!

posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006 10:57 AM by CPaladino
For those that celebrate getting tricked and treated, today is Halloween!  It’s the perfect time to play some creepy games on your 360 such as Dead Rising, Condemned, and FEAR. Some of the scariest games I can remember playing are Aliens vs. Predator Read More
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Viva Piñata Goes Gold

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 4:47 PM by johnporcaro
Don't beat 'em.  Join 'em!  I just confirmed that Viva Piñata went "gold," that is, Rare officially released the final code for manufacturing today.  It's set to be available in stores in the US on November 9.   Just for fun, Read More
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Xbox 360 Showcase Events

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 1:02 PM by Bastelyon
Next Monday I’ll be in San Francisco to help staff one of two Xbox Showcase Events (John will be helping out at the other showcase event in New York City).  These are events that we host a couple times a year to showcase upcoming Xbox 360 titles Read More
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Gears of War and Megadeth at Six Flags New England Tomorrow

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 9:03 AM by johnporcaro
From the Six Flag's Press Release: Six Flags is slamming the door on the popular Halloween-themed Six Flags Fright Fest celebration in a spectacular fashion this year with an Xbox 360 “Gears of War” national sweepstakes and exclusive Megadeth mini-concert Read More
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Xbox 360 to add more than 85 enhancements with the fall system update

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
The fall update ushers in the 6th generation of Xbox Live, the world’s largest online gaming & entertainment network with four million members and growing everyday Read More
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Fall System Update Coming Tomorrow

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
Beginning Tuesday, you can download a free system update.  It includes support for native 1080p games and movies, faster Arcade game list display times, and more video playback options. This free update will be distributed via the Xbox Read More
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Xbox 360's Gears of War and Megadeth Slam the Door on Fright Fest 2006 at Six Flags New England

posted Monday, October 30, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
Pre-Launch Xbox 360 Preview Party at Six Flags New England Will Feature “Gears of War” Demo Lounge and Megadeth Mini-Concert Read More
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Quarterly Financial Report

posted Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:22 PM by johnporcaro
Financial Summary of FY07 Q1 Read More
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Done Your Pumpkin Carving Yet?

posted Thursday, October 26, 2006 2:37 PM by johnporcaro
Halloween is here next week.  Have you done your pumpkin carving yet?  Send in links to your Game-related Jack 'o Lanterns.  Let's start a gallery!  Here's my pumpkin from last year. Subnoiserat posted a link to this on Major Read More
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Gears of War Rocks Hollywood Forever

posted Thursday, October 26, 2006 7:32 AM by johnporcaro
Celebrating the RTM (release to manufacturing) of Gears of War, CliffyB and the gang from Epic Games and Microsoft headed to Los Angeles to give anxious gamers (and a few celebs) the chance to get their hands on this holiday's hottest title.  I posted Read More
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Hollywood Forever Cemetery at Midnight

posted Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:17 PM by johnporcaro
Tony and I just got into LA for tonight's Gears of War gig.  You are coming, right?  See you at midnight (mwahh haaa haaa haaa). Read More
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Gears of War Release Date Confusion

posted Wednesday, October 25, 2006 12:33 PM by CPaladino
Lately I'm seeing some confusion surrounding the US release date of Gears of War - is it the 7th, or the 12th? Let me clarify.  Gears of War will begin shipping to retailers in the US on November 7th.  It should start showing up Read More
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Emergence Day Events Revealed As Gears of War Goes Gold

posted Wednesday, October 25, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
Emergence Day looms closer as Microsoft celebrates upcoming launch of “Gears of War” with release of special sneak preview trailer available now on Xbox Live; announces full list of special events timed for day of launch Microsoft Game Studios and Read More
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TTr ch0mpr FTW!

posted Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:38 AM by Bastelyon
Our good friend Trixie over on the Xbox.com team just got back from the World Cyber Games that were held in Monza, Italy.  Head over to Xbox.com to check out her coverage from the games including an interview with TTr ch0mpr who won the final Read More
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It's the Games, Stupid.

posted Monday, October 23, 2006 6:07 PM by johnporcaro
Xbox 360 Fanboy says it best.  "It's the games, stupid."  Some of our new ads are beginning to hit the airwaves.  Check out this one: Read More
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Finish Him! Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Available on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360

posted Monday, October 23, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
These two words rose above the din of arcade noise for many gamers in 1995. Now Xbox Live gamers have a chance to experience classic fatalities, brutalities, friendships and babalities with Midway’s “Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3,” which is now available on Read More
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Download Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 from Xbox Live Arcade Starting Saturday

posted Saturday, October 21, 2006 1:00 AM by johnporcaro
Lucky us!  The Xbox Live Arcade guys are giving us a few extra days to enjoy our next game.  You can download Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, starting Saturday, Oct 21, at 1:00 AM PDT.   Prepare for the fight of your life! Players Read More
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Fact Checking 101

posted Friday, October 20, 2006 12:04 PM by Bastelyon
Boy, someone over at Sony really needs to do some fact checking.  Some of you may have seen Sony's recent console price comparision grid?  Well, we here at Xbox wanted to make sure that you got the accurate facts… Fact: PS3 has Read More
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Xbox 360 Gears Up for Launch of Global Holiday Campaign

posted Friday, October 20, 2006 10:00 AM by johnporcaro
Microsoft and its creative partners AKQA and McCann-Erickson have developed a new advertising lineup extending to cinema, interactive, print, street and television media. Read More
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Wednesday night. You. Me. CliffyB. And some Hollywood Undead.

posted Thursday, October 19, 2006 5:34 PM by johnporcaro
We're moving on to round two of the Gears of War "Match Made in Hell" tour.  This time, we're in Hollywood, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, next Wednesday night/Thursday morning, starting at midnight.  Tony and I will be Read More
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Gears of War Invades Tinseltown for a Horrific Event

posted Thursday, October 19, 2006 4:00 PM by johnporcaro
“Match Made in Hell” month continues, as Microsoft Game Studios and “Gears of War” developer Epic Games wake the dead with a celebrity launch event at the famed Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles Read More
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More on Lumines Live Premium Content

posted Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:08 PM by johnporcaro
Lots of questions about the release of Lumines Live, so we put together a little more information to help with your purchase decision.  Of course there are fans of the game that love seeing it on Xbox Live Arcade, especially with the addition of Read More
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Thanks for Your Patience

posted Thursday, October 19, 2006 9:53 AM by johnporcaro
Looks like the "24 hours" of scheduled maintenance took a bit longer than everyone thought.  You may have had problems logging in to Xbox Live, or seeing certain Marketplace content, or viewing detailed profile info.  I tried Read More
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X06 Canada - Press Event & Community Party

posted Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:00 AM by DirtyDiva
I just got back from Canada's X06 event woohoo! It was put on by the Canadian Community team to show both press and community members the great new titles Microsoft is releasing both for Xbox 360 and Games for Windows. At 8 am my day started with a Read More
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Xbox Live reaches 4 million members

posted Wednesday, October 18, 2006 3:33 PM by BIGVIP
We just sent out to our press contacts some new updated information about Xbox Live.  You can check out the complete details here.  Xbox Live hit 4 million members just as we get ready to launch the 6th version of Xbox Live later this fall.  Read More
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Xbox Live reaches 4 million members

posted Wednesday, October 18, 2006 2:30 PM by johnporcaro
Xbox Live, the first and only unified online games and entertainment network, has now reached 4 million connected members. Read More
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CliffyB Squashes Heads

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 5:29 PM by johnporcaro
CliffyB came up to Redmond for some meetings.  Tony, Michael, Rob and I (along with some others from the team) got to jump into two hours of 4-on-4 Gears of War multiplayer action while he was here.  All of us got a chance to be chain-sawed Read More
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Lumines Live! Coming to Xbox Live Arcade Tomorrow

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:02 PM by johnporcaro
The music-puzzle action game "Lumines Live!" posts tomorrow, Wednesday, October 18, at 0800 GMT (1:00am PDT) on Xbox Live Arcade. Lumines Live! for Xbox Live Arcade is the newest addition to the blockbuster franchise from Tetsuya Mizuguchi Read More
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Download Lumines Live! for Xbox Live Arcade This Wednesday

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:00 PM by johnporcaro
The highly anticipated music-puzzle action phenomenon, “Lumines Live!” can be yours starting tomorrow, Wednesday, October 18, from 0800 GMT (1:00am PDT) on Xbox Live Arcade. Read More
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October Momentum

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:00 PM by johnporcaro
This past month we set a new bar for next generation, high definition gaming while crisscrossing the globe from Tokyo to New Delhi, and on to Barcelona and Johannesburg and finally to New York. Our focus is to bring interactive entertainment to gamers Read More
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DirectX 10 and Windows XP

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 12:11 PM by wolf
I've tried to clear some confusion before. David Weller has clarified even more. No, you can't get DirectX 10 (or more specifically, Direct3D 10) features under Windows XP. You need Windows Vista and new Direct3D 10-supported hardware. Believe me. It'll Read More
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Playmates Toys Awarded Master Toy License by Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment for Festive New Children's Property "Viva Pinata"

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 10:00 AM by johnporcaro
PLAYMATES TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE NEW LINE OF INTERACTIVE TOYS BASED ON POPULAR NEW KIDS PROPERTY OCTOBER 17, 2006 - COSTA MESA, CA – Playmates Toys, Inc., one of the toy industry’s most respected and innovative companies, announced today that it Read More
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Big Day for Games for Windows

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:28 AM by johnporcaro
Today marks the official availability in the US of three new Games for Windows titles: The highly anticipated “Flight Simulator X,” and expansion packs for Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, and Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania. Also available Read More
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Viva Piñata Hits Page B1 of WSJ

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:17 AM by johnporcaro
I guess Horstachio is hitting the big-time, at least with the MBA crowd.  I'm sure we'll hear from his agent, wondering why he didn't get a WSJ-style caracature.  The Wall Street Journal did a story (subscription required) about the marketing Read More
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Games for Windows Titles Fly, Splash and March Onto Shelves in Time for the Holidays

posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006 6:00 AM by johnporcaro
Games for Windows delivers excitement for gamers this holiday season with highly anticipated titles such as “Flight Simulator X,” which lands in stores today. Read More
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18 Xbox 360 Exclusives Shipping, Dozens on the Way

posted Monday, October 16, 2006 2:10 PM by johnporcaro
I recently saw a list of all the Xbox 360 titles that have shipped, or are announced.  We're well on our way to having 160 games available this holiday.  I did a sort by "Xbox 360 Exclusives," and I was surprised to see that there were already 18 Read More
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Xbox Dad Makes His Mark on Xbox.com

posted Friday, October 13, 2006 3:42 PM by johnporcaro
Just noticed that a new contributor joined the ranks of Xbox.com.  Welcome to GamerDad Xbox Dad.  (not to be confused with GamerDad.com). [Edit: I noticed they changed the title on the site.] This new Xbox.com writer, Brian Johnson (Gamertag Read More
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Digital Life '06

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 11:33 PM by DirtyDiva
Today marked the first day of Ziff Davis' Digital Life expo in NYC. Unlike last year, it was a beautiful day so I went in with a good attitude. As soon as I got my ticket sorted out, I met up with Godfree and Pink Sage from GamertagRadio. After catching Read More
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Check Out the New MSN Games Website

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 3:45 PM by johnporcaro
The team over at MSN Games have updated their website to make it easier to find your way around.  I make it a point to rummage around the site every few days to find some new and interesting games I can play on my PC...  Makes those budget meetings Read More
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New Gears of War Site Launches

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:32 AM by johnporcaro
Okay, now we can be a bit less, uh, cryptic about it.  The new site for Gears of War that you had a sneak peek at for the last 48 hours is now open to the public.  Check out http://www.gearsofwar.com/ if you haven't seen it already.  Read More
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Emergence Day Imminent as New Gears of War Site Launches

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:00 AM by johnporcaro
The site, which can be found at http://www.gearsofwar.com/, immerses gamers through a series of disturbing flashback videos that foretell various aspects of the game’s storyline and highlight the uniquely destroyed beauty of the games environment. Read More
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Safety is No Game. Is Your Family Set?

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 8:59 AM by johnporcaro
Christopher Grant over at Joystiq got a chance to sit down with Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division.  He's in New York City today, at Digital Life, to kick off a campaign promoting safer interactive entertainment. Read More
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Microsoft President Says Families Deserve More Help Navigating the World of Interactive Entertainment

posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:01 AM by johnporcaro
Robbie Bach outlines vision for safer interactive entertainment; along with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Best Buy, Bach launches nationwide, parental education tour Read More
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The Warchiefs Demo Online Now

posted Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:22 PM by johnporcaro
With only a week to go before the official availability of the new Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs, you should check out the demo from AgeofEmpires3.com.  You can play as the Iroquois (or the Germans) in skirmish mode, explore the terrain Read More
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Digital Life

posted Wednesday, October 11, 2006 11:46 AM by DirtyDiva
Tomorrow marks the first day of Ziff Davis' answer to E3 and CES for the Northeast - Digital Life. If you're interested in seeing upcoming tech in both the gaming and general electronics industries you should definitely check out the show. It's being Read More
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You Have 48 Hours to Mobilize

posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 4:17 PM by johnporcaro
Did you get the email from Gears of War this morning, granting you exclusive access?  Be sure to click around with your lit matches...  Read More
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Dig Dug Coming Wednesday

posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:01 PM by johnporcaro
Dig Dug, the Bandai-Namco classic originally released in 1981 is launching on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, tomorrow, October 11. The game features enhanced graphics including HDTV support, 12 Xbox Live Achievements, and online Leaderboards.   Read More
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Dig In To Xbox Live Arcade This Wednesday with "Dig Dug"

posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:00 PM by johnporcaro
“Dig Dug,” the Bandai-Namco classic originally released in 1981 is launching on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, October 11. Read More
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Out 'Drive' Natalie Gulbis on Xbox Live

posted Tuesday, October 10, 2006 2:00 PM by johnporcaro
Take on this Glamorous Golfer in EA’s Burnout Revenge as Part of the Latest Xbox Live Game with Fame Session Read More
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