Rumours suggest that Microsoft could be about to announce a partnership with BSkyB for video content on the Xbox 360. Microsoft has a press event schedule for tomorrow entitled 'Experience the Vision', where the announcement is expected to be made. Microsoft already provides the technology for the BT Vision service, which is also due to be available via the Xbox 360.
Microsoft has confirmed plans for a "next generation" of hardware for its Zune portable media player, in the form of the much rumoured Zune HD. Microsoft has still not announced plans to release any Zune hardware in Europe, but the brand name will become the "premium partner" on the Xbox Live Video Marketplace in both North America and Europe.
ewly released patent applications from Microsoft have sparked speculation that it is to unveil a Wii remote rival at the E3 expo in Los Angeles.
An application was filed in 2007 for a motion controller, dubbed Magic Wand, that interacts with "a collection of sensors".
Microsoft says it will not "comment on speculation" about a possible launch.
Gavin Ogden, from gaming site c&vg.com, told the BBC that Microsoft needed to "jump on the motion sensor bandwagon".
In their financial report for the fiscal year of 2008-2009, Namco Bandai revealed that the Xbox 360 was their worst performing major platform in terms of software sales for that period.
They only sold 2.704 million units of software on the Xbox 360 for the whole fiscal year. The Playstation 3 didn’t do so hot either with 3.273 million units of software sold at the same period. It seems like Namco Bandai is having a tough time with the high-definition systems.
Yes and it will how they deliver it that will matter. It may be just a sampler at this stage with minimal support with the real leap coming from the next generation of systems.
In order to attract people, you need software. In order to have software support, you need it to be standard with the system. Even the balance board which will shortly outsell the PS3 only has a very minimal amount of (mostly optional) support. Same goes with motion+. Minimal support, almost entirely optional in-game, despite massive sales.
It is very likely both Sony and Microsoft will unveal Motion items at this E3 event. I was originally skeptical of the Microsoft Motion system but this is gaining ground with an article in one of the Popular business papers (sorry cannot remember the name of the paper).
The Microsoft idea of full body motion control is intriguing. I especially like the finger motion controls. I guess only time will tell if this actually comes off or if it does how ready it will be and how effective it will be.
Certainly this years E3 will be an interesting event and I for one welcome it back into the calender as the E3 it once was.
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