Note: those afraid of tech-speak should skip the first paragraph.
According to Cens.com, the first 65nm GPU chip equipped Xbox 360s -- codenamed Jasper, the successor to current Falcon 360s, which incorporate a 65nm CPU but use a larger GPU -- will start showing up in by August of this year. IBM will reportedly manufacture and test the CPU chips, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has reportedly been contracted to manufacture and the graphics chips, which will in turn be tested and packaged by Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE). Nanya will be responsible for supplying flip-chip packaging substrates (don't ask us). Furthermore, CENS reports that industry watchers are betting on TSMC to win contracts to manufacture chips for Japser's successor, Valhalla, which will combine both the CPU and graphics chips into one super chip.
The upshot of all this is that new chips should be arriving this August, making for cooler, quieter 360s everywhere. that's something we can all enjoy, right? Oh, and no, there was no mention of Microsoft cramming Blu-Ray drives into either the Jasper or Valhalla.
The Sony PR machine just got its oil changed, is fully lubed and ready to fight. We know this because at their recent Playstation Day press event (which, we must admit, did bring some amount of good) we learn that Playstation 3 sales in Europe have surpassed Xbox 360 sales in the region ... or so says Sony. Seeing that Sony is a tad bit bias with their calculations (and we don't even get a pretty bar chart or anything), we can't be sure how much validity there is to their European PS3 number touting. But one thing we can be sure of is that Europe is a cut-throat console market where Microsoft and Sony are currently fighting to the death. Now let's wait and see if MS's PR machine is equally primed for battle ...
We've officially lost count of how many times Microsoft has denied rumors of an upcoming Xbox 360 equipped with Blu-ray ... we only have so many fingers and toes.
And so comes another denial hot on the heels of the recent Blu-ray rumor, where Microsoft told GamePro that they "have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360". There you have it, said as black and white as humanly possible. But don't worry fanboys, we'll still report on every Blu-ray / Xbox 360 rumor we come across, not only because we feel obligated to keep you informed, but because we also enjoy annoying the pants off Microsoft. Yes, we're evil ...
Adding to the pile of Blu-ray rumors we've had the privilege of reporting on for the past few months, we get word that a Blu-ray equipped Xbox 360 is headed our way the third quarter of this year.
According to the Chinese Economic Daily News, Pegatron Technology (an OEM subsidiary of Asustek Computer who deals with computer component manufacturing) has been selected by Microsoft to assemble Xbox 360 consoles with Blu-ray drives which will begin shipping Q3 2008. And, as Joystiq points out, the report's wording hints at the Blu-ray drive being internal rather than an external add-on. So, how long will it take for Microsoft to deny this latest Blu-ray gem? We give them until 4:00PM eastern.
Not everyone enjoys Xbox Live's made up Microsoft points currency due to the fact that the conversion rate is confusing and you always seem to end up with an odd amount points in your account. But even if you hate Microsoft points we can guarantee that you'll love the sugary sweet (and very edible) Birthday Microsoft points pictured above.
The creative Birthday Microsoft points birthday cake you see above was made in honor of Smokemholcomb's 29th birthday, which took his wife over six hours to make. We aren't sure what the conversion rate between real currency and Birthday Microsoft points is, but one has to think they're expensive if the entire cake is only worth 29 points. Also, for the caring fanboys of the world, if you want to buy some Birthday Microsoft points for your favorite blogger on his birthday, we're sure he'd appreciate it very much.
Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) is one happy division, because for a second fiscal quarter they've turned a nice profit and are Microsoft's shiny badge of success.
For the third fiscal quarter, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox 360's EDD turned an operating profit of $89 million seeing an operating income of $614 million which is a major improvement of last year's $746 million operating loss. Analyzing the numbers further, we see that third quarter EDD sales rose 68% to $1.58 billion (up 35% to $6.57 billion for the nine month period) and Microsoft shipped 1.3 million consoles in the third quarter alone. Oh, and the reason for such impressive numbers? High demand for the Xbox 360 which now has cumulative sales of 19 million units. A 74% increase over last year.
Posted Apr 23rd 2008 3:30PM by Dustin Burg Filed under: News
For fanboys who'll be attending the 2008 DUB Show Tour and showing their automobile support, you'll also be able to show your Xbox 360 support as well. Microsoft will be sponsoring an Xbox 360 Gaming Experience Area at all twelve DUB Show Tour stops (schedule viewable after the jump) where attendees can experience the best in 360 gaming all while winning prizes and participating in autograph signings. So, after a long day of looking at sweet whips, expensive rides and diamond encrusted rims, we advise sitting back, relaxing and playing a few rounds of Halo 3.
In news that's heavily saturated in rumor oil (trans fat free though, don't worry) and is probably a huge stretch even for a rumor, Netflix recently announced that they've entered into three new partnerships that will "let subscribers watch films streamed directly from the Web to TVs". Three new partnerships that are all said to be with major companies. Three new partnerships that they are keeping secret and will announce soon. You see where we're going with this?
It has been no secret that Netflix has been kicking around the idea of using the Xbox 360 to grow its subscription service and their announcement of three new partnerships could ultimately lead to Microsoft being one. But, like we said, this is a huge stretch. Microsoft already has a lot invested in the current Video Marketplace setup and the addition of Netflix would throw a huge wrench into things. That is unless there's piles of cash to be made ... so, maybe?
If you fired up your 360 earlier this morning you may have been prompted to download a new console update. And seeing that it is Springtime you may also have instantaneously concluded that the console update you downloaded was the Spring dashboard update. But that's where your logical sense steered you wrong.
According to Major Nelson, this morning the Xbox Live team rolled out a new console update that simply adds code to "prepare for future growth of the service" and is NOT the Spring dashboard update. You will not see any new features or any new dashboard excitement, it's simply one of those behind the scenes updates that's a ball of mystery. And what about the Spring dash update? We still have no information as Microsoft is still keeping hush-hush about its release and feature set.
Australian GAME stores are running a scratch-off promotion (just like lottery tickets, but better!) where with every Xbox 360 that's purchased, customers get a chance to scratch and win all kinds of gaming prizes. Prizes including a custom crafted and super manly Xbox 360 chopper that's still being produced. You can hop on over to their "See the Bike!" page to watch the eventual evolution of the bike, because right now, it's looking kind of naked and non-360 themed. But we're sure it'll be 360'ized soon enough if the chopper's guages are any indication of things to come. Buy a 360 from GAME and (possibly) go vroom, vroom!
Sony is back to their typical mudslinging ways (because we all know Microsoft is an angel) when, in an interview with GamePro, Sony's Marketing VP Scott Steinberg mocked Microsoft's marketing strategy saying that they "may have punched themselves out of the fight". Really?
In the interview, Steinberg decided to gloat about the PS3's upcoming catalog of games, console features and superb Blu-ray tech all while pointing out that their "competition has already leveraged all their big assets in the first couple of years" and doesn't have anything left to offer. A metaphorical knockout to one's self. Steinberg further went on to say that they "are the [HD movie] standard" with a "formula [that] is going to drive consumers to the PS3" ... amazing. So, we guess a hugely successful Xbox Live Arcade, a Video Marketplace, games like Halo Wars, Ninja Gaiden II, Fable 2, Banjo-Kazooie 3 and Gears of War 2 don't mean much to Mr. Steinberg and his magical, global warming ending, world peace bringing Blu-ray technology.
Update 2: According to iTWire, Microsoft has denied the Smarthouse article, which claimed that the Xbox 360 was "dead" in Australia. Mariana Cidade, PR Manager of the entertainment and devices division for Microsoft Australia, noted that over 2 million pieces of Xbox 360 software have been sold in Australia and New Zealand, which is "nearly double [the Xbox 360's] next-gen competitors combined." Also noted was the Xbox 360's attach rate of 7 games per console in Australia, hardly the kind of sales garnered by a dead console. The data comes from GFK, a market research firm, and puts something of a damper on Smarthouse's already dubious (and anonymous) claims. Find our original post after the break.
According to the folks over at Chart-Track, Xbox 360 sales are doing just fine in Europe thanks to a price-cut that was instated last month, spurring console sales to another big install base milestone. After some very scientific analysis, Dorian Bloch, director of UK sales monitor Chart-Track, revealed that "we are very close to clocking through 2 million 360s in the UK. It should be next week." And 2 million units is nothing to scoff at. Bloch also provided some console war guidance saying that "the Xbox 360 is extremely well liked in the UK and very strong" and that "Sony has a long way to go to overtake it in the UK." So ... we guess this would be a bad time to bring up the 360's Japanese sales then wouldn't it?
Microsoft has done it. They've cracked the barrier between kids who game and their ill-informed parents. How you ask could they accomplish such a feat? Parental Street Cred is a new initiative from Microsoft to help parents understand the finer details of our social culture. The video above is just a small sample of the gems you'll find when you visit the site.
While some of the videos are entertaining I don't know how well parents will respond. For example, if we showed our parents these videos we may be accused of being on "the drugs." One thing is certain, Microsoft is trying their hardest to pitch the console as a safe way to include entertainment into the home and with solid family features and a steadily dropping price point we think it's an initiative worth jumping into.
Also, if the site teaches us gamers anything it's that some verbiage gets old faster than internet memes. Check out the rest of the videos after the jump.
Posted Mar 19th 2008 4:00PM by Dustin Burg Filed under: News
The marketing peeps over at Brandweek are reporting that this Summer's sure to be a hit blockbuster movie, The Dark Knight, will see a massive marketing campaign with companies signing on to do cross-promotional tie-ins including our own Xbox 360. Sometime this Summer, Microsoft will be holding a giveaway where they'll be handing out The Dark Knight themed Xbox 360s in both Batman and Joker flavors. Just think how twisted-crazy a Joker themed 360 would be. Details regarding the promotion are slim, but come July we'll be informed and on a Dark Knight 360 mission. We guess our limited edition Mass Effect Xbox 360 will have to tide us over for now.
