GameStop aiming to improve your shopping experience

GameStop wants to improve your shopping experience, and to that end, the company today announced a new business unit that aims to discover and implement technology solutions that "better address the needs of today's empowered consumer."

No PS4 news until 'significant leap' can be shown - Sony

PlayStation CEO Andrew House says company will keep new hardware under wraps until it can demonstrate a major advance over PlayStation 3.

Despite some suggestions that Sony would show new hardware during its 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing earlier this month, the company did not utter a word about the PlayStation 4. Explaining the console's absence from the show and Sony's wider thoughts about new hardware to MCV, PlayStation CEO Andrew House said gamers should not expect talk of the PS4 until major advances over the PlayStation 3 can be shown.

"The right time to talk about new advances in hardware is when you can demonstrate a significant leap on the current experience, and something that is going to be attractive," he said. "That remains our philosophy. Beyond that we have nothing to say at this point."

A recent analyst report predicts Sony--and Microsoft--will have their respective future-generation consoles on store shelves by the end of next year. Sony's PS4 is rumored to boast the same graphics card as Microsoft's next Xbox, as well as measures to block out used games, though analysts do not find this claim likely.

[gamespot.com]

Wii U in generation of its own - Sony

The Wii U is in a console generation of its own, according to Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida. Speaking to Eurogamer, the executive said he believes when Nintendo launched the Wii in 2006, it in turn created a parallel console cycle that will continue with the company's new console.

"I always thought PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are in the same generation, but Wii was not the same," he said. "To me, the industry was growing really fast when those three platforms came up because the focus is so different. The PS3 and the 360 were the closest in terms of high definition and networked services. But Wii carved out a large niche to itself. To me, it was like two generations going at the same time."

Yoshida added, "Wii U is the next generation of Wii. That I understand. To me, it's its own generation."
The Wii U is due out worldwide this holiday season and is Nintendo's first high-definition console. Its CPU will be powered by an IBM multicore processor and its GPU by an AMD Radeon card.

[gamespot.com]

Xbox 720 launching at $299 with Kinect 2?

A purported Microsoft document has shed light on what the Seattle technology giant may be planning for its next Xbox. The 56-page document posted to posted to Scribd indicates an "Xbox 720" will launch in 2013 at $299 with an updated iteration of Microsoft's motion-control technology, tentatively dubbed "Kinect V2."

The new version of Kinect, according to the document, will support four-player full-body tracking and allow gamers to sit down while playing. On top of this, "Kinect V2" will be able to adapt to players' living rooms, meaning they will not need to move furniture for an optimal experience.
In addition, the document indicates the new Xbox will boast a Blu-ray optical drive and promises "4x-6x" greater power over the Xbox 360. Speculation from earlier this year pointed to a new Xbox boasting a Blu-ray drive, as well as functionality that would curb used games. No mention was made in the document concerning the possibility of the console blocking, or in any way inhibiting, second-hand titles.

On top of this, the document also claims Microsoft is planning to add support for augmented reality glasses for the new Xbox. This endeavor will be called "Fortaleza," and is planned to launch sometime in 2014. The glasses will reportedly run on Wi-Fi and 4G connections.

The literature also indicates that the Xbox 720 will feature some kind of "always on" functionality, but no additional information about this was offered. Microsoft reportedly has high hopes for the technology, as it predicts it will sell 100 million consoles over a 10-year lifespan, according to the documents.

Lastly, the document's "Cloud Value Proposition 2015" section indicates Microsoft is looking to cloud services for its future. The slides suggest Microsoft will offer future software and services through the cloud, thus removing the need to purchase new hardware ever again.
If the report is legitimate, it may not represent Microsoft's current planning for a new Xbox, as the material dates back to the middle of 2010.

As of press time, Microsoft had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment on the matter. For more on the speculation regarding Microsoft's new console--as well as the Wii U and PlayStation 4--check out GameSpot's roundup feature.

[gamespot.com]

NEXT XBOX ALREADY IN MANUFACTURING!!!

Microsoft has said gamers shouldn't expect to see its next gaming console anytime soon, but developers might already be getting their hands on the system. IGN is citing an unspecified source with the news that the next Xbox hardware has entered manufacturing.

The report says hardware for the next Xbox has been produced at the Austin, Texas, branch of electronics firm Flextronics, which was the first manufacturer of the original Xbox and one of three Microsoft initially employed to work on the Xbox 360. The firm also reportedly created a testing group focused specifically on "comprehensive marketing, software, and hardware tests of the next Xbox."

As for what exactly is being produced, IGN speculates Flextronics is producing dev kits so the next Xbox developers have hardware on which to create their games. Microsoft had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time.

[gamespot.com]

Is Microsoft Already Manufacturing the Next Xbox?

The next Xbox console is apparently in the manufacturing stages. According to an IGN source, assembly of the next-generation Xbox hardware started recently at the Austin, Texas branch of Flextronics. This is the same electronics company currently assembling Xbox 360 hardware, and is the manufacturer of the original Xbox.

Prior to reaching the manufacturing stage, Flextronics created a new testing group separate from the rest of the company. This team was solely dedicated to comprehensive marketing, software, and hardware tests of the next Xbox. With that activity concluded, Flextronics started building the hardware -- but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see the Durango soon

[ign.com]

Valve not announcing anything at E3

Valve will not announce Half-Life 3, any sequel to an existing franchise, or hardware at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the company told GameSpot today.

"There are no new Valve product announcements planned for this year's E3," a Valve company spokesperson said.

This follows a Valvetime report from last week (via CVG) that indicated the firm would not make any announcements at E3 2012.

Valve cofounder Gabe Newell recently addressed the wait for Half-Life 3, saying Valve has gone through numerous "twists and turns" to bring the long-awaited game to market, and that remaining silent on the project is actually in the best interest of fans.

Prior to that, rumor had spread that Newell and Apple CEO Tim Cook met at Valve's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Newell quickly shot down this speculation, saying he would enjoy discussing ideas with Cook, but no such meeting occurred.

Valve is also rumored to be at work on a gaming system of its own, described as the "Steam Box." Speculation about this endeavor was further sparked last month, when several job listings at Valve were posted, calling for people to "invent whole new gaming experiences" and "research compelling new hardware technologies."

[gamespot.com]

Valve hints at hardware plans

In a number of job listings on Valve's website, the firm has offered some hints on its future direction. Three of those current listings mention hardware projects--and offer a few details about what the firm might be considering.

Valve is looking for an electronics engineer to join its hardware team, which is creating "whole new gaming experiences," according to the advert. "For years, Valve has been all about writing software that provides great gameplay experiences. Now we’re developing hardware to enhance those experiences," the advert states. Valve seems to be working on a wide range of devices, with the duties of the potential hire including to "produce new types of input, output, and platform hardware."

Valve is looking for a firmware coder too. That role will involve writing firmware for "various input and output devices," the firm said. The aim will be for such devices to "let players interact with their games in ways they’ve never experienced before." Both adverts seek applicants with experience in prototyping new devices.

Finally, the firm is also looking for a psychologist to work in the area. As well as having to "provide relevant insight into human behavior in order to shape gameplay and customer experience," whoever fills the role will have to "research compelling new hardware technologies" to boot.

As recently as March Valve said it was a "long way from shipping any sort of hardware," and that the boxes the firm had previously put together were for internal testing only. Valve had not responded to a request for comment on the implications of these new jobs on its hardware plans at press time.

[gamespot.com ]

Microsoft doubling XBLA gamerscore cap

Gamers thirsting for a bigger gamerscore will be happy to know that beginning next month, all new Xbox Live Arcade games will support up to 400 points, an increase from the current cap at 200.

Additionally, with the update, all new XBLA titles will support up to 30 achievements. This is a spike from the previous cap of 20. This change will be optional for developers from April to May, but beginning in June, all new XBLA games will be required to sport 400 gamerscore points.

No specific titles have been confirmed yet as having 400 gamerscore.
XBLA has a number of new projects in the works, including a game from Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, as well as Fez and Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

[source gamespot.com ]

Xbox Live bug wiping achievements

Xbox 360 players have been accruing achievements and Gamerscores since the system launched more than six years ago, but some of those tallies are being mistakenly reset today.

Microsoft's official Xbox Support Twitter page has been replying to dozens of user complaints about having their achievements wiped out and their Gamerscores reset. Some users reported it happening on startup, while others said they lost their information after downloading a game update or earning a new achievement.

The Xbox Support Twitter page has suggested two remedies to the situation so far, but hasn't said they should work in every case. First, affected users are advised to sign out of their Xbox Live profile and sign back in. If that doesn't work, they are being asked to re-download their Xbox Live profiles. There is also an ongoing thread on the Xbox Live support forums for users to report continuing issues.


[source gamespot.com ]

Report: Next Xbox To Have No Disc Drive

The next Xbox won't contain a physical disc drive, according to a new report.

A source close to British trade magazine MCV claims that Microsoft revealed this information under what it described as "the strictest NDA" they have ever encountered.

While the console will not contain a disc drive, according to the source, the report suggests it will contain "some sort of interchangeable solid-state card storage, although it is not known whether this will be proprietary or a more standard format such as SD."

MCV is also claiming that a 2013 release window for the hardware has been confirmed.

A move to digital-only distribution would be extremely unconventional for Microsoft; if there is any truth to this report, it would be a major blow for traditional retail. Microsoft has yet to officially deny the story.

In response to the report, Microsoft has said, "We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation."

What do you think about the latest murmuring about Microsoft's next console? Let us know in the comments below.

[source ign.com ]

Making Sense of the Valve Steam Box Rumors

It's no secret that PC gaming needs a shot in the arm, and if a recent report from The Verge is to be believed, Valve hopes to deliver one with the Steam Box, a console-sized PC that can compete with consoles and the growing popularity of mobile platforms like Android and iOS.

There's still much we don't know about the alleged device and/or platform -- not the least of which is whether or not it actually exists -- but there's certainly reason to consider it as within the realm of possibility. Despite being responsible for some of the biggest franchises in gaming, a large portion of Valve's business is anchored in the success of Steam, its digital distribution client for PC and Mac. In order for the service to grow, PC gaming has to move beyond the enthusiast market. It has to be mainstream and the Steam Box could be Valve's ace in the hole for making that happen.
The concept, murky as it may be, may actually be pretty sound.



PC gaming has always been marred by the perception that it's a costly pursuit reserved almost exclusively for those with the know-how, resources and interest to build or purchase a

iPad 3 to be revealed March 7

Evidence continues to grow that an iPad 3 announcement is imminent. Today, CNET reports that Apple has invited the tech-sector press to an event to be held on March 7 at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center. The brief invitation promises: "We have something you really have to see. And touch."


CNET's report coincides with a similar dispatch by CNBC this morning claiming to have unearthed new details on the iPad 3's tech specs. According to the site, Apple's latest device boasts a quad-core processor and support for the 4G LTE cellular wireless standard.

The sources did not say when Apple will begin selling the iPad 3, but if its release schedule falls in line with that of the iPad 2, users can expect to have the device a week after it is announced.

Previous speculation on the iPad 3 has indicated that the tablet will have a form factor similar to the iPad 2. That rumor mongering has also suggested that the device will sport a significantly faster processor, a high-definition screen, and 4G LTE network support that will carry data faster than the iPad 2's present 3G speeds.

The iPad has proven to be a phenomenal success for Cupertino, California-based Apple. During its October-December 2011 quarter alone, the company sold 15.43 million units of the tablet device. The most valuable publicly traded company, Apple is currently trading up 1.3 percent to $532.67 per share as of press time

[source gamespot.com]