All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Microsoft has officially revealed a new Xbox 360 (the same one we already saw in that Italian ad) with a 250GB HDD, built-in Wi-Fi, a shiny new coat of glossy black paint, and, insanely enough, it's shipping to retailers right now. Attendees of today's presser got free ones, so you can expect us to be giving away as many as we can, as soon as we can. It seems Ben Heck was pretty much on the money when he walked us through the alleged Slim motherboard in March.

We're touching the new, slimmer Xbox 360 right now at the Microsoft E3 event, and we've got more details on the console and its hardware. The new Xbox has touch-sensitive on/off and eject buttons and built-in 802.11n wi-fi. There are ports for optical audio, A/V, HDMI, and a custom port for the Kinect connection, as well as five USB ports. The power supply is all new and much smaller, and the console itself is "whisper quiet," with just one large fan instead of two, placed specifically on the side of the console to improve acoustics. The system makes a little chime when you flip it on as well.

The hard drive is 250GB, and there's a tab on the bottom that you can pull out to replace it if necessary. The case is black and glossy, smaller and thinner than the white version. The console will come with one wireless controller, and that controller will be backwards compatible with previous versions of the hardware. All of the accessories are black, including the chatpad. It feels lighter to hold than the original Xbox -- not that you'd be moving it around much.

We're continuing to prod and poke at the new hardware -- stay tuned for more details on the new Xbox 360 as E3 continues this week.

The Kinect price has remained elusive, even after Microsoft's E3 keynote, but a new GameStop listing predicts a MSRP of $150 for the product itself -- $299 when included with an Arcade console and $399 with an Elite console. Even Kinect Adventures! and Kinect Sports are priced on the retailer's site: $60 each. It's as if a million gamers cringed and were suddenly disinterested.

It's hardly confirmation of Microsoft's intended price point for the device, but the $150 price point (along with the proposed bundle packages) corroborates a rumor we reported on late last month. We've got troops on the ground at Microsoft's post-keynote session and will try to find out what we can. We'll keep you posted.

Check out The Sims 3 for console and handheld’s new gameplay trailer plus tune into the live E3 press conference where The Sims 3 will be featured. http://www.ea.com/1/e3 The Sims 3 for console and handheld will be featured in EA’s booth behind closed doors and will have a huge video wall in the LA [...]

EA's fitness title announced for the Xbox 360's newly named motion control system.

#crytek At Microsoft's E3 news conference, live now, Crysis maker Crytek revealed via live action trailer it's working on an Xbox 360 exclusive game, Codename Kingdoms. The game appears to have a sword-and-sandals theme, featuring brutal combat sequences. More »

#e3 We already saw a bit of gameplay from Treyarch's upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops, but this E3 trailer shows us some interesting surprises. More »

The first news from EA's E3 presentation is out -- without anyone having to say a thing. The console version of The Sims 3 will launch on Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, and DS on October 26, according to ... this banner!

We'd like to imagine that our Sims are learning the news of several new vacation spots in their own virtual, all-Simlish E3.

[Thanks, Ryan]

#xbox360 These are the specs for the new Xbox 360. What's with the "custom Kinect port"? More »

It's console time.

Microsoft announced at this morning's E3 event that the Kinect system will interact with very popular Forza series. So we'll get this out of the way right now: yes, you will be able to play Kinect Forza. Whew -- glad we could get that one out.

And you won't just be driving with a nonexistent steering wheel -- Microsoft showed someone actually walking around and inspecting the car with the Kinect system, as well as opening up the hood, waving a hand to shut the doors, and hovering a virtual cursor over various parts to open up menus of information. Turn 10 is developing, and a release date was given as 2011, but it's not clear yet whether this is added functionality to a current version of Forza, or a completely new game. We'll let you know when we do.

It's a wide variety of games ... although we hope you really, really, really like work-outs.

Jogging in place isn't just for crossing walk wait times any more.

#xbox360 The new 250GB, Wi-fi included Xbox 360, seen sitting idly by the also new Kinect for Xbox 360, as seen outside Microsoft's E3 2010 briefing. It's already on the way to stores. More »

The historic Orpheum Theater, home to EA's E3 2009 keynote [photo]
The Electronic Arts E3 keynote starts in just over an hour, at the historic Orpheum Theater (fun fact: That's where it was last year, also!). Before things really get going, make sure to read our pre-E3 interview with CEO John Riccitiello beforehand, and let us know what you want to see most. Us? Another Mirror's Edge game, please!

Split squats make for a compelling new picture of EA Active 2.

#japan Meet Ayako Imoto. The 24-year-old actress appears on variety programs. And this Nintendo DS drawing of her is not entirely accurate. More »

Here it is: the eagerly anticipated (and one might argue, long overdue) Xbox 360 Slim. First outed by an Italian ad yesterday, the redesigned Xbox is an angular take on the Xbox 360 frame. We've got some pics, fresh from Microsoft's keynote. Head into the gallery for the full experience.

In case you missed Yoostar 1 (we did), here are some pictures of the sequel.

Sonic Free Riders has been officially announced as one of the fifteen launch games for Xbox Kinect. Of course, you knew about this thanks to the Joystiq Superspy[TM]. Gameplay wasn't shown at Microsoft's E3 press conference, but if it's a launch game, it's bound to be playable on the E3 show floor, right?

In addition to Sonic Free Riders, other launch games announced for Kinect include EA Sports Active 2.0 and a game based on The Biggest Loser.

Though we caught a glimpse of it at last night's Kinect unveiling, Harmonix has put Dance Central on the stage of Microsoft's E3 2010 press conference. Developed in collaboration with MTV Games, the fully-featured rhythm game will offer 600 moves and 90 routines (that's dance parlance) when it launches alongside Kinect in November. It'll also support up to three players and, as with Harmonix's other titles, post-launch DLC.

If Harmonix can put out Portal songs as Rock Band DLC, a "Natal Rave" download can't be outside the realms of possibility.

A year after its reveal, Microsoft's controller-free add-on has an official launch date of November 4, 2010.

The Kinect will also have 15 launch titles, we've listed several after the break.

Microsoft has officially revealed a new Xbox 360 (the same one we already saw in that Italian ad) with a 250GB HDD, built-in Wi-Fi, a shiny new coat of glossy black paint, and, insanely enough, it's shipping to retailers right now. Attendees of today's presser got free ones, so you can expect us to be giving away as many as we can, as soon as we can.

#e3 Microsoft has nailed down November 4 as the release date for the Kinect control system, with 15 titles available at launch. More »

#e3 Microsoft unveiled its smaller, sleeker Xbox 360 design, packing a 250GB hard drive and built-in wireless-n. Microsoft's Don Mattrick said it will be in stores by the end of the week, and will still cost $299. More »

The new Xbox 360 redesign is smaller, quieter, and here now.

Meet the new monster.