Microsoft crows about the Xbox

Posted by: Caleb Welty at Jan. 6, 2011 9:25 am

When Steve Ballmer stepped on stage at CES 2011 he had this to say, "Xbox 360, Xbox Live and Kinect have made 2010 the best in our history."

He wasn't kidding. In the last 60 days they have sold 8 million Kinects and more gaming consoles than any other company. Wondering how many 360s they've sold? Over 50 million. Plus Xbox Live now has 30 million users and is adding a new member ever 2 seconds.

The clear message here is that the Kinect has been a major success for Microsoft. It has handily beat their estimated sales number of 5 million and has re-energized the Xbox 360.

Steve Ballmer also used the event to announce that Hulu Plus is coming to Xbox Live with Kinect controls. Netflix will also be adding Kinect controls in an upcoming update.

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Source: TNW

Filters: X360, All Genres

Tags: Microsoft Game Studios

Tteen

Posted: Mar. 5, 2012 6:10 am

Rating: 0

Make no mistake about it, The Gunstringer is one of the traegest titles on the Kinect. This isn't a game that will have you doing jumping jacks or posing like Madonna, but it will definitely have you rolling on the ground in laughter and sheer enjoyment. If you haven't played this already, you may want to start downloading the free demo to your Xbox 360 now, so it is ready to play by the time you are done reading this review. In the days of overcharging and under delivering in video games, it is a breath of fresh air to play a game that you just know is worth the money spent. Sometimes I wonder if game developers enjoy their job, especially if they make us suffer through certain misery of their games. Twisted Pixel has no such problem. It is evident from the opening credits that they love their job. What is The Gunstringer? This is a game about a skeleton cowboy marionette, making his way through the wild west with vengeance on his mind. Remember how Shakespeare said something about the world being a stage? Well, in this game, you are literally on a stage in front of a human audience. Ever since their hilarious use of the green screen in Comic Jumper, Twisted Pixel has found clever ways to jump into their games and blur the line between fourth walls and immersion. The end result is a video game experience unlike any other.The controls are flawless. Whether you are shooting down dynamite being thrown at you, jumping over canyons, dodging giant balls of Capt'n Crunch, or fist pounding some ugly croc bastard, you will be in total and effortless control. Controls work sitting down or standing up. I'm almost convinced they would even work hanging upside down from my ceiling. The story is spread across several acts in several stories. Each act can be replayed to try and obtain higher scores or earn more money. There are online leaderboards to compare yourself with others on your friends list. Money is used to buy extras, such as difficulty levels, cameo appearances, or making of videos, etc. Twisted Pixel has always been generous in what they include in their games. Besides a good amount of gamer pics and avatar items, they are also including a free downloadable copy of Fruit Ninja and their first downloadable content, The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles. Speaking of which, is almost worth buying the game just to try. The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles reminds me of the days where I put a quarter in at the fair and can shoot various silly targets in a booth. Going back to the controls, that is essentially what makes this game shine. This isn't your typical Kinect game, where the Kinect is reading your whole body. Most of the game, one hand holds the marionette wand and the other hand holds the gun. One hand moves the Gunstringer and the other hand kills every bad guy or gal that fills the screen. Shooting is a breeze with a lock-on ability and a flick of the wrist. Sometimes you'll be granted other scenarios and abilities, but that is the gist of it.The game has local two player support, where the second player can drop in and out as they please. As mentioned earlier, there are also online leaderboards for bragging rights. While the game is friendly for controls and laughter, it is not so friendly in front of children. There are a lot of adult themes throughout the game that should be considered before letting a younger having a go at this. Overall, with the level of production value, humor and love, this game is an instant masterpiece. Very rarely do I get the opportunity to play a game that charms within minutes of playing. This game tells a story, has a lot of fun, and is an excellent display of Kinect controls. I can't think of any reason not to recommend this fully to every Kinect owner out there.