When the Microsoft Kinect was released, hackers everywhere immediately went to see if they could bend the device to their will, so that they could use it on the PC instead of being limited to just the Xbox 360. Soon 3D imaging hacks were created, a ‘playable sex game’, and even basic controls for PC games. Now, for World of WarCraft fans looking to add a new flavour to their game, there is a Kinect hack for the world’s most famous MMO.
You can do so right now
The World of WarCraft Kinect hack was created by the Institute for Creative Technologies, based at the University of Southern California. And, in case you think it’s a half bake job, limited to just the menu screens and small functions, you are mistaken. The tech allows you to control your WoW character using just gesture-based controls.
FAAST movers toolkit
The clearly MMO loving technical folks over at the institute for Creative Technologies have developed an accompanying toolkit, which they have named FAAST – The Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit. This toolkit will allow users of the tech to tie the Microsoft Kinect image sensing tech on to PC games and virtual reality applications. The implications for gaming and media are obvious, but the team at Southern California believe that we could see medical rehabilitation apps born out of this, too.
Who said Kinect was just mindless entertainment, right?
How does FAAST work?
The freely available toolkit will not be usable by just anybody, naturally, with some programming know-how required to tie it to applications. The way it works is it uses the Xbox 360 camera to map the users body position, gestures and skeleton onto PC keyboard controls, making for a simple switch to motion controlling for historically button-based games.
It’s an inelegant solution, but it works, and this should be enough to get even jaded World of WarCraft players interested again.
Watching the Google Chrome OS reveal on Tuesday, 7 December, one couldn’t help but wonder: ‘what does Microsoft make of this’? The once untouchable and indisputable leader of the operating system landscape is now merely indisputable, with Google’s cloud computing OS launching an interesting charge. However, this only revealed a bigger problem Microsoft is having – fending off a dual assault by Google and Apple both.
Hold your horses
Before naysayers get carried away – and Microsoft defenders attack us – Windows 7 has proven that the Redmond software giant is still the big boss hog of the operating system space. Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system of all time and for good reason – it’s a brilliant piece of technology.
The problem is in key markets, Mac OS X is gaining – even if it just marginally – and Google Chrome OS is extremely promising and most certainly a long term strategy for the search giant. And if these two operating systems can chew just 3-5% of the market share in the next few years, Microsoft will definitely feel the heat.
Mobile is where it’s at, and where Microsoft isn’t
Additionally, as much as we’re fond of Windows Phone 7, it’s got some way to go before it even smells iOS and Android, let alone overtake them. This will only further become a stress factor as mobile operating systems and platforms start to cannibalise core PC sales and PC usage – a reality that is not as unlikely as it sounds.
The silver lining
While the erosion of Microsoft’s core Windows OS business would be financially catastrophic, the company has in recent months proven it has much to smile about. While Windows Phone 7 is struggling against iOS and Google Android, it’s still early days and that tide may turn still.
More importantly, though, the company’s Xbox division continues to prove that it’s a true force in the video gaming space, with its Kinect hardware selling like hotcakes, leading to stock shortages. The point here is Microsoft can take solace in knowing that it is capable of building viable businesses outside of cashcows Windows OS business and the Office business.
Time is a factor
However, the big question is can Microsoft build business units colossal enough that they can replace the revenue lost from the (still unlikely but hugely possible) decline of its operating system business? If the answer is yes to both questions, than MS doesn’t have such a big headache after all. Yet, strangely, we have reason to believe it isn’t so simple.
Microsoft released very impressive Q1 earnings numbers yesterday, besting even the most bullish of analysts’ expectations. Even with the company’s back being against the wall and CEO Steve Ballmer coming under increasing pressure to have a homerun success with Windows 7, Microsoft posted impressive numbers, once again confirming that the areas in which the company is strong are areas nobody can compete with them in.
Revenue
Microsoft Q1 revenue sat at $16.2 billion (£10,15b), representing a notable 25% increase for the same period last year. General market sentiment had expected revenue at $15.8 billion (£9,9b). Of this revenue, net income totaled $5.41 billion (£3,39), representing a massive 51% leap over net income from the same time last year.
Windows 7 explosion, Office growth and Xbox success
What was key about the report was that every single one of Microsoft’s business units saw growth year-on-year. But, even then, it was the old stalwarts – Windows and Office – that lead the charge. Leading the charge in growth was Windows, which saw revenue soar 66% to $4.8 billion (£3b). This is unsurprising, considering Microsoft recently revealed they had sold an amazing 240 million licenses for its latest desktop OS.
Microsoft Office revenue was up a respectable 15% in the first full quarter the recently released Office 2010 was trading in. Microsoft no doubt hope Office 2011 for Mac can do similar wonders for its business.
The fast stabling entertainment division got a notable push, too, from the Xbox 360 console’s sales increase of 33%, with Halo: Reach doing $350 million (£219,35m) in revenue. This, too, is unsurprising since Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 slim in this period, and, more importantly, the console, solidifying its presence and importance in gaming. The Xbox team no doubt hopes the upcoming release of Kinect will help keep this Microsoft revenue momentum.
Still a cloud of doubt
Microsoft, who for their part must feel like they can’t get the favour of analysts or journalists, still operate their business under a cloud of doubt. Even with Microsoft revenue being very impressive, there remains doubt about MS’ ability to make the shift to the cloud and away from the desktop. Furthermore it’s still very early to tell whether Windows Phone 7 will be the big success Microsoft no doubt hopes it will be. For our money, it’s unwise to rule the house Bill Gates built out of the smartphone race just yet. The Xbox 360 showed that MS is capable of closing and turning a huge lead conceded to competitors, so who knows.
We’re only two weeks away from what looks to be one of the best video game launches ever, and so that means it’s time for another Black Ops recap. A lot has been happening recently, including multiplayer leaks, possible pirated copies, zombies, new info on the single-player and more.
Pirated version out?
Perhaps the biggest bit of Call of Duty: Black Ops news is the rumours that the game has already been pirated and is currently available on many torrents across the web. Considering Halo: Reach was pirated a full month before its release, and we’ve only got 2 weeks to go until Black Ops breaks cover, a major leak like this shouldn’t be altogether surprising. Fortunately for Activision, however, it turns out the pirated copy on torrent sites was actually a fake.
Stolen copies?
The major publisher isn’t in the clear just yet though, as other pirate rumours are proving to be more genuine. For instance, there are whispers ‘potential pirates’ do have hard copies of the game (rumoured to be stolen) and got them as early as last week. There’ve even been YouTube videos (quickly taken down) of people loading the disc in their Xbox to prove the point. As expected, however, Activision is hunting down anyone who may have their hands on a pre-release unlicenced Black Ops, but less expected, the company is taking a ‘soft hands‘ approach on most of these pirates (perhaps Activision aren’t such bad guys after all?). At any rate, even without Black Ops being bootlegged on every torrent, more and more tantalising tidbits of information are still being leaked at a rapid rate.
Beta videos
Treyarch’s decision not to have an open beta with Black Ops was met with dismay by many, primarily due to the fact it will increase the chances of bugs and glitches come launch. Besides the concern over potential bugs, the other major complaint is of course the fact that we won’t all be able to play it and see Call of Duty Black Ops beforehand. Thankfully, even though the public at large hasn’t been given access to the beta, that hasn’t stopped the closed beta participants from faithfully leaking info, not to mention Treyarch themselves.
Photo: YouTube
Multiplayer details
Most of the Black Ops beta videos on YouTube are getting removed fairly quickly by Activision, but that hasn’t stopped us and other sites from watching many of them and learning some extra details regarding guns, maps, and game play modes. For instance, we’ve seen various popular maps like Launch, Summit or Cracked in the beta videos. But even better, we’ve also had a full multiplayer map list for Call of Duty Black Ops leak out (see photo above). From our count there are a total of 14 maps at launch, with 3 large maps, 9 medium and two small. Then there are the different gameplay modes, which could be Black Ops’ biggest selling point.
RC Car Race?
Along with the map list, we’ve also gotten a full (unconfirmed) game mode list too. The list is obviously subject to change and only applicable to beta, so some might not make it to the final release. Some ones we really hope do make the cut include the RC car race (RC cars were used to blow up people in the game). Unfortunately an old CoD favourite, War, which was included on the list, has in fact been cancelled. Treyarch also already shed some light on one of the other very interesting online modes: Wager matches.
Wager matches
See the above video for more details, but basically Wager matches include four different modes in which players compete for money and in our opinion these could be a real highlight of any Call of Duty Black Ops experience. With One in the Chamber, players have only one bullet in their pistol, otherwise they have to melee opposing players, although killing someone does let you loot their bullet. Sticks and Stones, meanwhile, features a crossbow, knife and tomahawk, plus the best part: if you kill someone with your tomahawk you bankrupt them and make them lose all their money. Put simply, the wager modes look like a lot of fun, and it’s great to see Treyarch being so innovative here.
No quick-scoping
Oh, and for those of you who love quick-scoping in Modern Warfare 2, Treyarch has confirmed you won’t be able to use your dirty tricks in Black Ops, as quick scoping has been entirely eliminated.
Campaign personality
With the multiplayer looking so incredible, you’d probably wonder why you should ever even bother playing the campaign. Well, in addition to some of the stealth like mission we’ve seen earlier, with extra gory kill scenes (which have sadly been toned down), an actual story and, of course, non stop action, there’s another reason to go for the single-player mode: the main character and protaganist, Alex Mason, will actually have personality. When we say personality, what we mean is that he’ll actually talk, something CoD protagonists have failed to do in the past, and hopefully the dialogue will be a little more exciting than Mason’s generic name.
Zombie trailer
Lastly, new zombie info has leaked out, this time in the form of a teaser trailer. At this point we can essentially conclude that Zombies are confirmed for the game, and not just some mod or prank.
Exceed the hype?
With its very very promising looking multiplayer, wager matches, crossbows, zombies, 3D, story driven single-player, co-op mode, CoD legacy and much more, it looks like Black Ops might actually live up to the enormous hype and perhaps even exceed it.
Two more weeks
The game has a RRP of £54.99 and will go on sale in two weeks, on November 9th, 2010. Since Black Ops is widely expected to have one of the best game launches ever, it’s safe to say retailers will be heavily discounting the game on launch weekend as has happened in the past. Currently, theBlack Ops console price isn’t dipping below £40 (the Black Ops PC version is nearly at £30), but expect that to change in under 2 weeks time as everyone tries to get into the action. Basically, on launch weekend, we predict you’ll easily be able to find an Xbox 360/PS3 copy for at least £30, as long as they’re not sold out that is.
Halo, the epic Xbox series needs no introduction and neither does Halo: Reach, the latest, and possibly last, installment hitting the UK on September 14th – in less than a week’s time. With the full version already released to the press, an open multiplayer beta and a pirated leak, we already know a whole lot about the monster title and, fortunately, it’s all good – very very good.
Next big Halo game
The very last we’ve seen of Bungie was the Halo 3: ODST expansion released nearly a year ago and really, with Halo 3 coming out in 2007, fans have been longing for a major advancement in the popular series; well, Halo Reach is it, in a big way. Not only is it the next major title, but it actually initiates some very fundamental changes, unlike other titles in the series. Development on the game was already wrapped up a month ago, and, for those fans honest enough not to download a pirated copy, all that’s left to do is wait. Of course, in the meanwhile we can devour every piece of information available and, so, we present to you a preview of the major changes, most single-player campaign and multiplayer related, that Halo fans can expect.
Multiplayer looking good
We’ll start with the multiplayer, since this aspect makes up 95% of any Halo player’s game time. Moreover, with Halo: Reach’s open multiplayer beta for anyone who bought ODST, there aren’t a lot of surprises and we already have the low down on most all the details. Aside from a few complaints regarding the power of blast grenades, or the overpowered plasma launcher, the Halo: Reach multiplayer Beta was very well received by reviewers and Halo fans alike.
New modes, weapons, and game mechanics
With its entirely new engine, jetpacks, different classes, assassination kills from behind, armour, customisable emblems and, most noticeably, new mechanics which affect your character’s movement and shooting, the Reach multiplayer has a lot of, very cool, additions and changes. Then there are the new gameplay modes, including Invasion, Headhunter, which sees you collecting skulls off of dead players, Stockpile and Generator Defense, not to mention improvements made to well known modes like Arena and Forge. The best part: nearly all the changes and improvements made to the multiplayer have been for the better or have added a new dimension to the gameplay. Although it’s taken some getting used to for the Halo faithful, we can say with confidence that Halo: Reach actually feels like a truly new Halo game, without breaking anything in the process.
10X better than Halo 3?
Halo Reach producer Joseph Tung, himself an avid Halo multiplayer fan, calls the online gaming action in Reach ten times better than Halo 3. He’s not just being hyperbolic, as there actually is enough here to make the action feel different and better than Halo 3 – maybe not ten times better, but you get the idea. Moreover, with Bungie making the necessary tweaks based on the beta feedback, we can only expect the online Xbox live action to be even more improved from what beta testers experienced earlier this year.
Epic campaign promised
While multiplayer might steal the Halo show, there are still plenty of people who enjoy, or even prefer, the campaign mode, whether playing co-op or single player. Bungie, it seems, have produced something truly epic for the fans in terms of the story, and gameplay.
Setting
The game is set in 2552, before the first Halo game took place, and, as the title indicates, takes place on the human colony of Reach. Of course, as any Halo players know, Reach later gets completely destroyed (save for one man) and we get to relive these cataclysmic events in Halo Reach.
Huge battles including some in space
The setting makes for some much larger, more cinematic battle sequences, which help the player feel truly involved an actual doomed war. Even some space battles are included (as you can see from the trailer below). We couldn’t ask for a better or more epic setting and Halo: Reach definitely looks set to deliver big time on the campaign front as well.
Last Halo game?
The Halo series is not officially officially over, but with Bungie now working with Activision and not Microsoft, there’s a very good chance Halo: Reach is the 10 year FPS series’ last hurray. Or at least, it will be the last Halo game developed by Bungie. At any rate, Halo: Reach, with its new engine, game mechanics, much improved graphics, overhauled multiplayer and very promising looking campaign mode, looks to be one of the biggest hits of 2010 and a definite must-have for any Halo fan or Xbox 360 owner.
Photo: Microsoft
Why go limited when you can go legendary?
With Bungie leaving and Halo possibly ending forever, simply releasing Halo: Reach along with a standard limited edition wasn’t enough; No, Microsoft had to do something special, something legendary. Officially known as the Halo Reach Legendary Edition, this extra packed version of the game includes all the extras of the standard Halo Reach limited edition, including a developer journal, elite armour for multiplayer use, and goodies about the Halo universe, as well as something more. That something more is an actual specially crafted and fairly large Noble Team statue, with all team members attached, a unique on-fire Spartan helmet that you can show off in multiplayer, and a very cool looking UNSC themed box with everything packed inside. Of course, a legendary collector’s edition demands a legendary price, although die-hard Halo fanboys shouldn’t have too much justifying the £100 or so we’ve seen it going for.
Question: how do you illicit anger in millions of gamers worldwide? Answer: by increasing the subscription fee for your already pricey online gaming service, that’s how! Microsoft showed gamers, and the world, the blueprint to upsetting your customers. But is the price hike for MS’s popular Xbox Live service justifiable?
Price increase across the board
Major Nelson – real name Larry Hryb – announced the hike with a statement issued on his blog, which read: ‘Since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same.’ That’s called buttering them up before laying them down. Now for the laying part: ‘We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry.’
So, what is the new pricing, exactly?
The price increase will take effect 1 November 2010 and will affect gamers in the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK. US gamers, who are accustomed to paying $7.99, $19.99 or $49.99 for a one month, three month, or twelve month subscription, respectively, will now pay $9.99, $24.99, and $59.99 over the same periods. In Canada, the price of a one month gold subscription will go from $8.99 CAD to $9.99 CAD. In Mexico 12 month gold goes from 499 pesos to 599 pesos. Finally, for us in the UK, the only price hike will be for the one month gold subscription, where we’ll go from paying £4.99 to £5.99 for Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Everybody else need not worry – prices aren’t changing for you.
Why the long face? Here, have a gift
Photo: J.VillaretePhoto / Flickr
As if to put a smile on all those sad US gamers’ faces, Microsoft is offering a temporary discount on the Xbox Live subscription, wherein you pay $39.99 for a live subscription, representing a 20 per cent discount over the formerly normal $49.99 price tag. Expect gamers to snap up this option en masse, by the way.
Be smart – circumvent the system anyway
We’re still advocates of buying cards and subscriptions for the Xbox Live service outside of Microsoft’s channels. Stores online sell them for notably cheaper, and are significantly more convenient, too.
But back to the question, is it justified? Surely it’s relative. No price increase in eight years is a significant achievement, but, even then, with PSN being free, it seems a hard pill to swallow. I mean, it’s not as if the service isn’t already making bucket loads of money. Now, compare that to how much people pay for WoW monthly, suddenly Live seems more palatable. It’s all relative, and the truth is, we’re not about to jump ship in protest – it’s just too good a service to do so for a measly pound, for us Brits. For our US friends, though, it’s a whole other story.
As curious onlookers from all corners of the technology world await the Windows Phone 7 series launch, an interesting report has emerged claiming Microsoft is going to spend in the region of $500 million (around £320 million) to jumpstart the new mobile OS platform.
When the game is not in your court…
Throw money at the problem! That’s the thinking many big companies have to industries they’re struggling to dominate. And, according to a fascinating TechCrunch report, that’s precisely what Microsoft plans to do for its Windows Phone 7 series launch period.
This money will be spent on marketing costs, courting developers to the programme, as well as subsidizing handset manufacturers for the development of hopefully flagship phones for the mobile OS platform. Microsoft knows what many of us suspect, this may be their visit to the ‘last chance saloon’.
The come-up, part 2
The great Windows Phone 7 series foray isn’t the first time Microsoft tries to play catch up with other leaders in particular industries. The Xbox console, which challenged the Nintendo Gamecube and the Playstation 2 came in last place in that console cycle, and outside of Halo, was a market validation experiment more than anything else. Its successor, the Xbox 360, however, is a completely different story, being the highest selling console in North America, second highest selling overall, and raking in stupid monies with its Xbox Live service.
Microsoft pray a similar situation will unfold in the mobile OS business. But we’re sceptical. First, Microsoft doesn’t have just two competitors, it has three active ones in the form of Google Android, the iPhone, and RIM, and a dormant-yet-dangerous-if-stirred Nokia, too. Even HP with its webOS platform could be a major contender. Needless to say, $500 million or not, it’s not going to be easy for Windows Phone 7 to get a foothold.
Do you think Microsoft’s mobile OS platform has a hope in hell, or is this money being thrown in the wind?
Never prepared to let Apple take the spotlight alone, the Microsoft earnings report shows that MS just had the best quarter in its history, with revenue exceeding $16 billion.For those keeping score, that is more than Apple’s $15.7 billion revenue, if only just, but with better margins, to boot.
Pretty numbers
Analysts, on average, expected Microsoft’s revenue to be around $15.3 billion, which Microsoft handily beat, posting revenue of $16.04 billion and net profit of $4.52 billion. Since Microsoft’s financial year starts in the middle of the year, this was in fact the software giant’s Q4 earnings report. As is customary with year-end reports, Microsoft gave its full results for the final year, with revenue totaling $62.48 billion, which is 7 per cent greater than that of 2009. Net income leaped by a very impressive29 per cent to peak out at $18.67 billion.
Windows 7, you beauty
Windows 7 contributed a massive portion of those revenues mentioned in the Microsoft earnings report, with the company revealing it has sold over 175 million licenses for its latest operating system already. At one point, Microsoft was selling seven licenses per second of its Windows 7 OS. And deservedly, if we may add – it’s a very good piece of kit, a worthy entry to take the mantle from Windows XP as Microsoft’s best operating system to date.
Office 2010 performed admirably, too, which was expected, since it forms one half of Microsoft’s one-two revenue and profits combo.
What do you want from us?
Steve Ballmer and his executive team at Microsoft may feel a pinch of helplessness, though, because even with these better than expected results, investors aren’t showing much confidence in the company, with little stock price movement since the announcement.
Here cometh the big one
Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft is about to enter into, quite possibly, the fiercest battle it has ever been involved in in its storied history – the smartphone industry. With developer builds of Windows Phone 7 Series handsets shipping, Microsoft has finally shown its hand. And, though it’s early to say, we think they may have a chance. Perhaps slim initially, but if the way they muscled into the gaming industry with the Xbox 360 is any sign, Microsoft is willing to wait for investments to pay off.
But neither Google, nor Apple, nor RIM or even the weakened giant that is Nokia will budge an inch. The stakes – and financial windfall – are simply too high to let go.
This Microsoft earnings report is far better than investors are giving Microsoft credit for, with Windows 7 continuing to impress. Windows Phone 7 Series, however, is about to start swimming for its life.
PC gamers and Xbox 360 gamers alike are in unison in agreeing that BioWare is one of the best developers on the planet. Not just in RPGs, where it is paralleled only by the brilliant Bethesda of Fallout 3 fame, but in gaming in general. So when a company like that says it is looking into integrating Microsoft Kinect into Mass Effect 3, even hardcore gamers sit up and listen.
True gamers will eventually benefit
Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz(free subscription required), Bioware bigwig Greg Zeschuk said his team was keen to explore the motion technology. He confessed that he thought the first wave of games would be the casual titles, saying ‘Phase one of those is the dancing, fitness and party games, the sword-swinging games.’ He continued, saying ‘where it gets really interesting is when developers like us can tear it all down and ask: “What can we actually do in a game like Mass Effect?” Can we create a greater sense of immersion during conversations by using gestures? I think we probably could and I think that’s [what] we’ll explore.’
Not doing Dance Dance Krogan
Being friendly with his quotables, Greg Zeschuk continued talking about potential gesture controls in Mass Effect 3, saying ‘We’re not going to do a party game, we’re not going to do Dance Dance Krogan for Mass Effect. The reality is it’s going to have a really positive impact.’
One has to admit, though, Dance Dance Krogan would be awesome! We can picture it already.
Pedigree
Photo: Microsoft
BioWare has had an impressive few seasons – in post WC football parlance – releasing the very good Mass Effect, and following that on with the undeniably brilliant sequel to the series, as well as releasing Dragon Age: Origins, and its multitude of sequels.
The point is, if developers like BioWare use Microsoft Kinect and implement it well, it’s likely the hardcore gamers who have been dismissive of it will begin to sit up and pay attention. We already know Mass Effect 3 is going to be awesome, and perhaps Microsoft Kinect can make our hopes of seeing Dance Dance Krogan as a mini-game come true.
In the meantime, Mass Effect 2 and its brilliant predecessor are available in-stores.
Bobby Kotick recently expressed his displeasure at contributing a central experience to Xbox Live without seeing any financial payoff from the system. Now that information regarding just how much money Microsoft are making from Xbox Live subscriptions has emerged, we can’t say we blame him.
Over $1 billion in annual revenue
Through piecing different pieces of information, Gamesindustry.biz (free subscription required) has discovered that Microsoft make more than $1.2 billion (£790 million) annually on a combination of Live subscription and downloadable content. Microsoft now have over 25 million XBLA subscribers and more than 50 per cent of these subscribers have a gold subscription – accounting for around $600 million (£395 million). In an interview since, Xbox COO Dennis Durkin revealed that more than half of the total Xbox Live revenue came from digital downloads, adding at least another $600 million (£395 million). That’s a whole host of money we spend on DLC, Xbox Live Arcade games, themes and, shudder, Avatar fashion accessories.
Buy smarter, please?
Photo: Dan Coulter / Flickr
Most Xbox Live subscription and Xbox Live Arcade points are bought directly online due to the ease of simply punching in a few credit card details and processing a transaction. Savvy gamers have discovered, though, that if you buy Xbox Live subscription cards and if you buy Xbox Live Arcade points from retailers online, you get them forless than the price Microsoft itself charges. Some online retailers even email the vouchers to you instantly, so that you don’t have to wait. It just makes sense and, by the calculations above, Microsoft don’t need anymore of your Xbox Live subscription money, now do they?
Years down the line, even though many gamers are still not happy with having to pay for the XBL subscription, do you think it’s been worth your money? And which titles dominate your gaming time?
