Hasta La Gadget!

The launch of a new game console is a fairly unique event in this industry. Unlike a smartphone or tablet, you don’t see a new one released every year, or even every five years, and you likely don’t have to worry about it feeling outdated a few months after you buy one. This year, we’re getting two, with Microsoft and Sony jockeying for position to be the choice of gamers this holiday season. We saw that sparring at E3 earlier this summer, and it was again on display at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, where Sony made news with a release date for the PlayStation 4, among other things.

We didn’t get a date for the Xbox One from Microsoft, but the company did have plenty of other things to announce and show off. Read on for a recap — or a refresher, as the case may be.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft

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Microsoft Xbox corporate VP Phil Harrison isn’t worried that making publishing open on Xbox One will flood the console’s storefront with junk. In fact, he welcomes the impending flood. “I hope we have to deal with tens of thousands of games,” Harrison told Engadget in an interview this week during Gamescom 2013.

Harrison and co. unveiled the Xbox One’s indie-friendly publishing approach this week, dubbed “ID@Xbox” or Independent Developers @ Xbox, which allows game makers to self-publish on the upcoming next-gen console. After a short approval process, small studios or individual game creators can make their game available digitally via the Xbox Live Marketplace. “That will demonstrate that our platform is a really attractive place for creators to build games for,” Harrison added, in reference to dealing with a flood of indie content potentially hitting the Xbox One. “We will measure success by whether new and exciting experiences come to our platform.”

Head past the break for the full interview with Harrison, where we cover everything from his inauspicious gaming origins (he started developing games at 14!) to the future of Xbox One.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft

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With the next-generation Xbox and PlayStation nearing their release dates, third-party peripheral makers are now working full force to launch gaming products that can be used alongside the new consoles. Mad Catz, for one, has already shown us its Arcade Fightstick, and now we can add the Force Feedback Racing Wheel to the company’s lineup of Xbox One add-ons. The newly announced driving rig comes with twin Force Feedback motors, a replaceable wheel face and an adjustable pedal set, making it easy for gamers to fine-tune it to make it as comfortable as possible — because you need to feel extra cozy during Forza Motorsport 5 time. Pricing and availability for the Force Feedback Racing Wheel are still unknown, but surely we’ll find out those details as we get closer to the holiday season.%Gallery-slideshow73259%

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

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Source: Mad Catz

So, you want an Xbox One? Do you really want one though… like, really? How do you know? Maybe the interface is terrible. That’s something you’ll just have to ponder until you play one. Well, that’s only partly true, we sat down with Microsoft today at Gamescom for a bit of a tour. The bad news? Microsoft wasn’t quite confident enough to let us show you the interface with photos or video, due to its pre-release nature. The good news? We’re going to paint you a word picture instead! The results await after the break.

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GameStop announced earlier this month they would be holding a promotion that would allow Xbox 360 owners to upgrade select games to the Xbox One version, and today, Amazon has jumped on the Xbox 360 to Xbox One game-upgrade bandwagon. (more…)

Amazon Promotion Upgrades Xbox 360 Games To Xbox One For $10 original content from Ubergizmo.