Hasta La Gadget!

Cross-platform game compatibility and syncing aren’t anything new, but there have been few if any games that truly make us feel at home when we switch devices. Developer 17-Bit’s just-launched Skulls of the Shogun bucks that trend in style as the first game with a unified experience across every one of Microsoft’s platforms. Start a game on a Windows 8 or RT PC, Windows Phone or Xbox 360, and cloud saves will carry over with nary a hitch in sight. Turn-based multiplayer works the same way: anyone involved in a match can play from whichever device is convenient, rather than give up a big screen or mobility. We just wish the undead strategy game’s prices enjoyed the same level of consistency — Skulls costs $5 on Windows Phone, $10 on Windows PCs and 1,200 points on the Xbox. Still, we’ll bite if it means squeezing in one more round on our Surface.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets, Software, Microsoft

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Via: Windows Phone Blog

Source: Microsoft (1), (2), (3)

Microsoft added a cloud storage feature to the Xbox 360 in its fall 2011 dashboard update, but today an outage has taken it offline for the last several hours and counting. As noted by Joystiq, trying to access your cloud saves is resulting in a 0x807b0198 error for many, although other parts of XBL like streaming video services and multiplayer gaming profiles are unaffected. For the moment, we were able to copy/move some of our saves from the cloud cache on our hard drive (Settings –> storage –> cloud storage) to the normal hard drive section, and access them from there. Your mileage may vary, but otherwise you’ll just need to keep an eye out the XBL dashboard status page to see when things are back to normal. There’s no word yet on when it will be fully restored, but a message there says engineers are working on a fix. We’re not missing the old “gamertag recovery” feature the cloud system replaced and upgraded, but any significant outage is certainly enough to make us think about keeping our saves backed up on a memory card in a safe place — just in case.

Update: We noticed our cloud saves were back online early Sunday although the status page indicated work was continuing, and now (3AM ET~ Monday) Major Nelson and Xbox Support have tweeted that the issues are resolved. Additionally, General Manager of Xbox Live Alex Garden said in a post on MN’s blog that the reason it took so long to restore was to ensure the integrity of all game saves. The small silver lining for those affected? A free month of Xbox Live Gold will be automatically added to their subscriptions.

Filed under: Gaming

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Via: Joystiq

Source: Xbox Live status, Xbox Support (Twitter), Major Nelson

Gamers yearning for the promise of more than just ESPN 3 on the Xbox 360 have finally gotten what they’ve been waiting for. As of today, WatchESPN has landed for Xbox Live Gold Members, packing live network programming through channels including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Goal Line / Buzzer Beater. In order to take advantage of the app on Ballmer and Co.’s gaming box, you’ll need service from a cable provider that offers WatchESPN. Those who’re content with only ESPN 3 will still just need an Xbox Live Gold subscription and an internet connection from an “affiliated provider.” Along with live content, the app also brings split screen channel viewing, game reminders, a personalized “My Sports” section and more. According to Microsoft’s Major Nelson, an Xbox SmartGlass companion experience for ESPN, NBA and SportsPicks will be available come December. For those eager to spend some quality time with Sports Center and Mike an Mike in the Morning, look out below for more details in the press release.

Continue reading WatchESPN lands on Xbox Live with split screen viewing and more

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft

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Via: Major Nelson

Source: ESPN

Microsoft has thrown an additional two Xbox 360 models into its subsidized subscription deal. Accompanying the original 4GB console at $99, a 250GB option will also be priced at $99, accompanied by two years of Xbox LIVE Gold at $15 per month. Throw in a Kinect, and this rises to $149, initially. The company hasn’t revealed whether the new models will be accompanied by additional retailers alongside Best Buy and Gamestop, but there is a holding page that promises to offer a “full list of participating retailers” soon.

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

Microsoft expands subsidized Xbox 360 offer to 250GB model, from $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With this year’s holidays being just around the corner, it’s only natural for companies to start tempting potential customers with cash-saving, too-good-to-pass deals. With that in mind, Microsoft, via the informative Major Nelson, announced earlier today its 2012 Xbox 360 holiday bundles in hopes of luring some folks in; among these are a 250GB console with Kinect, Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures and one month of Xbox Live for $400, while there’s also a 4GB, $300 option that comes with the same Gold subscription, Redmond’s motion-tracking peripheral, Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Kinect Adventures. In addition, the Surface maker said retailers should start offering the console for $50 off MSRP, and that this limited time deal will also apply to the Halo 4 bundle which is due to come out on November 6th. Better yet, these new bundles and promos are available now — so, for those living in the US, now could be a good time to snag one of Microsoft’s renowned consoles.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Microsoft

Microsoft announces Xbox 360 holiday bundles and $50 off promo for US market originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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