Hasta La Gadget!

Tonight Microsoft’s Natal graduated from “Project” to product. The controller-free Xbox 360 game system has an official name, Kinect, and a slew of gaming scenarios to use it in. The evening’s eye-popping Cirque du Soleil-infused event, which kicked off the E3 conference in Los Angeles, was short on details but long on eye candy.

Microsoft used the spectacle, held before thousands in USC’s Galen Center, to demonstrate the myriad ways you’ll use the Kinect system. There were scenarios we’ve seen before–like driving and exercise–and other we hadn’t. Performers sat in an elevated living room set (which rotated 360 degrees) and interacted with a virtual tiger, competed in track and field, learned dance moves and even battled Darth Vader. For the latter demonstration, the performer wielded a virtual light saber and used “force” style moves.

Microsoft will officially announced Kinect during tomorrow morning’s press conference (10:30 AM PST, 6-14-10), at which time we should learn pricing availability and game details.

Microsoft largely banned cellphones, cameras and virtually every other kind of electronic device from the event, so my photos and video are sketchy, at best.

Hey — you know Microsoft’s Project Natal? Well we’ve just gotten an up close look at what appears to be the retail version (though it’s clearly marked a developer unit). We couldn’t storm the stage while Walt and Kara (and her son!) were showing it off, but no one seemed to mind that we took a load of these shots for your perusal. Check out gallery below for more pics!

Project Natal retail unit revealed at D8? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here we go with those trusted sources again. Edge has it on good authority that Microsoft’s midlife rejuvenator for the Xbox 360, Project Natal, will cost a cool 149 bucks when purchased as a standalone accessory, or $100 when bundled together with the $199 Xbox 360 Arcade console. That’s a mighty steep hill for early adopters to climb, but Microsoft did warn us that Natal will not be an impulse buy. An October 26 date is also proffered for the official launch, but that might shift, leaving us with the same window of expectation as before. Interestingly, the Natal name is expected to definitely change for the final retail product, which we should be learning a lot more about at E3 in a couple of weeks.

Project Natal to cost $149 by itself, $299 with 360 Arcade, according to latest rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, it looks like the rumors were true. Not only is Microsoft’s J Allard now officially leaving the company, but so is Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, amid what’s described as a broader restructuring that will effectively dissolve the division and give CEO Steve Ballmer more direct oversight of Microsoft’s consumer initiatives like Xbox and Windows Phone as of July.

Contrary to earlier reports, Allard says that he’s not leaving due to the cancellation of the Courier, but instead says that after nineteen years with the company, he simply wants to devote more time to his personal interests, “particularly adventure sports.” Allard also insists that he won’t be moving on to Apple, Google or any other Microsoft rivals — in fact, he’s staying on as an advisor to Steve Ballmer. Robbie Bach’s departure is equally curious — despite being just 48, his move is being described as a “retirement,” and he says that the decision was his own and that he wasn’t encouraged to leave. He’ll also apparently remain with Microsoft through the fall to aid in the transition.

When all’s said and done, mobile communications VP Andy Lees and interactive entertainment head Don Mettrick will each separately report to Ballmer — both have headed their divisions for some time now, so we’d assume that things will otherwise proceed as planned. Still, the loss of talent at the top is certainly noticeable — we’ll see how Microsoft responds now that Ballmer is firmly driving its mobile and gaming efforts.

We’ve got Ballmer’s full letter to the company and Microsoft’s official PR after the break, so take a peek.

Update: Mary Jo Foley has J Allard’s parting email to his employees.

Continue reading Microsoft’s Robbie Bach and J Allard leaving as part of broader shakeup; Xbox and Windows Phone teams now reporting directly to Ballmer

Microsoft’s Robbie Bach and J Allard leaving as part of broader shakeup; Xbox and Windows Phone teams now reporting directly to Ballmer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve heard it before, now Microsoft’s Syed Bilal Tariq is repeating the October launch date for Natal. Speaking to GamerTagRadio, Microsoft’s marketing manager for Saudi Arabia says that the Natal launch,

“is going to be somewhere in October and we will be in a position to confirm the date at E3, which is in June, but definitely it is going to be October 2010.”

So there you have it. While we’d prefer to see an official press release on the topic, there’s little reason to doubt what you can hear for yourselves after the break.

Update: It’s not as clear-cut of a statement as we’d probably, but Microsoft has responded via email, telling G4, “Syed Bilal Tariq is not a [Microsoft] employee… He is a vendor employed through a third-party company on behalf of the Microsoft subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.” Sure, that downplays his realm of knowledge, but it doesn’t completely discredit. No comment was given as to the October date. At least E3’s a few hours closer now, right?

Continue reading Microsoft confirms Natal launch in October (update: Microsoft responds)

Microsoft confirms Natal launch in October (update: Microsoft responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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