The Koalition » Zune HD

CES 2010 Microsoft Keynote Highlights: Xbox Edition

Andre Tipton — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:38:33 +0000

At The Consumer Electronics Show, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s entertainment division, showed off a ton of Windows related software that looked great, but all the gamers are concerned about the 360 talk. To throw some numbers at you, Microsoft proclaimed that there are 39 million Xbox 360’s out worldwide. All this is fine and dandy, but more importantly they announced that upcoming DLC for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be timed exclusive.

There was also the announcement of the Xbox Live Game Room. It is a Virtual Arcade where you will be able to play (over the next three years) more than 1000 classic arcade games. The games will be in their original cabinets and sound effects. You can buy the games for 240 – 400 MS points or you can do a single play for 40 Points. It is like going to an arcade (wikipedia “video arcade” for you young cats). Game Room will be on both the Xbox 360 and PC with content from Atari, Konami, Intellivision, and more. The Game Room achievements can be obtained on either platform. It will be here in Spring 2010.

Not to be forgotten about, Alan Wake made an appearance at CES as well. This game intrigues me. The premise reminds me of some of sleeper Japanese survival horror games of the last generation. The episodic nature of the game sounds good too. After that MS showed some Crackdown 2 footage. I loved the first Crackdown and I am excited for this game. The game footage looks sick.

Microsoft then spoke on its early 2010 releases. Being highlighted, Mass Effect 2 (I guess I can pay my cell bill in April) and Splinter Cell: Conviction of course. Both titles look amazing. Halo: Reach got a little spotlight time also. Robbie said that the number of Halo games total over 30 million worldwide and then the infamous Halo: Reach Trailer from the 2009 VGA’s was shown.

To brag on their numbers once again, Robbie stated that besides gaming, nearly a third of people’s time on Xbox Live is spent using the services offered from being an Xbox Live gold member. Over 100 million songs and games have been downloaded via Xbox Live and nearly 10 million people have logged into Facebook, Twitter, Zune and Last.fm.

Now on to Natal. They showed a few developers, designers, and artists who are working on Natal Projects. They then showed the multiple camera technology used in Natal. It actually looks good. We will see how good it really is when it’s closer to release in the Fall. Overall, it looks like Microsoft is going to have a good year.

Stay with The Koalition for the other CES 2010 news.

Crackdown 2 Zune HD pictures surface

Gary A Swaby — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:04:09 +0000

I was actually thinking of buying an Ipod this month, as I miss my old one which died. But after checking out a few details on the Zune HD, along with this Crackdown 2 design, I think I may just purchase one.

the Crackdown 2 design is definitely straight crack (no pun)

Zune HD Hands On: Photos and Video Tour

Randy Ledet Jr. — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:22:20 +0000

All well informed gadgetry enthusiast out there realize how superior the Zune is to the ipod. There are many people though that allow “Bubba” to run there mind using its tools of evil wizardry to convince them to get an Ipod. Microsoft is doing their best to change that mind set with the Zune HD. Below is a hands on video with the Zune HD. The menus run very smooth as this guy goes through them while he also shows us some newly added Zune features which include touch screen which I’m sure everyone knew it would have and also an accelerometer which causes the screen to change formats as the Zune is turned side ways. So check the video and screens out below and let us know what you think.

Props to Gizmodo