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'The Orange Box' comes to Xbox One
It's been more than nine years since Half-Life 2: Episode Two came out and, yeah, that cliffhanger still stings. Thankfully, Microsoft's Larry Hryb has announced that The Orange Box is now available on the Xbox One via backwards compatibility. That gives everyone the chance to soften the blow of Valve's contempt for its audience by once again replaying five of the company's best games. The legendary bundle combines Half-Life 2, its two episodic sequels, Team Fortress Two and some rando game about physics puzzles that'll probably never take off. It's not just The Orange Box that's now available for your nostalgia, since Galaga Legions and Joe Danger 2: The Movie are also now available.
OnLive crosses the pond, lands in the UK September 22nd
OnLive's done pretty well here in the States, and we knew it would eventually venture across the ocean to merry old England. But, we didn't know exactly when it would bring its streaming services, MicroConsole and catalog of over 100 titles to the UK. Well, turns out it'll make the transatlantic trip on September 22nd, just in time for the 2011 Eurogamer Expo in London -- so there's just over a month to ready yourself for gaming-anywhere awesomeness. If you're among those interested in being the first of the Queen's subjects using the service that day, hit the source link below to sign up.
OnLive ushers in the MicroConsole with all-you-can-eat game plan for $10 a month
OnLive wants to be the Netflix of video games, that much is clear, and today it's rolling out a flat-rate monthly pricing plan called PlayPack to help seal the deal. It'll cost $9.99 a month when it launches January 15th, giving subscribers access to a back catalog of forty retired and indie titles, including a number of games entirely new to the OnLive service. What's more, if you bought the company's $99 MicroConsole, you'll get access to that entire flat-rate catalog free until the formal launch, meaning you'll have fourteen full games instantly ready to play the moment you boot it up. OnLive founder Steve Perlman tells us you can pay month-to-month and cancel PlayPack anytime you want, and OnLive will still store your savegames for a full year in case you decide to rejoin -- or if you want to mix and match flat-rate and a la carte titles without losing your precious progress. So, when are those MicroConsoles going to arrive? If you were among the first to buy, you could get yours this very afternoon, and Perlman says there are "thousands and thousands of boxes" shipping right now. PR after the break.
OnLive MicroConsole official at $99, we go hands-on and bombard you with details
Everybody's favorite instant streaming video game service just came into its own: OnLive is launching the MicroConsole right now, a tiny box that turns your Speedy Gonzales internet connection into a virtual game console. Sure, the company's cloud computing service already lets you do the same from any old netbook -- that's kind of the point -- but the $99 OnLive Game System gives you the leanback HDTV experience complete with a custom wireless gamepad, and (assuming you use HDMI) it'll come with all the wires too when it ships December 2nd. We sat down with OnLive VP of Engineering Joe Bentley to get a handle on the hardware within, and learn about the budding ecosystem you'll be dealing with if you buy in. See what the long-awaited system looks like below, and get the full scoop after the break! %Gallery-107700%
OnLive shows off UI and iPhone use in marathon tech demo (video)
Sure, OnLive has already done live demos of its "cloud gaming" service, but it never hurts to get another comprehensive 48-minute video on the subject. In a presentation at Columbia University, CEO Steve Perlman goes over the nitty gritty of how game streaming works, the OnLive user interface (11:53), an inevitable Crysis Wars demo (16:35), Brag Clips (17:49), and of course the iPhone app (19:31). Though cellphone integration is still limited to primarily spectating and social networking functions, PCs and Macs can get gaming via a 1MB browser plugin, or you can grab the microconsole streaming box for your TV, which Steve suggests might be given away for free with OnLive subscriptions. If you have any more unanswered questions, check out the audience Q&A at 33:14, and the full vid awaits after the break.
OnLive goes OnBeta, wants you to help by playing games
Can we find some charitable souls amongst our readers? If you're the sort of person who'll give up his or her valuable time to a worthwhile cause that demands hours of daily gaming, far less showering and more meals based around the expansive Frito-Lay product line, OnLive will most certainly want to hear from you. Beta testing of the nascent game streaming service has just been opened up to the masses, and the quick and deadly among you will already be signing up via the read link below. Just to make sure we've conveyed this accurately -- there's a company out there that wants to stream free games to your TV, so tell us, why exactly are you still here reading? [Via Joystiq]
Xbox Live Update has arrived, everything is going to be alright
It was almost a little cruel of Microsoft to offer its Xbox Live Update preview program so widely -- sure, all your stupid friends had the update, with their fancy new avatar clothing purchases and their cutesy little shared virtual Netflix screenings -- but there was you, updateless, sitting all alone, trying to squeeze out a few more experience points in Call of Duty while you held back the tears. Well, your wait is over. The newly improved Xbox 360 dashboard is live for everybody. Games on Demand, User Ratings, Avatar Awards... it's all there. Just ripe for the picking.
First 21 Xbox 'Games on Demand' titles revealed
Next Tuesday (that's August 11th), a dream we have long held near our hearts will be fulfilled -- Xbox 360 will add the first twenty-one titles to its Games on Demand service. Now, we don't have any details about pricing for these yet, but Microsoft has said that the games, which include such august titles as Mass Effect, Call of Duty 2, and Tomb Raider: Legend, will be priced similarly to the physical games. We could whine about that all day, but we're going to hold off until we see actual pricing details, and move on to dreaming of a trackpad that doesn't become unresponsive when we spill orange juice on it. Check out the video of the newest addition to the dashboard after the break, hit the read link for the full list of twenty-one. Update: A Microsoft spokesman just emailed us a list of the Games on Demand titles for the US, which has a couple of notable differences. BioShock, Ridge Racer 6, Karaoke Revolution American Idol, Dance Dance Revolution Universe, and Sonic The Hedgehog are in, while SEGA Rally and Tomb Raider: Legend are decidedly Europe-only for now. Full US list after the break. [Via Joystiq]
Xbox Live Dashboard update coming August 11th
Ladies and gentleman, you can now mark your calendars with a permanent pen, felt-tip marker, or even a paint brush. Microsoft's announced that the next Xbox Live Dashboard update is beaming to your console on August 11th. This one includes Games on Demand, user ratings for games, a number of Netflix additions, and the much-anticipated (maybe not) ability to spend actual money on clothing for your Avatar. What it doesn't have is Twitter, Last.fm, and Facebook support, but according to Microsoft, those are still coming sometime later this fall. You went ahead and signed up for the preview program, right?
Xbox Live update preview program now accepting applicants
Looking to be in the envy of all your friends Xbox 360 online friends? As they did once before with NXE, Microsoft is launching an update preview program for its upcoming Xbox Live dashboard enhancements, which for this round includes Games on Demand, Netflix movie parties, and user ratings -- better luck next time, Facebook aficionados. A Microsoft Connect account is required for registration, and lucky participants will be notified by July 31st. Hit up the read link to throw your hat (and gamertag) in the ring for a chance to be selected -- no promises you'll get in, but can't hurt to try, right?[Via Joystiq; thanks, Ken]
Xbox Live update details announced, includes Games on Demand support, Netflix Movie Parties, game ratings
Microsoft just announced the details of the next Xbox Live dashboard update, which should start rolling out in waves later this summer. Highlight features include support for Games on Demand (coming in August), a slew of Netflix updates including the ability to browse the library and manage your queue, the long-awaited Movie Party system that allows Gold members to share a flick in a virtual theater, and a ton of other little tweaks like user ratings, avatar enhancements, friends list sorting, and a streamlined Party invite system. Yeah, we think we'll take it. Full release after the break.
Xbox 360's Games on Demand service gets demoed on video
Without a doubt, Microsoft's Xbox 360 Games on Demand unveil at E3 gave gamers plenty of reason to celebrate. Just think -- no more camping out for midnight launches; you just fire up your console, make sure you've paid your internet bill and get to downloading. For those who just can't wait to see what said experience will actually look like on Redmond's console, the video just past the break does a commendable job of explaining. It looks as if the system logs your credit card information in order to make game purchases as easy as a few button presses, and games that are already on your HDD can be played while another downloads. It's good stuff, we promise.
Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand
Microsoft's E3 keynote was so jam-packed the company decided to wait until afterwards to announce what might be the biggest new feature of them all: on-demand access to full retail games. The service will launch in August with 30 titles to start, and new games will be added weekly, with pricing to match retail. The best part? Purchases can be made directly with a credit card, no pesky Xbox points required. More pics of the system after the break.Update: Don't get your hopes up, MS tells us that the point system isn't going anywhere, it's just being supplemented with credit card purchases. Also, game rentals aren't happening yet, but they said it "sounds great for the future."
GASP: Phantom console fails to materialize
As tempting as it was to conjure up a "Phantom console CANCELLED" headline, the realization quickly set in that such a sensational piece of text simply wouldn't make any sense. How do you cancel something that never even existed to begin with? Zing, etc. It would appear that Phantom Entertainment has revamped their ball of lies website, quietly ushering in the demise of an imagined console and the arrival of an allusion to some sort of broadband game service. Said service is described as "the first end-to-end, on-demand game service delivering online games directly to your living room or any comfortable setting in your home or workplace." Fascinating, but since "the Company intends to modify the Phantom Game Service software to run as client software on personal computers operating Windows XP and Windows XP Media center operating systems," games will only be going to your living room should that be the location of your computer. First indeed.Further comedic value can be found in the "Who We Are" section, which duly describes the company as "an industry-leading, global entertainment and interactive game company." To be fair, it's probably the most truthful statement to be found on the entire website, as Phantom Entertainment is undoubtedly the leader of at least one industry and is frequently a provider of entertainment. Well, that and $129.95 Lapboards which, with the original console canned, barely have a reason to exist.[Thanks, delerious.]
