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Xbox 360 250 GB Holiday bundle is $239 today on Amazon
Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect Holiday Value Bundle is on sale for $239 as part of today's Gold Box discounts on Amazon. Those that act fast will get the redesigned Xbox 360 E console loaded with a 250 GB hard drive, a controller, a Kinect camera and three games: Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports: Season 2 and a download code for Forza Horizon. The bundle normally costs $399, amounting to enough savings to pick up a few extra games, or better yet, groceries so you don't starve this month. Again, the deal is only on for today as long as supplies last, and is a great deal for people that haven't bought an Xbox 360 in the last few days like your humble Joystiq editor has. It's also a good deal for those that aren't picking up a PS4 or Xbox One this coming month.
Xbox 360 holiday bundles get $50 price cut
Microsoft cut the price of its 250GB and 4GB Kinect Xbox 360 bundles by $50. All holiday bundles included in the deal can be picked up at GameStop, Best Buy, Kmart, Target and Amazon.Each bundle is priced at $250 except for the standard and holiday 250GB Kinect bundles, which are $350. Most of the bundles have games and DLC codes packed in, including Forza 4, Kinect Adventures, Kinect: Disneyland Adventures, Fable 3, Halo: Reach and a digital copy of Skyrim.We've called GameStop and still have yet to find an end date for this offer, but we'll update as soon as we find out.
Microsoft store offering $175 off on Xbox 360 S Kinect bundle
While now may not be the best time to buy a new Xbox 360, this close to the holidays, we're certainly not going to judge your need of one. Instead, we're here to help you save some money – hey, look, a deal!The Microsoft store is currently offering a $299.99 bundle that tosses in the 4GB Xbox 360 console with a Kinect sensor and two games: Kinect Adventures, which is included with every Kinect sensor; and Kinect Sports Season 2, Microsoft's sequel to its initial sports minigame collection.The bundle also tosses in 12 months of Xbox Live Gold, a three-month subscription to Hulu Plus, an Xbox 360 media remote and an HDMI cable. It's the HDMI cable that really gets us.
Deal: $50 gift card with 4GB 360 Kinect bundle at Gamestop
Purchasing the 4 gig Kinect/Kinect Adventures Xbox 360 bundle will run you about $300 no matter where you buy it, but only at Gamestop will purchasing one also net you a $50 gift card, which can then be spent on most of a new game, or 10 to 20 used Barbie and/or horse-related DS titles.
Xbox 360 gets limited edition all-white Kinect bundle
Not feeling the Star Wars Xbox 360 bundle? How about this all white special edition? For $300, you get a white 4GB Xbox 360, a white Xbox 360 controller and a white Kinect sensor. Microsoft is also tossing in Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures and a three month Xbox Live Gold subscription. Or, if you're just eyeing the glossy pigment-free Kinect, you can pick one up separately for $50.
New Xbox bundle packs white Kinect, white controller
Did you somehow end up with a white HDTV? If so, you can finally get a Kinect unit to match, as part of Microsoft's new "Xbox 360 Special Edition 4GB Kinect Family Bundle" (whew.) The bundle includes a 4GB 360, the white Kinect from the long-delayed Star Wars bundle, a white controller, copies of Kinect Sports and Kinect Adventures, and three months of Live for $300.A "special edition" white Xbox 360 controller will also be available separately for $49.99. It appears to be glossy white. Note that this "special edition" controller has the normal d-pad, and not the improved version.The bundle (and the controller) are shipping today worldwide -- except for Europe and Brazil, where Microsoft says they will be released "in the next few months."
Microsoft Star Wars Xbox 360 bundle coming to a galaxy close to here, April 3rd
Come spring you'll finally be able to get your grubby paws on that droid-based console you've been looking for. Microsoft's Major Nelson let slip in a series of tweets that the Star Wars Xbox 360 Kinect bundle will land on April 3rd. The set, which was first unveiled, fittingly, at Comic Con, is dressed up like R2-D2 and ships with a C-3P0-themed controller, a white Kinect sensor and the games Star Wars Kinect and Kinect Adventures. The 320GB system will run you $449, so start saving up those Galactic Credits now.
Report: Japan makes up just 1% of worldwide Kinect hardware sales
Microsoft has sold approximately 114K units of its hands-free motion peripheral, the Kinect, during the last 12 months in Japan. And the bulk of those sales were within the first few months surrounding its launch in November 2010, then dwindling to the low thousands as early as February 2011. That's according to a report from this month's Famitsu Xbox magazine, which also outs Kinect Adventures as the top selling game for Kinect at 114K units sold, assuredly assisted to the top spot with placement in hardware bundles. Microsoft has yet to release a statement on the one-year sales numbers, but has remained steadfast in its commitment to the Japanese market -- despite the country's aversion to Microsoft and its products. Comparatively speaking, Microsoft said it had sold 10 million Kinect units worldwide as of March this year, and this report puts around 94,000 in Japan as of March, making Japanese sales just under a single percentage point of worldwide sales. Eight months later, and Japan comprises just barely above one percentage point of that same 10 million sales number. [Image credit: Andriasang]
Microsoft lines up two Xbox 360 bundles for the holidays
Microsoft's annual Holiday bundle streak continues this year, with two different SKUs: one targeting the family crowd that enjoys flailing around together, the other targeting the hardcore gaming crowd that's all about no-scoping domes. Both bundles are shipping to retailers today, Major Nelson says. The first bundle includes a 250 GB Xbox 360 S console with a Kinect, a copy of Kinect Adventures and Carnival Games: Monkey See Monkey Do, and three months of Xbox Live Gold, all for $399.99. The other bundle has a suggested price of $299.99, and sports a 250 GB Xbox 360 S console, three months of Xbox Live Gold and copies of Halo: Reach (downloadable) and Fable 3.
R2D2-style Xbox 360 Kinect bundle rolling out for Kinect Star Wars [update]
"Beep! Beep beeeeep boop whiiiirrr boop boop (fall over)!" Or, in English, Microsoft just revealed a new R2D2-styled Xbox 360 Kinect bundle at Comic-Con, in honor of Kinect Star Wars. The Xbox has a special R2D2 look and custom console sounds, and is bundled with a gold, C3P0-style controller (Oh, my!) and an all-white Kinect. It also includes Kinect Star Wars, Kinect Adventures, and a 320GB hard drive! The bundle will be out this fall. Pre-orders for the $449 bundle are expected to begin today. Update: Added official pics to the gallery, and moved our Comic-Con snapshot past the break! Update 2: According to Gavin Spicer of Xbox UK PR, the bundle is coming to the UK as well, though no details have been announced yet.%Gallery-128885%
Watch as two women, two WP7 devices, and a Kinect pelt a man with rubber balls
It's not every day that Microsoft shows off its own technology being used for the forces of evil, but it did just that during company head Steve Ballmer's keynote at Mobile World Congress. Engadget was on hand to witness Kinect Adventures' Rally Ball minigame being controlled not just by a Kinect, but also two Windows Phone 7 devices controlling the flow of rubber balls being distributed. It's all fun and games until the gentleman playing is overtaken by a monstrous flood of rubber balls. Microsoft notes that the demonstration was strictly a "tech demo," but it certainly hints at the possible future of Windows Phone/Xbox integration. It also opens the pandora's box-like door to Kinect/WP7/Surface crossovers, finally. Get a look at synergy in action just after the break.
Kinect standalone power supply now available from Microsoft
So you bought a new Xbox 360 S console bundled with Kinect last week and, like many others, found your new camera doodad doesn't come with its own power supply -- clearly, Microsoft thought you intended to use your Kinect with this console and this console alone. You were up the proverbial creek, sans paddle ... until now. Microsoft's online store now has a listing for the power supply. No, you can't simply get one on the arm since you purchased the Xbox 360 S bundle -- no, instead you've got to reach into your wallet for $34.99 if you want one. That's almost one whole fifth of the cost of Kinect on its own but, hey, if you need one, now you know where to get it.
Consumer Reports: Kinect ID problems related to light level, not skin color
Respected outlet Consumer Reports has concluded that the Kinect ID functionality in Microsoft's new peripheral has equal difficulty recognizing users of any skin tone in low light. The organization did a series of tests after GameSpot reported that some of their darker-skinned staffers weren't being recognized by the Kinect. Consumer Reports states, "We did not experience any instance where one player was recognized and the other wasn't under the same lighting conditions." To be clear, only the Kinect ID functionality is affected by lighting in the room, as gameplay uses an infrared system. CR noted that the claims against Kinect reminded the group of the "racist HP laptop" situation from last year, which also came down to an issue of lighting in the room. Head on over to Consumer Reports to see a video of their Kinect tests.
PSA: Xbox 360 S Kinect bundle doesn't come with Kinect AC adapter
Here we are, having our own little private November Christmas, tearing apart the freshly delivered Xbox 360 S console bundle, replete with Kinect and Kinect Adventures, only to make an inconvenient discovery -- the Xbox 360 S Kinect bundle doesn't contain a standalone power cord for Kinect, leaving folks who want to use those Kinects on older (pre-Slim) Xbox 360s in the lurch. How in the world are we going to show Grandma all our stylish new Dance Central moves when she's only got a regular Xbox 360? As of this minute, Microsoft isn't showing individual Kinect power cords on its website, though a Microsoft rep is looking into whether they'll be offered in the future. An Xbox Support team member notes on the Xbox.com forums, "If you wish to use your Kinect with an older Xbox, you would need to purchase the Kinect stand-alone kit. This includes the sensor, [Kinect] Adventures, and all the necessary cables." Otherwise, unless Grandma's got her own Kinect, or an Xbox 360 S, your dance moves are staying firmly holstered in your own abode. [Thanks Drew!]
Rumor: Kinect beta testers can keep sensor, get free Kinect Adventures
According to an image sent to Joystiq by an anonymous tipster, it looks like Microsoft is rewarding all the participants of the Kinect beta program. A letter, purportedly written by Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten, is offering to let testers to keep their Kinect sensor now that the beta program is over. In addition, testers will also receive a code to redeem a free download of Kinect Adventures. We're attempting to verify with Microsoft, but it certainly makes sense. After all, it stands to reason that some testers won't want to part with their sensor and be reticent to send it back to Microsoft. It wouldn't be a stretch for people to suddenly "lose" their sensor either. We'll update this post if we receive word from Microsoft. %Gallery-106278%
Phil Spencer confident in Kinect: It's 'fundamentally different' from PlayStation Move
Just a few weeks before Kinect's retail launch, Microsoft hosted an event in San Francisco to celebrate the much-anticipated new hardware. There we spoke with Microsoft Game Studios VP Phil Spencer not only about the hands-free camera peripheral, but also the company's success with the "Xbox 360 S" console refresh, Ubisoft's strong Kinect launch lineup and, of course, the PlayStation Move.
Here are your first Kinect ads
Kick! Jump! Flail! All these actions -- and so, so many more -- await your first Kinect experience. As the first TV ads demonstrate, Kinect is meant not just for you and your family, but also your giant, brightly-lit living room. We started building home additions right after E3. What's your excuse?
North American Kinect launch window games rounded up
When you get your shiny new Kinect, what games will you get with it? Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has provided a handy guide to the full Kinect launch lineup -- including launch day games and those arriving soon after. If you wagered there would be four sports minigame collections (Kinect Sports, Deca Sports Freedom, Game Party In Motion and MotionSports), you win! The seventeen-game lineup also includes three dancing games (Dance Central, Zumba Fitness, and DanceMasters), four exercise games (Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout, EA Sports Active 2.0, and the aforementioned Zumba Fitness), and two 'boarding games (Adrenalin Misfits and Sonic Free Riders). See the full list after the break. Major Nelson notes that the Xbox 360 launched in North America with 18 games, just one more than Kinect is launching with -- bearing out Shane Kim's comment that Microsoft would treat the Kinect launch like a new system. Or, it would, if this list didn't count the Kinect games coming out weeks after the Kinect release date as "launch games" vs. the 360's 18-game launch day. In any case, the Kinect has a lot of choices, even if they're all within a few categories.
Kinect algorithm updated by Microsoft to better detect seated players
Worried that Kinect won't work when you're not standing directly in front of it, despite the assurances given by developers? Worry not -- Eurogamer has heard that Microsoft has changed the configuration on the body recognition system, switching a node on the body model from the base of the spine to the back of the neck, allowing for players who put their knees above the waist while playing to be more easily recognized. Previously, individual developers could still edit their own recognition systems in (and the previous version of the system worked just fine for most types of sitting), but this is a change to the base recognition system that Microsoft is building. So it can see you even better. In fact, the way we understand it, a skilled developer could even recognize you in that weird position you used to sit in as a kid, where you put your back on the sofa seat, and hung your head upside down to stare out at the TV during Saturday morning cartoons. No idea what they'd use that pose for, but they could do it.
Game Boat 'accessory' ideal for Kinect Adventures, perfect for the reality of your home
Microsoft's Kinect may have jettisoned controllers from the living room, but Atomic Accessories isn't ready to be swept away in a sea change. "Game Boat is de facto the first accessory for the peripheral which doesn't need any," mumbles the product description, tasting the cold steel of a gun barrel. "Ideal to comfortably play in 2 gamers simultaneously, still without being clumsy in the living room." Hey, Martha. I love what you've done with the place! It seems so elegant now, which is the opposite of clumsy. The giant dinghy centerpiece really ties it all together and -- oh, are these stitched barnacle cushions on your whale couch? I love it. Perhaps we're being unfair and ignorant of the real genius behind the Game Boat -- as a brilliant plan to save face. Remember when the head of product acquisition got drunk out of his mind because his cat choked on a stapler? "Sir, I don't think we need that many. Or any," Susan argued. But noooooo. "Shooshan, order the goh, goddamn boatsh! Twenty twelf ish jusht around the bender. You shaw the mooovie." Aside from the tenuous anchoring provided by Kinect Adventures (which features people standing in a boat as they hurtle through an unrealistic river slalom), the Game Boat is tethered to the "reality of your home" because, well, it's so gosh-darn useful. It's easily inflated within minutes with the included pump, compatible with any model Xbox 360 (and possibly other systems), supports two seated people, and is fully functional "at the sea or at the pool." Why? BECAUSE. IT IS. A BOAT.
