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X06 in sunny Spain
Planet Xbox 360 reports that Microsoft has announced the official date and location for X06, the European Xbox convention. The event will be held September 27th and 28th in Barcelona, Spain, allowing industry members to soak up some sun and an unhealthy dose of Xbox branding. New invitees to the event include South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland -- Microsoft having announced 360 launches in these countries by the end of 2006. Regional vice president, Xbox, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Chris Lewis, said this of the event: "We are really looking forward to X06 in Barcelona and believe this will prove to be an amazing experience for gaming enthusiasts across Europe. We have some exciting announcements to make and even more to show people. X06 will firmly place Xbox 360 as the console of the next generation." This would be the perfect place for Microsoft to shed some light on its European projects, namely Viva Piñata and Fable 2. Here's hoping. [Thanks, Matt]
$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories
Our friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.
First looks at Viva Pinata
After the Microsoft press briefing today, we managed to get a demonstration of Viva Piñata, the upcoming 360 title from Microsoft and Rare. At first glance the game seems extremely colourful and inviting; the game is based around a single garden, which starts as a desolated area.By building up the garden and its ecosystem (of piñata creatures), more and more piñatas are attracted from nearby gardens to live in the player's -- the first piñata that will venture in is a worm, which needs nothing but some soil to flourish, but more demanding creatures come along later. By balancing all their requirements -- some creatures will want to eat each other, for example -- the player can create a happy environment.The game seems very much like a cross between Animal Crossing and traditional God-game titles like Dungeon Keeper. Although it looks to have immediate appeal to children and younger players, it's likely to reach out to Sims fans too -- possibly even the elusive female demographic. We'll have more on the title during E3.
Microsoft responds to PS3 news, plus more on Viva Piñata
In this interview with the UK's Official Xbox Magazine, Xbox General Manager Shane Kim holds forth on the upcoming title Viva Piñata while casually dropping in a few words on the PS3's November launch. Kim believes Viva Piñata to be a killer title for the 360, saying that he thinks "that families will buy an Xbox 360 because they want to play [it]", also saying that Microsoft will talk about future Halo plans "at the right time".On the PS3 launch, Kim was clear: "For us, it doesn’t change anything. We’ve had a very clear strategy for a long time now and we’re not going to change that. We’re not going to react to anything that they do." Entirely in line with a second official reaction over at Microsoft's gamerscore blog which claims that the "announcement certainly doesn’t change any of our plans."A lot of reassurances that things are the same as ever over in Xbox land, then; perhaps Nintendo will follow the crowd and post their entirely bland canned response to a competitor's plans next.
Rare to unleash Pinatas on 360s this holiday season
Rare's next project is apparently an original IP concerning living piñata animals that will be featured in a Saturday morning TV/3-D/CG show and then in an Xbox 360 game debuting this holiday season worldwide.
