As the date for the Xbox 360's MTV coming-out party nears, information is seemingly seeping out of cracks everywhere. Gaming blog Kotaku has apparently signed an NDA with Microsoft in order to get access to exclusive content to be released after the show, but that didn't stop them from pointing out all the other information that's been leaked so far. They'll just be not mentioning any more rumors between now and then.
Destineer has acquired the makers of Close Combat, a series of military games, according to GameSpot. Destineer was founded by ex-Apple and ex-Bungie employee Peter Tamte. Tamte also hints at "next-gen systems" plans for Destineer.
According to BDGamer, Microsoft has announced that it has selected Limelight Networks as the Content Delivery Network for Xbox Live. Limelight currently powers Steam and is slated to perform the same duties for the Phantom gaming console, should it ever see the light of day.
Xbox365 says it thinks it has received a copy of the actual Xbox 360 logo. Kotaku thinks it's got a picture of an Xbox 360 memory card. (I think I feel dizzy. Comments saved for later... --Ed.)
The web is abuzz with news about more images from ourcolony.net that purport to be of the Xbox 360, as well as some that appear to come from other sources, and still others that were apparently debunked months ago but have come back to haunt us. If you haven't been following the action at ourcolony.net, here are a few links to other gaming sites that have the images:
Gamesindustry.biz has another story up speculating on exactly what the Xbox 360 is going to be when it finally launches. This one suggests two editions; a stripped-down, games-only edition without a hard drive, and a premium edition with a hard drive and Internet access. However, the point of interest to most owners of Halo and Halo 2 probably this:
Oddword creator Lorne Lanning is quitting the videogame business to move into CG television and film production because he says the gaming industry's economics just aren't conducive to creativity; his description of the biz reads like a justification for the Hollywood business model adopted by Alex "The Man" Seropian's Wideload Games, due to release Stubbs the Zombie in 'Rebel Without a Pulse" for Xbox, P
Roppongi Hills-- a noted gaijin hangout in Tokyo-- will host an Xbox 2 press event next month, prior to E3, according to Computer and Video Games. The invite-only event on May 13 will feature a viewing of the MTV broadcast scheduled for that date. Thanks BDGamer.
Aside from bringing in Frodo and the Killers (there's a band name--Ed.) it appears that Microsoft's MTelevised launch for the Xbox's successor is going to leave a lot to the imagination, with more details to be fleshed out at the later pre-E3 event and then still more at E3 itself; at least, so says corporate VP Peter Moore to GameSpot. Thanks Eurogamer.
Littlebigman pointed out GameSpot's latest Rumor Control column, that sports purported images of the Xbox 360's controllers that seem consistent with the partials seen at ourcolony.net. (Mini-editorial: For all the ribbing Microsoft took for the original "Duke" Xbox controllers, I grew to like them, not for their bulk, but for their button layout.
Halo 3 garners a mention in today's Penny Arcade cartoon, as a pawn in the ongoing chess match between Microsoft and Sony over the next-generation console launches.
In case you've been hiding under a rock for the past few days, it appears that Microsoft has scheduled the Xbox 2 introduction-- to be MC'd by Elijah "Frodo Lives" Woods and accompanied musically by The Killers-- for May 12 on Music Television. Xbox365 (and many others, including HBO) has the story.
Other items:
Eurogamer has a story quoting Shane Kim at Microsoft Game Studios that the Xbox's most popular franchises, including Halo, Fable amd Project Gotham Racing, will be making their way onto the next console:
"Without giving away all the surprises we have in store, gamers that love franchises like Halo, Fable, and Project Gotham Racing can safely assume we will continue to invest in them as we move into the next generation."
Spong, featuring a new Googlified logo, put up a story late last night (so it's not an April Fool's joke, at least not a fair one) that says the Xbox 2 will have downloadable demo content right at launch.
In other news:
Eurogamer has a story that indicates it may be possible to "customize" your Xbox 2-- or at least for Microsoft to custom-tailor the console different geographical regions:
"We have ways, we have ideas. Look at cell phones," Microsoft VP J Allard told trade publication MCV. "You can have snap-on faceplates, you can change the skin and the batteries, and you can change the ringtones. I think we need to have a global foundation, and then personalise within region."