Blog Archives
SmartGlass Xbox is Smart, via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
I had the chance to be at E3, LA this year.
In case you missed it during E3 this year, Microsoft is aiming to link up all of your devices to create a true harmony.
Xbox SmartGlass will allow your devices to sync up together in a way that you’ll never miss a moment or perhaps so that you’ll enhance those moments.
Take a look at this great experience here-below.
Control
Use your phone or tablet to control what you’re seeing on TV. Easily explore the internet on your TV using your phone or tablet to browse, scroll, pinch, and zoom. Start playing one of your favorite shows, music, sports or games on a device and move it to your TV to keep watching on the big-screen.
Interact
Intelligently interact with your Xbox 360 with your phone or tablet. Enjoy rich second screen experiences that automatically change and customize based on what’s on TV.
Available on devices you already own
The Xbox SmartGlass app is available on Windows Phone or tablet, and the innovative Xbox SmartGlass technology is available on other major platforms in the My Xbox app.
Happy 10th (European) birthday Xbox!
Happy 10th (European) birthday Xbox! On this day in 2002 the original Xbox launched in Europe.
What is your first Xbox memory?
What is the future of Gaming & Entertainment ? [SlideShare]
Yesterady, I had the pleasure to give a presentation on the Future of Entertainment in Luxembourg, for LU-CIX, http://www.lu-cix.lu/speakers-list.html
LU-CIX stands for Luxembourg Commercial Internet exchange. LU-CIX was founded in 2009 based on a cross-industries initiative set up by major national and international Internet players, with the aim of developing the Internet in Luxembourg.
E3 by the NUMBERS [infographic], via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
E3 is just done @ Los-Angeles. I was so happy to be there.
E3 is The Electronic Entertainment Expo. This is the premiere event of the year for everyone involved in the global interactive entertainment industry.
E3 Expo delivers an unmatched and highly qualified audience of developers, retail buyers, international and U.S.–based trade and consumer media, industry and investment analysts, venture capitalists and community influencers
These are the key players in the global interactive entertainment industry and this is your once-a-year chance to interact with them all, under one roof.
Let’s have a look at this infographic which comes back on key figures.
Click on the picture to enlarge
Source : http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/e3_by_the_numbers_20110603002701769.jpg
E3 2011 Microsoft PR Conference : key highlights.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Activision |
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Activision opened the show with the first gameplay footage of their newest release in their action packed franchise. As always, Xbox 360 owners will get all the content first for this game. Make sure you ask Santa for this one! |
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Tomb Raider – Crystal Dynamics |
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Go on the adventure that made Lara Croft into the tomb raiding femme fatale we came to know. This game will bring more realism than ever before, watch your step, Lara is fragile and might just break something. Survive in hostile environments and find your way in dark places. |
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Electronic Arts |
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EA announced this year that their most successful EA Sports games would have Kinect integration. Fifa, Madden NFL and Tiger Woods PGA will now be controlled with the wave of a hand, or the kick of your feet. Other than their sports series, EA also showed some new footage of Mass Effect 3, which will also have Kinect features. |
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Ubisoft |
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Ubisoft took the stage this year at our keynote to present their Kinect integration for Ghost Recon; Future Soldier. In this game, you will be able to fully customize your weapons with the power of Kinect, it’s quite amazing, really! Additionally, they announced that all of their Tom Clancy titles from now on will have some form of Kinect integration. Exciting! |
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New dashboard experience and partnerships - Microsoft |
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Apart from games, we’ve also announced the new look and feel of the Xbox Dashboard, new features will be added such as Bing – which will allow you to search your console for the content you want. YouTube – To have your favorite video you would like to share with family and friends on your TV. UFC* – for all of you who like to play rough from time to time. And Live TV* – To watch the show you want, when you want. |
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Gears of War 3 – Epic Games / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Marcus Fenix is back and about to go out with a bang! This year, Epic games will bring us the final chapter in the Gears of War Saga. Cliff Bliszinski showed us new campaign footage his game together with rap icon Ice-T. Run to the store as fast as you can and place your pre-order, you don’t want to miss out on this epic game! |
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Ryse – Crytek / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Last year we’ve teased you all with “Project Kingdoms”. This project now has a name; Ryse. You are a Roman gladiator and have to battle through enemies with the power of Kinect. For this title we’ve partnered with Crytek who is renowned for their amazing graphics and physics. (Crysis, Far Cry, …) |
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Halo: Combat Evolved – Anniversary – 343 Industries / Microsoft Game Studios |
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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved, we’ve decided to re-release the shooter that spawned an entire new generation of shooters. Experience Masterchief’s story like never before with new features, better graphics and online play! |
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Forza Motorsport 4 – Turn 10 / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Are you a car fanatic? Then this is something for you! Turn 10 promises us the best looking game for this year with a wide variety of manufacturers, TopGear integration, amazing online gameplay and the power of Kinect. What are you waiting for? Start your engine! |
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Fable: The Journey – Lionhead studios / Microsoft Game studios |
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The world of Albion is in danger, and heroes are not born, they are made. Become a hero in the newest chapter in the Fable saga, and enjoy the world of Albion like never before thanks to the power of Kinect. |
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Disneyland Adventures – Frontier Games / Microsoft Game Studios |
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There is a little child in all of us, and whether you would like to awaken that child or play this game with your actual children, this game will shower you with magic fairy dust and bring you to the enchanting world of Disneyland. Go on many different attractions and interact with your favorite Disney character. Anything is possible! |
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Kinect Star Wars – Lucasarts / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Step into the world of Star Wars with Kinect, play as a Jedi, eat Stormtroopers as a Rancor monster, fight of the empire in you X-wing or go into a podrace. Kinect Star Wars is fun for everyone, thanks to a wide variety of game modes. May the force be with you. |
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Sesame Street: Once upon a monster - Telltale games |
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Education made fun, thanks to the crew of sesame Street, learn to count with Elmo and overcome your fear of monsters with the Cookiemonster, This game will entertain the smallest gamers among us with an endless amount of fun. …and cookies! |
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Kinect Funlabs – Good Science / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Always wanted to experiment with the technology behind Kinect? Then this is your chance, play around with Kinect Funlabs and amaze your friends when you scan your favorite toy and use it on your Xbox 360. Take pictures of yourself and experiment in a 3D world, want to know more? Then power up your Xbox 360 and have a go! Funlabs is available today! |
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Kinect Sports Season Two – Rare ltd / Microsoft Game Studios |
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The best-selling game for Kinect gets a sequel, Kinect Sports Two is more than 6 new sports, and it’s twice the fun with improved Kinect tracking, more fun activities and the sports you’ve been asking for! If you liked Kinect Sports, you’ll love season two! |
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Dance Central 2 – Harmonix / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Can’t stop your feet when you hear a tune you like? Than this is what you’ve been waiting for, Dance Central 2 is better than ever with versus mode, over 40 tracks in the box and the possibility to transfer all of you Dance Central 1 songs and download content to this new version. |
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Halo 4 – 343 Industries / Microsoft Game Studios |
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Master chief is back! And will be ready to save us and the rest of the universe yet again holiday 2012! |
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*Content may be limited by country or license. |
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| Thanks Guy Spaey for this summary ! |
EA Press Conference @ E3 2011, Los Angeles, via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
Electronic Arts began their keynote by enthusiastically stating how they don’t have “random celebrity guests” but only games.
Take-out and key demos / trailers from this EA Press Conference @ E3 2011 (Los-Angeles)
Mass Effect 3 dated, March 6th, 2012.
Need For Speed: The Run announced. There are out-of-car gameplay segments.
The Sims Social announced. Play out Facebook events in the Sims.
New game: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning; medieval action game
Battlefield 3 multiplayer trailer and single player tank section showcased. Beta dated: September 2011. Battlefield 3 dated: October 25
Ubisoft Press Conference E3 [my notes from Los-Angeles], via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
Just seen the Ubisoft Press Conference E3.
Some great stuff to come.
First, the launch of Assassin’s Creed Revelations in November.
Then, Rayman which seems great. Take a look at the demo here-below.
Interesting new concept called Rocksmith and you can plug your own guitar. I really want to test it tomorrow at E3.
Rabbids on Kinect uses augmented reality to bring the Rabbids into YOUR home. Party games, 4-player co-op and online picture sharing.
I don’t forget Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon – Future Soldier, which is very promising. Kinect will be used in this Game, to customize your weapons as example.
Tintin is coming. As Belgian, I’m proud of this.
Your Shape for Kinect looks great and this is the perfect game or ideal sport coach for my wife.
Just dance 3, also available on Kinect seems very cool. My doughter will be happy to test it.
Press Conference Microsoft / Xbox @ E3. [My Notes from Los-Angeles] via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
I had the chance to be, this morning, in the Xbox 360 Media Briefing @ E311 – Los Angeles.
You will find HERE the full conference
Here-below, some key outcome
The show started with a cool demo of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.
Then, we saw a demo of tomb raider.
We discovered the Voice recognition Kinect on Mass Effect 3 and how Kinect (thru voice recognition) could influence the scenario of the game.
For Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, you can use KINECT to tailore your weapon. Amazing demo. I really want to test it. All future titles in this franchise will leverage Kinect.
Xbox Live is also changing.
Tomorrow, you will use your voice to access your music, games, video.
Youtube is coming to Xbox Live. Bing is going to come to Xbox Live too.
You can search games thru Bing. You say it, Xbox finds it. Look at Demo Bing here-below.
Cliff Bleszinski presented GOW3 and Ice-T on stage for an amazing demo (see demo here- below)
2011 will be also the Year of Halo with Halo Anniversary including Fully Remastered Campaigns from previous editions. 15th of Nov is the D Day for this launch (see trailer here-below)
Forza 4 looks amazing too. Release is foressen this year the 11th of Oct (see trailer here-below)
Fable “the Journey” looks also great. You can ride the horse thru your Kinect and make other cool thinks (see demo here-below)
Disneyland Adventures is a Great game to experience Disneyland Parc’s Attractions. This will be Available this Holiday. My kids will be happy, I’m sure.
Kinect Star Wars. It looks so cool. My son will be happy. He is top fan of Star Wars. You use Kinect and that’s pretty cool (see demo here-below)
Kinect Funlabs will be available for Xbox Live Members.
You can create avatar like you. Amazing demo.
Kinect finger tracking is also coming.
Object capture. You can scan your favorite objects and bring them to live (see demo here-below)
Kinect Sport Season 2. Top franchise of Kinect today. That’s clearly a game for my parents who can play Golf and other games.
Last demo of the day : Dance Central 2. This is the perfect game for my doughter Noa. (See Trailer here-below)
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Gamers: Who are they? [infographic] via @davidmerzel’s BLOG
Interesting infographic on Gaming.
A stereotypical outlook on gamers is that they eat Dorito and Red Bull when they play.
But did you know 70% of America’s households play video game, with the average age of a gamer at 34?
Half of parents (in the US) say they play a video game with their child at least once a week.
New Guinness World Record for Xbox : The most responsive brand on Twitter !
No one likes asking a question and not having it answered. The @XboxSupport stream sends 5,000 tweets per week, and it is the Guinness World Record holder for most responsive brand on Twitter. The average response time? “Three to five minutes, if not faster,” Eakin says. And Baccus says AT&T usually responds within 15 minutes — impressive, huh?
Source : http://mashable.com/2011/04/12/digital-marketing-lessons/
How Kinect is used in Education Field, in Africa [video]
In the video above, discover how Kinect has found its way in the education field.
The device takes the advantage of children’s tendency to learn better by movement and sounds/music rather than just sitting still and turns it into a pleasant educational experience.
Not only are the kids gaining knowledge, they are also being exposed to technology that they would otherwise not have ever being able to access like one of the teachers says in the video.
Why Xbox Kinect Technology Will Be the Next Frontier for Marketers.
If you’re among the many marketers trying to grasp the game-changing impact of Xbox’s motion-controlled add-on Kinect, you’re not alone. Even Microsoft didn’t realize what it had on its hands. When launching in November, Microsoft predicted sales of 3 million units by the end of 2010. Instead, the company sold 8 million in two months and recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling consumer electronics product in history. For brands, the excitement is just beginning — and so are the challenges.
In addition to sensing motion, Microsoft’s newest periphery for the Xbox 360 recognizes voices, captures facial expressions in real time, and can even tell players apart. It’s arguably the biggest advance in mainstream digital interface design since the widespread adoption of the computer mouse in the ’80s.
Kinect and its underlying PrimeSense technology promise to open new doors and could explode our conceptions of what’s possible online. Today’s online world remains governed by the conventions of preset hyperlinks and point-and-click devices, but over time, those constraints will be shattered. The popularity of touchscreens on smartphones and tablets suggest we were already headed in this direction. Marketers may play an important role in determining how quickly Kinect technology crosses the chasm from hardcore gamers to mainstream adoption.
The Engagement Potential for Brands
Big brands, including Burger King and Samsung, jumped in first with Kinect gaming promotions. But the marketing potential of Kinect extends far beyond video games. In the near term, marketers could leverage Kinect technology to create eye-opening trade show displays and in-store promotions. Freed from the gaming console, the technology can draw people into an immersive, interactive experience.
Innovative web-based applications will also be worth considering as the technology reaches a critical mass of 15% of households or users, a point at which adoption rates tend to accelerate.
With Avatar Kinect, Microsoft will soon move into augmented social media. Microsoft’s plans for the new technology clearly go beyond gaming. And Kinect’s controller-free environment should appeal to casual gamers, not just the hardcore console jocks, which will heighten appeal for mass marketers. Indeed, the pitch to advertisers from Microsoft is that women, younger children and tweens are “joining in the fun” with Kinect. Most importantly, perhaps, the price is relatively inexpensive; approximately $150.
In the future, it’s conceivable that consumers scanned into the system could theoretically interact with three-dimensional models of products. Why couldn’t Ford, which recently launched an exclusive Xbox campaign for its C-MAX, put consumers behind the wheel and let them take the newest model for a spin?
For catalog clothing brands, the ecommerce implications are immense. Why couldn’t Eddie Bauer let consumers try on clothes virtually? In the travel industry, the applications are even more numerous — a walking tour of the cabanas at Club Med, anyone? And with the capacity to scan an entire room, why couldn’t The Home Depot let customers design the layout of new kitchen cabinets or Ikea showcase sofas within digital models of consumers’ living rooms?
Peak Expectations Meet Practical Challenges
Marketers have tremendous opportunities to differentiate themselves from their competitors in this new environment. Yet they also face the challenge of developing those experiences without instructions or precedents.
Before agencies and developers can create the architecture of this new world — and customized applications for brands — they must first study what makes the new technology tick, which is why developers have been so busy “hacking” Kinect.
The development tools for Kinect are still fairly immature at this stage, but they do provide enough capabilities to build some interesting applications. As more work is done to support these tools by Microsoft and the larger development community, the possibilities for Kinect will grow exponentially.
Source : http://mashable.com/2011/03/23/kinect-marketing-strategy/
Do you dance better than Kylie Minogue ? [Fun Video]
Do you dance better than Kylie Minogue ? Watch this !
New Guinness World Record for Kinect, THE Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device EVER !
Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking, today confirm that the Kinect for the Xbox 360 is the Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device.
The hardware, that allows controller-free gaming, sold through an average of 133,333 units per day, for a total of 8 million units in its first 60 days on sale from 4 November 2010 to 3 January 2011.
The sales figures outstrip both the iPhone and the iPad for the equivalent periods after launch.
Gaz Deaves, Editor of Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition, said: “The sales figures here speak for themselves. We can confirm that no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector.”
The new record will be included in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, which recognises record breaking achievement in the world of videogames. The current Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition is available in both book and eBook versions at http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com.
See below first press coverage in Belgium:
La Dernière Heure : http://www.dhnet.be/infos/new-tech/article/345960/microsoft-plus-de-10-millions-de-systemes-kinect-vendues.html
Le Vif – L’Express : http://levif.rnews.be/fr/news/actualite/technologie/microsoft-a-vendu-plus-de-10-millions-de-kinect/article-1194965782153.htm
Blog MOIJEUX : http://blog.lesoir.be/moi-jeux/2011/03/10/10-millions-dunites-kinect-vendues/
Blog GEECKO : http://geeko.lesoir.be/2011/03/10/la-kinect-bat-un-record-du-monde/
Vers L’avenir : http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=B43269182110310
Tijd : http://blogs.tijd.be/tzine/2011/03/my-entry.html
ZDNet : http://www.zdnet.be/news/125779/kinect-haalt-guinness-recordboek/
Het laatste nieuws : http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1238/Xbox/article/detail/1233795/2011/03/10/Al-meer-dan-tien-miljoen-stuks-van-Kinect-verkocht.dhtml
De standaard : http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=AP37B3IL
Stats of Call of Duty Black Ops [infographic]
Some cool Stats for Call of Duty Black Ops.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Source : http://www.ripten.com/2011/02/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-info-aaronalex/
