The Darkness Demo

Its finally up for all you that have been waiting to try it ....

Content: The Darkness Demo

Price: Free

Availability: Not available in Asia or Germany

Dash Details: [ESRB: M (Mature) BLOOD AND GORE,DRUG REFERENCE,INTENSE VIOLENCE,STRONG LANGUAGE,SUGGESTIVE THEMES] The Darkness is spreading... Experience first-hand the dark underworld of New York City with this three-level, single player demo of The Darkness. Play as Jackie Estacado, a mafia hitman who comes into an unexpected inheritance on his 21st birthday. Learn to harness the awesome and terrible powers of the Darkness, and command your Darkling army to commit unspeakable acts as you wreak terrifying havoc on your enemies. Developed by accomplished developer Starbreeze and based on the comic book created by Top Cow, prepare for extremely intense, cinematic action in this gritty, first-person shooter with a horror twist. Remember... stay out of the light.

Size: 1.27 GB (approx.)

Xbox repairs can't stop MS!

From the NY Times:

Microsoft’s Profit Rises Despite Xbox Charge

By LAURIE J. FLYNN

Published: July 20, 2007

Microsoft reported fourth-quarter earnings today that matched Wall Street’s forecasts after accounting for a substantial charge for fixing defects in its Xbox video game machine.

The company, the world’s largest software maker, said the strong performance was fueled by brisk sales of Windows Vista and the newest release of Microsoft Office.

Microsoft’s profit for the quarter was $3.04 billion, or 31 cents a share, compared with $2.83 billion, or 28 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. Without the charge, earnings were 39 cents a share, a 26 percent increase over the same period last year.

Revenue was $13.37 billion for the quarter ended June 30, a 13 percent increase from the $11.8 billion in the same period last year.

Analysts had forecast a profit of 39 cents a share on $13.28 billion in revenue, according to Thomson Financial.

The results were announced after the stock market’s close. Microsoft shares were up slightly in after-hours trading, after rising 59 cents a share to close at $31.51 in regular trading.

For the fiscal year, Microsoft posted revenue of $51.12 billion, a 15 percent increase over the prior year. Earnings for the year were $1.42 a share, or $1.49 a share excluding one-time items, marking a 17 percent increase over the year before.

“Our results this quarter cap off an extremely strong fiscal year for the company,” said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer at Microsoft. He predicted double-digit revenue and earnings growth in the current fiscal year.

Investors were relieved last quarter to learn that Microsoft’s core products — the Windows operating system, Office productivity programs and, increasingly, Microsoft’s server software — all showed strong momentum, and that trend appears to have continued through the fourth quarter. Revenue in the business unit that includes Windows sales increased 14 percent to $3.81 billion in the fourth quarter.

The company said earlier this month that it would take a charge of up to $1 billion for the anticipated cost of repairing a hardware defect in some of its Xbox 360 game consoles. As many as a third of the 11.6 million units sold may be affected.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that its top gaming executive, Peter Moore, was leaving Microsoft to run the sports division of Electronic Arts, the independent video game publisher, though company executives denied that his departure was related to the Xbox’s engineering problems. Don Mattrick, a former Electronic Arts studio chief, will take Mr. Moore’s job at Microsoft.

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Demo

Now up on XBL Marketplace:

Content: Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Demo

Price: Free

Availability: Not available in Japan or South Korea

Dash Details: [ESRB: T (Teen) LANGUAGE,SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Get into the drift in this smoking hot demo of Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. Drift, race, bet and mod your ride, in this multi-event taster of the coolest racer this year.
Size: 1.31 GB (approx.)

Well, I guess you have had as much of Peter Moore as your going to get!

I know this story has been told already, but this article had a link to an interview with Peter Moore.
From Kotaku:

grown men crying

Peter Moore Tells Major Nelson Bye Bye

So Peter Moore's really leaving Microsoft! Major Nelson grabs the tattooed one for a goodbye podcast. Major Nelson even gets "choked up saying 'goodbye.'" But don't worry! Peter Moore is isn't going to off to some horrible work camp. He's only going to Electronic Arts. Says Moore:

While it's going to be sad for me personally leaving, and I know a lot of people have already come up to me in the last few minutes and said, "You know, we're gonna miss you." I think it's important that they focus on the future. I'll be just fine. My family's going to be fine. But what's more important as we sit here in Redmond is that the business is going to be fine under the leadership of Don Mattrick.

No crying for Moore, okay? He's rich.
Peter Moore Says Goodbye [Major Nelson]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No X07 This Year

First Major Nelson posted on twitter last night that X07 is a no go this year, then on Xbox 360 fanboy they post a quot from Xbox Group Product Manager, Aaron Greenberg saying

"There is not a real X07 this year but I think that we will figure out some way
to talk about 2008 some time at a different event or a different type of
programme."

So Euro Gamers are once agan SOL. and no more Bringing it Home stuff for the rest of us this year....

Happy Birthday Xbox Live 10k Club

 As many of you already know it is our One Year Anniversary here at the Xbox Live 10k Club. We would like you all to come celebrate with us during the month of August. We will be showing our appreciation to the Xbox Live community by giving away a game (new copy) each week. All details of "contests" and "giveaways" will given during our weekly Zunecast and posted on our website.
 We encourage ALL to come celebrate with us. This celebration is for ALL Xbox 360 owners not just the Xbl10kclub community. Everyone will have a chance to win these great prizes. This is just our way of trying to give back to the community that has given us so much support over the last year. Pick up your glass and say "Cheers"! The Xbox Live 10k Club is one year old!

Bomberman Live and Yie Ar Kung-Fu now up on xbl Arcade

Two new game's are now up on xbl Arcade.

Bomerman Live

Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions

Dash Details: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE) COMIC MISCHIEF, TOBACCO REFERENCE] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 2-8, Local Multiplayer 2-4, HD (High Definition), Xbox LIVE Vision. The award-winning hit Bomberman has gone live - Xbox LIVE! The full version of this classic game has eight exotic arenas where you can battle with up to eight players over Xbox LIVE! Customize your very own Bomberman with any of over 10,000 unique combinations. Unleash your fury using all your favorite power-ups to emerge victorious and prove who's best! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.

Yie Ar Kung-Fu

Price: 400 Microsoft Points

Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions

Dash Details: [ESRB: E10+ (EVERYONE 10+) CARTOON VIOLENCE] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 1-2, Local Multiplayer 1-2, HD (High Definition). Take down your opponents and claim the Martial Arts Championship. Full version includes all opponents, Xbox Live leaderboards, Multiplayer, and brand new achievements to prove your might. Will you fight like a tiger or run away in shame? There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.

Peter Moore Resigns From Microsoft

 REDMOND, Wash. — July 17, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox® and Games for Windows® businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.

Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.

“Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go,” said Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360™, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console’s ascent.”

Moore has decided to return with his family to Northern California, where they lived until he took the position at Microsoft. Moore will remain at Microsoft to assist in the transition through August and will then return to the San Francisco Bay area.

“While Peter will certainly be missed, we are delighted to have one of the industry’s most talented and passionate veterans on board to lead the business,” Bach said. “Don is well-known and respected throughout the industry for his deep knowledge, technical expertise and management savvy. Under Don’s leadership, the games team is looking forward to embarking on our biggest holiday ever, with a wide-ranging roster of some of the most highly anticipated titles.”

Mattrick brings 23 years of games industry and development experience to the strong Microsoft management team, having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as the “Need for Speed,” “Harry Potter” and “The Sims” while at EA.

“Over the past two decades, and the past few months in particular, I’ve worked closely with many of Microsoft’s top leaders and I’ve always been impressed by their talent, passion and commitment,” said Mattrick. “I’m thrilled to join an already strong team that’s delivering truly amazing gaming experiences to customers around the world. I’ve never been more excited about the future of the industry, and firmly believe Microsoft will lead the next great innovations in gaming.”

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Lost Planet Maps become free this Friday

This Friday (the 20th) the Xbox 360 Lost Planet maps (packs 1 and 2) become free. You can find more info at the official Lost Planet blog

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All the Peter Moore You Can Get Your Hands On

Our fearless leader was all over the place this E3 and but got chance to sit down with Microsoft's Corporate Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division (that means he's the big Xbox guy) Peter Moore and chat about a variety of subjects. We've been posting the videos up for you in nice bite sized pieces but in case you missed any, here's the breakdown after the jump.

With the Big 3 all competing for everyone's attention, naturally someone must have come out on top of the heap. Listen and hear Mr. Moore tell you who he thinks won. I bet you can't guess what he says.

Xbox hasn't really said much about theMGS4 for Xbox rumors and here, Peter Moore talks about the relationship between Konami and Sony and how Micorsoft acquires exclusive games. Hey, he has a Linkin Park ring tone!

The retirement of Ken Kutaragi was big news, and Mr. Moore speaks respectfully and thoughtfully of his colleagues retirement.

With the announcement ofHalo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360 Mr. Moore talks about previous special editions of other consoles and gives his take on the mild reaction to it at the press conference.

Here, Peter Moore talks a bit about the PS3 price drop and multiple versions of the hard drive sizes. But his big question is a sound one; what are you going to do with all that hard drive space?

First and foremost in many peoples minds has been the Xbox 360 Death Syndrome and Crecente gets Peter to talk about why one might give a warranty rather than a full recall.

Crecente quizzes Peter about his tattoos and Peter replies by admitting to checking out Angelina Jolie. Funnily he says "I don't know why I was looking at Angelina Jolie." Oh come now Peter, even I know why you were looking at Angelina Jolie

And finally, in classic James Lipton style, Crecente gets Mr. Moore's opinions on one of the big questions of the show, the death of the old E3. this one loads a bit slow, so go get a cup of coffee and come back.