Microsoft

What if Nintendo had pulled a Microsoft on “red ringing” NES consoles?

Six months after the NES launched in Japan in 1983, Nintendo engineers learned that “certain games caused the system to freeze,” according to Game Over, the best biography of Nintendo you’ll ever read. As for the malfunction, think of it as the “red ring” of 1983, only it didn’t kill your system. Nevertheless, “the circuitry on the chip had to be corrected...

Nintendo craftsmanship is worth 1000 pictures

Source: Forwards sometimes feels like moving backwards

Youtube Tuesday: Nintendo vs Sony vs Microsft

It’s been a while since this was brought up… but who do you think is winning the console war? To be honest, I’ve always believed that we’d lose no matter who wins. Have any suggestions or videos for YouTube Tuesday? Send them in at tips@infendo.com

Miyamoto calls Microsoft motion ‘basic,’ says players ‘need something to hold’

In an interview with Wired, Nintendo’s killer-app had this to say about motion control finally becoming the industry standard: “Looking at what the other companies have shown here at E3, it feels like they have finally obtained the very basic technology for doing motion control, but… I don’t think I could create an experience that truly feels interactive if you don’t ...

Deep E3 thoughts: Natal will probably never come out

By this time tomorrow night, the mainstream gaming press will likely be heralding the end of Nintendo’s long reign of terror, courtesy of Microsoft’s “revolutionary” Natal camera stick. The Nintendo presser? “Lame,” they’ll say, chortling about Cammie Dunaway or some other such extraneous nonsense. And in one year’s time, gaming will look incredibly ...

What do you think of Xbox 360’s “Project Natal”?

Microsoft today unveiled its response to Nintendo Wii. Dubbed “Project Natal,” the upcoming attachment promises to transform controls on Xbox 360, further than even the Wii has. Some very cool-looking demos were shown, but I’m reserving judgment until I get my hands on the thing. You? What do you think of Project Natal?

Microsoft cuts ground Flight Simulator series for good

This post has nothing to do with Nintendo, but because we lost such an important industry icon today in Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series, I decided to write about it anyway. It’s true. As part of Microsoft’s “restructuring” plan today (layman’s terms: 5,000 layoffs), almost the entire Flight Simulator team was let go in one fell swoop. I’ll never forget...

The Xbox 360 is a hardcore system in casual clothing

You have to hand it Microsoft. Even when they know that everyone knows they’re ripping off Nintendo as part of a campaign to sell their console to customers outside the male 12-25 demographic, they keep on keeping on. First it was avatars. Then, the bright, white advertising campaigns of moms and girls having fun playing… well, I haven’t quite figured out what games those actors ...

Is new Banjo-Kazooie on the wrong box?

Once-revered British developer Rare released a new Banjo-Kazooie game this week. And it’s actually good. No, it’s not 1998. Game Informer says Rare’s latest is “a rare delight” with “big laughs and inventive gameplay.” 1up calls it “unique” and “entertaining.” It seems our old friend Banjo, the goofy anthropomorphic grizzly Rare mad...

Microsoft beats one-week Wii sales in Japan

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 outsold Wii in Japan for the week ending Sept. 14 On the strength of an aggressive price drop and the release of the popular RPG Infinite Undiscovery, Microsoft sold 28,681 Xbox 360 units in Japan, Famitsu reports. These figures were just enough to pass Wii, which sold 27,057 units. Sony moved 8,050 PS3 units. Microsoft has struggled to capture a Japanese audience since ...

Microsoft “can’t say” it will beat Nintendo

Microsoft is coming to terms with a harsh reality; drunk on rum and with all cannons firing, Nintendo has stolen the booty this generation. In an interview with BusinessWeek, Microsoft’s Don Mattick admitted his company has realistic goals in terms of catching Nintendo this round. Quite simply, that it won’t. Even Microsoft’s top Xbox boss acknowledges the company is unlikely to ...

Comment of the week: Wii satisfaction

Lord Toker, on if Wii hit a homerun or if Microsoft and Sony vulnerabilities make Nintendo look better than it really is. “Just because Sony and Microsoft are having problems doesn’t mean the Wii wouldn’t have been a success. I’d say Nintendo hit a triple in the opening inning and never stopped scoring. It’s a fun machine that uses a new perspective to give most gamer...