Category Archives: News

CoD: Modern Warfare 2 launch was a HUGE success

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And that’s an understatement.  In fact, IGN calls it “the biggest launch in the history of all forms of entertainment.”  And we’re talking about the video games industry here.  Good stuff!

On November 10 games publisher Activision released the latest installment in the coveted Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  After very positive initial reviews and a garnered hype spread by word of mouth and Twitter (MW2 quickly became (and still is) a trending topic).  In its first 24 hours on sale the game sold approximately 4.7 million copies in North America and the UK and made $310 million in sales.  DAY-UM!

Mike Griffith, CEO of Activision: “The Call of Duty franchise has become a cultural phenomenon showing the power of video games as an entertainment medium.”  “The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the Call of Duty brand delivers. Modern Warfare 2 has taken interactive experience to unprecedented heights setting a new standard for entertainment.”

Jump in on the action and get yourself a copy of MW2 today.

[Via IGN]

Long-awaited Xbox 360 dashboard update is coming November 17

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We’ve known for quite some time now about the next Xbox dashboard update coming to Xbox Live subscribers.  Here’s a refresher for those of you not in the loop: Facebook/Twitter integration, last.fm, Zune (video) Marketplace, and instant-HD (1080p/5.1 channel) streaming.  The new press release (in full after the break) sheds light on new additions:

In addition to these social features, Xbox LIVE will also be debuting “News and More,” a new section of the “Inside Xbox” channel, transforming Xbox LIVE into a full-fledged media portal. With a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert, “News and More” brings the latest in current events, arts and entertainment right to your fingertips.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Long-awaited Xbox 360 dashboard update is coming November 17 →

Rumor alert: Project Natal gets priced, dated, and further detailed

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Here’s the scoop, Coop.  Details surrounding the anticipatory launch of Microsoft’s codenamed Project Natal has apparently been leaked from a “behind-closed-door meetings in the UK between Microsoft and third party developers.”  According to the leak source, Natal will launch in November 2010 from a low, low price anywhere between $50-$80, thus making it quite the “impulse buy.”  Natal will come packaged with an initial set of 14 games.  Microsoft will manufacture 5 million units (that includes standalone and bundled-with-Xb0x 360s units) for a worldwide launch.  Pretty sweet if you ask me.

[Via Gizmodo]

RIP Dollhouse

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FOX, those sons of bitches.  First they cancelled Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles after (true, an overall lousy) first season and a spectacular second season.  Now they’ve gone ahead and cancelled Joss Whedon’s cult hit Dollhouse which stars the beautifully talented Eliza Dushku.

I am surprised FOX cancelled this series?  Honestly no, I am not.  The show did have low viewership; that’s what’s often expected when you place a show on a Friday night.  FOX gave Dollhouse a chance when it granted it (and not Terminator) another season last year.  During its first season the show garnered an averaged 14.5 million viewers.  This year it managed to capture an audience of a low 3 million (again, thanks to the move to Friday).

So here’s the plan for the remainder of season 2: The rest of the 13 episode order will air on FOX in December.  Dollhouse will skip over the November sweeps period and will air back-to-back episodes on Fridays nights for three weeks (yes, that means two-hours of Dollhouse each week!) and will complete its run in January in a series finale that the writers say will bring closure to the fans.

Creator (and overall mastermind and known genius) Joss Whedon had this to say after FOX broke the unfortunate news:

“Hmm. Apparently my news is not news.

I don’t have a lot to say. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you’ll agree in the coming months. I’m grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again.

I’m off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you’ll know what my next project is. But for now there’s a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear.

Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again. -j.”

And here’s a note to you, Joss.  It seems like TV series don’t bode so well for you (minus Buffy).  As great and amazing and spectacular as they all are, I think it’s safe to say that your talents lie in the realm of the Internet.  Just take a look at the insane amount of success Dr. Horrible brought  to you and your team.  So…here’s hoping that your “next project” is indeed the sequel to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  I need my NHP, Nathon Fillion, Felicia Day, and Groupie fix ASAP.  Oh, and I’m totally looking forward to your directorial debut on Glee.

[Via IGN; EW; here & here]

Apple constructs another architectural masterpiece in new NYC Apple Store

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On November 14 the glass doors will open to a brand new Apple Store located in the Upper West Side.  It will be the fourth (and largest) Apple Store placed in New York City.

During today’s official announcements, Apple made it clear that “customers can now reserve their favorite Apple product” online and pick it up in-store between December 15-24.  Also, for the first time ever Apple Store employees will giftwrap “any iPod or portable Mac for just $5.”

Oh, and for all you Apple fanboys and collectors listen up: “The Apple Store Upper West Side is located at 1981 Broadway, on the corner of West 67th Street. The first 2,500 visitors to the store will receive a limited edition, commemorative t-shirt.”  Doors open at 10AM; what are you waiting for?

Be sure to check out some shots of the gorgeous Apple Store in the gallery below, courtesy of Gizmodo.

[Via Gizmodo]

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Microsoft employee bids $35,000 to tour boss’s (Bill Gates’) home

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Microsoft holds an annual charity campaign.  When fall comes around MS “donates products, services, and experiences” for their elite employees to bid on.  It’s a yearly extravaganza when it comes to watching for the highest bid to tour of Bill Gates’ Lake Washington home.  Last year the winning bid was a measly $8,600.  One lucky Microsoft employee and a few of his friends will be taken on a personal tour of the Gates estate by Bill himself–in exchange for $35,000!  MS matches the donation too, so this philanthropic venture is whole-heartedly (very) good in nature.

Oh, what I’d do to go on a personal tour of Bill Gates’ home…  I bet there’s all kinds of insanely awesome gadgetry and futuristic, out-of-this-world stuff that would just make my tech heart melt.  For some reason I can imagine a Massive Dynamic feel to the place, with Melinda taking the place of Nina Sharp, of course.

[Via Gizmodo; TechFlash]

Rock Band 3 to actually teach gamers how to play real instruments; Natal support?

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Dhani Harrison (son of The Beatles’ George Harrison and developer on The Beatles: Rock Band) sat down with The Chicago Tribune and spilled some new information of what’s to come with the next installment of Harmonix’s Rock Band.

“I’m working on ‘Rock Band 3’ and making the controllers more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game.  Give me a couple years, it’s going to happen.”

When asked about potential integration with Microsoft’s upcoming Project Natal interface, MTV Games general manager Scott Guthrie: “We aren’t standing still – we will keep moving into new areas and look at new technologies that our platform holder partners are also developing, such as Project Natal from Microsoft.”

It’s starting to look like Rock Band 3 will not just be another rhythm game in the serieswith a new tracklist and an updated online catalogue.  With more realistic instruments and potential Project Natal integration Rock Band 3 will surely make gamers and newcomers alike ready to rock out all over again.

[Via IGN]

Wireless body monitoring system tracks vital signs, sends to phone

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Clinical trails have begun for Sensium, a wireless body monitoring system that “monitors multiple vital signs, including skin temperature, heart rate and respiration.”  Basically, Sensium is a “disposable digital plaster,” or Band-Aid-like patch, that is applied to a patient’s body.  The patch contains a power source and sensors inside it that track a patient’s health and sends the gathered data to the doctor’s PDA or smartphone.  Sensium is being described as cheap, disposable, long-lasting, intelligent, and efficient way for doctors to keep track of the patient’s health.  What differentiates this product from the current way of monitoring patients is that it allows patients to be much more mobile and free to move around the hospital (compared to the bulky, expensive, and wired methods of today).  Check out the full press release after the break.

[Via Engadget; SingularityHub]

Continue reading Wireless body monitoring system tracks vital signs, sends to phone →

Jemaine Clement talks future of Flight of the Conchords (forecast: gloomy)

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Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame has stated that his comedic duo (which also includes Bret McKenzie) “very likely might not” return to HBO for a third season of critically acclaimed and hilarious Flight of the Conchords.  The reason?  Family commitments.  Clement on the matter: “Bret and I are both fathers.  We know if we take on another season, that means we’re not gonna see our family for a year.”  Clement now stars in the movie Gentleman Broncos  and states that starring in a movie is a much different experience than making and starring in a TV series: “Films actually don’t take a lot of time, but TV shows are so fast-paced. Even though they’re both acting, they’re almost totally different jobs.  People think actors wanna move to film because it’s high profile, and I don’t think that’s the reason. I think it’s simply that they have more free time.”  He also adds: “We’ve got to write the series, but we’ve also got to write the songs, and just dividing your time into those two writing tasks is really tricky.”

Though Flight of the Conchords the series might be over, Clement added that “It could come back in a shorter season or like a special.”  It’s also good to know that HBO has left the door open for them to return; HBO spokeswoman Nancy Lesser: “We’ve left their future entirely in their hands. “We would love to have more…”

I’ll take FOTC in any form, whether it be a shorted season, a holiday special, or whatever.  For now, enjoy seasons one & two on DVD and their two studio albums, and let’s look forward to playing some FOTC tracks on Rock Band soon!

[Via NY Mag, here & here; Yahoo]