Game Developer Says Vista Breaks Casual Online Games
The world is still absorbing all the added features and security of Windows Vista, game developers and casual gamers may have something to be unhappy about when it comes to the Microsoft’s operating system.
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31.1.2007 Microsoft Offers More Ways to Play Games for Windows and Xbox 360 at German Games Convention
LEIPZIG, Germany — Aug. 23, 2006 — Once again proving that its game platforms offer more ways for gamers to have fun, Microsoft Corp. today announced great new games and accessories for Xbox 360™ and Windows® gamers.
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24.8.2006 Microsoft confirms Yahoo deal, Bing to power Yahoo! search
Yahoo! and Microsoft have both confirmed earlier reports of a deal over search.
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29.7.2009 Vista Feature Will Enhance Online Newspaper Reading
Even if you're reading All the News That's Fit to Print on an ultra-mobile computer, it may soon look and feel the same way it does spread out with your morning coffee ? minus the ink-stained fingers, perhaps.
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4.5.2006 True Windows Vista RTM Build screenshots online
Here are some screenshots of the real thing.
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9.11.2006 Yahoo! Messenger Preview for Windows Vista
The long-awaited Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista now has a preview build available for download.
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7.12.2007 The New Internet Games in Windows 7
If you’re running the Windows 7 Beta and hadn’t already noticed, we are introducing 3 new Windows Games for Windows 7.
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21.2.2009 Crysis coming to 360; 2 other new games too
You’ve all read the heading, so now you have to calm down and read. Crysis has been announced to be coming to the 360 on the 1UP show.
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16.1.2007 Microsoft Warns Games Could Cost More
After Electronic Arts representative Keith Ramsdale warned that a new rating system might lead to delays for game launches in the United Kingdom, it's Microsoft’s turn to rally against the intention of the British government to introduce a reform when it comes to rating videogames.
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1.7.2008 Games and Gamers -- Potential World Changers
Suzanne Seggerman, co-founder and president of Games for Change, and Jeff Bell, Microsoft corporate vice president, discuss the companies' commitment to explore ways that interactive gaming can impact important social issues.
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11.6.2007 Is Microsoft Playing Games With XP SP3?
Call it a Hamlet moment for the PC industry, filled with political intrigue and machinations worthy of the great Shakespeare play: to wait for XP SP3 or move to Vista now that Microsoft has released Vista SP1?
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26.3.2008 Introducing Xbox LIVE Community Games
You’ve played Xbox 360 games with the millions of gamers on Xbox LIVE. You’ve chatted, shared, and dominated in games of all kinds. But what if those millions could be playing your game?
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22.7.2008 The Online High School
The BBC News website has published an article about the first ever online school, where pupils attend virtual classes by simply logging on.
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29.9.2006 SafeDisc Windows XP Fix for Microsoft Games
When running a restricted user account with fast user switching under Windows XP, some games will not start correctly. The game requests that the original disk be placed in the drive, even if it is already present. To remedy this issue, download and run this fix.
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2.3.2006 Windows Live Games Beta Signup Begins
Today Microsoft extended an invitation for individuals to participate in a beta test of its new Windows Live Games online community, which will allow PC gamers to connect with Xbox users over the Live gaming network.
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3.3.2007 Xbox Gets Bigger Live Games, Memory Card
Microsoft plans to allow Xbox Live Arcade games to use more space, announcing it had increased the official size limit from 50 to 150 megabytes. In addition, the company also announced a larger memory card with a capacity of 512MB.
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5.3.2007 Sony promises more games to boost PS3 demand
Sony expects at least 380 new PlayStation 3 games to hit the market this business year and says that should rev up demand for the console that has so far lost out to Nintendo's wildly popular Wii.
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21.6.2007 Microsoft Breathes New Life Into Xbox and Games for Windows
Microsoft made a move designed to breathe new life into the marketing strategies for the Xbox consoles, Games for Windows and Microsoft Game Studios.
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25.6.2008 How Microsoft spends its money online
Microsoft's online spending plans will be a central topic today at the company's annual meeting with financial analysts, as detailed in this post yesterday.
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24.7.2008 Microsoft Will Add Video Games to Zune by July 2008
Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, will make video games available on its Zune music player within 18 months, said Peter Moore, a vice president in the company's interactive entertainment unit.
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9.1.2007 Microsoft launches new Xbox360 Elite bundle with 2 gold games
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY AND FINISH THE FIGHT WITH THE XBOX 360 GAME OF THE YEAR BUNDLE
For a Limited Time, Get “Fable II” and “Halo 3” with Xbox 360 Elite.
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20.4.2009 Download Windows 7 RTM Free Ultimate Extras Games Soon
The Ultimate Extras live to see another day. In all fairness, it will not be the whole of Ultimate Extras that will survive, but just two components, both being games which will be delivered as standalone downloads.
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10.11.2009 More than 160 high-definition Xbox 360 games and a host of new accessories
Three Locust Hordes, Two Race Cars and a Pińata in a Pear Tree. From naughty to nice, Xbox 360 has something for everyone this holiday season: more than 160 high-definition games and a host of new accessories make up the best 12 days ever.
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16.11.2006 Google to Introduce Online Spreadsheet Software
Google Inc. will begin rolling out it's new online spreadsheet software today to a limited few in a move that sees the web maestros taking on Microsoft's Excel with a completely free alternative.
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6.6.2006 Google Opens Online Word Processor
Google late Thursday re-opened its Writely beta online word processing application, which the search engine acquired in March. Because the service was being transitioned to Google's servers, it was not accepting new accounts until today.
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19.8.2006 More on ad based MS Works online
Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it may offer a free, advertising-supported version of its basic word processing and spreadsheet software, in an apparent bid to fend off a nascent challenge from Google Inc. in the business software market.
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22.9.2006 Microsoft Loses More Ground In Online Search
Microsoft continued to lose market share in online search in November, while rivals Google and Yahoo made significant gains, a monthly U.S. study shows.
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22.12.2006 ESET releases Online Scanner - Beta
ESET, a global provider of antivirus software, today announced a release of its new online scanning service. Powered by award-winning ESET NOD32 Antivirus software, ESET Online Scanner is a free Web-based service that enables computer users to perform a comprehensive system scan to check for and clean viruses, spyware, and other malware—without uninstalling their existing antivirus solution.
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4.7.2007 Black Friday brings down online retailers
Amazon, like many other online retailers were brought down yesterday from eager users trying to get their hands on some limited offers from the sites.
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29.11.2008 Online Windows 7 event: MSDN Unleashed
On February 28, Microsoft organizes an indepth Windows 7 event in Irvine California.
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22.2.2009Yahoo to offer free ad-supported games
Yahoo has announced that it will be offering ad-subsidized versions of popular casual games for download, and anticipates as many as 400 will be
available by the end of the year...
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11.07.2008Yahoo Messenger previews a new Vista-centric version
Last night, Yahoo opened the pre-beta preview version of Yahoo Messenger for Vista, with graphic features that appear to be more at home in the Vista
environment than with XP...
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06.12.2007Vista Breaking Online Games, Says Developer
Even with the operating system
released to the public,
Microsoft cannot seem to catch
a break with Windows Vista.
The latest complaints come
from game developers, who say
the OS' parental controls are
so strict they're disrupting
gameplay...
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31.01.2007Microsoft turns to users for new wave of Xbox games
Microsoft Corp will turn to users of its Xbox 360 to create new video games and broaden the types of games available on its console, taking a page out
of the strategy books of Facebook and YouTube.
The world's largest software maker said on Tuesday that it will start selling
"user-generated" games later this year on its online Xbox Live service and share up to 70 percent of revenue with the game developer.
Microsoft began offering game production tools in 2006 to amateurs and hobbyists under an initiative called "XNA," which allowed developers
to create a game that could run on the Xbox, a Windows-based computer or its Zune media player.
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22.07.2008Vista, wireless kept off core Olympic IT roster
Microsoft's newest OS, Vista,
has been relegated to waterboy
status at the 2008 Olympic
Games, while wireless
networking won't even play a
supporting role in Beijing.
Windows XP
was chosen to run on all PCs
handling chores vital to the
Olympic Games, and has been
installed on most of the PCs
delivered by Lenovo Group.
Vista will only be used on PCs
in Internet lounges set up for
athletes to use during the
games.
The Olympic Games require
mature, stable technologies,
said Yang Yuanqing, chairman
of Lenovo, during a briefing
in Beijing. The Olympic Games
aren't a place to try new
technologies due to the size
and importance of the event,
he said. Everything must work
smoothly...
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09.08.2007"Shadowrun" and "Halo 2" Mark the Launch of Games for Windows “ LIVE
This is a busy month
for Games for Windows “ LIVE!
On May 29, the release of
śShadowrunť connected Windows
Vista gamers with Xbox 360
players in cross-platform
matches through a single
service. Whether in
cooperation or competition, PC
and Xbox 360 gamers can battle
up to 16 players in the
intense first-person shooter
as they vie for supremacy in
an experience that rewards
cleverness, cunning and
split-second improvisation
through a unique combination
of modern weapons, ancient
magic and advanced technology.
This marks the first
of many games to come which
will support the Games for
Windows “ LIVE service,
connecting six million Xbox
LIVE members and hundreds of
millions Windows gamers. Games
for Windows “ LIVE brings the
best of the Xbox LIVE service
to Windows gamers, such as a
single online identity, the
ability to easily find and
connect with friends, and earn
achievements.
Today,
May 31st, Microsoft is
launching śHalo 2ť for Windows
Vista, delivering improved
graphics, a custom map editor
and the chance to earn
achievements “ a first for the
Halo franchise. Using a
combination of dedicated
servers, flexibility of the
Windows platform, and the
online innovation established
in the Xbox® original, śHalo
2ť for Windows Vista provides
a best-in-class PC-to-PC
multiplayer experience...
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01.06.2007Microsofts "Games for Windows" Takes Center Stage at E3 2007
Q&A: Kevin Unangst, global
director of Games for Windows,
discusses Microsofts lineup of
nearly 30 new titles, the
Games for Windows - LIVE
online service, and what the
initiative means for consumers
and for Microsoft...
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11.07.2007Yahoo Joins Online Office Suite Race with Zimbra Buy
BREAKING NEWS - Sources indicate that Yahoo intends to announce this evening a $350 million cash acquisition of Zimbra, an online/offline open
source office applications suite. While exact details of the deal are not yet available, the buy will put Yahoo in direct competition with Google, who
has also begun to offer online office applications to both consumers and business...
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18.09.2007Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable v1.1 Available
This download is a redistributable package for Games for Windows - LIVE v1.1. It upgrades the version of Games for Windows - LIVE on a user's machine
from version 1.0 to version 1.1.
With Games for Windows “ LIVE, Microsoft is extending the Xbox LIVE games and entertainment
network to Windows. This new service brings together the most popular online console game service with the most popular games platform in the world.
As a unified service with Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows “ LIVE is available in every country and region supported today by Xbox LIVE.
What does this mean to you? Imagine a world where a single online identity, a single Gamertag and a single friends list allows you to easily find
your friends online and communicate with them across Windows computers and Xbox 360 consoles. Imagine a single list of achievements and Gamerscore
that allows you to track and compare your gaming accomplishments. Imagine the ability to play online with your friends, even cross-platform between
your Windows based PC and Xbox 360 in supported games, without the need to configure anything. Sounds too good to be true? Its real and its
here!
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24.08.2007Yahoo Joins MusicMatch, Music
Engine
Yahoo released a new version
of its online music service
Wednesday, merging its Yahoo!
Music Engine and MusicMatch
applications into a single
program called Yahoo! Music
Jukebox. Yahoo acquired
MusicMatch in 2004...
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03.08.2006Microsoft set to release Vista Ultimate Extra games - free
Remember Vista Ultimate Extras? Well they are back according to Paul Thurrott, but this time they will be released for free in the form of two games,
Microsoft Tinker and Hold 'Em. Microsoft's failed Vista Ultimate Extras were a big promise from the company of "cutting-edge programs,
innovative services and unique publications." At least they were in Vista RTM, by the time Vista SP1 was rolled out nearly all references to Vista
Ultimate Extras were removed (shown below). Blogger Long Zheng called them the "ultimate con" at the time and in hindsight he was right. Microsoft
made several promises of more extras which resulted in the company launching UltimatePC.com which now redirects to the Vista home-page.
Read full story.....
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11.11.2009Yahoo Maps Get Interactive
with Flash
Yahoo has rolled out a new
beta of its mapping and
directions service, which
follows the interactive
approach taken by rivals
Google and MSN with one major
difference: Yahoo! Maps is
built with Flash. Despite the
change, Yahoo has made sure
that printing and sharing maps
online remains easy...
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04.11.2005Gaming on Vista 10 to 15 Percent Slower than XP
Microsoft is reportedly
telling it's gaming industry
associates that games will run
10-15% slower on their new
operating system due to the
new GUI implemented.
Vista's new 3D desktop will
constantly be draining the PC
of video memory that games
could make use of, so in
actual fact many of your
favourite games will probably
run faster on Windows XP. Of
course after Vista arrives new
PCs and hardware will be built
especially for Vista which
will increase performance
anyway.
Still,
looks like that pretty desktop
has a price after all.
Read full story.....
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07.10.2006Yahoo Enhances Bookmarking Service
Yahoo made significant changes
to its online bookmarking
application, bringing it more
in line with a similar
offering from Microsoft in
Windows Live Bookmarks. Yahoo
claims 20 million people use
the service...
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25.10.2006Free online games see sharp increase
comScore data released this week
showed online
casual gaming has reached 86 million users in 2008, an increase of 27% year over year. Additionally, the time individual users spend on gaming sites
increased 42%.
Casual gaming is the category where Yahoo is definitely king, with 19.5 million unique visits in December, a 20% increase over
2007 and 4 million visits more than second place EA Online, and 6 million more than Disney Games, which holds third place.
Edward Hunter,
comScore's Director of Gaming Solutions said "Not only have consumers turned to outlets such as gaming to take their minds off the economy, but
as they curtail their discretionary gaming-related purchases they are turning to free alternatives."
Because users are opting to play
ad-supported games, it is not surprising that the ad market in this sector is booming. Some 8.6 billion ads were viewed in 2008 at a stable 127 ads
per viewer, a nearly 30% overall increase over 2007. This is attributed to a reduction to what is known as ad clutter, or the amount of display ads
per page view, which decreased 17%...
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31.01.2009Yahoo! Says No More, Goes to Google
So much for that relationship. Yahoo! has finally given Microsoft the boot after months of dispute and has set up a deal with Google already:
"Just hours after saying it ended talks with Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc. announced that it will start running advertising from Google Inc.
alongside Yahoo search results.
The nonexclusive deal unites the online advertising businesses of Google and Yahoo and comes as a setback
to Microsoft, which had been trying to acquire all or part of Yahoo to strengthen its own online business and compete better with Google.
Yahoo said it expects the deal to generate $250 million to $450 million in operating cash flow during the first 12 months, and that it represents an
annual revenue opportunity for Yahoo of $800 million. The deal is for an initial period of four years, with an option for Yahoo to extend it for a
further six years."
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13.06.2008Yahoo, Symantec Partner on Net
Security
Yahoo and Symantec announced a
partnership on Tuesday.
Several Yahoo services would
be enhanced with online
versions of Symantec products,
and a co-branded version of
Norton Internet Security will
be offered...
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25.07.2006Sony Online Acquires Worlds
Apart
Sony Online Entertainment said
Thursday it had acquired the
assets of Worlds Apart
Productions, the maker of
various online trading card
games. Employees of the
company would remain at Worlds
Apart’s former headquarters in
Denver...
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11.08.2006Microsoft makes Games for Windows Live free, will sell game downloads
Microsoft announced late Tuesday that it would no longer charge Windows gamers to connect to one another for multiplayer gaming, and this fall will
launch an online store for downloading PC games...
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23.07.2008Games for Windows LIVE 1.2 Coming Soon
Brandon LeBlanc: This evening, Xbox Live's Major Nelson
revealed some tidbits on an upcoming update to Games for Windows - LIVE for the PC.
As you know, several
games have launched under Games for Windows - LIVE that allow PC Games to tap into Xbox Live. Last May, I talked about
my
experience with Halo 2 for Windows Vista and a few months ago I also picked up Shadowrun. While Halo 2 for Windows Vista let me score achievements
and add to my gamerscore - Shadowrun goes cross-platform by letting me play with gamers who are playing Shadowrun on their Xbox 360 consoles.
Like with Dashboard Updates to the Xbox 360, Microsoft can also update the Games for Windows - LIVE components within PC games such as
Halo 2 for Windows Vista and Shadowrun that add functionality and bug fixes. Major Nelson highlights several changes coming with the 1.2
release:
- Support for offline Achievements (so you can add to your gamerscore when not connected to the internet).
- Ability to see
if your friends are "joinable" in games.
- Additional UI features.
I look forward to seeing these improvements for the 1.2 release
for Games for Windows - LIVE. Major Nelson says we can expect to see this update available sometime next month.
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09.10.2007
