text:
Nathan Manning, Editor for AnalogAddictio, expresses his concerns for the Microsoft's next console.
You should worry. I have decided not to buy the next Xbox. It's clear to me that MS don't care about the hardcore gamers like myself. All they want are the casuals now. They won't fool me twice. I'm tired of just Halo and Gears and those kiddy Kinect shovel ware games don't interest me. MS lost the hardcore this gen and that's why they are in last place and I don't see the next Xbox being a hit with the hardcore.
But if I can buy those same "many hardcore and triple-a" multi plat titles on my PS4 then why would I buy an Xbox 720. Like the author and myself said the Xbox needs more hardcore exclusives. Kinect Sesamestreet and Kinect Disneyland don't count.
Many hardcore and triple-a titles are on the way for next generation xbox . donot worry:).
I heard the same 3 years ago and the same about hardcore Kinect titles. It turned out to be just a lie from Microsoft. I'm not wasting my money again. They lost all credibility in my eyes.
There will be hardcore games I'm sure of that but the question is how much focus Microsoft give there.
Their software output might not effect the majority of Xbox fanboys but it looks bad compared to their competitor's offerings for average gamers.
For every piece of shovelware they put out on Kinect those could be resources used for a long lost sequel. For every contract signed for timed DLC/exclusives that could be money well invested in new IPs. Then you have the heavier focus on making it into an entertainment device rather then a gaming device.
Pachter might agree with it but I don't believe gamers will. Microsoft are actually the ones in danger of making the most mistakes because they have the least experience in launching hardware.
They are an American company in an American mind set and that will bite them in the rear next time. I am sure of that.
Meh, Microsoft will spend more time this E3 rambling on about it's entertainment features than the great exclusives that will be coming out this year with the console. I hope they prove me wrong but I've lost faith in Microsoft as a company that caters to it's hardcore gaming fanbase.
If they do take this approach, I really hope it bites them in the ass.. they'll probably throw so much money at marketing the console that it would be near impossible for it to fail. Still, can only hope that by not focusing on the ones most likely to be early adopters, will bite them in the ass and force them to appreciate the real gamers a bit more.
How many times do I have to post this!
Microsoft have spent the last 18 months buying up first party talent. They own 21 first party studios. That's 9 more than Sony. If you look into those studios, they are all developing games for next gen, many of which are new IP.
That doesn't mean they'll be amazing, it's largely an unknown as all but 6-7 are new studios but for me, it shows MS are trying to fix one of the fair criticisms aimed at them over the last few years.
I think we should wait until e3 to judge where they are heading. You may well be right, but I have a genuine feeling a lot of people around here will be surprised.
What do people honestly expect out of the next Xbox? I'm legit curious. It's not like Microsoft have acquired any new developers to call their own. They have 343 but you could bet Microsoft will keep them on Halo. It's not like they bought Epic (Epic themselves said the Xbox division can't afford them). It's not like they've been building a strong 1st party lineup.
They could have bought THQ and made Saints Row, Metro, and Darksiders exclusive to Xbox. If they'd done this, I'd easily purchase the next Xbox.
For now, all we have to go by is that they'll be as good as they were this gen. DLC, Kinect, Halo, and Gears (if it doesn't go multiplatform as Epic owns the IP).
It really does seem like they've changed their ways. Their "better with Kinect" commercials should worry all Xbox fanatics.
As a gamer that's owned both the original giant and the 360 at both of their launch windows, I actually believe MS is in it's best position to deliver the goods than they ever have been.
MS is in the driver's seat of it's own destiny at this point.
Xbox Live is going to be huge for the early adopters. MS just needs to keep improving it at the same clip that they have this gen.
EVERY system relies on it's go-to franchises when the move onto the next gen. In MS case they had the #1 selling hardcore exclusive franchise this gen among it's big games. In this department, MS has the anchor it needs to improve upon next gen.
As for the system itself, regardless of whether the rumors of specs are true, MS clearly took the next system seriously and it will be more powerful than the 360. How powerful is up in the air.
It's going to be fun to see what comes out of E3, but I like what I'm hearing so far out of that camp.
@ Enemy.
At least give credit where it's due. Microsoft have actually strengthened their first party by opening up new studios and partnering with others, which is one of the points which we've been driving for a while. Whether the developers will deliver is another matter entirely.
I just remembered an article that published by a reputed business website when the first XBOX launched. I do not remember the website today but the article made a very important prediction which I still remember because it is becoming true. The author said that MS was using XBOX as a trojan horse to take over the living rooms. They will introduce it as a games console, slowly introduce other functionalities, develop it into a fully functional media hub and in the end abandon or put gaming in the background. It sounded so far-fetched at the time but amazingly today it is becoming a reality. IMO the next XBOX is the final stage of the plan MS put into action several years ago.
" I do think they may bring some new exclusive IP for the Next gen Xbox. I really want some good new hardcore exclusive games. "
But Microsoft dumped most of their development teams and care more about third party games now. They won't get many exclusives that way.
TO be honest nobody knows what to expect from MS! They can either come out hard fighting it's criticisms or keep going the way they are going.
It appears to me as if something happened when the rrod, Peter Moore quitting episode happened.
People can judge MS all they want but I will give them the benefit of the doubt even though I've felt let down for the past few years. They've added new studios and still offer the best console online gaming experience for me. Exclusives like Halo don't matter as long as they keep improving (yes I want more exclusives)the game. Tons of games are under the MS umbrella with more coming. All the hate will be here no matter what by the same people that strictly back there preference. NO matter what MS does they will complain it's not good enough.
At the end of the day I'm just happy to be a gamer. What ever console you like more power to you.
If they make online play free on the Xbox Next, I'll probably pick it up.
Definitely not falling for the LIVE scam again.
@ DOMination: Microsoft has Rare, Lionhead, Turn 10 and 343. Those are the only studios that make non-kinekt AAA disc based games.They can own a thousand studios for all I care. If they only make downloadable mini-games or kinekt games then it's pointless for the hard core gamers. Here's a link for you to check for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
woah, a Sony fanboy saying he won't buy anything other than a Sony console. Damn that's the first time I've ever seen this.
No offence but saying your not going to buy it with a giant PSN plus logo as your avatar speaks volumes. Wait till it is released. I am less inclined, at the moment, to buy it but I am not ruling it out just yet
I wouldn't rule it out either but I don't like region locked systems and I definitely don't like paying for basic online. They'd have to change those two things and get a bunch of great exclusives. I have nothing against Xbox specifically of course.
Just FYI, there has been no mention that the PS4 will be region free. It may be, it may not.
Blind ignorance. Im well aware of that article. How do you know they are all kinect or downloadable games? Their projects haven't been revealed. Yes they have two casual studios and no doubt they will continue with the type if games you mention but then so does Sony. There's no evidence to suggest what you're saying.
MS Redmond, MS LA, Press Play, Black Task, MS Victoria, MS Soho, Twisted Pixel, platform Next Studios, Connected Experiences and Lift are all working on new untitled projects. But if you want to keep believing they are all developing kinect shareware then you do that and we will see at e3.
A lot of people - even people like you who SWEAR they won't touch the Nextbox - will buy it anyway.
That's because Microsoft always does an excellent job marketing their new products. NextBox will launch. The journalists will shout about how it is revolutionary, how it is the best console ever. You'll see endless articles titled "10 Reasons the NextBox is better than the PS4/WiiU". You'll see familiar franchises like Halo, Gears, Forza, and...oh? What's this? Some brand-new IP exclusive shooter? Or RPG? Or open-world game? Maybe a new Killer Instinct finally? Maybe another Banjo game? What?!? "Oh man, you HAVE to try this out" says the internet. You will get excited. You will doubt your apprehension.
And then Microsoft will come out with some sort of deal, like "Sign up for 2 years of LIVE and get $100 off the NextBox". And you'll buy it.
For the first two or three years, you'll be very happy. You'll write a blog post about how "I'm glad I was wrong about the NextBox." You'll gush about all the games you're enjoying. And this will last for the first two or three years.
Then, the exclusives will die down. No, not immediately. It will slowly trickle down. But you'll tell yourself "It's okay" because Microsoft will update the NextBox dashboard for free, or they'll announce some exclusive DLC for GTA6 or Fallout 4. You'll start to doubt again, but you won't get rid of your NextBox. No, you already have too much invested.
Then, the hardcore support will REALLY drop off, and you'll be saying what you're saying now: "Man, I will never buy another Xbox again. Microsoft has tricked me for the last time".
Well said. It will be exactly the same with history repeating itself. People need to open their eyes and see through the marketing schemes. USA I'm looking at you.
Sounds like my feelings throughout xbox 360s history, started off great, started going sour and now it's just pathetic. Only 360 only game I bought last year was Halo 4 and even that turned out to be a disappointment in the end and the developers taking over four months to release a balancing patch.
Not happening man, I'll wait 2+ years before I buy the nextbox what they did this gen was inexcusable. I'll only get it if live is free and they have atleast 10 exclusives I like.
Yes "exclusive" DLC for GTA 6 and Fallout 4 just like the "exclusive" DLC for GTA 4 and Fallout 3..
Couldn't have said it better myself. M$ is king of marketing, look at how they shoved there way into consoles with the original Xbox.
This is the excuse Sony fanboys are going to be prepping up if the 720 or nextbox or whatever is called, launches with a killer line-up.
In reality, what has happened this generation is that the 360 has had an abundance of games and fanboys on here are quick to downplay the quality of the killer apps the 360 has whilst ignoring the sheer quality and strength of the multiplats on offer.
lol Strongman, you've never had an Xbox let's not lie. you're the one that going to be missing out on all the great new games on the 720. But hey you'll still find a way to spin shit into a negative way because that's what happens when you're loyal to a piece of plastic. lolol
I think it's just a case of wait and see what they do before buying. I will no doubt buy a PS4 because they have supported the hardcore gamer every step of the way on every Sony console so that's a no brainer.
But I'm on the fence with the WiiU and the next Xbox because they seemed to forget about the gamers and put all of their resources into the casual market.
If they support the hardcore gamer as well as the casuals then I'll no doubt purchase them both.
It's all about the games and I want Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony to deliver.
Unless they're all developing next gen Kinect games...
You don't even have an Xbox 360, you have stalked a lot of my posts and even sent me messages hating on everything Microsoft and Nintendo. We get it, you love Sony. You even gave me some bogus Xbox Live Gamertag that you probably didn't expect me to check.
That being said, the next Xbox is exciting for a lot of reasons. The main reason is that Microsoft knows how to kick off a console generation. Looking back at the original Xbox and the Xbox 360's launch, they both had AMAZING lineups. Judging by the fact that most of Microsoft 20 odd first party studios haven't been doing anything with the 360 in over 3 years, it's a safe bet that they've been working on the next Xbox. Including Black Tusk's new core title, and we know Rare is working on at least 2 new games, one of which is supposed to be a first person shooter.
Of course it'll launch with Kinect 2.0, but as an option it shouldn't worry anyone, in 2012 Microsoft had the most core lineup of the big 3.
If you are going with Sony that is fine, but don't sit there and lie like you were ever going to buy an Xbox 360 or try to get people to hate blindly like you do.
Yea they kick off this generation with great new IPs no doubt but that's where Microsoft failed with the 360.
They changed the dash board stopped supporting new IPs just doing sequels and spinoffs to well established games lot of the 360 fans love...Than comes Kinect shoving it down user base throats and increasing the price of Live.
Casuals first Hardcore second its going to be the same old song and dance next gen with 720 M$ cant cater to both sides.
@ StrongMan
I don't comment much on these articles, but I am always logged in checking this site out.
Every time I see your name it's on an Xbox article hating.
I don't go on to your beloved Playstation articles hating... now do I?
It's called respect.
@Strong Hmph not to sound like a troll but Sony had a allot of failed Ips this gen.
Other than UE, infamous and LBP and Heavy Rain what other game was super successful on PlayStation? Soccom and MAG failed/shutdown Socom's not even a new Ip it was a highly rated PS2 Ip, Resistance despite having 3 games and the third being the highest rated failed.
Haze failed, MotorStom failed/shutdown Warhawk failed/Studio fell apart/ twisted metal 50 50 but still failed at the end. Agent never was, TLG is not around (until we hear otherwise) countless HD remakes for fillers
Some of those are old Ips but majority are new Ip's NEW IP'S. I don't have hate in my blood nor troll in my blood but this weak kid force my hand.
I don't know why people are worried. only the internet and N4G are worried while the rest of us are ready to see what MS brings to the table. A overhauled Live experienced, great new entertainment features and most and far more importantly NEW IP's. As I said N4G and the internet are worried but the rest of us aren't.
You failed to mention huge successes like god of war, metal gear solid 4, MLB the Show, killzone, ratchet and clank (main series), and gran turismo ;)
And Demon's Souls was successful as well.
and Warhawk was great
Really what defines failure in your book?
You clearly haven't done your homework. Like, at all. It's almost scary.
God of War was successful, both part 3 and the HD collection sold millions and have meta averages over 90%.
MAG didn't fail lmao, it was a new IP online only shooter that sold over a million, better than games like Crackdown 2 and Forza Horizons.
Yakuza 3 sold over a million too.
Motorstorm sold millions too, I have no idea where on earth you get your ideas from.
Resistance didn't fail, part one sold over 4 million, they've all passed a million actually and part 3 was NOT the highest rated, part 2 was with an 87% metacritic average. You literally did NO homework, no clue.
Killzone? Never heard of it? Sold a few million, 91% meta avg for KZ2.
Warhawk sold over a million as well, online only.
Twisted Metal, a niche car combat game sold on par with Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings, one of the highest rated console exclusives last year on 360. What's the problem?
Never heard of Demon's Souls either? New IP, won GOTY from Gamespot, sold over a million, spun off to Dark Souls on the 360
MGS4 is over 90% on meta and sold millions, Gran Turismo 5 is at 9 million, Valkyria Chronicles was another new IP that came out of left field nowhere to sell over a million alongside stalwarts like Ratchet and Clank. 4 different genres, all successful.
Journey won a bunch of GOTYs last year including from IGN and Gamespot, NiNoKuni just came out and is the highest rated game of the year so far. So yeah, no. Calling all those 'failed IPs' is disingenuous. Credit where its due.
Kind of stupid at this point to be worried. I have no doubt in my mind that Microsoft will deliver. I will be purchasing both consoles this time around as well.
Can anyone wait to see what will be offered before saying "we're doomed if we buy a Nextbox"
I mean, you don't see me running around sayin Sony is failing because some of their IP's don't interest me. I have faith in both companies that they will bring their game 140% when the new stuff is on it's way. Microsoft has learned a lot of lessons with Kinect and the way they treated gamers. Yes, we stopped having IP's but it is BLATANTLY obvious that there will be many ready to go within the first 2 years of Nextbox's life cycle. MARK MY WORDS, I'm saying it now, the Nextbox is far from something that worries me. I look forward to many happy years with it, alongside what Playstation will offer me this go around. I just don't wanna miss out on the Killzones and stuff like that!!
Thanks saved me the trouble. I actually left xbox when they integrated the kiddie dashboard and was sad to see the games stopped shortly afterward. Ill stick with pc for now unless I see 5+ games on a next gen that I cant live without.M$ really let us down this gen imo
I never once bought into the Kinect bullshit and as ANGRY JOE says it's an inferior piece of Tech that only works when it wants to.
last place lol, xbox took the half of the playstation 2 market share. what happemed to 150 million who bought ps2? oh ya they all bought ps3... but wait ps3 only sold 70 million? oh ya thats right the other 70 million bought xbox. what does that mean? xbox took 50% of ps3 market share as well as nintendo dominaTING THE SALES WITH WII. funny how things change? the successor to the best selling console of all time came up with less than half and the successor to xbox managed to triple its sales. MY OH MY HOW THINGS CHANGE- PS2 IS NO LONGER THE BEST SELLING CONSOLE- THE DS SURPASSED IT.
sorry but the sony fanboyism on this site is unreal.
Yeah, we know MS doesn't care about the hardcore because when they announced their new console and all of it's games. The games were all for Kinect. What else is going on in the future?
People can't take you seriously when you have that PS+ symbol as your Profile pic.
Well how I picture it the reason why you don't see much exclusives coming out for 360 is that they are moving on already. I bet they have there teams focusing on 720 only. Just like Xbox when 720 comes out there not going to care about 360.
This dude is a liar!
I stopped reading when he said he no longer see advertisements for new game...WTF? That's the largest picture on the damn front page.
Also, I turned on my 360 & saw the demo of Metal Gear Rising...ON THE FRONT FRIGGIN PAGE!!!!! Downloaded the demo in 16 minutes and played the demo.
worry about yourself. Microsoft has so much money, if they really wanted to, they could release an 8 bit console as their 8th generation machine just to troll the world. I would buy a brand new 8-bit gaming console though... Halo 8-bit would look so cool with some awesome chip tune music to boot :)
I think if they released a small Halo downloadable 8-bit game I think a lot if people would buy it. It doesn't have to be serious but I wouldn't mind seeing big franchises turned into small 8-bit games for a couple of quid
omggg I want! It would be the best XBLA title!
Um, someone so needs to release Xbox 8-bit
Not even kidding. Making it downloadable is a good idea.
A decent side-scrolling 8-bit Halo game? Just reskin Contra!!!
Look up Halo Zero.
Fan made, but great little game. Pretty much exactly what you described.
As a multi-console owner, I can honestly say I am disappointed with the 360. I don't mean in that bratty fanboy way either, as the exclusives that the 360 has are very good. It is just that there is a lack of variety and not many new IP's in ages.
I know I will be picking up a PS4 before I pick up a '720', that's for sure. Until MS prove to me that they want MY money by adding more new IP's (non-kinect ffs), I'll just wait patiently. I'm only uber excited for Alan wake 2 and Lost Odyssey 2 anyway, and LO2 will probably never happen.
You sound like Sony is pumping exclusive title every month Oh boy ! Some people don't give a shit about couple of branded IP's at all !
As a gamers we should be concerned how much publishers are gonna try to rape us with micro-transactions, dlc and other stupid shit they inventing recently
Remember, you don't owe MS anything. We as consumers have the right to ask for more. You can't deny that you would prefer more exclusives. I know some people are saying they don't 'need' any, in defence to what some fanboys say to them, but the truth is exclusives do matter, and they are mostly always excellent.
I used to think "blah blah, who cares", but the truth is I am disappointed. Next-gen there is no excuse. Both PS4 and Xbox will have the same multi-plats, but the PS4 will again, most likely have much more variety in their exclusives.
Don't get me wrong, I am one of the biggest Halo fans there is, but sometimes it isn't enough. Especially with new consoles costing a fortune (at least where I live), I will have to 'buy smart'.
I show no loyalty to a company who shows me none. I'm not saying I am in love with Sony, but damn, they are loyal to their core fans, the ones who have supported them since the 90's.
You see, the thing is...they practically are.
Jan. - ki no kuni
Feb. - sly cooper
Mar. - GOW: A
Apr. - ???
May. - TLOU
Jun. - ???...also E3 reveals
possible games for ??? months: FF14, Beyond: Two Souls, Tales of Xilia, Dust 514.
Unless your just being a fanboy, something on that list should interest you.
If DLC, micro-transactions, etc. aren't worth my money, I don't buy. Simple as that.
Man we need a LO2, first one was bloody awesome! It's a shame the 360 didn't get more JRPG's but lagging in Japan probably contributed to that. :/
The problem you see is that consumers don't want exclusives. How many new exclusive sell compared to existing ips?
As consumers we voted with our money, and I am no exception. I have been eyeing a couple of new ips, but I bought ME3, Black Ops2, Halo 4 and been hesitantly considering XCOM and Dishonored. However, I decided to wait until it drops in price before I take a risk.
The people that scream new ips are in a minority, and developers will treat it as such.
no that's far from the truth and just an excuse why MS don't offer exclusives any more
both those games wont come close to the games he mentioned and we dont know how many of those LEs they made.
What was the best selling ps3 exclusive last year? None were worth anything. Not one AAA game from sony last year. Sony has exclusives nobody wants!
last year there was no AAA games outside of journey which was thebest selling psn game of this gen
and the one who won most GOTY awards last year too
and in 2011 uncharted 3,kz3,LBP2,infamous 2 etc
all of them sold from 2 to 6 million
ps3 exclusives all of them sell from 2 million to 9 million
i thought we over this "ps3 exclusives don't sell" BS
journey as in the psn game?! yea thought so. last year all l heard was xbla and kinect games dont count lol
Didnt l say last year as in 2012? l think l did! who said they dont sell? And the games you mentioned some barely made 2 million if that.
Nuke was making a point mp games are getting the most attention. infamous 2 did terrible until it ps+ as did kz3. uncharted was bundle for over a year and lbp2 didnt sell as good as 1
""journey as in the psn game?! yea thought so. last year all l heard was xbla and kinect games dont count lol""
did you saw me say that ?!
and psn game is ps3 exclusive right ?!
so my point still stands
"Didnt l say last year as in 2012? l think l did! who said they dont sell? And the games you mentioned some barely made 2 million if that.
Nuke was making a point mp games are getting the most attention. infamous 2 did terrible until it ps+ as did kz3. uncharted was bundle for over a year and lbp2 didnt sell as good as 1 "
LBP 2 sold over 3m
Infamous 2 sold over 2m and i'm not talking about the psn sales here
only the retail here so both retail+psn is over 3-4million each
uncharted 3 close to almost 6 million
killzone 3 almost 3 million
and uncharted 3 get bundles the same as all xbox exclusives
who also get i day one like halo4 and gears3 etc
Maybe if more new IPs were released, we'd see more of them selling.
You pretend people aren't interested in new exclusives, but what new 360 exclusives have there been to be interested in? Just Dance? Kinect [Insert generic title here]?
Seriously, the last new high profile IP out of Microsoft was Alan Wake three years ago. Before that it was Too Human in 2008. What else has there been? Ninja Blade? Kinectimals? Kind of hard to prove that a quality new exclusive doesn't interest gamers when Microsoft hasn't even introduced any significant new IPs in years. You're just treating an assumption as fact.
What's especially ironic is that the 360 took off early on because of Gears, Dead Rising, Saints Row, Mass Effect, and Bioshock. All new IPs. All exclusive, and all stood out, even when competing with stuff like Call of Duty and Halo.
Pretend all you want that new exclusives are something consumers aren't interested in. History has shown otherwise.
@ Nukeitall
I disagree in saying that there are people who don't want exclusives. But, definately agree that just because a game is exclusive or it's a new IP that it's somehow more anticipated or received by the gamers simply for that fact.
Ezz is right that there were people that blew off XBLA games every year. But after Walking Dead and Journey those games are finally getting love.
'You pretend people aren't interested in new exclusives, but what new 360 exclusives have there been to be interested in? Just Dance? Kinect [Insert generic title here]?'
Actually, Forza Horizon isn't even close to a Kinect game or a generic title. But for the record Just Dance is a Move game as well as Kinect.
'Seriously, the last new high profile IP out of Microsoft was Alan Wake three years ago.'
If you are going to say this then anyone can see that the last new high profile IP out of Sony was Heavy Rain and thart actually came out BEFORE Alan Wake was released in the same year. So the truth is the new IP argument applies to BOTH Sony and MS, but certain people only pretend that it's only MS.
'What's especially ironic is that the 360 took off early on because of Gears, Dead Rising, Saints Row, Mass Effect, and Bioshock. All new IPs. All exclusive, and all stood out, even when competing with stuff like Call of Duty and Halo.'
The actual irony of the people who criticize MS for the games that were popular early in the gen is that Sony has literally done the exact same thing. (But gets NO criticism).
What we have seenfrom ALL consoles is they release new Ips thoughout it's life cycle and the successful ones get sequels. Some go multiplat but still remain on the original system.
With MS it was Halo (3, ODST, Wars,Reach, H4) ,Gears (1,2, 3, & the prequel), COD 2 (then 3,4,WOW 1&2,MW 1&2,BO 1&2), Elder Scrolls (Oblivion,Skyrim), Mass Effect (1,2,&3), Rainbox Six Vegas (1&2), Fable (2,3),Crackdown (1&2), Dead Rising (1&2), Forza (2,3,4, Horizon),Burnout (Revenge & Paradise), GRAW (1,2,Future), Lost Planet (1&2), L4D (1&2), Bioshock (1,2, Infinite), Condemned (1&2)...
The list goes on and on spanning over seven years.
The PS3 as well with Resistance, Motostorm, Little Big Planet, Killzone, Uncharted, God of War, Gran Turismo, Infamous, etc, etc. All were successful and got multiple titles throughout the year.
Both Sony and MS have Dance games, exercise games, kiddie games, casual games..
MS doesnt need to emulate what Sony does to be succdessful and still keep their core gamers happy and neither does Sony need to emiulate MS to be successful, but it's clear that both have similiar strategies.
Of course you would take issue with common sense, and of course it's all to defend Microsoft, rather than respond to the actual point of my comment about gamers' interest in new IPs...
"Actually, Forza Horizon isn't even close to a Kinect game or a generic title. But for the record Just Dance is a Move game as well as Kinect."
Yeah, see, that's why I didn't call it a Kinect game or a game with a generic Kinect name like Kinect Sports or Kinect Adventures.
It's not a new IP. It's a Forza game. I'm not going to pretend Starhawk isn't the same IP as Warhawk just because it has major gameplay differences. I'm not going to pretend a Forza game isn't a Forza game for that same reason. At it's core, it's the same... a sim racer based on the same mechanics, just like Starhawk.
"If you are going to say this then anyone can see that the last new high profile IP out of Sony was Heavy Rain and thart actually came out BEFORE Alan Wake was released in the same year. So the truth is the new IP argument applies to BOTH Sony and MS, but certain people only pretend that it's only MS. "
You know why Sony can get away the past few years with a lack of new IPs? Because they don't need them. Their line-up is diverse enough as is. Their big games don't revolve around just three series getting sequels year after year. They have enough IPs to offer a diversity in their core line-up that Microsoft can't. Sony doesn't need the new IPs because they aren't dependent on Uncharted, Gran Turismo, and Killzone, the way Microsoft relies on Halo, Gears and Forza.
Sony has their supplements. They've got Resistance. MotorStorm. LittleBigPlanet. Infamous. Socom. Starhawk. Ratchet & Clank. All-Stars. Twisted Metal. Sly Cooper. That's TEN additional franchises.
That's just since 2011. What does Microsoft have to supplement Gears, Halo, and Forza in that same time frame? A Kinect dance game?
A lack of diversity is Microsoft's problem. New IPs are the solution. Sony doesn't need that solution, because they don't have the problem. But even then, Sony's still beating MS in new IPs.
But of course, certain people would prefer to ignore that truth, and ramble on about a list padded by timed 360 exclusives from 2006 and their multiplatform sequels as if they matter in a discussion of Microsoft's current crop of exclusives, and how open the gaming community is to new IPs.
where did you get your numbers from kz3 was considered the worst selling in the series. Uncharted was bundled for over a year xbox gets seasonal bundles not a years worth.
ND never mention sells of it after the whole 3.8million in one day. Which was later changed to shipped WW. wheres the lbp2 numbers coming from never heard anything about it.
Point I was making last year oh sony has x amount of exclusives then most came and left like a fart in the wind.
we got twisted metal ,starhawk ,tales ,yakuza ,psa ,lbpk ,wonderbook, etc yea yea wheres the sales of all them.
'Of course you would take issue with common sense, and of course it's all to defend Microsoft, rather than respond to the actual point of my comment about gamers' interest in new IPs'
I simply pointed out that MS is approaching this gen the same as Sony. But see how you need to take shots first. Now if I take shots back then we know who will cry wolf, so I'll keep to what you have used about IPS out of your own mouth.
FIRST you say:
'Seriously, the last new high profile IP out of Microsoft was Alan Wake three years ago'
But when I inform you how it's been even longer for Sony you spin it to say:
'You know why Sony can get away the past few years with a lack of new IPs? Because they don't need them. Their line-up is diverse enough as is.'
So just to repeat..
MS lack of new IPs in 3 years = BAD
Sony lack of new IPs in 3 years = OK because they have a more 'diverse' line-up.
Sounds like an opinion and smells like hypocrisy.
So then your reasoning that Sony doesnt need New IPs is because since 2011 (edited at the last minute from 2008) they had 10 sequels??
So thanks for proving what I wrote in my first statement:
'What we have seen from ALL consoles is they release new Ips thoughout it's life cycle and the successful ones get sequels'
At the end of the day, regardless of opinions both MS and Sony have found success with the strategies they chose.


text:
Leagues & Tourneys / Re: 32nd Illinois State Disc Golf Championships« on: April 25, 2014, 10:41:52 AM »
Interested in the details. Ill be home from training in Tx for a couple of weeks before heading to Washington state. This would be the one tourney I could play while home

subset: commoncrawl


text: It sounds like a word from Harry Potter but it's really a simple wooden instrument using to crush fresh herbs, particularly mint, for those great summer drinks. Use it for the limeade featured here or for some great Mojitos. Or let us know what drink you like to use it for. There are modern stainless steel muddlers but I prefer the old-fashioned wooden kind. For a great selection, visit the muddler shop. It's even fun to start a collection. Bottoms up!


text: 2013 James A. Rawley Conference in the Humanities, Call for Papers "Public and Private Memory: Understanding Collective Past" The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's History Graduate Students' Association welcomes proposals for the Eighth Annual James A. Rawley Graduate Conference in the Humanities, "Public and Private Memory: Understanding a Collective Past." The conference will be held at UNL's City Campus on March 8 and 9, 2013. This interdisciplinary conference explores the many ways memories are created and expressed. We invite all papers and panels covering modes of memory formation, creation, and demonstration. Papers may examine how events and people in the past have been remembered and memorialized or how memory functions in society. Whether literary, visual, historical, or based in social science, the research presented will represent a variety of disciplines and focus on private and/or public memory. Eduardo Díaz, director of the Smithsonian Latino Center, will deliver the keynote address that explores Identity, Cultural Negotiation, and Inclusion in Cultural Institutions. Diaz is responsible for fulfilling the Center's mission of fostering appreciation of Latino culture by sponsoring, developing and promoting Smithsonian exhibitions, collections, research and public programs, both in Washington and across the United States. Diaz is a 30-year veteran of arts administration. Previously, Díaz was the executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), the largest Latino cultural center in the United States. From 1989 to 1999, Díaz served as director of Cultural Affairs for the city of San Antonio. Díaz earned a law degree at the University of California, Davis, and a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies at San Diego State University. We invite paper proposals from graduate and advanced undergraduate students across all disciplines. Paper proposals should include a one-paragraph, 250 word, abstract and one page C.V. Full panel proposals will also be considered. Panel proposals should include a one-paragraph description of the panel itself, as well as a one paragraph abstract for each paper and a current C.V. for each panel participant. Please indicate any audio-visual needs required for presentations upon submission of proposals. All proposals should be emailed to [email protected] no later than November 30, 2012. Pablo A. Rangel and Catherine Medici-Theimann History Graduate Students' Association 612 Oldfather Hall Lincoln, NE 68588 Email: [email protected]


text:
Complete Story
95 Brewers Broadcasts Going Hi-Def
By: Staff, The Business Journal of Milwaukee
Fox Sports Wisconsin said it will televise 95 of its 136 Milwaukee Brewers game schedule in high-definition television this season, an increase of 30 games from 2008.
The first Brewers HD telecast will air on April 24 against the Houston Astros, Fox Sports said Tuesday.
FOX Sports Wisconsin began its HD telecasts in 2006 when the regional network delivered 17 Brewers games in 2006, followed by 17 games in 2007 and growing to 65 games in 2008.
The Brewers HD schedule on FOX Sports Wisconsin is subject to change, the company said.
Meanwhile, WMLW (Channel 41) said Monday it is entering its third season of carrying Brewers baseball over-the air and on Time Warner Cable channel 7. The 2009 schedule entails 16 games, including a pre-season game against Arizona Wednesday at 3 p.m.
WMLW will re-air games in their entirety immediately following the conclusion of the event.
Once the regular season starts, the station will run "The Inside Pitch", a half-hour pre-game show before each game.
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily32.html


text:
Supercharge Your Body With Human Growth Hormone, Pt 1
Originally aired on 10/26/2012
Human Growth Hormone is the key to feeling decades younger and now you can get the benefits naturally. Learn how to boost your body's own HGH production. Plus, get Dr. Oz's recommendations for amino acid supplements.
Guests: Nelson Dellis , Leslie Bonci


text:
Nano Around the World is a card game designed to get participants to reflect on the potential uses of nanotechnology across the globe. Players each receive three cards: a character card, a current technology card, and a future technology card. They are asked to assume the role of their character to find nanotechnologies that might benefit them. After game play there is a facilitated discussion to help players reflect on the choices they made, the difficulty in finding appropriate technologies for many of the characters, and the possible nanotechnologies that could benefit a wider array of people than current nanotechnologies do.
Our values shape how nanotechnologies are developed and adopted.
Think about the applications of nanotechnology outside their immediate experience.
Describe some of the current uses and future visions of nanotechnology.
Recognize that the majority of nanotechnologies are created for and will be used by the world's wealthiest populations.
Realize that nanotechnology could benefit the developing world, but only if we take active steps to develop technology with a wider range of uses than we currently have.
Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
Science Museum of Minnesota
NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.


text:
With global warming on the rise and the mercury levels dipping, the harsh UV rays of the sun probably causes the most dreaded skin conditions for Indian skin-tanning and pigmentation.
Read on and find out more about how sunlight exposure leads to tanning and sunburn, and simple home remedies to lighten tan and remove sunburns.
Overexposure to sun is harmful to your skin, and it doesn't need a brain surgeon to figure out why. Staying in the sun for prolonged periods is an open invitation to tanning, pigmentation, dark spots, sunburns and even skin cancer. Recent studies even show that people who spend considerable time outdoors are more at the risk of having a depressed immune system and an accelerated ageing process.
The science behind
The skin gets its color due to a pigment called 'melanin', which when present in excess, gives the skin a darker tone and vice versa. Staying out in the sun for a long time causes overexposure to UV rays. That's when the melanin comes into play. It tries to protect the skin from damage by absorbing the harmful UV radiations. This may lead to DNA damage, to which the body responds by creating new melanin pigments, making the skin look darker. Sunburn is simply a more fierce form of a tan.
The 'UV' menace
UV rays are not just responsible for skin darkening; studies show that overexposure to sunlight may lead to skin cancer. Pigmentation and sunburns are other potentially harmful results of an overexposure to sun rays. It's time to slather on the sunblock then. Make sure you apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before stepping out into the sunlight, and look for both an SPF 20 and UV protect on your sun block label.
Lighten up!
Tomatoes, lemons and curd are probably the most efficient home remedies that surprisingly lighten the skin and remove the tan, naturally. People with oily skin should add the juice of a tomato or lemon to a mixture of turmeric and gram flour for a fairer, glowing skin. Curd can be used for people with dry skin without the risk of over-drying the skin.
Anti-sunburn pack
Sun burns are best treated with aloe vera. Aloe vera gel has a soothing effect on the skin, and will help heal the skin faster. Also, increasing your liquid content will accelerate the peeling of your skin, which will finally expose your healthy skin underneath. Do expect a mild itching sensation


text:
So I took some random pictures over the last week, and I meant to do all these fun blogs. But time did not, in the end, permit, and so I'm going to just shove them all into one blog (expect on, to follow this) and make it boring, but you'll have the pictures of yours truly, which is what I know you've all just been waiting and watching for....
First... I love my Italian dictionary! I did homework with it this week, and I have to tell you- how handy! It has been about a year since I had one, and I really love it! I'm not sure why I didn't just get one before, but I just kept thinking I had one at home that I would bring back (in fact, the very one my dad used when he was in Italy!) but I didn't, so I finally buckled down and purchased one, and let me just say... what a joy!
Well, we ended up enjoying ourselves despite the low quality of the film. It was quite romantic in such a theater with velvet seats and only 5 other people. Too bad I have a boyfriend, right? (heh, sickos....)
And so here they are Mel... my two workout pics from the end of this week- one from Wed, one from fri.
And that's all folks!!!


text:
To grow a successful business, you'll need customers. And with a strong digital strategy, we're able to drive those customers to your business, even while you're still asleep.
It begins with a beautifully designed website that is cross-platform compatible and super easy to use.
Let you customers come to you. We rank your website for keywords in search engines such as Google.
Connect with your customers through social media and build a loyal community around your business.
Copyright © 2020 Viscore. All rights reserved.


text:
In a dynamic global industry like oil and gas, you need to manage costs, extract the most value possible from current assets and maximize up-time. Technology available today makes it possible to develop a truly connected enterprise and move closer to operational excellence. Cloud, mobility and analytics offer an actionable view into real-time production data so you can respond to issues as soon as they arise, from anywhere in the world.
Improvements in production can translate into increased efficiency and productivity. Whether you would like to reduce your energy consumption, upgrade legacy systems or make better use of the data you generate, we have the oil and gas equipment and resources you need to meet your goals.?We also bring a wealth of industry knowledge, drilling automation, and oilfield automation experience to help you remain competitive in a dynamic industry landscape.
Obtain greater production efficiency, while you keep your operations safe with our drilling equipment solution
For more than 100 years, we have been helping our customers achieve more efficient production by understanding your unique needs. We take the latest control and information technologies and apply them to the unique environments of this industry. We have experience in every segment from offshore production to pipelines to refining. Regardless of how large or small your project is, our scalable solutions will fit your needs. Combine these solutions with our ability to understand your applications and we deliver results that will help you remain competitive.
You know that you have to get more from less, and we can help you do that
Industry volatility is the new normal, and cost control remains paramount for everyone
The immediate impact is to improve invoicing, maintenance, and product quality, but the Rockwell Automation cloud-based solution also opens the door to a vast amount of untapped data that LACT units can offer.
Ronnie Riggs, Co-owner, Panhandle Meter/Trigg Technologies
We offer capabilities to help you meet the challenges you face no matter where you are in the world.
Whether it is a product or an integrated solution, we have the technology to help you optimize your operations. Our solutions provide access to a vast amount of data to help you make better, faster business decisions and include:


text:
Health and medical information for consumers, quality assured by the Victorian government
Health.vic is a gateway to information relating to the provision of health services in Victoria.
A gateway to the strategies, policies, programs and services delivered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Visit this page if you have a query regarding the Victorian Seniors Card program.
Apply for a Seniors Card or the NEW Seniors Business Discount Card, cancel a card, update your details or subscribe to e-News
Search for discounts in your local area. Available to all card holders.
Make use of discounts when in New Zealand, and e-Gift Card offers. Seniors Card holders can access free and concession public transport
Join the Seniors Card program and watch your business grow
Commonly asked questions about the Victorian Seniors Card
Explore news and information for older Victorians
Thoughts and information from members of the Victorian community
Browse videos from our information and get involved collection, and get in the groove with the 2020 Victorian Seniors Festival reimagined
Audio snippets including 'Seniors Updates' from the Commissioner for Senior Victorians
Australia's first people, Aboriginal people have lived here for over 50,000 years
Gerard Mansour is a highly respected and passionate advocate for the needs of older people.
Victoria is home to one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have gathered information on local support services to residents, including older people.
Learn more about elder abuse and where to seek help
Play sudoku, trivia, crosswords, code cracker or wordsearch. Games updated every day!
Learn more about scams, and how to avoid them.
Services available to older Victorians such as help at home, residential care, health & support services
Information and advice on living a healthy life direct from the Better Health Channel
Plan well for retirement with these helpful suggestions
Find out how to save money when shopping, travelling and in the home
Frequently asked questions about services that are available to senior Victorians, and where to find information about these services
Every year the Festival works with performers who share the Festival values. Even though we are online - this year is no different. Check out their performances and get in the groove.
During October 2020, local council and community organisations are holding online events as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival
Watch a welcome video featuring the Honourable Luke Donnellan, Minister for Child Protection, Disability, Ageing and Carers
We're excited to announce a program of radio entertainment to this year's Victorian Seniors Festival reimagined. You can listen online or download classic to contemporary programs, including music and entertainment, radio plays, spoken word and poetry. Community radio across Victoria are also broadcasting.
The Victorian Seniors Festival reimagined has joined with Victorian community radio stations to broadcast our programs in your area.
Watch performances from the 2020 Victorian Seniors Festival reimagined. Enjoy, comment and share as new performances are added every week!
View the details of the recipients of 2019 Victorian Senior of the Year Award.
The 2020 Victorian Seniors Festival reimagined is brought to you with the support of our partners.
The Community Visitors Scheme is funded by the Australian government and plays a vital role in providing companionship for older people
The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria a member driven peak body committed to empowering people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
The Northern Federation of Ethnic Senior Citizens Clubs is an association of more than 80 clubs
FriendLine is available for anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat.
Probus is about Friendship and Fun in retirement.
The Association of Senior Italian Citizens' Clubs of Victoria includes over 90 senior citizens' clubs for Italian-Australians operating throughout Victoria
TRY is a social purpose organisation delivering access to early learning, mentoring for the vulnerable and those at-risk, and training and employment opportunities for those wanting to try, but have not had the chance.
U3As provides low-cost learning to older people to encourage them to stay active and engaged, Australia wide.
The Victorian Multicultural Commision encourages Victorians from all backgrounds to connect and socialise, participate and have your say
Neighbourhood Houses provide a place for people together to come together to learn in and contribute to their local community.
Men's Sheds are a place for men to go for a chat, to meet with other men, put their skills to use and support each other.
Public libraries are more than stacks of books. They are fantastic social and cultural activity hubs that play an important role in our communities.
As you age, an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever for maintaining good health. Read more about staying healthy as you age.
Retirement can look entirely different from person to person. This section looks at ways of managing this important phase of life.
Seniors come from all walks of life and contribute to our community in myriad ways. Meet some seniors embracing new beginnings of life
Victoria is made up of many communities and those communities are made up of many people. Learn more about who and what may be in your neck of the woods.
Type a minimum of three characters then press UP or DOWN on the keyboard to navigate the autocompleted search results
The City of Wyndham has one of the largest settlement programs for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Victoria.
Multilingual case workers for the settlement program identified a group of socially isolated men from the Karen (Burmese) community.
One of the case workers was also a respected Pastor for the Karen community with strong connections within this community.
A consultation between the settlement coordinator, case worker and 12 seniors from the Karen community was held over a sausage sizzle and a roundtable discussion.
The group identified activities they wished to be involved in and agreed to commence a regular men's meeting and support group.
The Wyndham Community and Education Centre Inc then approached the local Bunnings Activity Coordinator, who agreed to attend the new group once a month to facilitate hands-on activities and supply materials.
The project included a series of information sessions, excursion and social activities.
Total project cost: $4,000.
Originally, the project planned to also target isolated men from Middle Eastern countries and the Indian subcontinent, however it was difficult to connect with these target communities.
The Karen community will be the focus of the group, but there is a capacity to increase numbers.
People from other communities will continue to be encouraged to attend.
The Karen men's group will continue to meet fortnightly.
New and ongoing partnerships are continually developing, enabling the group to continue.
The new partnerships include Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, Bendigo Bank, Parks Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries (Fisheries), and the Western Bulldogs Community Development team
Page last reviewed: 27 Feb 2019
This web site is managed and authorised by the Department of Health and Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia.
© Copyright State of Victoria 2018.


text:
NEW YORK — The admitted mastermind of a foiled terror plot to attack New York City subways testified Wednesday that al-Qaida trainers taught him a "very simple" formula for making explosives needed for suicide bombs.
After being recruited by the terror network and taken to a compound in the South Waziristan region of Pakistan, Najibullah Zazi said he learned how to mix chemicals found in nail polish remover and other products sold at beauty supply stores.
"It was very simple and they're everywhere," he said of the chemicals.
Zazi, 26, was testifying for a second day at the trial of Adis Medunjanin in federal court in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors allege that Medunjanin, Zazi and another former high school classmate from Queens, Zarein Ahmedzay, formed a terror cell that posed one of the most ominous terror threats since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Zazi has testified that during their 2008 trip to Pakistan, the three Americans met a top al-Qaida operative they knew only as Hamad. Authorities say Hamad was Adnan Shukrijumah, a Saudi still listed on an FBI website as a fugitive who plotted attacks for al-Qaida worldwide.
Hamad told the three that they were best suited for an operation on U.S. soil. He also mulled over potential targets with them, including the New York Stock Exchange, Times Square and an unspecified Walmart store, Zazi said.
The men ended up choosing the subway because "it's the heart of everything in New York City," Zazi said Wednesday.
Medunjanin, 27, a Bosnian-born Muslim and naturalized U.S. citizen, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, providing material support to a terrorist organization and other charges. He has denied he was ever part of an al-Qaida operation.
Authorities have portrayed Zazi as a homegrown terrorist who orchestrated the 2009 scheme to strap on suicide bomb vests and detonate them inside Manhattan subways. Both he and Ahmedzay pleaded guilty in 2010 and were jailed without bail after agreeing to become government witnesses in a bid for leniency.
After leaving Pakistan, Zazi relocated to the Denver area, where he used beauty supplies to try and cook up explosives in a hotel room and set out for New York around the time of the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Once he suspected he was under surveillance, he aborted the mission and returned to Colorado, where he was arrested.


text:
|Institution Type:
|Campus Setting:
|Southwest Large City
|Highest Degree Offered:
|Doctor's degree - research/scholarship and professional practice
|Level of Institution:
|Four or more years
They offer great medical programs. They have a newly renovated campus. They have accelerated programs that can offer a valuable degree in shorter time.…
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is an amazing place to attend school. It offers programs that allow more hands-on activities. It is the perfect place to get your…
The campus grounds are massive, clean, and full of vibrant gardens. People are friendly and willing to offer advice on classes. Everyone wants you to succeed so don't hesitate to…
The OU Health Sciences Center is located in beautiful, downtown Oklahoma City near historic sites and the state capital. It is filled with incredibly welcoming, helpful, and friendly staff, all…
The campus resembles a small knit community. Large majority of the staff is helpful and courteous. The campus is beautiful and well kept. It almost feels like you are part…
The mission of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.
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text:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
|Average rating
|Based on 893,430 Ratings and 39,165 Reviews
Book Description
Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told... More
Book Information
|Vintage Books
|Paperback (72 editions)
|Reading Level
|Young Adults
|# of Pages
|Publication Date
Read the First Chapter of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Free
The Creators
About Mark Haddon (Author) : Mark Haddon is a published author of children's books, young adult books, and adult books. Some of the published credits of Mark Haddon include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Unabr... more
View Mark Haddon's profile
View Mark Haddon's profile
Reader Comments
Lola Perkett tagged as: I read
Ann Holt tagged as: I read
Kate Flood tagged as: I recommend, I read
Janet Marsten tagged as: I recommend
Sheri Radford tagged as: I recommend
Claire Caterer said: It's a book everyone should read about the unique perspective each of us carries. Even if you don't know anyone with autism (I know several folks), this story will resonate with you. Each of us sometimes feels isolated, alone, a stranger in a strange land--and this story is beautifully told.
tags: I recommend
tags: I recommend
Kathleen S. Wilson tagged as: juvenile fiction, I read
Sharon Koontz said: 10049
tags: I Read
tags: I Read
julia b tagged as: I recommend, I read
Lisa Knasiak tagged as: I recommend, , I read
Marilyn Grant said: A murder mystery that takes a 15-year-old Autistic boy down a road the reader doesn't anticipate going. Mark Haddon does an excellent job getting inside young Christopher's head and an even better job at taking us with him. A great read!
Angela Mann said: 10049
tags: I Read
tags: I Read
Lesa Boutin
David Pietila
Marcus Eden-Ellis said: Simply a virtuoso, incredibly compelling and poignant book.
tags: I recommend
tags: I recommend
Sondra LaBrie tagged as: I Read
Sara Holmes tagged as: I Read
Tracy O'Daniel
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text:
Figuring out where you are is fairly simple when you have a map, the visibility is good and you can identify a few landmarks. But when the going gets rough, the weather is against you and the sun sets, the task isn't so simple any more. In this tutorial you will learn how your Ambit can help you to find your location.
The basics are simple: you can find your current position with a few clicks of the Ambit.
Choose: Navigation – Location – Current
To make sure you get the satellite fix as quickly as possible, remember to sync your Ambit regularly with Movescount.
Once you have found the GPS signal you will get your current location in geographic coordinates. The most common coordinate system in GPS devices is WGS84, which is also used by default in Suunto GPS watches.
Use the same coordinate system on your watch and map
If you need to give your exact location to someone in a rescue situation, WGS84 works. But when you start using a map and defining your location on it, you will need to make sure your GPS watch and the map use the same coordinate system. (To change your Ambit's coordinate system go to General – Formats – Position format.)
Latitude/longitude is the coordinate system used in marine navigation and is common on topographical outdoor maps. Latitude lines run horizontally. The zero latitude is the Equator. Longitudes run vertically and the zero longitude runs through Greenwich, England. The latitude is normally the first number expressed in lat/long coordinate (for example 60°16'19" N 24°58'23'' E).
WGS84, which uses latitudes/longitudes, is actually more than a coordinate system: it also includes a model of the globe that enables the use of GPS altimeters.
UTM is a grid coordinate system that is used on many outdoor maps. It divides the map into a perpendicular grid in which each of the squares are the same size anywhere on the map. This means the coordinate system is tied directly to a distance in meters.
This Norwegian map has both WGS84 (black) and UTM (blue) coordinates.
The black numbers on the sides of the map are degrees latitude; the numbers on the top and bottom of the map are degrees longitude. To determine your location on the map, draw a west to east line through the corresponding latitude and a south to north line through the corresponding longitude. The intersection of the two lines indicates your position.
The blue numbers are the northings and eastings of the UTM coordinate system. You can use them like the lat/log when finding your location on the map.
You can get support for your Suunto product at www.suunto.com/support


text:
Twins' struggles continue in fifth straight loss
Pelfrey submits solid effort, but back-to-back homers the difference
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Twins saw another close game get away from them, another late rally come up short, another strikeout-riddled offensive performance, and ultimately, another disheartening loss.
Mike Pelfrey surrendered back-to-back homers to Luke Scott and Evan Longoria in the sixth, and after turning a three-run game into a one-run deficit in the eighth, the Twins left the tying run stranded at second as they fell, 4-3, to the Rays at Tropicana Field on Thursday afternoon. This week marked the first time Minnesota has been on the wrong end of a four-game sweep at Tampa Bay since Aug. 10-13, 2001.
The Twins have now lost five straight, 11 of their last 12 and 16 of 20 dating back to June 21. Since June 30, Minnesota has hit .225, averaged 3.67 runs per game and pitched to a 5.91 ERA. Their ninth straight loss to the Rays put their record at 37-52 heading into their final series before the All-Star break.
The mood inside the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field was one of disappointment.
"The only thing that's fun in this game is winning. Obviously, we're not doing a whole lot of that right now," Pelfrey said. "We need to try to keep it loose and go out there and continue to have fun. At the end of the day, it stinks, because we haven't been winning a lot of games."
With that said, the Twins had to acknowledge that in this particular series, they simply came up against a streaking Rays club. Tampa Bay has won eight straight, the longest active winning streak in the Majors, and 12 of 13.
"That pitching staff over there is unbelievable," Pelfrey said. "It's almost like we ran into a buzz saw with those guys."
It would appear everything is breaking right for the Rays, and that was evident in the way they scored their first run off Pelfrey in the third inning: three straight singles -- none of them hit hard -- by Sean Rodriguez, Matt Joyce and Wil Myers.
"I said, 'Hey, when they're on a seven-game win streak and we've lost 10 of whatever, that's what happens,'" Pelfrey said. "That's the kind of stuff that just goes their way."
Of course, as Pelfrey admitted, he didn't help his own cause by giving up the back-to-back long balls on bad pitches to Scott and Longoria in the sixth. Not only did the two solo shots tarnish what had otherwise been a strong six-inning outing for Pelfrey, it effectively erased whatever momentum Minnesota had established at that point.
The Twins had just broken up Matt Moore's no-hitter and tied the game in the top of the sixth, when Brian Dozier doubled down the left-field line and scored on Jamey Carroll's single to center.
Moore had been untouchable before that, carrying a perfect game through 3 2/3 innings and a no-hitter with two outs in the sixth. Fittingly, he was added to the American League All-Star team immediately after the game.
"Today, everything looked right. That was an All-Star pitching out there today," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He could get even hotter for the rest of the season. It was outstanding to watch."
"He had filthy stuff," agreed Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.
And yet, the Twins threatened again in the eighth, with Clete Thomas drawing a walk and Pedro Florimon knocking a single to right field off Moore to chase him from the game. In came Alex Torres, who had been equally stingy in relief all season, but Ryan Doumit drew a walk to load the bases and Joe Mauer's single to left made it a one-run game.
But that was as close as Minnesota would get. With the tying run at second base, Trevor Plouffe went down swinging -- one of the Twins' 13 strikeouts on the day -- against Joel Peralta to end the rally.
"We just came up a little short there at the end," Gardenhire said. "Another day where we struck out too many times."
And in the end, another loss.
"It's tough. We're all in here for the same thing, and that's to win, and we haven't been doing that," Pelfrey said. "But there's a lot of baseball left, and we've got to find a way to keep it loose and continue to have fun. Obviously, it's tough when you're not doing it, but we've got to try to find a way. Otherwise, this long season will get a lot longer.
"I think we're all frustrated. There's not one guy that's happy with the way we're playing. This is a team game, and hopefully in the long run this will make us stronger, and we'll be able to pull together and play a lot better. There's a lot of talent in here. It's just a matter of going out and performing."


text:
SYDNEY - The Australian radio show behind a hoax phone call to the London hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was being treated has been officially cancelled.
The show and the two DJs behind the prank in December were widely condemned after the death of a nurse who answered the phone and helped the DJs get confidential information about the former Kate Middleton's health.
The "Hot 30" program was taken off air following the death of the nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, and the Australian Associated Press reported Monday that Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of radio station 2DayFM, has announced the program had been formerly cancelled.
The AAP quoted Southern Cross Austereo Chief Executive Rhys Holleran as saying DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig will eventually go back on the air.


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It is safe to say at the midway point of the college football season the biggest difference between this year's team at Colorado and last season's team is these Buffs win the games they are supposed to.
Colorado snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday at a half-empty Folsom Field beating Charleston Southern 43-10. Added to victories over Colorado State and Central Arkansas back in September, the Buffs won all three of their non-conference games for the first time since 2004.
They have reached the halfway point with a 3-3 overall record and an 0-3 mark in Pac-12 Conference play.
The Buffs will dive back into Pac-12 action next week when they play host to Arizona in the biggest game the program has played since late in 2010 when the Buffs were fighting for bowl eligibility under interim coach Brian Cabral after the firing of former coach Dan Hawkins.
"We need to go get the one next week and if we do, that means November matters in Colorado," coach Mike MacIntye said.
The problem is, of course, that CU rarely has been even competitive against its Pac-12 brethren since joining the league. The Buffs' closest conference game this season was decided by 27 points and they have lost 16 of 21 Pac-12 games by 25 or more points since the start of the 2011 season.
But CU wide receiver Paul Richardson said he believes the Buffs can get three more wins in the final six games this season to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. Asked why he believes that considering CU's recent history in the conference, Richardson was blunt.
"Because I have confidence in my team," he said.
Richardson led the Buffs in receiving with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. He has now racked up 782 receiving yards this season, the ninth best single-season total in school history. The last CU receiver to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season was D.J. Hackett in 2003.
Saturday's win over the Buccaneers from the Football Championship Subdivision was a confidence builder for the Buffs if nothing else. It especially seemed to help a running game that was ranked 110th nationally before the game.
CU tailback Michael Adkins II stole the show from quarterback Sefo Liufau. The duo became the first true freshmen to make their first career starts at running back and quarterback in the same game in school history.
Adkins set a CU freshman record with four rushing touchdowns and ran for 137 yards on 13 carries. His four scores covered 23, 5, 33 and 34 yards respectively. It is the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
"Our line blocked well and I just kept grinding and fighting for yards," Adkins said.
Lawrence Vickers was the last CU running back to score four touchdowns in a game came against Missouri in 2005.
With Adkins enjoying a big day, all that was needed for Liufau was good decision-making and no turnovers. He finished his first start completing 14 of 20 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought our kids played hard today," MacIntyre said. "In the first half, if we could have just got them out on a couple third downs I think they wouldn't have been able to hang around as well. They did a good job there."
It is the first time CU won a game by 20 or more points since beating Iowa State by 20 points on Nov. 13, 2010. It was the largest margin of victory since beating Miami (Ohio 42-0 in 2007.
CU had managed 46 combined points and over the past three weeks in Pac-12 play.
The game replaced a Sept. 14 game against Fresno State on the CU schedule. That contest was canceled after historic flooding in the Boulder area. CU announced 36,730 tickets were distributed for Saturday's game. The actual attendance was somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000.
Regardless, it was the smallest crowd to see a CU home game in decades and it was the second time this season CU has had fewer than 40,000 fans in the stadium. That hadn't happened in Boulder prior to this year since 1988.
It was the first loss of the season for the Buccaneers (7-1, 1-0), who were forced to start a freshman quarterback as well because of injuries to their first and second-string signal callers.
"I'm very thankful that Charleston Southern wanted to play us or we wouldn't have been able to play today," MacIntyre said. "That was great for the city of Boulder, great for our campus and great for our team. I really appreciate those guys. They're a good football team."
Contact staff writer Kyle Ringo at firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/kyleringo.
Colorado 43,
Charleston Southern 10
Charleston Southern 0 10 0 0–10
Colorado 8 14 7 14–43
First Quarter
Col — Adkins 23 run (O'Neill run), 12:52.
Second Quarter
ChSo — FG Deboy 33, 14:50.
Col — Adkins 5 run (Oliver kick), 11:41.
Col — Richardson 60 pass from Liufau (Oliver kick), 9:16.
ChSo — Korn 7 pass from Copeland (Higgins kick), :06.
Third Quarter
Col — Powell 2 run (Oliver kick), 7:11.
Fourth Quarter
Col — Adkins 33 run (Oliver kick), 11:22.
Col — Adkins 34 run (Oliver kick), 6:09.
ChSo Col
First downs 11 19
Rushes-yards 45-148 31-218
Passing 48 198
Comp-Att-Int 7-14-1 15-21-0
Return Yards 0 8
Punts-Avg. 7-43.1 4-39.8
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-33 2-25
Time of Possession 36:47 23:13
RUSHING — Charleston Southern, Copeland 20-50, Holloway 5-44, Reyes 14-43, Allen 2-10, Hammond 2-2, Frazier 2-(minus 1). Colorado, Adkins 13-137, Powell 11-52, T.Jones 4-37, Liufau 3-(minus 8).
PASSING — Charleston Southern, Copeland 7-13-1-48, Reyes 0-1-0-0. Colorado, Liufau 14-20-0-198, C.Wood 1-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Charleston Southern, Korn 4-32, Glears 1-16, Hammond 1-0, Reyes 1-0. Colorado, Richardson 8-122, Spruce 2-27, Goodson 1-28, Canty 1-15, McCulloch 1-5, Adkins 1-1, Ross 1-0.


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I've been searching around hoping for a way to get Quake II on my RetroPie, however all I ever see is how Quake and Quake III are available with Ports. If Quake III is possible, surely II is?
If it is possible, how can I go about getting Quake II to work? Should I use Ports, or a PC engine, or what? Very confused! Thanks


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WBUR News
Support the news
In Boston Visit, Sen. Warren Pushes Minimum Wage Hike
Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Dick Durbin of Illinois stopped by a burrito chain restaurant in Boston on Monday to advocate for an increase in the state and federal minimum wage.
"No one who works full-time should live in poverty," Warren said at a Boloco restaurant.
A bill to raise the minimum wage in Massachusetts to $11 an hour by January 2016 passed the Senate in November and was sent to the House, which has not yet taken action. A separate initiative being pushed by a labor-backed group would put a question on the November ballot that would raise the minimum wage from $8 an hour to $10.50 an hour over two years. Both would automatically link future increases to the state's rate of inflation.
The minimum wage in Massachusetts has not increased in five years.
Warren and Durbin were joined by John Pepper, a founder of Boloco. The restaurant pays workers a minimum of $9 an hour - a dollar more than state law requires. Pepper said he rewards workers by paying them a more dignified wage.
Emmanuel Sebit, 21, earns the state minimum wage at Boston Logan International Airport, where he handles luggage. He said he immigrated to the U.S. from South Sudan last year to become a lawyer but has struggled to get by.
"Raising the minimum wage can help my life; it can change my life," he said.
Durbin and Warren also are trying to build support for raising the national minimum wage. President Barack Obama has asked Congress to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour.
Critics say a big increase in the minimum wage would burden Massachusetts businesses and could cause the state unemployment rate to rise.
"It will make employers and job creators uncompetitive," Republican state Sen. Bruce Tarr said. "This is a multistep issue that involves much more than raising the minimum wage."
This article was originally published on February 10, 2014.
Support the news


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At jobs.ac.uk you can search for computing jobs, including Computer Science, Software Engineering, Programming, Networks, Databases, Information Management, Web, Internet, E-business and Hardware jobs, in the UK and abroad.
Whilst you're searching for employment opportunities, why not visit our Employer Profiles page for job listings and vacancy descriptions to help you in your computing career.
Job search jobs.ac.uk for Computing jobs UK.


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Internet spamsters are often nigh-artistic with the fraudulent tales they weave—an exiled prince! Hidden treasure!—but scamming them can be even more creative. The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal tells one revenge story of a conman duped into carving wooden sculptures.
When anti-spam hero Mike Berry received an obviously false email promise of African millions, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes and delete—and instead strung the criminal into an unwitting career in art. Sort of.
To keep the spammer's interest—and waste a ton of his time—Berry upped the lie ante, claiming to represent an art gallery that was looking for submissions (and offering a scholarship—a nice little reverse-con in itself). The spammer took the bait, following Berry's detailed directions, and shipped miniature sculptures of dogs and cats all the way from Africa. When Berry informed him these pieces weren't up to snuff (the nerve!), the spammer produced his pièce de résistance—a hand-carved model of a Commodore 64.
Sadly, this replica failed to impress Berry's gallery persona as well, and the carving conman failed to get a scholarship that never existed in the first place. Which I think is kind of a shame, because, really! Look at that thing! He might have been able to restart his life as a sculptor, rather than as a petty internet crook. But at least many, many hours of his time as the latter were wasted during the ruse. [The Atlantic]


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A couple of weeks ago, we visited Palm Springs for Modernism Week.
We had a fabulous time, (see more of our fun over at Lilly and the Brothers) and one of the highlights was definitely the Vintage Trailer Show.
We really, really, love vintage trailers, so this was like a little slice of heaven.
Take a look at some of my favorite trailers.I love that this trailer has a name.
Isn't she adorable?
Of course everyone loves a classic Airstream.
But I was happy to see that there were so many other kinds of trailers to see at the show.
Like this one.
This isn't really a trailer.
It is actually a motor home of sorts.
It is one of only 8 ever made, has a Corvair engine, and is just as cool inside as it is on the outside.
The owner actually drives this around and really does take it camping.
How cool is that?
I love when people DO things that most everyone else would write off as impractical and go for it anyway.
This was another favorite trailer of mine.
It's a Holiday House and they were produced for 2 years in Oregon, by the owners of the Harry and David fruit company.
No one knows how many were actually made because a fire destroyed all the records the company had for the trailers,
If you find one, you are a lucky ducky!
One of the things I love about events like this is learning about these little slices of Americana.
They are a little bit of American history.
These Holiday Houses are really unique looking with that big front window.
Inside they are very spacious and have a lot of vintage charm.
I especially loved their name and this colorful label on the side.
Anything named Holiday has a sweet spot in my heart.
(look here to see lots more of these beauties. I'm kind of in love with them)
Many of the trailers were pulled by vintage cars.
You have to have the whole package, right?
And really, it looks so much better for this little trailer to have this Woody in front of it, rather than a modern day Toyota Tundra or F150.
These vintage trailer enthusiasts pay attention to details.
I admit, I was quite smitten with those motor homes.
I could see our family of 6 taking some fabulous cross country trips in this big beauty.
And it's a pretty great color, too.
But I think I will always love the trailers best of all.
Can't you just imagine sitting here, with your cup of morning coffee, watching the sun come up through the trees in your campsite?
It sounds pretty perfect to me.
And speaking of perfect, take a look at this baby.
A vintage trailer turned photo booth.
Be still my heart!
Behold the Bluesteel Photo Booth.
While talking to the owners, Alan and Shari, Alan and I realized we knew each other.
We had taught at the same high school nearly 10 years ago.
Now he and his wife are living on the Central Coast, photographing weddings, and taking their Airstream photo booth to all sorts of fun events.
Am I jealous?
Because they're living in one of my favorite spots on earth, and doing some of my favorite things?
Nope. Not a bit.
OK, maybe a bit.
But mostly happy for them both and their genius idea.
Be sure to check them out here.Aaron and I walked away from the show more determined than ever to have a trailer of our own one day.
In fact, we almost bought one the next morning.
However, upon discovering that our little Falcon can only pull a teeny, tiny trailer, we decided to wait.
Pulling a trailer with the minivan just isn't very romantic.
Now Aaron is on the hunt for a vintage vehicle big enough to pull a trailer and hold all of us.
These are a current favorite.
Whether you are a vintage trailer fan or not, I do think that all of us have a traveler inside us, longing to get out on the open road.
I just think doing it in a vintage trailer is the way to go!
Cheers to motoring across America with style!!!
Love from,
PS. I would be remiss if I didn't share one of my highlights from the show--a celebrity sighting!
I met Charles Phoenix!!
He is a true gem and just as fun and nice in real life as he appears to be on TV and on the web.
Thanks for taking the time to snap a photo with me, Charles, and chat a bit.
We look pretty great with that car, don't we?
Check out Charles' Facebook page for lots more Americana.
He posts fabulous pictures everyday of vintage signs, restaurants, books, vintage products, even recipes.
It is all so fun and sure to put a smile on your face.
I love meeting a fellow fan of all things vintage!


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Well, this is awkward: According to a fellow named Dean Kaplan, Apple told him to stop making and selling cutting boards that look like iPads. Supposedly the reason given was that there are likeness issues.
What on earth, Apple? It's just a piece of wood with a bit of paint on it, not a realistic iPad clone. No one's going to confuse this with a real iPad. [Dean on Software via App Advice]


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Earlier this week, on April 24, one of our undergraduate researchers, Christine Roughan, Holy Cross Class of 2014 (yep, that means she's a sophomore), presented at the Council on Undergraduate Research's Posters on the Hill 2012 event the work that her team produced last summer. The team, which also included Thomas Arralde, HC '13 and Stephanie Lindeborg, HC '13, produced a digital edition of Book 1 of the Iliad in the Venetus A manuscript. (See past blog posts of their findings based on their edition here, here, and here.) The poster sessions were held in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill and were open to members of Congress, their staffs, and staff from federal funding agencies. We also had the honor of meeting with Congressman James McGovern to tell him about the team's research and thank him for being a stalwart supporter of federal funding for academic research. Congratulations to the team for being chosen for this highly selective and prestigious event, and to Christine for representing and communicating their work so well.
|Neel Smith and Christine Roughan at CUR's Posters on the Hill with Christine's poster
|Meeting with Representative James McGovern: (l-r) Neel Smith, Christine Roughan, James McGovern, Mary Ebbott


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Indicative Rate * AU$148.50 to AU$210
Multi award winning End Of The Road Motel features the only absolute beach front holiday accommodation in the Gulf of Carpentaria. They are situated at Karumba Point next to the famous Sunset Tavern overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the mouth of the Norman River where the outback meets the sea in style. Relax and enjoy the spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Carpentaria, indulge in platters of local prawns, crabs and a glass of wine.
Spacious self contained, air-conditioned apartments designed for long term stays include resort style timber furniture. One and two bedroom apartments are ideal for family getaway. Inground fresh water pool and barbecue areas are provided for the outdoor holiday experience. Guided barramundi fishing packages are available. They have undercover parking, boat and bus parking area and fish filleting table.
If travelling by road, it is bitumen all the way; a smooth and relaxing drive for all.
The fully self-contained studio units are air-conditioned and furnished with your comfort in mind. Queen or twin singles with ample room for long term stay. Undercover car parking directly in front of apartment.
Beach front two bedroom apartment overlooks the Gulf of Carpentaria. Fully self-contained, air-conditioned furnished with resort style timber furniture. Bedroom one consists of queens size bed with second bedroom consisting of two single beds.
Fully self-contained one bedroom apartment with queen size bed. All units are air-conditioned and comfortably furnished in stylish timber resort style furniture.
Two bedroom apartment consists of a queen bed in one bedroom and two single beds in second bedroom. Fully self-contained, air-conditioned with separate kitchen, lounge and bathroom.
Executive Suites feature open plan, fully self-contained, air-conditioned units with a king size bed and one single bed. They feature beach front, spacious units opening onto a grassed outdoor area overlooking the mouth of the Norman River and the Gulf of Carpentaria; only a few steps down onto the beach.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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This is only a small sample of the selection of SECRID Wallets we have available in store. Call or visit for more options.
We continually research new brands and carry only those brands we know will provide you with great fit and great value for money.
Our on-line selection represents only a fraction of what we offer in store. Please feel free to drop in or contact us if you can't find what you are looking for here.


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Create a custom controller experience that is uniquely yours
The Xbox Adaptive Controller connects to external switches, buttons, mounts and joysticks to help make gaming more accessible.
Two can play as one
Copilot links two controllers so you can use them as if they were one controller. Once linked, both controllers have full control, and you can use either controller however you like.
Customise button mapping
Use the Xbox Accessories app to configure the button layout on your Xbox Wireless Controller.
Mouse and keyboard support
Use wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps, and—with a keyboard—getting around on Xbox.
Magnifier zooms in on the screen, so you can see text and images better on your Xbox One.LEARN MORE
High contrast
High contrast can help you distinguish between items and text on your screen while navigating Xbox's built-in apps and experiences.LEARN MORE
Speech to text
Game transcription converts in-game player speech to text that you can read on the screen. It can also read chat text that you type to other players aloud.
Voice commands
Navigate and interact with Xbox One using voice commands. Turn your console on or off, adjust volume, launch games and apps, and more, all via Cortana and Alexa-enabled devices.
Narrator is a screen reader that lets you hear audio descriptions for elements on the screen, such as text and buttons.LEARN MORE
Closed captions
Closed captioning is available when you watch supported DVDs, Blu-ray discs and many on-demand video services.LEARN MORE
Xbox Assist
Xbox Assist is personalised to help you optimise your Xbox experience for the games you play and the way you play them. You'll find guides to new features, how-to videos, suggestions for features that might be valuable to you and a lot more.
Keep kids safer online
Use the family settings across all of their devices to stay aware of their activity.
Set screen time limits
Set time limits on how much screen time each child is allowed. View activity reports to keep on top of your child's game-based activity.
Filter content
Make sure your kids view content and play games that are right for their age.
Avoid surprise spending
Get an email when your kids want a game or app in the Microsoft Store—instead of a receipt.


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|System: DS, PS3, PC, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP
|Dev: Traveller's Tales
|Pub: Disney Interactive Studios
|Release: May 2011
|Players: 1-2
|Screen Resolution: N/A
by Robert VerBruggen
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
That may be a cliché, but it also seems to be the official motto for the LEGO videogame series. In the six years since the smash hit LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, developer Traveller's Tales has spent most of its energy repeating the formula with one movie after another. In the typical LEGO game, you play as LEGO versions of the main characters, exploring 3D LEGO environments based on scenes from the film. To break up the easy action/platformer gameplay, you watch cutscenes in which LEGO figurines act out events from the movie, usually with a whimsical twist. In addition to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, and Harry Potter have gotten the LEGO treatment.
In May of this year, Pirates of the Caribbean will join the list. Don't expect any surprises: Going by the trailer and pre-release buzz, there will be a few tweaks to update the formula and make the action fit the franchise, but this is the same LEGO game you've been too grown-up to admit you love since 2005. You'll be collecting studs, solving simple puzzles, fighting enemies with quirky personalities, and bringing shapeless piles of LEGOs to life. It's a pretty safe bet that dying will cost you only a few studs.
Plot-wise, the game will cover all four Pirates movies -- that's right, including On Stranger Tides, which will come out the same month as the game -- with five chapters for each movie plus some bonus sections. Starting at port towns, which serve as hubs, you'll explore the Pirates world, including Tortuga Island.
Certainly, Traveller's Tales hasn't lost its sense of humor. The game's trailer is a case study in how the developer gets laughs by juxtaposing the seriousness of Hollywood blockbusters with LEGOs. Jack Sparrow's ship sails to epic music, approaching an island. He's standing at the top the mast, and when he looks to his side, he sees three men hanging upside-down. Then the ship crashes into Port Royal, sending LEGO pieces flying as the hull explodes. Sparrow grabs hold of the mast as the rest of the ship is destroyed, and keeps hanging on as the mast drags along the ground, one LEGO piece breaking off at a time. That's just enough to cushion his fall -- he lands, laughs, and walks away. You just know he's seconds away from getting into trouble, but probably a much lighter and funnier kind of trouble than we see from his film incarnation.
The game will be released on all platforms, but naturally, the trailer appears to come from a current-generation console. The graphics are up to the series' standards, with realistic landscapes mingling with lifelike, impeccably well-drawn LEGO items. It's the world of every child's imagination brought to life, a world where toys are living, breathing characters and everything around them is exotic and exciting.
To solve puzzles and kill enemies, Jack Sparrow will have a sword for melee strikes and axes to throw at longer-range targets. In addition, he'll have his trademark compass, which reveals secrets, as well as a barrel that allows him to explore underwater. In the unlikely event you get stuck, a new hint system (a skull icon that appears near important areas) will help you out.
For those of you who are wondering whether your favorite features from past games will be included, here's what's been confirmed so far: There will be no online co-op or vehicle segments, but there will be local co-op and Pirates-appropriate animals for you to ride if the mood strikes you. There will also be a character creator, and you can re-play stages with characters you unlock to find new items. More than seventy characters from the Pirates series will make an appearance.
Our only significant worry is that most previous LEGO games came out long after the movies they were based on, giving the developers the time they need to create a polished product. Pirates has a hard deadline to hit. The early signs are that this hasn't affected quality, and by this point Traveller's Tales could make a LEGO game in their sleep, but movie games have a bad reputation for a reason, so we're maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism.
Even if the game doesn't turn out well, or if Pirates of the Caribbean just isn't your thing, don't worry: A new LEGO Star Wars game will come out this year as well (it's based on the Clone Wars animated series, and it's due next month). Also, Pirates is the first Disney franchise Traveller's Tales has LEGO-ified, which opens to the door to a whole world of adaptable movies. Pirates won't be the end of the LEGO franchise, but hopefully it'll be a worthy entry in the series.
Robert VerBruggen
CCC Freelance Writer
Game Features:


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