On Playfeed: Microsoft launching a $99 Xbox 360 Kinect bundle with 2-year contract?

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nintendo 3ds aqua blue cancelled

The Aqua Blue Nintendo 3DS. An odd color choice for the launch of a new gaming handheld, sure. However, we didn't think it was so bad that it was time to kill it. Regardless of what we think, though, Nintendo is set to put the Aqua Blue 3DS out to pasture soon. No specific date has been given, but with all the other 3DS colors that Nintendo's pumping out, we're geussing that the turquiose one has proven to be pretty unpopular in the grand scheme of things. Want one? Better get it while you can!

Read More | Nintendo Japan

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$99 xbox 360 2 year contract

Remember that $99 Xbox 360 Kinect bundle we mentioned last week? Well, Microsoft has just launched it. You can now buy a 4 GB Xbox 360 with Kinect sensor for $99 with two-year Xbox Live Gold contract, paying $14.99 per month for the course of the agreement. If you cancel early, you'll pay an early termination fee, which starts at $250 and decreases each month after the third month. Just head on over to your local Microsoft Store to  make it happen.

Read More | $99 Xbox Offer

The Nintendo 3DS sales information is in, and the numbers are astounding.  4.5 million units have been sold in the United States over the past 12 months, and the console was Nintendo’s best-selling in Japan in its first year. It's is also the best-selling Nintendo console in the U.S. as well, after initially being seen as a flop, resulting in a massive price cut soon after it launched. The price drop certainly worked, as the 3DS has even outsold the incredibly popular Nintendo DS, which in its first year sold "just" 2.3 million units. Have you picked up a Nintendo 3DS yet? Hit us in the comments with your thoughts.


Kinect Star Wars Bundle

Kinect and Star Wars, a perfect match some might say. George Lucas has teamed up with Microsoft to bring us the wonderful and whimsical Star Wars Xbox 360 Kinect bundle. The bundle includes a custom painted R2D2 themed Xbox 360 with matching Kinect sensor. The Xbox itself also has custom R2D2 sound effects when turning the console on or off or, as well as when ejecting a disc.

That’s not all; the bundle also includes a copy of the game Kinect Star Wars and a C3PO-themed controller. On the front of the console it can also be noticed that the standard green LED lights that make up the iconic XBOX 360 face have been replaced with blue LEDs to match the whole R2D2 thing. Finally, the Xbox 360 comes equipped with a massive 360 GB hard drive, the newest and largest drive to date available for the console. All of these wonderful treasures are available for pre-order now, and will be available for purchase on June 1 of this year for $449.00.


Pink Nintendo 3DS bundle

Nintendo on Monday announced that it will offer a pink Nintendo 3DS, bundled with one of two games, starting Dec. 4.

The pink 3DS will retail for $169.99 and come with one of two Nintendogs + Cats games: French Bulldog and New Friends or Toy Poodle and New Friends.

The bundle will join existing 3DS package options, just in time for the holiday season - here's a list of 'em:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword with a gold Wii Remote Plus controller and a CD with music from the series for $69.99.
  • Red Nintendo 3DS with Super Mario Land 3D for $199.99.
  • Special Edition Nintendo 3DS system with the Hyrule emblem and gold embellishments, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D game for $199.99.
  • A metallic rose or midnight blue Nintendo DSi XL system bundled with the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! game for $169.99.

Nintendo kicked off the holiday bundle sales for Black Friday, taking about $10 off the price of the handheld console.

Click to continue reading Pink Nintendo 3DS Nintendogs bundle launching December 4


Xbox 360 RROD

Improvements to the Xbox 360 have apparently cut down on the number of "red ring of death" reports, but the console still requires more repairs than its competitors, according to data from PCMag's Readers' Choice Awards.

Approximately 10 percent of those polled for the survey reported having to take their Xbox 360 in for repairs over the last year, which was twice the rate of its competitors. However, that was a significant improvement over last year, when that number was 23 percent.

Many Xbox users are familiar with the console's "red ring of death," which replaced the glowing green center on the device's power button when the Xbox was on its last legs. Last year, former PCMag Editor Lance Ulanoff experienced the phenomenon after his son completed a Red Dead Redemption marathon on his Xbox 360. Though some Twitter users helpfully suggested that placing it in the freezer for a few minutes would solve the problem (really), he opted to send it in for repairs.

Last year, Microsoft unveiled a "slim" version of its Xbox 360 console at E3, which featured a redesigned case with a bit more ventilation than the original console. It included built-in 802.11n networking and a 250GB hard drive for $299.

Click to continue reading Survey says Xbox 360 failure rate falls to 10 percent


Playstation Vita box

Sony has announced a Feb. 2012 launch date for the PlayStation Vita, its next-generation portable console, SCEA's chief executive said at the Web 2.0 Summit on Tuesday. You can pre-order one now.

Sony previously said that the PlayStation Vita would launch Dec. 17 in Asia and Japan in time for the holidays. Hundreds of people lined up in Tokyo just to get in line for the presale.

"But today, we're announcing that it will be available in North America, Latin America and Europe on Feb. 22, just four months away," said Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment of America. Sony will price the Vita at $249 for the Wi-Fi version and $299 for the Wi-Fi/3G version, Tretton said.

Sony executives said previously that the Vita would miss the winter holidays for the North American market.

Click to continue reading Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US


Xbox 360 320GB hard drive

If you've got one of the newer Xbox 360 S consoles and are starting to feel the squeeze of having a lack of hard drive space, perk up! Microsoft is getting ready to release a 320 GB hard drive for the console, a 70 GB improvement over the 250 GB drive that ships with the console. You can pre-order the new drive from Amazon now for $126.


Nintendo 3DS slide pad

Nintendo is trying hard to build interest in the Nintendo 3DS handheld game system. The company dropped the price of the 3DS from $250 to $170 last month, and has now announced that it will be getting 3D video recording, an optional add-on secondary analog pad, and two new Mario games by the holiday season.

The Nintendo 3DS has been able to take 3D photos since its release, but an update will add video functionality to the system. The free update, planned for this November, will let users record 3D video, which can then be viewed in 3D on the device's screen.

Click to continue reading Nintendo 3DS to pick up analog pad, 3D video recording


Nintendo 3DS price cut

The Nintendo 3DS has not been selling as well as Nintendo had originally hoped, which is a definite change from their previous handheld console releases. It could be that the advertising just can't get across the experience of playing 3D games like holding it in your hands can, but it could very well be attributed to the fact that Nintendo is charging $249 for the console. Well, if it was the price that was holding you back, Nintendo hopes to remove that barrier with a major price cut on the 3DS. On August 12, the price for a new 3DS will go from $249 down to $169. That's a deep price cut, and brings the price much closer in line with the Nintendo DSi. Users who paid $250 will be granted 20 free virtual console games that won't be released to the public--10 NES games and 10 Game Boy Advance titles. That's nice and all, but I'd bet those people aren't thinking that's enough.

Read More | Nintendo 3DS on Amazon

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