microsoft game studios

All gamers know that controllers break down and stop working after hours upon hours of usage, but what if I told you that there was a controller out there that could handle all of that AND it was one of a kind, made just for you? Well, there is....

Gamers across all platforms have come across an ongoing problem within our hobby: CONTROLLERS BREAKING. If you’re anything like me, you’ve gone through a few dozen controllers throughout your gaming career and are SICK OF IT. That’s a lot of money that could’ve been put towards new games and even my Xbox Live subscription! However, I’ve gotten my hands on my very own Xbox Design Lab controller that I think is the solution to our problems. I know most of you are thinking that The Lab is purely for cosmetic customization, which is what it’s supposed to be, BUT I’ve found out that they can be much more than that.

Beginning Feb. 15, Xbox LIVE will deliver four back-to-back releases of the best downloadable games, with one new title a week.

Microsoft always has a great lineup of  Xbox Live Arcade titles every E3 for their "Summer of Arcade". It looks like they're trying to do the same thing with CES and "House Party". There are some interesting titles here; an Alan Wake sequel delivered as a XBLA game instead of a full retail product. I liked the original despite poking fun at it's oft-delayed status. There's also Ubisoft's "I Am Alive" which originally was to be a full retail product from what I can tell. They seemed to have reduced the scope to allow it to actualy get released. GoukiJones got to play Warp at PAX, he probably doesn't remember, but it's a clever title that allows your character to warp from place to place, including inside people to make them... uh... explode. Nexuiz is the lone newcommer here, so I'm interested to see what that is about.

Here's the lineup from Major Nelson:

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (Microsoft Studios): In this brand-new stand-alone experience, Alan Wake fights the herald of darkness, the evil Mr. Scratch. A thrilling new storyline, hordes of creepy enemies, serious firepower and beautiful Arizona locations, combined with a fun and challenging new game mode, make this a must for Alan Wake veterans, and the perfect jumping-on point for new players. Can you survive until sunrise?

I Am Alive (Ubisoft): One year after a worldwide cataclysmic event has wiped out most of human civilization, a man struggles for survival. Faced with an insecure, decaying and hazardous world, he scours a desolated city, searching for his long-lost wife and daughter. Survive the suffocating, murky streets covered in dust. Climb the teetering remains of last-standing skyscrapers to reach breathable air and find untouched resources. Explore the crumbling ruins of a once-thriving metropolis. Discover a changed human condition, punctuated by distrustful survivors, dangerous armed gangs and victims in need.

Nexuiz (THQ): For centuries, the Kavussari and the Forsellians have waged war. They have a fragile truce but, because of their seething disgust of each other, still pit warriors against each other in arenas rather than on the fields of war. These episodes of lethal combat are broadcast throughout the galaxy as entertainment — a spectacle known as The Nexuiz Competition — an arena-based first-person shooter where you can alter the rules of the match and the laws of physics while dominating opponents in ever-changing hostile environments.

Warp (EA): “Warp” is a puzzle-based stealth action game where you play as Zero, a lovable-yet-lethal orange alien with a big score to settle! Captured by the villainous Commander and imprisoned in his underwater facility, Zero must plan his ultimate escape using his arsenal of alien abilities — warp, frag, echo, swap and launch.

Age of Empires Online -- the next chapter in the best-selling Age of Empires PC game franchise -- will be available worldwide on August 16 in retail stores and online at ageofempiresonline.com.

With its launch, the game will feature two of the greatest ancient civilizations -- the Greeks and Egyptians -- and offer more than 40 hours of gameplay for free! 

Here are some interesting points from the Age of Empires FAQ

The following features are free to play:

• Familiar Age of Empires gameplay, and downloadable to any PC for free!
• The greatest ancient civilizations, including Greeks and Egyptians.
• Constantly new, exciting, and evolving content.
• Quest, battle, chat, and trade with other players.
• Build and show off your own custom Capital City.
• Enjoy historical settings with gorgeous visuals and a cool new art style.

So, it's a lot like a demo. I gues this is where games are headed. Here's what you get for upgrading to premium FWIW:

A Premium Civ Pack will add the following to your experience:

• Rare and epic gear: Unlock gear that makes your units more powerful, with unique designs to make your armies stand out in battle.
• Advisors: In the Advisor Hall, you can unlock unique units, such as armored elephants and civilization powers.
• Tech Tree: Experience the full Tech Tree with fantastic end-game Star Techs. For example, generate resources from your Market, have your troops bandage themselves, or make your people immune to conversion in battle.
• Player vs. Player: Set parameters for the gameplay you want and invite your friends to play,
• Additional Inventory slots: More than double your inventory space.
• More Workshops: Drastically improve your capital’s production with more workshops to create all the materials you need for crafting.
• Craft Halls: Learn unit enhancements from additional Craft Halls and use them to your advantage in the game. You get seven to choose from, including the Military College, which enhances infantry; the Hunting Lodge, which enhances archers and missile units; and the Cavalry Hall, which enhances mounted units.
• Empire Points: Get the ability to spend Empire Points on the best loot in the game. Empire Points reward you for having multiple civilizations.
• In-game stores: Earn in-game currency from the stores in your Capital City.