No cries of Developers Developers Developers during this interview with the CEO of Microsoft, penned by the Joysiq and Engadget folks.  In the interview, Ballmer discusses everything from backwards compatibility to integration with the iPod.  Definitely worth a read here.

May 17, at E3, is going to be the day for the inevitable showdown among the three gaming platforms : Nintendo Revolution, Xbox2/Xenon, and Playstation 3.  Rumors are circulating that Sony will try to jump the gun with an "official" unveiling the the third playstation some time before E3.  With a new CEO and troubled times in the music hardware group, Sony is probably going to bet big on the Playstation 3 launch.  In response, more rumors fly that Microsoft will somehow release Halo 3 on whatever day Sony chooses to put the Playstation 3 up for sale.  Will these actions really matter?  Will the prices for the consoles fall so quickly that the avid gamer will just buy both platforms, even if only for 1, or 2 games.  So the platform makers take a loss on each platform, while the game market is split more evenly, such that big hits will be released EA-style, on both platforms (they usually release on multiple platforms, don't they?).  What difference will the platform make - is the video game industry about to become all about the games?

Here is a groovy site, VGMaps.com, offering up pixelated maps of the worlds you live within when playing oodles of video games.  There are maps for games from Price of Persia to Grand Theft Auto III.  Very cool site.  Some people must have alot of free time.  Via BoingBoing, via Waxy.

If it is truly the case that the upcoming Xbox console is to be called XBox360, then I will have to ask - Why?  Have corporate goofs taken over the XBox development, so much so that 360degree performance measures have spilled into the naming of products.  Would any 20-30something gamer be excited to sit down for a few hours in from of the "Xbox360"?  C'mon.

Next they will call it Xbox361, since 361 degrees, being one more than 360, mean the company is really working on all angles.  Let is be know that my own search through US trademarks for "Xenon" or "Xbox 360" have come up with nothing having to do with computer games or Microsoft.

The word is spreading, through the Inquirer, Engadget, Slashdot and GamesIndustry.biz, that the upcoming XBox console will ship with wireless game controllers.  Not a major shift, but a feature gamers will probably appreciate.  Further mentions suggest the console will forgoe BluRay, for the standard DVD compatibility.

14 million.  Now thats a big number.  Due to apparent fire hazards, Microsoft has recalled 14 million power cords of their Xbox machine.  According to the company, only 1 in 10,000 machines were exhibiting the symptoms of the firey cord.  However, the firm decided to recall the whole lot to avoid any consumer concerns or outrage.

Looks like EA may have started a waterfall of announcements regarding games for the upcoming platforms.  According to Joystiq, rumors are Activision announced Quake 4, Tony Hawk's Underground 3, Ultimate Spiderman and Call of Duty 2.  These are rumors, so stay tuned.

According to Computer and Video Games, Sony has announced there will be a playable PS3 at the E3 convention in May.  This news, combined with the hints from platform makers Nintendo (Revolution) and Microsoft (Xbox2) suggest the three big firms are looking to mix it up all at once at E3.  Sony said a more concrete statement will come out in late March.  We shall see.

The BBC has put together a story looking at the hype and aspirations of the upcoming video game platforms.  According to sources in the story, Microsoft has sent out Xbox2 development kits while kits for the PS3 and Revolution are still nowhere to be seen.  Additionally, they scored a destined-to-be troublesome quote from an executive at EA Europe who drops the bomb that the "rumours are that Playstation 3 will have a little more under the hood" than the Xbox 2." Not a good quote to hand to a major, global news source.

If only everyone could run a business like this.  Apparently, the home entertainment division of Microsoft earned a $80 million profit last quarter which, according to those in charge, is just a coincidence.  CFO Connors warned that in the upcoming six months, and beyond, this Game-heavy division of Microsoft should return to losing money until sometime late in 2006.  How cool is that.  Start a business unit that can lose hundreds of millions of dollars (if not a billion) 3-5 years in a row.

Some of the WeblogsInc crew is blogging up a storm from this year's Sundance Film Festival.  Reviews of films, rumors on outcomes and all that.  We will also let you know if any footage from the festival shows up on file-sharing networks.  For those with an inclination towards Indie films, check it out and see what films are upcoming.

According to dutch site Xboxworld.nl (for those who read dutch) and CVGonline (for those who read english), EA has announced a suite of games due to hit market in late 2005, or early 2006.  Unable to spill the beans on the Xbox release date, apparently EA simple said this was a list of titles which might include those being developed for next generation consoles (I love how they hint things).  The list included:

Battlefield: Modern Combat, The Godfather, a secret Marvel project, Criterion's game Black, FIFA 2006, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006, Need for Speed Most Wanted, SSX 4, Urbz 2, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Burnout 4, James Bond: From Russia With Love and FIFA Street 2

I thought we already knew this, but going with the buzz around the news sites, we must not.  Apparently, extrapolation from an as-yet published EA press release received by Spong places a simulatneous release of both the next Need for Speed and the Xbox2 - late 2005.  All eyes turn to E3 in May to see if Gates has anything to show off.  Until then, I guess keep saving.

Apparently, the Gizmodo folks were able to get a face-to-face, extensive interview with Bill Gates.  In the third in their series of interview postings, Gates discusses the attitudes and expectations Microsoft has for the Xbox platform.  Interesting comments include an expectation that 80% of Xbox2 owners will be involved in the Live platform (that number seems high to me) and an at least temporary lack of interest in mobile game platforms (with a hint that their eye is on the phone/game combo future).  Plus, Gates drops a little dig into Sony, mentioning that the Xbox outsold the PS2 in the US during the months of November and December.

For those of you who had your hopes up, you have our sincerest condolences.  Bill Gates did not reveal a shiny new Xbox2 during his keynote speech at CES.  (click here for the complete transcript).  He talked about media centers and all sorts of other things.  Which should get your imagination rolling as to what might be the holistic plan around Xenon - a complete media center project.