Netflix “Just for Kids” now available on Xbox 360

Posted on by Orion Williams
Movies/TV

Netflix streaming was always an incredibly effective babysitter, and it just got better.  Launching today, everywhere Netflix streaming is already available, is Netflix “Just for Kids”.

Update your Netflix app and you will be greeted with the option of using Just for Kids, which is aimed at children 12 years old and under and only displays kid-friendly content.  You can search based on criteria like dinosaurs, superheroes, girl power, and princesses.  And using the Kinect sensor you can search with just your voice.

Of course, you will still need a Netflix account, an Xbox Live Gold membership, and some high speed internet.  Pittance for having a thousand hours of child care at your disposal.

Xbox Live – upcoming content and deals

Posted on by Orion Williams
Deals, Games

Hybrid this week, Dust: An Elysian Tail next week.  Online Multiplayer for Scott Pilgrim and some Quantum Condundrum DLC.  With all of this good gaming going on, don’t forget to step outside every once in a while to catch the sun before summer’s over. 

 

Xbox LIVE Arcade  Release Date MS Points
Hybrid (Microsoft Studios) 8-Aug 1200
Dust: An Elysian Tail (Microsoft Studios) 15-Aug 1200
     
Add-ons Release Date MS Points
Left 4 Dead 2: Cold Stream (Valve) 3-Aug 560
Mass Effect 3: Firefight Pack (Electronic Arts) 7-Aug 160
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: Collection 3 (Activision) 9-Aug 1200
Rocksmith: Bass Expansion (Ubisoft) 14-Aug 2400
Quantum Conundrum: The Desmond Debacle (Square Enix) 15-Aug 240
Scott Pilgrim: Online Multiplayer+Wallace Pack (Ubisoft) 19-Aug 400
     
     
Gold Exclusive Deal of the Week Discount Dates Price
Electronic Arts 7-Aug to 13-Aug  
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – Teeth of Naros   400 (50% off)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – Legend of Dead Kel   400 (50% off)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – Weapons & Armor Bundle   200 (50% off)
     
Family DOTW: Bejeweled 3 (PopCap) 7-Aug to 13-Aug 600 (50% off)
     
THQ 14-Aug to 20-Aug  
Saints Row: The Third – Genkibowl VII   280 (50% off)
Saints Row: The Third – Gangstas in Space   280 (50% off)
Saints Row: The Third – The Trouble with Clones   280 (50% off)
     
     
Special Sales Discount Dates Price
Kinect Central: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13   11 Course Pack (Electronic Arts) 7-Aug to 13-Aug 1920 (40% off)
Kinec Central: Carnival Games: MSMD – Coasterama Pack (2K Play) 14-Aug to 20-Aug 160 (50% off)
     
Square Enix 14-Aug to 20-Aug  
Just Cause 2: Black Market Aerial Pack   80 (50% off)
Just Cause 2: Black Market ‘Boom’ Pack   80 (50% off)
Just Cause 2: Scorpion Animated Pet   80 (50% off)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Missing Link   600 (50% off)
     
Games on Demand Release Date  
The Orange Box: Half Life 2 (Valve) 7-Aug  
NASCAR® Unleashed (Activision) 7-Aug  
King of Fighters XIII 7-Aug  

Source: Major Nelson

Demo Gameplay – Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Posted on by Orion Williams
Games

Today, the demo for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron hit Xbox Live and PSN.  The direct sequel to War for Cybertron, FoC is an improvement upon an already great game.

The demo gives you a chance to try out both single player campaigns as well as some sweet, sweet multiplayer.

There is a variety of weaponry available, depending on which of the four classes you choose.  Each class has different speed, strength, and health statistics, as well as having different special powers.  If you played WfC, then you will feel right at home with FoC.

We captured a little multiplayer gameplay.  If this leaves you with a hunger for more metallic mayhem, go grab the demo for yourself.  It’s free, and it’s transformers.

Autobots, preorder the game here!

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Kinect PlayFit launched this week–Earn virtual rewards for actual work

Posted on by Orion Williams
Games, Tech

Kinect PlayFit

Kinect for Xbox 360 has always asked more from you than traditional video games have.  If you want your character to jump, you have to jump.  If you want them to kick in a door, you have to kick.

Some games have provided calorie counters for all of this hard work we do.  But these calorie trackers are typically reserved for fitness oriented games like YourShape, and Dance Central.

Now available as a free app for all Xbox Live members, PlayFit will track your calories and playtime independently from your fitness games.

From the press release:

Kinect PlayFit is a new fitness dashboard that aggregates and tracks the calories you burn as you play a variety of Kinect games, from “Dance Central 2” to “Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012” to “Kinect Star Wars.”

Kinect PlayFit lets you view your personal stats over time and see leaderboards that show how you rank against Xbox LIVE members across the globe. Get credit for the calories you burn while having fun with Kinect, and earn Kinect PlayFit Achievements, Gamerscore and Avatar Awards.

Kinect PlayFit inspires an active and healthy lifestyle through fun and play:

  • First of Its Kind – This is the first ever fitness tracking application on a video game console.
  • Social Motivation – Kinect PlayFit keeps it social with activity challenges, rankings on leaderboards and integration with the Xbox LIVE community to break a sweat together.
  • Survey Says – According to a recent survey*nearly 75 percent of respondents believe that video games should include a component that encourages physical activity. Also, 70 percent said that physically active video games can complement or supplement traditional exercise.

So go ahead and weild that light saber in Kinect Star Wars.  And kick balls in Kinect Adventure.  And when your spouse/children/parents/partner tells you to quit playing those silly games,  you can tell them you are exercising, and have the calorie count to back it up.

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