• Just after Gizmondo released in America, a newspaper printed a story linking Europe Executive Officer Stefan Eriksson with the "Uppsala Mafia" (named for their city of operation), and Eriksson resigned (along with at two other resignations in connection with this case)
• One of the resignees, Carl Freer (Chairman of the board and a director), co-owned with Eriksson Northern Lights Software Limited, which was paid a chunk of change to create Chicane and Colors, two original and innovative IP Gizmondo games actually developed by Gizmondo Europe
• On the January 23rd of 2006, the UK based arm, Gizmondo Europe (GE) entered administration (the Brits' version of bankruptcy)

So, the acquisition pickings may be good (and I hope the Austin guys are OK), but the technical match is really good, too.

I've been thinking about this match since reading a preview article about the Gizmondo in the UK's Edge Magazine last year, where they played up many of the Gizmondo's features, and made an allusion to it being a "handheld Xbox".

To summarize some of it's features:

• Gaming
• Windows CE OS
• High-rez TFT screen
• 400Mhz processor, and Nvidia 3D co-processor
• Downloadable games
• 8-way D-Pad, left and right triggers, 4 face buttons.
• SD card support
• Integrated camera
• "Built-in Windows multimedia MP3 facility" (interesting ...)
• Windows Media Player 9 (again, interesting ...)
• SMS/MMS support
• Bluetooth
• Unique features
• Built-in GPS technology (good for gaming, location-based services, and probably directions)
• "Smart Adds" system lets advertisers deliver customized feature-rich content through MMS, and could arguably be extended with GPS ("don't you feel like going to the PF Chang's you're passing?")
• GPRS worldwide gaming
• Cool features realated to the camera. For example, in one demo, they took picture of stacked notebooks, and animated characters danced up and down the stairsteps. Talk about taking mod'ing into a new, handheld direction!

• Design -- Design has got to be damn sexy; think a version of the Xbox 360 controller with a screen
• Media -- At least Play4Sure compatible, but the more formats, the better (MPEG2/4, MP3, WMA, etc.)
• Connectivity -- If my Xbox 360 can recognize an iPod and a PSP, it damn well better recognize the Microsoft handheld
• Games -- Exclusive IP, and handheld-playable versions, and make the dilineating factors of the handheld matter to the games (GPS, GPRS, etc.)
• Partnerships -- Extend the relationships that have made Xbox 360 Live and Xblox Live Marketplace so successful, and extend the new DIRECTV/Microsoft partnership for content
• Controls -- Move the D-Pad down, add an analog stick above, and add an analog stick to the right side of the screen, below the face buttons
• Screen -- widescreen, and touch screen
• Sound -- Stereo sound
• Camera -- Megapixel or better camera
• Network -- Wi-Fi at least; I'm mixed on GPRS, because it seems kind of limiting with upcoming Wideband broadband ...
• OS -- A real OS (probably a bastardized version of the Xbox 360 OS, which is a bastardized versionof the Xbox OS, which is bastardized version of the WinXp kernel, which someone adamantly told me is a bastardized version of the Apple OS)

• How to Break Into the Game Industry
• 2nd annual Seattle Game Conference

1. CES Gamer Goodies
2. I'm playing ...

• "For Gamers Only: Best of CES 2006"

• Partnerships: DIRECTV and Microsoft team up to "enable the flow of digital content among Windows-based PCs, DIRECTV's set-top boxes, PlaysForSure-compatible devices and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system"; and "DIRECTV customers will be able to use a Windows Media Center-based PC as a DIRECTV receiver to create an all-in-one digital entertainment environment, supporting both national and local standard-definition and high-definition services."
• Changes to TV technology: I'm excited about changes to TV technology (besides the afore-mentioned SED) in the DLP space, where Samsung showed the first LED light sourced DLP rear projection HDTV, which gets rid of the existing DLP segmented color wheel technology that gets more expensive as you up segments (my DLP project has 3 segments, and upper end projectors have 7 segments), and removes the rainbowing effect up to 1-in-4 people see. I've also got to think this may give Samsung relief from paying Texas Instruments royalties for the existing DLP technology, and gives them a royalty revenue stream.
• 1080p HDTVs: These seem to be on the rise, with Pioneer, JVC, Samsung, and Sony announcing upcoming sets. I don't know where the content is really going to come from, other than Sony, who will be producing content from its own library of films.
• Wireless HDTV: Forget wireless surround sound -- think wireless HDTV! Pulse~LINK demonstrated wireless connectivity between an Xbox 360 and an HDTV Display. In fact, they had a bunch of stuff, including "gigabit" speeds (real-world of around 400 Mbps) over the air or over in-home coax. If this stuff pans out, ultra-broadband media is a cable jack away, anywhere in your house.
• External next-gen optical drives: First, Bill Gates mentioned an external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. Then, Peter Moore (corporate VP of Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division of Microsoft), basically said if HD-DVD loses the next-generation optical war, Microsoft could still develop a Blu-ray Disc drive for the Xbox 360. If Sony loses, their optical drive is embedded in their console. I don't think they'll lose, though; PS2 inclusion of a DVD drive arguably drove consumer DVD adoption.

Hi Adam,


Thank you for writing Xbox Customer Support!

I do apologize for the inconvenience. I understand that you see three lights on the Ring of Light flash red on the front of the Xbox 360 console. The upper-right quadrant light is the only light that does not flash red.

This behavior occurs when the Xbox 360 console experiences a hardware failure.

Please try the following steps to resolve the concern that you’rehaving:
1. Restart your console.
2. If that does not resolve the issue, unplug all the cables from the console, and then firmly plug the cables in.
3. Have the customer power-off the console, remove the hard disk drive, and then turn on the console.
a. If the 3x Red LED error light is no longer displayed, have the customer turn-off the console, re-attach the hard disk drive, and then turn on the console.

If you continue to experience this behavior, contact Xbox Customer Support.

For further assistance, please don't hesitate to write back or call Xbox Phone Support at 1-800-4MYXBOX (1-800-469-9269) at your earliest convenience. We are open everyday from 9am to 12mn Central Time.

To expedite service, please provide Service Request Number 1007060835
when you call.

For more information about Xbox360, please visit http://www.xbox.com or http://www.xbox.com/360.

Sincerely,
Iris
Xbox Customer Care Team

1. I've been sick, move on ...
2. CES preview
3. The integration of games and movies
4. Silver, gold, and now diamond ...
5. Game updates
6. Boo-yah!

Though it may be Google-related announcements that really steal the show.

3. The integration of games and movies

The CMP Game Group (host of the Game Developers Conference (GDC), and entertainment trade pub The Hollywood Reporter are teaming up to co-produce the "Hollywood and Games Summit", to be held June 27, 2006, in Beverly Hills, CA.

More info at www.hollywoodandgames.com (though right now it just has placeholder info).

4. Silver, gold, and now diamond ...

Xbox Live Silver memberships are available to all Xbox 360 owners out of the box. Upgrading to a paid subscription gets you Gold membership, online play, and Gold-only downloads and promotions.

Now, you can bring your Xbox Live benefits into the real world with the Xbox Live Diamond card.

Besides a touchable Xbox Live card with your Gamertag, you'll get Diamond card benefits at Ticketmaster, Cambridge Soundworks, Timberland, McDonald's, "and hundreds more".

More details and sign up at http://www.xboxlivediamond.com/.

5. Game updates

AQ Interactive has entered the publishing realm with a bang, announcing 3 new titles.

The first title, Bullet Witch, is an action/adventure set in 2013, "tells the story of a fight for survival between humans and demons," and is to be released next spring in Japan. Second is Vampire’s Rain, an action game also for PlayStation3, developed by ARTOON (the folks behind Blinx and Blinx 2), taking place in modern Los Angeles, and the player is an operative that needs to root out and eliminate vampires. Finally (and most exciting) is Mistwalker’s next RPG, Cry On, which has "tears" as the theme, the player is a little girl (Sally) in a world where giant sand creatures rule, and one serves as her companion.

Mad Catz Interactive has become a publisher in conjunction with Microsoft. This makes sense to me, as it's likely why Mad Catz aquired GameShark.

6. Boo-yah!

In October, I said Xbox 360 Live was going to integrate with MSN Messenger. In December, Microsoft made it official, saying Xbox 360 users will be able "to send instant messages using the MSN Messenger infrastructure".

They have not said whether the communication will be bi-directional, and I'm surprised they said the integration is at least 6 months out.