Showing posts with label Personal computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal computer. Show all posts

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Global 2012: All Windows 8 apps will offer a try-it-before-you-buy-it feature

Image representing Microsoft as depicted in Cr...Image via CrunchBase
There's nothing worse than shelling out a couple bucks on an app, only to find out that it's absolutely terrible, right? Well, Microsoft has a plan to eliminate "app regret" — when you're considering an app from the upcoming Windows 8 Store, you'll be able to try it for free for seven days before you have to shell out cash for it.

The free trial program may be a necessary tool for Microsoft to overcome the challenges posed by their house minimum: All Windows 8 apps will have a price tag of $1.49 or higher (up to $999.99). That's significantly higher than the Apple App Store's 99-cent minimum. Microsoft no doubt hopes higher sales prices will mean more revenue — after all, the company just posted their first ever net loss last quarter.

While you're able to return Android apps for a refund within 15 minutes of purchase, Microsoft is truly offering a real try-it-before-you-buy-it option. While this is no doubt exciting for future owners of Windows 8, the news may also affect other operating systems if it proves successful. After all, if the public responds favorably to a try-it-before-you-buy-it scheme, it may very well become the standard.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Global 2012: Five things to know about ‘Diablo III’

Diablo IIDiablo II (Photo credit: Dekuwa)
Releasing for the PC and Mac on May 15, Diablo III is just around the corner. Passionate fans have been waiting years for this -- it's been over a decade since Diablo II first stormed shelves -- and with midnight sale launch events occurring all over the country on Monday, there are going to be millions of red-eyed gamers dragging themselves to work Tuesday morning. Those who don't phone in sick, that is.

But why the fervor? What makes this particular action/role-playing romp such a big deal? Here are five reasons:

1. Diablo helped pioneer Internet gaming.
2. You'll never have to play alone.
3. New auction house could be lucrative for players.
4. It's bringing the gaming world together.
5. Deckard Cain returns!

Cain's positive impact on fans was clear, given Blizzard released a medieval-themed Deckard Cain rap as a promotional Easter Egg for Diablo II starring the original actor. More recently, Blizzard's April Fool's Day contribution in 2010 was marketing a GPS voice pack with "carefully considered directions from everyone's favorite antediluvian archivist."

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/five-things-know-diablo-iii-193952711.html

Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Global 2011: Video game plays on fears

Cover of "Clear and Present Danger (Speci...Cover via Amazon
It's already been a busy year for shooters, but publisher THQ thinks they found the formula for first-person success in the upcoming -- and somewhat controversial -- Homefront.

Due out March 15 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, the game imagines a fallen America in 2027. Players, as you might expect, will join the resistance and fight their way across the country to win back America's freedom.

Left there, it would be a pretty formulaic shooter -- but THQ has amped things up with a politically-charged back story and pulled in screenwriter John Milius, who penned the similarly themed film "Red Dawn" (as well as "Apocalypse Now," "Clear and Present Danger" and "Conan the Barbarian"), to handle the plot behind the game's single-player campaign.

http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/468-homefront-turns-political-fears-into-potential-hit


Enhanced by Zemanta