October 22nd marked the release of Windows 7, and to go along with that, Microsoft also opened up the first Microsoft store in Scottsdale, Arizona. From most reports , it’s pretty much what you would expect: Windows 7, Zunes, Xbox 360s, and all the fixings that go along with it.
Even if you’re not in the market for a Surface or a Zune, it might be worth stopping by the newly opened first Microsoft Store in Scottsdale, Arizona. That’s where you’ll be able to play in the gaming section, which sports a ocular-orb-overloading 93-inch screen .
Namedropping exclusives from Halo 3: ODST to Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City to Shadow Complex , as well as reaffirming Microsoft’s “year-to-date growth in console sales compared to last year,” Microsoft’s director of product management Aaron Greenberg sounds extremely confident in the Xbox 360 (that’s his job, right?). Thankfully, he’s not always above admitting when his competitors are going to win. “When NPD releases September sales later today, we fully expect PlayStation 3 will come in as the console with the most units sold for the month,” he tells Game Informer in a recent interview
While we may be nervous about Microsoft’s Project Natal branding strategy — remember, that’s just a codename — the suits in Redmond share no such concern. That’s because the Natal project is following Nintendo’s lead in more ways than just easy-to-play, motion-based technology.
Autumn has begun in the Northern Hemisphere and all the signs point to another typical season. The leaves are beginning to turn the bright oranges and reds, tiny woodland creatures have started packing food away for the winter, and Microsoft is looking for a few thousand Xbox Live members to take their new dashboard for a test run .