We're in Washington this week for Casual Connect Seattle, one of the country's largest game developer-centric conferences. As you might know, Redmond is only a stone's throw away from Seattle. As such, we threw our own stones over to Microsoft headquarters (also known as the Microsoft campus) for a little visit. The campus consists of over 40 buildings spread across 300 acres - a lot to take in! In the interest of time, we focused on Studio C (home of the Windows Phone game marketing team) and the Visitor Center (opens in new tab). Lots of pictures follow the break!
The teams like to decorate their windows.
External view of Studio C, where the Windows Phone magic happens. Yep, it's pretty big.
Your friendly neighborhood gaming journalist and Beth Goza, Senior Community Manager at Microsoft pose in front of this life-size Halo Reach statue.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation, these Microsoft employees donned outfits from the original series. I should show you mine sometime (it's not a dress though).
Upon entering the history wing of the Visitor Center, you're greeted by the cast of Anchorman... I mean, the Microsoft founders!
This wall depicts the evolution of technology, while the text below compares those changes to Microsoft products. Note the Atari 2600 console at right.
These computers allow visitors to try out Windows 8 before its official release. In the background, avatars are projected on the wall.
Just about every Windows Phone handset is on display for the masses. Not pictured, the screen of a first-gen Samsung Focus suffered from extreme burn-in. Maybe that's why the released version's screen times out after five minutes.
Xbox Live Achievement aficionado TNTJudbud test drives the original Surface table computer.
The Xbox 360 area hosts a number of popular games like Forza Motorsport 4 and several LEGO titles.
Kinect Star Wars looks great projected onto this wall. Too bad the display doesn't photograph well, but you get the idea.
Outside, these Emergency call terminals are everywhere. Don't push it, dude!
Do these crates contain Xbox 360s, or something more sinister?
