MAM
Microsoft’s Xbox adds ‘Gears of Wars’ and ‘Viva Pinata’ to its gaming titles
MUMBAI: Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division has announced the launch of Gears of Wars (GoW) and Viva Pinata for their next generation gaming console Xbox 360.
The launch was complimented by the announcement of some of the forthcoming gaming titles Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, Lost Planet, Superman Returns, Call of Duty 3 on Xbox 360.
Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division country manager Mohit Anand said, “We are delighted to bring to our Indian gaming enthusiast’s the two biggest and most anticipated games Gears of War and an unusual game about habitat, Viva Pinata from Xbox 360. GoW is one of the best games visually available on Xbox 360 and one of the finest games available on any platform today. Viva Pinata, on the other hand is more of a family game where gamers have to turn a misused plot of land into a beautiful garden overcoming various challenges. Xbox 360 today has over 35 titles of different genres available and will additionally be releasing more innovative and enthralling games for the gaming enthusiasts in times to come.”
The titles will be priced at Rs. 2,510 each and will be available to gamers through Microsoft’s network of resellers across major cities in the country.
An official release issued by the company stated that Gears of War sold about 1 million copies worldwide within two weeks of its launch and has been the fastest selling game on Xbox 360 in 2006 and ever on Xbox 360 platform. It is a third-person tactical action/horror game and is the first game developed by Epic Games exclusively for Microsoft Game Studios and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.
GOW thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet and utilizes the breathtaking new Unreal Engine 3 to create cinematic, beautifully rendered interactive environments with high-definition visuals for a gaming experience that truly ushers in the next-generation.
Viva Piñata is created by video game developer Rare Ltd. and Microsoft Game Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.Viva Piñata invites game-players to escape to Piñata Island, where wild-roaming, living piñata animals are looking for a home. Viva Piñata from Rare and Microsoft Game Studios is rated “E” for Everyone and is available exclusively on Xbox 360.
Brands
Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
