LinkinPrime
08-30-2006, 08:17 PM
Official Press info:
Xbox 360 Welcomes New Worlds of Entertainment
Barcelona, Spain—On the shores of one of the world's most artistic and progressive cities, Microsoft Corp. today thrilled attendees at its annual X06 event by inviting everyone to experience the next generation now on the Xbox 360™ system. The announcements and hands-on gameplay experiences highlight how the world's greatest game creators are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in high definition and online storytelling. Highlights of the announcements included the following:
A landmark partnership between Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live®. The first will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the Halo® universe. The second will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.
Halo Warsis an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary Halo universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the Age of Empires® franchise.
Rockstar and Take-Two will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two epic downloadable episodes of Grand Theft Auto IV via Xbox Live, each with hours of new gameplay content, and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.
Ubisoft confirmed that the next Splinter Cell title, the installment after Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell® Double Agent™, will be exclusive to Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of the powerful next-gen game console to deliver experiences no other console can match.
2K Games confirmed that BioShock , a first person shooter that will revolutionize the genre and forever change the expectations of gamers, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft®Windows® next spring.
Project Gotham Racing® 4, was unveiled, the latest addition to the best-selling franchise, made exclusively for Xbox 360 by Bizarre Creations. PGR4 promises to continue the series' pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.
The beloved Banjo-Kazooie® franchise will breathe new, high-definition life exclusively on Xbox 360, from famed developer Rare Ltd. Beloved characters Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda—among other fan favorites—will new next-gen visuals and presentation as well as their sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.
Microsoft Game Studios will release its highly-anticipated new MMO game, Marvel Universe Online for both Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista™ operating system. MUO was developed by industry luminaries Cryptic Studios, creators of the smash hits City of Heroes and City of Villains.
Expect two new additions to Xbox Live Arcade: The FPS that pioneered the network-gaming era, DOOM®, from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace. The game includes the original four-episode single-player game, four-player split screen action, both co-op and deathmatch, and four player co-op and deathmatch via Xbox Live. Coming soon to Xbox Live Arcade is Sensible World of Soccer from Codemasters. Based on a classic Amiga title from 1994, Sensible World of Soccer will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel—while still capturing the original game's wide world of football.
Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K., France, and Germany in mid-November 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America (ESRP) and €199.99/£129.99 (ESRP) in the U.K., France, and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with both the Universal Pictures blockbuster Peter Jackson's King Kong on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote."Xbox 360 is changing the way developers are telling stories today—from the industry's most beloved franchises to exciting new properties," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "We are inspiring the imaginations of the entertainment industry's best and most creative talent to take their franchises in exciting directions, while also spinning new tales for everyone."
"We are incredibly pleased to be here in Barcelona to talk about the next chapter of Xbox® and how Xbox 360 continues to deliver on the promise and potential of the next generation," said Chris Lewis, regional vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), at Microsoft. "As we prepare to launch some of our biggest global titles and best regional content, both right now and well into the future, consumers will have much to choose from with a system designed for high-definition and online entertainment. We are the only next-generation experience that seamlessly connects players to their games, friends, and entertainment content."
Xbox 360 Expands Popular Franchises
Xbox 360 continues to expand the interactive entertainment landscape, enabling industry superstars to take beloved franchises in exciting new directions. Microsoft Game Studios announced its partnership with famed movie director Peter Jackson to herald in a new age of interactive entertainment that can only be realized through Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The goal of this partnership is to not only create new stories, but to redefine the way they are told. The first part of this long-term relationship is for Jackson, his partner Fran Walsh, and their team to bring to life two new interactive entertainment experiences exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first project is to co-write, co-design, and co-produce a completely new and original chapter in the Halo universe in collaboration with Bungie Studios. The second project is an entirely original property from the team in New Zealand that will not only bring a whole new interactive story to life, but will also captivate new audiences that have yet to discover the power of interactive entertainment.
Additionally, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, Jackson and Walsh are creating Wingnut Interactive. The two companies will create a world-class interactive entertainment studio that fuses the strength of Microsoft's technology and interactive entertainment experience with the creative and imaginative excellence of the Wingnut team.
"Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games," Jackson said. "My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker's point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books, but taking it further with interactivity."
In addition to demonstrating its leadership in the next-generation of games through exclusive alliances, Microsoft Game Studios announced Halo Wars, an all-new RTS game based on the legendary Halo universe and built exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the Age of Empires franchise. Halo Wars places the player in command of human UNSC armies as they deploy for mankind's first deadly encounter with the enemy forces of the Covenant.
In addition, Microsoft Game Studios provided first details surrounding Project Gotham Racing 4, the latest addition to the premiere racing franchise from Bizarre Creations, and the reunion of Banjo, Kazooie, and Gruntilda in an all-new addition to the Banjo-Kazooie franchise from industry veterans Rare.
Microsoft and Ubisoft announced that the next Splinter Cell title will be created exclusively for Xbox 360. Based on the increasingly proven potential of the Xbox 360 hardware and its online promise, Ubisoft confirmed that Xbox 360 will be the exclusive platform for the next iteration of its massively popular and influential espionage franchise. Through the power of Xbox Live, the series that revolutionized online cooperative and competitive gameplay promises to transform and modernize online gaming once again.
New details regarding the epic, exclusive episodic content for the upcoming and highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar and Take-Two were also revealed; Rockstar Games will offer two downloadable episodes, each with hours of new gameplay, extending the experience of what already promises to be an immense game. Both chapters will be exclusive and available only to Xbox 360 gamers via Xbox Live. Grand Theft Auto IV will be available to Xbox 360 gamers on its first day of availability: October 16, 2007, in North America and October 19, 2007, in Europe.
Xbox Live Announcements
Xbox Live Arcade made a surprise announcement today, unveiling one of the greatest games of the 3-D era: DOOM is now available for download for only 800 Microsoft points. The game brings legendary DOOM mayhem to gamers, who for the first time ever can relive the classic demon-blasting frag fest in both single-player and two-to-four player co-op and deathmatch modes over Xbox Live. Also a new, multi-title relationship with Codemasters was announced, with the first title being the classic, fast-action soccer game, Sensible World of Soccer.
Xbox Live is a thriving online game community, connecting more than 3 million members across nearly 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of social games, as well as on-demand game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, music, and movie content. With more than 10 million downloads to date and nearly 100 independent, classic, and original development titles available by next summer, Xbox Live Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon.
Jump Into HD DVD Affordably
At X06, exciting details about the much-anticipated Xbox 360 HD DVD Player were also revealed. Available in mid-November, 2006 in North America for $199.99 (ESRP), in the U.K., France, and Germany for €199.99 (£129.99) (ESRP), and other territories in 2007, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures blockbuster film Peter Jackson's King Kong on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. Users can just add the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to their Xbox 360 to create the ultimate home-theater experience.
"The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best high-definition movie experience and value on the market," Moore said. "The reviews, the word of mouth, and the consumer response have all been crystal clear—HD DVD is the format of choice. We're not forcing movie technology on game players, but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences. If they want HD DVD, there's no better value out there."
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player offers up to six times higher resolution than DVD, and as part of the fall 2006 console update all Xbox 360 consoles will have the ability to output native resolution 1080p games and movies. Users can enjoy blockbuster HD DVD releases, with more than 150 titles available by the holidays from major movie studios including Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, Universal Studios, New Line Entertainment, HBO, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The Most Anticipated Titles
In addition to taking popular franchises in new directions, developers are finding new life through Xbox 360 with exciting new content, and are delivering many of the industry's most praised and anticipated titles.
Arguably the most anticipated title of 2006, Gears of War® from Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios is a third-person tactical action/horror game available exclusively on Xbox 360.Gears of War will be the only game to blend a deep and disturbing story of human survival against hordes of nightmarish creatures with a next-generation tactical combat system and unsurpassed visuals and special effects. Gears of War, which will be available Nov. 12, 2006, in the U.S. and Nov. 17, 2006, in Europe, has garnered numerous industry awards and accolades including the Game Critics Awards Best Console and Best Action Game of E3 2006, IGN's E3 2005 Best Xbox 360 Game, and GameSpot's E3 2006 People's Choice Award.
From leading U.K. based developer Rare and Microsoft Game Studios comes Viva Piñata™, an original game concept and the latest innovative gaming experience for gamers of all ages and types. Viva Piñata invites gamers to create an immersive world where living piñatas inhabit an ever-changing environment. Viva Pinata, which has won several industry awards including Best Graphics from Nick Jr. Magazine and IGN's Runner-Up for Best Strategy Game of E3 2006, is scheduled to be available this holiday.
Underlining the Xbox 360 platform strength, Microsoft and Ubisoft today confirmed that Assassin's Creed, the eagerly anticipated action title during the crusades, is also coming to Xbox 360 on the same day and date as the game's release on other platforms. Assassin's Creed is a next-generation action-adventure/stealth title from the highly talented and critically acclaimed team that brought gamers Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . Assassin's Creed will place gamers in the role of a ruthless and skilled assassin as he silently stalks his victims.
Last week at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, Lost Odyssey wowed audiences with its incredible graphic style and epic storyline. From famed Japanese developer Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey will be shipped in Japan in 2007, and in the U.S. and Europe at a later date.
Few games have generated more interest than BioShock in the past year, and Microsoft confirmed today that the highly anticipated first-person shooter will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and Windows when it launches in spring 2007.
More Exciting Titles
Looking into the coming year, X06 showcased a montage video trailer demonstrating the dazzling power and versatility of the Xbox 360 platform, promising gamers a choice of titles and genres coming this spring season, including the Microsoft Game Studios titles Crackdown™, Too Human, Mass Effect™, and Forza Motorsport™ 2. In addition to these titles from Microsoft Game Studios, games from today's leading publishers round out what is already a robust library of offerings for the Xbox 360 platform, including John Woo Presents Stranglehold, Lost Planet, and Pro Evolution Soccer 6.
Microsoft underscored the continued momentum behind Xbox 360 with more than 5 million consoles sold since launch, the fastest console launch ever. Microsoft remains on track to deliver 10 million consoles worldwide, with a library of 160 games, by the end of the year. The Xbox Live community continues to grow and is on track to double in size to 6 million gamers by June 2007. Those numbers are supported by the most impressive number of all: Xbox 360 is now available in more than 30 countries since the console launched last November. By the end of this year, Xbox 360 will launch in even more countries, including South Africa and in Europe where plans are set to distribute the console in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.
Games for Windows
Microsoft also provided attendees with an update on Games for Windows and announced several exciting new Games for Windows titles, including Bioshock and Marvel Universe Online. Starting this September with LEGO® Star Wars® II: The Original Trilogy from LucasArts and Company of Heroes from THQ, games will carry the Games for Windows branding after meeting a set of technical guidelines designed to provide consumers with a consistent, reliable gaming experience on Windows XP and Windows Vista. The guidelines include easier game installation, improved reliability, and support for key Windows Vista features such as the Games Explorer and Parental Controls. They will also support wide-screen gaming, launch from within Windows Media® Center, be compatible with 64-bit consumer versions of Windows, and will support the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (for games that enable gamepads).
Attendees were given a glimpse of the exciting upcoming Games for Windows titles including Hellgate: London, Rail Simulator, and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, as well as Microsoft Game Studios titles Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, Alan Wake, Zoo Tycoon® 2: Marine Mania®, Flight Simulator X, Shadowrun™, Halo® 2 for Windows Vista, and the newly named Marvel Universe Online, a massively multiplayer online game for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista from Cryptic Studios, creators of the hit City of Heroes franchise.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/x06/xbox360welcomesnewworlds.htm
X06 Conference Highlights:
6:58 pm Most everybody's in now, some folks straggling in as cameras are set up, laptops fire up, and everyone waits for the conference to kick off.
7:04 The music has faded and Rare's Banjo and Kazooie make their way across the screen in a rendered sequence. The ends with the pair opening up into a bright new world.
7:05: Microsft's Chris Lewis has come out and welcomes those in attendance to this year's event. Lewis calls Xbox Live the premiere online console gaming service, says Microsoft has delivered on its mission of making gaming better for gamers, and will keep pushing to get better in the future.
7:08: Xbox Live evangelism time. Lewis says they've delivered on their mission to deliver new experiences to gamers. He says they're not content to rest on their laurels. Says Microsoft will continue to evolve the service. Touts 1500 pieces of content. He says 60 percent of all Xbox 360 gamers are online, as opposed to 10 percent for the original Xbox. More than 80 percent of the consoles that are online are downloading content.
7:09: Lewis announces that tonight on the Marketplace, players can download a Kane and Lynch trailer, which will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC. Another game, Crossfire, will also debut exclusively on the two platforms.
7:10: Says X06 will come to marketplace over the next few days. He references the Leipzig Games Convention and his announcement that the next Winning Eleven and FIFA titles would be next-gen exclusive on 360. Now he says Sensible Soccer, the classic 94 Amiga game, from Codemasters will be coming to XBLA.
7:11: Next up for Live Arcade... Doom.
7:13: Montage time. Doom split screen Lumines Live. UMK 3. Totem Ball. Defender. Assault Heroes from VU games. Sensible Soccer listed as early 07. Doom is available tonight for download.
7:13:Peter Moore takes the stage, and thanks Chris and congratulates him on the Xbox 360's start in Europe. Moore says the Xbox 360 model is that the console's power is equal part hardware, software, and services. He says "only the Xbox 360 delivers on the promise of the next generation." He says 360 will deliver on 3 promises: "Your games. Your friends Your lifestyle."
7:17: Moore's talking figures now: 160 high def games this holiday. He emphasizes the system's high-def support, saying it will support movies and games in native 1080p resolution.
7:18: Moore calls Epic's Cliffy B onstage to talk Gears of War. Cliffy picks up with the two main characters trapped in an open square with Locusts surrounding them. He says the crowd will be able to play the game today, single, versus, and co-op, drop-in and drop-out. The demo finds Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago dealing with some murderous locusts in a war torn square. Guns and bugs and action and chainsaws splattering blood on the game's "camera." Europe release date November 17, US still November 12.
7:21: Moore calls Gears of War the best-looking game on any platform coming out this year, then moves to talk about the difficulties of a worldwide launch. "It wasn't perfect, but in the end it's clear that all the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it." Moore says MS is committed to treating every market like a main market.
7:22: Moore references the recent India launch and looks towards the South African launch. The Xbox 360 will be available in 32 countries less than a year after its debut. He talks about the different lineup of games aimed at different regions, Trusty Bell for Japan, Madden for the US, and the soccer games for Europe.
7:23: Moore presents a coming soon montage: Forza 2, Lost Planet, Lego Star Wars II, Gears Of War, FIFA 07, Crossfire, Blue Dragon, The Darkness, Viva Pinata, Alan Wake, Battlestations: Midway, Shadowrun, Fable 2, FEAR, Fuzion Frenzy 2, Splinter Cell:Double Agent, NBA 2K7, Halo 3, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Tiger Woods 07, DOA X2, WWE Smackdown vs.Raw 2007, Crackdown, Mass Effect, Winning Eleven 2007, Call Of Duty 3, Need For Speed Carbon, Stranglehold, Virtua Tennis 3, Rainbow Six Vegas, Sonic the Hedgehog, Team Fortress 2, and Shrek The Third. Moore says MS is excited about reaching out to casual players with titles like the new Banjo, and Blue Dragon. He talks about the Viva Pinata TV series, saying it's had 2 million viewers already after only a few weeks on the air. Then he turns to a Viva Pinata trailer.
7:27: Viva Pinata trailer playing now. The game is bizarre, but has a good sense of style. The theme song is catchy and the mating dances between the Pinatas are hilarious. Moore says that last week at TGS, fans stood in line for 2 and a half hours to play Blue Dragon. He says it will be coming to Europe in 2007, as well as to North America. Then he shows a Blue Dragon trailer. The trailer starts out with a heavy dose of the game's action, showing the hero's party and a few villains, then moves to cover some more somber scenes.
7:28: Subtitled trailer playing now, showing off a bunch of cinematics and highlighting Toriyama's art, Uematsu's music, and Sakaguchi's scenario design. The development team on this thing is a regular supergroup.
7:31: Moore says Blue Dragon will help Microsoft break into Japan. He then talks about creating new franchises for the fan base, mentioning Mass Effect, Crackdown, and Alan Wake. He says to expect to hear something new about Halo 3 by the end of this year.
7:33: Moore introduces Project Gotham Racing 4 with a trailer. A car revs up and tears through a desolate, almost futuristic sci-fi landscape. Lots of weird energy effects and a total eclipse as the car--and the teaser trailer--skids to a stop. Moore's then talks about the next evolution of Xbox Live now, driven by Grand Theft Auto IV. He brings up the October 16, 2007, North American launch of GTA IV and says Rockstar will continue the GTA story with "two epic episodes" launched "within months" of the game's release. Each episode will be exclusive to the 360.
7:34: Switching gears, Moore turns to Assassin's Creed. "Now you'll see it for the first time right here on Xbox 360," Moore says, introducing Jade Raymond, the game's completely stunning producer. She says Assassin's Creed is "inspired by historical events," and the live demo, warning that there might be glitches and popping.
7:37: The demo finds Alteir the master assassin mounting a horse and rides into a town. His target is thought to be in the center of town. Alteir walks through crowded streets, turning sideways to shuggle away from people.
7:38: The next bit of the game to highlight is freedom Alteir shoves people around and pushes them down for no good reason, calling attention to himself from passersby. Alteir jumps up to grab the ledge of a nearby building and starts climbing up the entire thing using architectural details like window ledges. Raymond likens it to free-running, or parkour.
7:39: The demo now shows off the "intuition" view that lets you single out people who need killing. Once the target is sighted we see our boy engage in "social stealth" by blending into a pack of monks so he can get near his target and get his kill on.
7:40: Alteir deparates from the group right behind the target and jams a knife in his neck. Then it's time for the getaway. Raymond likens it to American football, saying the crowd is now a bunch of obstacles and if you run into them too fast you'll fall down. Alteir's escape route is cutoff and it's time for the fight. Raymond mentions that the fighting is realistic just in time to see Alteir cut down by a single blow from behind by an enemy.
7:42: The crowd applauds loudly, and a jealous Moore comes back saying he doesn't remember getting applause like that when he took the stage. (Of course, he doesn't look like Ms. Raymond.) Now he mentions Bioshock. It will be exclusive to 360 and Windows this spring.: Moore says that like all great psychological thrillers, it's dark, disturbing, and not always what it seems to be.
7:43: The Bioshock trailer starts with a washed out voice talking about a utopian society he built, Rapture, far under the sea. Things have gone wrong in Rapture, and poses an ethical quandary to the viewer. "Would you kill an innocent to save yourself? We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us." The trailer then shows a first-person view of a player dragging a spooky little girl out of her hiding hole and menacing her before her giant robot guardian comes to the rescue. As for the little kid? The robot turns out to be friendly and they hold hands.
7:46: Moore talks about Lost Odyssey's appearance at the Tokyo Game Show, and confirms it will be released in Europe and North America. He introduces a demo of the game, mentioning that it's a work in progress and needs to be optimized. Nicky Yamaguchi from Microsoft Game Studios intros the demo, saying it's the first time the game is being shown outside of Japan.
7:47: The demo appears to be the same one given at Microsoft's TGS press conference and mixes CG cinematics with gameplay. The scene is a massive battlefield thick with soldiers, living and dead. A pre-rendered sequence opens up with troop carriers rolling to a halt and letting dozens of soldiers out on a battlefield. They are quickly cut down by a hail of enemy arrows. Another wave of troops charges, and war machines start to get involved. As the enemy apparently stands triumphant, the downed soldiers are resurrected, with one soldier in particular tearing through the ranks viciously.
7:48: There's a pause in the action and now the player-controlled part takes over. It's one against a horde, with the player character going through menus to choose targets and slashing them, with helpful numbers appearing above their heads to indicate damage done.
7:50: After a relatively uneventful stretch, an enemy war machine comes to the fore and spews fire at the player in a pre-rendered cut scene. Now in battle, it lobs a fireball at the player to do some damage. The soldier retaliates, taking out one of the machine's two flame cannons. A second back-and-forth exchange leaves the machine defeated. The war machine topples over as the player turns and walks away. The demo is over, and the crowd applauds.
7:53: Moore apologizes for the sound not being cued up properly on the demo, and encourages the crowd to play the game themselves. Now Moore is talking about Lost Planet and says the multiplayer and single-player will be playable at X06. Moving to the West, he brings up Splinter Cell. He intros a video for Double Agent with "never-before-seen footage."
7:55: The video sets up the game's plot, with Fisher going undercover to infiltrat a terrorist cell. A Fisher voice over says "Killing thousands to save millions... No one should have to make these choices." Then the trailer takes a turn for the Hollywood, with fast-paced guitar music, quick cuts, and the movie voiceover guy talking about Fisher going farther than he's ever gone before. Moore says the "next installment" of Splinter Cell will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC--but he apparently doesn't mean Double Agent.
7:57: Moore brings up Forza Motorsport 2, saying it will have "over 300 cars on disk" in a shot at Gran Turismo HD. An early build will be on the show floor.
7:58: It's time for HD-DVD! The external drive is due in mid-November 2006 in North America for $199.99, in the U.K., France and Germany for €199.99 (£129.99) and other territories in 2007. [CORRECTION] The player comes with the Peter Jackson's King Kong the movie--not the Official Game of the Movie---on HD-DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.
8:00:Games for Windows time is getting a big push with a bunch of sexy titles like: Halo 2, Company of Heroes, Alan Wake, Flight Simulator X, Crysis, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Rail Simulator, Hellgate London, Lego Star Wars II, Shadowrun, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, and Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Angmar.
8:03: It's Live Anywhere time now, with Moore talking about the service's easy-to-use interface being consistent across all platforms. The next title supporting the Live Anywhere vision is introduced with a teaser trailer. It's Marvel Universe Online, from Cryptic Studios and Microsoft Games Studios. Apparently those kids have now put that lawsuit behind them. Marvel Universe Online will be exclusive to 360 and PC, an obvious counter to Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming DC Comics-based MMOG.
8:05: Moore says there's a partnership that will deliver completely new stories to Xbox Live. Microsoft Game Studios introduces Lord of the Rings director and Halo executive producer Peter Jackson. Jackson takes the stage to hollers and loud applause. He says the first project has been in the works for about a year. He talks about a "not quite a game, not quite a film" experience. He wants to take stories that could become films but maybe won't, and bring them into the world of games.
8:06: The game will be based on Halo!!! It's not Halo 4, and it's not the film, but it will be based in the world of Halo. It will NOT be a traditional game. Is this the much-rumored "Forerunner" game?
8:07: Jackson speaks! "Instead of making a film, we [will] make a form of entertainment that you can watch and enjoy like you would a film," but with interactive elements, he says. Jackson thinks the technology is to the point where games and film can blend, "and the fun of this is going to be figuring out where they can blend." He says it won't be especially for the hardcore game crowd. Moore says this means Microsoft is working on Halo beyond the movie, and Bungie is working on content beyond Halo 3. There will also be an all-new series based on stories from Jackson and Walsh.
8:07: Moore brings Chris Lewis back to the stage to help close the show. Lewis says it's been an amazing night of announcements, and says it's "very clear" that the 360 is leading the next generation of entertainment. Oh, and "One last thing..." he says, apparently forgetting something. Riiiiight. Here it comes.
8:09: A trailer begins. There's a Warthog from Halo. Lots of them. They're tearing through a barren field with a few Scorpions. Another group of space marines is under attack. The Covenant wipes out the last of that group and prepares for the incoming Warthogs. A full-scale battle erupts, with tons of vehicles left and right. Spartan Group Omega shows up. "If they want war, we'll give 'em war." A logo for "Halo Wars" appears. The show's over.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6158809.html?tag=breaking_news;link
(I'm speechless) :shock: :drool: :applause: :bow:
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Enjoy Tokyo Game Show and X06 direct from your living room with an all-access pass to the biggest video game events of the fall
Xbox Live is "Bringing It Home" and invites Xbox 360 owners to check out games, demos, trailers and news from the show floors
Gamers don't have to be on the Tokyo Game Show and X06 guest lists to have a front row seat to all of the action, because this year Xbox brings these event show floors to you. Following on from the success of "E3: Bringing It Home," Xbox is inviting all gamers to enjoy exclusive access via Xbox Live Marketplace to Tokyo Game Show, the largest show from the world's second largest gaming market, and X06, the ultimate Microsoft games showcase.
Starting Wednesday, September 20, through Friday, September 29, connected gamers can access the best content from the Tokyo Game Show in Japan and X06 in Barcelona, Spain, including highlights from both press briefings, daily updates and behind the scenes videos from the show floors as well as the hottest playable game demos and videos in high definition. The majority of this content will only be available until 12:00 a.m. PDT on September 29, so be sure to download everything you want while it is available.
In total, more than 100 pieces of new downloadable content will be available to gamers during the nine day period, including a never before announced major franchise on Xbox Live Arcade. In addition to new playable game demos, there will also be new game videos from the following titles being showcased at Tokyo Game Show and/or X06:
o Call of Duty® 3 (Activision)
o Forza Motorsport 2 (Microsoft Game Studios)
o Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Eidos)
o Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Microsoft)
o Project Sylpheed (Square-Enix)
o Shrek the Third ™ (Activision)
o Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
o Plus additional high definition videos from games to be announced at Tokyo Game Show and X06
For gamers looking to further personalize their Xbox 360 experience Xbox Live will feature new picture packs and themes for titles including Alan Wake, Fable 2, Mass Effect and Forza Motorsport 2. Gamers also will be able to download a free picture pack, theme and an exclusive scene prior to the SCI FI Channel's Battlestar Galactica season premiere on October 6th (US only).
Stay tuned to the Xbox Live Calendar pages on Xbox.com (xbox.com/bringingithome) for more information on the schedule of events taking place during the Xbox Live is "Bringing It Home" week. If you're not yet connected to Xbox Live, sign up today to Bring Tokyo Game Show and X06 Home on your Xbox 360. What are you waiting for?
http://www.majornelson.com/Default.aspx
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/promotions/bringithome/default.htm
Xbox 360 Welcomes New Worlds of Entertainment
Barcelona, Spain—On the shores of one of the world's most artistic and progressive cities, Microsoft Corp. today thrilled attendees at its annual X06 event by inviting everyone to experience the next generation now on the Xbox 360™ system. The announcements and hands-on gameplay experiences highlight how the world's greatest game creators are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in high definition and online storytelling. Highlights of the announcements included the following:
A landmark partnership between Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live®. The first will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the Halo® universe. The second will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.
Halo Warsis an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary Halo universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the Age of Empires® franchise.
Rockstar and Take-Two will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two epic downloadable episodes of Grand Theft Auto IV via Xbox Live, each with hours of new gameplay content, and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.
Ubisoft confirmed that the next Splinter Cell title, the installment after Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell® Double Agent™, will be exclusive to Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of the powerful next-gen game console to deliver experiences no other console can match.
2K Games confirmed that BioShock , a first person shooter that will revolutionize the genre and forever change the expectations of gamers, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft®Windows® next spring.
Project Gotham Racing® 4, was unveiled, the latest addition to the best-selling franchise, made exclusively for Xbox 360 by Bizarre Creations. PGR4 promises to continue the series' pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.
The beloved Banjo-Kazooie® franchise will breathe new, high-definition life exclusively on Xbox 360, from famed developer Rare Ltd. Beloved characters Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda—among other fan favorites—will new next-gen visuals and presentation as well as their sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.
Microsoft Game Studios will release its highly-anticipated new MMO game, Marvel Universe Online for both Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista™ operating system. MUO was developed by industry luminaries Cryptic Studios, creators of the smash hits City of Heroes and City of Villains.
Expect two new additions to Xbox Live Arcade: The FPS that pioneered the network-gaming era, DOOM®, from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace. The game includes the original four-episode single-player game, four-player split screen action, both co-op and deathmatch, and four player co-op and deathmatch via Xbox Live. Coming soon to Xbox Live Arcade is Sensible World of Soccer from Codemasters. Based on a classic Amiga title from 1994, Sensible World of Soccer will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel—while still capturing the original game's wide world of football.
Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K., France, and Germany in mid-November 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America (ESRP) and €199.99/£129.99 (ESRP) in the U.K., France, and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with both the Universal Pictures blockbuster Peter Jackson's King Kong on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote."Xbox 360 is changing the way developers are telling stories today—from the industry's most beloved franchises to exciting new properties," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "We are inspiring the imaginations of the entertainment industry's best and most creative talent to take their franchises in exciting directions, while also spinning new tales for everyone."
"We are incredibly pleased to be here in Barcelona to talk about the next chapter of Xbox® and how Xbox 360 continues to deliver on the promise and potential of the next generation," said Chris Lewis, regional vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), at Microsoft. "As we prepare to launch some of our biggest global titles and best regional content, both right now and well into the future, consumers will have much to choose from with a system designed for high-definition and online entertainment. We are the only next-generation experience that seamlessly connects players to their games, friends, and entertainment content."
Xbox 360 Expands Popular Franchises
Xbox 360 continues to expand the interactive entertainment landscape, enabling industry superstars to take beloved franchises in exciting new directions. Microsoft Game Studios announced its partnership with famed movie director Peter Jackson to herald in a new age of interactive entertainment that can only be realized through Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The goal of this partnership is to not only create new stories, but to redefine the way they are told. The first part of this long-term relationship is for Jackson, his partner Fran Walsh, and their team to bring to life two new interactive entertainment experiences exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first project is to co-write, co-design, and co-produce a completely new and original chapter in the Halo universe in collaboration with Bungie Studios. The second project is an entirely original property from the team in New Zealand that will not only bring a whole new interactive story to life, but will also captivate new audiences that have yet to discover the power of interactive entertainment.
Additionally, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, Jackson and Walsh are creating Wingnut Interactive. The two companies will create a world-class interactive entertainment studio that fuses the strength of Microsoft's technology and interactive entertainment experience with the creative and imaginative excellence of the Wingnut team.
"Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games," Jackson said. "My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker's point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books, but taking it further with interactivity."
In addition to demonstrating its leadership in the next-generation of games through exclusive alliances, Microsoft Game Studios announced Halo Wars, an all-new RTS game based on the legendary Halo universe and built exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the Age of Empires franchise. Halo Wars places the player in command of human UNSC armies as they deploy for mankind's first deadly encounter with the enemy forces of the Covenant.
In addition, Microsoft Game Studios provided first details surrounding Project Gotham Racing 4, the latest addition to the premiere racing franchise from Bizarre Creations, and the reunion of Banjo, Kazooie, and Gruntilda in an all-new addition to the Banjo-Kazooie franchise from industry veterans Rare.
Microsoft and Ubisoft announced that the next Splinter Cell title will be created exclusively for Xbox 360. Based on the increasingly proven potential of the Xbox 360 hardware and its online promise, Ubisoft confirmed that Xbox 360 will be the exclusive platform for the next iteration of its massively popular and influential espionage franchise. Through the power of Xbox Live, the series that revolutionized online cooperative and competitive gameplay promises to transform and modernize online gaming once again.
New details regarding the epic, exclusive episodic content for the upcoming and highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar and Take-Two were also revealed; Rockstar Games will offer two downloadable episodes, each with hours of new gameplay, extending the experience of what already promises to be an immense game. Both chapters will be exclusive and available only to Xbox 360 gamers via Xbox Live. Grand Theft Auto IV will be available to Xbox 360 gamers on its first day of availability: October 16, 2007, in North America and October 19, 2007, in Europe.
Xbox Live Announcements
Xbox Live Arcade made a surprise announcement today, unveiling one of the greatest games of the 3-D era: DOOM is now available for download for only 800 Microsoft points. The game brings legendary DOOM mayhem to gamers, who for the first time ever can relive the classic demon-blasting frag fest in both single-player and two-to-four player co-op and deathmatch modes over Xbox Live. Also a new, multi-title relationship with Codemasters was announced, with the first title being the classic, fast-action soccer game, Sensible World of Soccer.
Xbox Live is a thriving online game community, connecting more than 3 million members across nearly 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of social games, as well as on-demand game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, music, and movie content. With more than 10 million downloads to date and nearly 100 independent, classic, and original development titles available by next summer, Xbox Live Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon.
Jump Into HD DVD Affordably
At X06, exciting details about the much-anticipated Xbox 360 HD DVD Player were also revealed. Available in mid-November, 2006 in North America for $199.99 (ESRP), in the U.K., France, and Germany for €199.99 (£129.99) (ESRP), and other territories in 2007, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures blockbuster film Peter Jackson's King Kong on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. Users can just add the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to their Xbox 360 to create the ultimate home-theater experience.
"The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best high-definition movie experience and value on the market," Moore said. "The reviews, the word of mouth, and the consumer response have all been crystal clear—HD DVD is the format of choice. We're not forcing movie technology on game players, but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences. If they want HD DVD, there's no better value out there."
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player offers up to six times higher resolution than DVD, and as part of the fall 2006 console update all Xbox 360 consoles will have the ability to output native resolution 1080p games and movies. Users can enjoy blockbuster HD DVD releases, with more than 150 titles available by the holidays from major movie studios including Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, Universal Studios, New Line Entertainment, HBO, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The Most Anticipated Titles
In addition to taking popular franchises in new directions, developers are finding new life through Xbox 360 with exciting new content, and are delivering many of the industry's most praised and anticipated titles.
Arguably the most anticipated title of 2006, Gears of War® from Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios is a third-person tactical action/horror game available exclusively on Xbox 360.Gears of War will be the only game to blend a deep and disturbing story of human survival against hordes of nightmarish creatures with a next-generation tactical combat system and unsurpassed visuals and special effects. Gears of War, which will be available Nov. 12, 2006, in the U.S. and Nov. 17, 2006, in Europe, has garnered numerous industry awards and accolades including the Game Critics Awards Best Console and Best Action Game of E3 2006, IGN's E3 2005 Best Xbox 360 Game, and GameSpot's E3 2006 People's Choice Award.
From leading U.K. based developer Rare and Microsoft Game Studios comes Viva Piñata™, an original game concept and the latest innovative gaming experience for gamers of all ages and types. Viva Piñata invites gamers to create an immersive world where living piñatas inhabit an ever-changing environment. Viva Pinata, which has won several industry awards including Best Graphics from Nick Jr. Magazine and IGN's Runner-Up for Best Strategy Game of E3 2006, is scheduled to be available this holiday.
Underlining the Xbox 360 platform strength, Microsoft and Ubisoft today confirmed that Assassin's Creed, the eagerly anticipated action title during the crusades, is also coming to Xbox 360 on the same day and date as the game's release on other platforms. Assassin's Creed is a next-generation action-adventure/stealth title from the highly talented and critically acclaimed team that brought gamers Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . Assassin's Creed will place gamers in the role of a ruthless and skilled assassin as he silently stalks his victims.
Last week at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, Lost Odyssey wowed audiences with its incredible graphic style and epic storyline. From famed Japanese developer Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey will be shipped in Japan in 2007, and in the U.S. and Europe at a later date.
Few games have generated more interest than BioShock in the past year, and Microsoft confirmed today that the highly anticipated first-person shooter will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and Windows when it launches in spring 2007.
More Exciting Titles
Looking into the coming year, X06 showcased a montage video trailer demonstrating the dazzling power and versatility of the Xbox 360 platform, promising gamers a choice of titles and genres coming this spring season, including the Microsoft Game Studios titles Crackdown™, Too Human, Mass Effect™, and Forza Motorsport™ 2. In addition to these titles from Microsoft Game Studios, games from today's leading publishers round out what is already a robust library of offerings for the Xbox 360 platform, including John Woo Presents Stranglehold, Lost Planet, and Pro Evolution Soccer 6.
Microsoft underscored the continued momentum behind Xbox 360 with more than 5 million consoles sold since launch, the fastest console launch ever. Microsoft remains on track to deliver 10 million consoles worldwide, with a library of 160 games, by the end of the year. The Xbox Live community continues to grow and is on track to double in size to 6 million gamers by June 2007. Those numbers are supported by the most impressive number of all: Xbox 360 is now available in more than 30 countries since the console launched last November. By the end of this year, Xbox 360 will launch in even more countries, including South Africa and in Europe where plans are set to distribute the console in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.
Games for Windows
Microsoft also provided attendees with an update on Games for Windows and announced several exciting new Games for Windows titles, including Bioshock and Marvel Universe Online. Starting this September with LEGO® Star Wars® II: The Original Trilogy from LucasArts and Company of Heroes from THQ, games will carry the Games for Windows branding after meeting a set of technical guidelines designed to provide consumers with a consistent, reliable gaming experience on Windows XP and Windows Vista. The guidelines include easier game installation, improved reliability, and support for key Windows Vista features such as the Games Explorer and Parental Controls. They will also support wide-screen gaming, launch from within Windows Media® Center, be compatible with 64-bit consumer versions of Windows, and will support the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (for games that enable gamepads).
Attendees were given a glimpse of the exciting upcoming Games for Windows titles including Hellgate: London, Rail Simulator, and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, as well as Microsoft Game Studios titles Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, Alan Wake, Zoo Tycoon® 2: Marine Mania®, Flight Simulator X, Shadowrun™, Halo® 2 for Windows Vista, and the newly named Marvel Universe Online, a massively multiplayer online game for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista from Cryptic Studios, creators of the hit City of Heroes franchise.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/x06/xbox360welcomesnewworlds.htm
X06 Conference Highlights:
6:58 pm Most everybody's in now, some folks straggling in as cameras are set up, laptops fire up, and everyone waits for the conference to kick off.
7:04 The music has faded and Rare's Banjo and Kazooie make their way across the screen in a rendered sequence. The ends with the pair opening up into a bright new world.
7:05: Microsft's Chris Lewis has come out and welcomes those in attendance to this year's event. Lewis calls Xbox Live the premiere online console gaming service, says Microsoft has delivered on its mission of making gaming better for gamers, and will keep pushing to get better in the future.
7:08: Xbox Live evangelism time. Lewis says they've delivered on their mission to deliver new experiences to gamers. He says they're not content to rest on their laurels. Says Microsoft will continue to evolve the service. Touts 1500 pieces of content. He says 60 percent of all Xbox 360 gamers are online, as opposed to 10 percent for the original Xbox. More than 80 percent of the consoles that are online are downloading content.
7:09: Lewis announces that tonight on the Marketplace, players can download a Kane and Lynch trailer, which will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC. Another game, Crossfire, will also debut exclusively on the two platforms.
7:10: Says X06 will come to marketplace over the next few days. He references the Leipzig Games Convention and his announcement that the next Winning Eleven and FIFA titles would be next-gen exclusive on 360. Now he says Sensible Soccer, the classic 94 Amiga game, from Codemasters will be coming to XBLA.
7:11: Next up for Live Arcade... Doom.
7:13: Montage time. Doom split screen Lumines Live. UMK 3. Totem Ball. Defender. Assault Heroes from VU games. Sensible Soccer listed as early 07. Doom is available tonight for download.
7:13:Peter Moore takes the stage, and thanks Chris and congratulates him on the Xbox 360's start in Europe. Moore says the Xbox 360 model is that the console's power is equal part hardware, software, and services. He says "only the Xbox 360 delivers on the promise of the next generation." He says 360 will deliver on 3 promises: "Your games. Your friends Your lifestyle."
7:17: Moore's talking figures now: 160 high def games this holiday. He emphasizes the system's high-def support, saying it will support movies and games in native 1080p resolution.
7:18: Moore calls Epic's Cliffy B onstage to talk Gears of War. Cliffy picks up with the two main characters trapped in an open square with Locusts surrounding them. He says the crowd will be able to play the game today, single, versus, and co-op, drop-in and drop-out. The demo finds Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago dealing with some murderous locusts in a war torn square. Guns and bugs and action and chainsaws splattering blood on the game's "camera." Europe release date November 17, US still November 12.
7:21: Moore calls Gears of War the best-looking game on any platform coming out this year, then moves to talk about the difficulties of a worldwide launch. "It wasn't perfect, but in the end it's clear that all the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it." Moore says MS is committed to treating every market like a main market.
7:22: Moore references the recent India launch and looks towards the South African launch. The Xbox 360 will be available in 32 countries less than a year after its debut. He talks about the different lineup of games aimed at different regions, Trusty Bell for Japan, Madden for the US, and the soccer games for Europe.
7:23: Moore presents a coming soon montage: Forza 2, Lost Planet, Lego Star Wars II, Gears Of War, FIFA 07, Crossfire, Blue Dragon, The Darkness, Viva Pinata, Alan Wake, Battlestations: Midway, Shadowrun, Fable 2, FEAR, Fuzion Frenzy 2, Splinter Cell:Double Agent, NBA 2K7, Halo 3, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Tiger Woods 07, DOA X2, WWE Smackdown vs.Raw 2007, Crackdown, Mass Effect, Winning Eleven 2007, Call Of Duty 3, Need For Speed Carbon, Stranglehold, Virtua Tennis 3, Rainbow Six Vegas, Sonic the Hedgehog, Team Fortress 2, and Shrek The Third. Moore says MS is excited about reaching out to casual players with titles like the new Banjo, and Blue Dragon. He talks about the Viva Pinata TV series, saying it's had 2 million viewers already after only a few weeks on the air. Then he turns to a Viva Pinata trailer.
7:27: Viva Pinata trailer playing now. The game is bizarre, but has a good sense of style. The theme song is catchy and the mating dances between the Pinatas are hilarious. Moore says that last week at TGS, fans stood in line for 2 and a half hours to play Blue Dragon. He says it will be coming to Europe in 2007, as well as to North America. Then he shows a Blue Dragon trailer. The trailer starts out with a heavy dose of the game's action, showing the hero's party and a few villains, then moves to cover some more somber scenes.
7:28: Subtitled trailer playing now, showing off a bunch of cinematics and highlighting Toriyama's art, Uematsu's music, and Sakaguchi's scenario design. The development team on this thing is a regular supergroup.
7:31: Moore says Blue Dragon will help Microsoft break into Japan. He then talks about creating new franchises for the fan base, mentioning Mass Effect, Crackdown, and Alan Wake. He says to expect to hear something new about Halo 3 by the end of this year.
7:33: Moore introduces Project Gotham Racing 4 with a trailer. A car revs up and tears through a desolate, almost futuristic sci-fi landscape. Lots of weird energy effects and a total eclipse as the car--and the teaser trailer--skids to a stop. Moore's then talks about the next evolution of Xbox Live now, driven by Grand Theft Auto IV. He brings up the October 16, 2007, North American launch of GTA IV and says Rockstar will continue the GTA story with "two epic episodes" launched "within months" of the game's release. Each episode will be exclusive to the 360.
7:34: Switching gears, Moore turns to Assassin's Creed. "Now you'll see it for the first time right here on Xbox 360," Moore says, introducing Jade Raymond, the game's completely stunning producer. She says Assassin's Creed is "inspired by historical events," and the live demo, warning that there might be glitches and popping.
7:37: The demo finds Alteir the master assassin mounting a horse and rides into a town. His target is thought to be in the center of town. Alteir walks through crowded streets, turning sideways to shuggle away from people.
7:38: The next bit of the game to highlight is freedom Alteir shoves people around and pushes them down for no good reason, calling attention to himself from passersby. Alteir jumps up to grab the ledge of a nearby building and starts climbing up the entire thing using architectural details like window ledges. Raymond likens it to free-running, or parkour.
7:39: The demo now shows off the "intuition" view that lets you single out people who need killing. Once the target is sighted we see our boy engage in "social stealth" by blending into a pack of monks so he can get near his target and get his kill on.
7:40: Alteir deparates from the group right behind the target and jams a knife in his neck. Then it's time for the getaway. Raymond likens it to American football, saying the crowd is now a bunch of obstacles and if you run into them too fast you'll fall down. Alteir's escape route is cutoff and it's time for the fight. Raymond mentions that the fighting is realistic just in time to see Alteir cut down by a single blow from behind by an enemy.
7:42: The crowd applauds loudly, and a jealous Moore comes back saying he doesn't remember getting applause like that when he took the stage. (Of course, he doesn't look like Ms. Raymond.) Now he mentions Bioshock. It will be exclusive to 360 and Windows this spring.: Moore says that like all great psychological thrillers, it's dark, disturbing, and not always what it seems to be.
7:43: The Bioshock trailer starts with a washed out voice talking about a utopian society he built, Rapture, far under the sea. Things have gone wrong in Rapture, and poses an ethical quandary to the viewer. "Would you kill an innocent to save yourself? We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us." The trailer then shows a first-person view of a player dragging a spooky little girl out of her hiding hole and menacing her before her giant robot guardian comes to the rescue. As for the little kid? The robot turns out to be friendly and they hold hands.
7:46: Moore talks about Lost Odyssey's appearance at the Tokyo Game Show, and confirms it will be released in Europe and North America. He introduces a demo of the game, mentioning that it's a work in progress and needs to be optimized. Nicky Yamaguchi from Microsoft Game Studios intros the demo, saying it's the first time the game is being shown outside of Japan.
7:47: The demo appears to be the same one given at Microsoft's TGS press conference and mixes CG cinematics with gameplay. The scene is a massive battlefield thick with soldiers, living and dead. A pre-rendered sequence opens up with troop carriers rolling to a halt and letting dozens of soldiers out on a battlefield. They are quickly cut down by a hail of enemy arrows. Another wave of troops charges, and war machines start to get involved. As the enemy apparently stands triumphant, the downed soldiers are resurrected, with one soldier in particular tearing through the ranks viciously.
7:48: There's a pause in the action and now the player-controlled part takes over. It's one against a horde, with the player character going through menus to choose targets and slashing them, with helpful numbers appearing above their heads to indicate damage done.
7:50: After a relatively uneventful stretch, an enemy war machine comes to the fore and spews fire at the player in a pre-rendered cut scene. Now in battle, it lobs a fireball at the player to do some damage. The soldier retaliates, taking out one of the machine's two flame cannons. A second back-and-forth exchange leaves the machine defeated. The war machine topples over as the player turns and walks away. The demo is over, and the crowd applauds.
7:53: Moore apologizes for the sound not being cued up properly on the demo, and encourages the crowd to play the game themselves. Now Moore is talking about Lost Planet and says the multiplayer and single-player will be playable at X06. Moving to the West, he brings up Splinter Cell. He intros a video for Double Agent with "never-before-seen footage."
7:55: The video sets up the game's plot, with Fisher going undercover to infiltrat a terrorist cell. A Fisher voice over says "Killing thousands to save millions... No one should have to make these choices." Then the trailer takes a turn for the Hollywood, with fast-paced guitar music, quick cuts, and the movie voiceover guy talking about Fisher going farther than he's ever gone before. Moore says the "next installment" of Splinter Cell will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC--but he apparently doesn't mean Double Agent.
7:57: Moore brings up Forza Motorsport 2, saying it will have "over 300 cars on disk" in a shot at Gran Turismo HD. An early build will be on the show floor.
7:58: It's time for HD-DVD! The external drive is due in mid-November 2006 in North America for $199.99, in the U.K., France and Germany for €199.99 (£129.99) and other territories in 2007. [CORRECTION] The player comes with the Peter Jackson's King Kong the movie--not the Official Game of the Movie---on HD-DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.
8:00:Games for Windows time is getting a big push with a bunch of sexy titles like: Halo 2, Company of Heroes, Alan Wake, Flight Simulator X, Crysis, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Rail Simulator, Hellgate London, Lego Star Wars II, Shadowrun, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, and Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Angmar.
8:03: It's Live Anywhere time now, with Moore talking about the service's easy-to-use interface being consistent across all platforms. The next title supporting the Live Anywhere vision is introduced with a teaser trailer. It's Marvel Universe Online, from Cryptic Studios and Microsoft Games Studios. Apparently those kids have now put that lawsuit behind them. Marvel Universe Online will be exclusive to 360 and PC, an obvious counter to Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming DC Comics-based MMOG.
8:05: Moore says there's a partnership that will deliver completely new stories to Xbox Live. Microsoft Game Studios introduces Lord of the Rings director and Halo executive producer Peter Jackson. Jackson takes the stage to hollers and loud applause. He says the first project has been in the works for about a year. He talks about a "not quite a game, not quite a film" experience. He wants to take stories that could become films but maybe won't, and bring them into the world of games.
8:06: The game will be based on Halo!!! It's not Halo 4, and it's not the film, but it will be based in the world of Halo. It will NOT be a traditional game. Is this the much-rumored "Forerunner" game?
8:07: Jackson speaks! "Instead of making a film, we [will] make a form of entertainment that you can watch and enjoy like you would a film," but with interactive elements, he says. Jackson thinks the technology is to the point where games and film can blend, "and the fun of this is going to be figuring out where they can blend." He says it won't be especially for the hardcore game crowd. Moore says this means Microsoft is working on Halo beyond the movie, and Bungie is working on content beyond Halo 3. There will also be an all-new series based on stories from Jackson and Walsh.
8:07: Moore brings Chris Lewis back to the stage to help close the show. Lewis says it's been an amazing night of announcements, and says it's "very clear" that the 360 is leading the next generation of entertainment. Oh, and "One last thing..." he says, apparently forgetting something. Riiiiight. Here it comes.
8:09: A trailer begins. There's a Warthog from Halo. Lots of them. They're tearing through a barren field with a few Scorpions. Another group of space marines is under attack. The Covenant wipes out the last of that group and prepares for the incoming Warthogs. A full-scale battle erupts, with tons of vehicles left and right. Spartan Group Omega shows up. "If they want war, we'll give 'em war." A logo for "Halo Wars" appears. The show's over.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6158809.html?tag=breaking_news;link
(I'm speechless) :shock: :drool: :applause: :bow:
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Enjoy Tokyo Game Show and X06 direct from your living room with an all-access pass to the biggest video game events of the fall
Xbox Live is "Bringing It Home" and invites Xbox 360 owners to check out games, demos, trailers and news from the show floors
Gamers don't have to be on the Tokyo Game Show and X06 guest lists to have a front row seat to all of the action, because this year Xbox brings these event show floors to you. Following on from the success of "E3: Bringing It Home," Xbox is inviting all gamers to enjoy exclusive access via Xbox Live Marketplace to Tokyo Game Show, the largest show from the world's second largest gaming market, and X06, the ultimate Microsoft games showcase.
Starting Wednesday, September 20, through Friday, September 29, connected gamers can access the best content from the Tokyo Game Show in Japan and X06 in Barcelona, Spain, including highlights from both press briefings, daily updates and behind the scenes videos from the show floors as well as the hottest playable game demos and videos in high definition. The majority of this content will only be available until 12:00 a.m. PDT on September 29, so be sure to download everything you want while it is available.
In total, more than 100 pieces of new downloadable content will be available to gamers during the nine day period, including a never before announced major franchise on Xbox Live Arcade. In addition to new playable game demos, there will also be new game videos from the following titles being showcased at Tokyo Game Show and/or X06:
o Call of Duty® 3 (Activision)
o Forza Motorsport 2 (Microsoft Game Studios)
o Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Eidos)
o Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Microsoft)
o Project Sylpheed (Square-Enix)
o Shrek the Third ™ (Activision)
o Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
o Plus additional high definition videos from games to be announced at Tokyo Game Show and X06
For gamers looking to further personalize their Xbox 360 experience Xbox Live will feature new picture packs and themes for titles including Alan Wake, Fable 2, Mass Effect and Forza Motorsport 2. Gamers also will be able to download a free picture pack, theme and an exclusive scene prior to the SCI FI Channel's Battlestar Galactica season premiere on October 6th (US only).
Stay tuned to the Xbox Live Calendar pages on Xbox.com (xbox.com/bringingithome) for more information on the schedule of events taking place during the Xbox Live is "Bringing It Home" week. If you're not yet connected to Xbox Live, sign up today to Bring Tokyo Game Show and X06 Home on your Xbox 360. What are you waiting for?
http://www.majornelson.com/Default.aspx
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/promotions/bringithome/default.htm