Microsoft E3 2009 press conference recap
Microsoft fired the opening salvo a day before the Electronic Entertainment Expo officially opens, revealing new social networking functionality, changes to Xbox Live, new clips from its key franchises - and those from third-party publishers - and revealing its way of doing motion controlled gaming. It was a pretty impressive showing that will set expectations for Nintendo and Sony’s events later this week. What follows is a brief rundown of the press event (check out this additional information, released after the press conference):
The Beatles Rock Band
Microsoft opened its press event with The Beatles Rock Band, showing off a CGI animated video clip of the Fan 4 to various tunes like “Hard Day’s Night” and “I am the Walrus.” The Harmonix founders took the stage with the Harmonix house band belting out “Day Tripper” almost flawlessly. Harmonix announced that
The Beatles Rock Band would be released on September 9 of this year for Xbox 360 and that whole Beatles albums would be released shortly after the game. The first will be Abbey Road. Harmonix also announced that it will exclusively release “All You Need is Love” on Xbox 360, with proceeds going to Doctors without Borders. Harmonix closed out its presentation by bringing out thank various people connect to the Beatles including Apple Core, George Harrison’s son - Danny Harrison, and widows Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono. the event was closed out with a brief appearance by the two surviving members of the Fab 4 - Ringo Star and Paul McCartney. Both seemed to be kind of lost, but the crowd seemed to eat it up..
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Next up was Infinity Ward showing off Modern Warfare 2. The play through featured some snowmobile combat, some climbing and laying down C4 charges on any icy airport runway. The showing didn’t reveal all that much and was over pretty quickly but the snowmobile combat looked incredibly fun. expect our operatives to have more information on this game soon. Infinity Ward announced that two map packs will be released exclusively on Xbox Live. The game is set for release in November.
Final Fantasy XIII
Square Enix showcased a little play through of Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox 360, featuring Lightning and Suds fighting a giant robotic scorpion and showing how summoning Odin looks on the Xbox 360 version of the game. More importantly Square Enix announced that the game would be rolling out in Spring 2010.
Epic’s Shadow Complex
Next up was Cliff Bleszinski and someone else whose name escapes me showing off a new Xbox Live Arcade title called Shadow complex. The game looks a lot like the Xbox Live Arcade version of bionic commando, sans the swinging and bionic arm. The game is a side scroller with weapons and objects used to clear obstacles and find new areas in the game. The game will offer enormous maps, over 120 items, giant boss battles and a 10 hour campaign. It’s being developed by a company called Share using the unreal 3 Engine and will be released this summer.
Big Park’s First Game
Next up is a new game from the recently acquired Big Park called Joy Ride. The game is an action racing game that lets you play using your avatar. The game is about big jumps, and fast speeds that you can enjoy and share with your Xbox Live friends. The game will be free to play but you’ll be able to buy extras like cars and tracks - though not everyone of your friends will have to buy those tracks to enjoy them. Joy Ride will be released in the summer.
Left 4 Dead 2, Crackdown 2
A couple of clips were shown revealing that Left 4 Dead 2 is back and exclusive to the Xbox 360 and PC. The game will apparently feature four new protagonists and will be ready for the light of day on November 17. I have to say I was surprised by this announcement. Next a clip of Crackdown 2 was shown, revealing that players will have to fight off monsters as well as thugs and gang members. As was rumored, Ruffian Games is developing Crackdown 2.
Splinter Cell Conviction
Splinter Cell Conviction is an Xbox 360 exclusive and it looks pretty impressive. As the title indicates Sam Fisher is not the same operative we have grown to love. Conviction seems to throw the rules out the window, featuring a more streamlined stealth experience where hiding, stealth killing and interrogation are all acceptable action. This game is certainly a departure from previous games in the series because it is so dark and rules free. Fisher will be using specialty gadgets like EMP grenades, scurrying along ledges and using new techniques like “marking to kill” to get the job done. One interesting change is that all the data including mission objectives and visual and audio cues are now part of the environment. The game is set for release this fall.
