Victim of Culture

E3 2009: Microsoft press conference review

This year sees E3 trying to return to its roots after a disastrous 2008 show.  One of the biggest parts of any E3 show is the console manufacturers’ press conferences.  They typically range from the epic (introduction of the Wii) to the horribly, horribly wrong (introduction of the PS3 and real-time weapon changing).  So how did this year go for Microsoft?

“All You Need Is Love” exclusive download on Xbox Live
This is sort of a big coup for The Beatles: Rock Band on Xbox, as “All You Need Is Love” is one of the most recognizable Beatles tunes.  Kind of stinks that you have to pay for it to download from Xbox Live, but at least the money goes to a good cause—Doctors Without Borders.  Now, one wonders what exclusive track the PS3 will get to support Doctors Without Borders?

Modern Warfare 2 gets map packs first
Again, sort of cool that Xbox is getting new map packs for this fall’s most anticipated title first, but they’re timed exclusives.  Since the game isn’t cross-platform playable, is missing out on maps a few weeks or months going to kill PS3 owners?

Final Fantasy XIII out spring 2010, and running on Xbox 360
While the spring 2010 release date sounds optimistic and one suspects that Square might slip a few months, the news that the game is already running on the Xbox 360 is pretty big.  Many speculated that Square Enix would have huge problems getting the game, that was originally designed for the PS3, to run well on the Xbox 360.  That it is already up and running is a positive sign that they might pull it off without compromise.

Epic Games goes 2D with Shadow Complex
What exactly is Shadow Complex?  Think of it as a Metroid clone with a lot more firepower.  Maybe Metal Slug meets Metroid.  Is it a big deal?  Sure, any exclusive titles, especially those that harkens back to 2D classics, are a big deal for the hardcore demographic.

Left for Dead 2 is PC and Xbox 360 exclusive
What happened to the original game getting timely updates of new episodes to play through?  Oh right, more money to be made from a sequel.  Oh well, a great title gets more of the same, but with the added benefit of chainsaws.  Releases November 17.

Crackdown 2 (i.e. the only game you should care about)
Fans of the original Crackdown know that it remains one of the most underrated titles for Microsoft’s little console.  While the original got lost in the hype for the Halo beta codes, the sequel will hopefully get some of the credit it deserved.  Being worked on by some of the team members from the original—and that’s about all we know.

Joy Bide karts into your heart this winter
What is Joy Ride?  A new free to download and play kart racer on Xbox Live, with the added benefit/negative that it will feature micro transactions.  Yes, kids, nothing in life is free.  It will be interesting to see if Live fans adapt to this model or the game is mostly ignored in favor of big name retail titles.

Forza Motorsport 3 in time for Halloween
Yay, the worst kept secret in gaming is official!  Will include some neat looking video editing features, however.  That’s news to you.

Splinter Cell Conviction is not dead, but Sam’s goatee is
When early screens of Splinter Cell Conviction were originally shown people sort of were aghast in horror at Sam’s new look.  Ubisoft apparently listened and cleaned up their poster boy with a nice shave.  The new title is coming this fall exclusively to the Xbox 360 and will feature less rigid controls, and more sandbox-like gameplay.  Go ahead, pretend like you’re not excited.

Halo 3 ODST hits surface on September 22
Yeah, this is the Halo game you were waiting for.

Halo: Reach beta to be included with Halo 3: ODST
Wait, if that was the Halo game you were looking forward to, what is this?  A true Halo sequel?  It’s coming in 2010 and is designed by Bungie.  Hmm, could we be reaching out to bring Master Chief home again?  Nah.

Speaking of 2010, Alan Wake set to premiere
What is Alan Wake?  Unlike Forza, it remains perhaps the best kept secret in gaming.  A game about a writer that has the main character narrate as if the game were a book, but has the phrase, “This week on Alan Wake.”  Is it episodic?  Is it a Murder, She Wrote spinoff?  Let’s hope for the latter.

Zune, Zune, Zune
Remember the Xbox Video Marketplace?  Eviscerated.  In its place is the new Zune Video, which will feature 1080p video.  Yay, so Zune integration, right?

No, Last.fm integration
Actually, that’s a lot better.  Last.fm will be integrated into the dashboard as an Xbox Live Gold only bonus.  Will it work for custom soundtracks?  The mind boggles.

Metal Gear Solid Rising to the Xbox 360
Not the Metal Gear Solid 4 announcement many fans were hoping for, but still Metal Gear Solid.  Even better, this is an exclusive title for the Xbox 360.  What is it?  What will it look like?  One can only hope the teasing about ninja-heartthrob Raiden is true! (Note, Raiden is not a heartthrob, no matter what Konami might tell you).

Facebook and Twitter on Xbox Li…ouch, too long for 140 characters
That’s right!  Now you can update your status on both while playing Halo!  Won’t everyone think you’re cool when you tell them right now you’re placing a sticky grenade on a Ghost while jumping from a Banshee?  Let the women take a number, boys.

Watch Netflix with friends
So, this is reminiscent of what Sony’s Home was supposed to allow.  Apparently you will be able to set up an Xbox Live Party and watch videos together.  Either streaming from your Xbox or from Netflix.  That’s actually pretty neat, but one envisions many nights filled with bad MST3K attempts.  Good time to start shunning parties.

Add Netflix films from the dashboard
Yay, no more walking twenty feet to my computer!  Seriously, this is a much welcomed feature, but it wasn’t too inconvenient before.  Nice to have.

Project Natal wants to scrub you Tom Cruise style
Project natal is the name for Microsoft’s new motion sensing camera.  The demo looks really cool, and there’s certainly some creative things that could be done with it.  But it’s a peripheral, and one for the Xbox at that.  How many of these have been successful?  How many of you have an Xbox Live Vision camera sitting in box somewhere collecting dust?  With the added feature of voice recognition this could be quite useful for some game types, but you probably should play a more cautious wait and see approach with Microsoft’s track record.  Hoping for the best, but expecting to be underwhelmed.

Final Verdict
Microsoft came out swinging this year and went for the throat with big title announcements and big feature additions.  The exclusive content is not as big a deal as they make it, and likely neither is Project Natal.  However, big titles like Halo: Reach, Crackdown 2, Metal Gear Solid Rising, and Left for Dead 2 are major points for the Xbox 360.  The added music and video features mean that Microsoft has finally truly positioned their box as the center of a home theater fairly well.  It didn’t have the knock out punch many were hoping for, but it certainly has Sony and Nintendo on the ropes.

Grade

B +

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