E3 2009: Microsoft Press Conference Wrapup

[GrandAmChandler]

What are your predictions? Live streams can be watched starting at 10:25am PDT on ign.com and on gamespot.com. Also, join us in #vbender chat (http://www.digitpress.com/irc/) to discuss and follow along with the announcements.

Please post all Microsoft Conference talk in this thread.

-GAC-

At the Keynote:

Beatles Rock Band w/ exclusive song "All you need is love"
Tony Hawk's Ride w/ Motion Skateboard
Modern Warfare 2 w/ exclusive Multi-player maps
Final Fantasy XIII running on 360 hardware (With awesome chick character)
Shadow Complex (XBLA)
Joyride (XBLA) (FREE!)
Crackdown 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Splinter Cell Conviction
Forza Motorsport 3
Halo 3: ODST
Halo: Reach (FREE BETA INCLUDED IN HALO: ODST!)
Alan Wake
last.fm radio coming to XBL for free.
Sky Video / Live TV
Zune Video - No more downloads, everything in 1080P HD
Netflix update, manage queue on your XBOX
Facebook on XBOX
Twitter on XBOX
Metal Gear Solid: Rising (Metal Gear no longer Sony Exclusive)
Project Natal: Motion sensing, voice & facial recognition system
Project Natal: Tech Demo "Ricochet"
Project Natal: Paint Party
Project Natal: Milo (interactive A.I.)

[jcalder8]

My guess is that there will be some sort of motion sensing game apart from that I've got no idea what to expect.

[scooterb23]

Thanks for the heads up...I saw the other e3 thread, and wondered when the conferences were. I'll be ready to mock!

[Famidrive-16]

"MvC2 on LIVE this week. later, guys"

[hbkprm]

can't wizait

[Nature Boy]

What are your predictions?

I think they'll talk about the 1 vs 100 beta they just completed, and about their plan to implement Live Anywhere using the Zune. Oh yeah, and a few new games too I'm sure.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

ign's crashed, gamespot says 'live stream available' but won't, g4tv.com's slowed to a crawl, and gametrailers is streaming (barely) without sound.

kotaku's liveblog will have to do, i suppose. :(

[TonyTheTiger]

It's always around E3 time that confirms just how horribly designed IGN and Gamespot's websites are. It's like trying to navigate your way through a casino.

[heybtbm]

Why people aren't watching this unfold live at Kotaku is beyond me...

http://kotaku.com/5273134/microsofts-e3-expo-live-blog

Anyway,

CRACKDOWN 2 CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!

...ahem.

[refan]

The first twenty minutes was all about Rock Band The Beatles. WTF.

[Oobgarm]

Wow, Metal Gear Solid.

[TonyTheTiger]

Yeah, Kotaku is the best bet at this point.

[The 1 2 P]

New Halo+Metal Gear Solid+Steven Spielberg+Fully Interactive Motion/Picture Sensing Controllers(Minus any controller)+New Modern Warefare Maps first+Left4Dead 2(exclusive)+Free Radio Stations/music+ Other stuff I don't feel like detailing=Microsoft just won E3.

I know, thats alittle premature considering Sony and Nintendo haven't went yet(I'll be watching those tomorrow as well) but it's going to take a small miracle for them to generate the same amount of buzz. This is especially true for Sony now that they can no longer tout MGS as a PS3 exclusive series(oops....sorry Sony fans). As for Nintendo, if Microsoft's new camera motion sensing technology is fully realized it will put the Wii's motion controls to shame. On to tommorow I suppose but I don't plan to be surprised nearly as much.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Left 4 Dead 2?

WHAT THE FUCK?

[Trevelyan]

Left 4 Dead 2 :D

& v intrigued about the hands free shennanigans :O

[GrandAmChandler]

I don't even know what to say it was that amazing. I will update the post with everything announced. Please correct me if I missed something.

-GAC-

[Nature Boy]

I know, thats alittle premature considering Sony and Nintendo haven't went yet.

There's no "but" here - that's just stupid. You could simply say 'bravo MS' but declaring a winner before seeing the competition is pointless.

[jcalder8]

Nevermind, found it

[The 1 2 P]

There's no "but" here - that's just stupid. You could simply say 'bravo MS' but declaring a winner before seeing the competition is pointless.

I see your point but based off of last years Sony and Nintendo conferences it's definitely not a stretch. I did say that I'll be watching both those shows tomorrow as well. While they should both have their own share of exclusive announcements they are going to need huge announcements imo to surpass this entire conference. I really don't see that happening but we'll find out tomorrow.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

wow, if 'milo' works as advertised... well, holy shit....

[scooterb23]

New Halo+Metal Gear Solid+Steven Spielberg+Fully Interactive Motion/Picture Sensing Controllers(Minus any controller)+New Modern Warefare Maps first+Left4Dead 2(exclusive)+Free Radio Stations/music+ Other stuff I don't feel like detailing=Microsoft just won E3.

I know, thats alittle premature considering Sony and Nintendo haven't went yet(I'll be watching those tomorrow as well) but it's going to take a small miracle for them to generate the same amount of buzz. This is especially true for Sony now that they can no longer tout MGS as a PS3 exclusive series(oops....sorry Sony fans). As for Nintendo, if Microsoft's new camera motion sensing technology is fully realized it will put the Wii's motion controls to shame. On to tommorow I suppose but I don't plan to be surprised nearly as much.

i know what you mean they totally pwn3t everybody that could ever and will ever present at e3 amirite wow i cant believe it was so awesome all the games and the shooting and the drool drool drool... *Passes out from the complete lack of oxygen to the brain it required for me to try and pull that off again*

Seriously though, This whole Project Natal thing especially has me incredibly intrigued. This is the kind of thing I LOVE to see. And if it's real, and it works, and it's priced right...kinda overrides the whole Tony Hawk presentation at the beginning of the conference, doesn't it?

Microsoft, you have my attention.

[gbennett0321]

I'll be at E3 starting tomorrow morning. I'm all giddy to see the new motion hardware. :rocker:

[Nature Boy]

I see your point but based off of last years Sony and Nintendo conferences it's definitely not a stretch. I did say that I'll be watching both those shows tomorrow as well. While they should both have their own share of exclusive announcements they are going to need huge announcements imo to surpass this entire conference. I really don't see that happening but we'll find out tomorrow.

I've read up on what happened and I can see how you'd get that excited, but it always reads like fanboy foolishness to me. Kotaku said it a better way I think: "It'll be hard to top"

[kaedesdisciple]

We all knew it was coming, full current retail game digital distribution:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/xbox-360-getting-full-retail-games-delivered-on-demand/

I think I just heard Gamestop cry a little...

[TonyTheTiger]

We all knew it was coming, full current retail game digital distribution:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/xbox-360-getting-full-retail-games-delivered-on-demand/

I think I just heard Gamestop cry a little...

I don't know. A used copy of Mass Effect is still cheaper at Gamestop than that $20 digital download. So I can't imagine this hurting retail chains that much unless the digital copies start significantly undercutting their prices.

[chicnstu]

Shadow Complex (XBLA)
Joyride (XBLA) (FREE!)
Crackdown 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Splinter Cell Conviction
Forza Motorsport 3
Halo 3: ODST
Halo: Reach (FREE BETA INCLUDED IN HALO: ODST!)
Alan Wake
Metal Gear Solid: Rising (Metal Gear no longer Sony Exclusive)
Project Natal


last.fm radio coming to XBL for free.
Sky Video / Live TV
Zune Video - No more downloads, everything in 1080P HD
Netflix update, manage queue on your XBOX
Facebook on XBOX
Twitter on XBOX

There are the exclusives (of the list in GrandAmChandler's post), it just doesn't look amazing to me. I don't play many shooters so I guess only a shooter fan would be thinking that Microsoft just had the best E3 presentation ever. Project Natal may be interesting but we'll have to see how many developers use it, and maybe Microsoft will manage to take out the .5 second delay, or we'll have to get used to it.

[The 1 2 P]

I've read up on what happened and I can see how you'd get that excited, but it always reads like fanboy foolishness to me. Kotaku said it a better way I think: "It'll be hard to top"

So you didn't get to watch it live? That sucks but I understand(ign, Gamespot and G4tv all were useless when I tried them earlier). Microsoft will be putting it up for free on XBL later today. The beta for 1 vs 100 also starts tonight and it too is free.

[kaedesdisciple]

I don't know. A used copy of Mass Effect is still cheaper at Gamestop than that $20 digital download. So I can't imagine this hurting retail chains that much unless the digital copies start significantly undercutting their prices.

True, this will be a slow start. What you can't ignore, however, is the power of instant gratification and complete product distribution control. Want to get a game at 2AM? You can with digital distribution. Want to get an out-of-print game that is only available at your local Gamestop (where you'll be endlessly hassled by up-selling) in a cruddy case that some kid's dog chewed to pieces? No need to worry with digital distribution. Ever had a game lost or wrecked by a pet or sibling? Never fear, digital distribution is here!

I don't think they will get rid of physical media, not until broadband reaches a market share of homes to make it financially sound for them to do so. However, they will be pushing digital distribution very hard to make it synonymous with game consoles so that when the time comes, the band-aid pull will cause less crying.

[norkusa]

"MvC2 on LIVE this week. later, guys"

Huh? Who said that? I thought it was supposed to be out June 29th.

[The 1 2 P]

Please correct me if I missed something.

Felicia Day let it slip(during her facebook/twitter presentation) that the Guild season 3 is coming to Xbox Live this fall.

[Famidrive-16]

Huh? Who said that? I thought it was supposed to be out June 29th.

Just my wish. :[

[jcalder8]

I finally got to watch the whole show and it was amazing. I'm not going to say that it will be the highlight of E3 but Sony and Nintendo have their work cut out for them. I hope that they will be able to top MS but I don't know how they will be able to.

[Trebuken]

Great show but the only news that was new to me was Left for Dead 2; very quick for a sequel...similar to Call of Duty (yearly installments).

There had been rumors of Metal Gear Solid 4 coming to 360 but the news was even bigger; a new game!!!

I wanted to see more games that haven't been in print for the last few months, but instead got to see more of what we already new -- which was good...

How many discs do you think FFXIII will be on?

[Nature Boy]

So you didn't get to watch it live? That sucks but I understand(ign, Gamespot and G4tv all were useless when I tried them earlier). Microsoft will be putting it up for free on XBL later today. The beta for 1 vs 100 also starts tonight and it too is free.

The beta for you starts tonight - being in Canada, I was able to access the Beta *weeks* ago.

(Sorry, Canadian gamers get to brag *so* infrequently, I just had to take the opportunity).

I did not watch live, nor did I attempt to. Looks too suspicious when I'm at work (not that posting here doesnt... :) )


So I can't imagine this hurting retail chains that much unless the digital copies start significantly undercutting their prices.

How about when the entire market moves towards downloads only (PSPgo) and you can't sell new copies let alone used copies anywhere. Think that will hurt? 'Cause that's where I think we're heading.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm skeptical and excited about Natal. Other than that, Shadow Complex looked interesting despite the demo glitching out live on stage. You could see Cliff B's eyes scream, "Pause screen, quick!" :monkey:

[The 1 2 P]

The beta for you starts tonight - being in Canada, I was able to access the Beta *weeks* ago.

(Sorry, Canadian gamers get to brag *so* infrequently, I just had to take the opportunity).

I know....I tried to sneak in on the Canadian beta thru friends on my friends list two weeks ago but it said I was in the wrong regionLOL It was really fun though. You really should watch the conference if you can, it was awesome. I'm currently watching the Sony show as I type this.

[kainemaxwell]

Just saw G4's feature on Rock Band: Beatles. Damn impressive.

[The 1 2 P]

Just saw G4's featur eon Rock Band: Beatles. Damn impressive.

Your avatar is damn impressive. I'm still confused why they canceled that show after only one season:(

[Vinnysdad]

Just saw G4's feature on Rock Band: Beatles. Damn impressive.



It was kind of strange when Paul and Ringo came out to talk about the game and then just mumbled a few words. Ringo looked like he was pissed at Paul who was acting wierd.

[Icarus Moonsight]

One thing Ringo has going for him, he's not Pete Best. When Paul shortly barged his shoulders in front of Ringo, I laughed.

Seemed like they just showed up to say, "Thanks for the money!" Which is alright... They're the fucking Beatles after all. LOL

[Emuaust]

I may be blind but there has been little mention of MS finishing up with Xbox Originals,
http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/14600/e3-2009-xbox-originals-finished/

[The 1 2 P]

It was kind of strange when Paul and Ringo came out to talk about the game and then just mumbled a few words.


Seemed like they just showed up to say, "Thanks for the money!"

I think their stage presence was the low point of the conference. They obviously aren't gamers but alittle preparation goes along way(LOL at them saying the game has very good graphics). "Thanks for the money" indeed. They definitely aren't getting my money though.

[unwinddesign]

I may be blind but there has been little mention of MS finishing up with Xbox Originals,
http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/14600/e3-2009-xbox-originals-finished/

Goddamn that is retarded. Maybe if they didn't make each game $15 when I can get them for $2 on eBay, it would have done better.

Asshats.

Great show otherwise, though.

Also: Perfect Dark on XBLA this winter

http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6211054/perfect-dark-targeting-xbla

[Icarus Moonsight]

I think their stage presence was the low point of the conference.

I beg to differ. That honor belongs exclusively to Yoko Ono.

[Lothars]

How about when the entire market moves towards downloads only (PSPgo) and you can't sell new copies let alone used copies anywhere. Think that will hurt? 'Cause that's where I think we're heading.

That's where it's headed but there's no way it's going to be completely digital in the next 10 years but I hope it never becomes completely digital distrubution because I prefer a physical copy myself.