Microsoft begins E3 with its Press Conference, detailing upcoming games and consumer appliances. Lets take a look at the more interesting points in their presentation.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
Yawn. The series up to this point seems to deliver the same thing in a different setting. “Call” me when they make a Call of Duty about some Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century war.
- Metal Gear Solid: Rising
With the ninja-like Raiden, this is obviously a deviation from the military commando style of previous Metal Gear games. I want to see what this does differently from the Ninja Gaiden series.
- Gears of War 3
This cooperative gameplay with more than 2 characters looks neat. I guess the developers learned a thing or two from Left 4 Dead.
- Fable 3
The settings looks like it takes place in the 1600-1700s era, a very interesting setting. The color pallete looks too much like World of Warcraft or Kingdom Hearts.
- “Kingdoms” Crytek project
the teaser included Medieval-looking characters. Is this going to be an RPG like Dragon Age or the Elder Scrolls series?
- Halo Reach
The Sci-fi series with greater scale and suspiciouly better graphics. I’m calling the footage as pre-rendered.
- Kinect
This is the Xbox interface technology previously known as Natal. It appears that Microsoft and Sony (with their competing peripheral, Move) are in an arms race on the new user interfaces front. This now looks a lot more interesting than the virtual panoptic-surveillance kid that was featured at previous E3 conferences. Yes, there is still potential for surveillance. Highlights of the application include…
- Video Kinect
The features of video connect make it an attractive media library. Hopefully it will have Pandora and a Boxee-like playlist bookmarklet.
- Kinect Sports
- Yourshape
- Dance Central
Desis would like a dance game. This will be interesting if Bollywood digital content expansion packs come out.
- Forza Kinect
- New Xbox 360 model
Finally, a new model Xbox 360 with built in wi-fi. Previous models required a pricey peripheral that connects to the back of the machine. What? It’s out this week?!, Holy crap, I must have it.
This years conference was better than years past, lets see how the other major conferences turn out this year.