E3 2011: Microsoft Edition

[KALEL114]

Consider a strong rumor:

Details of Microsoft’s E3 2011 launch have leaked, and as expected it’s a new IPTV service baked into Xbox LIVE. The company is putting the finishing touches to Xbox LIVE Diamond, WinRumors‘ source claims, the official name for the much-rumored Project Orapa. The Diamond TV system will combine existing mediaroom IPTV services and Xbox LIVE, harnessing Kinect-based motion control along with various music and video offerings.

Microsoft’s demonstration is expected to consist of the Kinect avatar control, as well as the IPTV streaming, assuming it can sign off on the rights before the keynote. “Microsoft is currently in last minute negotiations to secure the necessary agreements in time” the source claims, pointing to Apple’s similar talks over iCloud.

Xbox LIVE Diamond is rumored to be the first stage in a standalone hardware IPTV push by Microsoft, powered by special SoC’s based on Silverlight. Ex-Microsoft Hardware head Tom Gibbons shifted over to the TV and Services business, in a move that’s said to be at least partly connected to the “Xbox LIVE, Kinect & Mediaroom mash-up.”

Microsoft’s other announcements at E3 are believed to be around a new “Fusion” line of branded products or services, with trademarks for “Fusion Vault”, “Fusion Genesis” and “Fusion Sentient” all having been spotted. The domain xboxfusion.com has also been acquired. Finally, there’s Microsoft Ventura, a set of streaming music and video services that uses social networking and recommendations to promote new content.

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-xbox-live-diamond-subscription-iptv-tipped-for-e3-2011-03156696/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+slashgear+%28SlashGear%29

 

[Benstamania]

What is IPTV?

 

[KALEL114]

Internet Protocol Television

 

[Benstamania]

Oh....So tv via the interweb?

 

[KALEL114]

Yep.

 

[Iceman]

Not really interested in that, already have a perfectly good TV. More game focus please for the rest.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

IMO, the question is not will Halo 4 be announced, the question is WHEN will it be announced, in the begining, middle or end?
And the sad part is that everyone will have a geekgasm and forget how s**tty Microsoft Game Studios is.
I´m a big Halo fan, but MS needs way more than Halo, Fable and Forza.

If the rumors are right, there will be two Halo games (Halo remake and Halo 4) and two Forza games (Forza 4 and Forza World)....let´s hope Fable 4 gets announced so we can have the all gang together.

According to Superannuation, a new domain title representing a new possible Fable game, titled Fable the Journey, has been purchased. If the new title is real, the fourth installment in the Fable series will likely be officially announced at this year’s E3.

http://360informer.com/2011/06/new-possible-fable-title-announced-fable-the-journey/

And if true, it also ties with the all "Microsoft doesn´t allow Peter Molyneux to do more than Fable games"

More game focus please for the rest.

Don´t hold your breath.
Microsoft is more interested in what no one wants, aka media.
And before anyone has a fit saying that they want and like the all media aspect of the 360, the console would have never sold if it was announced as a media center from the get go, people bought the Xbox for the gaming console.

on other news...

Superannuation is back stealing the thunder from under E3, revealing possible announcements before the major press conferences in a few days. This time, two key Microsoft series are set to return to your Kinects.

An 'unknown client', with the same addresses and details as the 'unknown client' that registers all Microsoft domains, has snapped up 'KinectSports Season 2.org', and 'DanceCentral2.org'. Both seem like dead certs for the Microsft press conference, with the pair being flagship titles for Kinect.

http://xbox.systemlink.me/2011/06/kinect-sports-season-2-dance-cental-2.html

 

[Benstamania]

I may be a sucker but I like Fable.

IMHO Fable 1 is still the best and 2 is the worst of the bunch but I can't help but enjoy them. I wish they'd go BACK in time though, armor >>>>> regular cloths.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I may be a sucker but I like Fable.

IMHO Fable 1 is still the best and 2 is the worst of the bunch but I can't help but enjoy them. I wish they'd go BACK in time though, armor >>>>> regular cloths.

Don´t get me wrong, i like Fable too.
The point is, not only they could have been much better, Microsoft needs more than just 3 franchises: Halo, Fable and Forza.
I love Halo and Fable (i don´t really care for Forza as i´m not much into driving games, but i can see the quality in it), but to have just 3 franchises is, imo, pathetic.

 

[Iceman]

Might not be hardcore but I'm quite interested in what they have to say about the future of Kinect. Could be convinced into getting it at some stage.

 

[Soapy]

Fable II was disappointing and Fable III was total garbage, I'm not excited about the possibility of more Fable.

 

[Benstamania]

Don´t get me wrong, i like Fable too.
The point is, not only they could have been much better, Microsoft needs more than just 3 franchises: Halo, Fable and Forza.
I love Halo and Fable (i don´t really care for Forza as i´m not much into driving games, but i can see the quality in it), but to have just 3 franchises is, imo, pathetic.

I would like to see more IP's, like Alan Wake becoming their survival horror IP much like RE was for the PSX. However, I think they can get away with it a BIT more due to 3rd party selling so well on the 360.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I'm hoping for a GTA V reveal.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

However, I think they can get away with it a BIT more due to 3rd party selling so well on the 360.

I matters little if the 360 can get away with it due to 3rd party.
First, you are focusing only on the US when video game is a worldwide thing (that´s a mistake many do thinking video game is an US thing).
Second, 1st party games are vital to the identity of a console. Is much better to be know as the Halo console or the Mario console or the God of War console, than the console that has what the other have too.
But the point is, to be seen only as the Halo console makes it as nothing more than a one-trick pony.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Don´t hold your breath.
Microsoft is more interested in what no one wants, aka media.
And before anyone has a fit saying that they want and like the all media aspect of the 360, the console would have never sold if it was announced as a media center from the get go, people bought the Xbox for the gaming console.

According to MS, 40% of total Xbox 360 use is NON game related.

I agree in the fact that i really dont care for the multimedia use for the system(outside of netflix, ESPN, Hulu and Last FM), but a large and rapidly growing number of people do. They can make more money by bringing in others that dont just play video games. You may be right that most people bought an xbox for games, but thats no longer the case. Games are just a portion of what MS is doing with their system.

MS just doesnt need to focus so much on exclusives like you want them too. Their business model is working for them. They have a new user base with the Kinect and a rapidly growing user base for their media applications. The exclusives they do have sell through the roof and just about every third party game sees sales better on Microsofts platform.

I think its time you just learn to face it, Microsoft is not the company you want them to be. Which i think is fine. There are 2 more companies for you to choose from

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

According to MS, 40% of total Xbox 360 use is NON game related.

I agree that the 360, at this point, is more than just a game console; but i always find hilarious when Microsoft say stuff like that, 40% of total Xbox 360 use is NON game related.
It´s totally understandable, if people (US citizens, that´s is) have the option to watch movies and whatnot, why wouldn´t they?
The point is, i´m positive that, if tomorrow Microsoft announced that they would no longer have games and would only be a media platform, 80% would sell their consoles in a heartbeat.

Bottom line, MS fanbase use the media because they have the console; but they would not get a 360 because of it.
Sure, 10% might get one because of the Netflix, Hulu and Last FM...
The problem is that Microsoft fails to notice that the all media angle is nothing more than a bonus as far as the fanbase (gamers) is concerned.

I can even go further, the only reason the 360 is a huge hit in the US is because of the fascination with the all friends list and playing online (it´s a fact, there is no other country where MP is as big as in the US).

There are 2 more companies for you to choose from

That´s a fact, but the problem is that i choosed the 360 when i got into this gen, if it was the other way around, if i had gotten a PS3, i wouldn´t feel so "cheated" by Microsoft

 

[ProjectPat2280]

That´s a fact, but the problem is that i choosed the 360 when i got into this gen, if it was the other way around, if i had gotten a PS3, i wouldn´t feel so "cheated" by Microsoft

Well then sell your system and go with a PS3.

I still dont know why you feel "cheated" though, that doesnt make any sense. Its not like they've removed any features and there are still multi plat games for it. I guess i just dont care what companies label is on the outside of the box, if the game is good ill buy it. The only way you should feel cheated, is if you own stock in the company and the shares start to decrease. That hasnt been the case.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Well then sell your system and go with a PS3.

I still dont know why you feel "cheated" though, that doesnt make any sense. Its not like they've removed any features and there are still multi plat games for it. I guess i just dont care what companies label is on the outside of the box, if the game is good ill buy it. The only way you should feel cheated, is if you own stock in the company and the shares start to decrease. That hasnt been the case.

I feel cheated because i bought the 360 for the game console, and all of a sudden, Microsoft is focusing all their efforts on media, if that was the case from the get go, i would never had bought one, no one would (ok, no one is maybe a little too much, but the majority wouldn´t).
Multiplatform games don´t cut it, not even close, because they are....well...multiplatform, which means it matters little the console i have for them as they go everywhere.

I don´t plan on selling the 360, it has cool things things too (XBLA and some exclusives).
Besides, i have a lot of multiplatform games for it.
The things is, even if i had gotten a PS3 from the get go, i would have probably gotten a 360 by now, but i wouldn´t feel cheated because, not only it wasn´t my first choise, i would have known what i was getting myself into at this point.

Besides, Microsoft Game Studio is really bad, is like they don´t even care or know what they are doing anymore.
But i guess i have to live with it...

And before i forget, if Microsoft makes online free and all gold members only for the media, they would lose big time, they know that, that´s why online will never be free, and that just shows how "big" the all media is.

 

[Galactus123]

New Splinter Cell would be great.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I feel cheated because i bought the 360 for the game console, and all of a sudden, Microsoft is focusing all their efforts on media, if that was the case from the get go, i would never had bought one, no one would (ok, no one is maybe a little too much, but the majority wouldn´t).
Multiplatform games don´t cut it, not even close, because they are....well...multiplatform, which means it matters little the console i have for them as they go everywhere.

But the fact that so many people are using their Xbox for other things than games disproves your point. And your reasoning is flawed when it comes to multiplat vs exclusives. A good game is a good game, regardless of the system its on. I mean you are so hung up on exclusives, i just do not understand that. I mean I get it, they're important to establish a console, but why should you care, you dont have any stake in MS. Does it matter if the game you want to play is on the PS3 and Wii as well? I think most would agree that exclusives are a bad thing. Gamers dont want to see them any more, well non fanboy gamers any way.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

New Splinter Cell would be great.

One is in production. I dont know if they'll talk about it yet though.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

A good game is a good game, regardless of the system its on.

I agree 100% and i´m not so hung up on exclusives as you put it, i would be more than glad if there are no more exclusives.
It would be great for the consumer....but awful for the manufacture.
The point about "multiplatform games don´t matter" is because, well, they don´t when it comes to choosing a console.
No one chooses a 360 because they can play Dead Space or GTA or whatever, they choose one because they can play Halo and Gears of War.
I wouldn´t need to buy a 360 to play multiplatform games as they would be on the PS3 or the PC as well.

Anyone that likes exclusives for the bragging rights of having a game that the other doesn´t, is nothing more than a moron.
I like exclusives because i bought the damn console, i want something that makes me look and see my money was well spent, if all i have is what the other has, i might as well have bought the PS3, i would have all those games and way more.
Like i said, i would be more than happy if tomorrow there is no more exclusives, it would be great for the consumer....but two of the three manufactures would go out of business in months.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I like exclusives because i bought the damn console, i want something that makes me look and see my money was well spent, if all i have is what the other has, i might as well have bought the PS3, i would have all those games and way more.

Yea i see what your saying, but i just feel theres more to getting your money's worth out of your console than just exclusive games. I think the overall experience with each console is a big part of that. I own and love both my PS3 and my 360, but honestly i think Microsofts console is a little more user friendly and thus a better experience over all. I think the friends list is terrible and same goes for the PSstore. Now granted u have to pay for Live, so maybe thats why i feel its set up better.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Kinect Star Wars trailer.

 

[TX85]

Kinect Star Wars trailer.

Not digging the graphics for it,But does seem fun and IF voice commands could be used for Jedi-Mind tricks.....That's pretty da**cool!!