Microsoft February Events

[Isildur´s Heir]

So, this february, Microsoft will have two big events, Gamefest and X10.

About X10, Major Nelson already said in his podcast that they are going to some announcements

I just listened to part of Major's latest podcast and he said:

"And then I'm going to be out in San Francisco on the 11th for a press event called X10 where we're going to announce all sorts of cool games and stuff; other stuff I can't talk about yet."

Gamefest 2010 is Microsoft´s Game Technology Conference: Featuring the latest "Project Natal" technical details.
It will be held in Seattle on the 10th and 11th February; London on the 24th and 25th February and Tokyo in April.

http://www.microsoftgamefest.com/

In other words, X10 will be about games, Gamefest about Natal.
So, if they are going to make announcements at X10, what will MS show at E3?
My best guess is that E3 will be all about games for 2011.

So, what do you guys expect from the shows?
Will Gears of War 3 be announced at X10?
Will all about Natal be revelead at Gamefest?
The only thing we know for a fact is that Fable III will show it´s face in one of the shows.
Curious is that both events have the 11th

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

It´s not about any of the events i mentioned above, but rather GDC.

Lionhead has announced it will reveal how it will change a long-established game mechanic at this year’s GDC event.

In a tweet, the Microsoft developer stated that studio head Peter Molyneux will talk about “one long established game mechanic which LH intends to replace with a more user friendly and modern iteration.”

Molyneux hinted at something similar during his speech at last year’s GamesCom event.

GDC 10 takes place in San Francisco from 9 - 13 March.

Any ideas what Lionhead means? In his GamesCom speech, Molyneux stressed it will be an RPG mechanic. Will it involve Natal?

 

[Wolfwood]

Long standing game mechanic in RPGs...hmm, well they already fudged with Death a bit in Fable 2. I'm stumped, I can't think of anything and I can't imagine how they would use Natal and really, I hope they don't.

 

[MadVillainy]

I would wish that Gears 3 is announced

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Gears of War 3 will be announced.
Either at X10 if it gets released this year; or at E3, if it gets released in 2011; but an announcement this year is a given.
The logic points out that is going to be released this year (2006 and 2008, so, logic step is 2010), but, will MS want to bring Gears 3 "against" Halo, Fable and Natal?
But if does gets released, it will be a hell of a Fall for MS with the big 3 (Halo, Gears and Fable) and Natal.

Talking about Gears 3, i expect a lot of great chances.
First of all, Bleszinski said they are changing the the chainsaw battles (Natal anyone?), but most interesting of all is that he loves Borderlands and said a couple of times that RPG are the future to shooters, so, with that in mind, i expect Gears 3 to have a lot of RPG to it.

Another thing, i expect Shadow Complex 2 to show it´s face too, either at X10 or E3.

About Fable 3

In a recent interview in Copenhagen with Game Reactor, Peter Molyneux, creator of the Fable series, said that there will be some elements in Fable 3 that some players may find "upsetting".

My call, the "upsetting" bits are the use of Natal, which people will, at first, be reluctant to it.
My biggest fear about Fable 3 is that this game came together too fast, which makes me wonder, will this game be nothing more than Fable II with a new skin and Natal use?

 

[Avatar]

If Natal is going to be REQUIRED to play levels of certain games & be the only way to advanced in games then that is the day I trade in my 360. If Microsoft forces the use of Natal down our throats then I am done with them

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I don´t believe that they will force people to use Natal, except games that are made for it from the ground up.
They said it more than once that the tradition controller is not going anywhere for now.
But i also believe that, after Natal comes out, 90% will use Natal one way or the other (exemple: Mass Effect 3, insted of choosing what to say, you actually say it, making a more real and immersive experience).

 

[Avatar]

I don´t believe that they will force people to use Natal, except games that are made for it from the ground up.
They said it more than once that the tradition controller is not going anywhere for now.
But i also believe that, after Natal comes out, 90% will use Natal one way or the other (exemple: Mass Effect 3, insted of choosing what to say, you actually say it, making a more real and immersive experience).

That is still forcing the customer to buy an over priced item (knowing Microsoft) to buy another item to play a game. The day that happens I am done with Microsoft & the same with Sony if they go this route as I am getting a PS3 next month. I will be forced to be a PC Gamer. I just do not want to come to a point where I play a game & have to be forced to buy an over priced item in order to progress in it. If I read in reviews that Fable 3 or Mass Effect 3 etc can not be played without the use of Natal I won't bother. Natal should not be forced & that will drive people away aside from it more then likely being over priced knowing Microsoft

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

...as I am getting a PS3 next month.

Good for you but if i were you, i would wait for E3 before buying the PS3, to know what they have in store for be released this year.
If you are going to buy a PS3 next month (March), you can wait 3 months (E is in June), but that´s me.

If I read in reviews that Fable 3 or Mass Effect 3 etc can not be played without the use of Natal I won't bother.

I don´t believe it will happen, except, maybe, for Fable III (that can very well be the "upsetting" elements Molyneux was talking about, the fact that Fable III is 100% Natal).
But, hey, Nintendo did the same by forcing people to buy the Wii Motion Plus to play some games (mainly upcoming ones), so, personaly, i don´t find it all that surprising.
But i can understand your point of view.

As for the overpriced bit.....
Well, rumors say that it´s going to be very cheap, capable of being less than $50.
But i agree, MS tends to overprice stuff.
Even so, if Natal is all that is cracked up to be, i expect it to be more expansive than what the rumors say.
But, they can easily sell Natal at a loss, they will get their money back very quickly from what they will make on Natal games.

 

[StrainedEyes]

I don´t believe that they will force people to use Natal, except games that are made for it from the ground up.
They said it more than once that the tradition controller is not going anywhere for now.
But i also believe that, after Natal comes out, 90% will use Natal one way or the other (exemple: Mass Effect 3, insted of choosing what to say, you actually say it, making a more real and immersive experience).

Do not want.

 

[Wolfwood]

Do not want.

Yeeeeah...I'd rather not verbally seduce a digital character, that'd be great in Japan though.

Anyways, there's a post on Joystiq that has me thinking about what this whole pissed off thing could be and they had an interesting theory. Basically they talked about how in the last game it was all about love and caring for your character and the dog. Well, perhaps, in the next game they'll focus on making you feel hate and being pissed off.

Most likely though, I think it's Peter just trying to build publicity.

 

[Addendum]

So it's business as usual with him

 

[Dark_Lord]

Major Nelson gave some hints about X10 at his twitter.

A)SCDR2F3HRLP2
I'm thinking Splinter Cell: Conviction, Dead Rising 2, Fable 3, Halo: Reach, Lost Planet 2

B)GRPDAWTS
Looks like Ghost Recon, Perfect Dark, Alan Wake, but I can't figure out the last one.

 

[Soapy]

Yeah, "TS" is perplexing. I looked on the list of games scheduled to come out in 2010 so far and nothing really matches that.

 

[Wolfwood]

Hmm maybe an XBLA game? Or maybe not even a game at all.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

In a tweet this morning, Remedy Entertainment, who are currently working on Alan Wake, have revealed that they are set to get Microsoft’s X10 event to an explosive start by revealing “something mindblowing.”

It is clear Microsoft certainly have an incredibly strong line-up of software titles across this year, perhaps even the best since launch, which is a sentiment that Remedy equally echo in stating that X10 will “kickoff the biggest year in Xbox history!”

Well, X10 is today, so....

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

X10 to kick off at...

Start digging a bunker from 9pm GMT tonight: Nelson’s confirmed the timing for when information from X10 will start coming out.

“Ready for #X10Xbox today. Look for the news to start hitting around 4p ET/1p PT.“

 

[Dark_Lord]

From Major Nelson's twitter

 

[Dark_Lord]

• The Halo Reach multiplayer beta will kick off on May 3. You will be able to access the beta via the Halo 3: ODST game disc.
• Dead Rising 2 will release in North America on Aug. 31, Japan on Sept. 2 and Europe on Sept. 3.
• Dead Rising: CASE ZERO an exclusive download only on Xbox LIVE, will launch prior to the full game and provide a playable prologue that bridges the story between the two titles.
• Alan Wake will launch May 18 in North America and May 21 in Europe. Players can pre-order the title to receive the Bright Falls Bonus Pack, which includes exclusive content like Avatar gear, an Xbox LIVE theme, and a “making of” video.
• The Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII Special Edition Bundle will release starting March 9 for $399, and include a 250GB Hard Drive, two Wireless Controllers, exclusive downloadable content and a Standard Edition copy of the game.
• Toy Soldiers will kick off the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party on March 3
• Perfect Dark, Scrap Metal and Game Room will launch this March as a part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade Block Party.
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction will release at retailers starting April 13 in North America, April 16 in the United Kingdom, and April 28 in Japan.
• Lost Planet 2 will launch in North America and Europe on May 18.
• Fable III will be available this holiday.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Well, if would be stupid not to released Dead Rising: CASE ZERO on the PS3 as well; but, because the 1st game is exclusive for the 360, and that DLC (hope it´s an expansion and not some 2h gameplay) bridges the two games, i can understand that.

Can´t wait for Alan Wake

Well, besides the Summer of Arcade (which one of the games will be Sonic 4) program; it´s cool to hear that next month there will a new one called Arcade Block Party, which will have Perfect Dark.


Also, Alan Wake collector´s Edition

~ Hardbound in quality linen, the Limited Collector’s edition is designed to resemble a hardcover book. The Limited Collector's Edition will include:

• Game Disc in box with unique art
• Exclusive In-Game Audio Commentary and Hints by Remedy
• “The Alan Wake Files” – a 144pg book that includes a short story written by Alan Wake and compiles the FBI dossiers investigating the events in Bright Falls, WA
• Exclusive Audio Disc with Soundtrack and Score
• Game Add-on token redeemable on Xbox LIVE for the first Alan Wake add-on content pack
• Exclusive Xbox disc with special content: Alan Wake Xbox Live Theme and Alan Wake Avatar for Xbox LIVE

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

New Crackdown II screens

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Info on Fable III

Peter Molyneux has revealed exactly what he is set to reveal regarding Lionhead Studios upcoming title, Fable 3, at Microsoft’s X10 event in San Francisco.

Having tweeted ahead of the event, he reveals four topics that he is set to cover;
1. Talk about being King, but I am not allowed to talk about the new gameplay,
2. Talk about ‘Touch’ and how unique it is,
3. Talk about new combat,
4. Don’t upset people.

He then later tweeted “Just done another interview and talked about Arora another continent in Albion, I don’t think I had permission too.”

Precisely what would upset people, we still don’t know – yet all fingers now point to the new developments regarding the combat system. We’ll find out soon enough!

 

[Dark_Lord]

Fable III Eyes-On Wired.com

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Fable III Eyes-On Wired.com

The all "touch" stuff is all very Molyneux like, which is fine, if well implemented.
I really like the all "no HUD or Health Bar" thing, but don´t see the all "people will get upset" fibe.
And i do like the fact that the characters will change clothes and whatnot, giving it a more realistic look.

Still there is no talk about the new combat or Natal implementation.

 

[Wolfwood]

You know, as much as I enjoy Fable...I've nearly felt the emotional aspect of it. I get more emotion out of Bioware's games than I do with the Fable series. I think it's because I'm being force fed this idea of emotion. Going into it, I know I'm supposed to care about the dog, but it just becomes harder to when weeks prior, I kept hearing Peter say "You're going to ****ing love this dog!"