After kicking off its E3 2010 press activities with an extraordinarily lame event (by most accounts), Microsoft hopes for a second wind with its Monday morning press conference. While Kinect (Project Natal) was the focus last night, look for big news on games, the evolution of Xbox Live, and more. Rumors are swirling about an Xbox 360 “Slim” model and I’m personally hoping for some cool news on Windows Phone 7 connectivity with Live. How’s it all going to shake down? Let’s find out together as I live blog the hell out of this presser!
Category: Xbox 360
Project Natal Officially Named Xbox “Kinect”
I left a perfectly good party and am skipping on another potentially fun party to make sure that you know that the motion-control device formally known as Project Natal has been officially named Xbox Kinect. I wasn’t invited to tonight’s press event (due to lameness) and am happy I wasn’t. Almost all my developer and journalist friends thought it was incredible lame. That said, the proof is in the pudding and I want to see Kinect in action before I make any judgements.
For now, what do you think of the name? Hip or lame?
First Project Natal Games Detailed by LA Times
The sexy Alex Pham of The LA Times has details on a handful of Project Natal launch games that will be show at E3 2010. Here’s a brief synopsis:
River Rush: Steering a virtual raft past waterfalls, rocks and other obstacles requires lots of jumping and leaning.
Ricochet: Players use their arms, legs, feet and head to block a frantic barrage of soccer-sized balls.
Living Statue: This game lets players record their avatars dancing and singing karaoke-style, then e-mail the video masterpiece to their friends.
Obstacle Course: Players pull, dodge and jump their way through a series of levels resembling what you would find at summer camp, sans the mosquitoes.
Pham has much more information on these games, so be sure to check out her article if you’re remotely interested in Microsoft’s motion-control titles for Xbox 360. Additionally, she wrote that there will be “about a dozen” more Natal games shown by Microsoft next week.
I know that most of you guys and dolls are motion control haters, but I still want to hear what you think of these games. Anything on the list sound fun to you?
Rock Band 3 Peripheral Pics: Keytar, MIDI Box, and More!
MTV Games, Harmonix, Fender, and Mad Catz have teamed up for some truly excellent Rock Band 3 controllers. A lot of you have been having keytar dreams since that feature was revealed…and now you can check it out! I’ll stop blabbing and let you look at these fine photos of the Rock Band 3 peripherals.
Study Finds That Nobody Gives a Crap About Motion Controls
A recent study by OTX found that a very low percentage of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners are interested in PlayStation Move and Project Natal, respectively. Here’s the 411 from Gamasutra:
Research firm OTX’s U.S. tracking study GamePlan Insights polled a group of 2,000 gamers between May 23 and June 5, 2010, and found that 8 percent of the Xbox 360 market intends to buy Natal, and 6 percent of the PlayStation 3 market intends to purchase Move.
Of course the big caveat is that not much has been revealed about either system and a ton of information is expected to hit at E3 2010 next week. Microsoft and Sony have a chance to drastically change these numbers. Still, I wonder how successful either endeavor will be. Natal is certainly original and Move has some amazing tech, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into fun or sales.
Were you surprised by these numbers? Or are they inline with your feelings on Move and Natal?
Mortal Kombat is Koming Back in 2011: Do You Kare?
Warner Bros. has announced that it will be publishing Mortal Kombat for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. The game is being developed by NetherRealm Studios, Ed Boon’s new company that’s full of old Midway peeps. Here’s some official information from the press release:
The newest chapter of the iconic fight franchise marks a triumphant return to the series’ mature presentation and a reinvention of its classic 2D fighting mechanic. Driven by an all new graphics engine, the fan favorite Fatality is back and presented in more gory detail than ever before. In addition, Mortal Kombat introduces a number of new game-play features including tag team and the deepest story mode of any fighting game. Players can choose from an extensive lineup of the game’s iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or take on several new game modes.
I’ve alway been a fan of the Mortal Kombat games, characters, and universe. It’s cool, but isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself. That said, I wonder if MK will mean anything to gamers in 2011. What say you? Do you care that Mortal Kombat is coming back next year?!?
Windows Phone 7 and Xbox Live: What Features Do You Want?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the upcoming Windows Phone 7 is its connectivity with Xbox Live. Way back in Coffee Talk #86 I told you a bit about Windows Phone 7’s game hub. Here’s the official word from Microsoft, just in case you need a refresher:
This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox Live experience on a phone, including Xbox Live games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer’s avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox Live unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.
The games hub is a potentially cool way for Windows Phone 7 to differentiate itself from Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, and Palm’s WebOS. If you think of Xbox Live as a social network, Microsoft already has millions of customers to draw from. That said, I’m not sure about Windows Phone 7’s timing — perhaps it’s too late. Let’s not focus on that right now. Let’s think about it in terms of gaming.
I’d like to know what features you’d like to see in Windows Phone 7’s game hub. What would enhance your Xbox Live experience? Any predictions on any connectivity features Microsoft will announced at its E3 2010 press conference? Do you think Windows Phone 7 will have a portion of the presser? Remember, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s future supposedly rests on the future of the company’s mobile products. Perhaps he’ll nudge the games team to highlight the WP7 games hub.
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString Uses “Real” Guitar: Will it Work?
Seven45 Studios has announced that it has signed Eric Clapton, Kid Rock, and the Dave Matthews Band to provide songs for its upcoming game, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
The guitar is the most interesting accessory for Power Gig. It can be used in the game and played as a real guitar offline. Seven45’s press release quoted Dave Matthews Band as saying:
We think Power Gig is a much needed and much welcomed game because, unlike any others before it, it puts a real guitar into the hands of aspiring musicians, and we hope it inspires our fans and others to start playing even when they’re not playing the game. We love the thought that fans of ours who’ve never picked up an instrument can now play our music on a real guitar and experience what we love to do day in and day out.
First of all, I’m impressed that the whole band said that. Did they say it in unison? Did they harmonize? Or did they take turns (perhaps switching out every 14 syllables). Secondly, I wonder if using a real guitar as a controller will intimidate some gamers.
Power Gig bundles are currently listed on Amazon for $179.99 and $229.99. What do you guys and dolls think? Is it too pricey? Or is it a good value considering that you’re getting a real guitar? Will Power Gig be able to compete with established franchises that have been rocking for years? Should I try to smash a Power Gig guitar at E3 2010? Let me know!!! (And check out the additional pictures below.)
This Week’s Console Game Releases
Last week was pretty much a dud, but this week’s videogame releases are here to save the day! On the multi-platform front you have Green Day: Rock Band
What new games are on your wishlist this week?
Project Natal Leads to Father Smacking Son (Accidentally)
Ah, the perils of Project Natal. A writer for Parade recently tried out a few demos for Project Natal with his family. While he seemed generally impressed with Microsoft’s motion-control peripheral, playing with it led to a funny incident that caused him to smack his son to tears:
We next tried an obstacle course where you have to dart under trees and jump over logs. I was really working it, leaning my body and windmilling my arms. Unfortunately, Zane, 3, wandered a bit too close to me and, well, I inadvertently smacked him in the face. He started crying. The Microsoft representatives on hand for the demo looked like they might cry, too.
Personally, I would have went on a Tom Hanks rant from A League of Their Own. “Are you crying? Are you crying?!? There’s no crying! There’s no crying in Xbox!!!” I’m sure I wouldn’t find this as funny as I do if I had a son of my own…but I don’t, so it’s frickin’ hilarious.