[360] X06 ALL MICROSOFT

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Quote:

Xbox 360 Ushers in Exclusive New Worlds of Entertainment for Most-Anticipated Franchises Ever at X06 Microsoft announces partnership with Peter Jackson to create two new interactive entertainment series for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live; new, exclusive "Halo Wars," "Splinter Cell," "Grand Theft Auto," "Bioshock," "Banjo Kazooie" and "DOOM" announcements wow crowd; HD DVD version of Peter Jackson's "King Kong" to be distributed with Xbox 360 HD DVD Player this Autumn. BARCELONA, Spain — Sept. 27, 2006 — On the shores of one of the world’s most artistic and progressive cities, Microsoft Corp. today thrilled attendees at its annual X06 event with announcements and gameplay experiences by inviting everyone to play the next generation now on the Xbox 360™ system.

The announcements highlight how the world’s greatest game creators are stretching the bounds of what’s possible in high definition and online storytelling and included the following: * A landmark partnership announced between Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live®. The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the “Halo®” universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

* “Halo Wars” is an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the “Age of Empires®” franchise.

* Rockstar and Take-Two announced they will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two downloadable, epic episodes of “Grand Theft Auto IV” via Xbox Live, each with hours of entirely new gameplay and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.

* Ubisoft confirmed that the next “Splinter Cell” title, the next instalment in the series after “Splinter Cell Double Agent,” will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of Xbox 360 to deliver a complete experience no other console can match.

* 2K Games confirmed that “BioShock,” a revolution in the genre that will forever change the expectations for first-person shooters, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft® Windows® next spring.

* “Project Gotham Racing® 4,” the latest addition to the best-selling racing franchise from Bizarre Creations exclusively for Xbox 360, was unveiled. “Project Gotham Racing 4” promises to continue the “Project Gotham Racing” pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.

* The beloved “Banjo-Kazooie®” franchise will breathe new, high-definition life on Xbox 360 exclusively from famed developer Rare Ltd.; astonishing next-generation visuals and presentation reunite beloved characters Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda — among other fan favourites — with their sharp wit and hilarious sense of humour.

* Microsoft Game Studios announced its highly anticipated new massively multiplayer online game, “Marvel Universe Online” for Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista™ operating system, developed by industry luminaries Cryptic Studios, creators of the smash hit “City of Heroes.”

* Two additions to Xbox Live Arcade were announced: the first-person shooter that pioneered the network-gaming era, “DOOM®,” from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available today for download via Xbox Live Arcade. The game includes the original four-episode, single-player game, four-player split screen (cooperative and deathmatch) and four-player cooperative and deathmatch over Xbox Live. Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is “Sensible World of Soccer” from Codemasters. Based on the classic 1994 Amiga title, “Sensible World of Soccer” will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel — while still capturing the original’s entire world of football.

* Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K, France and Germany in mid-November 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America (estimated retail price)* and €199.99/£129.99 (estimated retail price)* in the U.K., France and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures’ blockbuster film Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. “Xbox 360 is changing the way developers are telling stories today — from the industry’s most beloved franchises to exciting new properties,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “We are inspiring the imaginations of the entertainment industry’s best and most creative talent to take their franchises in exciting directions, while also spinning new tales for everyone.” “We are incredibly pleased to be here in Barcelona to talk about the next chapter of Xbox and how Xbox 360 continues to deliver on the promise and potential of the next generation,” said Chris Lewis, regional vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), at Microsoft. “As we prepare to launch some of our biggest global titles and best regional content both right now and well into the future, consumers will have much to choose from with a system designed for high-definition and online entertainment. We are the only next-generation experience that seamlessly connects players to their games, friends and entertainment content.”

Xbox 360 Stretches Popular Franchises in New Directions Xbox 360 continues to expand the interactive entertainment landscape, enabling industry superstars to take beloved franchises in exciting new directions. Microsoft Game Studios announced its partnership with Peter Jackson to herald in a new age of interactive entertainment that can only be realized on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The goal of this partnership is to create new stories and redefine the way they are told. The first part of this long-term relationship is for Jackson, Walsh and team to bring to life two new interactive entertainment experiences exclusively for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first project is to co-write, co-design and co-produce a completely new and original chapter in the “Halo” universe in collaboration with Bungie Studios. The second project is an entirely original property from the team in New Zealand that will not only bring a whole new interactive story to life, but will also captivate new audiences that have yet to discover the power of interactive entertainment. In addition, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, Jackson and Walsh are creating Wingnut Interactive. The two will create a world-class interactive entertainment studio that fuses the strength of Microsoft’s technology and interactive entertainment experience with the creative and imaginative excellence of the Wingnut Interactive team. “Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games,” Jackson said. “My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker’s point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books but taking it further with interactivity.”

In addition to demonstrating its leadership in the next-generation of games through exclusive alliances, Microsoft Game Studios announced “Halo Wars,” an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe and built exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the “Age of Empires” series. “Halo Wars” places the player in command of human UNSC armies as they deploy for mankind’s first deadly encounter with the enemy Covenant forces. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios provided first details surrounding “Project Gotham Racing 4,” the latest addition to the premiere racing franchise from Bizarre Creations and the reunion of Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda in an all-new addition to the “Banjo-Kazooie” franchise from industry veterans Rare.[/b]

Microsoft and Ubisoft announced that the next “Splinter Cell” title will be created exclusively for Xbox 360. Based on the increasingly proven potential of the Xbox 360 hardware and its online promise, Ubisoft confirmed that Xbox 360 will be the exclusive platform for the next iteration of its influential and massively popular espionage franchise. Through the power of Xbox Live, the series that revolutionized online cooperative and competitive gameplay promises to transform and modernize online gaming once again. New details regarding the exclusive, epic episodic content for the upcoming and highly anticipated “Grand Theft Auto IV” from Rockstar and Take-Two were also revealed; Rockstar Games will offer two downloadable episodes, each with hours of entirely new gameplay, extending the experience of an already immense game. Both chapters will be exclusive and available only to Xbox 360 gamers via Xbox Live. “Grand Theft Auto IV” will be available to Xbox 360 gamers on its first day of availability: Oct. 16, 2007, in North America and Oct. 19, 2007, in Europe. Release dates for the two downloadable episodes are not yet announced. Xbox Live Arcade made a surprise unveiling today of one of the greatest games of the 3-D era: “DOOM” (id Software) is now available for download for 800 points. The game brings legendary “DOOM” mayhem to gamers, who for the first time ever can relive the classic demon-blasting fragfest in both single-player and two-to-four player co-operative and deathmatch modes over Xbox Live.

Also a new, multititle relationship with Codemasters was announced, with the first title being the classic, fast-action soccer game, “Sensible World of Soccer.” Xbox Live is a thriving online game community, connecting more than 3 million members across nearly 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of social games, as well as on-demand game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, and music and movie content. With more than 10 million downloads to date and nearly 100 independent, classic and original development titles available by next summer, Xbox Live Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon. Most Affordable Way for Xbox 360 Owners to Jump Into the Next-Generation of DVD At X06, exciting details about the highly anticipated Xbox 360 HD DVD Player were also revealed. Available in mid-November 2006 in North America for $199.99 (estimated retail price)*, in the U.K., France and Germany for €199.99 (£129.99) (estimated retail price)* and other territories in 2007, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures blockbuster film Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. Users can just add Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to Xbox 360 to create the ultimate home-theatre experience. “The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best high-definition movie experience and value on the market,” Moore said. “The reviews, the word of mouth and the consumer response have all been crystal clear — HD DVD is the format of choice. We’re not forcing movie technology on game players but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences. If they want HD DVD, there’s no better value out there.”

The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player offers up to six times higher resolution than DVD, and as part of the Autumn 2006 console update all Xbox 360 consoles will have the ability to output native resolution 1080p games and movies. Users can enjoy blockbuster HD DVD releases, with more than 150 titles available by the holidays from major movie studios including HBO, Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, Universal Studios, New Line Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The Industry’s Most Anticipated Titles Are Coming to Xbox 360 In addition to taking popular franchises in new directions, developers are finding new life through Xbox 360 with exciting new content and are delivering many of the industry’s most praised and anticipated titles. Arguably the most anticipated title of 2006, “Gears of War” from Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios is a third-person tactical action/horror game available exclusively on Xbox 360. “Gears of War” will be the only game to blend a deep and disturbing story of human survival against hordes of nightmarish creatures with a next-generation tactical combat system and unsurpassed visuals and special effects. “Gears of War,” which will be available Nov. 12, 2006, in the U.S. and Nov. 17, 2006, in Europe, has garnered numerous industry awards and accolades including the Game Critics Awards Best Console and Best Action Game of E3 2006, IGN’s E3 2005 Best Xbox 360 Game, and GameSpot’s E3 2006 People’s Choice Award.

From leading U.K.-based developer Rare and Microsoft Game Studios comes “Viva Piñata™,” an original game concept and the latest innovative gaming experience for gamers of all ages and types. “Viva Piñata” invites gamers to create an immersive world where living piñatas inhabit an ever-changing environment. “Viva Pinata,” which has won several industry awards including Best Graphics from Nick Jr. Magazine and IGN’s Runner-Up for Best Strategy Game of E3 2006, is scheduled to be available this holiday.

Underlining the Xbox 360 platform strength, Microsoft and Ubisoft today confirmed that “Assassin’s Creed,” the eagerly anticipated action title set in medieval times, is also coming to Xbox 360 day and date with the game’s release on other platforms. “Assassin’s Creed” is a next-generation action-adventure/stealth title from the highly talented and critically acclaimed team that brought gamers “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” “Assassin’s Creed” will place gamers in the role of a ruthless and skilled Assassin as he tracks his victims through the historical era known as the Crusades.

Last week at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, “Lost Odyssey” wowed audiences with its incredible graphic style and epic storyline. From famed Japanese developer Hironobu Sakaguchi, “Lost Odyssey” will be shipped in Japan in 2007, and in the U.S. and Europe at a later date. Few games have generated more interest than “BioShock” (2K Games) in the past year, and Microsoft confirmed today that the highly anticipated first-person shooter will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and Windows when it launches in spring 2007.

Looking into the coming year, X06 showcased a montage video trailer demonstrating the dazzling power and versatility of the Xbox 360 platform, promising gamers a choice of titles and genres coming this spring season, including the Microsoft Game Studios titles “Crackdown™” (Real Time Worlds), “Too Human” (Silicon Knights), “Mass Effect” (BioWare Corp.), and “Forza Motorsport™ 2” (Turn 10). In addition to these titles from Microsoft Game Studios, games from today’s leading publishers round out what is already a robust library of offerings for the Xbox 360 platform, including “John Woo Presents Stranglehold” (Midway), “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition” (Capcom) and “Pro Evolution Soccer 6” (Konami). Microsoft underscored the continued momentum behind Xbox 360 with more than 5 million consoles sold since launch, the fastest console launch ever. Microsoft remains on track to deliver 10 million consoles worldwide, with a library of 160 games, by end of year.

The Xbox Live community continues to grow and is on track to double in size to 6 million gamers by June 2007. Those numbers are supported by the most impressive number of all: Xbox 360 is now available in more than 30 countries since the console launched last November. By the end of this year, Xbox 360 will launch in even more countries, including South Africa and in Europe where plans are set in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Microsoft also provided attendees with an update on Games for Windows and announced several exciting new Games for Windows titles, including “Bioshock” and “Marvel Universe Online.” Starting this September with “LEGO® Star Wars® II: The Original Trilogy” from LucasArts and “Company of Heroes” from THQ, games will carry the Games for Windows branding after meeting a set of technical guidelines designed to provide consumers with a consistent, reliable gaming experience on Windows XP and Windows Vista. The guidelines include easier game installation, improved reliability and support for key Windows Vista features such as the Games Explorer and Parental Controls. They will also support wide-screen gaming, will launch from within Windows Media® Center, be compatible with 64-bit consumer versions of Windows, and will support the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (for games that enable gamepads).

Attendees were given a glimpse of the exciting upcoming Games for Windows titles including “Hellgate: London” (NAMCO BANDAI Games), ”Rail Simulator” (Electronic Arts) and “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Eidos/Funcom), as well as Microsoft Game Studios titles “Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs,” “Alan Wake,” “Zoo Tycoon® 2: Marine Mania®,” “Flight Simulator X,” “Shadowrun™,” “Halo 2” for Windows Vista and the newly named “Marvel Universe Online,” a massively multiplayer online game for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista from Cryptic Studios.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

So this is what BZ has been copy/pasting in #xblive for the past half hour.

And, yeah, Banjo Kazooie should be fun.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Um, how do you expect anyone to read that? Not only is it insanely long, but it's hardly even formatted.

EDIT: Apparently if someone tells you ahead of time that a wall of text isn't formatted and difficult to read, then it's okay and you're not allowed to say anything about it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Let's see if Rare can resurrect a classic N64 franchise without shitting all over it again like they have been for the last few years.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

What were their shitting up classics? Don't even say PDZ since that was acclaimed.

And ghoulies and Kameo are new franchises.

I guess Conker then right?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Their last Banjo effort (Banjo Pilot) was a disgrace.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Assassins creed is shit and complete dissapointment.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by BZ

What were their shitting up classics? Don't even say PDZ since that was acclaimed.

And ghoulies and Kameo are new franchises.

I guess Conker then right?

And the Star Fox sequels.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Sexninja

Assassins creed is shit and complete dissapointment.

Hmmm....explain?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Hey sketch,i guess my expectations were too high here what i found shitty

1-Animations.

2-The pushing seems useless, the NPC's seem so dead.
When Altair assassinates the target, the guards watch him idly not attacking.All in all the behaviour of NPC's = unrealistic,which was supposed to be very nextgen and real.

I was expecting much organic anmations.DMC4and White night,clearly were much better and feel next gen(smooth and high framerates).

3-Graphics-Well the animation of Sotc horse was way better even in early demos,the graphic engine is also not so artistic as Oblivion.Putting 100 characters on screen is something that has been done on current gen(HTIMAN).

AI-I failed to find any AI behaviour,the NPC's jut ran like any other game on market.What i call AI is in recent Bioshock video.

Nothing new,same hit and run,the escape, taking different routes is superficial.
It will get repetitive.
The color theme and palette is also not attractive.

It's all my opinion.

Subjectively i want to love this game but objectively speaking i can't ignore the shortcomings.
The game which was once in my most wanted list is now in the bottom.

I want to get my hands on now

DMC4
Bioshock
Mgs4
Masseffect
Motorstorm
Whitenight
and
Alanwake.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

That broke my head! ADDED RANDOM PARAGRAPHS. ;_;

Grand Theft Auto IV in October? Hooooly shiiiiit, can't wait. It will consume a thousand million hours of my life.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

That broke my head! ADDED RANDOM PARAGRAPHS. ;_;

Grand Theft Auto IV in October? Hooooly shiiiiit, can't wait. It will consume a thousand million hours of my life.

October, yes. 2007.

@Sexninja: As mentioned by Jade, the producer, this is a very early build of the game. And having worked there, at Ubisoft's Montreal studio, having experienced what developping a game is like, these things (AI, Frame-Rate, various effects, etc.) are tweaked until the very time the game gets the 'Gold' stamp.

Also, the animation is very fluid but needs a bit of tweaking, mainly when Altair jumps down. As for the pushing and touching of the crowd, it's to show the interaction with NPCs, instead of just pushing them aside with the player's collision box.

Maybe it's just not your cup of tea but you can't deny the gameplay and design innovations this game provides, even if it's pretty rough.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Obviously 2007. :] If it were next month Rockstar would have maaaaybe released one screenshot by now, of something pointless like an explosion. Leaving everyone confused like always.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I am probably the only one who is really happy of this conference just for one thing: Ultimate Mortal Kombat III on XBLA. Hope that Microsoft releases more and more fighting games with good online modes on their system.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by BZ

What were their shitting up classics? Don't even say PDZ since that was acclaimed.

And ghoulies and Kameo are new franchises.

I guess Conker then right?

Besides what other people have said, yes. PDZ. Fucking god awful game, that. "It was critically acclaimed!" means shit. GTA: San Andreas was also critically acclaimed. The single player and most of hte multiplayer in that game is complete trash. No one is going to care about that game after the 360 starts getting some real shooters. The only reason it's played now is because the FPS competition is so weak.

Most amazing jew boots

AUGH. WHAT THE HELL RARE.

Most amazing jew boots

Thats from the video out Infernal. Its on the marketplace if you are looking for it.

Looks sweet even for a teaser.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

AUGH. WHAT THE HELL RARE.

I dig the background style but from those screens it looks like you have to take Banjo and Kazooie on a quest to find some dank bud.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by SketchTheArtist

Maybe it's just not your cup of tea but you can't deny the gameplay and design innovations this game provides, even if it's pretty rough.

Maybe your defination of innovation is different,but remember idea doesn't cost anything execution cost evrythng.
We will see when how the game will turn out but right now it is not my cup of tea,as you put it.
However it doesnt change the fact that Jade rocks(still).

How ya doing, buddy?

Quote:

Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is “Sensible World of Soccer” from Codemasters. Based on the classic 1994 Amiga title, “Sensible World of Soccer” will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel — while still capturing the original’s entire world of football.

Sensible Soccer remains the greatest football game of all time. Once this hits XBLA, Konami and EA might as well give up churning out annual re-hashes of ISS and Fifa.

I love CodeMasters. ^_^

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by BZ

Thats from the video out Infernal. Its on the marketplace if you are looking for it.

Looks sweet even for a teaser.

I think he was insulting it, actually.

Not that I blame him, Banjo looks ridiculous. I saw this last night and I just about vomitted.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Pretty similar. They just flipped up his hair, decreased the size of their eyes, and made the style a little more angular.

But yeah, it looks kind of ridiculous.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

For the love of God, please, tell me those are NOT the final models for the new Banjo game.

Banjo himself looks absolutely horrid.

FELIPE NO

Could someone tell me why they look so bad, cos honestly I'm not seeing it.

They certainly look better than the "first year animation student" models of the first game...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

It looks like they're made of styrofoam... Not a fan of the new design, but I was never a fan of the series to begin with.

Jam it back in, in the dark.