Post by Alex on Jun 6, 2011 18:18:44 GMT
So, Microsoft put a pretty heavy focus on Kinect - as I expected. Honestly, some of the non-[censored]ty-disneyland/sesame-street games were kinda interesting. I'm a bit disappointed at how 'on rails' most of the title are shaping up, but Mass Effect 3's voice recognition system should make combat a lot smoother. And stuff like that, I'm fully behind.
Kinect Fun Labs also looks like a great way for Microsoft to show what the hardware is really capable of, even if they can't find a good way to get that into games just yet.
The Live TV stuff is interesting, since they're making an effort to make it available globally, but I hope they lean on Sky to provide a better service if that's all we're sticking with. Sky's 360 player is an over-expensive waste, really. There are barely any channels available on it (though the cartoon channels and GOLD are enough to sway me), and you can't even watch half the stuff on Sky One on it for some weird reason. It really needs work. Microsoft also needs to make sure that those content deals for the video marketplace trickle down to here as well, 'cos it also needs a lot of work.
No shock exclusives this year, but a new Halo trilogy was a pretty solid way to end, I'd say. Though, maybe a bit more surprising if they hadn't outed it on their website this morning.
Might as well go through my predictions, then:
No luck here, unless you count the introduction of Bing and Youtube as being along those lines.
Seemingly proved wrong on the rest of the world part, but otherwise spot on.
Seems to be a pipe dream now.
This could still happen down the line, but I'm not surprised at it not happening this year. Like I said, it was a long shot.
This may actually still come to pass, it just hasn't been covered here. Certainly, the next big dashboard update definitely lifts its set up and style from Windows Mobile and the upcoming Windows 8 - which is to be expected, really. Whether that will see further connectivity as a result will have to be seen at another time.
And there never will be. Give it up, already.
Disappointingly, the first part did not come to bear - and may not at all. Almost all the games shown were either 100% or Kinect enhanced, though - so it's definitely been a heavy software showing for Kinect. And about time too.
Unless you consider the awful, awful Disneyland and Sesame Street games, no.
There was a lot more emphasis on exclusive titles than I actually expected - but the show was about 20% new dash features and 80% software. A huge software turnout, even without the multiplatform titles thrown in for most of the show.
Overall, I think Microsoft gave us a good start to E3. Their show was very much about affirming their dedication to both casual and core gamers, and didn't really let either side down I'd say. After years of watching Nintendo fail to juggle those two balls, it's actually quite refreshing to see Microsoft handle it so well.
Ultimately, with no hardware reveals, Microsoft is probably going to be pretty overshadowed by Sony and Nintendo. My money's been on Nintendo 'winning' this year's E3 from the day they announced their new console would be there, and Microsoft - while not putting on a bad show - haven't done anything to change that opinion.
EA and Ubisoft have shows at 8.30 and 10.30 our time, respectively, and Sony takes to the stage at 1am. EA and Ubisoft will have a lot of great software to show off, so they'll definitely be worth considering, but Sony's is the one to watch. If they can sell the Vita well enough tonight, it may be enough to start rebuilding some of the bridges they've burned recently. Gonna need some stand out exclusives to match up to Microsoft's, though.
Kinect Fun Labs also looks like a great way for Microsoft to show what the hardware is really capable of, even if they can't find a good way to get that into games just yet.
The Live TV stuff is interesting, since they're making an effort to make it available globally, but I hope they lean on Sky to provide a better service if that's all we're sticking with. Sky's 360 player is an over-expensive waste, really. There are barely any channels available on it (though the cartoon channels and GOLD are enough to sway me), and you can't even watch half the stuff on Sky One on it for some weird reason. It really needs work. Microsoft also needs to make sure that those content deals for the video marketplace trickle down to here as well, 'cos it also needs a lot of work.
No shock exclusives this year, but a new Halo trilogy was a pretty solid way to end, I'd say. Though, maybe a bit more surprising if they hadn't outed it on their website this morning.
Might as well go through my predictions, then:
The social media connections established with Facebook and Twitter last year will be expanded upon.
No luck here, unless you count the introduction of Bing and Youtube as being along those lines.
New television streaming agreements in the US will be announced - the rest of the world will likely not get much at all.
Seemingly proved wrong on the rest of the world part, but otherwise spot on.
If we're very good boys and girls here in the UK, we might get a LoveFilm service to compete with Sony's on the PS3.
Seems to be a pipe dream now.
It's a long shot, but with Spotify launching in the States this summer, integration with Xbox Live may be on the cards.
This could still happen down the line, but I'm not surprised at it not happening this year. Like I said, it was a long shot.
Windows Mobile and Xbox Live will see more cross-connectivity, as seen in the XBLA title Full House Poker.
This may actually still come to pass, it just hasn't been covered here. Certainly, the next big dashboard update definitely lifts its set up and style from Windows Mobile and the upcoming Windows 8 - which is to be expected, really. Whether that will see further connectivity as a result will have to be seen at another time.
There will not be a Blu-Ray add-on announced.
And there never will be. Give it up, already.
Some existing games will be updated to be 'better with Kinect', and some of the show will be dedicated to selling Kinect as an extension to 'hardcore' games.
Disappointingly, the first part did not come to bear - and may not at all. Almost all the games shown were either 100% or Kinect enhanced, though - so it's definitely been a heavy software showing for Kinect. And about time too.
Similar to the Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Rising announcements of the past couple of years, Microsoft will cap their show off with a huge exclusive announcement from an unlikely source
Unless you consider the awful, awful Disneyland and Sesame Street games, no.
Being short on hardware to demonstrate, Microsoft will focus heavily on software - taking their position as the first conference of the show to reveal and showcase a lot of new, upcoming titles, both exclusive and multi-platform.
There was a lot more emphasis on exclusive titles than I actually expected - but the show was about 20% new dash features and 80% software. A huge software turnout, even without the multiplatform titles thrown in for most of the show.
Overall, I think Microsoft gave us a good start to E3. Their show was very much about affirming their dedication to both casual and core gamers, and didn't really let either side down I'd say. After years of watching Nintendo fail to juggle those two balls, it's actually quite refreshing to see Microsoft handle it so well.
Ultimately, with no hardware reveals, Microsoft is probably going to be pretty overshadowed by Sony and Nintendo. My money's been on Nintendo 'winning' this year's E3 from the day they announced their new console would be there, and Microsoft - while not putting on a bad show - haven't done anything to change that opinion.
EA and Ubisoft have shows at 8.30 and 10.30 our time, respectively, and Sony takes to the stage at 1am. EA and Ubisoft will have a lot of great software to show off, so they'll definitely be worth considering, but Sony's is the one to watch. If they can sell the Vita well enough tonight, it may be enough to start rebuilding some of the bridges they've burned recently. Gonna need some stand out exclusives to match up to Microsoft's, though.
)and Liara has been raiding Samara's wardrobe. Kinky. Voice controls in the cut scenes are crap. In game it seems a lot better.
