'Frogger', 'Galaga', 'Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting', and Pac-Man make their next-gen debut on Wednesday's this summer – bringing exciting new retro content to Xbox 360 gamers.
Today, Xbox Live unveils Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, a new program that will provide a regular launch schedule of new Xbox Live Arcade titles on the Xbox 360. Starting today, Xbox Live Arcade games will now go live worldwide*[1] on Wednesdays at 0800 GMT (Midnight Pacific) – hitting gamers around the world all on the same day.
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays kicks off with a blockbuster summer schedule of eagerly anticipated retro titles. Gamers looking for a blast from the past can download 'Frogger' – the beloved Konami classic arcade title – today on Xbox Live Arcade. Other Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays titles debuting in the coming weeks include 'Cloning Clyde', 'Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting,' 'Galaga' and 'Pac-Man.' To date, Xbox 360 gamers have downloaded more than 5 million Xbox Live Arcade games and the release schedule sizzles all summer long, with the following titles arriving on Xbox Live Arcade:
Kicking off with 'Frogger', fans of the Konami classic can download the game that first hit arcades in 1981 and once again be able to dodge traffic and eats flies with their frog, this time racking up Achievements along the way. There's no better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Frogger and the launch of Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays than downloading this latest title from the Xbox Live Arcade game portfolio.
Xbox Live Arcade's 'Frogger' has been enhanced and reinvigorated for the Xbox 360 and features new, enhanced artwork that matches and compliments the original style. In addition the game's audio, including sound effects and music ditties, has been modernized to sound crisp and clear on today's high performance sound systems.
New features include:
- Enhanced artwork and backdrops; players can now choose to play the original arcade classic graphics or the new enhanced graphics
- Fresh soundtrack and upgraded sounds effects
- New Xbox Live Arcade split screen multiplayer modes
- Addictive new Co-op vs Speed, and Head-to-Head Modes
The release of 'Frogger' will be followed up by a host of highly anticipated titles:
– 'Cloning Clyde,' the action adventure/puzzle game created by Wahoo Studios/NinjaBees (developer of the popular 'Outpost Kaloki X' for Xbox Live Arcade), will bring its wacky, classic animation-style world to Xbox 360 on July 19
– 'Galaga,' the popular space shooter from Namco, which was first released back in 1981, comes packed with a new online multiplayer function, enhanced graphics and all new game modes on July 26
– 'Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting' takes the best from classic arcade gaming and brings it online, combining the signature features of Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to create the greatest 'Street Fighter' experience to date on August 2
Of course, a line-up of retro classics wouldn't be complete without perhaps the most classic title of them all, 'Pac-Man,' the fruit-eating maze game that changed the face of gaming upon its release in 1980. The Xbox Live Arcade version, which comes out on August 9, takes the famous franchise to the next-generation. With multiplayer over Xbox Live and tons of cool Achievements, 'Pac-Man' stays true to the original while powering-up to next-gen standards.
To help kick-off the summer of Xbox Live Arcade and the launch of these classic game titles, Xbox Live celebrated the 80s with the second Xbox Live Gold Experience event last night in San Francisco for its community members and is now helping other Xbox gamers do the same. Xbox 360 gamers that are interested in throwing their own 80s game night can visit www.xbox.com to secure a retro party-in-a-box complete with Microsoft Points cards good for free arcade title downloads, pizza coupons courtesy of Papa John's, and a gift card for 80s music.
Purportedly leaked documents indicate "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays" will see a new game released each week; Capcom confirms Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting coming August 2.
Tonight, Microsoft will throw a bash for the San Francisco games press at a half-swanky, half-funky hotel-lounge complex in the city's Tenderloin district. The ostensible reason is to "kick off the Summer of Xbox Live" and show off the Xbox Live Arcade version of arcade classics like Frogger and Pac-Man.
However, the event now appears to have been upstaged by what appears to be a preemptively e-mailed press release about the event. The release in question allegedly reveals that, after a long drought, Xbox Live Marketplace will begin receiving regular updates during the middle of each week.
According to the leaked statement, which was dated April 12, the recurring event will be creatively titled "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays." At midnight PDT (8am BST) on every titular day, Microsoft will release an Xbox Live Arcade game.
Though summer doesn't officially end until September 23, the release only had listings through August 9. It began with tomorrow's release of Frogger, Digital Eclipse's reworking of the Konami arcade classic. July 19 will reportedly see the release of an all-new-title, the 3D adventure/puzzle hybrid Cloning Clyde from NinjaBee. Then it's back to the old school with Namco's seminal space-shooter Galaga, due July 26.
The following week will see one of the most anticipated Xbox Live Arcade releases yet. That's when, according to the leaked document, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting will finally hit Marketplace. Capcom had previously indicated that the game would arrive in both the first and second quarters of 2006. It is the first title from the publisher for Xbox Live Arcade, and is a reworking of the early '90s arcade classic Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting. However, if Hyper Fighting isn't old-school enough for you, August 9 will reportedly see one of the grand dames of the game world, Pac-Man, step out on Marketplace.
But while the Xbox Live Wednesdays release was widely circulated, Microsoft refused to confirm or deny its authenticity. "The Xbox Live team is hosting an Xbox Live Gold Experience Event in San Francisco tonight to kick off a summer of Xbox Live Arcade," a rep told GameSpot. "Full details of our forthcoming summer schedule and availability have not been announced yet but will be revealed soon, so stay tuned for more info."
However, reps for Capcom were not as reticent. "Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting will be released on August 2," a spokesperson told GameSpot. "No price point has been finalized yet, but we will let you know as soon as that's determined."
A quarter of a century later, we still can't seem to stop destroying our own ship in this seminal arcade shooter, soon to be found on Xbox 360s everywhere.
It's a safe bet that Galaga is older than a lot of you reading this article, yet Microsoft and Namco Bandai have teamed up to bring one of the most hallowed classics of yesteryear's arcade to everyone's favorite virtual arcade on Xbox Live. Would you even believe it's been 25 years since Galaga set hearts aflame in shopping malls and pizza parlors all over the country? Whether you lazed away the early '80s spending quarters by the bucketful in pursuit of a high score, or you've never even played this simplistic but addicting space shooter, the version of Galaga we've been playing looks like it'll be worth a handful of Microsoft points when it finally shows up on Live Arcade.
Emulating a game like Galaga on hardware as powerful as the Xbox 360's can't be too difficult, and indeed even the prerelease build we downloaded plays exactly like the old arcade game. If you somehow don't know how the game works, well, for shame! But we'll go easy on you and explain. Like Space Invaders before it, Galaga lets you control a space fighter horizontally at the bottom of the screen while insectlike alien enemies swoop down and fire shots at you from above. Some enemies can capture your ship if you get caught in their tractor beam, which docks you one life--but if you can then destroy the enemy imprisoning your captive ship, you'll gain the coveted dual ship for double the firepower. But you can also destroy that ship with a wayward shot, which means you just wasted a life, you loser.
As with most arcade games of the era, Galaga is all about the endless quest for the high score, so you pretty much just play it ad nauseam until you can't take anymore. A few very minor additions have been made to the experience, but nothing that will radically change the way you play. There's now a rapid-fire button in addition to the single-shot version, but this merely fires two shots in quick succession. In other words, it doesn't make you fire anymore shots at a time than when you shoot manually, it just fires them a little closer together than you can do with your thumb. A stage select also opens up as you play through the game that lets you begin new games from later stages. You still start out with no points when using this option, though, so this is basically just to let you skip the easier early stages and begin with more of a challenge.
Of course, leaderboards will be available so you can rank your scores against those of people who spend way too much time playing this game. But Live Arcade will only keep track of your ranked scores if you leave the few changeable options at their defaults. These include your starting number of lives and the score interval at which you get extra lives. If you want to make the game a little easier on yourself (you weakling), you can shirk the arcade rules, but if you want to see your name in lights up on the scoreboard, you'll have to leave them alone.
Gamers can expect more than 160 Xbox 360 high-definition games this year, new Xbox Live experiences and cross-platform wireless accessories
The Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system has created a global phenomenon with its record-breaking performance and fervent consumer response. Now, Microsoft Corp. hits the turbo button for gamers, announcing the next wave of games and accessories for Xbox 360 and new world-class Xbox Live® entertainment experiences.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, announced that gamers can expect more than 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 for the Xbox 360 platform. In addition, Moore unveiled several new Microsoft Game Studios titles in development for Xbox 360 including “Alan Wake,” “Fable® 2,” “Forza Motorsport™ 2” and the next installment in the critically acclaimed “Halo®” franchise, “Halo 3.”
Xbox 360 continues to evolve and feed the imagination of gamers everywhere. This week at E3, the following Microsoft Game Studios exclusives will showcase the breath and depth of
Microsoft’s next-generation lineup:
• “Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Inc.). “Alan Wake” is a psychological action thriller. Cited as one of the best titles of E3 2005, “Alan Wake” introduces a deeply engaging and suspenseful storyline in a free-roaming open world that invites players to unravel the riveting plot and experience intense combat that combines the use of light with more conventional weapons. “Alan Wake” will be released on Windows Vista™ and Xbox 360. Timing is not yet announced.
• “Blue Dragon” (Mistwalker/Artoon Co. Ltd.). From famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi comes “Blue Dragon,” a unique, epic role-playing game (RPG) that centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends who must harness the power of their phantom shadows in their fight against an eminent evil. “Blue Dragon” will launch later this year in Japan.
• “Crackdown” (Real Time Worlds). Dave Jones, creator of “Grand Theft Auto,” brings his brand of unprecedented, open-ended gameplay to the next-generation with “Crackdown™.” “Crackdown” sets players loose in a free-form, persistent playground where a citywide fight against crime requires a new kind of hero who evolves into a bigger, stronger, faster, more efficient weapon of justice through continued gameplay. “Crackdown” will launch in 2006. Timing is not yet announced.
• “Fable 2” (Lionhead Studios). “Fable 2” is the highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling “Fable.” Set 500 years after the original game, “Fable 2” will offer even more choices and features, while building on the core gameplay theme of “Fable” where every choice continually defines who you become, allowing you to truly live the life you choose. Timing is not yet announced.
• “Forza Motorsport 2” (Turn 10). “Forza Motorsport 2” roars into the next generation with more than 300 customizable cars and 60 frames per second of head-turning, high-definition gameplay that creates the most stunningly realistic racing simulation ever experienced. Timing is holiday 2006.
• “Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.). “Gears of War” thrusts gamers into humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Blending the best of tactical action games with the best of survival horror titles, “Gears of War” features cinematic, beautifully rendered interactive environments with high-definition visuals. “Gears of War” will launch on Emergence Day 2006.
• “Halo 3” (Bungie Studios). The epic saga continues with “Halo 3,” the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed “Halo 2.” In this third chapter of the “Halo” trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. Timing is 2007.
• “Mass Effect” (BioWare Corp.). “Mass Effect” is an RPG trilogy developed by BioWare, set in a massive, living universe waiting for exploration and discovery. Gamers travel to distant, uncharted worlds — and uncover the past to save the future — in a richly detailed story where players’ actions, sometimes morally challenging, will determine the fate of civilization. Timing is not yet announced.
• “Shadowrun” (FASA Studio). Bringing the Microsoft vision of “Live Anywhere” to life, “Shadowrun™” is the first cross-platform game for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. “Shadowrun” is a multiplayer, first-person shooter that propels team-based combat into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic. “Shadowrun” will be available at the launch of Windows Vista.
• “Too Human” (Silicon Knights). “Too Human” is the first installment in a fast-paced action trilogy, where players assume the role of Baldur, a cybernetic god charged with defending mankind from an onslaught of monstrous war machines. In “Too Human,” players are treated to a nonstop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and ranged firearms combat and fueled by breathtaking visuals. “Too Human” will launch in holiday 2006.
• “Viva Piñata” (Rare Ltd.). “Viva Piñata” is a window to a fantastical world full of wild-roaming Piñata animals. Players customize their world to attract Piñatas, handle relationships among the more than 60 species, and protect their Piñatas from the dangers that threaten to break them open. “Viva Piñata” will launch in holiday 2006.
Gamers can also expect to see amazing second- and third-party Xbox 360 titles at E3 this year:
• “Ninety-Nine Nights” (Q Entertainment Ltd./Phantagram Co. Ltd.). “Ninety-Nine Nights” is a fantasy action game that invites gamers to experience an immersive and emotional story though the eyes of both good and evil, while fighting among hundreds of fellow soldiers through an epic adventure. “Ninety-Nine Nights,” exclusive to Xbox 360, will launch in summer 2006 in the U.S.
• “Lost Planet” (Capcom Entertainment Inc.). Keiji Inafune, the creator of “Mega Man” and “Onimusha,” brings to life a riveting sci-fi action shooter with intense cinematic gameplay set within the merciless frozen tundra of a hostile planet. “Lost Planet,” an Xbox 360 exclusive, features online multiplayer gameplay via Xbox Live and will launch in the first quarter of 2007.
• “Saints Row” (THQ). An Xbox 360 exclusive, “Saints Row” is an explosive, third-person action/driving hybrid developed by Volition Inc. and is the only game in its genre that offers players unrivalled character customization options and a multiplayer experience through Xbox Live. This title will launch in fall 2006.
• “Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2” (Tecmo Inc.). Get wet with Team Ninja’s newest graphical masterpiece, the Xbox 360 exclusive “Dead or Alive®: Xtreme 2.” All the favorite DOA girls are back and ready to battle it out in the tropical waters of Zach’s Island on their high-performance personal watercraft, compete in assorted and alluring activities, sunbathe on white sand beaches, and go all-in at Zach’s Casino. This title will launch during the 2006 holiday season.
• “Prey” (2K Games). An Xbox 360 console exclusive, “Prey” is a groundbreaking first-person shooter that raises the bar and turns the genre upside-down with awesome new gameplay features and next-generation graphics. This title will be available in July 2006.
• “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent” (Ubisoft). Sam Fisher makes his next-generation debut on the Xbox 360 with “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent™.” The best-selling “Splinter Cell®” franchise takes an entirely new direction, allowing gamers to play as a double agent for the first time ever in the saga’s history. The game launches in September 2006.
• “Madden NFL 07” (EA Sports). With the exclusive video game license of the NFL and PLAYERS INC., “Madden NFL 07” continues to be the No. 1 football franchise in history with more than 51 million copies sold. In its 17th installment, gamers can control the running game like never before. For the first time ever, they can step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, and then take control of the tailback and smash through, overpower or slash away from would-be tacklers as they fight for every yard. Innovative rushing controls give players a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks and the distinct running styles of their favorite backs. Developed by EA-Tiburon, Madden NFL 07 will launch in August on the Xbox 360 and Xbox® systems.
• “Sonic The Hedgehog” (SEGA). Sonic is re-born for the next generation! Sonic blazes his way onto Xbox 360, melding top-tier animation production values with next-generation art, physics and game design to create the most intense, high-velocity Sonic adventure yet. Featuring real-time interactive 3-D environments, a large cast of new and returning characters, and a blistering sense of speed, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog™. Timing is not yet announced.
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live, surpassing 3 million connected members, continues its commanding leadership position in the online unified gaming and entertainment space. Since launch, nearly 60 percent of Xbox 360 owners have joined the Xbox Live community. In addition, over 90 percent of connected members are downloading content from Xbox Live Marketplace, driving more than 18 million downloads in the first six months.
Xbox Live Arcade provides quick fun experiences for gamers of all interests, skill levels and budgets. This mainstream favorite provides the most sought-after downloadable games in high definition supported by integrated friends list, achievements, leaderboards, and voice and video communication.
In addition, Microsoft today announced a power-packed lineup that will be added to the already significant library of Xbox Live Arcade titles. Gamers can expect the following nostalgic favorites and original, innovative gaming experiences by end of year:
• NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc - NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is bringing legendary coin-op favorites “Pac-Man,” “Galaga,” “Dig Dug” and “Rally-X,” all complete with Xbox Live features such as leaderboards and achievements.
• Midway - Midway Games Inc. brings a new suite of classic arcade titles to Xbox Live Arcade, including “Defender®,” “Paperboy®,” “Root Beer Tapper™” and “Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3,” complete with graphical upgrades and multiplayer play over Xbox Live.
• “Sonic The Hedgehog High Speed” (SEGA). Microsoft and SEGA® join forces to bring some of the best console classics to Xbox Live Arcade including “Sonic The Hedgehog High Speed.” Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog makes his high-speed debut in high definition with full leaderboard and achievement support.
• “Lumines Live!” (Q Entertainment). A fresh new installment to the original puzzle action hit titles series, “Lumines Live!” will debut exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade. It features frenetic puzzle action married with video, music and themes from today’s hottest pop culture icons. What’s more, “Lumines Live!” features full multiplayer play over Xbox Live, an exclusive Duel mode and an all-new Puzzle mode, downloadable puzzles, and music and skins from Xbox Live Marketplace, including the hit Madonna single, “Sorry.”
• Indie Game Lineup. For the first time in history, Microsoft has opened the world of video game consoles to independent game developers. Some of the world’s most creative independent game talents are developing games for Xbox Live Arcade, including PopCap Games (the creators of award-winning games such as “Zuma”), which brings its first action shooter title, Heavy Weapon,” to the platform. Additional Xbox Live Arcade titles featured at E3 include “Cloning Clyde” (Wahoo Studios/NinjaBee), “RoboBlitz,” (Naked Sky Entertainment Inc.) and “Mutant Storm Empire” (PomPom).
Xbox 360 Accessories: More Ways to Play
The suite of Xbox 360 accessories continues to expand to give gamers more ways to experience their favorite games and movies and to stay connected with friends. Microsoft announced new, cross-platform accessories that will enable gamers to take the thrill of wireless gaming one step further on the Xbox 360 console and Windows®-based PC, while providing additional details on other new accessories coming to the Xbox 360 system this holiday:
• The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset integrates seamlessly with the Xbox 360 console to provide wireless voice chat, stylish ergonomic design and superior voice quality to chat over the Xbox Live network.
• The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, available this holiday, delivers a superior digital audio and visual experience to consumers, enabling them to enjoy blockbuster movies in stunning high definition through their Xbox 360 system. It includes the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.
•The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows connects existing and future Xbox 360 wireless accessories to the PC, allowing gamers to enjoy the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Headset and Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel on a second platform.
• The Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow gamers with Xbox Live Gold to customize their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat with friends and family over Xbox Live. Featured titles include “Pinball FX” (Zen), “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Vegas” (Ubisoft), “TotemBall” (Freeverse) and “World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions” (Activision). Xbox Live Vision launches in North America and Europe on Sept. 19 and the rest of the world on Feb. 10, 2007.
• Xbox 360 Memory Unit (256MB). With four times more capacity than the original, gamers can easily store and transfer even more Xbox 360 saved games, Xbox Live profiles, full Xbox Live Arcade titles and other entertainment content downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace.
Feel free to come and discuss every Xbox 360 on the new interactive 360-hq.com website.. We invite all members who use Xbox from all around the world to come and join in the fun.
Don't forget you can manage you Xbox 360 Games Collection and Wishlists etc too on our 360-hq.com website once you have registered as a free member.
Here's the LIVE coverage of the Microsoft Pre-E3 Press Conference (see next paragraph).
Summary: 10 million unit headstart by time PS3/Wii released, more than 160 new games by this holiday, HD-DVD addon shown and planned for this holiday season aswell but no price yet, 6 million Xbox Live members by E3 2007, Live Anywhere unites all gamers, old arcade titles from Konami, Midway, Namco and Sega coming to LIVE arcade, Halo 3 (coming in 2007) preview trailer (streaming/download/youtube), Grand Theft Auto 4 same day on Xbox 360 (with exclusive episodic content) as PS3.
You can now also download the full video of the Microsoft Pre-E3 Keynote for free (in low-res) at gamespot.com (free reg. req.) or you can download just the audio here.
You can find the official press release of the Pre-E3 Conference titled "Bill Gates Declares 10 Million-Unit Head Start for Xbox 360 and Outlines Future of Interactive Entertainment" here[microsoft.com]
* 11:40pm: Looks like they are starting early. CliffyB on stage giving a demo of Gears of Wars now. Looks really good, no launch date given.
* 11:49pm: Moore talking about gaming division: all of their gaming and entertainment resources are under a single division now. 5 million Xbox 360 will be sold in 8 months time, better than other consoles or even iPod. 6 million Xbox LIVE users by E3 2007. On average 4.5 games and 3 accessoires sold per Xbox 360 console.
* 11:54pm: upcoming Xbox Live Arcade games: Pac-Man, Contra, Frogger, Galaga, Sonic the Hedgehog, Defender, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Time Pilot, Ultra Mortal Kombat 3 and Scramble ... and more old arcade content from Konami, Midway (Ultimate Mortal Kombat), Namco (pacman, digdug, ...) and Sega (old Sonic games!) ... ofcourse all updated in High Def.
* 11:56pm: Agreement with over 100 independant developers for IND XBox LIVE Arcade games.
* 11:57pm: Luminus Live coming to Live Arcade.
* 11:57pm: Partnership with Warner Music Group means exclusive music content. Example: Madonna music in Luminus Live.
* 11:58pm: Live Arcade is just appetizer for 'real' Xbox 360 games. The next wave of 360 games will be "truly next generation games".
* 11:59pm: Some video demos running: Lost Planet, Table Tennis, Brothers In Arms, Mass Effect, NHL 2K7, F.E.A.R., Too Human, Viva Pinata, MotoGP '06, Battle for Middle-earth II, Sonic the Hedgehog, Madden, World Series of Poker, Saint's Row, WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2007, Stranglehold, Enchanted Arms, Test Drive Unlimited, NCAA Football 07, Dead Rising, DDR Universe, Prey, Superman Returns, NBA 2K7, Crackdown, Ninety-Nine Nights and Gears of War.
* 12:01pm: Over 160 Xbox 360 games by holiday season 2006, with several exclusive titles.
* 12:03pm: Software still coming out for the original Xbox too ... but only from 3rd parties.
* 12:04pm: Announcement of new Lionhead game: Fable2. (video GC demo running - "Every choice leads to a different destiny")
* 12:05pm: Another new game from MS Game Studios: Forza Motorsport 2. Showing video demo of game - realism is high, no idea how real-time this is. Will have over 300 cars (that you can tune and skin), upto 11 opponents on Xbox LIVE. To be released this holiday season.
* 12:08pm: For forza MS will release an Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel announced, with force feedback. Also a wireless headset (that look less crap than the normal Xbox 360 headset) and Xbox Live Vision Camera (that will be used by many future titles). All 3 HW addons to be released this holiday season.
* 12:10pm: Talking about Japan now ... how they are still committed to this country. Working on inspired and innovative content for Japan
* 12:11pm: In meantime I get tons of people msg'ing me many trailers have been added on Xbox LIVE right now, including a 104.42MB Halo 3 trailer - heh.
* 12:12pm: Sakaguchi talking about and showing us Blue Dragon. Blue Dragon is due this holiday in Japan. Lost Odyssey, "one of the most original title in years", is also coming soon in Japan.
* 12:13pm: Moore says Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 from Tecmo is also coming on Xbox 360. Trailer coming later this week on LIVE.
* 12:13pm: Trailer of Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Due in september 2006 on the 360.
* 12:15pm: MGS(Rare) comes talk about Viva Pinata. Video demo running. "It's about letting your imagination go and transforming a small piece of land into a perfect paradise where pinatas want to come". You will be able to buy and trade items, accessoires and pinatas over Xbox Live Marketplace.
* 12:17pm: Viva Pinata coming this holiday season as well. Viva Pinata clearly shows MS plans to attract more than just the hardcore gamers, also the less experienced gamers. Also for a broader public: "next-gen Sonic" and "Lego Star Wars" also coming to Xbox 360.
* 12:20pm: Some numbers ... over 18 million downloads from Xbox Live MarketPlace, over 1000 downloadable content pieces available. All Xbox 360 games have some kinda downloads available on Marketplace. Game demos work - after release of "Fight Night" demo, pre-order went x5. Marketplace will also be used for true episodic content.
* 12:21pm: Marketplace will get music videos, movie trailers, and exclusive content from Paramount, Touchstone, Walt-Disney, Epic Records, Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox.
* 12:21pm: Tonight for first time you can download HDTV content. "Gears of War: Road to E3" a docu-drama starting on Xbox LIVE and later on MTV.
* 12:22pm: MS shows HD-DVD addon. Looks like like a smaller Xbox 360. Addon is also due this holiday. No price given yet but Moore says it'll be a "bargain". 150 movie titles expected by this holiday.
* 12:24pm: Grand Theft Auto IV coming to Xbox 360 on October 16th 2007 (USA/CAN) and October 19th 2007 (Europe) ... "the first date it's available" ... "available on our platform from day one". Last quote means it's not exclusive for Xbox 360 - the official website confirms it'll come out for PS3 aswell. And yes it's 2007 not 2006. The Xbox 360 will get exclusive episodic content for GTA4 from RockStar via Xbox Live though.
* 12:25pm: Now talking about Windows Vista ... the "most game-friendly OS in Windows history" using DirectX 10.
* 12:27pm: They show a video of 'Crysis' on Vista.
* 12:31pm: More Vista DirectX 10 games: Age of Conan, Flight Sim X. Vista is "The single biggest launch in the history of Microsoft, and also a great day for gamers". Vista built to run games.
* 12:33pm: Oblivion sold 1.7 million copies in 3 weeks on Xbox 360 and PC. More Xbox360/PC releases coming - video game of "Shadawrun" ... coming january 2007.
* 12:37pm: Video demo of Remedy's Alan Wake now. Some great facial expressions there. Exclusively on Windows and Xbox 360
* 12:38pm: w00t - Bill Gates coming on stage now. He says he is PGR3-addicted and his family likes Live Arcade (Zuma, ...).
* 12:40pm: Gates repeats again how important the software (dev tools, environments, interfaces) are for the success of a console.
* 12:41pm: MSN, Hotmail will be connected with LIVE. They want to attract people of all age. They are also adding 8 new countries (total to 40): South Africa, Chile, India, Brazil, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
* 12:42pm: Biggest Xbox 360 problem was keeping it in stock ... but that's now solved, Xbox360 should be widely available. Plan to sell 5 to 5.5 million units by end of June 2006. Gatest says they have set goal internally to sell 10 million units before the PS3 and Wii launch, and they now think they'll be able to reach this goal.
* 12:43pm: 3 million LIVE subscribers, 6 million planned by next year. Next level of Xbox LIVE is connecting it with PC and the Windows Mobile world. Connecting it with 230 million MSN Messenger users, 150 million Windows gamers and +1 billion game-ready cellphone. "LIVE keeps expanding"
* 12:45pm: "We're going from Live to Live Anywhere". Live Anywhere will roll out this yeat and it will be part of Windows Vista. 1 online community no matter what device you are on: 1 interface, 1 identity, 1 friendslist, 1 message centre, 1 marketplace. You could for example start game on Xbox and continu it on the phone.
* 12:48pm: Scott Henson on stage to demo Live Anywhere. Shows "Shadowrun", you can call up friends list and see what they are doing nomatter what platform they are on. (in demo Major Nelson is on list and showing as working on his Windows Vista PC, Scott sent Major Nelson a cross platform invite on his Vista PC). Vista will have integrated friendlist on desktop.
* 12:50pm: One gamertag and gamerscore no matter what the platform is. You can even do achievement comparisons across different platforms. On shadowrun demo PC can play online against Xbox 360. All transparent to end-user ... no need for setting IP stuff and so.
* 12:53pm: Mobile stuff now. They use a Motorola Q running Windows Mobile. Showing custom made Marketplace on Windows Mobile and how you can download and play Zuma with your gamertag on your mobile. Also download music and video possible on mobile. Gamercard, friendlist also on mobile phone.
* 12:55pm: Other example is how you can skin your car on Vista with Paint Shop and race with it on Xbox 360.
* 12:57pm: No date when all this "Live Anywhere" will come, but it shouldn't take too long.
* 12:59pm: Conference ending with ... guess what ... a Halo 3 trailer of course that will be coming in 2007 on Xbox 360.
You can download the Halo 3 trailer via Xbox LIVE (which is going extremely slow atm), or on your PC here (streaming) or here (download).
"This is the way the world ends. Halo 3. Finish the fight. 2007."
Gundam, Culdcept, and new mech game underway; Pac-Man and Galaga heading to Xbox Live Arcade.
TOKYO--At the Xbox 360 Press Conference in Tokyo today, Namco Bandai Games made its first Xbox 360 presentation since its corporate merger on April 1. Company vice president Shin Unozawa appeared on stage as the conference room was filled with the familiar 8-bit music of Namco's classic 1981 arcade hit, Pac-Man. And indeed, that was the first game to be shown off.
Unozawa announced that Namco Bandai Games is currently developing a version of Pac-Man for distribution on Xbox Live Arcade. He presented a real-time demo of the game, and showed off that it plays as a full port of the original arcade release, albeit with functions that take advantage of Xbox Live. Its menu featured the standard options seen in most Xbox Live Arcade games, including leaderboards, achievements, options, and an Unlock Full Game selection (so a downloadable demo is assured). Unozawa also announced that the arcade shooter Galaga is being ported to Xbox Live Arcade. Details about the games release and cost have not been revealed yet.
Unozawa then moved on to discuss bigger projects. The first game he introduced was Zegapain XOR, a mech shooter exclusive to the Xbox 360. The game is currently being developed by Cavia for a summer 2006 release in Japan.
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