I’m going to go through the big 3 in order of their conference start times. Then I’ll talk about games in particular.
Microsoft focused entirely on 2007 in their press conference. A decent strategy in my opinion, considering the vast lineup they have slated for release by the end of the year. I wonder how many of those claimed titles will actually release by 2007. I’m hoping Assassin’s Creed gets delayed until it plays like a real game. From what I can tell the fact that the thing actually runs on any system is a miracle. They must have programmed that thing in Pascal, it’s so glitchy.
Luckily Mass Effect was around to look super sexy. The trailer for that game played more like a movie than anything else. I plan on showing my parents that trailer sometime, I want to see if they’ll think it’s for a movie.
Alan Wake? Fable 2? Would’ve been nice to see you. Ever since the tech demo of Alan Wake I saw last time the game was on display it seems to have disappeared. As a long time Silent Hill fan I’m excited to see a different take on the survival horror genre. Preferably one that doesn’t take place in the nightmare of a small child. Even though Fable 2 was at the show, internet reporting on it is very limited. Granted, the game is a long way from release, but a trailer would’ve been nice.
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 2? Seen it, it’s good, but old.
Halo 3. I wish I was a Halo fanboy, only then could I appreciate the crappy trailer and the somewhat uninspired Neil Blomkampt short. I loved the multiplayer beta more than any previous installment of the series, I just wanted bungie to show a demo or trailer they could hang their hats on. Something Microsoft could wave it’s hands and point to, saying “Look, the Xbox360 may not win the console war, but we sure ain’t losing.”
Rock Band, Microsoft was given a gift from the rock gods, and it squandered it. The only company to get to demo the game on stage and they ruined it. Not that Peter Moore didn’t rock hard enough, they just trucked all the equipment on stage, played, and left. Pathetic.
I did appreciate the huge list of interesting games they had coming out this year. Peter Moore rattled off that list, even adding his own entries, with a smirk like he was slapping Nintendo and Sony in the face; because he was. Moral of the story? If you can only get one system this season and you’re older than 12. Get the 360. Halo 3 plus Mass Effect equals crazy delicious.
Microsoft Press Conference 7/10
