Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2007 keynote





8:28PM PDT - Two white 360s and a black Elite are up on stage. If there's a gray system around we don't see it. Commence furious internet speculation!
8:30PM PDT - There's a low object covered in a black shroud on the left side of the stage. What could it be? Maybe the return of the original Duke controller?














8:52 PM PDT - Half of all consumer spending in this generation is on the Xbox 360. The top five games of the last gen were all Halo and Grand Theft Auto or Madden.
8:53 PM PDT - The only console that has GTA, Halo and Madden this holiday is ... well, you know. Take out Halo though ...





9:01 PM PDT - Jeff Bell pimps out the fact that this year's EA Sports games will be "twice as fast" as last year's games. Reggie Bush comes out and proceeds to wallop Bell, running four gazillion yards for a touchdown.
9:06 PM PDT - Xbox Live has more than 7 million members. "We've added a new member every eight seconds." New games for XBL Arcade: Bomberman Live!, Undertow, Hexic 2, Sonic the Hedgehog (finally!), War World by Ubisoft, Sensible World of Soccer, Every Extend Extra Extreme, Geon by Eidos, Wing Commander Arena, Feeding Frenzy 2, Track and Field, Spyglass Board Games, Golden Axe, Space Giraffe, Super Puzzle Fighter II HD Turbo Remix, Marathon: Durandal, Poker Smash, Switchball, Tetris Splash, Puzzle Quest.
9:08 PM PDT - The video store is the fastest growing part of Xbox Live. Two thousand hours of entertainment in the last year, 500 in HD. $125 million has been spent on this content. Disney movie titles are coming to Xbox Live!
9:10 PM Disney movies will be available tonight and in high-def!
9:12 PM PDT - Elite is coming to Europe on Aug. 24. VP Shane Kim comes on stage. He runs down a list of some of the same games we saw earlier. Yawn.
9:15 PM PDT - The Project Gotham Racing 4 team comes out to show off the game. "For the first time ... bikes will be introduced to PGR4 ... Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, and more."
9:16 PM PDT - Dynamic weather effects are shown off. There's fog in Shanghai. You can share photos and videos online when the game comes this September.
9:18 PM PDT - Alan Wake, Too Human, Fable 2 and Halo Wars show how MS has "given game creators the resources to shoot for the stars, take risks, and go for things other creators can only dream of."
9:19 PM PDT - Lost Odyssey is next up. "What is the cost of my immortality?" asks the protagonist.
9:20 PM PDT - Intimidating architecture and loud noises aplenty in the trailer.
9:22 PM PDT - Games for Windows now. Gears of War coming to PC ... big surprise (not!). New content, a game editor, and "some very big surprises are in store." Cliffy B comes out to show Gears on the PC.
9:23 PM PDT - Co-op will be in the Windows version. Marcus Phoenix goes against a massive Brumak in a typical dilapidated Gears environment.
9:25 PM - Five new single player levels in the PC version. The game is clearly running at 60 FPS. Cliffy leaves and Moore comes back on stage.
9:27 PM - Sega, Eidos and THQ are delivering a dozen Games for Windows Live games this year. Epic is building GFW Live into Unreal Engine 3.0.
9:29 PM PDT - Nearly ten million gamers have moved to Vista. Games like Crysis, Hellgate: London, and Conan: Hyborian Advenures on Windows are all joined by: Thrillville: Off the Rails, the Bee Movie Game
(YEAH x2!) Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties, Stranglehold, Bioshock, Universe at War: Earth Assault, Blacksite: Area 51, World in Conflict, Lost Planet, Kane and Lynch: Dead Men, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts, Zoo Tycoon 2: Exctinct Animals, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, Viva Pinata, Spider-Man Friend or Foe.
9:31 PM PDT - Call of Duty 4 gets shown off. A scary (and obscenely loud) voice talks about honor and economies. Probably a villain of some sorts then.
9:34 PM PDT - Two Infiinity Ward developers come out. They're promising "variety" in their next game. A real-time demonstration begins with the character inching his way through a bleak field, shadows bouncing off a very detailed rifle. He scans the grass for enemies, takes aim and kills an enemy from a far. "He's down. Goodnight."
9:35 PM PDT The shadowing is impressive, with seemingly every branch of a nearby tree casting an inky shadow on the soldier's weapon, and his comrade.
9:38 PM PDT - Exclusive multiplayer beta of CoD4 coming to Xbox Live. Check the Call of Duty web site for more details. Back to Peter!
9:41 PM PDT - Now we've got Grand Theft Auto 4. Real time footage is all from the 360 version, Moore notes. Episodic content coming sometime in Spring 2008.
9:42 PM PDT - Resident Evil 5! It won't be out this year, unlike every other game shown today.
9:43 PM PDT - The RE5 protagonist seems to be in a creepy, dusty African town. Oh, and crazy sickle-wielding citizens? Yeah, they're back. Full trailer on XBL marketplace July 26.
9:44 PM PDT Assassin's Creed. Jade Raymond comes up, accompanied by hooting and whistling. A new sprawling city is shown, with the protagonist high atop a tower. He leaps into a passing hay cart. "Luckily no one saw that."
9:46 PM PDT - The city is Jerusalem. "Part of your experience in the game is getting to know the city, and getting to know the people. They may help or hinder you. ... Last year we showed you the monks as one way to get in, but tonight we're going to show you a different way to get in."
9:47 PM PDT - Altair (the protagonist) distracts some guards with a well-placed, err, corpse. He dispatches another feeble guard and enters a dusty home. He then runs into a trap and is surrounded. "So now since we're cornered ... it's a good time to fight."
9:48 PM PDT - Altair's perforating his enemies with deadly efficiency, hurling an enemy through a set of nearby shelves. Animation seems a little rough in parts. "No two chase animations are the same," says Raymond. Altair pushes people out of the way as he chases someone across the rooftops. They still slow him down a bit.
9:50 PM PDT - November '07 for Assassin's Creed. Peter Moore returns. "Now each generation brings with it a few select stories that are groundbreaking and define storytelling. For many, that story was Star Wars. Thirty years later, a new generation is claiming a new story, and a new title ..."
9:51 PM PDT - Moore: "I'm very pleased to present to you a unique partnership between Bungie Studios, Weta down in New Zealand, and director Neil Blomkamp. This live-action trailer gives you a chance to see what they've been working on, and a new chance to believe."
9:52 PM PDT - Green text on a computer screen. "Re-armament initialized." Machinery in a large factory is manufacturing UNSC helmets, a young man is getting his head shaved. A huge array of Warthogs and weapons are shown, with a Pelican rising from beneath a cargo door.
9:53 PM PDT - The green console is back! It's a new console for the "Halo Nation" (read: you). A Halo 3 special edition with a gray controller and other accessories.
9:54 PM PDT - The special edition is out this holiday as part of the greatest holiday lineup in history, sez Moore. Reaction in the crowd is lackluster.
9:58 PM PDT - A voiceover warns that "your world will BURN." A wide variety of locales is shown: underground caverns, a murky swamp, a desert. We see Cortana clutching her head and falling to her knees. Glimpses of a large space battle, Master Chief firing a stationary turret from within a Pelican. He seems to have a violent disagreement with the Arbiter at one point (oh, those two!)
9:59 PM PDT - The conference is done. The band from earlier returns to play us off to our appointment at the chiropractor (this ampitheatre is not comfortable).

9:08 PM PDT - The video store is the fastest growing part of Xbox Live. Two thousand hours of entertainment in the last year, 500 in HD. $125 million has been spent on this content. Disney movie titles are coming to Xbox Live!
9:10 PM Disney movies will be available tonight and in high-def!


9:16 PM PDT - Dynamic weather effects are shown off. There's fog in Shanghai. You can share photos and videos online when the game comes this September.

9:20 PM PDT - Intimidating architecture and loud noises aplenty in the trailer.


9:25 PM - Five new single player levels in the PC version. The game is clearly running at 60 FPS. Cliffy leaves and Moore comes back on stage.
9:27 PM - Sega, Eidos and THQ are delivering a dozen Games for Windows Live games this year. Epic is building GFW Live into Unreal Engine 3.0.

(YEAH x2!) Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties, Stranglehold, Bioshock, Universe at War: Earth Assault, Blacksite: Area 51, World in Conflict, Lost Planet, Kane and Lynch: Dead Men, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts, Zoo Tycoon 2: Exctinct Animals, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, Viva Pinata, Spider-Man Friend or Foe.





9:43 PM PDT - The RE5 protagonist seems to be in a creepy, dusty African town. Oh, and crazy sickle-wielding citizens? Yeah, they're back. Full trailer on XBL marketplace July 26.




9:50 PM PDT - November '07 for Assassin's Creed. Peter Moore returns. "Now each generation brings with it a few select stories that are groundbreaking and define storytelling. For many, that story was Star Wars. Thirty years later, a new generation is claiming a new story, and a new title ..."
9:51 PM PDT - Moore: "I'm very pleased to present to you a unique partnership between Bungie Studios, Weta down in New Zealand, and director Neil Blomkamp. This live-action trailer gives you a chance to see what they've been working on, and a new chance to believe."
9:52 PM PDT - Green text on a computer screen. "Re-armament initialized." Machinery in a large factory is manufacturing UNSC helmets, a young man is getting his head shaved. A huge array of Warthogs and weapons are shown, with a Pelican rising from beneath a cargo door.
















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
copa @ Jul 10th 2007 11:13PM
I'm tuning into G4 just to see the Rock Band setup. I can't wait to see who they bring out on vocals.
cwolf267 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:13PM
Since when is 8pm pacific four hours from now? It's already 8.
Reuben @ Jul 10th 2007 11:14PM
E3!! woo!!! FIRST/SECOND POST!!!
Reuben @ Jul 10th 2007 11:14PM
awww...awww...third...forth..
Arno @ Jul 10th 2007 11:15PM
I made the mistake of turning away from the All-Star game to G4 only to be greeted by Adams shrill voice ranting about crappy Wii games. No thanks, I'll monitor this post until it starts.
robert @ Jul 10th 2007 11:30PM
does adam have parkinsons disease or is he just drunk?
damn he's twitchy...
Milkshake @ Jul 10th 2007 11:22PM
its all about to kick off, cool
Dextress @ Jul 10th 2007 11:23PM
New Xbox 360 controller without a crappy d-pad please Microsoft! Then I'll really forget about my PS3.
Lou @ Jul 10th 2007 11:23PM
There showing Rock band??? I'm actually going to watch now.
Steve @ Jul 10th 2007 11:23PM
Chilly? It's the mid-fricken 60s where you are. Quit yer bitching! It's the mid-80s up in Seattle! How about this, you guys come up to my office and do my boring shit and I'll go kick it with Microsoft.
Whoa...heat rage is a dangerous thing. Have fun, guys!
jason @ Jul 10th 2007 11:24PM
there is a nothing where the gray xbox 360 was early thay said that on g4 e3 coverage
Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 11:29PM
Yeah, I just see 3 Xboxs now, there was 4 in those earlier pics.
WexusNexus @ Jul 10th 2007 11:27PM
High School outdoor amphitheater... looks like the one were the cheerleader gets saved in Heroes
Jared Lubrico @ Jul 10th 2007 11:28PM
Haha, wow. This is at MY rival high school.
My high school is literally like 4-blocks away, haha.
dustandechoes91 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:33PM
I bet you they pulled the gray one down when it got leaked, The pic was from the rehearsal, so maybe they will bring it out later.
generaldane @ Jul 10th 2007 11:34PM
yush its finnaly here
Jeff @ Jul 10th 2007 11:35PM
who the hell is this lame-ass band I'm watching on G4 right now? Electric violins?? wtf??
robert @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
yeah it's a bit emo halo... but before trashing the electric violin tell us what difficult instrument do you play... guitar hero?
Dextress @ Jul 10th 2007 11:35PM
I'd also like a less clunky dashboard. I know Microsoft aren't gonna' move away from the blade approach, but it looks a bit too cluttered and doesn't perform as well as the XBM.
And PLEASE Microsoft - if you're not going to do any bloody sub editing or decent QA on the names and descriptions of Marketplace downloads, let us edit the names of movies/demos etc.!
JustinWhy? @ Jul 10th 2007 11:36PM
Yay... Halo music.
dyabolik69 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:38PM
Oooo shrouded object.
KyleMistry @ Jul 10th 2007 11:39PM
Someone make an AIM chat.
venk @ Jul 10th 2007 11:39PM
I want that screen. :)
VampireHunter Z @ Jul 10th 2007 11:40PM
Damn that Halo soundtrack sounds so hot.
Trina @ Jul 10th 2007 11:40PM
Why the hell is the video feed cut off?
Gaber @ Jul 10th 2007 11:40PM
The pager line was hysterical!
WexusNexus @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
Rock Band is the shizzit... I want that
amba @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
No high school I went to looked like that.
venk @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
Oh the pain! Oh the horrible pain of hearing these people sing over a crappy G4 audio feed.
dustandechoes91 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
wow, caus halo 3 is all that everyone cares about...
Corporate @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
The band is called Corporeal. Here's a link to the a youtube video created by them: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VLt5_ME_2_M
phobic99 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:41PM
Wow Peter is the suck at singing... haha.
dpad @ Jul 10th 2007 11:42PM
Oh man, Moore just missed his rock band solo.
Painful.
ELUNO @ Jul 10th 2007 11:43PM
omg, what a clown
Jack @ Jul 10th 2007 11:44PM
Violin flip out => guitar flip out
Dextress @ Jul 10th 2007 11:44PM
GOD I hate Windows Media Player... I have no problems live streaming with anything else, but WMP always dies... Anyone know of a non-WMP stream anywhere?
phobic99 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:45PM
Not without paying some monies...
dustandechoes91 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:45PM
Wow, im following this to see something that makes me question why i bought a ps3 instead of a 360, not this krap
KyleMistry @ Jul 10th 2007 11:46PM
Never mind my previous comment, the chat is up! Join MSE3 on AIM, everyone!
WexusNexus @ Jul 10th 2007 11:46PM
Video craps out right on the Mass Effect intro... figures
Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 10th 2007 11:46PM
WTF?!?!? viva pinata...
robert @ Jul 10th 2007 11:47PM
yeah, great... go to commercial ant completely miss mass effect
venk @ Jul 10th 2007 11:47PM
WTF!?!?!? The douche on G4 said this conference would be commercial free and now i'm watching an AOL commercial.
Sigh. This is what I get for assuming G4 might together a quality product.
Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 10th 2007 11:48PM
lol @G4 not selling out...
Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 11:49PM
Snap! Laid the smack down about 3rd parties.
Randy @ Jul 11th 2007 10:10AM
I thought Halo counted as 2nd party. Why is it being used in their bragging and numbers on 3rd parties?
dustandechoes91 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:50PM
gee, i wonder why they are selling more games?
CAUS ITS BEEN OUT A YEAR LONGER, SO THERE ARE WAY MORE F'ING GAMES FOR PEOPLE TO BUY!
lets remember, people usualy buy one copy, and in order for someone to have more games, more have to be out, and for more to be out, the console has to be out longer
phobic99 @ Jul 10th 2007 11:51PM
You have to love the marketing spin talk. I know I do.
robert @ Jul 10th 2007 11:54PM
that one year headstart makes the numbers look good right now but the other two are catching up quickly... in a year if the sales remain like they have been the wii could pass them and the ps3 could run even.
let's not forget the millions of ps2 owners who haven't even begun to make a change yet.
MegaWatts @ Jul 10th 2007 11:58PM
Wrong. The attach rate of games with the 360 is MUCH higher than PS3 or Wii. Apparently when someone buys a 360 they buy 2-3 games while the PS3 people only buy 1 or none. People buy more games if they own a 360. Fact.