Highlights from Microsoft's E3 press conference

If you're looking for the unabridged version in all its glory, look no further than our liveblog with our fine friends at Engadget. If you're afflicted with crippling bouts of ADHD like we are and just want the meaty (beating, bloody) heart of the announcement highlights, please direct your eyeballs further down this post and after the break:
- Fallout 3: will feature exclusive DLC on Xbox 360, Games for Windows.
- Resident Evil 5: they showed the world's first playable demo; online co-op mode was confirmed; the release date for North America and Europe will be March 13th 2009.
- Fable II is finished and will be out in October.
- Gears of War 2: A new mode was announced called "Horde," a five-player co-op mode taking on waves and waves of locust. GOW2 release date will be November 7, 2008.
- NBC/Universal will be providing content on Xbox Live Marketplace starting today.
- Xbox LIVE gets a Mii-like avatar system and a new dashboard design that adds a community channel allowing you to send messages to friends, share your photos, and invite them to a "live party" or private groups of up to 8 people.
- UNO Rush and Geometry Wars 2 announced.
- The original N64 classic, Banjo Kazooie, will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Holiday season.
- Portal gets a sequel in Portal: Still Alive which will continue the single player story found in the original Orange Box collection, and will add new challenges.
- Xbox 360 will be getting Netflix's on-demand programming later this year. Xbox Live subscribers that already have Netflix memberships can enjoy Netflix on their TV at no additional cost.
- You're in the Movies was announced; will come with an Xbox Live Vision camera, and will place animations and backgrounds around actual video recorded from the camera.
- Microsoft's Lips karaoke game was announced as featuring motion-sensitive wireless microphones. Expected to hit Xbox 360 this holiday season, "Lips breaks new ground by being the first game to let you sing from your own music collection," says Keiichi Yano.
- Rock Band 2 track list announced; you'll be able to upgrade your Rock Band tracks to use with RB2 for a "nominal" fee.
- Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to the Xbox 360... but not in Japan.
- System improvements: you'll be able to install your Xbox 360 games to the hard drive, access XBLM on the web, and a new Xbox LIVE Primetime "whole new category of games" that offer real prizes and are broadcast simultaneously, some with live host.










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PunkJr @ Jul 14th 2008 5:46PM
So much awesome... I can't wait for SO many of those games!
bigmac375 @ Jul 14th 2008 6:14PM
if Banjo can get an xbla game, what about goldeneye?
Josh @ Jul 14th 2008 6:33PM
Probably has something to do with Activision having the 007 rights at this moment.
Josh @ Jul 14th 2008 6:35PM
Probably has something to do with Activision having the 007 rights at this moment.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 14th 2008 5:48PM
Some pretty interesting stuff that I didn't expect. Also, Portal 2 will be great to get ahold of.
I think that this was a pretty good E3 for MS. And yes, I know many of you disagree. Don't worry, there are 2 other major press conferences to go.
Real Gambler @ Jul 14th 2008 7:16PM
Yep, I do disagree!
Only a few things I didn't knew about before. Most of this stuff was already showed here or on other gaming websites. Even the exact release date for gorgeous Gears of Wars 2. Don't tell me you didn't knew about the Mii, Fable or Fallout?
Only new things I've learn are:
Uno
Final Fantasy (though there was some rumors going around about this already)
And hard drive installation (goes hand to hand with FF, so it's only logical.)
And sure enough, we get more way to watch movies, like if our cable boxes or PCs are not good enough.
Luckily, as you said, there's more coming. Maybe I mad because I would have like to see an earlier release date for Gears, rather than the one we already knew : )
Rofl Waffle @ Jul 14th 2008 5:48PM
This is too much for me to handle on one day.
007craft @ Jul 14th 2008 5:49PM
You forgot Banjo Kazooie 720p for XBLA
barb dybwad @ Jul 14th 2008 6:01PM
added, thanks!
AlwaysOn @ Jul 14th 2008 5:49PM
Really good keynote from MIcrosoft this year. Pressure is on SOny now to deliver that's for sure.
Only 2 dissapointments for me. No Killer Instinct 3 and no announcment about Bungies new game. Really thought that would come on MS Keynote.
One thing I wonder about Lips is how the game work with copyright protection? On stage the guy mentioned that you can plug in any mp3 player in 360 and use their songs in game. Does it somehow check if theese songs are bought legally or downloaded illegaly? Would really like to know how this works, please find this out.
Mr Khan @ Jul 14th 2008 5:52PM
A much better effort than last year's MS keynote, where they just repeated what we already knew
If this was all E3 had to offer, it would be satisfying
Vol @ Jul 14th 2008 5:52PM
Let's not forget the:
-HD install option
-16x10 monitor support
-8 person party system
Those are important to me as any of the others.
Vol @ Jul 14th 2008 5:55PM
Looking back, this list focuses on content & games and not functionality enhancements & additions.
Mr.ESC @ Jul 14th 2008 6:38PM
Those features are awesome I just wish it had K/M support and Diablo 3 :D
Misfit Toy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:54PM
I agree. Overall good conference. Some of the thunder stolen from leaked information. FFXIII was probably the biggest announcement, though I am curious about FFXIII Versus.
The thing I was looking for most I didn't get and that was information on the Halo - Peter Jackson project.
J.Goodwin @ Jul 14th 2008 5:54PM
Well, all those leaks, and Microsoft still managed a megaton or two.
I'm shocked.
Nytemare @ Jul 14th 2008 5:59PM
Today I woke up and went to see Hellboy 2, then come home and see all this. My brain almost ceased to function, awesome keynote M$!
Mr.ESC @ Jul 14th 2008 5:59PM
Finally a Megaton unlike 07 E3.
The Good:
I liked all the casual games even when I don't see myself playing them.
Netflix is great...for people in the U.S :/
Awesome games but nothing new.
PORTAL F*CK YEAH.
Lot’s of Xlive games :D
A lot of JRPG thanks to SE even tho' FF13 stole the show.
Mii’s and a new Interface.
The bad:
The video Store is not available here.
Just FF13 dude.
No Halo but then again I didn't liked Halo 3 that much that I want a sequel.
Still no Keyboard or Mouse support.
No Left 4 Dead or Episode 3,WTF?
No Diablo 3 and yes this will go in Nintendo and Sony keynotes as well.
Overrall:
Awesome and entertaining so the E3 delivers again and the SDF brought all the lulz.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 14th 2008 6:07PM
I think if they came out and said, "Hey, we got it, just what you wanted - Keyboard & Mouse support!!" People would have been a tad confused and disinterested. Thats not really an E3 type of announcement.
Benny @ Jul 14th 2008 6:00PM
"Only in English-speaking markets"?
Europeans are getting it too.
mr mobius @ Jul 14th 2008 6:04PM
The pie is a lie!
Dravean @ Jul 14th 2008 6:05PM
Awesome way to kick off E3 if Nintendo and Sony follow up with some surprises this is gonna be sweet!
Stoked about:
-UI redesign
-Banjo 64
-fable 2
AND FALLOUT LOOKED RICOCKULOUS!
mcatrage @ Jul 14th 2008 6:23PM
I hope some more Fable 2 information comes out.
SmartriX @ Jul 14th 2008 6:25PM
Awesome! Microsoft's showing will be hard to beat!
SmartriX @ Jul 14th 2008 6:25PM
Microsoft's showing will be hard to beat, awesome!
BLee @ Jul 14th 2008 6:26PM
What a great day for Microsoft.. Great 1st party, multimedia, interface, and 3rd party announcements..
As a PS3 owner, I hope Sony shows something big.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jul 14th 2008 6:28PM
Microsoft's conference got me so fucking hype. God I can't wait for the fall.
radman @ Jul 14th 2008 7:10PM
underwhelming. im waiting for sony and nintendo to give me a much needed nerdgasm
Misfit Toy @ Jul 14th 2008 7:42PM
Maybe Sony can pull something out. I wouldn't expect too much out of Nintendo though...
Capgun @ Jul 14th 2008 7:29PM
...i have a friggin nerd boner. This entire thing was epic. Although I hope that new UI is toggleable(which I doubt). I honestly dont like it..
severian00 @ Jul 14th 2008 9:59PM
Please god, why am I seeing an ad for a Lane Bryant bra sale at the top of this page. Why do you hate me so. I've never ever seen a victoria secret ad on joystiq. I want to file a complaint.
severian00 @ Jul 14th 2008 10:01PM
As I remember it, nintendo put the kabosh on Goldeneye because they wanted more money. MS, Rare (MS), and Activision were all in, it was the House of N that killed it.
Lekko @ Jul 15th 2008 3:46AM
Hell yeah! Fallout 3 with exclusive DLC! well now I know the version to buy. Just like GTA4 with the exclusive... uhm..
..that thing.. with the stuff..
sietepestes @ Jul 15th 2008 7:01PM
test
Badr @ Jul 15th 2008 7:12PM
Uff and compared to the crap that Sony and Nintendo presented at E3 the 360 is in a really good spot right now.