Microsoft looking to 'break the bank' at E3

by Justin McElroy { Dec 8th 2008 at 1:55PM }

We expect the big three to come to E3 ready to drop bombs, but lately it seems that in the past couple of years Microsoft has been content to drop not-so-subtle reminders of their fall release calendar. On the latest Major Nelson podcast though, Microsoft Game Studios chief Phil Spencer stopped just short of promising megatons.

"I came out of an E3 planning meeting just about an hour ago," Spencer said, "and ... maybe we'll break the bank a little bit and talk about things that are further out." From this, we've implied two things. 1. Phil Spencer maybe meant to use a different metaphor and 2. We can get our hopes up a little bit for big news during Microsoft's keynote. Let's hope the competition follows suit.

[Via X3F]

Tags: e3-2009, microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

SecretAgentHam @ Dec 8th 2008 1:59PM

wonder what goodies they have for us in the fall of 09?

one can only wonder.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 8th 2008 2:40PM

Microsoft usually pulls out something for E3 and this year will be no different. But I'm actually very surprised that they are planning this far ahead already.

umm....hello??? @ Dec 8th 2008 2:41PM

yeah I wonder...hrmmm...Gears of War 3 anyone?? Bueller?

Marty @ Dec 8th 2008 3:33PM

A year ago, a lot of people I know said the Xbox was dead in the water for 2008... but it seems that it turned out pretty good when everything was all said and done. That's why I have confidence going into 2009, even following the amazing years we've had before.

Henry @ Dec 8th 2008 3:37PM

Could we possibly expect the announcement of the next microsoft console? Or is that too soon?

Marty @ Dec 8th 2008 4:55PM

I would think they are going to be very careful about the timing of any announcements concerning their next console... don't want to take away from 360 sales that are still going on strong, after all.

eNrique @ Dec 8th 2008 8:41PM

they better pull out something good cuz gta4 dlc and halo dlc are 2 things that won't make me turn on my 360 again so I'm starting to think that, if you are a multiconsole owner, 360 and a PlayStation 3 + a good PC,
the 360 is no longer worth having , this year all the good games(aside from Fable 2 and ummmm gears) were lauched on the Ps3 as well(see meta-metareview), plus the next year exclusives for Sony's console are unmissable

Dirty @ Dec 8th 2008 2:02PM

I think this would be the most fun part about being a gaming exec, planning out the E3 announcements. Though it would be rather hard to keep a lid on all the exciting stuff.

Hope we hear something soon, next year seems kinda blank in my head.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 8th 2008 2:43PM

Remember last year? Microsoft better get some quieter employees before E3 otherwise their whole lineup will be absolutely spoiled. They probably would've had the best keynote IF we hadn't known over 75% of the content they were showing.

Snowblind @ Dec 8th 2008 6:11PM

True, a lot of it was leaked this year, but they still put on the best show by a pretty wide margin. And *nobody* saw the Final Fantasy announcement coming.

Envoy @ Dec 8th 2008 2:05PM

::crosses fingers for Halo Kart::

^_^

Alien Lord @ Dec 8th 2008 2:59PM

Not happening, Halo is for adults Kido.

Haggard @ Dec 8th 2008 3:13PM

Yeah, and when was the last time a for-profit company compromised the artistic credibility of a franchise for money?

What? Ten minutes ago?! OH NO!

Duke @ Dec 8th 2008 3:40PM

Halo is for adults is a pretty funny statement.

BxGT @ Dec 8th 2008 3:55PM

Funny, i ran into everything except adults playing halo.

time @ Dec 8th 2008 4:39PM

I would play Halo Kart.

Haggard @ Dec 8th 2008 6:26PM

Someone phone the JPAG, we need photoshops in here stat!

Vcize @ Dec 8th 2008 2:06PM

Err, isn't E3 like, a long ways off?

Noshino @ Dec 8th 2008 2:14PM

Many events are planned months before...

Hell, many women plan their wedding for years...

Morbo- (PSN: ummfada) @ Dec 8th 2008 2:06PM

In b4 "M$" references

Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 8th 2008 2:46PM

In b4 stupid comments.

...oh wait.

Lekko @ Dec 8th 2008 3:25PM

b4?

...I'm never going to win at internet bingo if that's the only thing people call.

ThePhoenixLament @ Dec 8th 2008 2:08PM

Oh God I'm excited...

Who knows how they'll stick it to sony this time around. Nothing could top FFXIII....but I'm sure MS will try.

Can't wait. Hopefully Nintendo brings their A game as well.

silverwolf761 @ Dec 8th 2008 2:18PM

I'd be surprised if Nintendo brings a game at all...

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 8th 2008 2:23PM

well played silverwolf...well played.

Duke @ Dec 8th 2008 2:24PM

I heard their A Game isn't too great, but the planned sequel B Game is supposed to be looking sweet.

AwesomeTown @ Dec 8th 2008 2:41PM

At this rate, they will announce FFXIII for the NEXT xbox.

Wiinterfang @ Dec 8th 2008 2:49PM

Nintendo's big plan can be as easy as this.

New Zelda make for the ground up for wii.
New Plaftormer/Mario/Luigi/Kirby/Donkey Kong.
Mother 4 for the Nintendo DS
New Diferent colors for wii.
Black wii with Hard Drive.

Wii fans=Happy.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 8th 2008 2:56PM

Winterfang

BRILLIANT!

Tiptup300 @ Dec 8th 2008 3:11PM

Nintendo's big plan will be as horrible as this.

New "Tickle-Me-Mario" game announced
New charts with lots of colors and high numbers
Announce the DSi again
Teaser of a partnership with leapfrog

Wii fans=sad.

time @ Dec 8th 2008 4:41PM

Wiinterfang:
I'd expect everything you listed there except mother four. Too good.

Mr Khan @ Dec 8th 2008 4:50PM

Nintendo did acknowledge that the last E3 was unsatisfactory, which is a very positive sign from a company that traditionally plays dumb about public opinion

But we can't know. Mother 4 will never happen though. Bets are on Factor 5's wii project as well as Pikmin 3, and possibly Punch-Out if they haven't said more by that point.

Someone Sneaky @ Dec 8th 2008 2:19PM

"further out"? Hopefully they won't be talking about the next Xbox yet.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 8th 2008 2:30PM

Hope so too and highly doubt they will anyway. I'm sure we'll see something E3 2010 though. NextBox 2011!

Wesley Burchnall @ Dec 9th 2008 5:20AM

I'm of the opposite opinion. I'm thinking 'hopefully they are talking about the xbox 360's successor'.

If it can play the current xbox 360 games out there at a higher resolution and/or quicker with lesser load times, etc then I for one would be happy to buy it. Imagine, mass effect without the long-wait time in the elevator. Lost Oddessey with loading-scenes going from 10 seconds to a second, etc.

Not to mention, if the games were rended at closer to 1080p instead of 640p-720p and then upscaled, that wouldn't hurt either.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 8th 2008 2:23PM

Killer Instinct 3
Banjo Kart???
Halo ODST
Too Human 2
Bioshock 2 (timed exclusivity)
Mass Effect 2 (timed exclusivity)
i + ! = (!)

ThePhoenixLament @ Dec 8th 2008 2:26PM

Uhh I pray to God that you're dead wrong about Mass Effect 2...

Bioshock 2 I've accepted but I'd truly hate to see ME2 on the ps3...fuck that shit.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 8th 2008 2:32PM

Yeah I keep forgetting that Microsoft Game Studios published it so, maybe not? Still, EA could just publish it themselves this time around.

Vidikron @ Dec 8th 2008 2:32PM

"Bioshock 2 I've accepted but I'd truly hate to see ME2 on the ps3...fuck that shit."

LOL... "Truly hate"? Your hate for the PS3 goes far beyond absurd.

Dirty @ Dec 8th 2008 2:34PM

I thought I was the only one hoping for Too Human 2 to be real.

I see no problem with games going multiplatform. If I had developed a great game I would want as many people as possible to be able to share in it. Just so long as it doesnt hinder development, and now that they have a working engine on both systems I dont see that happening any more.

ChooChooCharlie @ Dec 8th 2008 2:46PM

Replace Killer Instinct 3 with Jet Force Gemini 2, and I'm with you.

Leo McKelvin @ Dec 8th 2008 3:06PM

LOL phoenix lament

Who cares what system a game is on? I remember you cum yourself over the thought that metal gear 4 might come to the 360 in a cryptic kojima teaser page post. You cant have it both ways dummy.

People like you help to ruin gaming IMO.

Leo McKelvin @ Dec 8th 2008 3:08PM

Dirty -

that is true but the good thing about an exclusive is they can optimize the game for one system and make it better instead of trying to make 2 games the same version. I am a real gamer who have all the system so I could care less because I can enjoy any game I want. These idiot like phoneix lament who are devote to a corporate logo on plastique are pathetic.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 8th 2008 4:11PM

@FenixKnight

I think your wrong about the Bioshock 2 timed exclusivity. Squeals rarely get that treatment.

I think Mass Effect is going to stay on the 360.

I would also add Crackdown 2 and halo Wars to that list

The Dark Wayne @ Dec 8th 2008 5:23PM

KOTOR 3!! The Dark Knight game!!
Okay so probably not, but i can dream can't I?

Jomolungma @ Dec 8th 2008 2:26PM

maybe he used the correct metaphor and simply meant to say that in order to announce things that are further out, MSFT will have to spend billions on an elaborate E3 keynote that will give the appearance that their far-off games are worth waiting for...