Partygoers ponder the highs and lows of Microsoft's press briefing

L4D2 is a high for me. I'll get to that in a minute.
LastFM is cool, but twitter and facebook is a low. Also while I like the beatles, spending that much time on the new game was a waste IMO.

Okay on L4D2- I think I know why Valve is pusing this one through. Just a theory, but they've ALWAYS been a company to support their games. I think the reason for new game is that there is a huge difference in the PC vs Xbox in terms of longevity. I have a feeling the sequel will give xboxers the ability to make custom maps. Maybe I'm dreaming, but knowing Valve I think they're looking to correct this glaring mistake.
And Valve, if I don't get episode 3, you fail.

that's my low. and its going to ruin E3 for me. I payed $50 to play a beta.

Oh right, I forgot a low, although L4D2 could be both, I guess. I'm so conflicted over it.

Project Natal was the lowest point for me. I didn't like it when it was called EyeToy.

Also, Facebook/Twitter integration. That's not something I will ever use. I don't tweet. I don't... book my faces.

It came out of nowhere for everyone. Yeah, it's only a year later, but L4D isn't that big of a game when compared to games that need a 2+ year development cycle. I'm sure they went to work on this right after the first one and, because of it's small size, it took them no time at all to throw together a sequel.

Comparing Project Natal to the eyetoy is like comparing the NES to the Xbox 360.

Project Natal runs it's own proprietary software and has it's own processor. If what we've seen from the tech demo works as smooth as it appeared it did, I think this really could be the next big step in entertainment.
The whole twitter and facebook thing is a bit of a "meh" for me, since I don't use either one. I have no desire to share with the world when I run out of milk. Perhaps if there is something to enhance my gameplaying experience, I'll check it out.

I thought it was a pretty solid conference. No extremely big surprises IMO, since we all saw that camera coming. l4D2 is the biggest surprise, but I never really cared too much for the first one so, it really didn't get me hot and bothered.

"Comparing Project Natal to the eyetoy is like comparing the NES to the Xbox 360."

There are so many ways to tear this analogy apart. Let's start with this one. The NES was a titan of a console that, despite analysts' predictions otherwise, caused the home videogaming market to explode and nearly wiped out arcades. And everyone still loves it. The Eyetoy is a worthless piece of trash that had almost no audience.

If the Eyetoy was the launching point for the motion camera controller market like the NES was for consoles, then things already look really bleak for Project Natal.

Well I meant it in the way that the eyetoy is a piece of outdated technology. It was a glorified webcam.
Don't read too much into the analogy, I'm pretty sure you got my point.

And how exactly is Project Natal NOT a glorified webcam? A large part of the tech demo was dedicated to showing just how glorified a webcam it is.

Yea, I'm with MystileArmor on this one...

The "concept" (seeing as it's not complete) of Project Natal definitely was the high point for me. I, personally, have never seen this combination of tech all rolled into one CONSUMER device... especially not for a gaming/media console: Voice recognition, Facial/expression recognition, field of depth/3d motion tracking), object/color scanning, and of course the camera. I think the key is that they're trying to put the software/processing inside the device instead of having it be on disc/harddrive within the console.

Features I'd love to see as a result of what Project Natal COULD do if it delivers:

1) being able to walk up to my device and have it automatically sign me in.
2) being able to pull up a video chat from my friend's list just be saying an assigned name I've given to someone on my list.
3) controlling the NXE with my hands and voice (turning off console, playing movies with voice commands)
4) playing a game that requires the 360 controller for primary movement but also allows me to issue secondary commands (like opening doors, squad movement, menu movement, etc) with voice and/or hand gestures

My low was not getting any estimate on a release date for the stuff we saw in the Project Natal concept videos.

Indeed.

Chromehounds was published by Sega wasn't it? If so, I don't think they've talked about their line-up. I suppose since it was 360 exclusive it may have been shown at the MS presser, but I doubt it... It's not a HUGE title.

I agree on almost everything, though I do feel that the $60 retail of ODST is because they said that they've made the game larger to be more like a regular retail game (i.e. - longer that the 4-6 hours they originally said) plus the extra game mode and maps.

Also agree that they totally need to expand the Netflix download library. It is getting a little stale.

Chromehounds didn't really sell well enough for a sequel, or at least that is the line I've been hearing for years. It's a shame because Chromehounds is one of my favorite games of this generation, as well as the only non-arcade style mech game.

All in all, Microsoft had a good press briefing, but the focus on new technology made it hard to slot in time for some of the third party games I've been looking forward to playing. If there is any weakness in the conference, that is definitely it.

I think Sony has a chance to win this years E3, if they announce a Metal Gear Solid game that doesn't star Raiden of all people (Yes, I'm still pissed a day later). Combined with Trico, that would be more incredible than anything Microsoft showed off (though Natal has the obvious potential to be incredible with the right software). Microsoft consoles getting a brand new MGS game is huge, but I'm having a hard time imagining a stealth game starring Raiden. If it's not stealth, I can see how it could work, but...we'll see.

Alright, time to sit down on the couch and watch the only couple of hours of G4TV programming that I'll watch this year.

Not gimmicky? I agree the tech is impressive, but does it not define gimmick? They just replaced waggle with flail controls. Like the Wii, I'll be interested to see how they use this. Hopefully, not like the Wii did lol.

Yeah, because MS is certainly not trying to implement this in ANY WAY similar to Wii.

50 million-plus consoles sold says hello!

What I mean is not having the Motion Controls feel stiff and useless. Poor implementation on the Wii's part. MS should try to avoid that and make their controls work right.

I can't wait to see the lighting system required for accurate camera registration. Goodbye to gaming in the dark!

Also, "For the optimal Project Natal experience, Microsoft recommends the following clothing colors and patterns: pink or yellow, no stripes. Or visit our online store to purchase a Project Natal bodysuit."

This thing is right up there with Microsoft's "In the future..." commercial, where newspapers have finger-flippable text (because, you know, in the future we won't just read the newspaper on electronic devices with screens...).

Nintendo killer, puh-lease!

Natal is more for the casuals then hardcore, the same market 360 is trying to gain, Microsoft doesn't really expect the Halo crowd to be using it and jumping around waving thier hands pretending they are Master Chief fighting a hunter.

Well Nintendo went from zero to hero with their controller....so I would have agreed with you before that happened but now it's more than plausible.

"Well Nintendo went from zero to hero with their controller...."

Yeah, NINTENDO did.

Ford also was able to not file bankruptcy like GM/Chrysler.

Some companys just know how to run a business. Then there's Microsoft.

"New peripherals do not change paradigms."
Sorry, digiboi. They do. The whole segment of music simulators - guitar Hero, Rock Band, Drum King, DJ Hero, others I'm forgetting - was build on peripherals, and they atracted casuals and core players alike.

Sure, a paradigm can be changed by a game - like the Sims - but, also, with periphericals.

You mean the Microsoft that posts overall revenue Nintendo could only dream of? Oh ok.

Apples to apples. Microsoft's Gaming/Entertainment Division and Nintendo. No comparison.

@Cody I think you should hold your tongue until after 12:00p EST today. I can't wait to see how much more crappy shovelware Nintendo decides to shove down our throats. I predict no new Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus or any other flagship Nintendo character to make an appearance at their conference. We're probably going to see Wii Music 2, Mario Party 9, Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics, more on the (unimpressive) Wii Motion Plus, and they'll probably talk a little bit about the Metroid Prime trilogy. And no one will care. And as for DS....Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon because that's all they ever do.

Oh, and I almost forgot. I can't WAIT to hear about Carrie's bratty kids and how her shitty parenting caused them break a limb.

@TracerBullet,

You mean the Microsoft that is the most well known name in computers? That has a complete monopoly on the OS market? That makes some of the highest quality computer periphals? That has a legal team that could get the Jews out of being blamed for the death of Jesus, and a marketing team that is widely regarded as being the best in the business?

That one little company that has a cash account of about $50 billion? (thats liquid, spendable cash, not assets)? That spends more money in a day than most businesses will spend in their entire existance?

Yeah, those people know nothing about running a business. Psshhhh.

IBM once said "$100 million is way too much to pay for Microsoft."

Above is supposed to be to cody, not tracer.

@R

"...and a marketing team that is widely regarded as being the best in the business"

Have you actually looked at their most recent efforts? Oh, they're a great company with a great portfolio, but I buy Microsoft products despite their marketing. When the fantastic Windows 7 comes out, I will cringe at whatever "I wanna be hip like Apple" efforts their team produces.

Wow, well that worked well. So to fix my bumbling mistake. The Highs were Crackdown2, Left 4 Dead 2, 1080p/instant improvements for Netflix, MGSR, and teh Haloz. The lows were basically the whole Rock Band Beatles presentation, especially Ringo & Paul, Richochet and Milo.

I thought Ricochet looked awesome. The painting thing, not so much.

Are you serious? Richochet was your typical "Flail your limbs about and pray" motion sensing game. Did you see how much that chick was sweating afterwards? No thank you. The painting thing actually looked awesome. He would just say the color, and it changed it for him. And the way paint is distributed depending on your gestures. I was really intrigued by that.

Sweating may have been enhanced by making an ass of herself on stage in front of all e3. Or she probably just is out of shape.

...I should've said the only seemingly exclusive thing. There were other good offerings, but all were multiplatform, so I'm buying for my PS3, thanks. One Beetles track is not going to get me to buy a green box, sorry. How much did they spend on those celeb appearances, though? That was ricockulous... and they all promoted games we'll be able to buy on the system of our choice. Way to waste money, guys.

Well, isnt like MS is taking government bailouts or anything...