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The next installment of the popular Forza racing series is heading to the Xbox 360 this fall, with a new engine, a video editor, and more cars than you can shake a stick-shift at.
Shipping in October from Turn Ten, Forza 3 will feature a brand-new engine that runs at a sliky-smooth 60 frames-per-second. And you'll need all of those frames for the new video editing feature, which will allow players to create and edit their own HD driving videos, uploading and sharing them with the Forza community.
The producer for the game took the stage at today's Microsoft E3 2009 press conference, delivering these details as well as promising "hundreds of cars", after initially mentioning the word "400" and then backpedaling.
Either way, that's a ton of cars, and the only thing racing gamers like more than racing cars is showing off to others, so it sounds like Forza 3 will be a win on all fronts.
For you social networking fiends who need to use Facebook or Twitter on every screen possible, Microsoft announced Facebook and Twitter integration will be arriving on Xbox Live this fall.
Besides announcing full retail games on demand, meaning you'll be able to download full retail games from the comfort of your own smelly dungeon instead of trekking to Gamestop's smelly dungeon, Microsoft filled out details on some of the other new Xbox Live hotness
Sure, the Microsoft fact sheet for Project Natal explains that the XBox 360's answer to Wii motion control has a special sensor, an RGB sensor, a depth sensor, a multiarray microphone and a special processor, but what's that name mean?
Here's how the company explains it:
"Alex Kipman, who incubated the project and is from Brazil, chose Natal, a city along the northeastern coast of Brazil, as a tribute to his country. In addition, he knew that Natal also means "to be born" in Latin. Given the new audiences "Project Natal" will bring to Xbox 360, this felt right."
Despite what you just read, do not pronounce the word as you would the "natal" in pre-natal care. Pronounce it as you would the Natal in Natalia.
Finally a collector's edition that isn't complete fanboy exploitation: This "exclusive" controller is bundled in the $99 collector's edition of Halo 3 ODST, and it's markedly less tacky than the original overly glossy Halo 3 pads. But um, wasn't Microsoft busy killing the controller about an hour ago?
Microsoft just showed off a bunch of trailers. Some for all-new games! Like Crackdown 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.
Crackdown 2 seems to take a different approach than the first, with the city infected with some kind of plague that's turning people into zombies/monsters. You, naturally, have to kill them.
Left 4 Dead 2 features an all-new cast, will include a range of melee weapons (like frying pans and chainsaws!) and will be out on November 17.
Yes, it's real. Now you'll be able to change a tire... virtually. At E3 today, Microsoft finally took the wraps off the that rumored motion controller we'd been hearing about. Apparently the small, black device -- codenamed "Natal" -- will allow for an astoundingly wide range of actions by utilizing a group of sensors (the box itself sits beneath your TV), and the accessory will be capable of juggling multiple users during a single session. The demo Microsoft showed off included a skateboarding game (replete with a young man "air" ollie-ing), and a family playing a racing game (the dad was changing a tire, the daughter driving).
The add-on will offer features such as auto sign-in for players to Xbox Live (based on complex facial recognition), and sports extremely detailed body tracking which will be able to follow the individual movements of separate limbs. During the press event, the company demoed a painting app, which lets you use your entire body to handle virtual painting supplies, allowing you to do things like throw buckets of paint onto a canvas. Another title was shown off which featured a woman interacting with a young boy on the screen -- one of the company's creepier demos in recent memory. Unfortunately for us, Microsoft says the device won't be released during 2009. We're working on snagging some face time (literally!) with a demo unit, so stay tuned... E3 is off to a wild start!
Square Enix just announced that Final Fantasy XIII will be out on Xbox 360 in North America during "Spring 2010".
Note that's a hopeful date, not a firm one. 2010 is a while away, and hey, this is Final Fantasy. But still! That's a whole season you can circle in your reddest red pen.
Microsoft's E3 keynote was so jam-packed the company decided to wait until afterwards to announce what might be the biggest new feature of them all: on-demand access to full retail games. The service will launch in August with 30 titles to start, and new games will be added weekly, with pricing to match retail. The best part? Purchases can be made directly with a credit card, no pesky Xbox points required. More pics of the system after the break.
Update: Don't get your hopes up, MS tells us that the point system isn't going anywhere, it's just being supplemented with credit card purchases. Also, game rentals aren't happening yet, but they said it "sounds great for the future."
There were some rumblings about this last week, but today at E3 Microsoft has confirmed the details: Xbox owners will be able to access all the video content on the Zune Marketplace. Playback is enhanced by what Microsoft is calling "Smooth Streaming" - video playback starts very quickly at a low bit-rate, then ramps up in bit-rate for maximum quality. This means that, assuming you have a decently fast Internet connection, there shouldn't be much in the way of "Please Wait: Buffering" messages. The video pushed down the pipe are glorious 1080p, and will have 5.1 surround sound. I haven't ordered many movies off the Xbox Marketplace, but aren't they all in 720p? If so, this is a big jump in quality - nice! There's also going to be enhanced search functionality to make finding things easier - that's a good thing, because the Xbox Marketplace was a very manual affair, and now that the Zune Marketplace is going to be offering scads more content, being able to find it easily is important.
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced that Zephyr: Rise of the Elementals is currently in development for Wii, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.
Sinister forces have deceived you to believe that your destructive behavior will save an epic hero. In reality, you're working for evil. Take control of a dynamic tornado as you tear through open environments, chewing up the landscape and spitting out everything in your path. The more you destroy, the bigger you grow as you work against time based, collection and point challenges in the search for hidden elements and enemies from another world. Zephyr provides expansive sandbox type gameplay and real time destruction allowing gamers to destroy what they want, when they want, where they want!
Zephyr delivers humor filled missions and varying objectives, ranging from blustery mischief at a local trailer park to gale force feats in the middle of sprawling cityscapes. Diverse action packed gameplay provides both casual and hardcore gamers the ability to tear through towns in beautifully stylized high definition action! Double the destructive power by playing co-operative multiplayer where two players drive through environments picking up and tossing everything standing in their way in an effort to do battle against the evil Omegaton. The items in a player's path range from the usual rusted tractors and rustic farms, to the strange and unexpected as you tear your way through increasingly complex and crowded areas around the world. Through large open worlds, users can take control of how objects are damaged and destroyed with the active destruction game mechanic. For added replayability, players can complete multiple missions and destroy different objects within environments to maximize each level and earn extra points.
Zephyr: Rise of the Elementals is being developed by Loose Cannon Studios and will be released in North America this Fall, for more information, please visit: www.konami.com/zephyr
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Last week we noticed the German USK rating board had a listing for The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on Xbox Live Arcade and PC. Today LucasArts confirmed the remake and announced it will have updated, high definition graphics, voice acting, and a re-mastered musical score. If fancy pants graphics aren't your thing, you'll have the ability to toggle between the modernized and classic visuals. The Special Edition is being developed internally at LucasArts.
Originally released in 1990, Monkey Island is a hilarious point-and-click adventure that follows the mishaps of wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood. LucasArts says this is just the start of its plans to unearth its classic franchises and games.
Look for The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition this summer.
Evolving the shooter genre with its unique and exhilarating combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation will feature huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation will feature vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet.
Billed as a ‘shooter gone vertical’ and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes will form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination.
Players will be able to choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. However, players aren’t the only ones with mind-blowing acrobatic skills; intelligent enemies will give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction – in Damnation’s world there’s no safe place to hide.
With up to three hours of actual gameplay stretching out in front of them per level, players will need more than just muscle power to get across each level safely. Damnation will offer players a selection of awe-inspiring vehicles, from motorbikes capable of launching across seemingly infinite chasms, to huge, armour-piercing marvels that will induce mayhem with every huge shell.
The high action will be supported with an epic and in-depth story which, while focusing on the exploits of the hero character Rourke, is truly an ensemble piece. Players will meet and become involved in intricate story plots that reveal much more than the obvious.
In addition to the single player experience, Damnation comes complete with a unique set of multiplayer options that take full advantage of the game’s expansive levels.
The Pitt allows you to travel to the post-apocalyptic remains of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and become embroiled in a conflict between slaves and their Raider masters.
Explore a sprawling settlement ravaged by time, neglect, nuclear radiation, and moral degradation. The Pitt is filled with morally grey choices, shady NPCs, new enemies, new weapons, and much more.
The Pitt opens with a desperate radio message, and a meeting with its sender, an escaped slave named Wernher.
Wernher claims that the leader of “The Pitt” has created a cure for mutations… and he needs you to go in and retrieve it.
From there, the player can proceed in a number of ways, in true Fallout 3 style. Do you fight your way in, or disguise yourself as a slave? Ally with the slaves, or join their Raider overlords?
The Pitt is very morally ambiguous – there’s no real right or wrong, just choices to be made, sides to be chosen, and a mystery that could send shockwaves throughout the entire Wasteland.
The recent re-emergence of Sam Fisher from the shadows of ... uh, awkward stealth game metaphors has prompted several questions: Where has the gravelly voiced assassin been for the last few years? Is Ubisoft still toying with social stealth? And is the game still exclusive to the Xbox 360?
A partial answer to the last question may be evident in the large Splinter Cell: Conviction banner draped across the Los Angeles Convention Center. It's notable not only for the distinct lack of self-pitying scruff, but for being the only banner to prominently display only the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live logos. Of course, as we've learned in the time since the game was first announced, "exclusive" doesn't always mean what we think it means.
Want to see a real skateboarder on a fake skateboard? Check out Microsoft's E3 keynote tomorrow. Skateboard legend and video game mascot Tony Hawk just tweeted about his involvement in MS's conference. He'll show off Tony Hawk Ride -- wearing makeup, even!
"Just practiced my part for Microsoft's E3 keynote tomorrow (introducing #thride)," Mr. Pro Skater said. "First time I've ever had to wear make-up for a rehearsal."
We can't promise he'll actually get on the stationary board, but he'll at least be there showing it off. Mr. Hawk's presence at he MS conference suggests that there could be some component of the game that is Xbox-exclusive, like DLC or green skateboard decals or ... something.
Those of you who aren't lucky enough to attend E3, this is not the post for you. For the remainder of you, however, we would like to let you know that Namco Bandai would like to test your Tekken 6 mettle at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo through an open tournament.
The company will host a two-day "Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion arcade tournament" at its booth on Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4, with the company opening sign-ups on Tuesday, June 2, to anyone passing through Namco's area on the show floor. Namco Bandai mentions a "grand prize," though the details of what this undoubtedly spectacular prize will be were not given. We have a feeling the only thing people participating in this tournament will win is less time with the other great games at the show
E3’09: Eagle eyed users of Bungie’s forum spot reference to ‘Halo:Reach’
Aside from the known appearance of Tony Hawk and the possibility of a Wii-rivalling Xbox 360 motion-tech reveal, word is spreading of a possible new Halo game making its debut at Microsoft’s E3 showcase at 18:25 tonight.
CVG reports that users of Halo developer Bungie’s forum have spotted reference to something called Halo: Reach in one of the site’s drop-down menus.
It could be absolutely nothing. It could be some sort of community art project. But it could, just could, be a surprise new Halo title to compliment the upcoming FPS Halo: ODST.
And with Microsoft seemingly set to show-off its brand new 360 gesture control, could the ‘Reach’ part of the title mean that the Halo universe is about to ditch the joypad? Check back here at 18:25 to find out.
