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Microsoft E3 2006 Pre-Show Press Conference

Overall, it was a pretty solid conference for Microsoft. They highlighted their successes with the 360 and indicated the direction they plan to take both with their consoles and the PC industry over the coming year.

One thing I definitely took away from the conference is that it seems like Microsoft plans to become much more involved in the realm of Windows software, as shown with both the "Games for Windows" rebranding and Live Anywhere. I would almost go so far as to say they want to take it to the point of making the PC another MS branded console.

Moore does an excellent job as a front man and seemed well rehearsed in what he wanted to present. He kept the conference moving and, with the exception of the word "unified" never seemed to be beating a dead horse to make his point.

That's not to say it was a prefect conference though. I found the over-use of CGI trailers annoying, as CGI really tells us nothing other than what "feel" the developer is looking to create in a game. Further, as was widely reported, Gates didn't exactly thrill the crowd during his part of the presentation. He may be a brilliant businessman, but he’s no public speaker, and the momentum of the whole presentation takes a downward turn as his speech goes on.

Finally, I was a bit dissapointed in both the lack of any news on the first Xbox and the complete absence of any information regarding future backwards compatibility updates. With the way BC has been treated on the 360, they really shouldn't have promised anything other than the intial titles they set up to work at launch. I'm still holding out hope that ESPN NFL 2K5 will be added to that list someday, but at this point I'm thinking the odds of any new games every being added are not good.

That said, let's get on with the breakdown of the conference. For reference, notes surrounded by < > indicate my personal thoughts on a topic.

Press conference begins with Gears of War trailer

Gears of War trailer plays
CliffyB is on stage to give a longer demonstration of the game

<It would appear that taking cover is a HUGE part of the game>
<The combat would seem to be as fast paced (if not more so) as Call of Duty 2>
<I wonder if CliffyB is playing in god mode, as he’s taking a lot of damage>
<No visible health meter on screen>
<I NEED this game!>

Peter Moore takes the stage – general introduction

Moore talks about the restructuring of Microsoft’s entertainment division
Moore on Microsoft’s central philosophy for games

“Games are driving Microsoft’s company-wide vision for entertainment. Our vision is one where you, your games, your friends and the entertainment choices that define your lifestyle always take center stage” – Peter Moore

Moore jokes about the 360 launch and all the rumors

“Not a single console was hidden at Area 51 in the Nevada desert in some wacky plan to create false demand.” – Peter Moore

<of course, what he didn’t say was if any were being hidden elsewhere! =) >

Xbox 360

Off to the fastest start in console history - Has sold more units in the first 6 months than PS1, PS2 or XB.
Over 5 million consoles sold.

<That’s what will happen when you launch worldwide>

Has also sold faster than the original ipod
Attach rate for the 360 is the highest ever as well

4.5 Games per console
3.0 Accessories per console

<Are they counting the batteries as an accessory?>

Xbox Live

Microsoft estimates Live will pass 6 million members by E3’07.

<Are they counting Xbox Live Silver memberships in the total?>

“Ask any Xbox Live member and they’ll tell you, connecting your console to Xbox Live is as vital as connecting your PC to the internet.” – Peter Moore

Xbox Live Arcade

Presentation opens with montage of new XBLA games
As Moore puts it, XBLA is “Taking many of us back to memories of a rather misspent youth.”
Major expansion announced for XBLA
Namco & Konami have signed agreements opening their catalog of arcade games

Moore announces that “for those wondering, yes, the Contra code will work for Xbox Live Arcade.”

“These are more than games, they’re our shared heritage.”-Peter Moore

<About time someone puts classic video games in the proper context>

The new classics coming to XBLA

Pac-Man
Ms Pac-Man
Contra
Frogger
Galaga
Sonic The Hedgehog
Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting
Defender
Time Pilot
Scramble
Ultimate MK3
Super Contra
Track & Field
Root Beer Tapper

<What happened to Cyberball?!>

Over 100 independent developers currently creating games for XBLA
Lumines Live announced.

Microsoft has entered into an agreement with Warner Music Group to deliver content for Lumines Live.

<Does this mean we’re stuck watching Madonna if we want to play Lumines? Can we turn the heifer off?>
<Is Lumines Live going to be discounted if we’re forced to watch WMG artists?>

Moore states that Xbox Live Arcade is a market differentiator for Microsoft and that no one else can claim that

<…at least until the Wii comes out?>

Xbox 360

Opens with Xbox 360 upcoming game montage video
By this holiday season, more than 160 Xbox 360 games will be on the market.

<Does this number include XBLA titles?>

Points out that in August, the only place to play next-gen Madden will be on the Xbox 360

<Well duh, seeing how the other 2 next-gen systems won’t be on the market yet>

More games coming for original Xbox

<and not a thing else said about them>
<no mention of backwards compatibility on the 360 at all yet either>

Moore states there are 3 keys to why MS will succeed with the 360

Quality
Innovation
Willingness to push the recognized boundaries

Fable 2 announced

<The trailer is all CGI. *yawn* While it’s a nice introduction to the game, CGI doesn’t impress me anymore.>
Peter Molyneaux introduced in the audience

<I’m surprised Molyneaux isn’t wearing a shirt that proclaims it as “The greatest shirt of all time!>

Forza Motorsport 2 announced

<Another CGI trailer. Did I yawn already?>
300 Cars
12 player online races
Available this holiday season

<and they don’t have any real footage yet?>

Wireless steering wheel will be available when Forza comes out this fall
Wireless headset also coming in the fall
Xbox Live Vision camera to be released this fall

Will allow people to put their pictures in their gamertags.

<Lets see how long that lasts – my guess is right up until the first full monty>

Microsoft staying committed to the Japanese market

Hironobu Sakaguchi introduced in the audience

Blue Dragon trailer shown

<Yeah, that’s classically Japanese – it looks like Dragon Ball Z, is overly cutesy and doesn’t look like it will at all interest US audiences. The Japanese will lap it up…or they would if it came from Nintendo or Sony.>
Blue Dragon will be out in Japan this holiday season

Back to the upcoming US releases
Splinter Cell: Double Agent trailer shown

<Wow, some in game footage this time, too bad I’ve never been a fan of the Splinter Cell series>
<The constant shift between rendered images and real actors is annoying. A trailer shouldn’t piss you off.>

Moore introduces Viva Piñata to the audience and hands the game off to an underling for a demonstration

<This title is one that could actually be interesting to a lot of people who normally aren’t into the “Xbox” game vision>
Build & Manage a Piñata farm
Everything in the environment is created by the player. Build hills, make lakes, add houses, etc.
Mention is made of accessories for the piñatas via the marketplace.

<Are all those accessories going to be pay content?>

Ability to trade accessories and piñatas via Live
Helpers for less experienced players
Challenges for more experienced players (such as taming “wild” piñatas)
All piñata types somewhat named after candy (Macaracoon)
Piñatas multiply by getting together in the homes you build for them and doing the dance of looove

Xbox Live Marketplace

18 million downloads so far
1,000+ pieces of content available
“Xbox Live Marketplace changes the way people try and distribute games.” –Peter Moore
Fight Night Round 3 preorders increased 5x following the debut of the demo on Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace allows true episodic content
XBLM makes it easier to reach the coveted 18-34 male demographic

HD DVD Player Add-On

<It looks like an updated version of the old Commodore floppy drives>
Will be available this holiday season – no price or date given
“You have a choice for when you want to enter the next generation of high-definition movie playback” – Peter Moore

<An obvious shot at Sony and the forced Blu-Ray drive?>

System Selling Titles

Grand Theft Auto IV announced

Release date: October 17^th, 2007
First time it will appear at release for a MS system
Microsoft & Rockstar have signed an exclusive agreement for episodic content via the XBLM

Games for Windows

Microsoft plans on creating a renaissance in PC gaming
Microsoft plans on adding support for Windows game developers

<It almost makes it sound like they’re “taking over” Windows gaming and treating it as a console.>

Crysis Demo shown

<this is one fine looking game>
<Demo seems to take place onboard an aircraft carrier under alien attack>
Crysis will work under Windows XP, but will look better running under Vista.

Games on Windows video montage

“Windows Vista is built to run games.” – Peter Moore

Windows Vista will be the single biggest launch in the history of Microsoft
Will provide a more “gamer friendly” experience

Easier installations and starts
Standardized features
Live Anywhere

More Joint releases for Xbox 360 and PC

Oblivion sited as an example
Oblivion sold 1.7 million copies between the 2 platforms in it’s first 3 weeks.
<Based on these comments, I have to wonder if programming Vista is going to be somewhat similar to programming Xbox 360>

Shadowrun trailer shown

<Need I say it? More CGI… yaaawn>

Alan Wake trailer shown

<Nothing really shown of the gameplay, more of a teaser.>

Bill Gates takes the stage

Gates talks about gaming on the Xbox 360

He’s a self proclaimed PGR3 addict, while his kids love XBLA

Xbox 360 will launch in 8 more countries this year, bringing the total effort to 40 countries.
Repeats a lot of what Peter Moore already touched upon.

<a lot of people who saw this live are right, he really does kill the presentations momentum>
Reiterates 10 million unit head start for Xbox 360
Reiterates 3 million current Live members, 6 million estimated by E3 ‘07

<Again, I have to wonder, are they counting Xbox Live Silver?>

Begins to introduce the Live Anywhere concept

MSN Messenger + Xbox Live – Live Anywhere
150 million PC users
1 Billion Mobile phone users
Combine both and you have a market far larger than any console ever has had.

Announced a big push for Windows gaming

Live Anywhere

Live Anywhere will be part of Windows Vista

<so… essentially they’re integrating MSN Messenger into Windows Vista?>

Gates states modern cell phones can be as powerful as computers from 3-4 years ago.

<Maybe at this highest end, but I don’t see my Razr kicking my last computers butt anytime soon>

The plan is to share development between platforms

(i.e. Xbox 360, PC & mobile phones)

“Microsoft is probably the only company that can pull this off” – Bill Gates
Friends list will be shared across all 3 platform and will show what each user is doing on that platform.
One gamertag for all 3 platforms.
Windows games getting achievements (like Xbox 360 achievements)
Real time chat will be supported natively in Windows Vista
All 3 platforms can work together to form a unified experience. Using Forza Motorsports 2 as an example;

Friend on the Xbox 360 sends you a car on your cellular phone.
You can then tweak that cars settings on your phone and send it to your PC
On your PC, you now design the cars color scheme and decals and send it off to Xbox Live

<This could allow for all kinds of customization that a normal console game couldn’t do – if it’s done right>

On Xbox Live, you pick up the car and use it in game.

<Why this whole thing isn’t getting spoken about more is beyond me, this could be HUGE – again, if done right.>
<Also, Live Anywhere works and looks an awful lot like an enhanced version of the Xbox 360 blades/Live interface, which is pretty cool>

Peter Moore takes over again

He begins to close out the press conference by summing up what’s been discussed

Xbox 360 – 10 Million Unit head start over competition
160 Games available this holiday season
An estimated 6 million Xbox Live members by E3’07

<yet again, do they count Live Silver in with this total?>

Live Anywhere to be launched
<Not a single word mentioned about Backwards Compatibility on the 360.>

Halo 3 Teaser shown

<The teaser was supposedly rendered using the actual games rendering system (i.e. what you see is what the game will look like)>
<That looks like the old battle-rifle he’s carrying! Hopefully it’s back>
<Cortana doesn’t seem to have held up too well from her time with the Gravemind. The teaser makes a compelling argument for her having gone rampant.>
<It also looks like maybe this time, most of the action will take place on Earth.>
Looks like Halo 3 will be released sometime in 2007

END OF PRESS CONFERENCE

To wrap it all up, I’ve got to say this yet again – I NEED GEARS OF WAR. NOW.

Article credit: G.P. "NYLatenite" Fornasiero