BW’s E3 Week: Microsoft’s press conference

Why did I write “from” on this banner last year? I’ve never actually been there? At any rate it’s time again to go through the big three conferences from this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year we’re going chronologically because frankly none of them really impressed me. First up is Microsofts, which G4, the “official broadcaster of E3” waited until the next day to air, but didn’t have any trouble talking about it on the day it took place. Go figure.

I’ll be using YouTube postings by IGN. They stop at certain spots which will give me a chance to talk about what they showed us. So let’s see what they show us.

Kind of a bad start by disconnecting the controller. So that sound isn’t just for achievements?

• When I say that nothing really impressed me, please know that little matched my interest. For example, Call of Duty (whatever they end up calling the latest version) looks decent enough, even if the colors are a bit dull, but it’s not the kind of game I usually play.
• The new Tomb Raider, exploring the “origin story” of Lara Croft, also looks interesting. However, trading the puzzle and shoot style that the franchise was started on in favor of a survivalist game? I’m not sure if that’s going to work in their favor or not. Sometimes it’s a much the genre as it is the characters that brings the fans a game does. Change the genre, and you better hope you can replace the lost fans.
• The last thing in the video is showing off the part of Kinect you seldom hear about, the vocal command feature. While the few Kinect games that have been released focused on using your body as the controller via the camera (shades of Sony’s “eye toy”, if you recall yesterday’s article) EA Sports and the creators of Mass Effect discussed using the voice command in the game. I can’t really comment about the sports games since I don’t play them but as far as Mass Effect 3 goes I don’t see how it affects the dialog trees. You can do that easily with the controller since Shepard’s lines are the same. However, giving orders to your team seems easier. We’ll have to see how well that works when the game actually comes out. Voice command and games don’t always work well together.

• When it comes to the latest Ghost Recon game, I was less impressed with how they used Kinect than the display they showed at their own press conference. They’re using a variation of the text they used in the last Splinter Cell game, as this is the display the soldiers see in their visors. (You also see it in the trailer.) This is more interesting that squeezing your hands.
• Am I supposed to be excited that YouTube will be on XBox? Some shows and videos aren’t going to look the same on the TV. Also, Microsoft using their own search engine on the 360? Is anyone that surprised?
• By the way, you will still need a cable or satellite provider, at least stateside, to use XBox TV so I don’t see the point. Does it honestly replace you cable box? Fine, but won’t the DVRed shows take up space needed for game data? Not sure it’s worth the payoff.
• Soooooo many buzz words.
• I cannot tell you how little I care about both Gears of War 3 or Ice T, so imagine my thoughts on the two of them together.

• Now Ryse seems to know how to use the Kinect. Too bad it failed basic spelling.
• So they’re giving the original Halo game a facelift? Big deal.
• Ford Motorsport 4 looks beautiful, but outside of turning your head (which would mean you’re looking away from the TV anyway) what’s the benefit of Kinect? Doesn’t the lack of a steering wheel take you out of the experience?
• I’ve heard people refer to Fable: The Journey as a rail shooter and reports that it actually isn’t. Anyone know for sure?
• I’m sorry, but Minecraft to me still looks like Second Life with less graphics. And don’t gamers love busting on Second Life?
• The demo of Disneyland Adventures featured the most unimpressive acting I’ve ever seen is a conference demo. Even I have to call this one.
• Kinect Star Wars (are they really going with that title?) looks like it has potential as a Kinect game. Also, it actually uses a full color pallet? Bonus points!
• Odd how many grown adults I’ve seen consider the Sesame Street game one of the top of E3. Is it really that good or is it just Tim Schaffer’s involvement? His story is really cute, though.

• Nice avatar advancement…but not exactly getting me running to the store to get an XBox 360. Fun Labs does look like a good addition, though.
• I’m not sure which were faker, the kids in the Disneyland Adventures demo or the guys in the football demo for Kinect Sports 2.
• Dance Central 2 may be the only real reason to get a Kinect if the Star Wars game doesn’t work out.
• I don’t really know a lot about the Halo story so I’m not sure it need a 4 with the same people. Then again, all we know is that it is in the works. Wait, Master Chief has a first name?

So Kinect seems to be the big push, which is funny when you consider they were one of the folks making fun of the Wii for motion controls. Tomorrow we’ll continue chronologically and check out Sony’s offerings from E3. Will it be worth the trouble?