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Recap of Microsoft's keynote at GDC 2008

Microsoft’s keynote presentation at the Game Developers Conference 2008 just wrapped. While there were few surprises to be had, finally confirmed was a highly anticipated sequel.

Gears of War 2 Announced
Rumored for months, Epic Games’ CliffyB took the stage during the Microsoft keynote at GDC 2008 with Lancer (the chainsaw gun) in hand to announce that Gears of War 2 will hit in November 2008, only on Xbox 360. See the debut teaser here.

Unreal Engine 3 Gets Enhanced
Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney walked the audience through improvements in Unreal Engine 3 with advanced character lighting, ambient occlusions for shadows, fluid effects, destruction effects and other details. All the new features will likely be implemented in Gears of War 2.

Ninja Gaiden II to Release Worldwide Early June
Team Ninja’s notorious Tomobu Itagaki in his trademark leather and shades demonstrated a new Ninja Gaiden II stage prepared exclusively for GDC 2008. Besides the comical “Please reconnect controller” message during the demo, the new footage shows environments far more expansive than in the game before it. Perhaps most notable is that Ninja Gaiden II will incorporate a “save films” like feature, giving players the ability to record and upload video clips. It’ll hit North America on June 3.

Zune to Support XNA Games
Opening the door for more elaborate games on Zune is upcoming support for XNA games. Microsoft did not disclose how the Zune would handle XNA software differently from Windows or the Xbox 360, but did say that custom soundtrack support would be critical to gaming on the music portable.

Xbox 360 Reveals Community Games From User-made Content
Coming soon to Xbox Live will be community-created games made using the XNA tools. By the end of this year, Microsoft expects more than 1,000 games to be available for download for players to rate and share. Seven games were announced for immediate availability, including the imaginatively titled, "The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai." See the press release for more.

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Microsoft efforts
By hadifa on 2/20/08, Rating: 0
RE: Microsoft efforts
By sweetsauce on 2/20/2008 5:36:09 PM , Rating: 4
Outpaced where again? Oh you mean the one month where they outsold a xbox360 shortage in the US by 30k units? Could it also be because japan is too stubborn to buy a system not made by a japanese company? Worldwide the 360 is still ahead of the ps3, dispite the fact that sony has incredible brand recognition outside the US. Microsoft has brand recognition also, a mostly negative one in places like europe.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By Bigjee on 2/20/08, Rating: -1
RE: Microsoft efforts
By PrinceGaz on 2/20/2008 7:18:07 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
With the cost of the B-ray drive and recent reduction to 45nm cell processor the price will go down and it will be interesting to see how MS can counter.


By lowering prices of the XB360, because they can afford to do so, perhaps? MS is the one who have been making a profit for a while (well two if you count Nintendo who have been making a much better profit since launch-date and are the real winners of this console generation); they can afford to slash the price of the XB360 to maintain its lead such that the PS3 will remain considerably more expensive.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By deeznuts on 2/20/2008 6:06:52 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Outpaced where again?
According to their own financials, PS3 outsold 360 worldwide last year. That's with PS3 not "having any games", only out since March in Europe, and MS having all their heavy hitters (Bioshock, Mass Effect, Halo 3)


RE: Microsoft efforts
By ViperROhb34 on 2/21/2008 12:43:48 AM , Rating: 2
Of course, i bought PS3 as a bluray player.
But the 360 is still my gaming machine.

If PS3 sales increase at a crazy rate - lets pretend PS3 would outsell 360 by 120,000 units every single month beginning today - they still need 5 yrs to just break even in total consoles.

I want Bluray to succeed, but if it does 2010 xbox will have one and make PS3 look very weak in the gaming dept.

A processor is only as powerul as the memory system that supports it and GPU that processes the graphics. Ive found although PS3 cell is said to be slightly more powerful, that it is now known factthe 360 GPU is definately stronger then PS3's GPU; 360 GPU also has 10MB(on die!)cache - the PS3 doesnt.. if you don't know what this means.. it means 360 can move data wayy faster- it situations what would make the PS3 studder the 360 wouldnt.. This is one reason DMC4 has to be installed on the HD on PS3 - it was hardly playable because of PS3 memory system - SOny had to cut cost someplace.. the xbox version doenst need to install and both games are virtually identical graphically.. You cant use the porting excuse because it was ported to 360 later.. Look at some games on both systems.. 360 version runs smoother.. I have yet to see any game on PS3 that comes close to Gears of war on a 60 inch High def screen ! People who claim differently often compare on a small tv where high def isnt even visible..

Scarey to think Gears of War 2 is going to look graphically better then Gears 1 !


RE: Microsoft efforts
By AlphaVirus on 2/21/2008 11:33:59 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
This is one reason DMC4 has to be installed on the HD on PS3 - it was hardly playable because of PS3 memory system

Perhaps you should check your sources.
All PS3's come with a hard drive and not all 360's come with one. Hmm lets see what else you wrote...
quote:
and both games are virtually identical graphically..

If both games are graphically identical, why does the PS3 have the faster loading times between every area? Could it be because the PS3 does the install? OMGWTFBBQPWNT!!! I cant believe its not butter.

Come on, do a little more than play your 360 and scratching your butt before coming up with your conclusion.

Final note:
If your argument was true then all PS3 games would install but that is far from the truth, only Capcom games install anything. Perhaps they thought having faster loading times was a big plus for the end-user.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By jrod5286 on 2/20/2008 5:58:45 PM , Rating: 2
The 360 has many great games coming out. Yes, the PS3 is a good blu-ray player. Gamers do not buy a system to watch movies on it. They buy a system to play great games on it which the 360 has and the PS3 has yet to put any out.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By michal1980 on 2/20/08, Rating: -1
RE: Microsoft efforts
By sweetsauce on 2/20/2008 10:22:38 PM , Rating: 2
Singstar and killzone? Now you're definately reaching. The first killzone sucked, so not sure what you expect from the second.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By Domicinator on 2/20/2008 10:55:39 PM , Rating: 2
Too Human
Fable 2
Gears of War 2
Age of Conan
Ninja Gaiden 2
Alan Wake possibly
GTAIV will have 360 exclusive content.

These are all terrific titles that will only be available on 360. SOME of them may go to PC, but definitely not all of them. This is a stronger lineup for 08 than I thought it would be. If they release a BluRay add on for 360 as the rumors are saying, the 360 will be just fine.

Not to mention the addition of the community created content that will be supported on Live. That's HUGE.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By bgm063 on 2/20/2008 11:21:50 PM , Rating: 2
I seriously doubt Microsoft will release a Blu-ray add-on. Even if they did release the add-on, I see it being used more with PCs than the Xbox360. The HD-DVD add-on was only good for watching HD-DVD movies... not games. If it were blu-ray, the same thing would happen.

Think of the chaos that would happen if Microsoft released a game that required an add-on. Millions of Xbox customers pissed, and suddenly the PS3 makes alot more sense. And who's to say if it would make sense when you never know in this fast paced world if standalone blu-ray players will be cheap by that point.


RE: Microsoft efforts
By ViperROhb34 on 2/21/2008 12:47:50 AM , Rating: 2
SONY would love for MS to use Bluray..


RE: Microsoft efforts
By clovell on 2/21/2008 10:18:28 AM , Rating: 2
Fable 2 will rock. I've been watching that one for months, and it is a must-have - among many others.

I've a Wii and a 360; and I'd have a PS3 as well, except that there are so many must-have games for the Wii and the 360, and so little time...


RE: Microsoft efforts
By robinthakur on 2/21/2008 9:28:42 AM , Rating: 1
That argument is so out of date its getting funny. It makes Microsoft Fanboys sound like stuck records. Its important to give credit where credit is due and I can see the PS3 picking up quickly now.

The PS3 area in general does not feel as depressing as it did just a few months ago as there is alot more content doing the rounds and the price cut has made it a viable option for most poorer people. I own both plus a Wii and I play more on the PS3 (obviously excluding the Wii) whether its DMC4 or blu ray or whatever. It feels like a better put together system, is virtually silent and I prefer the interface and the lack of constant emphasis on online multiplayer and marketplace. I am not interested in downloadable content, multiplayer online or movie downloads etc. hence to me the 360 seems to count all of those as big deals, when I use none of it.

Finally some decent titles announced for 2008, will probably knock the rumours of a new Xbox on the head for a while till 2009. Ninja Gaiden alone would justify me owning the console as there's only so much western-developed crud you can play before you give up on videogames totally...Knowing my luck the darn thing will probably RROD as soon as the game disk's inserted :)


RE: Microsoft efforts
By ViperROhb34 on 2/21/2008 12:03:32 AM , Rating: 2
AS the owner of both 360 and PS3..they both have good features.

As a gaming machine the PS3 has an uphill battle. 1) Its nearly 7 million consoles behind, if it outsells 360 by 1 million each year it needs 7 yrs to just break even. 2) Because of this 360 developer suport is not going anywhere - in fact they've taken alot of PS3 exclusives - recently DMC4 .. 3) 360 highest games per console - seven .... PS3 lowest at 3 per console..

Both consoles neither as powerful as hyped. Neither can do 60 fps at high res.. in fact both have at least 10 games no in true HD do to frame rates.

PS3 cheapest bluray player.. I like watching HD movies.. right now many do not care about movies, I suspect like me.. many have bought a PS3 not for games, but movies..

Bluray was chosen because both formats weren't selling well.. both HD-DVD & Bluray combined accounted for only 8 tenths of 1 percent of movie sales - not good. At least now BLuray has a chance to survive. Im sure it was figured by the studios if they didnt pick a side soon- both could fail..


RE: Microsoft efforts
By sibbor on 2/21/08, Rating: -1
RE: Microsoft efforts
By Fnoob on 2/21/2008 9:19:07 AM , Rating: 2
The Xbox 360 only supports 1080p during video playback (HD-DVD player) as far as I'm aware of

Which might explain what I've been wondering... "Skate" is rated up to 1080p on the box, but refuses to run higher than 1080i. My display is a Sony Bravia 1080p, and runs PC titles just fine at 1080p. So what's up? I also noticed that "Oblivion" is rated at 1080i while the "Oblivion: GOTYE" says 1080p - of course, neither exceeds 1080i.

I have never had this thing hooked up to the internet, perhaps there is an update that is required to make this go?


RE: Microsoft efforts
By ViperROhb34 on 2/21/2008 9:59:54 AM , Rating: 1
RidgeRacer? ? That hilarious ! There are more games at 60fps on 360.. if you do the research.

I'm speaking of more graphically inteensive games that push both systems's memory system to the limit.

Like below - NONE OF THE BELOW GAMES ARE TRUE HD (meaning 1080P - although maybe 3 games are 1080i ) :

COD4 (360) 1024×600p 2xAA
COD4 (PS3) 1024×600p 2xAA
Uncharted (PS3) 960×1080 in 1080p
Def Jam: Icon (PS3) 1152×648
Transformers (PS3) 960×1080
Pirates of the Caribbean (PS3 720p): 960×720
Pirates of the Caribbean (PS3 1080p): 780×1080
Oblivion (360): 1024×600 (PS3 version is full 720p)
VF5 (PS3 720p): 1024×1024 (same as 360)
VF5 (PS3 1080p): 1024×768
Full Auto 2: 1920×1080 AA 4x, bad framerate - PS3
NBA Street: 1920×1080 AA 4x (30-60fps) - 360
LocoRoco Cocoreccho 1920×1080 MSAA 2x -PS3
Tony Hawk Project 8: 1040×584 -AA look smooth- 360
Tony Hawk Project 8: 1280×720 - No AA - Jagged edges- PS3
Virtua Tennis 3: 1920×1080 AA 2x - PS3, 360
XMB: 1920×1080p - PS3
Dashboard: 1280×720p - 360
Perfect Dark Zero: 1138×640p - 360
Halo 3: 1152×640p - 360
Ninja Gaiden Sigma: 1280×720p PS3
Project Gotham Racing 3: 1024×600 360
Tomb Raider: 1024×600 360
NBA 07: 1920×1080 - PS3
NBA 08: 1920×1080 - PS3
Tony Hawk Proving Ground: 600p - PS3
Tony Hawk Proving Ground: 720p - 360
GRAW2: 720p - PS3
GRAW2: 720p AA 2x - 360
Super Rub a Dub: 1600×1080 - PS3
GTHD: 1440×1080 - PS3
Super Stardust HD: 1280×1080 - PS3
Skate: 1536×864 - PS3
Bioshock: 1280×720 - 360
Harry Potter: 1280×720 MSAA 2x
Heavenly Sword: 1280×720 AA 4x PS3
The Darkness Demo: 1024×576 PS3