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E3 - Microsoft, EA Go Live, Halo 2 Dated, Xbox Videophoned
Thanks to Yahoo! for reprinting a Microsoft press release revealing its major videogame-related announcements ahead of this year's E3 Expo in Los Angeles. Major among them is Electronic Arts' official support of the online Xbox Live service, long-awaited and previously rumored, so that "by the end of the year, 15 of EA's online-enabled console titles will be playable on Xbox Live." In addition, Bungie's much-anticipated Halo 2 is confirmed for Xbox release on November 9th, just as new hands-on multiplayer previews are appearing online, plus alleged Xbox Gran Turismo-beater, Forza Motorsport is announced, and a multi-person videophone service for Xbox Live is showcased, as well as an Xbox Live Arcade service featuring "casual games people love to play with their families... [including] 'Bejeweled'... and arcade favorites such as Namco's 'Dig Dug' and 'Galaxian'." Update: 05/11 06:26 GMT by S : There are also new Halo 2 screenshots via Bungie.net.
I thought the more interesting part was
I saw the original research into these "drivatars" at a MSR techfest a year or so ago. They had them hooked up to PGR, with a bunch of graphical debugging spew turned on (showing estimated driving lines, what the AI was thinking, etc). It was very cool. There was talk at the time of being able to download drivatars based on professional drivers on the then-new XBox Live service. Hopefully they do that.
And on a side note, does it bother anybody else when people refer to "wheels" as "rims"? A wheel is more than just a "rim", so why call it that? When I read "rims" in reference to wheels, my brain automatically translates it to "riceboy crap".
here's a question for everyone...i'd be interested in hearing other opinions. It seems the new trend in video gaming is taking games online. It also seems that this has taken attention off of offline games. an example would be Final Fantasy XI. While i was anxiously awaiting the next FF game, i was disapointed to discover that it was online. another example would be the ill fated attempt to take Myst online, one that fortunatly failed. For someone such as myself who doesn't enjoy interacting with idiots in real life, let alone through some video game, i'm concerned that the trend to online gaming is hurting the rest of the industry. any thoughts? -dystopias p.s. i would consider spending more time with online gaming if i could afford to be paying another bill every month. i realize companies have to charge so that they can pay for all the maintinance and upkeep but the subscription costs are enough to keep me away.
Not to say that MS's sports games were particularly good -- they weren't. But I can't help but wonder what this year's battle is going to be like with only EA and Sega fighting over the majority of sports titles (Sony also has put it's 989 series on hiatus for a year).
I didn't read the article, but all that just sounds like NFS Underground with more options.
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
It's better than GT because the controller is about the same size as the steering wheel on my car right?
but seriously though, GT was so good because it was so, real. even if you cut the graphics to half it's current quality, the controls, the way cars handle, once you do GT and touch any other racer, the way the cars move feel fake and alien - and that's what makes GT special.
Heck, compared to today's standards, GT(s) for the original PS had graphics that can be rivaled by a 4 year old and a box of crayons, but they were damn fun nontheless.
at the same time, i remember EA licensed porsche exclusively. how does MS get around this? by paying EA a lot of money? I'm curious.
My life in the land of the rising sun.
It sounds so cool that I have to wonder if this will be as cheesy as a NFS game.
Letting us change fuel and spark maps? How are they going to model that, especially with the "non-standard" engines? Are they going to have a list of what engines can fit in what chassis?
If I turn the boost pressure up to 35psi on an 8.5:1 engine with no intercooler, will the engine blow in the game, just like in real life? What about extreme spark advances? Cams? Wheel and rubber sizes, gear ratios, etc..? It seems like too much to me, which is why I'm thinking it will go the "MORE HP = YOU WIN" mentality of the typical arcade racer.
If it approaches realism, has better AI than GT4, real life tracks, and a bigger car list than GT4 then I'm throwing my PS2 away. I've always wanted to play GT with my own soundtrack. Oh yea, it's gotta have rally courses (including Pike's Peak), and the Escudo.
I apologize for being off-topic, but it's at least semi-relevent in the sense that this is sorta about E3. Somebody got a photo of the Nintendo DS logo.
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http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=ite
The picture's kinda blurry (heh, camera phone?) but it appears to depict two screens, one above the other. Looks like a GBA SP with the lower half being a screen. Not the most exciting photo ever, but a lot of us are itching to see what Nintendo's going to show us tomorrow, figured I'd post it. (No hard feelings if I'm modded down, though...)
"Derp de derp."
P.S. Bryan is Korean. His definition of a Rice Boy: Rice-Boy is a stereotype. The typical Rice-Boy can be identified by his car, or rather what he does to it. Generally, Rice-Boy will start out with a car that was not meant to go fast (typically a Honda Civic), and attempt to "fix it up," usually consisting of aftermarket rims, lowering springs and an aftermarket exhaust system with a large exhaust tip.
The funny part is that they're the ones who've proposed it!
I love that type of realism, which is why I love GT so much: it's almost the perfect racing sim in most respects. It's the perfect balance between realistic, and easy to play for the novice.
The articles I read a bit ago about this game say that it's supposed to be that realistic, (its even going to have body kits and bumpers, side skirts, etc...ugh!) but I think they're being far too ambitious. I also think that it might be based on the Project Gotham engine, and I hated the way that game drove. So far nothing beats GT on that. If I'm in a MR car, it handles much like a real one would. A FF car handles like it should, same for a FR, etc..
The article says that they've brought in engineers, physicists, and the like...so we can only hope..
But to kill off the GT franchise, they've got a lot of work to do. Some of the screen shots I've seen leave me very unimpressed with the cars, and I think they're putting too much emphasis on scenery..scenery is pointless in a racing sim. Who cares if you can render the gravel on the side of the track when I'm going to be passing it at 140+ mph ?
I don't know if GT4 is out here in the states either (GT4 and Halo2 are the only games on my "to buy" list and I'm in no hurry..) but I loved GT2, liked GT3, and from what I've read about GT4 I'll love it. They have my favourite car company finally, and brought back the used cars..which ruined GT3 IMO.
In other words: this game better be f'in spectacular if they expect it to replace GT for people like me.
How about this?
I don't WANT a PC. I want a console where I put a game in and play it immediately.
Meanwhile I have voice communiation with the people I play with, which means I get to play a lot more of Links 2004 than before when I actually had to get off my butt and go to my friend's house.
Besides the thing is that even if you have twice the power in the PC you won't get twice as impressive games.
PC games are coded for the lowest common denominator (even if it allows for some scalability) whereas the developers know exactly what they can get out of an Xbox and can use it to its fullest - which in the end results in more impressive games with steady framerates and great graphics.
That's why you don't see games like Dead or Alive on PC. Heck, you don't even see Project Gotham Racing 2.
Comparing PCs and consoles (even if hardware is similar to a great extent) is like comparing rain to a cd jewel box. It makes no sense.
As a Linux user and a gamer who owns a Playstation 2, GameCube and Xbox. I say long as they do it fair and square. Yes, Microsoft did that in the PC world but they will have a harder time in the console market. The PS2 is the number one game console and it doesn't even have the best graphics. It's because Sony got a good line up of games for there console. I play my PS2 the most the, Xbox is 2nd and the GameCube is only when I have people over (4 WaveBirds). It's sad because I started off with a GameCube first then got a Playstation 2 and Xbox once I moved because I didn't stay close to any of my gamer friends. I think everyone know Nintendo is dumb for not launching some kind of online service and that's what's hurting them now. Well that's what I think don't hold that against me because I don't feel like starting a flame war.
Anyways Microsoft didn't buy EA, they cancel there own sports line up. The Xbox doesn't have Windows Media player, MSN Messenger or even Microsoft Office 2003. They aren't forcing Tecmo to develop games for there system. Right now every console is on a leveled playing field which is something you can't say for the OEM/PC market right now.
From Zero to Hero... Starbuck Zero
The original reason why EA wasn't live enabled because EA wanted to turn off xbox live after a new version of the game was released, forcing everyone to upgrade. Microsoft said no, and EA said no live.
Have you ever been to a turkish prison?