E3 2008 news ... PHUCK!

[st39.6]

THIS IS PROBABLY BIGGER THAN JESUS

Final Fantasy XIII Coming To Xbox 360

Breaking news from the Microsoft E3 2008 press conference. Square Enix head honcho Yoichi Wada took the stage to announce Final Fantasy XIII for the Xbox 360.

Yes, just take a moment to soak that up. Final Fantasy XIII coming to the Xbox 360. Holy ****ing ****. Simultaneous release in Europe and North America with PS3. Wow.

HOLY CRAP!

VB:

JULY 14 | LOS ANGELES—For those used to the thumping of chests about hardcore action videogames such as Halo 3 and Gears of War, this year at E3, Microsoft Entertainment is pumping social cred instead of bullets.

On Monday morning, Microsoft led the big announcements of show week with what it calls a complete relaunch of the Xbox 360 platform. Current 20GB-hard-drive models have been discounted $50 to $299 and will be phased out in favor of a new 60GB-hard-drive version, priced at $349. Plus, the new models will have a new, more user-friendly interface.

"Our focus is now on the social experience," said Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft director of product management told VB after a media briefing here.

Microsoft's partnership with Netflix also will go live with a new interface. Netflix offerings will be presented via 3D retail box art.

Greenberg said Netflix will add 10,000 titles, doubling the amount of film and TV content available from Xbox Live to 20,000 titles total.

For now, users have to subscribe to Netflix separately, but the goal is for Xbox Live users to be able to subscribe to Netflix's service within Xbox Live in the future.

Greenberg doesn't see the Netflix association cannibalizing other studio content available on Xbox Live. He said Netflix content is presented in standard-definition only, while studio content is primarily in high-definition.

Microsoft also announced that it will add another 700 new video titles from the studios.

To further the new social positioning for its console, Microsoft this fall will promote what it is calling Xbox Live Primetime, a melding of game show reality TV and videogames.

The first title available on Xbox Live, One vs. a Hundred, will have a live host during primetime hours and feature real-time competition by players seen as their avatars.

Microsoft also is betting heavily on music games and will get an exclusive window on Electronic Arts' Rock Bands 2.

A new first-party music title being developed in Japan is called Lips. The game will ship with two wireless motion-sensing microphones. This singing competition game features pop, hip-hop, rock, country and R&B songs heavily localized to each national market. Players also will be able to upload their own MP3s into the game.

You're In the Movies, a movie-themed exclusive game from Codemasters, will arrive for the holidays bundled with the new Xbox Live Vision camera and will allow users to create their own video clips, which can be uploaded to social Web sites such as YouTube.

Microsoft’s change of focus can be attributed to the success of the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3's edge in music and social gaming in Europe. Microsoft is prioritizing Europe, Greenberg pointed out, so the new interface built around 3D avatars that gamers can customize plus a more user-friendly interface are expected to play better to the less-hardcore sensibilities on the continent.

"Gamers were able to navigate to the downloadable content on Xbox Live, but we wanted to make it easier for new gamers to jump in and find that content," Greenberg said.

The new all-3D interface will be available this fall as an online update or via game disc. Microsoft's Rare studio has created the avatar system, which presents acute player presentations in game and Xbox Live social settings.

These avatars also will be integrated into upcoming games, including new versions of Guitar Hero, where gamers will be able to unlock special costumes for their avatars.

hey, wii-like avatars. what the hell? so xbox is for babies now?

I wonder if Sony has something strong for a response.
Lately they have announced Trophies (didnt try it yet) and XMB in Game, plus they said they´re gonna release date of movie download service on E3. They´d better switch on Home right tomorrow, or they´re fracked

[st39.6]

ok, new FF traile here
http://kotaku.com/5025105/final-fant...the-e3-trailer
....can I say ... HOLY COW!!!!

[j7wild]

FF 13?



I still need to play FF 8, 9, 10, 11,12....

[odj_310388]

Meh I've never liked the FF games, much more looking forward to...

Fallout 3
Mirrors Edge
Project Origin
Gears of War 2

All look very good.

[Kn'thrak]

games I am really looking forward 2 r

Prince Of Persia
Project Origin
Mirror Edge
Diablo 3

[wirm]

I've gotten as far as FF VIII

[st39.6]

well I never played FF, but from the looks of it, I gotta get the n.XIII ...
cant wait for Mirror Edge either

These are another titles I want:
SW: Force Unleashed
Uncharted 2
.... aaaaand ... that should be it.
not much of a gamer

[redbear]

units sold to date:

PS2 - 127 million
DS - 70.6 million
PSP - 37 million
Wii - 24.45 million
XBox - 24 million
Xbox 360 - 19 million
PS3 - 13 million

give it back to Nintendo...

personally, im LOL ....

[st39.6]

what are those numbers representing?

[Kn'thrak]

units sold to date!
Wonder if the 360 will take over since its now the cheapest console out there.

[st39.6]

oh I see now. it was in thousands and completely different order before, thats why I didnt know

[st39.6]

btw these are correct numbers

[redbear]

well, it all depends on who you ask. anyone from MS will tell you that the Xbox 360 is the leader whereas most sites are giving out different information.

point being, if i was releasing a game such as Final Fantasy, the 360 wouldn't be the one i would pick. though, i don't know how many people who own a Wii have the classic controllers so i don't know what it would be like to play FF on the Nintendo 'chucks' they have.

[st39.6]

anyway, Sony announced God of War III
and Movie Download Service, which became available TONIGHT (gotta check it out, hope EU version comes soon!!)
I loved Little Big Planet presentation. That game is simply awsome