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Sliced Gaming Feature: E3 2009: Microsoft Press Conference

Writer: David Latham
Posted: 2nd June 2009, 6:05am

Microsoft kicked off this year's E3 with announcement after announcement, and showed the world that the Xbox is definitely a console that won't go unnoticed in the next 18 months. Immediately below are what we considered to be the major announcements, and then underneath you will find the raw notes from the press conference.

Metal Gear Solid: Rising announced by Hideo Kojima himself. Solid Snake will not be in this game.

Microsoft announced Project Natal, a sensor bar similar to what you can already find on the Nintendo Wii, except with full body motion sensors, and voice recognition. Truly an amazing piece of hardware, for full details check out the raw information below.

Several huge blockbusters were displayed: Splinter Cell Conviction, Left 4 Dead 2, Crackdown 2, Halo: ODST, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Forza 3, Halo: Reach, Tony Hawk Ride, Final Fantasy XIII, The Beatles Rock Band, and Alan Wake. The crowd favourites seemed to be Crackdown 2, Forza 3, Modern Warfare 2, Final Fantasy XIII and Alan Wake.

Famous celebrities including Ringo Star, Paul McCartney, Steven Spielberg and Tony Hawk all participated in the keynote.

 

Here are the raw notes if you didn't manage to catch the keynote:

The Beatles opening "Hard Day's Night" advertising for Rock Band game, opening cinematic for the game

After another Beatles classic, and more gloating about another music game, including the announcement that there are Beatles songs in the Beatles Rock Band game and the US release date of 09/09/09, the guest appearance of Yoko Ono-Lennon and Olivia Harrison (who said nothing), and then finally Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr the conference finally started.

The Beatles acted like they were fresh out of the music video from I Am The Walrus, saying things such as, "the game is good, the graphics are good, and we were great!" and "I like the way I walk"

"All you need is love" DLC shortly after the game launches

10 world premiers to be announced throughout the conference

Tony Hawk then took the stage, showing the board design of the skateboard controller for Tony Hawk Ride. Accelerometers, infrared sensors.. a "world exclusive" trailer was then displayed, which slowly showed more gameplay and less talking about how awesome the game is.

Next up, Modern Warfare 2. The gameplay looks absolutely amazing, advanced graphics engine, set in a snowstorm with realistic weather effects. Finished with an explosive snowmobile scene racing down the snow slopes. Two Modern Warfare 2 map packs released as timed exclusives on XBL

Final Fantasy XIII is next, with the worlds' first look at FF13 running on Xbox 360. Gameplay footage is then shown, mid way through a fight with a "giant mega-boss". Four active time guages, attack enemy consecutively with more tactics. They then summon Odin to assist in destroying the boss. Spring 2010 US release date.

Epic Games then takes the stage, and announces ...

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