Microsoft E3 Conference - Good games, high price

The Microsoft E3 conference is now finished.

Snake is back! Opening with a jaw dropping, Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain trailer, confirming MGS5 for the next-gen console!  A realistic day/night cycle and passage of time, new modes of transport (horseback riding!), new increased stealth action, and stunning graphics.

 

Following the MGS5 trailer, featuring gameplay, the presentation continued with hints at upcoming titles, and new Xbox 360 details. World of Tanks is coming to Xbox 360, free to play (for those users with Gold Membership), this summer 2013.

 

For those with Xbox Gold memberships, you’ll be able to download 2 free games, with Assassin’s Creed 2 and Halo 3 featured as titles in this exclusive deal. This is clearly a nod to PS+.

 

On to some more game announcements, starting with Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, followed by Dark Souls 2, due March 2014.  Not many details given, short gameplay trailers shown.

 

Phil Spencer then took the stage to introduce the exclusive Xbox One content.  All games announced from here on are only for Xbox One.

First up we’ve got Ryse: Son of Rome from Crytek. Gameplay is revealed, showing frequent Quick Time Events, 360 degree camera angles, shield and melee weapons featured, ability to block and shoot arrows.  As leader of a Roman troop, single combat as well formation combat are both possible.  This game seems epic in scope, but heavy on the QTEs.

Following Ryse, a short trailer announced that Killer Instinct will make a much needed comeback on Xbox One. Even more surprising perhaps is the fact that Ted Price, from Insomniac is next on stage to showcase Sunset Overdrive, an open world shooter that changes gameplay based on interactions, described as a ‘living world game.’

Finally, the heavily anticipated Forza 5 presentation begins.  Opening with a feature on McLaren’s next generation of racing vehicles, a McLaren p1 rises onto the stage, a nice segway to this next-gen race gaming.  With a heavy focus on real life details, Forza 5 described itself as ‘shattering expectations’ with innovation in cloud processing.  It’s the end of AI in Forza 5, with the creation of a learning agent in the cloud called Drivatar.  Your Drivatar learns from you and truly acts like a real person, making decisions and actions based on how you behave when racing.  When you log off, Drivatar keeps racing others in the cloud, earning you credits you receive upon logging back in.  Turn 10 intends to redefine the expectations of racing fans.

 

Next up, Phil Harrison takes the stage to tease us with footage and some minor details for Minecraft on Xbox One, featuring more maps, more details, and a whole bunch of more, more, more…  although not much more is actually shown.  We’ll be chasing down details on this one later in the week!

Sam Lake follows to introduce new details on Remedy‘s new creation; Quantum Break.  We were intrigued to see what this would be all about, and frankly disappointed in the gameplay video revealed.  The graphics are nothing to shout about, and the story line seemed confusing.  Perhaps because this is described as a total television & gaming experience.  How you make decisions in gameplay effect your television viewing experience, and details form the show effect gameplay.  It’s the ‘ultimate remedy experience.’ We’ll see.

 

A quick teaser for the episodic murder mystery, D4.

 

Dave McCarthy from Microsoft Studios takes the stage to introduce Project Spark.  It’s a game that players can create from the ground up (literally), and then share/broadcast for a truly unique experience each time.  Featuring world building aspects with voice commands for Kinect, players built maps. day/night platforming, village building, and even the ability to add behaviors or create enemies to battle.  It’s a truly imaginative experience with an infinite number of possibilities.  The kids will probably love this.

 

Marc Whitten followed to present details for what Xbox Live has to offer the fans.  Heavy focus on the new Smartglass technology, so that tablets enhance gameplay; a new feature includes Smartmatch, allowing players to enter games faster than before.  Smartglass syncs with Xbox One to find online games, access in-game stats, and check DVR clips. With friend highlights, instant real-time stat comparisons, timeline changes based on relevant information during play, interactions are deemed truly groundbreaking.  Automatic recording, with Upload Studio, allows you to personalize and share gameplay recordings within seconds, or to stream live in partnership with Twitch.  You’re no longer limited to 100 friends, and Microsoft points will disappear, in favor of local currency transactions.  As well, a nice perk is that it’s now possible to share Gold memberships within your household.

 

The world premier of Xbox One exclusive, Crimson Dragon, follows with a brief trailer.

 

Next up we’ve got Josh Bridge & Mile Jones to present Dead Rising 3, an open world zombie game, featuring interactive terrain, day/night cycle, vehicle modes, and a fantastic array of unique customized weapons.  Everything can be turned into a weapon in this game.  It will be out this holiday season to give Day z a run for its money.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt followed, along with the confirmation that the game will come to Xbox One, more gameplay details were revealed: tactical combat, next gen-graphics, and a focus on new free roaming open world environment, with non linear story and quests.  As well, check out the integration of voice commands using Kinect to enhance interactions.

 

Battlefield 4: Second Assault makes a splash with its gameplay feature.  I’ll try not to drool, but it was pretty impressive!  A heavy emphasis was placed on the new naval battles aspect, with truly fantastic water effects evident.  Just one way to show off what the next-gen consoles can do with graphics.

 

Following the epic BF4 trailer, Below is announced, a roguelike RPG.

 

A new Halo for next-gen is announced, with 60FPS, dedicated servers, and utilizing Cloud gaming.  Master Chief is back in jaw dropping high-def detail for the die hard fans,

Finally, the presentation ends up with a Titanfall announcement, leaked a few days ago through Game Informer’s July release for Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC. Also due in 2014, the trailer showcases Mechs and Soldiers working together in hectic, but amazing multiplayer battles.

 

And it’s over!  A heavy focus on how fantastic cloud processing will be, perhaps an attempt to win back the fans following the Xbox One reveal and subsequent PR disaster.  Plenty of exclusives and new content to renew interest.  Just don’t mind the cost, at $499 US.

Of course, this is only the beginning and the other conferences have yet to follow. However, we can without a doubt say that Microsoft had an impressive showing, but the DRM ghosts are still there and the price might be quite high at launch for many. This was certainly a step in the right direction, the direction of gaming, by Microsoft; but there’s still much to do.