Okay, I'm going to try and summarize the three big press conferences at E3 2009 and see how that goes. So let's start chronologically with Microsoft.
I may as well put on my money hat now, because Microsoft blew me away this year by making E3 big and bombastic again. Nary a pie chart was in sight, instead we got what mattered: games and a better user experience. Microsoft seems to be the only one that understands the importance of having an online experience and their announcements of Web 2.0 integration with Facebook, Twitter, and last.fm put them miles above everyone else who thinks that text chat is enough.
On the games side, I actually got to see software that I wanted. The original Crackdown was one of the funnest games I've played this generation and I was bouncing in my seat when I saw that it was getting a well deserved sequel. Every announcement provided me of more of what I wanted. And although it's not related, hearing the Twitters of a Monkey Island remake on top of Microsoft's conference made me feel like Christmas was coming with a vengeance. Even though it's pretty much all sequels, it doesn't feel like the software for this generation is ratcheting down at all.
I may as well put on my money hat now, because Microsoft blew me away this year by making E3 big and bombastic again. Nary a pie chart was in sight, instead we got what mattered: games and a better user experience. Microsoft seems to be the only one that understands the importance of having an online experience and their announcements of Web 2.0 integration with Facebook, Twitter, and last.fm put them miles above everyone else who thinks that text chat is enough.
On the games side, I actually got to see software that I wanted. The original Crackdown was one of the funnest games I've played this generation and I was bouncing in my seat when I saw that it was getting a well deserved sequel. Every announcement provided me of more of what I wanted. And although it's not related, hearing the Twitters of a Monkey Island remake on top of Microsoft's conference made me feel like Christmas was coming with a vengeance. Even though it's pretty much all sequels, it doesn't feel like the software for this generation is ratcheting down at all.
Plus:
- Shadow Complex (Metroidvania for the 360)
- Left 4 Dead 2
- Crackdown 2
- Metal Gear Solid: Rising
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Alan Wake (now with release date of spring 2010)
- Two Halo titles (for those who care)
- Splinter Cell: Conviction
- Final Fantasy XIII (coming out for the 360 spring 2010)
- Project Natal is amusing future tech
- Rock Band: The Beatles featuring full downloadable albums starting with Abbey Road
- Big guest stars: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Dhani Harrison, Steven Spielberg
- Integration with social networking, better Netflix, better user experience
- Games on Demand coming
- The presentation had momentum with little downtime
- Natal could be the new "Virtual Reality helmet"
- Software lineup is sequel heavy
- I want the updated dashboard now
A+
Microsoft put on one of the most exciting E3 shows I can think of beating out Nintendo's unveil of the DS and Twilight Princess and Microsoft's own unveiling of the Xbox 360. They put on a show that could please everybody and packed it with actual surprises. Good show, Microsoft!
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