E3 2008 Microsoft XBOX 360 Conference Predictions
Category: Video Games
Tags: banjo kazooie nuts and bolts, conference predictions, e3 2008, gears of war 2, microsoft xbox 360, motion controler, perfect dark
The hottest news that I think Microsoft can show at their E3 conference this year is that they’re going to segway into the Wii’s market by releasing a motion controller. Given the amount of slack Microsoft give Nintendo over their “novelty” product they obviously wish they’d released the product first. Being a hypocrite is a sign of bad times but I’ll be interested to see how Microsoft fare bringing (essentially) the Wii into higher definition. Rumours are that the dashboard is going to have a good ol’ rethink to with the inclusion of - ahem - 3D avatars (read: Mii’s).
I’d expect that Microsoft will be wanting to get the “360 Remote” into as many homes as possible if it is a real product and thus: I’d expect it will come bundled with a big first-party game such as Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts or perhaps Halo Wars.
Speaking of Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, I am sure a lot more of that game will be shown alongside perhaps a more secret Rare game (new Perfect Dark release?). I expect a lot of Gears Of War 2 hyping alongside perhaps some new information on Viva Pinata 2. Halo Wars will be at the show and maybe some new information on Alan Wake seeing as it has been in development for a long, long time now.
Finally I’m sure Bungie will have something to show off. Perhaps a smaller scale XBOX Live Arcade game?
I’m expecting the segway into Wii’s market to be Microsoft’s biggest element of the show though. I do think they need to be careful if they’re going to try and take the Wii head on. The Wii was developed with family friendly in mind and that reflects in it’s hardware, controller layout, advertising and even dashboard. One look at the XBOX 360’s dashboard is sure to send people running. Are they really set up to take the Wii on in this generation.
What do you think?
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
spunkmonkey
I purchased a Wii for my daughter last Christmas and if was fun for about a month. It just doesn’t have that wow factor graphically. And most of the games are cute and fun but inevitably get boring, IMHO. If given the choice my daughter would trade it in for a 360 of her own in a heartbeat. I won’t allow it because it’s still a cool machine to have around, sort of like a Karaoke machine. She’ll get her wish in the end because I’ve been coveting an Elite for some time now (I hope it gets a price cut too). If MS taps into that market they’ll steal some of the Wiis thunder but it’s kind of late for that now. Most people who really wanted one have one. To me it will only make sense if MS puts the full support of the company behind developing must have games for the controller and Banjo Kazooie just doesn’t do it for me. Personally the only way I buy this game is if the controller is bundled for a hell of a discount. Now the dashboard prediction is really interesting, I hope its true. One of the few things I liked about the PS3 was the slick interface. Hope MS delivers the goods.
Jul 9th, 2008
get2sammyb
Hey Spunkmonkey.
Nintendo pretty much have the ability to print money just now but I wouldn’t stray too far away from it because I reckon there’s gonna be some cool stuff coming pretty soon - I already put up my Nintendo conference predictions on Monday so check them out if you’re interested.
I’m not totally convinced the 360 has a niche anymore - sure it has a great online mode but when you consider what Sony offer for free (still nowhere near as good but it’s gettting closer and is £40 less) I’m not so sure Live is worth the money it was, say, a year or 2 ago.
Also if Microsoft step into Wii terroritory - they need to consider where they are; you can’t just have the best of both worlds. Nintendo has succeeded because it’s all out aimed its console at a casual demographic - aunties, uncles, mums, dads, parents, kids - the 360 still has a strong “teenage”/”middle-aged businessmen” attachment to it. No amount of motion controls and “Wii Sports” type games are going to change that.
Sammy.
Jul 9th, 2008
preestiopiff
It’s amazing
Aug 3rd, 2008
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