Microsoft Press Conference @E3 2011 - my thoughts

[markvergeer]

I still don't own a Kinect and probably will not get one soon as my game-room is too small for it to work properly.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@markvergeer The usage space for the thing is pretty big indeed. I don't have one either, and so far have no intention of getting one. I must say, that Ryse demo did look interesting at least.

[amsvip]

i think its bad

[HalfBlindGamer]

@amsvip You and me both :)

[HalfBlindGamer]

@RetroShinigami Nokia used to be my preferred brand, at least before the smartphones started kicking in. I've never tried the N900 though. Everything that's not iOS or Android is a bit left in the dust now, so it's a good idea to join forces.

[NeoHazuki1]

Dont have a kinect and wont get one any time soon. I rather spent my money on the new psp and wii 2

[HalfBlindGamer]

@NeoHazuki1 Amen to that :)

[Edgefox88]

My thoughts were maybe instead of investing in gimmics like voice command for your 360 menu they should use Rare to push out some games Like Killer Instinct 3, Perfect Dark 2, Conker's Other Bad Furday, or even a realy sequel to Banjo Tooie. But knowing Microsoft its not like they need to use Rare for anything other then relaunching there N64 ear gameso n Xbox live arcade and make just one sports game on kinnect.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@Edgefox88 No kidding, they buy a awesome developer, to let them go to waste :(

[Truthfulpietro]

@HalfBlindGamer What about their own Original Xbox exclusives? There are quite a few exclusives that can be brought back onto the 360. A couple that spring to mind are Bloodwake, Bruteforce and Gun Metal.

[jurassicjunkie]

its funny that Sesame street got like a 10 min video... also thats a very good point about why do they keep saying "you cant do that with a controller" the best thing at E3 so far has to be skyrim, that looks so good... cant wait for today to see what Nintendo has!

[HalfBlindGamer]

@jurassicjunkie I found it so weird that they would put a Sesame Street game on stage like that. I mean, it's great that they make a game like that, don't get me wrong. It's also interesting to see that you can have a grown up play alongside a child, that's pretty cool... but a 10 minute demo? Just feels really out of place haha.

Skyrim looks amazing indeed! Gameplay wise it also looks solid.

[Pielover1325]

Agree thought it was weak , the only thing was Halo 4 which I was surprised about also though Sony's was weak to. basically just a whole bunch of stuff we already know with a few bonuses, as for Nintendo i think their gonna blow us out of the water.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@Pielover1325 I don't know, I kind of suspected Microsoft would want to get some more mileage out of the Halo franchise, so it wasn't that big of a surprise to me.

Sony I liked a lot better, but I agree, nothing that was really new.

I also have high hopes for Nintendo, looking forward to that one!

[shaurz]

Spot on!

[specialformula14]

your right ,, microsoft is loosing it with promoting connect.. its borring..

[zebure]

certain objects.....

[HalfBlindGamer]

@RetroShinigami No kidding, we want games, and not mobile ones lol. Nokia could use that OS upgrade though!

[interghost]

Very cool mate... and looking forward to more covering Nintendo and Sony.

Hard core gamers love the Street... ha ha... isnt that right Big Bird?

Microsoft are very good at taking other peoples ideas, so they will be waiting on Nintendo and will rip the piss out of anything they come up with that is new... just to bring out their own 'improved' version at a way later date... ring any bells Connect fans!

[HalfBlindGamer]

@interghost The count has been counting down the years for this chance!

You know, the Kinect hasn't been doing so well so far, so I doubt this will improve it much. I wonder, if Microsoft doesn't come up with something really new, will there even be a next console? They are losing exclusives and now they seem to be giving Sony and especially Nintendo a head start in introducing new things. Microsoft is rich, but also smart when it comes to being profitable... maybe casual is the way to go?

[CabooseAzul]

KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT CASUAL KINECT KINECT KINECT CASUAL

[HalfBlindGamer]

@CabooseAzul That, and then some more KINECT for good measure.

[zebure]

@HalfBlindGamer Well i have an smart idea on how to use the scan your objects tech.

This tech could be used in the sims, e.x you are about to redecorate a room in the sims, and well you really want the room to feature an certain but it does not appear in any of the expansions and the basic packetet. but you happen to have the item in your irl place, so how are you doing? scan the irl object, and voila you get an the sims replica of your irl life object.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@zebure Yeah, if they can make it like that, it would actually be pretty interesting. They also said something about scanning in a car, which you could then drive in the game, that would be neat too.

[Bonemiath]

Well, i havent seen that presentation because i'm not paying much attention to it.

I'm not much of a shootergame-friend and i mostly, if any, play non-exclusive games.

Let's just say that games are becoming lamer. I mean, personally, all those shooter games have little to no appeal to me and seriously, I'd buy a 3DS with Ocarina of Time 3DS over a XBOX360 with kinect. Sometimes remakes can be more refreshing than damn kinect. I think Nintendo has more of a plan than MS does.

[mathowlett]

Sesame Street??? WOOHHOOOOO !!! I love Sesame Street !!! :-)

[HalfBlindGamer]

@mathowlett I do endorse Cookie Monster's political agenda :D

[Jacesfaces]

Your right Seb, it was Terrible!

[HalfBlindGamer]

@Jacesfaces Hah, glad I'm not alone :)

[IAmNotAFunguy]

Microsoft is being like Nintendo and the Wii with the Kinect. They are ditching the hardcore crown they have so attracted for gimmicky, motion-controlled "software titles" for a wider audience. They need to remember who it was that originally had an XBOX 360-hardcore gamers! Now that they have gathered a larger audience they need to get something good to keep them!

[HalfBlindGamer]

@IAmNotAFunguy Haha, right on, it's like slap in the face "Thanks for yer money, now we're moving onto a new market, have a nice day".

[Jprime777]

I'm really into the Halo remake, it was a great game 10 years ago and I'd love to play it again updated. Halo 4 sounds really fun to me as well, I'm a big fan of the series.

It was a pretty bad showing over all though.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@Jprime777 I'm not the biggest Halo fan, although I did really enjoy the first one. Never found it overly special though. A remake is still cool regardless, but I would have liked to see more original stuff, oh well, there's always next year :D

[Croooow111]

I was watching for the slim chance Microsoft would announce a new system. From what they did show, Forza 4 did peak my interest, and the way the Kinect could scan people and object looked pretty cool, but I'd me more impressed if it actually works that way if it works as advertised when it's released. Sure it has little to do with gaming, but I still think that's a little bit cool (if it actually works).

[HalfBlindGamer]

@Croooow111 I was hoping they would announce something new in the form of hardware too, or at least some new cool exclusives. Forza 4 really looks great though.

The Kinect and what it can do is pretty nice, but I really think it's awful how they put it center stage. Maybe someday they will even get it to the point, where it actually does what it promised, but even then it shouldn't be put in front of games... optional integration like in ME3 would be nice though.

[RetroGameTech]

Lol, I totally agree. I've not watched the presentation yet but I did read through the press release. What a let down! It's all sequels and Kinect marketing *yawns*.

But c'mon, don't tell me this bit of Kinect news didn't get you excited ->"Kinect Fun Labs will launch with four Gadgets: Kinect Me, Bobble Head, Build A Buddy and Kinect Googly Eyes". Lol. It actually a little depressing.

Awesome vid, Seb!

[HalfBlindGamer]

@RetroGameTech Well, there was Finger Tracking too which is obviously awesome lol.

Thanks man, appreciate the comment :)

[nightbirdds]

You know, Kinect is so polarizing that you either love or hate it. For us though, it's really annoying because we can't even use it.

That said, I'll take Forza 4, Ryse, and that TV service.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@nightbirdds Oh wow, I totally forgot to mention Ryse, that did look pretty interesting for sure!

Depending on the game, I can make use of the Kinect, and it's not all bad, I just don't think the focus should be there at all.

[XarboyMkII]

There's no way that Kinect will live to be anything great. As you said, you don't WANT to jump and wave around to play games. Yes, from a technical standpoint it cool, but for practical gaming is a waste of time for a company like Microsoft. Perhaps the Kinect is the 360's Sega CD/32X. Just something to squeeze the life out of the system.

[HalfBlindGamer]

@XarboyMkII Yeah, it can be a fun addon, but it should never get front stage as they are trying to push it in now. We want actual games to play.

[phonox]

@XarboyMkII

I think the Dance Dance Revolution series and its clones disagrees with you. =P

Personally, I'm only interested in consoles when it comes to platformers. Everything else I have my PC for.

I absolutely love the stuff people have done with Kinect on a capable system (PC) and what will come in the future. Sure the Wiimote was nice and all, but it's amounts to just about nothing in comparison to Kinect. A drop in the ocean: ?v=8nlk6HhDpDw