We’ve already had the opportunity to explore some of the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade titles that are coming down the chute, but what else is happening with Microsoft’s entry into the home gaming market? What else can we expect from the Xbox 360 in the months to follow? In speaking with some Microsoft reps at E3 Expo 2009, it turns out that they’re not even close to maximizing the utility of the 360.
Project Natal Waves into Action
Easily the biggest and most groundbreaking announcement to come out of E3 was the unveiling of Project Natal (pronounced nah-tawl rather than nay-tul). The motion sensing technology of Project Natal far exceeds the relatively simple solution I had predicted going into E3 in Los Angeles.
In effect, Project Natal consists of a horizontal sensor bar that goes well beyond the Wii sensor bar. It has an RGB camera, a depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and a custom processor running proprietary software. This provides for full-body motion capture in 3D space with up to 48 points of reference. There’s also facial recognition, ambient noise suppression, and all sorts of other nifty features. Here’s a quick video demo of it in action:
Microsoft did not indicate when Project Natal would be ready for a retail release, though some analysts are expecting something based on this technology to be released in late 2010. For more information, check out the official Project Natal page on Xbox.com.
Going Social with Twitter and Facebook
Ever since we saw the launch of the New Xbox Experience (NXE) (and the accompanying Avatars), we knew that Microsoft really wanted to push more of a social and casual element to the Xbox 360. They continued this trend by teaming up with two of the largest social networking sites on the Internet.
With the Twitter integration, you’ll not only be able to check up on your friends’ tweets (you heard me) and update your own Twitter account, but you can also directly tweet Xbox gaming-related information too.
The Facebook integration seems like it goes even further than that, allowing you to access the photos that your Facebook friends have posted on Facebook, displaying them in the form of a photo slideshow on your TV. Just about anything that you’d do from your computer on Facebook can be done on the Xbox 360 as well.
Zune Video Marketplace Streams 1080p
We already know that you can use devices like the Seagate Theater HD Media Player or even the built-in media player on the Xbox 360 to watch movies, television shows, and other video content. You could also purchase programming through the Xbox Video Marketplace. Those are all well and good, but they can be time-consuming.
In an era where we want instant gratification, Microsoft is bringing a new Zune Video Marketplace to the Xbox 360. There are two very important features here that should be noted. First, you’ll be getting true 1080p video content.
Second, the on-demand video is streaming. They claim that there are no downloads, no discs, and no buffering. There will be some artifacts as the feed scales up, but this only takes a couple of seconds. The feed can max out at 8Mbps, if your Internet connection supports it. Otherwise, the stream can be downscaled to accommodate slightly slower connections.
In addition to the video streaming from the Zune Video Marketplace, the Xbox 360 will also be getting a free music streaming service courtesy of Last.fm. It’s quite clear that Microsoft wants the 360 to be so much more than “just” a gaming console.
Racing Around in Forza Motorsport 3
For many people, Forza is the definitive racing game franchise. In meeting with one of the developers, he said that the only difference between arcade racers and simulation-style racers is that the former tends to sacrifice realistic physics to make the game easier. They didn’t want to do that with Forza, but they wanted to make the game more approachable for people who may otherwise by intimidated by complicated sims.
The goal is to make gamers into car lovers and car lovers into gamers. In this way, they have implemented a series of “helpers” and “aids” that can be enabled or disabled at will. You can follow a path on the road that will provide you with the optimal line, including indications for when you should brake. There’s also an auto-brake feature and even the ability to rewind a live race so you can try a particularly challenging section again. Let’s see it all in action in this video demo:
Forza Motorsport 3 features 10 times the polygons and textures as Forza 2, bringing a new level of realism and detail to the franchise. Just how much detail? Check out this demo:
There are 400 vehicles in this game, ranging from SUVs to British sports cars, classic Mustangs to a new Lotus Elise. There are also 100 tracks, 60 of which are real and the other 40 are original. This is one huge game.
Forza Motorsport 3 is scheduled for release on October 27, 2009.
Alan Wake Enters the Light
This game has been in development for a very long time, but at long last, the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. Remedy Entertainment, the same people that brought us Max Payne, are introducing us to a new character named Alan Wake. He’s a best-selling writer who is looking to get his groove back by moving to a pristine location in the Pacific Northwest.
What he soon discovers is that the book he is writing, a psychological action thriller, is starting to manifest itself in real life. Think the same idea as Stranger than Fiction with Will Ferrell, only scarier rather than funnier. When Alan’s wife Alice goes missing, he goes out in search of her. The story is presented like a serial TV show, not unlike 24, Heroes, or Fringe. Check out the video trailer below:
What makes this game so different is that light is a key gameplay element. The enemies who lurk in the shadows cannot be harmed through regular bullets unless Alan shines his bright flashlight at them. Other enemies can be defeated by blinding light alone. You’ll find tools like torches, flares, and generators that power floodlights. The atmosphere is definitely dark and moody, making for a nice story-driven thriller.
Alan Wake is set for release in Spring 2010.
Finishing Another Fight with Halo 3: ODST
So, you thought that you finished the fight with Halo 3. Well, the fight is far from over. You don’t get to take Master Chief on another fragging adventure, however, as Halo 3: ODST places you in control of the Rookie. He’s a new officer who lacks some of the abilities of Master Chief. We knew this game was coming, but it was good to see ODST in action. Speaking of which, here’s a most excellent trailer for you to drool over:
The game will ship as a two-disc set. On one disc is the competitive multiplayer. You get tons of maps to explore and beating the tar out of your buddies has never been more fun. The other disc is comprised of the single-player campaign mode. The story here takes place some time between Halo 2 and Halo 3, so while the specifics will be new and from a different perspective, there will be familiar elements for Halo fans.
Some of newer features include a 3D interactive map tool and the visor mode that lets you see at night. Enemies are outlined in red and points of interest are highlighted in yellow. You can also expect to explore the largest Halo environment to date with a nonlinear approach to the game. During flashbacks, you’ll play as other squad members.
The new Firefight mode is a never-ending co-operative mode which is similar in nature to “Horde” mode in Gears of War 2. A series of randomly generated Covenant waves will come in to attack you and your squad and it’s your job to survive. There are seven lives shared among the entire team, so you will be motivated to help your partners.
There are five waves per round and three rounds per set. Each successive set is progressively more difficult and they will unlock more “skulls” along the left side of the screen. These adjust the abilities of the Covenant, making them more skilled or accurate.
Halo 3: ODST hits store shelves on September 22, 2009. Buyers will be granted access to Halo Reach as an added extra. What’s Halo Reach you say? We’re granting you access to the new Halo Reach Trailer. Check it out:
It looks like Halo fans are going to be going nuts this Fall 2009. Unfortunately, this also coincides with Back to School for many fans so not much work will be getting done this semester.
For more E3 2009 goodness, check out all the great trailers and gameplay demos we’ve filled the Futurelooks YouTube Channel with.