Okay, you all just missed my ranting and raving about G4's coverage. I'll quickly sum up:
1. Morgan Webb is still hot.
2. Three commercial breaks is way too many before a press conference.
Okay, Microsoft is starting up. (This first guy is pretty boring, and is making it REALLY obvious that he's reading from a teleprompter).
Microsoft starts off with a demo of Fallout 3. (Not going to lie to you all. I've never played the first two games.) The demo plays smoothly. Graphically, it seems a little like Bad Company, with a post-apocalyptic array of weapons and storyline. (It's amazing. Watching this demo just reminds me of how graphically superior Gears of War still is, versus games that are coming even now.) The guy who played the game for us was pretty cool. Much cooler than the first guy who talked.
Now, Resident Evil 5. The project lead speaks in Japanese, so the translator is talking for him. (What's cool about this demo is that this marks the first time that the RE franchise has appeared on the X-box 360. Props to Microsoft for getting the rights to put this game on the console!) The demo looks good. Looks a little like the last Metal Gear game, but with probably less lengthy cut-scenes. Ooh, a sniper view! Seems that's a must-have in any shooter these days, and you won't get any complaints about that from me. (Awww, the demo got cut short. Time constraints and all that. But, definitely looks like a winner.)
Now, we're talking! Fable 2.
Good opening. The project lead starts out by saying that "Fable 2" is complete. Nice!
We start out with some opening cinematics. So far, so good.
What the? The main character got hit by bird poo? What the?
Okay, more gameplay. (Graphics are good. Definitely a step up from the first game).
Whoa. You can "call up" friends online, and letting friends "jump in" to your storyline. So, friends are entering "your world". Wow.
Nice! You can marry, and have kids. And, the kids grow up with you. Total consistency with the story. Very impressive.
Fable 2 will be out in October of this year.
......And, now, Gears of War 2.....
We start out with a brief trailer. Very nice. Shows off the "human shield" feature, where you can put a guy in front of you, and let him take on the bullets that are meant for you.
Okay, gameplay. Pretty similar graphics, which is fine by me, considering how awesome the graphics were. Okay, more human shield demonstration. Hmm, it has an "Unreal Tournament" type of vibe too it. More wide-open battles.
Holy crap! There's a flame thrower! (I can the money oozing out of my wallet.)
Now, there's a new, huge monster, that just blew up the building that we're in. We're on the run now, and trying to get out.
And now, instead of killing the monster, we get to RIDE it.
Gears of War 2. Out November 7th. (Can anybody say "Happy Early Birthday Gift"
Aw, no. The first boring guy is back again. Ugh.
Aw, no. Microsoft is now creating it's own "Miis". That's a little bit of a rip-off. These are the Microsoft Avatars-"Miis" that allow you to be in the actual games that you play. Just like the Miis on the Wii.
Just so you know, I'm fast-forwarding through some of this stuff. I don't need to know about the number of consoles sales, the number of Xbox live subscribers, how Microsoft is dominating the gaming market, etc.
Just show me the games, folks. Save the business stats for your next Board of Directors meeting.
Okay, now we're talking. "Scene It: Box office smash". I loved the first one, so I'm looking forward to this version as well.
And now, we're checking out "You're In The Movies". Where you basically get to act like an idiot, and actually show up in the game. (I'll pass).
New Guitar Hero. World Tour. Metallica is participating, by allowing their entire new album to be played on the game. (If the album's anything like "St. Anger", I think I'll pass though.)
New Karyoke game. Eh.
Rock Band 2. And, the entire setlist is available to view. Nice. Axl Rose is lending one of the tracks from the upcoming G 'n R album "Chinese Democracy". (Of course, this album has been talked about for the past couple of years, so you'll have to forgive me for rolling my eyes at this announcement a little bit). Bob Dylan appearing on the game is pretty cool, though, lending his song "Tangled Up in Blue" to the game.
And now, and annoucement from Square-Enix. Hmm, new RPG? (Geez, I appreciate the guy trying to speak without the interpreter, but I might have brought in the interpreter on this one. This guy's hard to understand.) Now, we're checking out The Last Remnant, a new RPG. So far, so good. Available November 20.
........And, that's it for Microsoft. Nothing out of the ordinary. Fable 2 looks great, and I'm already ready to sell a kidney, just to play a demo of Gears 2.
