Official Microsoft E3 Discussion Thread

[Kushan]

Oh come on, that new dash was all I wanted and I was more than impressed by it.

Definitely makes that 120Gb HDD seem worthwhile.

[BajiRav]

Somehow I just noticed this from that letter posted earlier,

Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide. For everyone who loves the blades interface, it?s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times.No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game. b>

That is real good IMO:):)

No, not at all. It really wasn't that great.

Yea, unfortunately the show was branded Microsoft and not Sony. So it has to be lame no matter what.

[Sethos]

I just hope these installs will be supported for previously released games. Has this been confirmed yet? Anybody know?

Pure speculation, but I'd put my money on "Yes", since you are just copying contents and using the DVD as verification. If not support on released it really should be available in a patch.

[Ayepecks]

Does anyone else think that Microsoft just had the BEST E3 conference in the history of ever?

IMO, they had the best conference ever in terms of strategy. The 360 has a stranglehold on the hardcore audience (such as a lot of people in here, and I'd include myself in that), and now it's going after the casual audience that the Wii dominates. The new online features definitely help Microsoft keep its online edge I think, and the Square-Enix deal is a big deal for RPG fans and will surely help Microsoft in Europe and Japan. Then all this entertainment stuff being announced helps get the people who may not be big gamers but may want one or two gamers and an entertainment system.

So, in terms of positioning, I'd say it's far and away the best E3 strategy ever. In terms of new games announced, of course it's far behind if you look at it from that perspective. But I really have to wonder what that Bungie announcement is going to be on Wednesday now. It'll be right after Sony and Nintendo's pressers, so if Bungie really does have a big exclusive announcement, I think that'd make for an amazing one-two punch -- the big casual presser, and then a massive hardcore (likely) announcement to sandwich your competitors.

Still have to wait for Sony and Nintendo's pressers, though. I was honestly considering getting a PS3, but now I'm kind of leaning towards not because of all these Microsoft announcements. Netflix was a massive deal, too.

[magik]

Pure speculation, but I'd put my money on "Yes", since you are just copying contents and using the DVD as verification. If not support on released it really should be available in a patch.

Yea, that's true. If anything it should be an easily created path that would allow support for it. So yea, I'm psyched! :D

[morficus]

lol you're such a hater it's almost pathetically amusing :laugh:

don't get me wrong... I think the idea of installing games to the HDD is a FANTASTIC idea.

I just think that a 120gb drive is large enough.

I feel the same when it comes to the PS3... a few games can be installed on the HDD.. but when 80gb is the largest stock drive you can get... I still think it falls short.

[+Mystic MVC]

Yea, unfortunately the show was branded Microsoft and not Sony. So it has to be lame no matter what.

I think that is the real key behind all of this. Microsoft actually had a decent showing this year and what do they receive from it, meh's and whatever its ok. No matter what Sony shows tomorrow, it will be the best thing ever is the way some of these people think.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

When they have a lot of the hardcore market cornered, what did you think was going to happen?

Balance things a little better between casual and hardcore.

Speaking like that smells of Sony arrogance - "Hardcore market cornered".

I expected a casual run, but I did expect some unannounced hardcore related titles - What we were given though, we knew about. Obviously FF13 changed that at the end, but I expected a big Bungie announcement, or something else.

Unless Sony bring on Chewbacca tomorrow, that absolutely dire song that women sang for a good 4-5 minutes, will be the biggest waste of time at E3.

[BajiRav]

Pure speculation, but I'd put my money on "Yes", since you are just copying contents and using the DVD as verification. If not support on released it really should be available in a patch.

I will add to it...I remember reading that in XBOX 360 the storage is virtualized (unlike xbox). So the games don't treat HDD as a spearate component but just some storage. So it should work with older games as well?

[Brad.]

Yea, unfortunately the show was branded Microsoft and not Sony. So it has to be lame no matter what.

Yup, imagine how ''brilliant'' Sony's will be tomorrow... :whistle:

I'm not doubting that it will be good, btw.

[popisdead uk]

Yea, unfortunately the show was branded Microsoft and not Sony. So it has to be lame no matter what.

Rubbish. They had some great highlights, but nothing earth shattering. I expect Sony to be the same tomorrow.

[+Mystic MVC]

Balance things a little better between casual and hardcore.

Speaking like that smells of Sony arrogance - "Hardcore market cornered".

I expected a casual run, but I did expect some unannounced hardcore related titles - What we were given though, we knew about. Obviously FF13 changed that at the end, but I expected a big Bungie announcement, or something else.

The one that is coming shortly before/during Sony's conference tomorrow? Check the countdown timer on their site.

This one little part of E3 wasn't "end all be all" for MS, there is still a lot left I guess if you were disappointed.

[magik]

don't get me wrong... I think the idea of installing games to the HDD is a FANTASTIC idea.

I just think that a 120gb drive is large enough.

I feel the same when it comes to the PS3... a few games can be installed on the HDD.. but when 80gb is the largest stock drive you can get... I still think it falls short.

Well, here's the thing. When I had the 20GB HDD, it did feel a little limiting, but only because I had to delete old Demos to make room for new ones. Now, with the 120GB HDD I haven't deleted a demo since I got it so I felt as if the 120GB was a waste (I got the Elite for the HDMI port at the time, didn't care for the increased HDD space). Now with this new feature, the 120GB HDD is more than large enough to support whatever you want to do with your 360 and the introduction of the 60GB HDD is the perfect answer to the relatively small 20GB HDD. With that being said, however, if you wanted to install only 1 or 2 games on the 20GB HDD, you still can, you just have to be more careful with what Demos you keep on your HDD and to try and keep it clear for movie downloads etc. It's really not that big of a deal and it just sounded like you keep trying to put some negative spin on an otherwise incredible announcement that shows Microsoft knows how to please their customers.

[morficus]

IMO, they had the best conference ever in terms of strategy. The 360 has a stranglehold on the hardcore audience (such as a lot of people in here, and I'd include myself in that), and now it's going after the casual audience that the Wii dominates. The new online features definitely help Microsoft keep its online edge I think, and the Square-Enix deal is a big deal for RPG fans and will surely help Microsoft in Europe and Japan. Then all this entertainment stuff being announced helps get the people who may not be big gamers but may want one or two gamers and an entertainment system.

So, in terms of positioning, I'd say it's far and away the best E3 strategy ever. In terms of new games announced, of course it's far behind if you look at it from that perspective. But I really have to wonder what that Bungie announcement is going to be on Wednesday now. It'll be right after Sony and Nintendo's pressers, so if Bungie really does have a big exclusive announcement, I think that'd make for an amazing one-two punch -- the big casual presser, and then a massive hardcore (likely) announcement to sandwich your competitors.

Still have to wait for Sony and Nintendo's pressers, though. I was honestly considering getting a PS3, but now I'm kind of leaning towards not because of all these Microsoft announcements. Netflix was a massive deal, too.

agreed, agreed and agreed (Y)

edit:

yeah.. the Netflix deal is basically crushing the PS3's video store before it's even out.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

The one that is coming shortly before/during Sony's conference tomorrow? Check the countdown timer on their site.

This one little part of E3 wasn't "end all be all" for MS, there is still a lot left I guess if you were disappointed.

What I'm trying to say though, was I expected more big hardcore announcements DURING the conference, not after or dotted around it.

By the way, I wasn't disappointed at all, I just commented on I don't think it was the best E3 ever. It was real good, but I expected a little less casual gun-ho. The FF13 announcement was probably the biggest shocker at E3 ever though.

Although I guess everyone is chasing the Wii, and no doubt Sony will go casual tomorrow... I just hope to god it's not for long in the conference - Unless their casual showing is LBP, that game is worthy of my time ;)

[magik]

IMO, they had the best conference ever in terms of strategy. The 360 has a stranglehold on the hardcore audience (such as a lot of people in here, and I'd include myself in that), and now it's going after the casual audience that the Wii dominates. The new online features definitely help Microsoft keep its online edge I think, and the Square-Enix deal is a big deal for RPG fans and will surely help Microsoft in Europe and Japan. Then all this entertainment stuff being announced helps get the people who may not be big gamers but may want one or two gamers and an entertainment system.

So, in terms of positioning, I'd say it's far and away the best E3 strategy ever. In terms of new games announced, of course it's far behind if you look at it from that perspective. But I really have to wonder what that Bungie announcement is going to be on Wednesday now. It'll be right after Sony and Nintendo's pressers, so if Bungie really does have a big exclusive announcement, I think that'd make for an amazing one-two punch -- the big casual presser, and then a massive hardcore (likely) announcement to sandwich your competitors.

Still have to wait for Sony and Nintendo's pressers, though. I was honestly considering getting a PS3, but now I'm kind of leaning towards not because of all these Microsoft announcements. Netflix was a massive deal, too.

True. Which brings this to mind: Perhaps the Bungie postponed announcement until Wednesday was deliberate in order to steal any thunder away from Sony/Nintendo after their press conferences since Microsoft held theirs first.

If true, and the Bungie announcement is big enough, this will definitely go down as the greatest strategically executed E3 ever on Microsoft's part. :D We'll see...

[popisdead uk]

agreed, agreed and agreed (Y)

edit:

yeah.. the Netflix deal is basically crushing the PS3's video store before it's even out.

Netflix is only good if you are in the US. Europe won't see it for ages, if at all.

[Sethos]

Netflix is only good if you are in the US. Europe won't see it for ages, if at all.

Kinda like every other movie rental service for every platform ever released :/

Us Europeans have gotten used to it by now I would think.

[morficus]

It's really not that big of a deal and it just sounded like you keep trying to put some negative spin on an otherwise incredible announcement that shows Microsoft knows how to please their customers.

oh no no no.. not at all. I like this idea, I really do. I personally hate waiting (for just about anything :p)

put for example... I have a 60gb PS3 and I was constantly running out of space so I had to take my external drive and copy a bunch of videos over and delete a few demos. I now have about 15gb free (after cleaning it all up).

so I just feel that HDD size is restricting... but again, that's just me.

If you're somebody who doesn't download too many demos or don't like holding on to videos for ever (like me... I never delete stuff - lol), then yeah - you're totally fine.

Netflix is only good if you are in the US. Europe won't see it for ages, if at all.

Kinda like every other movie rental service for every platform ever released :/

Us Europeans have gotten used to it by now I would think.

just one good reason to move to the US, don't you think ;)

j/k

but hey... you guys get all that video-on-demand and IPTV goodness and we'll prolly never see (from Sony at least)

[Sethos]

So when Microsoft says "Fall" We can expect about December?

[morficus]

So when is "Fall" on the Microsoft calender?

September to December I think?

[popisdead uk]

October to December I think?

Yeah it is.

[magik]

So when is "Fall" on the Microsoft calender?

In line with "Fall" on the US calendar. :)

[+Mystic MVC]

So when Microsoft says "Fall" We can expect about December?

The last day before the 1st day of Winter, so December. :p

[Sethos]

Ah, was thinking more along the lines if they were on a Valve like calender.

Couldn't remember if Microsoft released updates on time or not :p