170°

E3 2012: Microsoft Conference Predictions

GamingUnion: "When it comes to exclusive games and big hit franchises, Microsoft hasn't really been too impressive as of late. 2011 was certainly filled with some pretty big hits, most of which were multiplatform, but when it came to being an Xbox 360 owner there really wasn't too much to brag about."

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gamingunion.net
MasFlowKiller4343d ago

"At least 2 new hardcore retail games from Microsoft Studios will make their debut"

Microsoft focus since 2010 has been on the casual market, MSG(Microsoft Game Studio) concentration in first party Hardcore games only extend to Halo, even forza seems to be getting a little casual with Kinet.

Microsoft no longer cares about making first party Hardcore games they counts on 3rd Party support for that.

Here are my Microsoft Predictions:

* The conference open with a demo of Black Ops 2. Microsoft exec will claim the 360 is the best place to play CoD and then go on to chat about timed exclusive map packs.

* Mounting, and trailers and stage demos for 3rd party multiplatform game will be shown, a few of them having 360 exclusive Kinect features.

* An image will come up on screen saying (everything from this point is exclusive to Xbox 360)..At this point they do a stage demo of Halo 4, Forza Horizon Fable Journey and some Kinect exclusives. We might see a secret AAA hardscore exclusive(but probably not)

* The rest(and by rest I mean most) of the conference will be about new XBL services and apps.

The End
#1

Chaostar4343d ago (Edited 4343d ago )

You pretty much nailed them right there, however I'm hoping to see something about how the Xbox brand will be integrated with windows 8. Whether it be xbox game compatibility with PC or XBL service making the jump. I don't care for Windows phones (and the sales have been lagging http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/n... ) so I'm hoping they make XBL for iOS and Android devices too.

They need to be more open with their platform, remove silly restrictions that have a stranglehold over services and developers, which means greater freedom and choice for the consumer. Nobody likes being tied into one corporate ecosystem but they all keep trying to lock you in. Sorry went off on a tangent there.

EVILDEAD3604343d ago

It's easy to predict much of what MS does because they have always been smart about what they show at E3.

You simply promote your strengths and that's ALL that matters at the end.

Halo 4's 200-man development team is arguably the best ever assembled. We are talking a game that will shape the future of MS gaming. Of course this game gets the red carpet treatment as it will be the biggest exclusive in 2012.

Bungie's Destiny now leaked as a potential gen exclusive for the 360 should definately make the stage.

Forza Horizon could also arguably be on the the best racing teams assembled with the core mixture of Turn 10, Bizarre Creations, and Black Rock studios. Could be the sleeper franchise that alternates with the main Forza down the line.

Black Ops 2 is the #1 anticipated exclusive for PS3 gamers as well as the 360. The success of that game usually has it's roots with an appearance on the Micrsoft stage.

Who cares about the Kinect haters online. The fact is millions bought it and there is a potential for millions to purchase it this holiday.

This is clearly the best lineup by far Kinect has ever had with Fable: Journey and Steel Batallion at lead.

I still say if EAs Madden 13 and Fifa 13 (or Fight Night 13) shows off the new Kinect integration on-stage it will be big for the 360 as a whole.

I love how XBLA has turned into the huge array of great experiences..Dead Light looks nothing short of amazing IMO. I hope Summer of Arcade makes the E3 stage. (still praying for Shadow Complex 2)

Xbox Live advancement will obviously make up some of the show and it'll be curious to see if the rumored Kinect powered browser makes it.

MS has the good for an overall huge show and has the potential to shock the naysayers and announce the 720 at the end of the show. Which I believe is a likely scenario.

Evil

MasFlowKiller4343d ago

@EVILDEAD360

I dont think the PS4 & the Next Xbox will be announce this year.
And your right of me just copy and pasting this from my previos post. I think aside from the Vita and the Wii u, this is not going to be a big E3, It is too late into the life cycle of the PS3 and 360 for us to see big investment. I think sony and Microsoft are going to concentrate their resources on Next gen consoles

Chaostar4343d ago

Yikes tone down the positivity Evildead360 you might give us all diabetes!

Oh and, please, if you're gonna reply to Masflowkiller please press the button on HIS comment that says 'reply' and not the one on mine, thanks.

cstyle4343d ago

Dude, you don't know what MS has planned.They most likely will have some first party surprises.

PirateThom4343d ago

That haven't for the last few years, why would now, when sales are strongest, change that?

neutralgamer194343d ago

I called u a delusional fanboy before but i see the prognosis is worse your in huge denial about your beloved microsoft. Lol ppl have pretty much nailed it. Some mocked up shots of Halo and maybe gameplay of Forza and then killer apps reminiscint of star wars for kinect and some actors talking bout jow cool it is. Every year for tge last three or four micro has been this predictable and disappointing. You are the only blind fanboy that sees otherwise lol let me guess in your world master chief is president and you drive a cool Forza car haha

Cstyle equals butthurt delusional fan

JDouglasGU4343d ago

New Viva Piñata... Come on, MS!

AngelicIceDiamond4343d ago (Edited 4343d ago )

I'm predicting exclusives, non Kinect Exclusives. MS has been holding back the past 2 E3's when it comes to hardcore games and the crowd. I can see Alan Wake 2, Crack Down 3, and that Dark game get shown off. Games in all: Halo 4, Forza Horizon, Crack Down 3 Alan Wake 2, Dark, Fable Journey that would be a fantastic line up none the less.

E3 Team Xbox.

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50°

Master Chief Became More Than A Machine In 343's Halo

In Halo 4, 5, and Infinite, Master Chief became a more nuanced, human character.

In spite of the Halo series’ struggles, 343 deserves praise for adding nuance and characterisation to the ever-beating heart of Halo - The Master Chief. Playing through Infinite, it's abundantly clear that the events of the current and previous trilogies have irrevocably changed the iconic hero. He’s no longer the ‘blank slate’ that was previously presented by Bungie. He’s a fatigued, damaged and fallible protagonist, and one who is meandering through currents of grief, while reveling in his newfound agency. Giving the Chief a compelling and meaningful voice was no small feat, and 343 should be proud of that victory.

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thegamer.com
kingnick401d ago

This article completely misses part of the appeal of the original iteration of character in the original game trilogy. It was the Chief and Cortana vs an entire alien collective. The blank slate Bungie displayed in their games was genius, he was an mysterious hero a wide audience could identify with because he wasn't as clearly defined as most characters.

The books added a lot of lore and backstory but most Halo players just want a fun game with exposition that doesn't get in the way of gameplay, it's why the Cortana level in Halo 3 was derided.

Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty.

BandarHub400d ago

A lot of people give the 343 version of Master Chief a lot of slack.
But Fundamentally he is still the same character, he just has a couple more dialogues. He has not changed in terms of attitude.
"Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty."
And that's what he has done at the end of the day, he did his duty. Watch his partner die, and was ready to destroy the weapon in Halo infinite....he is still the same soilder that everyone remembers

Halo Infintes one was a nice balance between both.

slate91400d ago

Chief and the halo franchise became a joke under 343

Sciurus_vulgaris400d ago

The 343i Master Chief has is based on the books. However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion.

Obscure_Observer400d ago

"However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion."

Which is awesome! I love how Master Chief become more John and less soldier.

Sciurus_vulgaris400d ago

I didn’t even notice my typos,lol

50°

Halo's Identity Problem Began With an Admirable Mess

It’s a law of nature that eventually, every long-running game franchise will have a particular entry that gets dinged for straying too far from what made it so fun in the first place. Your Super Mario Sunshine, your Dragon Age II, Assassin’s Creed III, and so on. Whether or not that opinion changes more favorably over time, the initial specter of negativity will forever hover it. Microsoft’s Halo is no exception, except that negative specter hasn’t hovered over one particular game, but one whole studio.

The3faces521d ago

True Halo 4 was a sign of 343i's incompetence and the decline of Halo.

180°

10 Years Later, Halo 4 Proves Itself a Disappointing Omen for Halo Infinite

Halo 4 released 10 years ago today, and its disappointing reception was just an omen of things to come with 343 Industries at the helm.

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gamerant.com
Sonyslave3529d ago (Edited 529d ago )

Halo 4 and infinite have a 87 on metacritic and five a 84🤣. 343i need contents and everything else will play it self out.

ChasterMies529d ago

Halo 4, 5, and Infinite reviews are good examples of the pressure on review sites to score everything between 8-10 out of 10.

ChubbyBlade528d ago

As if reviews scores are any indication of a franchises health.

Halo has been in shambles for YEARS

-Foxtrot529d ago

Halo 4-6 are like the Star Wars sequel trilogy

They all just seem like a brand new games with small connections to the last one but no solid arc connecting them, you’re just told stuff that happened off screen in between the games and nothing makes sense

It’s like they didn’t plan a new trilogy out

CoNn3rB529d ago

That's actually a pretty good way to sum it up

LucasRuinedChildhood529d ago (Edited 529d ago )

I would argue that the new Star Wars trilogy is still better. lol

Most Halo fans would kill for the equivalent of The Force Awakens at this stage (a competent rehash of what came before it). Halo Infinite tried to be that but was undercooked and failed. Halo 4 wasn't that either - they started messing with the formula straight away although the story was okay.

There was nothing particularly compelling about Halo 5's story besides the fake plot they advertised. The Last Jedi is a divisive movie but as RedLetterMedia would say, it was "sporadically interesting" because it tried some new things and set up things that could have been great (like Kylo teaming up with Rey after backstabbing Snoke). That conversation with Yoda is great and it felt like the real Yoda, not that CGI thing in the prequels.
- "Skywalker, still looking to the horizon. Never here, now, hmm? The need in front of your nose."
- "The greatest teacher, failure is ... Luke, we are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters."
- "That library contained nothing that the girl Rey does not already possess." (because she already took them, haha).

The Rise Of Skywalker is the only one where loads of stuff happens off screen ("Palpatine has returned") in between and nothing makes sense because ... they just needed a main villain and 100 star destroyers to blow up. They could have done something much better.

MrChow666529d ago

no, all disney star wars sucks also disney marvel and everything godamn disney touches

529d ago Replies(3)
Yui_Suzumiya529d ago

Um, didn't Halo 4 have the best campaign out of the new Trilogy? Lol

ChubbyBlade528d ago

Yep and even then it wasn’t very good.

Levii_92529d ago

I'm getting a good gaming laptop soon and i'm finally going to play through the Halo franchise again plus Infinite but i never played Halo 4 before .. can anyone tell me how's the campaign in comparison to the games before it and compared to Halo 5 ?

Stanjara529d ago

Halo 4 campaign great, multi bad.
Halo 5 campaign trash, multi good.

Best Cortana halo 4.

ChubbyBlade528d ago (Edited 528d ago )

Halo 4 was when they started turning it into a “modern” game. Aka taking tips from CoD.

The older titles were sandbox based with weapons that all filled a niche and vehicles that did the same. Open levels with multiple ways to approach in different spots with different weapons etc.

Halo 4/5 doesn’t have that. It’s a linear shooter and nothing else. The story is alright but that’s about it. If it wasn’t a halo game, it would be ok but because it is a halo game, it’s outshone by the previous games.

It’s a hell of a lot better than 5 though. I found infinite pretty meh

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