Microsoft GDC Keynote

[Flawless]

Thought I would start this thread. Microsoft is the only one of the big three that has a keynote this year. Expectations probably should be kept low given this is GDC and it's usually not where big announcements are made, at least when it pertains to games. Although, the keynote description of "revealing top developers plans for the platform in 2008" and the fact Microsoft is "Bringing it Home" (which I don't believe they did for last years GDC) does seem to hint at them showing something in the way of games, so we will see. XNA will definitely be a big focus.

Date/Time:
February 20th, 10:30AM - 11:30AM PST

Speaker:
John Schappert - Corporate Vice President LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft; former Executive Vice President of Electronic Arts and founder of Tiburon Entertainment

Keynote description:
Schappert's keynote explores the Xbox 360 platform's next step in democratizing game development, vastly opening up the industry for developers of all sizes. The session will set the strategy for Xbox 360 this upcoming year, revealing top developers plans for the platform in 2008. Schappert will discuss how the increasing role of online gaming will continue to shape gameplay and game distribution this year.

Microsoft's Chris Early promises tomorrow's keynote will contain "an announcement" about casual games and "asynchronous play" between Microsoft mobile platforms and Xbox 360 and PC games.

Schizoid dev says tomorrow's keynote will reveal a new game distribution system which will have Microsoft's development suite at its core.

...

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Early Hints about a Live Anywhere Announcement?

The general manager of Microsoft’s casual-games program, Chris Early has revealed a hint to what could be the announcement of Live Anywhere details. Early talked of how excited he was about the prospect of combining casual and hardcore gameplay in "asynchronous play... especially when they're separated in time." He continued: "I'd love to stand in line at the bank and play that BioShock flow game. Then come home and say, 'Ha! Take that!' I'd love to take that good casual game I played home and have that be successful there as well."

Live Anywhere was first revealed at E3 in 2006 where Microsoft showed a demo of XBOX Live functionality between PC, XBOX 360 and mobile devices. Since then, very little has been said on the matter. Early also said: "If you like that sort of thing, I would strongly recommend you go to Microsoft's keynote opening GDC, where you'll see a little bit of this announced for the first time." He concluded: "I think I've kept it vague enough not to get into trouble."

Stay tuned to Console Monster for more information regarding Early’s announcement.

http://www.consolemonster.com/newspost.php?id=0000003080

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8635261&publicUserId=4561231

10:08
Ha ha, this was great. Shane just overheard two Microsoft execs sitting next to him talking about the death of HD-DVD. One asked the other, "So has Blu-ray really won?"

10:11
We're also chatting with a few Microsoft people who are a bit peeved that their Italian branch apparently leaked the Gears 2 news early.

10:13
Speaking of Gears 2, apparently Microsoft will be showing a 1 minute trailer using the in-game engine. Sweet...

[Altimus]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Not too much so far with this Keynote... Gears 2! Gears 2! Announce it MS.

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=93107

Everyone claps. James is quite a cool customer by the look of it. And now he's on stage. "Community Game Creator". He's going to show off his game. Dish Washer.

You're some sort of samurai taking on cyborgs. "It's sort of a personal story." It's a 2D hackandslash with a neat combo system, by the look of it. He says the greatest thing about winning the compo is that he can get up at 12, and that "thanks to the magic of XNA" he can put off growing up for another five years

Bye James! We liked James. Chris Satchell says he's excited to play Dish Washer and the other games. "But what about the other games?" What indeed, Chris. He thinks it's a shame. "We can change all this starting today."

"For the first time ever this year you'll be able to have community games distributed via Xbox Live." "For free! Say for free!" someone near me shouts. Shut up you div.

Chris is unphased. "With great power comes great responsibility," he says. Good old Spider-Man. He's going to let the community manage the content: create, submit, review and play. "I'm not going to be the arbiter of what the community does." The community's going to have control, within basic ground rules. Democratising game distribution. Woo.

"We've talked about 'Create' a lot, so let's talk about 'Submit'." Your XNA Creator Identity will act like a Gamertag, capturing the progress of your products. You can then roll along blood, injuries, hostility, cruelty etc. on slider bars to tell people what your game's about. Then the game goes out to peer review from other creators.

They will be looking for prohibited content - IP infringement, etc. Probably child porn too. You're not allowed any of that child porn. Then: "10 million people on Xbox Live get to play your game." This means there'll be a thousand games on XBLA by the end of the year, Chris reckons.

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Unreal Engine 3.5 is being demo'd right now

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

11:09 am PT -- Tim Sweeney's here to demonstrate the new features of the engine. Ambient occlusion dramatically improves shadow highlights, says Sweeney.

11:10 am PT -- We see Marcus Phoenix being rendered with better specular lighting. High density crowds are new -- we see a massive crowd of Locusts flocking through a Gears of War environment.

11:11 am PT -- Dynamic Fluid effects look... liquidy. Marcus Phoenix splashes through a pool to demonstrate.

11:12 am PT -- Matinee improvements -- it's what power the cutscene in Gears of War.

11:13 am PT -- Better structural degradation allows concrete to break apart in an explosion. Marcus kills an innocent concrete pillar with a Torque bow.

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Saved films in Ninja Gaiden II

He points out the save point in the level -- it's a record mark, basically, that records a clip of the action. The idea is that players will be able to upload their best clips so that everyone else can see them play.

Release date is June.

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

June Release date for NG2


I feel like I'm the only person excited for the keynote... am I the last xbot left?

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Fable 2 co-op confirmed.

11:33 am PT -- The next feature requires an assistant. "What I really want is dynamic co-op," declared Peter. At any time during the game, another character can join you.

11:34 am PT -- Peter's friend teleports into the scene -- any experience and money he earns here can be taken back to his own single-player game

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Gears of War 2 November 2008

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

More than I expected.

Youtube for games and the fact that will be a reality later this year is huge. Saved films in Ninja Gaiden II, drop-in-drop out co-op in Fable 2, and Gears 2 this November.

[Flawless]

Re: Microsoft GDC Keynote

Fable 2






Looking forward to seeing Molyneux's presentation.