If one message was clear from Microsoft's annual E3 Press Conference, it was that they are not content with being the number two player in the console market. At the start of the conference, which was hosted by Ed Fries, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Games Publishing division; J. Allard, Corporate Vice President of the Xbox division; and Robbie Bach, Senior Vice President and Chief Xbox Officer, Microsoft announced that it had met all of its goals and that it was time to look to the promising future of Xbox gaming with more games, more characters and more technology.
The press conference opened with a bang by showing footage of perhaps one the most anticipated games at the show - Doom 3. Though it was from the PC version, the Xbox logo appeared at the end of the footage. It was even suggested that the game might make its console debut exclusively on the Xbox. Next up was the latest trailer of the impressive looking Project Gotham Racing 2, which will feature Live support. Footage was also shown of the upcoming MMORPG True Fantasy Online, which was developed by the team behind both Dark Cloud games on the PS2, as well as a glimpse of Breakdown from Namco. Microsoft then announced that Lucasart's next big Star Wars game would be for the Xbox. A teaser trailer was then shown for Star Wars: Republic Commando, a squad based FPS scheduled for next year which takes place during the prequel era.
Next up was the much anticipated unveiling of Rare's Xbox lineup. The first game they showed was an impressive looking cel-shaded game called Grabbed by Goulies, which should come out later this year. They then showed a video montage showcasing the Xbox's third party support, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Sonic Heroes, Starcraft: Ghost, Ninja Gaiden and a brand new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. Microsoft also showcased an impressive Live lineup, including Sega GT Online, all of the Sega Sports 2K4 and perhaps the biggest surprise - Conker: Live and Uncut.
To wrap things up, clips of both Kameo and Fable were shown. Videos of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds and Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy were also shown.
Ed Fries then took the stage to explain one of the newest features on the Xbox, the Music Mixer. Scheduled to be released later this year, the Music Mixer will allow gamers to do what they've always wanted to do with their Xbox - karaoke. In addition, gamers will be able to strip lyrics out of songs and rerecord their own lyrics, which can then be replayed for friends (or during games supporting the Custom Soundtrack feature). The music mixer will also allow gamers to keep track of songs ripped to their Xbox (complete with automatic labeling via Xbox Live), and will also allow a PC link-up feature which will enable transfer of MP3s from your computer to your Xbox.
J. Allard then explained the extensive plans they company has for its Xbox Live service. One of the more interesting new features will be the ability for players to receive Xbox Live game invites on their PC or mobile phones. Xbox Live 2.0 was then announced, which is a free upgrade to the already available Live service. The new enhanced service will allow voice chat outside of games and will also allow players to view Live player info and stats via a web site. The unveiling of the Xbox Sports Network (XSN), which will allow players to manage and create their own online leagues, was the highlight of this announcement. All of Microsoft's 1st party sports games will feature XSN support, including Inside Drive 2004, Amped 2, NHL Rivals 2004 and NFL Fever 2004. XSN will also be tied in with a web site that will feature player stats (which will be updated every 15 minutes) and a virtual newspaper updating players on events from various games. It was also announced that Microsoft plans to hold tournaments for Live games.
Next came the most talked about and anticipated event of the show, the unveiling of perhaps the second most anticipated game at E3 - Halo 2. The demo opened with Master Chief descending on a war-torn, futuristic Earth. Once the transport hit the ground, the Marines swarmed out into a setting that felt much like the opening moments of Saving Private Ryan. The scope and interactivity of the demo was incredible. Marines would yell out commands and battle info to Master Chief as he made his way through the streets. There were also signs of the heartache of battle as a medic desperately pounded on the chest of a fallen soldier before declaring that he had died. After taking out a few Covenant forces with his sniper rifle, Master Chief took command of a mounted machine gun and laid waste to a group of enemy forces that were pinning down some Marines. After working his way down to the ground, he then jumped into an AI controlled Warthog and began to take out both Covenant ground and air forces with the jeep's mounted machine gun. Master Chief then jumped from the jeep onto a passing Ghost and proceeded to throw the pilot out of the ship and take control of it. After a high speed pursuit through the city which ended with the Ghost crashing into a billboard, Master Chief was met by a giant Covenant ship which dropped several pods from the sky which opened to reveal Covenant forces brandishing dual energy blades. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this entire sequence was that it was all portrayed using real time, in-game graphics and was completely controlled by the player. Very impressive indeed.
The conference ended with Robbie Bach's closing comments about the future of the Xbox, and reiterated that Microsoft wasn't going to settle for second place, and that the "Xbox is creating the future now."
