E3 2009: What Recession???

There's no hiding the fact that our current economy is affecting every sector of the entertainment business. Even record labels are begging for bailouts from the goverment. The gaming industry has seen it's fair share of cutbacks or whatever, but, those signs were nowhere to be found yesterday as most of the industry leaders show gamers what to expect in the next calendar year. The end result was something similar to me handing my teenage daughter my Discover Card and the keys to my car. There were a lot of great announcements yesterday, but, it was clear when the sun set on the east coast that Microsoft made it pretty hard to sleep last night. They clearly made a huge splash with the following announcements:

Forza Motorsport 3 (Turn 10/Microsoft Game Studios): Launching this October, Forza Motorsport 3 is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who's ever dreamed of driving at full throttle. Backed by breathtaking HD graphics and bone-jarring physics, take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. Forza Motorsport 3 includes driving assists and adjustable skill levels to make the game a gripping pick-up-and-play experience for audiences of all ages and skill levels, while new customization and sharing tools will further fuel the imaginations of the thriving Forza Motorsport community on Xbox LIVE.
RTEGonline: (While many may disagree, this is my favorite pick out of all the titles that were announced yesterday.)

Crackdown 2(Ruffian Games/Microsoft Game Studios) : The sequel to the award-winning Crackdown, Crackdown 2 is the premier open-ended action experience that lets you be judge, jury and executioner for a vast city. Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in 2010, Crackdown 2 will take multiplayer** gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and play as you return to restore justice and peace to Pacific City—by any means necessary.

Halo 3 ODST (Bungie): Launching September 22, Halo 3: ODST is a new game in the landmark Halo saga that lets you experience the events leading up to the epic story told in Halo 3 through the eyes of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). In addition to an all-new campaign, ODST includes three new Halo 3 multiplayer maps and the complete, stand-alone Halo 3 multiplayer experience.** The game also introduces Firefight, an exciting new cooperative multiplayer mode that pits up to four players against increasingly challenging waves of enemies. As a special bonus, Halo 3: ODST also includes an invitation to the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE. Also, launching on the same date with Halo 3: ODST is the Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack, which offers Halo fans a new and exclusive wireless controller and the game title in one package at a great price.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction (Ubisoft): Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this fall, unleash the ferocious skills of renegade agent Sam Fisher and uncover a deadly terrorist plot in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction. Completely reinvented and revolutionized, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction ushers in a new breed of action gameplay leaving you fully immersed in the life of the world's most dangerous spy. Take full advantage of the 20 million member Xbox LIVE community in this latest installment of the award-winning Splinter Cell franchise.

Alan Wake: (Remedy/Microsoft Game Studios): Alan Wake is the all-new psychological action thriller from the renowned creators of the Max Payne franchise. Coming in spring 2010 and exclusive to Xbox 360, Alan Wake will immerse players in an intense cinematic thrill ride of dreams and reality, where light is the only ally.
RTEGonline: (I personal don't think this game will ever release... been hearing about it for what seems like 4 years now. The hype around it has left the planet.)

While these were just a few of the major titles that will soon be released exlusively on Xbox 360, the following is a list of 3rd party titles that will also launch as Xbox 360 titles:

Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix): The world-renowned Final Fantasy® will continue making its home on Xbox 360 with the upcoming release of Final Fantasy XIII, the eagerly anticipated title from Square Enix. Final Fantasy XIII uses the power and cutting-edge technology of Xbox 360 to deliver seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics as gamers summon the courage to execute powerful attacks with an evolved Active Time Battle system and ultimately fulfill their destiny. Scheduled to be released only in North America and Europe.

Metal Gear Solid: Rising (Konami Digital Entertainment): Metal Gear Solid: Rising is the highly anticipated debut of Hideo Kojima's critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid franchise on Xbox 360. Metal Gear Solid: Rising stars Raiden, one of the most popular characters in the Metal Gear Solid universe, in a new, thrilling adventure on Xbox 360.

Modern Warfare 2 (Infinity Ward/Activision): On November 10, 2009, Infinity Ward makes its return with the release of Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™. Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Xbox LIVE gamers will also be the first to get their hands on two Modern Warfare 2 map packs coming first to Xbox 360.

The Beatles: Rock Band (Harmonix/MTV Games): On 09.09.09, The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans all over the world to pick up the guitar, bass, mic, or drums and experience The Beatles' extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band offers Beatles fans the opportunity to rock out with new hardware replica controllers modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr throughout their careers. And, for the first time, players will be able to download music and make a change: Available only on Xbox 360, all Apple Corps, MTV Games and Microsoft proceeds from downloads of "All You Need Is Love" will benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Tony Hawk: RIDE (Activision): Tony Hawk: RIDE redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience featuring an innovative skateboard controller. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. The skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience on Xbox 360 that allows players of all skill levels to battle for skateboard supremacy by challenging gamers worldwide over Xbox LIVE, the largest social gaming network.

Written on 2009-06-02