Microsoft’s GDC 09 Exclusives?
One of the following may happen, but which is it?
By TWODOGSz
©2009 Aaron Bertinetti:- NE (News Editor)
So the Game Developers Conference‘s 09 (GDC’s) has brought a couple of surprises so far. A new Zelda for the DS, third party motion controls for 360, a new Ratchet & Clank for our PS3 comrades, and the entry of Warner Bros to the fray that may well have had fanboys disorientated and asking “Errr… what’s up doc?”
But where’s the goods from Microsoft? Some would lead you to believe that Microsoft has announced its full line up just like they had this time last year… oh yeah, that’s the problem…
Compounding this is Microsoft’s stated decision to hold back holiday releases further than last year and to extend the scope of announcements into the first quarter of 2009.
And whilst we’re sure most titles will be held until E3, there are ten titles that we reckon have a shot at being showcased at GDC. Which one will it be?
Enjoy the read and then pick your favourite in the poll below.
1: Mass Effect 2
Well after EA defamed OXCGN last year, we hate to brag now but I guess we told you so!
It’s now official but outside of a teaser that had us thinking Shepard was dead for a split second, we know pretty much zip apart from Amazon’s handy listing which describes enhanced combat, increased skill trees, refined dialogue systems, a more epic storyline and what can only be assumed as a far deeper universe with deeper side missions and sub plots.
We know we may have to wait until early next year but what we want is a longer trailer to set the reportedly darker tone of the rise of the humans and the pursuit of the Geth. Show us some new weapons, new skills, new characters, new alien species and those refinements to the dialogue system.
Oh, and please no elevators!
2: Alan Wake
We know it’s coming. We have done for five years now. But that’s forgivable (to an extent) given Remedy has a small team of perhaps three dozen, a resume of gaming milestones, and one hell of a pitch.
A mature “thriller” with an emphasis on exploration, atmosphere and storytelling as opposed to zombies, guns and herbs sounds refreshingly awesome to us.
It will no doubt be one of at least three big hitters come Christmas, so it’s time to start selling the gameplay features along with the premise because there are many gamers who’ve understandably let this fall of their radars since that spectacular showing at E3 2006.
Besides, Alan needs to wake the hell up… he’s been sleeping for far too long!
3: Lionhead’s Project X/Dimitri
If Microsoft wants to throw a spanner in the works and really take the game press by the balls then Molyneux‘ most ambitious work will be revealed.
Based initially around a singular idea and the evolving of artificial intelligence, the experiments at Lionhead have since become something far greater, gaining a scientific significance and in the process become, well, “controversial”.
The internal buzz at Microsoft is huge and their confidence in remaining silent on this one, including the usually bombastic Molyneux, is unnerving even for an Xbox fan. Microsoft knows its sitting on a royal flush, but its biding its time to go all in.
Problem is we’re gamers and we want them to raise the stakes before Molyneux or someone else lets something major slip. Give us some foreplay, and we can build to that E3 climax.
4: Forza 3
Turn 10′s third spin at the wheel is quite possibly the worst kept secret in the games industry. OXCGN has dedicated itself to Forza 3 with a community that continues to produce one of the longest wish lists we’ve ever seen! (Ed: Check out our Team OXCGN Racing page)
The rumours of 400 cars; 100 tracks; new race types including drift, drag, oval and point to point; even more customisation and user creation; a completely refined graphics and damage engine; and an enhanced online feature set, have had us salivating for months.
It’s one of this year’s big hitters, and whilst we’re certain to hear more about it come E3 it wouldn’t hurt giving the game some extra breathing space before the announcement tsunami of E3.
Time to kick the tires and light the fires! (Ed: OXCGN may have some great news on this real soon . . . )
5: Rare Delights
Forget the cynics, because Rare has gone from strength to strength. They’ve provided five exclusives to the 360 library in just three years, and each one has been better than the last.
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was a game perhaps ahead of its time but it showed a developer rich in confidence, ambition and style. And yet that was only the beginning, Rare has at least three projects in the works.
They have an almost unparalleled back catalogue full of rich pickings including Killer Instinct, Conker, Blast Corps, Battletoads, Jet Force Gemini, and an opportunity to expand fresher franchises such as Banjo, Viva Pinata and Kameo. Our bet is an even split: one’s a fresh IP, another’s a franchise title, and the third relates to Avatars.
Maybe Microsoft will hold a coming out party for Rare at E3, but sticking it to the haters early wouldn’t hurt!
6: Gears 2 DLC
Despite the online pratfalls, the game was still massively entertaining and simply unparalleled as a third person shooter bathed in buttery Hollywood popcorn.
Several updates and map packs later and Gears 2 is starting to hold the line against the big boys COD and Halo 3. How do you get people to come back to Gears?
The rumoured DLC campaign sounds like a damn good start. GDC is full of happy memories for Cliff & co, so what say they do it again?!
7: Halo: Chronicles
Halo Wars has proven the strength and depth of the Halo Universe, whilst also proving the myriad of untapped opportunities. We expect to see it this year and whilst GDC might be a bit early, we can’t help but entertain the thought.
Combining Peter Jackson’s vision, Bungie’s resources, Frank O’Connor’s storytelling, and Microsoft’s financial/marketing muscle and announcing that you intend to do nothing short of revolutionising “interactive entertainment”… means we’re listening.
We’re sick of the MIA and would love to see it today.
8: Halo: ODST
• Bungie = Fathers of the modern day console FPS.
• Halo = Most played modern console shooter ever.
• ODST = E3′s too long to wait. Just bring it already!
9: GTAIV: Episode 2
The first episode was well worth the investment. We really dug Lost & Damned, and there are plenty of reasons why it’s the most highly rated DLC this generation.
Given many developers would likely release it as a full title, the fact that it cost 1600 MPs deemed it a bloody steal. What will Episode 2 involve? Will Rockstar take console gamers to Chinatown like our handheld brothers and incorporate an Xbox Live marketplace for the drug mini-game?
Or have they got something even more sinister up their sleeves?
10: Lost Odyssey 2
Apart from some recently released artwork, the house of the Final Fantasy creator remains deathly silent. But something’s going on when they cancel the quietly ambitious Cry On to focus on something else.
Perhaps their publisher Microsoft has an internal release date for them to meet? Lost Odyssey still stands as the finest JRPG this generation. We loved the stunning production values; subtle gameplay tweaks to an established formula; intimate dream stories; and a far more mature theme throughout when compared to more traditional Final Fantasy fare.
We can’t help but think that recently released art looks an awful like an older Kaim from Lost Odyssey and is pleasingly masculine as opposed to the infuriatingly effeminate obsession of the Final Fantasy series. We really want to get lost again!
So what’s your favourite?
Please share us around
Filed under: Console gaming, E3 2009, Editorial, Game Dev Con 09, Polls, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 News, Xbox 3rd party exclusives Tagged: | "Mass Effect 2", alan wake, DLC, Fable 2, Forza, Forza 3, forza 3 information, Forza 3 news, Game Dev Con 09, Game Developers Conference 09, Gears of War 2, GTA IV Episode 2, Halo 3, Halo chronicles, Halo ODST, Lionhead Project X, Lost Odyssey 2, Microsoft DLC, Rae Studios, Rocstar Games, xbox live dlc, XboxLive
@boobie
Sorry for any confusion, but the article clearly states:
“And whilst we’re sure most titles will be held until E3, there are ten titles that we reckon have a shot at being showcased at GDC. Which one will it be?”
That one game has turned out to be the readers and OXCGN’s number one pick – Mass Effect 2.
As for Alan Wake, we all expect it this year just like Forza 3 and Rare’s titles… but none of these have yet been confirmed as releases this year and only Alan Wake has been officially recognised as in development.
As for ODST and GTAIV Ep 2, they are confirmed for this year but we know essentially nothing about either, hence our wishes to see them.
It’s going to be a huge E3 whichever way you look at it. Of the above titles, It should be a safe bet we’ll see at least half and as many as 7 with the only personal doubts on Lost Odyssey 2, Halo: Chronicles and Gears 2 DLC.
As for GOW3. Mate I can’t wait… for 2010.
Hopefully Rare can answer the awesome R&C with a new Conker!
Thanks for your comment.
im confused hasent number 1,2,8 and 9 already been confirmed as this year.
espechialy alan wake i mean come on that game has been in dev for what seems a eternity now.
ms need a R&C game or a GOW game something like that.
if they had a game like those 2 comming this year i would definetly go and buy one now because i realy realy realy want to play gears 2 but not enough to spend 500 bucks.
Well thankyou Bioware!
Just got two leaked videos of Mass Effect 2 detailing cut scenes, crazy combat, level design and the appearance of a new character that can be found here at 1Up
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173480
Guess our readers are just as good at picking number 1s as us!
And Mike I should’ve clarified that Halo = father of the modern console FPS (in my and many others view).
COD4 = the most played modern console shooter, CS the most played shooter.
Valve = fathers of the modern FPS
Half-Life 2 Ep 3. = will surpass ODST in quality
Modern Warfare 2 = will surpass ODST in sales
Failo.
This is the last day of GDC and Microsoft hasn’t said anything about any of the games listed.
And what about Splinter Cell Conviction? I’m surprised that game wasn’t on the list.
There’s been 2 PS3 exclusives announced just in the past week (New Rachet and Clank, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2), but it’s been a while since M$ has said anything about their upcoming games.
I don’t know how the rest of the 360′s lineup will play out in 2009, but right now it’s looking a little bleak… I’m more of a PS3 guy, but hopefully they’ll have some megatons at E3 for the 360 audience.
Mass Effect wasn’t really my thing, I personally couldn’t get into it so I probably won’t bother with 2.
And speaking of Rare, I wonder if they’ll ever do another Perfect Dark game. Or do you think that franchise has been retired? If so, it’s really a shame because the N64 game was a classic. Of course, none of the folks who worked on that had anything to do with PD Zero… they had moved on to Free Radical (which is now Crytek UK, of course). I’d love to see Rare take another crack at a PD game though and re-work it from the ground up.
when is microsoft gdc 09 bit, cant find a tiem of date anywhere