• 8-Bit Movie Games We Wish Existed
• The Great Chain Interview
Kotaku makes execs ask competing execs questions.
• Nintendo Explains How MotionPlus Thing Go Into Remote Thing

• Will Wright Talks Team Building
Recruitment advice from one of gaming's most successful designers.
• Fan-Made iPhone Wallpapers Look Familiar
• Microsoft's John Schappert Leaves Msoft For EA, Not Being Replaced
We just talked to Schappert at E3. Now EA has poached Microsoft management talent again.

• Does Ghostbusters: The Video Game Look Better On Xbox 360?
Spoiler: Xbox 360
• Olivia Munn's Playboy Cover Looks Like This
Spoiler: Clothed
• Mario Gets Played Off By The Keyboard Cat

With the DS Lite, for comparison's sake, the AC adapter had a different proprietary connector, which was a nuisance if you lost it and happened to still have your original DS adapter handy.

For the PSP Go, there's this picture, which shows the range of accessories that mate exclusively with the new handheld's multi-use port. The old PSP used a mini-USB port. You get the picture.

Well, strike that, actually. With a little prodding and stretching, the pouch could definitely work for both models. [Joystiq]

Nintendo:
• Nintendo E3 Keynote
• Wii Vitality Sensors Turns Wii into Definitive Nursing Home Console
•Nintendo Wii MotionPlus Hands On: One Year, Three Games Later
• Why the Original Wiimote Didn't Have MotionPlus
• Nintendo: We Could Be Stuck With the Wii for 8 More Years
• Power Up Charging Stand Recharges the Wii Punch-Out Board
• Mad Catz Wiimote Feels Like the Real Thing for $10 Less
• Nyko Zoom Case: 'Cause You Don't Care If Your DSi Is Actually Portable
• Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata Says He Wouldn't Use a Mac or iPhone if Apple Was a Competitor
• Old Feuds Reunite Between Nintendo and Sega
• The Difference Between Sony and Nintendo at E3
•5 Things That Should've Been at E3 But Weren't

Microsoft:
• Microsoft E3 Keynote
• Testing Project Natal: We Touched the Intangible
• Xbox 360 Project Natal Full Body Motion Control One Ups the Wii
• Project Natal Won E3, and Maybe the Motion Control Wars
•Microsoft: Project Natal Is "The Endgame"
• Project Natal on Video
• Download Xbox Live Full Retail Games on Demand
• Microsoft Says Xbox 360 Is "Less Than Halfway Done
• Where Is Xbox Live Anywhere?
• Facebook and Twitter on Xbox 360
• Netflix Lets You Add to Queue, Zune Video Marketplace Gets 1080p Instant Streaming
• Xbox Live Spillover: New Avatars, Where's Hulu and Why I Hope You Have Fast Internet
• Halo 3 ODST Collector's Edition Controller Won't Fit in Convenant Hands
• The Xbox Needs Apps
• 5 Things That Should've Been at E3 But Weren't

Sony:
• Sony's E3 Keynote
• PS3 Motion Controller May Be the Best Game Motion Capture Yet
• Hands On: Is The PSP Go! Too Small?
• Sony to Offer New Digital Copies Of Your Old UMD Games
• Everything You Need to Know About the PSP Go!
• Sony: Dual Shock Still Defacto, Motion Control Secondary
• Sony PlayStation Motion Controller Video: How It Works
• The Difference Between Sony and Nintendo at E3
• 5 Things That Should've Been at E3 But Weren't

Aaaand that's it. Hope you liked our coverage of E3 as much as we liked covering it!

When Dean Takahashi asked about the potential threat of free games, Iwata responded, "Because of this?" as he pulled out his iPhone.

Talking about the overlap between it and the DSi, he said, "The features of the iPhone and the DSi may overlap. But if we look at our differences, the areas of overlap are small. If, in the future, this overlap becomes bigger to the extent we should call it direct competition, I have to be more careful. I can't bring out the iPhone during an interview anymore. Today, I don't worry about it."

Man that's hardcore, like Bill Gates banning iPods from his house.

So if he couldn't use a Mac or Windows PC, what kind of computer would he use then? Linux? [VentureBeat]

Keep in mind, the name "Natal"—referring to a city in Brazil—doesn't really do the platform's infancy any justice. It should really be called "Project Prenatal," as the peripheral's dev kits just shipped to the first set of developers this week.

But after testing the system and getting a good look at what makes its motion tracking tick, I'm going to fanboy out a bit on the platform, as responsibly and logically as I can. Here's why I think Natal is a watershed in motion controls.

For a Motion System It Facilitates Passive Entertainment
People are lazy. If we can use a remote instead of changing a channel on the television five feet away, we'll use a remote. And I'd argue that if we can login to our preferred entertainment by just sitting on the couch (through Natal's facial recognition), we'll do that next. Is talking or gesturing more simple than channel surfing on a remote? Not necessarily, but...

Voice Recognition Is Still Promising Technology
Just because we haven't managed to perfect voice recognition doesn't mean we should write it off in every product into the future. It's getting better all the time, helped by increased processing power, and once you integrate voice into a system, it allows you to jump deeper into any tree of menus than most UIs allow. For instance, on an iPod, you have to navigate through a handful of separate screens to get to a particular artist. With voice recognition, you'd just say that artist's name.

Natal Can Support Peripherals Too, You Stupid, Stupid Idiots
If there was one thing I couldn't stand hearing again and again at E3, it was that Natal would force all gamers to mime controls in every game. Not true—at least, not for any reason made clear to me. Programmers would be free to include all kinds of controllers should they chose to. And if Natal's cameras are tracking 48 points on your body in 3D space, and its software can distinguish you from various non-human objects, I find it hard to believe that you couldn't hold an actual steering wheel to play a racing game, if you wanted to. Personally, I've grown a bit sick of tripping over plastic controllers in my living room, but I'm sure that third-party devs and hardware manufacturers will be happy to integrate and sell all the acrylic modular baseball bats you can stand.

Natal Can't Cost More Than a Party's Worth of Wiimotes
No one knows what Natal will cost. But you know what? I doubt it will cost more than $242, the amount a Wii owner needs to spend to outfit their console with controllers for four people. Microsoft was not specific as to the number of gamers supported simultaneously in Natal's multiplayer (to be fair, we haven't seen the system fully tracking wireframes beyond two people at a time). But a future in which a console's price isn't doubled by its peripherals sounds pretty appealing to us.

Natal Tracks 48 Points, Nintendo and Sony Track 1, Maybe 2 Points
Sony's Wiimote-like demo was the best physically-based motion tracking I'd ever seen. It was pretty freaking impressive to watch augmented reality replaced Sony's controller with a sword, whip and even bow and arrow. But even with two controllers, Sony and Nintendo's systems are really only tracking two single objects (perfectly) in space. So when you are swinging that sword with so much flourish, the human figure is just an arbitrary placeholder. How will you dodge? Or should I say, how will you feel like you're dodging? The D-pad, I can almost guarantee. OK...so how will you kick?

Natal Would Be Too Good To Be True...In Nintendo or Sony's Hands
Other companies could (and have) made infrared body-tracking cameras. Why are we so confident in Natal? Aside from our positive hands-on experience, Natal has Microsoft middleware/dev tools behind it. Where few third parties have wielded the Wiimote with as much finesse as Nintendo, and Sony is traditionally mute on how companies can unlock the power of their complicated hardware architecture, Microsoft launches Xbox products with the software necessary to make them work. Oh, and Microsoft is approaching Natal with 100% earnestness, calling the platform "the endgame." Sony's motion control, according to Sony, is less important.

The Coolest Mind In Motion Controls Says It Exceeds Anything He's Seen
Johnny Chung Lee, the same guy behind those crazy-awesome Wiimote mods, is working on the project. And he says this about it:

The human tracking algorithms that the teams have developed are well ahead of the state of the art in computer vision in this domain. The sophistication and performance of the algorithms rival or exceed anything that I've seen in academic research, never mind a consumer product. At times, working on this project has felt like a miniature "Manhattan project" with developers and researchers from around the world coming together to make this happen.

That quote's more than just hype—it's educated hype.

Also, if you haven't seen Lee's video showing off the potential of headtracking in displays, do so right now. Why? Because I'm all but positive that headtracking is one of many unannounced features in Natal that will change the way we think of 3D, without a 3D display.

I don't know that Natal will render the PS3's motion controls (or Nintendo's new Wii MotionPlus) completely worthless overnight. I do think there's a level of speed and accuracy (60 fps!) with which Sony will be able to duplicate a good old blunt instrument, possibly even better than Natal. (Then again, no one has actually played Sony's prototype.)

But an idea as bold as Project Natal, in the hands of Microsoft, which has been on its game, so to speak, with the 360...yeah, it took E3 in my book. And next year, when there are some actual games to see on the platform, it damn well might take E3 again. [Project Natal on Gizmodo]

Last year, Mark said the thrill of 1:1 motion it delivered was "greater than maybe any experience I've had on the Wii aside from Super Mario Galaxy."

This year, I tried the three games NIntendo was showcasing with Wii MotionPlus at its booth to see how far it's come and, this close to the final product, whether it's really worth it: Wii Sports Resort, EA's Tiger Woods PGA 10 and Grand Slam Tennis. The former two come with a MotionPlus dongle bundled in.

Grand Slam Tennis
"What the hell do I need MotionPlus for?" was my immediate reaction. It felt no more precise than Wii Sports Tennis—it simply let the game distinguish whether I was holding the racket on the left or side of my body, so I could swing backhand and forehand style (and it didn't do that so well). The abstraction level—the conceptual distance between my actions and what happened on the screen—also didn't feel great. It certainly wasn't 1:1. Not so hopeful!

EA's Tiger Woods PGA 10
Aha, here we go. Tiger Woods PGA 10 delivers more on the 1:1 front—as you twist the Wiimote left or right, so does the club on screen, which translates predictably in your shots. I kept cutting the ball way to the right, since I couldn't keep my swing entirely straight. But I felt completely in control—I knew it was my fault and it was mimicking my motions perfectly. Score.

Wii Sports Resort
No surprise, Nintendo's own software is where it shines, where the value of MotionPlus comes through the most.

What was surprising was where it mattered the most: In the dueling sword game, while my sword onscreen mapped perfectly to my motions with the remote (with ever so slightly perceptible lag) I destroyed my opponent with high speed wrist waggles, so in actually gameplay, MotionPlus seemingly offered nothing.

Then I got to archery. Holding the Wiimote vertically, it becomes the bow. The nunchuck is where you grip the string. So, you start with your arm out and bring the nunchuck up to the Wiimote. You press Z to virtually pinch the string, and pull the nunchuck back toward you, away from the remote, like you'd prime a real bow. Release Z, and the arrow fires. It's a really satisfying experience, one of the Wii games where the motions don't feel totally arbitrary. It depends on the MotionPlus to relay precisely where in space you're holding the remote, so you can aim. So you need MotionPlus—a definite win.

Finally, I played table tennis. It destroyed any doubts I had about MotionPlus. Everything was mapped precisely 1:1. If you twisted the remote left or right as you swung the paddle, the ball would respond when you smacked it with topspin or backspin. The physics, while simple, felt completely natural, along with everything else. It was fast, it was accurate, it was a blast. I felt like I was actually playing table tennis, more than I've felt like I was playing any other sport on the Wii.

This in part due to the scale of the game—replicating ping pong 1:1 is much easier than tennis, which takes place on a different scale. But the mastery of the simulation, the fluidness means you'll never go back to Wii Sport Tennis, which feels positively last-gen by comparison. Wii Sports Resort delivers on so much of the original promise of the Wii.

What it made clear, however, is that MotionPlus by itself doesn't necessarily guarantee the experience is going to be better, just because the remote tracking is that much more accurate. It's still totally up to the developer to make use of it in a way that's actually good—so while Red Steel 2, and maybe even the new Zelda will require MotionPlus, it doesn't mean they're necessarily going to have better motion controls or be better games. It just means they can be better. Way better, even, if the developer knows what they're doing.

But then again, if a bunch of games require the MotionPlus, it's not like you're going to have much of a choice anyway. [Giz@E3]

Dear lord. Eight years with no HD and a processor that won't allow the new Super Mario Bros. on Wii to feature online play?

On the HD front, Iwata says, "If we have an opportunity to make a new console, it will probably support HD because it is now common throughout the world. However, as far as the Wii is concerned, we have not found a significant reason to make it HD-compatible at this time. What is the significant meaning to the users? I don't think we should do it unless we find that reason."

Ashcraft notes that Japan stops analog broadcasting in 2011, so he's suspecting we'll actually see a new Nintendo console sometime before—so more like three years. [VentureBeat via Kotaku]

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

Peregrine is manufactured by a company also named Peregrine, and their namesake USB glove was shown off this year at E3, featuring a removable USB "pod" on the top of the hand (see above pic) that makes it easy to disconnect the glove before removing it from your hand. It's due for release in late fall 2009 at a $129 price point, though it's not available for pre-sale at the moment. It might work well for certain MMORPGs, enabling quick casting of spells or whatever goes on in those games as a sort of numpad alternative. Those who've used it say it actually works quite well and doesn't feel flimsy, so despite its relatively high pricetag it might find a niche audience. [PC Mag]

The controller is a plank that curves up at both ends, like a DA haircut, to make it easier to tip one direction or the other. It's like a skateboard with no wheels, made out of the sturdy plastic they use to make to non-styrofoam coolers. There are four light sensors you can see—two on the tips, and two in the center on opposing sides of the board, forming a cross—not to mention the accelerometers you can't. It's how the board detects when you do a hand grab. Along the edge are Xbox control buttons. It's a of couple pounds, not very heavy. I never felt like I going to break it, but I'm also not very heavy, about 150 pounds.

"You ever skateboarded or snowboarded?" Cody, who was running the demo, asked me. I've snowboarded. I was afraid to step on it immediately, since I figured it'd control the menu like a Guitar Hero controller. It doesn't (hence the buttons on the bottom). So I planted my feet perpendicular to the board, and almost immediately nearly fell off as it pivoted because I leaned too far forward. Leaning is how you turn. Since my balance sucks, it made playing hard.

I got back on and managed not to fall off this time. We did a trainer course, so I kicked once along the side of the board to simulate thrusting myself forward, and my onscreen counterpart zipped forward along a rail. To jump, you have to pop the board up quickly on one end by leaning back. It really does have to be a snapping motion. "Like a Wiimote," Cody offered. Turning is a matter of leaning left or right, and that was natural and easy. To do a hand grab, you have to trigger one of the sensors on the end. You don't have to go all the way down and literally touch board—in fact my knee triggered it more than once on the half-pipe section.

The carpet onstage, which wasn't luxuriously thick by any means, made keeping the board totally flat difficult, so if you have some seriously plush carpet, using Tony Hawk Ride's board is going to be frustrating, I suspect. And you're not gonna wanna play it on hardwood either, since slamming the board back on end to jump is going scuff it up like a warm of dogs on steroids ran through your living room.

I have to wonder, however, if the game's difficulty was a result of my personal athletic deficiencies or the game's—it's supposed to be designed for people who've never skateboarded. I wasn't the only one having problems playing, by far. But maybe it just has a steep learning curve—you're doing a lot more than waving a wand or clicking a button while holding another one, after all. I definitely want to play in a group for at least a couple of hours to really lay a solid judgment on this thing, more than my own skills.

In many ways, Ubisoft's new solution is like a Project Natal Lite: it's a game accessory, not a system accessory; it tracks some motion, but not much; it uses your body more for feedback than actual game control. Relieved of context, it looks pretty great, even if it fuels criticism that the Wii is become less of a gaming system, and more of a personal health appliance. Now, though, everyone will look to Nintendo for an answer—any answer—to the awesome motion gaming tech we've seen from Sony and Microsoft in the last few days. This is what they'll see. [Gametrailers via Pocketlint]

Matt Buchanan tested Project Natal today, as did I. Here is his personal take on the technology right alongside mine. We did not share our independent experiences before pasting the text below. Neither of us were allowed to shoot what was happening on screen—hence the crazy pics of our bodily reactions, and that intensely audible racing-game video.

How Natal Works
The test system was an ordinary Xbox 360, connected to small PC and camera that simulates the final Natal rig. There are two cameras—one RGB, for face recognition and display video, and one infrared, for tracking movement and depth. Why infrared? The eye doesn't see infrared light. And when you combine an infrared camera with an infrared emitter (also part of Natal), a room is flooded with a spectrum of invisible light that works in the dark.

Natal also has its own internal processing system handling an unspecified amount of the heavy lifting behind Natal's cleaver image and speech recognition. It breaks the human body into 48 points tracked in real time, and it can sense your whole body in Z space, or depth. In fact, on a heat map that measured depth, my hands appeared hotter than my shoulders—because they were closer.

Natal is so smart, in fact, that, if your room is narrowed by a pair of couches, it can signal to a game to narrow the level. It can see about 15' x 20' of a room, according to project leader Kudo Tsunoda's informal estimation.

Breakout
Matt: My first taste was talking to the father of Project Natal, Kudo Tsunoda and watching as his simple, small hand gestures were mapped perfectly onto the screen. He started up the ballsmacker demo you might have seen in our liveblog, knocking a swarm of balls into wall with every part of his body.

When Kudo gestured to me try it, I jumped right in and immediately started smacking at balls with my hands and feet and knees and arms and head as one ball exploded into many, like a virus, until I was doing sad white ninja jerking and jumping movements. Kudo didn't tell me how to "set it up" or what to do. I just did it. You have to realize, Kudo towers over me. I didn't have to calibrate it to my body size, or stand in a weird way for it to adjust. It just worked. Well, until I broke it at the end—it froze up after a few rounds and had to be rebooted for Mark. Hey, it's an early tech demo, so don't read into it. Until that point, it worked remarkably, incredibly well—better than I expected, honestly. The bright fluorescent lights were turned off and on, and Natal didn't flinch. My real movements translated exactly how I expected them to—the precise position, velocity—90 percent of the time, no matter how ridiculously I moved, and some of the other 10 percent might've just been my own bad timing. But the result is a remarkable sense of control. Immersion.

Mark: Microsoft loaded the 3D Breakout demo we saw at their press conference. I stepped up to a white piece of tape right after Matt, and given that I'm 4 inches taller, Natal needed to account for my larger size.

After about 10 seconds, the blue, ghost-like figure filled in. And he was both taller and bigger-handed than Matt's avatar. Natal noticed that I'm a bigger guy. It made no adjustments for the fact that I'm also better looking.

The first thing I noticed was a slight lag I hadn't intended. It's not horrible, but my avatar moved a hair more slowly than I did. That didn't stop me from reaching up, spiking the imaginary ball at a wall imaginary bricks, and then flailing around to keep up with 2, 3, 4, 5 and more spheres flying at me at once.

My avatar recognized both my pitiful kicks and swipes. And while my avatar never left the ground when I jumped, this turned out to be but an animation limitation within Microsoft's tech demo. My wireframe preview image and heatmap did leave the ground. Besides, this is nitpicking. On the PS2 I played Nike Kinetic, something a bit similar. And I always wanted to be having fun. But on Natal, even in a stuffy windowless room surrounded by Microsoft execs, I was having fun. (Disregard my stern, focused face in these pictures.)

Burnout Revenge
Matt: The Burnout racing-game demo was a little more abstract—in one sense, I almost wished I had a wheel to turn, a pedal to press, because I wanted the feedback. I had trouble getting used to "pressing" the gas, which you do by moving your right foot forward. I threw myself off-balance by taking a ginormous step toward the Frankenstein's lab of demo equipment along the wall (upon which I could see myself represented in infared, covered in boxes like smallpox). But turning my air steering wheel, I felt completely in control. A lot of that was the software—it registered even the smallest pivots of my elbows that sent my forearms right or left—but the way it responded exactly how I expected it to is what made it feel so natural. Which is the real key here. It feels natural.

After I hit full speed on a straightaway, I tried to do a 180. I crashed into a wall and died. Normally, that'd make me bad. But I couldn't stop smiling that I'd held the future of gaming control in my hands—and it was simply air.

Mark: As soon as Matt crashed, I greedily jumped in, asking him if it was OK but not waiting for him to answer. I wanted to play Natal more, and I've played a ton of Burnout.

Burnout showcases a few important points for Microsoft. First, it's a real game that's been on the 360. So Natal doesn't weigh down on the processors so hard that you can't play games. Second, it requires fine motor control.

I raised my hands in the air, mining a steering wheel. I hadn't given the system any time to scan my body after kicking Matt out, but I stepped by foot forward, signaling the gas all the same. The car accelerated. I twisted my arms. The car turned just the right amount.

Microsoft had clearly tweaked the Burnout code a bit, forcing the car to feel a bit more like a powerful sedan than a street illegal beast out of some Fast and Furious sequel. And I'm guessing that Natal's ever so slight control delay was masked by the feeling of a looser-driving steering wheel that we find in more standard cars.

So I floor it, growing confident as I wave through traffic and slowly build speed. I reach maximum velocity, throw my foot back to break, cut the wheel and toss the car into a spin. Yes. This feels right. Just right.

Holy shit.

But Natal can't work this well. It just CAN'T. I need to break it, teach this Microsoft prototype a little humility. What if I stand on my tip toes and steer eight feet in the air?

The car handles fine.

What if I kneel on the ground and steer?

Yup, it still works, save for a moment when my knee shifted and I tricked the machine—a fair mistake, even by my highly ridiculous dork standards.

Closing Thoughts
Matt: Project Natal is the vision of gaming that's danced through people's heads for decades—gaming without the abstraction of controllers, using your body and natural movements—which came more sharply into focus when Nintendo announced the Wii a few years ago. I haven't been quite this blown away by a tech demo in a long time. It looked neat onstage at Microsoft's keynote. Seeing it, feeling it in person, makes me want to believe that this what the future of gaming looks like—no buttons, no joysticks, no wands. The only thing left to get rid of is the screen, and even that'll happen soon enough.

Mark: 2010...or maybe even 2011...is just too long to wait. I want Natal now.


Kudo Tsunoda Testing Natal:

The touch strip on the neck used to be analog but now it's completely digital, so Activision says it's now "100 percent accurate." The strum bar has also been redesigned internally, so it's way more durable. I didn't actually get to hit it to see if you can feel how much more solid it is. But hopefully the DJ Hero turntable is a pretty nice indication of the quality of hardware we should expect this generation. The whammy bar has been subtly redesigned as well, and now you've got some fake chrome tuners instead of fake plastic tuners.

I've always preferred the Guitar Hero guitars to Rock Band's since I think the latter's strum bar is too squishy. What were you hoping would change with the new guitars?

It's grown up a bit since the initial reveal sprouting a glossy black panel that docks on either side of the main turntable. It holds the mixer, effects dial, euphoria button and hides the usual Xbox buttons behind a small panel up top.









Here's how you play the game, with someone much better at spinning tracks than I will ever be showing us how a DJ Hero kills it: We didn't get to use the controller to play the game, but we handled it after the demo, and it felt remarkably solid—weighty without being heavy, the plastic adequately resilient, and not too cheap feeling. The spin action itself is super smooth and effortless, with a light wrist flick sending into a fairly zoomy spin. The Xbox buttons are hidden up top in the dockable half, to reduce the complexity of the controls as much as possible. Yes, it is wireless. Interesting trivia bit: All of the DJs in the game wear Monster's Dr. Dre Beats headphones.

Guitar Hero already destroys my hand-eye coordination past medium—with buttons, spinning things, effects dials, mixers, I already know there's no effin' way I can handle this game. But I'm going to try because it looks like it makes you even more like a DJ king than Guitar Hero makes you feel like a rock god.

Price Cuts
The financiapocalypse has yielded no price cuts for ailing gamers from Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft. A PS3 still hurts at $400, a real Xbox costs $300 (with downloadable retail games on the way, you need that hard drive), and a Wii still costs $250. Not to mention the true price of owning these consoles—$60 $80 for a complete Wiimote (can't forget MotionPlus, which Miyamoto said yesterday could be required for the next Wii Zelda), $50 a year for Xbox Live—also remains unchanged. This is undoubtedly part and parcel of this generation's extended lifespan, but parts and manufacturing prices have fallen, so they're all presumably recouping more money than ever on their consoles. If they're serious about picking up new gamers, they need to make it affordable.

PS3 Slim
Sony inevitably slenderizes every console, and the PS3 is an effin' monster. The PSP Go shows they're still very much on board on the shrink ray as a way to generate sales. The PS3 costs them less than ever to make—just think how much more they'd save if they didn't have to pay for all of that extra plastic? (OK, maybe they'd have to pay more for the smaller guts.) But we've seen possible branding for it, just maybe. Are they saving it for motion controls?

Zune, Zune, Zune
We really expected more ZuneHD to be a part of Microsoft's E3 keynote, given the barebone announcement that left us parched for more details. ZuneHD wasn't mentioned once.

Also, Microsoft promised "at E3 next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience." Um, we must've missed that. Zune Video Marketplace moved onto Xbox Live was all we caught. When we asked Xbox Live's Marc Whitten yesterday where Zune audio was, he pointed at Last.fm. And about what we can expect from deeper Zune integration, we got a more or less canned response that they'll be continuing to grow the service and move toward more integration. Not very satisfying.

Live Anywhere
Nearly three years later, and one year after being assured the project is still alive, Microsoft's Live Anywhere—the service that'll let you tap into Live from anywhere—is still nowhere. Which is absolutely baffling, given everything Microsoft's added to the Live service since the New Xbox Experience and all of the "cloud" work they've been doing. Live Anywhere fits perfectly with all of that. There's really no good explanation for why Live Anywhere is still MIA.

But we asked Whitten where it was, just for good measure. He said they're focusing on the living-room experience here at E3, and since that extends onto other devices, it's for another time and place. Ooooookay. Maybe when we see that deeper Zune integration?

A Bigger, Better Wii Balance Board and More Wii MotionPlus Games
While Nintendo didn't fail to come through with a new piece of potentially gimmicky hardware (notice they didn't even have a game to go with it, and Miyamoto himself was vague on WTF it's for), Wii Fit Plus is the same old Wii Fit from a hardware perspective. We hoped a Wii Fit Plus would come with a Balance Board Plus—a smarter board that's even bigger for people who don't have Japan-sized feet. It's one new hardware peripheral we wouldn't have minded one bit.

A year after announcing the Wii MotionPlus, the game pickins for it still look a bit slim. Nintendo announced a handful of titles yesterday that'll make use of it, like Sega's Virtua Tennis 2009 and the new Tiger Woods Golf from EA (which'll have it bundled) but it's disappointing they didn't have more to show at this stage of the game. During yesterday's Q&A, Miyamoto said that it might be required for the next Zelda on Wii, depending on how widely it's adopted—so whether we see it used in more games may very well be dependent on how well it does with the initial load of titles. So it's odd there isn't well, more of them to start to really get the ball rolling.

So that's what we really missed at E3—well, all that and Hulu. What did you guys really hope to see?

The statue/model/robot is on display at E3 outside Ubisoft's booth for the corresponding video game which will release alongside the film. Up until now, specific details and visuals from the film have been pretty scarce.

For those unfamiliar, Avatar is a 3D film set to take place in the 22nd century. The basic premise is that humans visit a distant moon full of giant blue aliens using genetically engineered "avatars" that they mentally inhabit (I'm not making this up). Cameron says the film was inspired by all the sci-fi books he read as a child.

If anything, the movie will be interesting. For now, feast on the images, and be sure to check out more over at [Collider]

Asked about Sony and Microsoft's motion controls revealed earlier this week, through a translator he said that Nintendo's policy is to actually do development and figure out how the hardware is going to be used with software before making an announcement.

Oooo smack talk. But he admitted it took them a while to finish Wii MotionPlus. He also said that until it reaches that level of completion it's impossible to make any sort of judgment about them.

Talking about the vitality sensor, he said it's a device he's interested in because it's a different kind of interface, versus something you do with your own will—you step on to a Balance Board, but can you control your own pulse? He's thinking of something like that, that's hard to control, controlling it through something like yoga.

And what about Wii Speak? If they have a game that lends itself to using Wii Speak, that's something they're always looking for. Translated from PR speak that means approximately nothing.

Though, what the hell does that lead to? About 10 years ago, he used one of those gimmick gadgets that lets you control a robot with your brain waves. So he and Iwata put it on and put this on and were thinking about how to use it—like a new Pokemon game. "New devices open doors to new creativity." In other words, the Wii peripheral parade won't ever stop. Ever.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Technical features

• 3.8-inch LCD screen.
• Sliding control pad.
• 16GB internal flash storage.
• Wi-Fi.
• Bluetooth.
• M2 Memory Stick Micro port.
• No second analog joystick.
• No UMD drive.

• Sense Me application will allow you to playback music based on moods.
• Available in black and white models.

Physical features
• 50% smaller than the original PSP.
• 40% lighter than the original PSP.

Game and media distribution

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.• All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed through the PlayStation Store, but also on UMD for the regular PSP.
• The video delivery service will offer more than 9400 TV shows—Showtime, Anime Network, Manga, UFC, HDNet, E!, G4, Magnolia...—and 1900 movies.
• On the PC there will be an application called Media Go, which will access the PS Store—I guess this will be the equivalent of the iTunes Store.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Availability and pricing

• The PSP Go! will be available for $249 and 249 euros
• Launch date: October 1st in Europe and North America. November 1st in Japan.
• PSP toolkits will be reduced 80% in price for developers.

PSP(R)go PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) Evolves to Match the Digital Lifestyle

With an Ultra-Portable Design and Digital Content Focus, PSPgo to Hit the Worldwide Market This Fall, Further Enhancing the User Experience Along with PSP-3000

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today unveiled PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go (PSP-N1000), a new evolution of PSP handheld entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo will become available in stores on October 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a recommended retail price (RRP) of US$249 and euro 249, and on November 1, 2009, in Japan at a RRP of 26,800 yen (including tax). With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, the company will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that's right for them.

PSPgo is ideal for today's on-the move consumers who prefer not to carry around disc-based content and are looking for on-demand entertainment. With the steady expansion of broadband network infrastructure, the number of users who download and enjoy digital entertainment content has been increasing remarkably. To address this growing trend, PSPgo replaces the UMD drive*1 with 16GB of flash memory to store a variety of digital entertainment content, offering users unlimited possibilities of portable digital entertainment delivered through PlayStation®Network. PSPgo, smaller and lighter than ever with a sophisticated design featuring an easy sliding display panel, is truly pocket-sized and can be taken everywhere. PSPgo will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White*2, two of the most popular colors since the launch of the PSP system in 2004. Along with PSP-3000, PSPgo will further enhance the unmatched portable gaming and entertainment experience by offering users more opportunity to enjoy their favorite entertainment content such as games, videos, music and photos anytime, anywhere.

In order to meet the needs of the growing number of PlayStation®Network users looking for digital entertainment content, SCE along with third party developers and publishers will continue to enhance the content line-up within PlayStation®Store for the launch of PSPgo, scheduled this fall. More and more new and attractive titles will become available for download from PlayStation®Store as well as on UMD. This broad content offering across all genres includes new games, free-demos, PS one® classics for PSP, add-on items for game titles, and trailers.

In addition to accessing PlayStation Store directly from PSP using the built-in wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) feature or through the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, users will also be able to access and download a variety of entertainment content via their PCs using Media Go*3, a new software application. Media Go will enable users to access and download entertainment content on PlayStation Store via their PCs as well to easily manage PSP content on PCs, including games, videos, photos, and music. This easy to use software application will be available on a CD-ROM bundled with PSPgo.

Also this fall, a new music application specific to PSP that uses the "SensMe™ channels"*4 music recommendation feature, developed by Sony, also becomes available for download on PSP. With this music application, users will be able to enjoy their favorite music stored on their PSP through a rich user interface, designed exclusively for PSP. "SensMe channels" is a mood based music recommendation system that categorizes music content into channels such as "Relax," "Dance" and "Upbeat," and recommends music playlists for users.

Other features are:

> Easy Sliding Display Panel and Original Applications
PSPgo offers a variety of exciting entertainment options by taking
advantage of the sliding panel. When the panel is open, users will be
able to enjoy various entertainment content with the familiar button
control as PSP-3000, when closed, original applications for PSPgo, such
as a clock and calendar is displayed on the screen. Users can also
enjoy video and music when the panel is closed.

> Game sleep function
PSPgo has unique features such as game sleep function which enables
users to operate XMB(TM) (XrossMediaBar) while pausing gameplay
temporarily.

> Bluetooth(R) function
Bluetooth function will also allow users to connect Bluetooth
standard peripherals such as head-phones and head-set *5 as well
as PS3 wireless controller (DUALSHOCK(R)3 and SIXAXIS(R)) *6 to be
used when watching video content on TVs via PSP at home*7.

> Peripheral line-up
One of the products within PSPgo's peripheral line-up is a new
Cradle (PSP-N340) *7 that will become available in stores worldwide
concurrently with the release of PSPgo. This new Cradle enables users
to charge the PSPgo battery and also enjoy watching video and listening
to music. Also included in the peripheral line-up are video-out port
cables that enable users to enjoy games and videos on their TVs at home.

Archive below:

11:00 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We just cabbed it across LA, and we're at the Shrine Auditorium, ready to liveblog Sony's press conference. Wow this was bad corporate planning. Anyone waiting on a bus from Nintendo won't make it if Sony starts in time…one minute from now.

11:07 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So what will we see from Sony. The PSP Go!? Yeah, seems like a sure thing. The PS3 Slim? Seems likely. A Sony motion controller? That's anyone's guess.

11:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Matt thinks PS3 Slim will show. I think it sort of needs to now, given that it's already leaked.

11:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sony's three-part screen is epically wide.

11:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I'm really enjoying this blockbuster presentation. Loud rock. Big images. It makes Nintendo's modest presentation look so…quaint.

11:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:12 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Last year Sony used a boatload of LCDs, this year, they went all out projection. I want this in my house…but you know, playing movies and stuff, not just PS3/PSP game clips.

11:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The intro clip is over. Crowd is louder now. And Jack Tretton, President and CEO struts to the stage.

11:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
HA, and he immediately refers to the leaks, thanking everyone for still showing up. "Press leaks are no exception, we're not going to be outdone by anybody."

11:15 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
His stage presence is better than Reggie's. He reminds me of Peter Moore in his prime for Microsoft. Confident and swaggering.

11:15 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Peter Moore is still the man, btw.

11:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack, let's not be formal about his name, it teasing a big lineup. Including Heavy Rain, a game I'm pretty excited about, from the makers of Indigo Prophecy.

11:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:17 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we've moved to the PS2. Jack's talking about the $99 pricepoint, its global strength. Sony sees the PS2 as existing beyond 10 years, as long as consumers are interested.

11:18 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're on to the PS3. 22 million PS3s sold last year.

11:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
What about PlayStation Network? 24 million registered accounts (how many of them active?).

11:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:20 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack gives a shoutout to inFamous, a much-needed highly praised Sony exclusive.

11:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Naughty Dog comes to stage to show us Uncharted 2. Let's see this thing so we can get on with the hardware!

11:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta launches tonight, but they're gonna show us some of the game now.

11:22 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're watching a realtime playthrough. The landscape is urban, and much bigger than the old Uncharted. The graphics are colorful, but they are tough to judge on this huge of a screen. "Holy shit!" It's a helicopter. Be careful!

11:23 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Huge chase sequence. Lots of cheers…from people I'm assuming were planted by Sony. But the game still looks fun. That helicopter just isn't giving up!

11:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
More on Uncharted 2 over at Kotaku, of course.

11:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So now police types are chasing our hero through a building. And who knew that a wooden desk could block high caliber bullets.

11:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The cip is over. Jack is back – where's a TM symbol when you need one?

11:26 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"I'm excited about this game for not just one reason, but 256 reasons." He's going to show us MAG, teased last year, a huge war MMO.

11:28 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The graphics are not as nice as Uncharted, somewhere between PS2 and PS3, but what do you expect if they're pulling off this many players on one map?

11:28 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:29 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A soldier is on the ground. A jet flies idly overhead. The team needs to assault a bunker in this brown and tan landscape.

11:30 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The most striking feature is actually the audio, or lack thereof. Despite the massive battle (of about 30 people in close proximity) you only hear a few audio tracks. I hope they beef this up a bit, but of course, too much audio would be pure cacophony.

11:31 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:31 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I see no lag in any of the helicopters or ground troops, though who knows how this is all networked. An airstrike is called in. I want this louder! Otherwise, not looking bad. Also, it will be playable, with 256 players, on the show floor. Moving on…

11:32 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack's mic went out for a moment. No bigs. He's back, talking about the PSP.

11:33 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's running through the small handful of excellent AAA titles on the PSP. Let's hear about the Go!, Jack!

11:33 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
HANNAH MONTANA BUNDLE WITH LILAC PSP!

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz Hirai comes to the stage.

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sony asked "how could we make the PSP better." The next step?

11:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The PSP Go!

11:36 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's identical to the leak, thicker than I imagined when spun in virtual 3D.

11:36 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
There is no second analog. It will not replace the 3000 or UMD.

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"Great screen, same great operating system…plays great games." The PSP Go is more than 50% smaller and 40% lighter than original PSP.

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
16GB internal flash, Wi-Fi…

11:37 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Sliding keyboard, Bluetooth, M2 memory port…just as leaked.

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Today, "we're launching a new application to launch the PlayStation store on the PC." It's called Media Go.

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:39 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A new application called Sense Me (for PSP) has 12-tone audio recognition system, plays playlist based upon moods you select. Coming this fall.

11:39 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
PSP toolkits will be reduced 80% in price for developers.

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed in PS Store, and UMD.

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All of the services and features are on PSP and PSP Go!

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
PSP Go! available at $249 and 249 euros October 1st in NA and Europe.

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We get it a month earlier than Japan, who gets the hardware November 1st.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz is moving on to the video delivery service. It has more than 1900 and 9400 TV Shows. Starting today, it will be available natively on the PSP too.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Showtime, G4, Magnolia, all these people are coming to the PS (Video) Store.

11:42 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"But our news does not stop there…"

11:43 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:43 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kazunouri Yamauchi comes to stage to promote Gran Turismo for PSP.

11:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's explaining, through the help of a translator, his game that runs at 60fps on the PSP platform and will hold 800 cars along with 35 tracks.

11:46 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
More details over at Kotaku

11:48 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So…what do you think about the PSP Go!? I understand (and respect) Sony's need for a unified platform, but screw the PSP, I want a second analog so I can play FPSs.

11:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The lights dim for a Gran Turismo video…that includes lots of pretty footage of the Go! UGH, why can't this have one more analog?? I actually like the Mylo-esque design. Why Sony? Why?

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kaz returns to the stage, reminding us that Gran Turismo titles have sold over 50 million units worldwide.

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.

11:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:51 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So…this is a different game than we saw at Microsoft the other day. But here's Hideo Kojima, maker of MGS, again!

11:51 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Note: MGS Peace Walker is a PSP title, not PS3.

11:52 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:53 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I admit it, there is nothing more confusing to me in this whole world than the Metal Gear canon. Kojima is reminding us that it fits in with the MGS timeline, somehow, in a very legitimate way.

11:54 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're watching a Peace Walker trailer. There's a lot of vintage-looking video paired with a mysterious, gravely voice over.

11:55 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now some gamepla footage. It looks…like an MGS title on the PSP. The chroma's been cranked a bit, but otherwise, still lotsa jaggies.

11:56 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And incidentally, there are like 4 Snakes onscreen at once in multiplayer

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Haha, and as a kicker, Snake crawls behind a guard, whips out a box and hides. Then, ANOTHER snake crawls behind the guard, hides under the same box. Now Kaz returns.

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're almost an hour in to the presser. Is there room left for more announcements?

11:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nope, Kaz ends the press conference. That's it! Wait…now Jack returned to stage. It may have been a fake-out. Yes, it seems Jack is continuing the press conference. Damn that Kaz and his authoritative presence.

11:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Resident Evil is coming to the PSP, Jack explains, along with a bunch of other titles…including HANNAH MONTANA! Big cheers for her. Jack responded, "Yeah, I knew I'd get you with that one."

12:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:01 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're watching a PSP promo video, btw. It's alright I guess.

12:02 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
This is great. The sausage-dominated crowd keeps cheering for the pink/girly games.

12:03 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ooh, white PSP Go!

12:03 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:04 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is back, again. He's explaining why PSN is great.

12:05 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh right, PlayStation Home. Now they're talking about PlayStation Home. I'd literally forgotten that Sony might bring it up.

12:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Could Sony announced anything re:Home right now that would pique your interest?

12:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're watching a Home promo video in which conservative people in suits walk through doors and magically transition into funky digital avatars. My personal favorite? A confident female CEO-type becoming Chun Li.

12:08 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
If "meh" manifested as an applause, I just heard it.

12:08 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:10 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now onto a PS3 promo video. These videos become so monotonous, presented in the exact same style. No one can be paying attention at this point. Scratch that, someone is recording video in front of us.

12:10 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:11 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I keep expecting the video to be over, then it's not.

12:12 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Seriously, it's as if the audio designer purposefully planted musical phrases to mislead the audience while Sony showed us every game that ever has been or will be on the PS3 platform.

12:13 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Maybe Kotaku has some insight as to the nature of Sony's video editing.

12:14 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Alright, the full feature PS3 film has ended and Jack is Back talking about Rockstar, makers of Grand Theft Auto.

12:14 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Agent, made by Rockstar North, is an exclusive coming to PS3.

12:15 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's a 70s-themed…logo, apparently. We aren't hearing anything more about Agent right now. Instead, Ubisoft is going to show us Assassin's Creed 2.

12:16 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ubisoft is so French. I mean, so Freedom.

12:16 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, the game looks good though. The crowd, fuller than before, is full of people wearing unique, individual garments.

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ooh, da Vinci's flying machine makes an appearance, flying around Venice fluidly. The game looks very pretty, implementing motion blur touched up with just the gentlest brush of bloom lighting.

12:18 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:20 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're seeing some battles. You know what this reminds me of? Heavenly Sword. Something about the new movement qualities of the game that I don't think were deployed in the first version.

12:20 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And that's that for Assassin's Creed 2.

12:21 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Look for the PS3 and PSP versions of Assassin's this holiday season.

12:23 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for a Square Enix video. I was going to be sarcastic, but the techie art direction is actually pretty hot.

12:23 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:24 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're watching footage from Final Fantasy XIII Versus, btw.

12:25 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Final Fantasy XIII. That's 14! We're about to see it.

12:26 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's PlayStation exclusive in 2010.

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
What can I say? It looks like a new Final Fantasy game. And the crowd goes wild.

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack: "So there's one that didn't leak out, huh?"

12:27 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is teasing motion control gaming.

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"We're working to create an experience that is much closer to real life than anything you have ever seen."

12:28 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He invited the creative forces behind the "PlayStation Motion Controller" to the stage.

12:29 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"It far surpasses anything on the market now."

12:29 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They are holding an engineering prototype that has a bright purple flowing sphere, trackable by the PS Eye.

12:30 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And they're going to show us 100% live tech demos, no precut videos.

12:30 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're watching a virtual Motion Controller tracked onscreen. The controller is moving VERY fluidly on the screen. It's perfect. Like 60fps.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, now it's a tennis racket onscreen.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now a bat. And now a club. And now a stop sign…that hit a tennis ball. This is a great demo.

12:31 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now a mace. This is like perfect 1:1. And the virtual objects are very tight. I'm impressed. Very impressed.

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:32 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Then they switched the perspective of the virtual object to an FPS. AWESOME.

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And the device has a trigger, just for FPSs.
12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're showing a ton of virtual objects. This is a tech demo, but it's robust.

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:34 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
But what about drawing? Hell, what about writing? The device is tracked with "sub millimeter accuracy."

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:35 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
This is the best motion control demo I've ever seen. It works perfectly. I'm just not spotting flaws.

12:36 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:36 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I want to play with this right now. Now they're showing an RTS tank game. Then, they cut to an FPS perspective putting the viewer into a tank. So cool.

12:37 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:37 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:38 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for something more complex. What about a full model holding a sword and shield? The swipes and thrusts as it cuts up a skeleton. This character is ever so less fluid than the other demos, but still excellent. Oh, and now ninja stars are being thrown. And now archery! This archery demo pwns what Nintendo showed off earlier. From the first person focus shift to the camera, to the smooth animation, it's the best arrow simulation I've ever seen. Once again, "perfect" comes to mind.

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:39 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"We're looking forward to sharing more about the motion controller with you in the near future."

12:40 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Spring 2010 release on motion controller.

12:41 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:42 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
While Jack talks about LittleBigPlanet, I'm going to fanboy out a bit more about the motion controller. Maybe it's not the 1:1 tracking technology, maybe it's just the HD and physics capabilities of the PS3. But it looked at least a generation better than Wii MotionPlus. Then again, not coming until Spring 2010, it probably should be.

12:43 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Matt on PS3 motion controls: "It's Wii to the max." That's gonna end up on a Sony poster somewhere, but I can't disagree with him.

12:43 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, more on ModNation Racers, which I'm not covering at the moment, at Kotaku.

12:46 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're still talking about this ModNation Racers game.

12:46 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:49 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
STILL watching the damn ModNation Racers.

12:50 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
ModNation has gotten more face time than any other thing Sony's presented today.

12:51 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is now about to offer us a "sneak peek" at a new title, from the maker of Shadow of the Colossus.

12:52 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's called The Last Guardian.

12:53 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A little boy is running from something. And now we see it, a huge feathered cat. It grabs the boy from a ledge, saving him from death. Maybe this cat isn't so bad!

12:53 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:54 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Interesting art design: The boy is a textureless cartoon, while the world around him is more realistic.

12:54 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The relationship between the boy and this beast is remarkably touching, even in a short clip. The crowd doesn't clap all at once. They need a moment.

12:57 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

12:57 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for some Gran Turismo promo video action. There is either a lot of prerendering going on, or the game is photorealistic at 60fps.

12:59 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Next up? A live demo of God of War III.

1:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:00 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kratos is running around, doing his thing in a nice looking but not so surprisingly detailed environment.

1:01 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Uh oh…a Titan has crawled out of lava. This can't be good.

1:04 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:05 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Anyway, GoW III is OK. It'll be fun. I'm sure fans will like it. But it's pretty similar to the scale of GoW II. It doesn't feel like much more than a graphical boost.

1:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
March 2010 on God of War III.

1:06 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack is back on stage, wrapping things up.

1:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

1:07 PM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Jack: "I promise we will not become complacent no matter what we have accomplished." And with that, the event is over. Later guys.

Archive below:

7:47 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Testing testing. We're live t the Nokia theater with about an hour to kill before the Nintendo press conference.

7:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The smell: cold steel and coffee.

7:56 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So, the Nokia Theater is nice, but it's no Kodak Theater – the location of their e3 press conference last year. Feeling the sting of weak yen, Nintendo?

8:01 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
We were up late at a Microsoft party last night. Lots of free booze and Beatles Rock Band. Matt Buchanan threw back more than his fair share of water before not taking the stage and not humiliating himself.

8:06 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Bowie is playing, Young American.

8:06 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:
MGMT is playing. I feel so cool now.

8:17 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:22 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:23 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:
Guesses? Anyone? Drop your answers over on our liveblog post.

8:34 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:34 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
30 minutes until showtime. I've been playing Nintendo trivia on their big screen. Remember back when Coke sponsored that find the bottles pre-show stuff at movie theaters? I was SO good at spotting those inconspicuous red bottles on a white backdrop. So good.

8:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:
That was my brief experiment shooting behind my head with 5D Mark II's Live View. The 5D made our Microsoft liveblog yesterday magically easy to shoot–I can't wait 'til that kind of low-light power reaches entry-level cameras.

8:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So what will we see from Nintendo? Wii Fit Plus seems like an absolute sure thing, along with a possible showing from Art Academy (a recent trademark Nintendo filed). Other than that? I'm guessing we'll see some pretty big pimping of Wii MotionPlus. Nintendo announced the peripheral at least year's E3, and now they need to sell the thing for $20 a pop.

8:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:45 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The answer to the question below? Mario. What did you win? Nothing. But the other big announcement we may see today is a new Mario title.

8:47 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
OMG, WIIMOTE SPOTTED ON STAGE!! WHAT COULD THIS MEAN????????

8:47 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh, and in case you like to watch two or more liveblogs at once (what, you don't trust us?), check out the Kotaku liveblog. They're good people.

8:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:
It kinda makes me sad that the best-selling DS game ever is Nintendogs.

8:55 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I will say, Nintendo's (LCD?) light strips are not so horrible looking. I mean, I wouldn't want to decorate my house with them or anything. But for a techie press conference? Martha Stewart would approve.

8:57 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

8:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
5 minutes to takeoff. This must be what it feels like to await a space shuttle launch. Lotsa dudes. Weird smells. General discomfort. Top 40 pop music playing in the background. I don't know where I'm going with this.

8:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
ARE YOU READY TO RUUUUMMMMBBBBLLLLEEEEEEE? Great. But be careful, Immersion might sue your ass.

9:02 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now Nintendo is busting out the U2. What would Bono do if he were here? Get shown up my John Mayer if John Maysr were here, that's what.

9:03 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt

9:03 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nintendo has just put up their logo on every screen they've got on the stage. That's…SIX NINTENDO LOGOS. Booya. Show is starting.

9:04 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nintendo messages: "Everyone's Game" "Connection" "Every Culture" "Every Contact" "Every Generation"

9:04 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
In other words, she has no motive to tell you the truth.

9:05 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
She's talking sales, citing NPD and explaining why video games are the top dog. She's using words like "consumers" and "industry."

9:06 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"Maybe you've noticed a woman on the plane playing a DS system."

9:06 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nintendo's goal? "Create, surprise."

9:07AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
She's promising more innovation in game control, and innovation where "we thought there might not be any left."

9:07 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
She's teasing an icon in games now, probably Mario

9:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Yes, it was Mario. Montage of Mario.

9:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They never figured out how to move Mario into the 4th dimension. That's Nintendo's surprise. Miyamoto has invented a new way to play Mario. New Super Mario Bros for Wii.

9:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:09 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Bill Trinen comes onstage. Senior Manager of Product Marketing.

9:09 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ohh…and he's promising more PLAYERS. Four people at once!

9:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, this is neat. It's like New Super Mario Bros, with Mario, Luigi and two Toads.

9:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All the Wiimotes are being held like an NES controller, btw. There's some waggling involved.

9:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oooohh, helicopter hat! Oh, it's called a propeller suit. Work on that name, Nintendo.

9:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The propeller suit makes sense because it launches players vertically, which allows players to stay on the same screen while flying. Remember raccoon Mario? He wouldn't work for this.

9:12 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
All four players need to hop on the flagpole within three seconds. The game is competitive, with players trying to score the most points.

9:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
New Super Mario Bros Wii is on the show floor, will launch Holiday 2009.

9:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:13 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"While Mario may be a big draw, he wasn't big enough to pull all consumers…" Nope, for that, Nintendo had to appeal to fat people.

9:14 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Cammie is talking about changing Wii Fit. The result? Wii Fit Plus.

9:15 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It seeks out a specific workout routine that's "just right for you." Six new strength and yoga routines. Gaps between exercises can be removed.

9:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:16 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The screens she's showing look just like Wii Fit

9:17 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh, though they just showed a level in which you can hop over hurdles while dodging giant bullets, just like Mario. They showed that clip for roughly 5 seconds, sadly. Now they're cutting to a montage of Wii stuff.

9:18 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Reggie Fils-Aime comes onstage. Nice cheers for Reggie.

9:18 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:18 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The vernacular of Nintendo is just so business minded. "Virally," "mainstream culture." It just feels so cold and calculated. Where is Miyamoto's smiling face?

9:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Reggie is giving us a look at Wii game control options. Today, he wants to fully explain the "next advance" in game control. He's talking about Wii MotionPlus.

9:19 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:20 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's showing a side by side of the Wiimote and the Wiimote with the MotionPlus dongle. He's explaining how different this little dongle feels.

9:20 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Reggie cued a demo reel of Wii MotionPlus. And…we see a closeup of someone playing ping pong in slow mo over a 3D matrix. So futuristic!

9:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Holy crap, now a samurai! Samurais like Wii MotionPlus!

9:21 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now a guy pulled a bow and arrow? Wii MotionPlus might be dangerous!

9:22 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
OK, now just a golfer and some basketball. My kids can play with Wii MotionPlus after all.

9:23 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The video is over. "That's how it works on video," Reggie explains. But now they're gonna demo it in real time.

9:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're pushing "precision and depth" pretty hard. They want the mainstream to understand that Wii MotionPlus is BETTER than the Wiimote alone. So Nintendo is going to show up Wii Sports Resort, like they did last year, but focusing on precision controls.

9:24 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The Wiimote (with MotionPlus) represents a skydiver. The Wiimote is being rotated. The skydiver is being rotated. It works!

9:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:25 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now the skydivers pull their chutes. There are no tragic accidents. The world is safe again. Phew.

9:26 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Read more on these games over at Kotaku, too.

9:26 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:27 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're in an archery range. It's archery rangey.

9:27 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:27 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's tough to tell how much accuracy come into play here, since not many of us are archery experts. Nintendo just missed the target onstage. Ha. OK, archery demo over.

9:29 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now it's time for some 1 on 1. Bill Trinen and Reggie share some awkwardly staged banter.

9:30 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're having a 3-point contest. It really looks like they're shooting baskets with the Wiimote, but it's a one-handed experience. So the guiding hand isn't part of the Wii Motion.

9:30 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I bet this will drive the kids crazy though.

9:30 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:32 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The pace of this press conference is just so much slower than Microsoft's two-hour announcement extravaganza.

9:32 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Red Steel 2 will only be playable on Wii MotionPlus. That will be a trend across a lot of the Wii, if MotionPlus can reach a decent install base.

9:33 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
(Note: that point on the install base was my point, not Reggie's)

9:34 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're looking at Square's contribution to the Wii, the upcoming Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers. That was a brief clip.

9:34 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I'm sorry, I don't get paid enough to cover Square Enix. Read more at Kotaku.

9:35 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:38 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nintendo just called the DS line "the most lucrative" of Nintendo's offerings. Great!

9:40 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
James Patterson Women's Muder Club Games of Passion promises to bring pretty much everything in the game's title to the DS. We're watching a clip about it now. It looks like a series of minigames like Bejeweled mixed with snapshots of bad guys.

9:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
New clip: COP The Recruit. It looks like Grand Theft Auto, but you're a good guy.

9:41 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:43 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
New clip: Style Savvy is intended for female "preteens and 20 somethings." Models try on clothes and walk a runway. Suck on this Natal! Can you fit in these designer jeans?

9:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:44 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now Cammie is talking about the Nintendo DSi, how it's great, for everyone, yada yada. She plays a clip of people on the street, mostly women, talking about how great the platform is. This is just grueling.

9:45 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Total Nintendo DSi sales have surpassed 1 million units in the US since launch. Just so you know.

9:46 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
FlipNotes Studio, a neat sketching animation program, is coming to the platform this summer. It looked pretty neat, but they're already on to something else.

9:47 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:48 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Nintendo is skimming through various DSi titles quickly now. The audience is asleep. Literally, I see two people in the audience who might be asleep.

9:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Beginning this summer, you will be able to take photos on the DSi and upload them to Facebook.

9:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:49 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Whoa, that announcement was out of nowhere. And now we're gone from Facebook. We didn't get any real look at the UI.

9:50 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:51 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Satoru Iwata comes to the stage! The crowd awakens!

9:52 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, I can almost promise that Sony's press conference won't be this boring. At least I'll have some great zingers about the lack of dual analogs on the PSP Go!

9:52 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:52 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Iwata is explaining how Nintendo divides gamers into three groups: those who game, those who don't and those who might.

9:54 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Between Japan, Europe and America there are 149 potential gamers. That's like 149 million potential DS sales which would equate to enough money for Nintendo to buy the entire world and "win." (Iwata didn't explain the winning strategy with as much depth as I did. But my extrapolation is usually pretty accurate.)

9:55 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:55 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oops, 149 million players.

9:56 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Iwata explains to us that veteran players and newcomer players are different, but we were all newcomers at some time in our life. We've heard Nintendo say this before. It's actually a very wise outlook on gaming, imho.

9:56 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh, and read more on Iwata's global conquest over at Kotaku.

9:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
So what's next for Nintendo and the mainstream? Iwata is showing us an "entirely different way" of looking at games. Wake up, people. We're cooking again.

9:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wii Vitality Sensor

9:58 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It tracks your pulse.

9:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The retirement homes are gonna love this, until the first Wii Vitality Sensor goes flatline.

9:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

9:59 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
The intent of the WVS is that you can see the "inner world" of your body, to "achieve greater relaxation." NOTE: IT WON'T CURE CANCER!

10:00 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wo while most games are meant to stimulate you, the Wii Vitality Sensor could be part of a game that helps you fall asleep.

10:00 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
I could win that sleeping game right now, without any fancy peripheral.

10:01 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And Iwata leaves the stage. Cammie is back and she promises us "stimulation." But I think she's just recapping what we've already seen, stuff like the new Mario title.

10:01 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
"But, if you think that's all the Mario news you can handle, you might want to think again."

10:01 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
A second full 3D mario title is coming!

10:01 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
It looks like Super Mario Galazy 2. WITH YOSHI!!!

10:02 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
OK, Yoshi has saved this press conference. We're talking dinosaurs. You can ride. In space.

10:02 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Otherwise, it's just like Galaxy. The worlds and graphics could be an expansion pack they are so similar. Ooh, but now Mario sprouts flowers on some planets.

10:03 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
OK, we haven't seen much more Yoshi since those first shots. I'm hoping for like, one of those levels like in Super Mario World where you can get Yoshi again and again.

10:03 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And yes, it's Super Mario Galaxy 2.

10:04 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

10:04 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Reggie takes the stage to bring it all home. He admits "I read the blogs, too…I know there are still people out there listening who are like, ok, great, but I want more."

10:04 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And he points out that, usually, it's the third parties who are dropping the ball for hardcore gamers.

10:05 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's showing a clip of The Conduit, which is a sci fi FPS. Ugh, I hate SD graphics mixed with Hollywood soundtracks. Just play MIDI.

10:07 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Reggie moves on to Capcom's Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles. There's a lot of CGI in this clip, but the moments of gameplay are basically like RE4. Actually, it looks fantastic for a Wii title. Very sharp.

10:08 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And last, he's showing us Dead Space Extraction, the Dead Space rails shooter. I'm sure Kotaku is riffing on the game pretty hard. I'll play this.

10:09 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And with the third party games shown off, Reggie asks, "what about Nintendo itself? Could a new, edgier game be coming also from us?" "Absolutely."

10:09 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
What is it? We're watching a clip of an ocean, it goes to clouds. And….mountains…Team Ninja and Nintendo!

10:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And it's in space. METROID.

10:10 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Lots of prerender, but it's a third person title. Fast action. Giant monsters. Grappling. Loud soundtrack.

10:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
Metroid Other M.

10:11 AM ON JUN 2 2009
matt:

10:12 AM ON JUN 2 2009
Mark Wilson:
And with that, Reggie wraps it up. We'll be back in under an hour to blog Sony. See you then!

It became remarkably clear today that Microsoft sees more than months left in the Xbox 360—more like years. Microsoft's big ballyhoo, its motion control Project Natal, won't even arrive until 2010. And likely deep into 2010—think next summer. The Zune Video Marketplace will deliver 1080p instant streams; you'll be able to download full retail games come August, cutting out the Gamestop middleman; Netflix integration is even deeper; and Facebook and Twitter are now wrapped in. Why would Microsoft do all this for a console progressing into obsolescence in the next year or two? It's not simply pumping out new games or features—they're growing and entrenching the current platform.

Sure, there's a incentive to extend this console cycle simply because of the high costs of development—the time and money that goes into producing a major game for the Xbox and PS3 easily approaches that of a (small) Hollywood film because of their enormous complexity. There's still returns to be made on this generation. So perhaps Sony wasn't so foolish for declaring that the PS3 is a ten-year console. The Wii is markedly cheaper, simpler and less powerful, so part of me suspects you will see a new console from Nintendo more quickly than from Microsoft and Sony.

But it's more than that, especially when you consider how Microsoft and Sony are extending the life of their machines—they're turning them into platforms beyond gaming consoles. Xbox Live's Marc Whitten remarked at the Xbox party tonight that a big part of the reason behind the New Xbox Experience was to build the framework for these features. It's interesting to think about the NXE as not simply the UI overhaul and stuff we reviewed a few months ago—it's everything after that. We are squarely in Xbox 360 2.0.

Think of it another way: If we were talking about all of these new features on a computer or mobile—Netflix streaming, Last.fm, Zune Marketplace, Remote Play—what we would call them instead of features? Apps. That's what makes this generation more platform than console—they have apps that tap into and expand their power in new and different ways, just like apps do on any other kind of platform.

But so far, we've only seen first-party apps. Or at best, closely partnered third-party apps. It's effectively a closed system. Which reminds of us of another formerly closed system. The iPhone. It did some neat things before iPhone 2.0. But it was painfully limited. The iPhone wasn't truly powerful until it got apps. Until it allowed basically anybody to develop apps for it, not just the chosen few (well, Google). That's exactly what the Xbox 360 and PS3 need to live even longer. And not just longer lives, but better, richer lives. Cheap SDKs for anybody to develop apps. Just think of how long ago Twitter would've come to Xbox.

It's already halfway there—you stream videos, download software, apply updates, listen to music, social network—and only going even further in that direction with the stuff we're seeing it at E3, that the old, artificial distinction between these consoles and "real computers," which was already laughable, is completely obsolete. So that objection, that consoles aren't supposed to be like computers, they're supposed to be self-contained is completely meaningless. It's time to open the Xbox 360 and PS3 to apps, so we can see what they can really do.

• Crytek announces next-generation benchmarking software
• Kojima! of Metal Gear Solid fame is taking over a Castlevania game.
• Alan Wake, the Xbox survival/horror/third-person game looks good

• Metal Gear Solid Rising may be a timed exclusive
• Another Metal Gear game is coming to PSP
• Some Forza 3 screenshots

• Crackdown 2 and Left 4 Dead 2
• Final Fantasy XIII gets a Spring 2010 ship date
• New and old Monkey Island games are coming

• The Final Fantasy IV Wiiware game is here
• EA Sports Active is getting an expansion pack
• Starcraft II may be out this year

•Xbox 360 Project Natal: Full-Body Motion Control One-Ups the Wii: Microsoft's motion control project is revealed, and it looks pretty amazing. I wonder if Project Natal's really gonna be that incredible in person though. The live demo was kinda convincing!

• Project Natal Intro Videos Show Real Controller-Free Interction (Video): Project Natal's motion controls in action, again looking fancy. Hopefully not just Hollywood magic.

• Xbox Live Full Retail Games on Demand: Download Mass Effect, Bioshock and More: It's the beginning of the end for Gamestop and manufacturers of shiny plastic discs, since come August you'll be able to download full Xbox 360 games like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed.

• Netflix Lets You Add to Queue on Xbox, Video Store Gets 1080p: Your PC is removed from the Netflix process, making it that much better, and the video store is now Zune Marketplace, which streams 1080p video instantly.

• Facebook and Twitter Come to Xbox Live This Fall: Facebook! Twitter! Xbox Live!

• Xbox Live Spillover: New Avatars, Where's Hulu and Why I Hope You Have Fast Internet: Microsoft's figured out how to milk Avatars for money, Xbox Live's Marc Whitten sorta dodged the Hulu question, and you need a really fat pipe to get that 1080p instant streaming video action from Zune Marketplace.

• Last.fm Brings Streaming Music to Xbox Live: Last.fm on Xbox, weeee.

• Halo 3 ODST Collector's Edition Controller: There's an exclusive Halo 3 ODST controller bundled with the $99 collection's edition, 'cause you didn't already have 4 Xbox controllers, right?

Overall, a pretty crazy day, and we have a feeling Microsoft might've already stolen the show. What do you think?

Gameplay:

Interaction With Milo:


[GameTrailers.com]

Not every game, but it is a mix of third-party stuff: Sonic, call of Duty 2, Crackdown, Bioshock Mass Effect and more. Dodged whether games will be downloadable the day they're released to retail. Also don't expect to use your credit card direct for anything now: "We're not getting rid of the point system." Booo.

Still, the disc's time is clearly ticking.

Project Natal is a bar that sits above or below your TV, much like the Wii's sensor bar. But instead of sensing controllers, this thing has a camera, sensors and a microphone inside that lets it get an accurate sense of your space and you in it. This lets you control games just by moving around; kicking, jumping, whatever. But that's really just the start.

What makes this so damned cool is that it lets you do more than just play games with it. You can also move through menus by swiping your hands back and forth. The camera allows for fun features like facial and voice recognition. When you have it running, your Xbox will recognize your face and sign you in automatically.

You can start to imagine the possibilities already. Everything from Minority Report style menu control to Dance Dance Revolution games that require you to actually dance rather than just hit buttons to videoconferencing in your living room, the thing just feels like the future. And it already makes the Wii seem like a gimpy and outdated piece of tech. There's no way it can touch what this will do.

What makes this so exciting isn't what they showed off today, which seemed like glorified tech demos. No, what's amazing is to think about what creative developers will be able to do with the dev kits that just arrived on their doorsteps. This is a whole new way of controlling not only games but what's quickly becoming the media and communications hub of your living room. Get excited.

Update: Microsoft explains how it works:

Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the "Project Natal" sensor is the world's first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, "Project Natal" tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice.

In addition, unlike other devices, the "Project Natal" sensor is not light-dependent. It can recognize you just by looking at your face, and it doesn't just react to key words but understands what you're saying. Call a play in a football game, and players will actually respond.

The Facebook client looks pretty similar to the typical Xbox Experience interface, with individual sidescrolling windows that might actually be a little tedious to trawl through. It'll also support Facebook Connect, which will let you upload, for example, in-game screenshots to your Facebook profile in real-time.

Xbox Live will also get Twitter, though we don't know much about it yet—looks like it's presented in one big feed, unlike Facebook, which is great. We'll keep you updated as we learn more. And for more ongoing info, head over to our liveblog.

Why they renamed the video store to the Zune store is anybody's guess, but the fact that it brings with it 1080p Instant On streaming is great. Now full-HD video will start playing immediately when you buy it/download it.

As for the Netflix news, this has been a long time coming. No longer will you have to go to your computer to pick the movies you want to watch. Now you'll finally be able to search through the entire catalog on the Xbox itself. Not too shabby!

Archive below:

2:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:
Hey guys, we'll see you right here live from Microsoft's E3 keynote at 10:25am Pacific–that's 1:25pm Eastern. Of course, you'll want to be here a little earlier for the pre-game coverage. See you then!

9:59 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're live in LA, which really means that we're at USC's Galen Center, shoulder to shoulder with our pals at Kotaku. Microsoft is pumping house music. There are lots of green lights. And the show will start at 10:25. Why 10:25? Microsoft moved the press conference up by five minutes in an emergency email last night.

10:02 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:04 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
So what can Microsoft do with an extra 5 minutes? The rumor is a Beatles reunion between Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr (probably for the new Beatles Rock Band game). Apparently said fabled reunion, should it ever take place, would last precisely 5 minutes before Yoko Ono showed up and started a fight.

10:05 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:13 AM ON Jun 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, Gizmodo will be liveblogging everything Microsoft announces today. But Kotaku is around, too. Check out their liveblog (in another tab, of course!) here.

10:15 am ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:17 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:18 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I stand by my prediction. I think hulu will be announced for the Xbox 360 either now or later this week. But what else is going on today (besides Beatlemania)? Full Zune Marketplace integration with the 360 makes sense. Shared videos have already been announced. Music seems like the most logical next announcement. What about Live Anywhere, which would link the Zune and 360 in both gaming and media? Ehhhh, I HOPE it's announced, but we've been awaiting the service since 2006.

10:19 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:20 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:21 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The music is still blasting, but the crowd is fairly subdued. Just announced: the briefing will begin in five minutes. So much for that last trip to the bathroom. Microsoft has kindle placed water bottles in each of our seats. The water spites my full bladder.

10:22 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:
I want some hot Zune action. Zuuuuuuuuuuuune. No Zune signs anywhere though. Just lots of Hulk green.

10:22 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Music just changed from house to a sort of funk rock. Whoa, and some metal, out of nowhere! Microsoft is here. And they're pissed.

10:23 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Everyone who's home or at work right now, we're going to do a little Gizmodo wave. You start.

10:24 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Every light hanging from the ceiling is green. When the aliens invade earth, it won't look so different from a Microsoft presser.

10:25 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:25 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Lights are dimming…I'll admit it, I'm actually a bit excited about what could be announced. Are you?

10:26 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Factoid: Microsoft starts all their pressers with the Xbox 360 loading sound.

10:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
A Rock Band Beatles clip is playing…maybe Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are about to show up…

10:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:28 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, the song is Paperback Writer, my favorite Beatles tine.

10:28 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The Beatles Rock Band drums have been spotted onstage. Will the Beatles be playing Rock Band instruments? How sad!

10:29 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Jason Chen:

10:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Harmonix is onstage talking about The Beatles, reminding the hipsters that there was music before the era of American Apparel.

10:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:31 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:31 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The Harmonix house band is playing, so NO BEATLES. I repeat, NO BEATLES.

10:31 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:32 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:32 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The gameplay looks exactly the same as every other Rock Band game, but with The Beatles, of course.

10:33 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I hate that by the time The Beatles come to Rock Band, I've basically grown sick of music games. Am I think only one? (They're still playing, btw.)

10:34 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I'd also like to take this time to note that this game is not an Xbox 360 exclusive. It'll be on PS3 as well.

10:34 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:35 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now they're playing the game's first official trailer…a bit anticlimactic after we've seen it demoed live onstage, but whatev. I'm still pumped!! Hulu, please hulu!!

10:36 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:36 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
You should just get X1000000 Star Power whenever you play as The Beatles in Rock Band. I mean, seriously. I know they're not Duffy, but they're still pretty good.

10:38 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
All You Need Is Love will be exclusively available through Xbox Live. Proceeds will go to charity.

10:38 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:38 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
YOKO ONO!!!

10:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
AND OLIVIA HARRISON!!

10:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are live onstage!!! OOH!!!

10:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"Good morning everybody!" Oh Ringo, you know how to sweep a girl off her feet.

10:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"The game is good." Ringo Starr, ladies and gentlemen.

10:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
And as soon as they're appeared, they are gone.

10:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
John Schappert, corporate VP of Xbox, is now onstage. Tough act to follow, buddy.

10:42 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's talking about the economy. "Now, more than ever before, people want to have fun."

10:43 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's promising "showing, not telling." No charts and graphs. The audience cheered. 10 world premiers of unseen games. And revolutionary new experiences "for everyone." Hmmm….

10:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Tony Hawk takes the stage. I wonder what he's going to be talking about… (I'm being sarcastic, it's Tony Hawk: Ride, and he's holding the new skateboard peripheral.)

10:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Accelerometers, IR sensors, you can put your foot on the side of it like you are pushing along.

10:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"The design is really intuitive…even if you've never stepped foot on a skateboard."

10:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
And now they're cutting to a WORLD EXCLUSIVE trailer.

10:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
So, Tony Hawk (live) just teased Tony Hawk (taped, in the WORLD EXCLUSIVE trailer). A bit backwards, no?

10:46 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson
More on Tony Hawk: RIDE at Kotaku

10:46 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
We're seeing demos of the skateboard being used for the first time. It's thicker than I thought, which I guess is necessary for durability. It also looks shorter than a normal board.

10:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:48 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh great, the skateboard will be on the show floor. Tony out. Now another trailer…with guns….new Call of Duty!

10:48 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:49 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The graphics, if these are in-game, have seen a huge jump. The textures are really impressive on models. The people are moving very fluidly, though not so fluidly that it would imply the footage is prerendered.

10:48 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Yes, it's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Guys from Infinity Ward are coming on stage.

10:51 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:51 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Alright, and they're demoing the game for us. A soldier is in Siberia or something, standing on the ledge of a mountain. Yeah, body textures are really improved. And animations are SO fluid as he icepicks his way up the mountain.

10:51 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The music is vaguely reminiscent of Star Wars, believe it or not. Understated with like a French horn or something chiming in once in a while.

10:52 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Holy crap,the soldier just jumped a chasm while dual wielding ice axes. He ALMOST fell. I hope he lives! OK, I think he lived.

10:53 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:53 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Apparently I'm a huge Modern Warfare fan because this just seems fantastic. I swear they dropped the temperature in the Galen center to match the icy tundra of the demo level.

10:53 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Would it be great if a Metal Gear showed up out of the fog? Man, that'd be great.

10:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Lots of people are shooting and dying now. Wait…you SHOOT PEOPLE IN THIS GAME? What happened to the nice mountain climbing sequences?

10:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Another suggestion for Infinity Ward: Give these guys sleds. HOLY CRAP, snowmobiles. They read my mind. And the soldier just hopped on. This changes everything.

10:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
You can shoot people while driving the snowmobile. This looks good enough to be its own deadly racing game. OK, clip over.

10:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Infinity Ward and Activision are releasing two map packs first to Xbox Live. OK, now Square Enix coming out.

10:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

10:59 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're basically saying how Final Fantasy is the best series ever before showing us some of Final Fantasy XIII, the first Xbox Final Fantasy (announced at the last E3).

11:00 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:00 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're seeing a live demo. Two of the characters are fighting a huge scorpion plane mega boss.

11:00 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:00 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:01 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The combat now includes four active time gauges, allowing you to consecutively attack with wider tactics. I think that means allowing big spells to charge with more strategy.

11:01 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:01 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I mean, not to piss anyone off, but it looks just like a Square RPG. And the demo is over.

11:02 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Spring 2010 release. Wow, it'll be a while.

11:02 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:02 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Schappert is back onstage. He's talking about the diversity and quality of exclusives. He's promising everything from here on out of the presser is Xbox 360 exclusive. Cool…but what's an exclusive really mean today?

11:03 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Epic takes the stage, makers of Gears of War.

11:03 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:03 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
They are introducing a new Live Arcade game, the first of its kind from Epic. Predictably, it's powered by their Unreal engine.

11:04 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:04 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:04 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's a military sidescroller, similar to Castlevania, with some nice 3D depth. You play a soldier with hookshots, guns, etc.

11:05 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:05 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It looks very nice for a Live Arcade title. Gameplay is a bit choppy, but it looks fun with neat glowing bullets and lots of explosions. Its called Shadow Complex.

11:05 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:06 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh, and Cliffy B is sporting a shirt that Giz readers should know!

11:06 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:06 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:06 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're looking at a zany racing game that uses Live avatars. It's called Joy Ride. More on these games over at Kotaku.

11:07 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:07 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Joy Ride is free to download and play! But new cars and levels are $$$ DLC. It's coming this winter.

11:07 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I just heard an MGS alert sound…but I think it was from back in the audience, someone's phone or something.

11:08AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:08 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
But for the record, Matt Buchanan and I both looked around for an exclamation point.
11:08 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:08 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ooh, CRACKDOWN 2! That's huge.

11:09 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:09 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Crackdown's teaser was all of 20 seconds. Sorry, we have no more on the game.

11:09 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:09 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're watching zombies being blown to Hell. This is clearly prerendered, so don't get too excited.

11:10 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Left 4 Dead 2!

11:10 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:10 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, I'll hand it to them, Microsoft is pumping out huge announcements with these short clips.

11:10 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:11 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're watching another preredered trailer that looks like Splinter Cell.

11:11 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:11 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I know it's Splinter Cell because they called the guy Sam Fisher. I'm not that good. Splinter Cell Conviction is the name of the game.

11:11 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:12 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Ubisoft, makers of Splinter Cell Conviction, are onstage to give a realtime demo. More on these games over at Kotaku.

11:12 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:13 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:14 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Wow, nice lighting, more smoother animation. But not much in terms of textures. The game almost looks cartoony. This is so barely a realtime demo there are so many cuts to CGI. Now we're in a larger environment. Frame rates have dropped quite a bit.

11:14 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:14 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Did I just see bullet time? I think so! Suck on that, Neo.

11:15 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:15 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:16 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Yeah, the game looks fun with varied environments like streets and museums. They still need to polish the edges, which are often distractingly pixelated. But Sam Fisher is kicking ass, Bourne-style. And like I said, the noir lighting is really fantastic.

11:16 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:17 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:17 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's very Bourne Identity. The demo is over. It'll be released this fall.

11:17 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:18 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Schappert back, doing his thing. I will say, he's way more comfortable in front of an audience than he was when Peter Moore first left. And he just introduced Forza 3.

11:18 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:19 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Microsoft stage reveals a REAL CAR! This is just like Price is Right! Forza's director is out now.

11:19 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:19 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
BTW, that car is an Audi V8 R10.

11:20 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:20 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:20 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:21 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's been called the definitive racing game of this generation twice now during this conference. How's it look? I'm not sure the gameplay we just watched was real, frankly. But it looked…good? We saw so little, it's tough to tell. Now we're watching mechanics talk about how great the game will be in a teaser trailer.

11:22 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:23 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
More on Forza over at Kotaku, btw. And now for another prerendered trailer!

11:23 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:24 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
More Forza pimping. If you need to use the facilities, do so now. Ships October.

11:25 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Halo 3 ODST, World Premier. Bungie onstage!

11:26 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Alright, we're watching what looks like filmed in-game footage. Spartans are dropping from the sky in pods. Lots of inaudible shouting. EXPLOSION. "We're going in hard!!"

11:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're waking up on the ground. You're a rookie without his team. And the biggest change is the HUD. You see lines in the helmet.

11:27 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now you get a lowlight vision mode, and the bad guys are outlined in red. It's SO different, SO much more HUDdy with this new visor. But I like the look.

11:28 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:28 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The terrain is outlined as well. Outlines outlines outlines. I wonder if it makes designing the depth of a level and lighting easier.

11:28 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
But even without Master Chief and the new HUD, this feels like Halo…but maybe with a little influence from Call of Duty, with lots of your squad shouting at you all the time. And that's a wrap for ODST.

11:30 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Oh, but that's not all. A TOP SECRET PROJECT TOO!!

11:31 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"From the beginning"…this is gonna be epic. Someone is floating outside of Earth. Epic soundtrack. This feels more like Halo 3, the scale of it all. The world is being bombed. HALO Reach.

11:32 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:32 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Is it a space sim? We dunno. "Falls 2010″

11:32 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
When you buy ODST, you get an invite to Halo Reach's multiplayer beta. Interesting. We don't know if it's an FPS or not. Moving on…

11:34 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now we're seeing a clip teasing Alan Wake. It's one of those interactive movie titles. And we've just been promised some realtime demoing of the title. More on these games over at Kotaku.

11:34 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:35 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now for the realtime gameplay of Alan Wake. It's an over the shoulder, Unreal Engine looking title. There is an annoying voiceover that's like a cheesy novel. Alan has a flashlight, a shotgun and his balls. Someone is knocking over trees and lifting cars in the background. It's very sci fi spooky.

11:37 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Interesting, there is a lot of combat. It looks like the flashlight burns attackers who spark under its influence. This game feels way more like an action shooter than something like Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain or Indigo Prophecy.

11:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Holy shit. Alan Wake just busted out a flare in slow motion. OK, this demo is going on too long. There's a bulldozer attacking Mr Wake. I'm hoping it kills him so this demo is over. The sequence ends with To Be Continued. Look for Alan Wake spring 2010.

11:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Schappert is back out. Music coming to Xbox Live!

11:39 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
last.fm

11:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The interface looks slick. It'll be available to Gold members later this year for free.

11:40 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now on to Netflix. They are allowing you to add movies to your queue from the Xbox – no PC required.

11:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
They're talking about sky TV coming to the 360, but that was announced earlier this week (and it's UK only).

11:41 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:42 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Not they're talking about the Xbox's video store. It's been "challenged to do more." Today, they answered this challenge with Zune video. HD video library goes 1080P. And there's more…

11:43 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:43 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
All movies and TV shows will stream instantly. And the video store is coming to 18 countries

11:43 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's called Instant On 1080P HD.

11:43 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Movies, TV and music are coming to Live Party. A group of avatars can sit together on a couch, heavy pet, and watch content together. It was greeted with an unenthusiastic applause from the audience.

11:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:44 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Whoa. Xbox Live is partnering with Facebook.

11:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Felicia Day is onstage. She's from The Guild on Xbox Live. And she's here to tell us why social networking on Xbox 360 is very important.

11:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:45 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:46 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:46 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It shares the same interface as the New Xbox Experience sidescrolling windows. It actually looks a bit clunky. I mean, it's a lot of windows to tab through to find a friend or Facebook stalk an ex.

11:46 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Status updates are quarantined to these individual windows as well. There's no one big feed like you see on Facebook (or Twitter). Ugh.

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He;s bringing Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Xbox 360.

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Facebook Connect allows you to post screenshots from games, Tiger Woods shown here, to your Facebook account. Interesting.

11:47 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
In addition to Facebook, Xbox Live gets Twitter!

11:48 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:48 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
This looks totally different. Twitter is not cut up into various New Xbox Experience windows. Instead, you see one big feed. The background is every so subtly animated. And that's all they're showing us.

11:49 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:49 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:49 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Schappert is back out. And he's "not done yet." He introduces Senior VP Don Mattrick to take over from here.

11:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"It seems we're missing one crucial piece of the puzzle." METAL GEAR!

11:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Hideo Kojima is onstage. Maybe we didn't imagine that alert earlier!

11:50 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:51 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The next major release will be called Metal Gear Solid Rising.

11:51 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Don is all like, we welcome you and Snake. And Kojima is all like…wait, I didn't say anything about Solid Snake.

11:52 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:52 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Yeah, if you've played the franchise, it's actually Raiden that you'll be playing. More on these games over at Kotaku.

11:52 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:53 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Kojima leaves the stage. Microsoft takes a cold shower. And the Don keeps chatting about Xbox Live, what it's done, where it's going, yada yada.

11:53 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
People ask me, can you add a motion controller? "Of course we can." But here's the problem, the controller "is a barrier."

11:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"We asked ourselves a new set of questions. Can we go beyond a controller? … Can we make YOU the controller? We can."

11:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:54 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
No controller required. Yes, this looks like the body controller that leaked a few weeks back.

11:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
A kid dodges in front of the TV, a girl turns a wheel she's not holding. A guy lifts a wheel onto a car in a pit stop.

11:55 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
A little boy stomps around the living room, controlling a giant lizard. A girl kicks a soccer ball. The clips look great.

11:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
A kid holds his skateboard in the air. He says "scan." Then he says "play." Then he skateboards on that board.

11:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:56 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Facial recognition. Face to face chatting. You can pull up items, like dresses, to share with your cross dressing friends.

11:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Guys, seriously, these demos are pretty hot. I'm very impressed. We'll see how much is Hollywood magic.

11:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:57 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Apparently we missed the voice recognition as well, because a lady just said "play movie" and "goodnight." The clip is over.

11:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
It's called Project Natal.

11:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:58 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

11:59 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The sensor tracks 3D movements and recognizes voices (faces too). It's controller-free gaming. It's compatible with every Xbox 360 launched thus far.

11:59 AM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Steven Spielberg takes the stage.

11:59 AM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:00 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"How can interactive entertainment become as approachable as other entertainment?" the father of ET asks.

12:01 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:01 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
OK, Spielberg is telling us pretty much nothing. He saw Natal for the first time 2 months ago, a "historic moment" presumably when Microsoft dropped a truckload of Benjamins right on his lap.

12:02 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"It's not about reinventing the wheel. It's about no wheel at all." Haha.

12:02 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Spielberg leaves the stage. The Don asks, "how much of this stuff is real?" He introduced Kudo Tsunoda, creative director of Natal.

12:03 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's showing us off some early prototype demos. The first demo is the Xbox's dashboard. It signs you in automatically through facial recognition.

12:03 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:04 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He moves onstage, his onscreen avatar follows his movements…with a few odd chops, but pretty well.

12:04 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
You can swipe through the menus with your hands. navigating everything sans-controller.

12:04 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:05 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:05 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
He's dmeoing Ricochet, a sporty tech demo. You see a transparent version of yourself in gamplay like 3D Breakout. You can use your arms…or your head. It looks very good. Very accurate.

12:05 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:05 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The limb tracking is unlike anything I've seen.

12:06 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:06 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
"You're not using preset waggle commands." Ouchhhhh. Did Microsoft just kill the Wii?

12:07 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:08 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:08 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The next demo is Paint Party. They're walking us through this demo at a slower pace. They start with a blank canvas, then splash paint on the screen like they're shoveling water. It's…not compelling, but OK. I mean, a dude is throwing paint at a wall. It's tough to judge the accuracy and/or fun level of this demo.

12:08 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:09 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:09 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
I do like that the demo/painter/artist is talking to the audience, then he slips in "brown" or "green" and the paint color changes.

12:10 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:11 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now he's bending over creating a body-sized shadow puppet of an elephant. The game took a snapshot. He's painting the elephant grey, tossing paint at the canvas wildly. He says "reveal" and the wasted grey paint rips off the canvas, leaving only one grey elephant.

12:11 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:11 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:11 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Project Natal development kits are arriving at Microsoft partners today.

12:11 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Project Natal development kits are arriving at Microsoft partners today.

12:13 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:13 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:14 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
One of his (real) developers is talking to a boy (in the game). It's like they're having a conversation, though clearly the boy hears keywords like "homework" and responds appropriately.

12:14 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now Claire is drawing a picture on a piece of paper. She holds it up to the screen. Natal scans the paper. The boy onscreen recognizes the image. Wow. Coooooooooolll.

12:15 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:15 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
The boy shows Clare how to put on a pair of goggles. Claire reaches down to put on a pair of goggles. Molyneux explains that such is the natural reaction of a human interacting with a piece of software in full motion with audio recognition.

12:16 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:
Natal in a word: Holyballs.

12:16 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:17 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Molyneux's response to haters: "Here's the fact, we're showing this behind closed doors at E3." Needless to say, we'll be squeezing our way into said demo.

12:18 PM ON JUN 1 2009
matt:

12:20 PM ON JUN 1 2009
Mark Wilson:
Now Microsoft is wrapping things up, reminding us how awesome they are. Matt Buchanan, snapping shots to my right, keeps uttering how Nintendo is dead and Microsoft R&D just pwnd the world. I guess we'll see where things go from here. Bye everyone, thanks for reading the liveblog. Check out Gizmodo and Kotaku's coverage if E3 all week, and Sony and Nintendo's response to Microsoft's "bringing it" tomorrow morning.

Ones that are "more accurate" and completely sharable with friends over the Internet? Great, because I smell another sweaty six-month review in your future if this rumor comes true at E3.

Basically, as the headline suggests, an online WIi Fit, complete with enhanced MotionPlus sensitivity, is arriving sometime this year, with the big announce scheduled for E3. Here's hoping one of the new workouts is a Star Wars kid jump-around-the-room-til-you-pass-out routine involving a sword and some cool balance board moves.

Oh, and there's Mario to consider too. Kotaku has more. [Kotaku]

To us, it seems likely that this event is supporting a Hulu on Xbox 360 announcement coming at E3. Why? Because Hulu on the 360 makes a lot of sense. Quite simply, it's the best internet service you can bring to a TV. So if Microsoft were to pick just one piece of internet entertainment to offer Xboxers (and with no web browser, they need to pick and choose), Hulu (and maybe YouTube) would be top on the list.

Also note that in Europe, Microsoft is supporting the Sky Player. It's a media content service somewhat like hulu but with support for live shows. And it's being integrated right into the XMB. We could see hulu arrive to the platform in a very similar manner. (So it'll probably look a bit different from our tongue-in-cheek artist's rendering.)

But the biggest reason that we're betting on Hulu 360 is because Microsoft's Shane Kim admitted months ago that the company was investigating Hulu connectivity on the platform. So don't be surprised if we hear more next week at E3. Microsoft's press conference is on Monday and we'll be there liveblogging. [Thanks Jake!]

UPDATE: It appears Munn will just be promoting Microsoft's Bing. I don't know that the lack of Munn confirmation completely kills the possibility that Hulu could make its way to the Xbox at E3, however.

So in addition to the 8 to 16GB of on-board storage for holding downloaded games, you'd also have a slot for a proprietary card that could hold more games or games purchased from a store. Memory Stick HG-Micro is fast, 40MB/s faster than a regular Memory Stick to be exact, which makes it fast enough to stream games off of.

It all makes sense to us, but it's all rumors at this point. Not too long to wait for us to find out. [PC World via Joystiq via Engadget]

Variety's sources claim to have used the device, which more-or-less conforms to the system outlined in this two-year-old patent. This is actually kind of disappointing, because that particular patent describes a camera-based tracking system, in which a few LEDs mounted on the controller are monitored by a small camera, EyeToy-style. But if we're going to trust the source's claim that this controller exists, we should also note that he says that it performs more precisely than the Wiimote, especially during Z-axis (forward and backward) movement.

Sony apparently refused to comment on the story, which comes just a month after separate reports that a new PS3 motion controller was "done", so you may as well brace yourself for the pending onslaught of novelty rhythm 'n' sports games. You know, just in case. [Variety via Kotaku]

1Up's sources claim the new PSP hardware will adopt the moniker "PSP Go!," and yes, that exclamation mark is correct. They further claim the PSP Go! will boast 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, because the handheld will be doing away with Sony's UMD format in favor of downloadable games. More details:

- There will not be an added joystick (sorry shooter fans), but the controls will slide out from under the screen (see the mockup above)
- It will launch in September in Japan and late October or early November in the States
- The system will be unveiled at E3, which falls June 2-4 of this year

As always, Sony refuses to comment on these rumors, but they're not implausible, seeing as how they line up so nicely with what we've heard before. [1Up via Kotaku]

It's returning to the Los Angeles Convention Center, which means big booths, although they haven't mentioned whether or not the babes to populate said booths will be allowed. What won't be allowed will be the general public. Don't worry, however. We'll be there to cover all the gaming hardware news there is to soak up, so it'll be the next best thing to being there.

Entertainment Software Association Announces 2009 E3 Expo

Los Angeles to Host Video Game Industry Event in June

Washington, DC – October 22, 2008 – The 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will take place from June 2-4, 2009, at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today. The expanded E3 will welcome all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology.

“Video games are the fastest growing and most compelling sector of the entertainment industry. And, this upgraded event will reflect the growth, innovation and excitement of our industry,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, which represents US computer and video game publishers and organizes the annual event. “The breadth, scope and quality of the changes made to the show will make E3 the must-attend event of the year.”

“The E3 Expo will be the pre-eminent North American gaming show next year. The new, larger event is better for industry leaders and for serious gamers,” commented John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.

After conducting both qualitative and quantitative research, ESA officials stated changes were necessary to better meet the needs of both exhibitors and attendees— these changes include increased booth sizes, increased qualified audiences, and an intensified focus on reinforcing the high-octane growth, innovation, and captivating entertainment that are driving the computer and video game industry.

"The video game business will be twice as big in 2009 as it was in 2006 when we had the last real E3 Expo - so get ready for some fireworks!" said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America. "The changes made will ensure that the 2009 E3 Expo conveys the best of what makes us proud as entertainment leaders."

ESA also said IDG World Expo, whose principals have operated E3 since its inception in 1995, will produce the event with the ESA.

The event will be open to ESA members and non-members alike. Organizers noted they are expanding the list of companies eligible to participate. Companies involved in console, PC, online, and mobile game publishing and developing, qualified business partners, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals can exhibit.

Additional details, including registration, hotel and travel accommodations, and media credentialing, will be forthcoming in the next few weeks and will be available at www.e3expo.com.

The Entertainment Software Association is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.

[Kotaku]