Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming: Rare/Microsoft skunkworks? Next-Gen Simpsons? "'Burning Man' meets E3"?

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Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Rare/Microsoft skunkworks? Next-Gen Simpsons? "'Burning Man' meets E3"?

Xbox 360 Launch title updates
The Simpsons go next-gen
More on Hex168.com
New games coming from Rare
Xbox.com/My Xbox/MSN Messenger updates
Share your Gamer Cards (sort of)
Austin Game Conference highlights

NEWS:

1. Xbox 360 Launch title updates

Microsoft continues to be cagey about the final list of "Launch Day" vs. "Launch Window" titles for the Xbox 360, but there have been some recent notable updates.

Check out my sticky blog ("Xbox 360 Launch Titles") for the details, but here's a quick summary:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Slipped) -- This RPG from Bethesda Softworks was one of the marquee launch titles, but has now slipped out of lunch day, may slip out of the calendar year, and is more likely for a February 2006 release.
Amped 3 (Confirmed) -- The game from industry solids 2K Sports hopes to "create the most authentic snowboarding experience. Action is interlaced with a hip storyline that encompasses the distinct snowboarder culture, style, music and attitude." (More info here.)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (Confirmed) --

This atmospheric CSI meets The Suffering looks to be a solid horror/suspense launch title for the console, but popular response to it is unfortunately pretty lacking.

2. The Simpsons go next-gen

Electronic Arts, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Gracie Films (most ... useless ... website ... ever) brokered a long-term deal for EA to develop multiple videogame titles based on The Simpsons. Though no launch date has been set, the first game will be a next-gen console title.

3. More on Hex168.com

I've talked before about the contest that's coming out from the Hex168.com Alternate Reality Game (ARG).

Turns out it's more than "just" getting an Xbox early. Winners of the contest are going to be part of a launch party somewhere in a US desert location, with an attendance of thousands strong, a "lot of Xbox 360 consoles set up with high definition displays, surround sound systems plus food and drink stations, live entertainment and a one-of-a kind Xbox 360 gift for everyone."

The original Xbox launched in Times Square (which is also where they held the biggest Halo 2 launch event).

But this time it looks like Microsoft is looking to create a cultural event -- billed as "Burning Man Meets E3".

Even cooler? Attendees are going to get the skinny on a number of previously unannounced Xbox 360 titles (my money's on a couple of titles from Rare Games).

I'm gonna submit a couple of hex-candidate photos -- look for a notice here, as I prostitute for votes. I'm not proud.

(More info here.)

4. New games coming from Rare

When Microsoft purchased storied developer (and then second-party Nintendo developer) Rare Games in 2002 for $375 million, folks generally thought one of two things: (a) "Whoa, that's a lot of money", and/or (b) "Is a development house really worth that?"

Skepticism was offset a little bit by Rare's $1 billion in revenue for the 5 years before the acquisition, and solid franchises like Goldeneye 007, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark.

Then the storm clouds moved in.

Kameo: Elements of Power (due in 2003) never showed. Know information was given on development of the new Perfect Dark title, and fan response to the anime-esque concept art was hostile (at best). Grabbed by the Ghoulies was a middling disappointment. And even the refresh of Conker's bad Fur Day (one of the last great Nintendo64 titles) in Conker: Live & Reloaded was an OK, but short-lived sentimental (if naughty) gaming diversion.

Time for a ray of sunshine.

Now, Joanna Dark's on her way in the Xbox 360 launch title, Perfect Dark Zero, and may turn out to be a Halo-esque title for the 360 (or a more than adequate stop-gap until Halo 3 shows). And the trade press almost across the board has been raving about recent playtests of Kameo.

Not enough? It's recently come to light that Rare's working on 2 additional, previously unannounced Xbox 360 titles. I'm guessing these will be revealed (or at least further teased at) as part of the Hex168 launch event I talk about above.

Rare's acquisition: $375M
Legacy of $1B in revenue: Apparently also $375M
Having one or more next Halos: Priceless (though at least ~$300M a piece)

5. Xbox.com/My Xbox/MSN Messenger updates

I griped about the relaunch of Xbox.com and the launch of My Xbox.

Basically, I was irked at a bunch of Xbox Live/Passport/MSN Messenger functionality being removed as part of the upgrade.

Well, over the course of this week, that functionality has started reappearing. No Email notifications or announcements, but I noticed the Passport sign-in is back for Xbox.com, and I can now see my friends list on MSN Messenger -- and all in one place -- no more dual tab, triple login crap).

MSN Messenger with Xbox 360 Live features

A lot of the functionality isn't really there yet -- you'll need to wait to start racking up points, stats, and reputation once you're able to log on to Xbox 360 Live on the new consoles.

6. Share your Gamer Cards (sort of)

Part of the new Xbox 360 Live functionality are the new Gamer Cards.

I've added mine to this video gaming blog (to the right, below my picture). You'll notice I don't have any stats, reputation, etc. yet -- because I don't have a new console, yet.

Oh, and some of other hinted at functionality (like custom pictures, etc.) isn't there yet, either. I'm hoping this is because they're waiting for XBox Live Gold membership verifications, and I'm wondering if the MSN Messenger display pict can automatically be the Gamer Card Pict? How easy would that be ...

7. Austin Game Conference highlights

For those folks who need closure from my tease for the Austin Game Conference, Gamasutra.com has a series of articles/impressions on select events from the conference:

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SOURCES: Gamespot.com, joystiq.com, kotaku.com, Xbox.com, IGN, GameInformer, Official XBox Magazine, CNN, gamesindustry.biz, and others.

Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Rare/Microsoft skunkworks? Next-Gen Simpsons? "'Burning Man' meets E3"?

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