• Leipzig Games Convention (Microsoft)
• Leipzig Games Convention (Midway)
• Leipzig Games Convention (Eidos)
• Leipzig Games Convention (THQ)
• Leipzig Games Convention (SEGA)

At the Leipzig Games Convention this week, Microsoft's Steven Blackburn (Third-Party Account Manager) talked about the past, present, and future of Xbox Live.

The stats are phenomenal and interesting to me, but I've gotten feedback that they're less interesting to my readers. Fine. We'll leave them out.

Except this one: "... more than 2 billion hours (about 236,000 years) have been logged on Xbox Live to date."

236,000 years? We spent the equivalent of 236,000 years playing video games. ya think we could have spent that time doing something more productive? Like curing cancer? Or at least picking up our room ...

But back to Xbox Live and its future.

The first Xbox Live roll-up was a welcome (and seriously needed) usability upgrade (and would have been better if it had made its E3 target), but Blackburn says there's more to come.

At some point, "in-game enumeration of content" is going to become a reality. Think walking around a garage in FORZA 2, and being able to buy a new car from within the game. Or ducking into an arsenal in the BLACK sequel (please?) and being able to buy the BFGx2. Simply put, it's being able to buy in-game content in the game -- not from ducking out to dashboard and going several clicks down.

Secondly, a preview for Premium content is needed, and is on its way. Rather than paying for something you don't see, you can get a taste, at the very least through preview picts.

Finally, there's more hype about Live Anywhere, announced by Bill Gates at E3. Interestingly, Blackburn said Halo 2 for Windows Vista will be the first Live Anywhere title -- Halo 2 is a current-gen Xbox title, upscaled for Xbox 360. I wonder if it'll just be notification integration, or if cross-platform play could be an option (doubtful). Maybe there are bigger changes afoot for the franchise.

Really, Shadowrun may be the title that flexes this, but even that will be in a light way -- Live Anywhere is about more than PC/Xbxo 360 cross-platform play, which is Shadowrun's hook.

See also:

• Leipzig Games Convention (Midway)
• Leipzig Games Convention (Eidos)
• Leipzig Games Convention (THQ)
• Leipzig Games Convention (SEGA)

At the Leipzig Games Convention this week, Microsoft dropped some cool nuggets for the Xbox 360 and the near future of PC gaming.

Marketing:

Face it, product is secondary to successful marketing, and Microsoft pulled off quite the coup.

Both FIFA 07 from Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) and Pro Evolution Soccer 6 from Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. will be out this year -- and be Xbox 360 exclusives for at least 10 months. This ostensibly means the only place to play next-gen soccer will be on the Xbox 360.

Don't blow the significance of this announcement off. American Football games (led by by Madden) are available on all consoles, which doesn't particularly help Microsoft. But that sport pales at the global level compared to soccer (futball), and Microsoft made the announcement at a convention hosted in a soccer-fanatical country. Nice.

Of course, the key is "next-gen" soccer, because at least from the FIFA 07 Website, it looks like a non-next-gen version of the game will be on PS2, PSP, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, PC, and the original Xbox).

Continuing the smart marketing, Microsoft is going to bolster Xbox Live Arcade with titles inspired by board games from Europe ("Carcassonne", "Alhambra", and "Settlers of Catan" -- I really like this game).

The Xbox 360 is going even more global, wtih availability in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, and will launch in South Africa on Sept. 29 and Eastern Europe on Nov. 3.

PC Gaming on Windows Vista:

They also announced Windows Vista versions of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, and Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, and showed a demo (currently available for download) of Flight Simulator X, but using an Xbox 360 wireless controller.

Accessories:

• Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows -- This is slick. Basiclly, Microsoft has externalized the wirelss functionality in the Xbox 360, attached a USB 2.0 dongle, and now you can use your Xbox 360 peripherals on your PC.
  
  That's "peripherals". Plural. Because they're doing what I suggested (most recently here):
  
  "Or ... maybe they'll be among the first to implement wireless USB (or extend their proprietary wireless technology used for their controllers to DVD, camera, or other wireless coolness)."
  
  Because the wireless gaming receiver will let you use your Xbox 360 wireles controller, and wireless racing wheel, and wireless headset on your PC. How if they would just make the HD-DVD drive and Xbox Live Vision Camera wireless, that would be something.
  
  "By plugging the compact receiver into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 port on a PC, gamers can use Xbox 360 wireless accessories on their Windows-based computer (ERP $19.99 U.S., available in late December)."
  
• Xbox Live Vision Camera -- This is a bigger deal than just a Web cam. I wrote some time ago about Microsoft licensing GestureTek technology, and that tech has showed up in the 360 camera. GestureTek technology includes face recognition, motion tracking, and -- surprisingly -- deopth-of-field perception. This, when partnered with object recognition functionality, can make any object or cotroller a wirelss, motion tracking interface. Wii find this interesting, don't Wii?
  
  There's also DigiMask's Face Renderer software, which will let you take pictures of yourself to put in games -- not just static GamerPicts. At least Activision's World Series of Poker and UbiSoft's Rainbow Six Vegas will use the technology.
  
  Read a full article at Gamasutra.com.
  
  Why isn't this thing wireless?
  
  "Consumers can chat via video, send photo messages, put their own face in a game, and customize their gamertag on the Xbox Live network. The camera will be available in the U.S. on Sept. 19 and in Europe on Oct. 6 in two packages:
  
  "Xbox Live Vision. This package includes Xbox Live Vision camera, one-month Xbox Live Gold Membership, Xbox 360 Headset, and free downloads of two full-version Xbox Live Arcade games: the popular UNO card game and TotemBall, the new 3-D platform game from Freeverse and Strange Flavour Ltd. that is a mixture of platform skills and puzzles (estimated retail price (ERP) $39.99 U.S./ €49.99).
  
  "Xbox Live Video Chat Gold Kit. This package includes the Xbox Live Vision camera, a 12-month Xbox Live Gold Membership, an Xbox 360 Headset, free* downloads of three full-version Xbox Live Arcade games — the UNO card game, TotemBall, and the classic Robotron action shooter — and 200 Microsoft Points (ERP $79.99 U.S./€89.99)."
  
• Xbox 360 Wireless Headset -- Just like with my old Xbox, I get tired of pulling out the Xbox 360 headset, and getting the cord tangled up with analog sticks, guests, or the neck of a brewskie. When we go wireless, that'll go away (and hopefully the quality will go up).
  
  "Providing the ultimate wireless experience, this headset integrates seamlessly with the Xbox 360 console to provide wireless voice chat capabilities, stylish design and superior voice quality over the Xbox Live network (ERP $59.99 U.S., available in November). "
  
• Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel -- "For true racing enthusiasts who demand unparalleled driving realism at home, this innovatively designed wheel combines form and function with the latest technology in wireless and force feedback. Consumers who purchase the wheel will also get a limited-edition force feedback version of Project Gotham Racing 3 while supplies last (ERP $149.99 U.S., available in November)."
  
• Xbox 360 Faceplates -- "Consumers can customize their consoles with one of three new special-edition faceplates featuring images from their favorite games, including the Halo franchise, Viva Piñata and Forza Motorsport 2 (ERP $19.99 U.S., available in early November). "

See also:

• Leipzig Games Convention (Eidos)
• Leipzig Games Convention (THQ)
• Leipzig Games Convention (SEGA)

The Leipzig Games Convention is this week, and now Midway has announced their show lineup.

• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (PS2; Oct. 2006)
• Mortal Kombat: Unchained (PSP; Fall 2006)
• Unreal Tournament 2007 (PS3, PC)
• Stranglehold (Xbox 360, PS3, PC; Winter 2007)
• Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run (PS2; Sept. 2006)
• The Wheelman
• LA RUSH (PSP; Fall 2006)
• Happy Feet (PS2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PC; Nov. 2006)
• The Ant Bully (PS2, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC; Fall 2006 – Nintendo Wii; Nov. 2006)

I'm also interested to hear a recape of Midway CEO, David Zucker's talk on "Games at a Crossroad: How to Move Ahead of Hollywood" -- a look at global, cross-industry trends.

You can get more info on the Midway lineup over at TeamXbox.com.

See also:

• Leipzig Games Convention (THQ)
• Leipzig Games Convention (SEGA)

The Leipzig Games Convention starts Thursday, and now Eidos has announced their show lineup.

• JUST CAUSE (Xbox 360, Xbox, ,PS2, PC)
• Justice League Heroes (Xbox, Ps2, PSP, DS); is this the first announcement of a publisher for this game?
• Bionicle Heroes (PS2, GC, DS, Game Boy Advance, PC); From Traveler's Tales, the superstars behind LEGO Star Wars
• BattleStations: Midway (Xbox 360, PC)
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (DS)
• Age of Conan (PC)
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Xbox 360, PC)

UPDATE: Added Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (from the folks behind the Hitman franchise).

See also:

• Leipzig Games Convention (SEGA)

The Leipzig Games Convention starts Thursday, and now THQ has announced their show lineup.

• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (Xbox 360; the PS3 version has been pushed to "late 2007, which probably means it'll be cancelled in lieu of the 2008 version)
• Frontlines: Fuel of War ("current and next-gen")
• Supreme Commander (PC)
• Company of Heroes (PC)
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl (who knows anymore?)
• Dark Crusade (PC expansion)
• Broken Sword: The Angel of Death (PC)
• Saints Row (Xbox 360, wireless mobile)
• Cars (multiple)
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab (multiple)
• Barnyard (multiple)
• Bratz (multiple)
• Monster House (multiple)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (multiple)
• Juiced: Eliminator (wireless mobile)
• Unnamed Star Wars (wireless mobile)
• Unnamed Worms (wireless mobile)

"Lawyer demands early copy of Rockstar game, will sue if he deems it a public
nuisance."

The Leipzig Games Convention is a week from today, and SEGA has already announced a strong showing. Some games (*) -- ostensibly Nintendo Wii and PS3 titles -- will only be shown to "selected contacts".

• Medieval II: Total War (PC)
• Sonic The Hedgehog (Xbox 360, PS3)*
• Sonic and the Secret Rings (Nintendo Wii)*
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz (Nintendo Wii)*
• Virtua Tennis 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)*
• SEGA Rally (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)*
• Yakuza (PS2)
• Phantasy Star Universe (PS2, PC, Xbox 360)
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines (PS3)*
• Charlotte's Web (PC, GBA, Nintendo DS)
• Sonic Rivals (PSP)

"The Sunday date is the date Microsoft believes all of the major retailers will have the game in stock so that's the date they want to build excitement around. What we've been told is that hardcore game shops like EB & Gamestop will have their trucks lined up at Microsoft's warehouse as 12:01AM on November 7th (the date the game actually ships) and will get stock to their stores as quickly as they can - at their own additional expense no less! They'll be able to sell it the minute they get it so some of those stores will have the game well before the 12th. It could take a few days for the game to work through the distribution channels of the giants like Wal*Mart and Best Buy but they should all have it in stores by the 12th. Microsoft figures this is a game that will sell well to the mass market so they want to make sure that when people show up in the stores the game is there. So that's why the 12th is being called Emergence Day. Microsoft also told us they're going to be planning something cool to coincide with that date."

"Project Offset (Offset) -- Sword and sorcery that feels real-world? Wow. Somebody fund this game!"

"We are now backed by a major publisher but will not be disclosing the details just yet. Visit our jobs page for more information on available positions."

1. Electronic Arts
2. Ubisoft
3. Activision

And, there's always the possibility of Microsoft, because, yes, it looks like Project Offset is coming to the PC and Xbox 360.

Tool on over to the Offset jobs page, and read the listing for a "Xbox 360 Programmer", whose "[p]rimary responsibility will be to handle porting, maintaining, and optimizing the codebase for the Xbox 360. Experience developing for the Xbox 360 is a huge plus. Experience programming for console platforms is required."

Yay!

Wonder if their dragons need voices, or if they'll have mythical, pissed-off fire ants in need of vocal expression.

Maybe we'll get an announcement next month at the company's X06 event in Barelona, or earlier at the Leipzig Games Convention this month.

This could be a really, really good game. And kudos to the handful of folks that worked their tails off to get this amazing engine put together and out there.

• Citreon commercial
• Alive in Joburg short film
• Tetra Vaal short film
• Yellow Adidas short film
• RSA Films (Enter the site, then navigate to Directors --> RSA Films --> Neill Blomkamp; it's kludgey, but you get to see his reel)

UPDATED: Added RSA Films.

"Here's the truth, we're still thinking about it. Here's what I can tell you for
sure, it's going to be the cheapest HD-DVD player you can buy ... without a
doubt, when it comes out. ... Everybody is very enthusiastic with the direction
we're going. There's still a few surprises left. I don't want to spill the beans
yet, but I think people are going to think it's a great value."

• Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting (08/02); XBLA
• Dead Rising (08/08); 360
• Pac-Man (08/09); XBLA
• Ninety-Nine Nights (08/15); 360
• Pac-Man World Rally (08/22); XBX, PS2, GC, PC, PSP
• Enchanted Arms (08/29); 360

(360 = Xbox 360; XBLA = Xbox Live Arcade; XBX = Xbox; PS2 = PlayStation2; PSP = PlayStationPortable; GC = GameCube)

• E.S.: "A high-tech fantasy title, based on a television show." (Eureka Seven? Or is that Namco Bandai?)
• C.F.: "An open universe Sci-Fi Horror collaboration with some of the scariest minds in Hollywood." (Hmm, can't be Clive Barker's Jericho -- that's CodeMasters.)

And more information on MAXUM's founding principle:

"As for our first rule, there will be some human death, it just will not come
from the hands of the player. Trust us when we say our AI department is ensuring
that all our demons, robots, and aliens are completely intent on killing the
human heroes of our games. It is up to the player to survive."

and

"[D]emons, robots, aliens, and unknowns are far more extraordinary to fight."

Interesting.

They'll be getting an Email from me.

• Time is dynamic in Dead Rising, marching on whether Frank is actively engaged or if he is stationary.
• Time also plays a role as zombies become more powerful when the sun goes down. Though they move slowly during the day, the zombies become stronger and faster at night, making it even more dangerous for players to survive.
• The unprecedented numbers of enemies come in never-ending waves and consist of a diverse population of former humans that have retained some memory of their previous lives, which is reflected in their behavior and appearance.
• The variety of different stores in the mall offers players an endless supply of resources including vehicles, makeshift weapons and more.
• Players will also encounter other survivors along the way and by helping them can acquire valuable clues as to what has happened.

1. Zombie Hunter - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1,000 zombies.
2. Zombie Killer - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 10,000 zombies.
3. Zombie Genocider - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 53,594 zombies. (WTF?)
4. Self Defense - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1 psychopath.
5. Peace Keeper - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 5 psychopaths.
6. Punisher - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 10 psychopaths.
7. Legendary Soldier - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
8. Hella Copter - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
9. Tour Guide - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Escort 8 survivors at once.
10. Frank the Pimp - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Simultaneously escort 8 female survivors.
11. Full Set - TYPE: Total REQ: Collect all portraits in the NOTEBOOK.
12. Humanist - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 10 survivors out of the mall.
13. Life Saver - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 20 survivors out of the mall.
14. Saint - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 50 survivors out of the mall.
15. Strike! - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Send at least 10 zombies flying with bowling balls.
16. Costume Party - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Place novelty masks on at least 10 zombies. (You should see the video of this!)
17. Raining Zombies - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Knock at least 30 zombies aside with a parasol.
18. Gourmet - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Eat all types of food available in the mall.
19. Item Smasher - TYPE: Total REQ: Break at least 100 items.
20. Bullet Point - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Fire at least 1,000 bullets.
21. Perfect Gunner - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Don't miss with a machine gun.
22. Photojournalist - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Score at least 1,500 PP from a single photo.
23. The Artiste - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Score at least 3,000 PP from a single photo.
24. Group Photo - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get 50 Target Markers with the camera.
25. Portraiture - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 10 survivors.
26. Census Taker - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 50 survivors.
27. Psycho Photo - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 4 psychopaths.
28. Psycho Collector - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 10 psychopaths.
29. PP Collector - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph all PP Stickers.
30. Snuff Shot B - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
31. Snuff Shot J - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
32. Transmissionary - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Answer all calls from Otis.
33. Indoorsman - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Spend at least 24 hours indoors.
34. Outdoorsman - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Spend at least 24 hours outdoors.
35. Freefall - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Drop from a height of at least 16 feet (5 meters).
36. Marathon Runner - TYPE: Total REQ: Cover a distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km).
37. Carjacker - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Steal the convicts' vehicle.
38. Stunt Driver - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Jump a car at least 33 feet (10 meters).
39. Stunt Rider - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Jump a motorcycle at least 33 feet (10 meters).
40. Zombie Road - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Walk over 33 feet (10 meters) on the backs of zombies using the Zombie Ride.
41. Karate Champ - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1,000 zombies barehanded.
42. Sharp Dresser - TYPE: Total REQ: Change into at least 20 different costumes.
43. Clothes Horse - TYPE: Total REQ: Change into all costumes available in the mall.
44. Level Max - TYPE: Total REQ: Reach Lv. 50.
45. Unbreakable - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get the true ending without being knocked out. (Huh?)
46. Overtime Mode - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Unveil all CASES and be at the heliport at noon.
47. Mode - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get the true ending. (Interesting.)
48. Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 72 hours.
49. Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 5 days.
50. Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 7 days.

These guys are having fun.

Oh, and here are some Dead Rising wallpapers for you. Don't say I never gave you anything.

One week to go ...