Kotaku
Tomorrow John Schappert, Microsoft Veep of Live, Software and Services, will be taking the stage to deliver the first keynote for the Game Developers Conference proper.
While in the past, GDC hasn't been a place for announcements, that changed in 2006 when Sony rolled out such doozies as Home and LittleBigPlanet to an audience of mostly game developers. This year expectations are high that Microsoft will be making some sort of announcements of their own.
On paper the keynote is about how Microsoft plans to tap into a "wellspring of talent and innovation from the broader development community" but we'd be surprised if they didn't use their time on stage to also drop a little bomb or two. Hit the jump for our best guesses.
Gears of War 2: This has almost moved beyond rumor and become fact. Word of some possible Gears 2 announcement has been making the round for weeks now. The question has almost become not if they will be announcing the sequel to the amazing Epic shooter, but who will be working on it. (Our money's on former EA Chicago head Kudo Tsunoda) We expect to hear both bits of news at the keynote in the morning.
Live Anywhere: Despite the fact that they have the stage to themselves, Microsoft (like Sony last year) still probably feels it's necessary to somehow tie the announcement of a big triple-A title to something relevant to the conference. Our money is on Live Anywhere. Earlier today in his Casual Games keynote, Chris Early talked about how neat it would be to play the casual "flow game" from Bioshock while standing in line at the bank and then go back home and use his plays in the game to unlock stuff, making his brief bit of casual play matter in a bigger game. That, to me, sounds like it could be the long-ago announced and nearly forgotten mobile implementation of Live Anywhere... perhaps tied to big games like Bioshock (which already has a mobile game in the works) and Gears of War 2.
XNA Arcade: Obviously something has to be said about Microsoft's casual game development tool, XNA. They even have an area in their XNA space at GDC still underwraps until 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. (Right after the keynote). Our money is on Microsoft unveiling a broader distribution model for XNA produced games, like, perhaps, a new blade on Xbox Live.
Comments
New Sku with Wii remote type functionality.
NETFLIX + MICROSOFT = RULES THE WORLD
I can see Gears of War 2 being announced tomorrow.
I think XNA is gonna have a ton of little games equivalent to free flash games on the web that we can fool around with for free or for very few points. I think that would be very cool - to have the next Desktop Tower Defense or something come from XNA.
NETFLIX + XBOX 360 = Amazing!
Halo 4?
You won't see Gears 2.
That is very much a mainstream IP now so announcing it at a developer conference makes no sense.
Yea. Netflix+Xbox 360 is such a win on both parties, you don't even know.
Kefka666, I think we all got your point.
The only thing the Microsoft could announce at this point that would be of any interest to me is the magical elimination of the Red Ring of Death. Until then, their company is just dead to me. Sure, all of that stuff would be awesome and nifty...if their system was any more reliable than Grandma's bladder. Sure, it is a little off topic, but honestly I wish they would handle this better than they have. The post earlier where a demo 360 RRoD'd just highlights how bad the whole thing really is.
@Alski: If they did that I would sell my 360 immediately.
NETFLIX + PS3 = Amazing!
Your point?
Championship Pac-man sequel?
I really want the announcement to be a release date for Castle Crashers, but it's been quiet on that front for awhile. Plus, I don't think that they'd eat up their time in the spotlight with something most would consider trivial.
My guess is a portable platform capable of remote playing Xbox360 games anywhere there is a strong enough signal.
@KeFkA666: There looks like there will be a PS3 version as well for Netflix, so Im doubtful that is what is but I would be quite pleased if it were :)
I predict that whatever is announced, the resultant thead will be filled with people calling it the greatest thing ever, followed by people calling it the dumbest thing ever.
@KeFkA666: Netflix + Wii = Need bigger hard drive!
@JustJake: Prepare to sell... ;)
It's a total long shot
I'm going with an extension of Live. I don't see any games being announced though.
@topbravo222: OH MAN! I so hope your right. :P
I was hoping for something new and big, none of those really qualify.
My prediction about XNA Arcade: Epic failure. They're going to continue with their deplorable closed model, making it as difficult as possible for single-person developers to be able to create, distribute, and get rich off of viral games. Moore made a nice speech about becoming the "Youtube of Gaming" but Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that they are interested in that not at all. They want a tightly controlled, rigidly managed experience run by a large corporation, censored all to hell and as bland as possible. They certainly don't want people creating the same kind of content as is popular on YouTube and they're going to make absolutely certain that that kind of content is blocked.
Make no mistake, Microsoft will be making sure that you only see the games they want you to see. They call it portfolio management and it's crap that makes sure you'll never see someone come up with a great game idea, develop it over a couple weeks, toss it online, and sit back to reap a mountain of profit. That's their absolute fear. They have to keep the profit generating potential in the hands of the people paying big bucks for licensing and the market bland as hell to avoid government regulation.
@kingclip: Winnar!
Gears of War 2 will be shown, and I'm excited to see it, the first game was awsome. XNA, if it means normal people can make and distribute things then thats a megaton and real good news, so far 360 ain't open about anything, which is a let-down after what was said before the 360 came out. With all clan support and spectator modes, tournaments etc etc. It never happened.
Live anywhere sounds boring, MSN on live is boring. I hope MS will show more games, and do something to adress RROD or let us know it have been dealt with. But seeing 360's die at GDC is not very comforting. Come on MS, realse the big guns, I would love to hear of a new studio being made or aqquired.
I'm hoping for a XNA announcement. Something so that you don't need to be a XNA developer to test new stuff. Could really spice up xblive that I think.
@slomo788: Not gonna happen. Expect Halo Wars stuff though.
They will be giving away free hd-dvd addons to all those who got the rrod.
@TheCleaningGuy: Netflix + either platform = need a bigger hard drive if you're gonna get HD content. More bandwidth too. I'm not much interested in the service if they're gonna download SD movies to my box. That's a yawnfest.
I have my money on the XNA announcement, though they'll probably announce Gears of War 2 as well. Though I couldn't care less about that game.
I vote a something halo related (its been a while).
Microsoft House and TinyLargeOrbitalBody.
Maybe Bioware titles will stay console exclusive like ME 2 and 3, announcement of Jade Empire 2, and (probably not) KOTOR III. New 360 Blu-Ray Player, maybe some sort of refund on the HD-DVD drive. Classic games coming to XBLA like Primal Rage. Some sort of counter to home and Little Big Planet. Big XBL announcement. MS buying Epic (probably not though) Those are all hopes but I expect the big XBL announcement and maybe ME 2 and 3 staying exclusive to probly happen. Also maybe a big demo like Too Human and some sort of cool new exclusive.
Lionkitten: The guy who did Desktop Tower Defense made a good deal of money off of it. And he did it alone. And he did it with almost no startup cost at all.
Microsoft will NOT let that happen under ANY circumstances. How do you think PopCap and companies like that would react?
@Alski
You know that Microsoft was the company that came out with motion sensing controllers back in the late 90's. The controller was the Sidewinder Freestyle pro, the only truly compatible games were flying games (either simulation or arcade style). Since no games were developed solely for the controller it was considered a flop, hence why MS said when the Wii and PS3 (the Sixaxis) came out that motion sensing was a fad and was useless in their new (at the time) console.
If they "tack on" motion sensing it will be like a lot of PS3 games that feel gimmicky with Sixaxis turned on, hence why a lot of newer games come with it defaulted to off. The only motion sensing in PS3 games that are good/decent (in my opinion) are: Resistance, Ratchet, Uncharted, NBA 2K series (you emulate a free throw shot with the Sixaxis), and somewhat Heavenly Sword. Sure in NBA 2k you don't have to emulate a free throw to use the Sixaxis shooting, you can just tilt back and forward on the controller. It would take MS a while to perfect motion sensing, heck Nintendo and their third parties on the Wii haven't fully nailed it yet.
@otakucode: I couldn't agree more, what with Microsoft's historical business techniques, but I'd like to dream that a "YouTube of gaming" could exist in the future anyway...
@Iz1ck:
"maybe some sort of refund on the HD-DVD drive"
Yeah, right...
Maybe if HD-DVD owners were forced at gun point to buy one.
@Iz1ck: What? Not asking for world peace as well?
didn't the dreamcast kind of have that 'live anywhere' concept? i seem to remember where the little gameboy memory unit had the potential to say, grind your character in an RPG on the go, then plug it back in and reflect the stat changes. but it never really got implemented well, i think.
i never owned a dreamcast, but my roomies did in college, so forgive my fogged memories...
@kingclip: The real question is: which side are you on?
@Irenicus-the one and only: Yeah I know the chances are very slim. But Microsoft will not be called Microsoft anymore if this gen ends with Halo Wars being the last Halo-related game. I'm not hurried though: not even played the apparently second coming that is Halo 3 yet (tried the mp though. Good stuff as usual). Everytime I see RRoD, those 350 bucks get deeper in my pockets, and I die a little bit inside. Yesterday, Microsoft completely broke my heart with their faulty display console.
*wipes tear off his cheek*
@doubtful: I see what you did there
XNA development kit that is built into an xbox360 (has keyboard, mouse bigger hd etc).Comes with all software installed and ready to develop games asap. Tests instantly in an 360 environment as it is a 360.
@doubtful: I vote for those.
I'm placing my bets on it being some UE3 and XNA announcement. That'd open the doors for home-made Gears 2 and UT3 content on 360.
It might be about how Microsoft plans to kill more youth than Hitler..... Just a theory....
Quick question about "live anywhere" - is this a portable console or what? I'm trying to understand how he would "play the casual 'flow game' from Bioshock while standing in line at the bank"...
Well consider this is GDC, it's defetively XNA related I cannot see anything relevant to Gears of war or any other 'wish thinking stuff here'.
@doubtful: cleverly done!
Live Anywhere is my guess.
@slomo788: lol. I really think Halo4 is not gonna happen, for the longest time, at earliest the next xbox system. And yeah, I bought the 360 at launch, but it got sold after all the abuse I had to take, not to mention I was not really having fun with any games besides GeoW and Smack down vs raw 2007 basically :P
I want Mass Effect, but now it comes out for PC and that I got, a very good gaming PC. For now Wii+PC all that I need. But a Gears of war 2 might be tempting.
@DigitalHero: I have an 360 HD DVD drive a bunch of movies and I don't feel slighted by anyone enough to want a refund. ( Probably because I also have Blu-Ray ) It just means that I will be able to pick up the HD movies that are already out for next to nothing soon. All good in my hood.....
@Irenicus-the one and only:Atm for GDC I'm more interested in seeing games like Civilization for the DS :P
@DevonTheDude: Yes I did know about the Microsoft motion controller, and yes I agree with your statements and feelings regarding motion controllers 100%.
I'm a big time dreamer, hahaha.
Live Anywhere gets my vote because its the lamest one on the list
@Manny: I think it makes great sense.
1. Hopefully (for them) it will have jaw-dropping visuals that will be so incredible they will bring developer faith back into the Unreal 3 engine. U3 has had quite the bad publicity in recently, and where else to pick it back up than where game makers meet?
2. Right now everyone is talking about Sony's great (it really is a solid cast) '08 line-up while no one knows what to look forward to on the 360; this will be a good time to counter and then take the hype momentum into E3 with some other big game announcements for this fall.
@Irenicus-the one and only: If Epic makes Gears 2, I'm very positive it will come on PC too. My PC is shitty and the 360 is still a cheaper solution than building one. And I'm a sucker for split-screed co-op. No Wii for me though. In my despair I just ordered a used Gamecube with Melee and Twilight Princess. Funny how a GC and 1 game cost me the same price as a new PS3 game. Makes me wonder why I always rush to early adoption.
Microsoft sucks. 360 is going DOWN. Ok scratch that...
Ok, but Live Anywhere sounds really sweet. I'd totally dig that. Gears 2 I (we) already know is coming so that's not that exciting.
XNA development tools for $70?! That would be a winner for me!
Just conjecture here but since their booth is next to Epic's along with the fact that they have a shrouded XNA display and the recent job postings pointing to upgrades to XBOX Live, I'm gonna guess that they are opening up XBOX Live to user generated XNA content and mods for games like Epic's UT3.