Bioware has recently posted its Mass Effect X06 gameplay vid. I checked out this title at E3 was extremely impressed with how the game handles dialogue scenes. Instead of just toggling through text, players can choose what to say as if it were a real conversation. This looks like a winner. Brian Ashcraft

New Mass Effect Trailer [Video Games Blogger]

At E3, Silicon Knights' Too Human didn't meet the hype, and the game's demo wasn't quite ready. Following its outing, the game got pushed back to next year, and the title didn't make an appearance at X06 in Barcelona. Rumors swirled, and Silicon Knights president Dennis Dyack commented on an IGN developer blog, writing:

As you may have noticed we did not show in Barcelona. This decision to not show at X06 was made immediately after E3. We made the decision to next show the game when we are ready and we knew that X06 would not be the right time. When we do decide to show the game, our goal is to give everyone a true impression of the game—one that includes story, audio, game play, artwork and technology. Things are going very well and Too Human is shaping up to be our best game to date.

Kudos to Dyack and co. for addressing these rumors and for waiting until there's solid product to show, instead of something half-baked like at E3. Brian Ashcraft

Silicon Knights Addresses Rumors [1Up]

Snapped and sent our way, that's producer Jade Raymond (Assassin's Creed) and game designer CliffyB (Gears of War) backstage at X06. Young and pretty, working on killer titles and proud owners of good dental hygiene. Yep, we're insanely jealous.

That begs the question: Which one are you more excited about? And we're talking about their games here, kiddos. Brian Ashcraft

It sounds like X06 was a bit of excitement. Here's a look back at the announcements. Thanks to Game Videos for this lovely game clip montage.

Jackson Working on New Halo Game: A landmark partnership announced between Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the "Halo" universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

X06 Halo RTS Announced: "Halo Wars" is an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary "Halo" universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the "Age of Empires" franchise.

Two Exclusive GTA4 Eposides Coming to 360 Live: Rockstar and Take-Two announced they will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two downloadable, epic episodes of "Grand Theft Auto IV" via Xbox Live, each with hours of entirely new gameplay and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.

Unnannounced Splinter Cell an Xbox 360 Exclusive: Ubisoft confirmed that the next "Splinter Cell" title, the next installment in the series after "Splinter Cell Double Agent," will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of Xbox 360 to deliver a complete experience no other console can match.

BioShock No Longer Coming to PS3 (At Launch): 2K Games confirmed that "BioShock," a revolution in the genre that will forever change the expectations for first-person shooters, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows next spring.

"Project Gotham Racing 4," the latest addition to the best-selling racing franchise from Bizarre Creations exclusively for Xbox 360, was unveiled. "Project Gotham Racing 4" promises to continue the "Project Gotham Racing" pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.

The beloved "Banjo-Kazooie " franchise will breathe new, high-definition life on Xbox 360 exclusively from famed developer Rare Ltd.; astonishing next-generation visuals and presentation reunite beloved characters Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda — among other fan favorites — with their sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.

PC/360 Cross-Platform Marvel MMO Coming: Microsoft Game Studios announced its highly anticipated new massively multiplayer online game, "Marvel Universe Online" for Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista operating system, developed by industry luminaries Cryptic Studios, creators of the smash hit "City of Heroes."

Doom is Live on Xbox Live Now: Two additions to Xbox Live Arcade were announced: the first-person shooter that pioneered the network-gaming era, "DOOM ," from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available today for download via Xbox Live Arcade. The hey game includes the original four-episode, single-player game, four-player split screen (cooperative and deathmatch) and four-player cooperative and deathmatch over Xbox Live. Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is "Sensible World of Soccer" from Codemasters. Based on the classic 1994 Amiga title, "Sensible World of Soccer" will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel — while still capturing the original's entire world of football.

360 HD-DVD for $200 in U..S.: Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K, France and Germany in mid-November 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America (estimated retail price)* and 199.99/ 129.99 (estimated retail price)* in the U.K., France and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures' blockbuster film Peter Jackson's "King Kong" on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

Brian Crecente

Too bad this is all full motion video (or at least I think it is), because there are moments in it where I seriously thought I was watching live actors. I think the increased contrast and a bit of graininess helped with that effect. Call of Duy 2 is one of the few 360 "launch window" titles that I'm still playing around with now. Brian Crecente

You know, I'm really glad to see that companies are starting to get co-op again. How weary I was when every game developer shrugged off the feature, as if no one wanted it: that gamer's only multiplayer instinct was to crush their enemies. For people like me, an even stronger urge is to shoot our friends in the back, or to throw a sticky grenade at them, then watch them run around in a circle screaming "Argh! You asshole! Argh!" before exploding. Florian Eckhardt

Gears Of War Xbox Live Full Co-Op Play Confirmed [Rewiredmind.com]

I've been dreaming about playing this game since E3. This video doesn't help with the wait. This game is just so freaky weird. Chilling. Brian Crecente

At Microsoft's X06 conference yesterday, Ubisoft took the stage and demoed live Assassin's Creed gameplay for the first time. This is the same gameplay we actually saw at E3 and at GC06. One thing that does seem to have improved since then is that the crowds seem much busier than they were before. I'm still not terribly fond of the fighting at the end, though: when you're facing thirty guys, twenty nine of those guys aren't going to sit on the outskirts doing the ha-cha-cha while you systematically disembowel them one by one. Florian Eckhardt

id just sent out this batch of Doom Xbox Live screens for your viewing pleasure. Has anyone downloaded the game on their Xbox 360 yet? Brian Crecente

The Halo Wars trailer has been released on the public. It's pre-rendered, obviously, though the official site (also live!) claims it uses lots of in-game models. The game takes place before Halo 1, following the crew of the UNSC "Spirit of Fire" from initiaql skirmishes to an all out war against the covenant. I'll be interested in seeing how they handle Spartans — I believe within the Halo universe, there's only 16 who survived the bone-grafting process, so there's actually not a hell of a lot of them you can play around with and stay within the fiction of the universe. Obviously, though, they'll be a type of hero unit.

Makes me wish I didn't hate RTSes. Florian Eckhardt

Halo Wars [Official Site]

It sounds like X06 was quite an amazing press conference, filled with the sort of surprises and delights befitting a regular carnival of gaming.

We've posted all of the news on the site, but I thought it would be best to summarize it somewhere for those not into browsing, or reading.

Hit the jump for the official summary and links to our stories. I'll post the press release in a bit as well.

Jackson Working on New Halo Game: A landmark partnership announced between Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the "Halo" universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

X06 Halo RTS Announced: "Halo Wars" is an all-new real-time strategy game based on the legendary "Halo" universe and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the "Age of Empires" franchise.

Two Exclusive GTA4 Eposides Coming to 360 Live: Rockstar and Take-Two announced they will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two downloadable, epic episodes of "Grand Theft Auto IV" via Xbox Live, each with hours of entirely new gameplay and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.

Unnannounced Splinter Cell an Xbox 360 Exclusive: Ubisoft confirmed that the next "Splinter Cell" title, the next installment in the series after "Splinter Cell Double Agent," will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360, a testament to the ability of Xbox 360 to deliver a complete experience no other console can match.

BioShock No Longer Coming to PS3 (At Launch): 2K Games confirmed that "BioShock," a revolution in the genre that will forever change the expectations for first-person shooters, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows next spring.

"Project Gotham Racing 4," the latest addition to the best-selling racing franchise from Bizarre Creations exclusively for Xbox 360, was unveiled. "Project Gotham Racing 4" promises to continue the "Project Gotham Racing" pedigree of innovation by introducing exciting new experiences to racing fans worldwide.

The beloved "Banjo-Kazooie " franchise will breathe new, high-definition life on Xbox 360 exclusively from famed developer Rare Ltd.; astonishing next-generation visuals and presentation reunite beloved characters Banjo, Kazooie and Gruntilda — among other fan favorites — with their sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.

PC/360 Cross-Platform Marvel MMO Coming: Microsoft Game Studios announced its highly anticipated new massively multiplayer online game, "Marvel Universe Online" for Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista operating system, developed by industry luminaries Cryptic Studios, creators of the smash hit "City of Heroes."

Doom is Live on Xbox Live Now: Two additions to Xbox Live Arcade were announced: the first-person shooter that pioneered the network-gaming era, "DOOM ," from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available today for download via Xbox Live Arcade. The hey game includes the original four-episode, single-player game, four-player split screen (cooperative and deathmatch) and four-player cooperative and deathmatch over Xbox Live. Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is "Sensible World of Soccer" from Codemasters. Based on the classic 1994 Amiga title, "Sensible World of Soccer" will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel — while still capturing the original's entire world of football.

360 HD-DVD for $200 in U..S.: Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K, France and Germany in mid-November 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America (estimated retail price)* and 199.99/ 129.99 (estimated retail price)* in the U.K., France and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with the Universal Pictures' blockbuster film Peter Jackson's "King Kong" on HD DVD (for a limited time) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

As you read this the original Doom, that's right the original DOOM should be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 points.

Don't freak if it isn't there when you check, Microsoft said they weren't sure if it would be up during or right after their X06 press conference today. But it will be today.

The game includes both single-player and two-to-four player co-op and deathmatch modes over Xbox Live.

The game will support teh deathmatch and coop play both on Live and in four-player split screen mode. I think I just wet myself.

Microsoft also announced that Codemasters will be bringing the classic 1994 Amiga game Sensible World of Soccer to Live. Brian Crecente

Two additions to Xbox Live Arcade were announced: the first-person shooter that pioneered the network-gaming era, "DOOM ," from acclaimed developer id Software and Activision, is available today for download via Xbox Live Arcade. The hey game includes the original four-episode, single-player game, four-player split screen (cooperative and deathmatch) and four-player cooperative and deathmatch over Xbox Live. Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is "Sensible World of Soccer" from Codemasters. Based on the classic 1994 Amiga title, "Sensible World of Soccer" will let gamers choose between the original graphics or an updated, high-resolution look and feel — while still capturing the original's entire world of football.

2K Game's hotley anticipated game BioShock will no longer be coming to the Playstation 3, according to Microsoft. The company announced at today's X06 event that the game will be an Xbox 360 and Windows exclusive title next spring.

No word yet on if the game might hit Sony's console down the line, but at launch it won't be on the PS3. How important, do you think, are exclusives to a console? Brian Crecente

Wingnut Interactive was created in partership with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, Jakcson and Microsoft Game Studios.

Wingnut's first two projects will be Xbox 360 exclusives. The first will be a cooperative effort with Bungie Studios to create a new IP, not Halo 3 and not Halo Wars, built from the Halo universe. The game will be co-written and co-designed by Jackson, Walsh and the Bungie team.

Scott Henson, director of strategy for Xbox and Games for Windows, told me that they haven't yet announced what form the game will take, so it could be anything from a shooter to a role-playing game to an MMO.

The second game will be a brand new franchise built around an "entirelty original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment."

"Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games," Jackson said. "My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker's point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books but taking it further with interactivity."

Henson wouldn't go into the business relationship behind the new studio, but I suspect they will be only creating games for the 360 and perhaps Vista, since it is backed by Microsoft Game Studios. Brian Crecente

Major Nelson was able to find some WiFi and is crouched backstage of X06. He promises to attempt a liveblog of the event, so I'll be following his comments and posting them here with my own thought(less)ful prose. Keep it here for live stuff.

From the Major:

Chris Lewis has just taken the stage, and is talking about past X0 events.

Banjo and Kazooie coming to Xbox 360.

Xbox 360 is driving overall console sales in Europe.

As of today, based on third-party data Xbox sales represent nearly 60% of home console revenue in Europe - a five-fold increase over last year.

We launched the original Xbox in 16 European markets. Today we're bringing even more gamers in the region into the Xbox community, including South Africa, where Xbox makes its debut this weekend, to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, where Xbox 360 will be available in time for Christmas.

Doom was just confirmed for Live Arcade.

Oh, oh, it looks like the embargo just exploded. Someone leaked the pre-presser press release onto several sites. I'll be putting our stuff up now.

Jump to the main page for everything.

Brian Crecente

X06 Liveblogging [Major Nelson]

The game will be an all-new real-time strategy game based on the Halo universe and designed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the Age of Empires franchise. It doesn't sound like they will be porting it to PC, at least not initially, but one can hope that will come too.

The game will put you in charge of the UNSC armies as they deploy for humanity's first encounter with the Covenant forces.

This explains why the Msoft lawers put a bullet in the head of the fan-driven Halo RTS Halogen earlier this month.

Brian Crecente

Ensemble Studios

That's right, X06, Microsoft's big Barcelona press conference, kicks off in two hours. Make sure to check back here at 2 p.m. EST on the nose for a slew of posts about the news announced at the press conference. It's going to be exciting. Brian Crecente

Ironically, these days, the only Doom iterations I remain unexcited about are the ones put out directly by id software. So great news: another XBLA port to look forward to!

According to the swell Dutchies over at Xboxic.com, it was announced at X06 today that Doom will be heading to XBLA with vastly upped resolution, 5.1 Dolby sound and — be still my heart — 4 player co-op and online deathmatch support. Holy crap! The coop along makes it quite the package for 800 points.

When it's drop? No one knows, but the Xboxic guys make cryptic comments that it could be out today. Wouldn't that be a great kick-off to X06? Florian Eckhardt

XBLA to get Doom Florian Eckhardt

Check it out.

Livestream X06