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  Old Republic Is All-Talk (Literally)

  BioWare and Lucasart’s Star Wars: Old Republic MMO is going to be the world’s first large-scale massively multiplayer game to be all talk. As in, no text messages whatsoever. The amount of voice acting work that’s going to require must be absolutely mind-blowing. And it also raises a few issues. Like, how can you personalise…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2009
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  Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content

  Halo 3 ODST may be a spin-off, but Microsoft wagers that enough content will be packed into the game’s box to warrant a $59.99 price tag. Bungie Studios has suggested that Halo 3 ODST won’t be as long as Halo 3. So why will it run the cost of a full game? Here’s a list…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 1, 2009
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  Alan Wake Story Details, New Screens

  Xbox 360 exclusive psychological action thriller Alan Wake is hitting Spring 2010, telling the story of a bestselling author’s battle with writer’s block. Obviously, that battle gets a little more interesting when shotguns are involved. Developer Remedy, responsible for the Max Payne series, is bringing “multilayered character interactions, unique problem-solving and intense combat against terrifying…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 1, 2009
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  Zune Video Comes to Live In 1080p HD This Fall

  Starting this fall, movies and television shows from Zune Video will be playable on the Xbox 360 in 1080p HD. Microsoft says that video start up using their new service will be “as close to instantaneous as possible” by transitioning between many different bitrates and resolutions of video. What that means, Microsoft says, is that…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 1, 2009
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  Meet Left 4 Dead 2’s New Survivors, See First Screens

  Valve is turning a sequel around in record Valve time, announcing today that Left 4 Dead 2 will be hitting the Xbox 360 and PC later this year. Meet the new zombie apocalypse Survivors. Since Left 4 Dead 2 takes place roughly at the same time as the events of the original and far away…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 1, 2009
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  Molyneux’s Milo Brings a Virtual Child to the Xbox 360

  .html One of the most stunning moments of the Xbox 360 press conference this morning, was the introduction of Peter Molyneux’s Milo. Milo appears to be a complex artificial intelligence that you can interact with through the Xbox 360 using it’s recently announced Project Natal motion controller. Molyneux says Milo can recognize your face, emotions…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 1, 2009
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  Why Xbox 360 New Controller Is Called ‘Natal’

  Sure, the Microsoft fact sheet for Project Natal explains that the XBox 360’s answer to Wii motion control has a special sensor, an RGB sensor, a depth sensor, a multiarray microphone and a special processor, but what’s that name mean? Here’s how the company explains it: “Alex Kipman, who incubated the project and is from…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 1, 2009
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  See Microsoft’s Project Natal In Action

  .html Seen in person, Microsoft’s motion controller without a controller is pretty amazing to behold. But until we have it in our hot little hands, we’ll hold off on passing judgment. Until then here’s a video of it in… motion.

  By Brian Crecente Published June 1, 2009
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  Facebook, Twitter Coming To Xbox 360

  The Xbox 360 will be added Twitter and Facebook to its list of web services, Microsoft announced today, with some of those social networking services interact with the console’s game library. Microsoft’s Facebook implementation on the Xbox 360 looks to offer much of what’s available via a regular web browser: status updates, photo sharing, email…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 1, 2009
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  Tim Schafer talks Brütal Legend LIVE on Twitter (send questions to #e3BL) – 7PM PST on June 2nd

  Visit e3.brutallegend.com to get a look into the mind behind Brütal Legend in a live Twitter chat with Tim Schafer (06/02/09 7 PM PST). Also, enter to win a custom guitar inspired by Tenacious D, and experience Brütal Legend’s epic E3 performance.

  By Chrissie Lamond Published June 1, 2009
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  First Look At Halo 3 ODST Xbox 360 Controller

  Purchasers of the $99 Collector’s Edition of the Xbox 360-exclusive Halo 3 ODST will get this handsome controller bundled with the game. A Microsoft press release referred to the controller as an “exclusive,” implying that it will only come with Bungie’s September Halo spin-off.

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 1, 2009
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  EA E3 Press Conference Commence

  Whew. We’ve just dashed from Microsoft’s hectic E3 presser to EA’s, at the “historic” Orpheum in downtown LA. Shall we see what’s on offer? Shall we? 12:59 – Waiting outside on a surprisingly pleasant day here in LA. Looks like we’re about to head in… 13:39 – Yeah, about o head in, 40 minutes ago.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2009
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  Crackdown 2 Adds Competitive Multiplayer, Hits In 2010

  The sequel to Microsoft’s hit open-world crime-fighting game has some new features. Microsoft’s press release for new games coming up for Xbox 360 included some surprises regarding Ruffian Games’ Crackdown 2. The company announced that it will enable both cooperative and competitive gameplay modes and what seems to be a harder edge. The press release…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 1, 2009
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  Xbox 360 Avatars Getting New Outfits, Props, Marketplace

  Microsoft announced today that the Xbox 360 Avatars will be getting an upgrade, with new items, known as Awards and Props, coming soon to add further personalization to your New Xbox Experience character. That includes free items, add-ons and outfits that you can win, as well as Avatar items that you can purchase from the…

  By Michael McWhertor Published June 1, 2009
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  Left 4 Dead 2 Features Melee, Deeper Coop

  We saw a very brief glimpse of Left 4 Dead 2 this morning at Microsoft’s press conference, now we get a bit more details from publisher Valve. “A large part of how Left 4 Dead became 2008’s top-selling new IP on Xbox 360 and the PC was the custom-tailored gameplay made possible by the AI…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 1, 2009
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  Microsoft Offering 360 Games On Demand Starting August

  Microsoft had more news than they could fit in their press briefing, announcing an on-demand download gaming service during a post-briefing lunch. Microsoft points not required. Xbox Live’s Marc Whitten announced that, starting in August, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download full Xbox 360 games. Titles shown in a dashboard mock-up included Assassin’s…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 1, 2009
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  Microsoft Makes You The Motion Controller With Project Natal

  Microsoft’s new motion controller is a camera, that uses object, movement, and voice recognition to deliver a new kind of immersive gaming experience. It may look a bit like a Wii sensor bar, but it’s something altogether different. Project Natal, as Microsoft is calling it at their 2009 E3 press conference, is a camera and…

  By Mike Fahey Published June 1, 2009
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  Metal Gear Comes To The Xbox 360 With All-New Title

  Hideo Kojima has just popped up at Microsoft’s keynote, and announced that the Metal Gear Solid franchise is coming to Xbox 360 with an all-new title. This game is called Metal Gear Solid Rising, is a completely-new title, and rather than starring Solid Snake, will star Raiden. Now, importantly, he didn’t mention the word “exclusive”.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2009
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  Last.FM Coming To Xbox Live

  Microsoft and Last.FM are making sweet, sweet music on the Xbox 360 this year, with the music listening and discovery service available free to Xbox Live Gold members. A relative surprise delivered as part of Microsoft’s 2009 E3 press conference, popular music community service Last. FM will be available as a free download for Xbox…

  By Mike Fahey Published June 1, 2009
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  Bungie Announces New Halo Game

  Bungie today, as expected, announced a new Halo title: Halo Reach. It’s due for release in Fall 2010. I’d love to tell you more, but that’s all that was revealed along with a short trailer showing the destruction of Reach, from before the events of the original Halo. As a bonus for anyone buying Halo:…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2009