Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference: Avatars, a New Dashboard, and what’s this? Final Fantasy XIII!

There’s. just. too. much.

Honestly. And this is just Microsoft’s stuff.

E3 got unofficially kicked off today with Microsoft’s press conference.  First of all, let me say that G4’s coverage over the last year or two has been really appreciated.  The network is by and large a burning heap of refuse regarding actual gaming content–Cops reruns, the Man Show, et. al mar what could be an alright network–but E3 week is their crowning achievement.

I appreciate it because instead of reading liveblogs about the conferences, I get to watch.  For the average gamer, it’s a cool window into an event that has become more and more exclusive.  These pressers are largely hit or miss, but they’re your best bet at ground breaking announcements, as well as awkward moments that will become future internet memes.

I’ve always thought it a little strange at the glut of information that is packed into one week.  Like the old quarter 4 release problem, we see periods of absolute silence on the information front and then we’re supposed to feast on all the content in one week and hope that it lasts us through the winter, like some sort of hibernating mountain bear.  It’s gotten better this generation with the rise to prominence of other NA gatherings such as the Game Developers Conference, but still.

This year, Microsoft needed to placate the hardcore while trying their best to carve out a niche in the casual market.  I think that by and large they were successful.

I watched the first hour of the conference live, and then had to go teach guitar–so I ended up watching the last 20 minutes earlier tonight after getting home.  There’s too much to go through, but here’s what stood out to me:

The good:

• Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, Fable 2, and Resident Evil 5 all got live demos.  RE5 got a release date of March 09, Gears is in November, and Fable is in October. In addition, RE5 got 2 player co-op confirmed, and Gears announced a 5 player co-op mode, in which players face wave after wave of enemies .  These games look great.  We all knew they were coming.  Good to have release dates.  Nuff said.
• The dashboard is getting a reboot.  It looks a bit like Playstation’s crossbar, with Nintendo’s Mii’s attached, but let’s forget that for a moment and focus in gang–8 person live voice chat support, in which you can trade photos, jump into a game, and watch a streamed netflix movie. Brilliant!
• Netflix!–this has been rumored for a long time, so no surprises, but it certainly is a welcome partnership.  I’m jacked about the possibility of watching a movie with friends who live far away.
• The ability to optionally download a full game onto your HDD to save on load times and (possibly) save on disc switching.

The Average:

• Rock Band and Guitar Hero segments–both had little to announce that they hadn’t already, although RB did reveal their entire setlist.  A little flat on both parts in my opinion.
• Avatars–sure, I’ll make one, but it won’t stop me thinking that this is an afterthought–a reactionary move to the house that Nintendo built.  Here’s hoping they deliver on DLC support for clothing, hairstyles, etc.  I’m still waiting to customize my Mii further.

The Awkward/Hilarious:

• Red Octane co-founder Kai Huang pulled a Riiiiidge Raaacer by offering up lame Guitar Hero and Metallica shouts, followed by long silences in which the gathered press and VIPs delcined to applaud.  Oh well Kai, better luck next time.
• Singer Duffy’s forced line about never having enjoyed singing her song more than kareokeing it through Lips.

The Missing:

• Where was the motion control gamepad we’ve all been hearing about?  Guess MS doesn’t have a Wiimote knock off up it’s sleeve after all.

and finally, the Announcement of the Show:

• Holy FREAKING CRAP.  Final Fantasy XIII is coming to Xbox 360. The game will be released on PS3 first in Japan and then simultaneously released on 360 and PS3 in NA and EU.

Gone is the last exclusive killer app that I cared about on Playstation.  I spent the last 20 min of the conference with my hand over my mouth just hoping, willing Square Enix President Yoichi Wada to make the announcement I’ve been waiting over 2 years for.  When it came, I still couldn’t believe it.  Now I’ll just have to wait till 2011 to actually play the darn thing.  Sorry, I’m an FF fanboi, guilty as charged.

–WG