Once again, just to point this little fact out…this is starting to smell a lot like last year. The 360 is now in a FAR stronger position in 2009, then it was in 2008, and before E3, a lot of people had written off 2008 for the 360…in fact many had the ps3 overtaking the 360 by the end o the year. A LOT turned around at E3, and I believe M$ had made a commitment to annually make E3 its centerpiece. A few years back after the change, E3 looked to be on it’s deathbed, but M$ and a few others injected new life into the conference, and it’s back and vibrant, so M$ looks to key this venue as it’s own to showcase it’s wares. There is A LOT on the table left for us to see for the 360:
- New IP and titles from Rare…possible Killer Instinct game, which would be an absolutely blockbuster announcement.
- Details of ODST, which is due in September and we’ve seen zippo of the game, as compared to Uncharted and GOW, which aren’t due out till next year, and we’ve seen tons of stuff, comparatively. It’s not because M$ doesn’t HAVE the info, it’s just because they are saving it for E3 to make a bigger splash.
- New Lionhead IP is in the works, and this will be announced as well.
- New IP and features for NXE, which we know is on tap as well…1 vs. 100 for example. M$ spent a lot of R&D money here, so we can expect some new features.
- New 3rd party games on tap. Sure, they might be multi-plat for some, but who cares…I want Dragon Age and Lost Planet and Mass Effect…
- New MMO news, which might be interesting news for some, like me.
My point is simply this, M$ looks to be trying to get away from this whole “year of…” bit, since it sets you up for failure. The goal is to deliver in execution, rather than in hope, that way, people aren’t disappointed, when the vaunted title comes and fails to meet expectation…
"...You can't kill ideas with a sword, and you can't sink belief structures with a broadside. You defeat them by making them change..."
- From By Schism Rent Asunder
