That's where the redundancy plays in.  Why own 2 consoles for sequels to games I like and casual software for my guests?  At least with a Wii, I'm getting the Nintendo titles I can justify spending more than 30 or more bucks on.

They did everything they needed too and more.

The big stuff for me was a good demonstration of how Kinect can be used with the Xbox especially the jump menu and how the voice stuff could work. I especially liked the ESPN vote choice demo which was very cool, not so cool was the reference to Goal keepers.

The casual stuff was ok but what was really special from this area was the dance and fitness programmes which really demostrated what 3rd parties could do. I do wonder why you would buy a Wii Fit when you can get this, it looked very impressive.

Some good core stuff demonstrated also which should satisfy most apetites.

A smaller whisper quiet 360 was cool but draft N was the icing on the cake who knows it may even change my opinion on Wi Fi if it proves to be as reliable as my power plugs.

All in all a very good show and certainly will make for some strong sales in the US for the remainder of the year.

That said the Star Wars demo at the end was awesome and I think really showed how Kinect can work in a game.

Hm, the animal game looked kinda fun. I would so buy it if it featured the cutest and coolest animal on Earth: Bearded Dragons!

I don't think the conference were very good, but I do think that Microsoft can turn Kinect into a huge success. The social approach can make it really big.

THat's it no surprises no tapping Don mattricks soulder? That's what I've been waiting for.

Well kinda relieved actually.

The first part was awesome MGS rising and Gears 3. After that I was bored sorry say this, that's how I felt but there are some Kinect gems like dance central piqued my interest and Forza 4 too.

I am also not that excited for Sony's E3 now. I expect this kind of showing too ( I hope I am wrong ) and it's ironic that I felt nintendo will win e3 since they are aiming for cores now. It's like we've than that and we are moving along. Zelda bam!!

PS The new Xbox is cool.

I think the big thing for the casuals is the price. The Wii wouldn't be half as successful if it had launched at the same price as the 360. 

The fact that MS didn't announce the price suggests its going to be on the expensive side. Rumored prices of $130-190 is just too much for Kinect to have any significance this gen.

Hopefully this will end all the Wii bashing since casual games are now "in".

I am totally expecting the internet to hate that conference. But I see the bigger picture. If I was still single and the same hardcore gamer I am, then I would have been pretty underwhelmed. Especially in the 2nd half. 

But M$ did it for the non gaming press. They want Kinect to sell to all those Wii owners who play with families. The sort of Wii owners who dont buy Mario Galaxy. They showed Kinect more than lived upto last year. It beat it hugely. The dance game will sell to casuals. It's leagues ahead of the arcades and the mat games. And isnt possible on any other motion device.

Star Wars game looked awesome, yeah it looked wierd in a Blue screen way, but thats the choice Lucasarts made by putting you in the game as a video photo.

I really do believe now, M$ will be on top above wii with sales this Xmas. Kinect was presented as family fun. 

However for me, Reach looked graphically a killer. So much draw distance and so much going on at anytime. The scale was huge to. Gears 3 looked great, not as good as Reach Graphically though IMO. 

M$ are already known for being hardcore, they had to show to casuals they would support the Kinect. That they certainly did. Remeber what is boring to us hardcore isnt to the casuals. M$ showed they arent trying to just beat Sony today.

They did still have some core games and 3rd parties will still make "proper" games, don't give up yet.

M$ don't have many first party studios and they are all working hard on games now, so other than 3rd party exclusives they are not going to announce a huge number of hardcore games. But there was certainly nothing special

They said everything will be free on ESPN. They made sure they got that point across. Only to Gold members.

Then count me out of gaming, because those are boring as shit titles.