LibriumArcana.Games

Remember when Microsoft turned off a user-made real-time strategy mod that took place in Bungie's Halo universe? That mod was several years in the making when Microsoft and Bungie (who were well within their rights) decided to shut it down. In Barcelona, at its X06 media briefing, Microsoft announced that Ensemble Studios and Bungie are collaborating to make a Halo RTS -- Halo Wars -- the game will come to both PC and Xbox 360 platforms. Suddenly, the decision to shut down some kids' fan project makes a bit more sense -- Microsoft, Ensemble and Bungie can bring a Halo RTS of their own to gamers; they don't need the modmakers to do it for them.

8:09: A trailer begins. There's a Warthog from Halo. Lots of them. They're tearing through a barren field with a few Scorpions. Another group of space marines is under attack. The Covenant wipes out the last of that group and prepares for the incoming Warthogs. A full-scale battle erupts, with tons of vehicles left and right. Spartan Group Omega shows up. "If they want war, we'll give 'em war." A logo for "Halo Wars" appears. The game is apparently a real-time strategy title for Xbox 360 and PC. Its official Web site is now live.

"It's not Halo 3," said Scott Henson, Director of the Game Development Group at Microsoft. "It's a brand new game based in the Halo IP. In a phone conversation with Joystiq, Henson disclosed that writing credits will be given to Jackson and Walsh. As for how the full-fledged game will fit within the continuity of the Halo universe among three installments, a real-time strategy game, and a film, Henson was tight-lipped. "It's going to remain a mystery," he said.

Jackson speaks! "Instead of making a film, we [will] make a form of entertainment that you can watch and enjoy like you would a film," but with interactive elements, he says. Jackson thinks the technology is to the point where games and film can blend, "and the fun of this is going to be figuring out where they can blend." He says it won't be especially for the hardcore game crowd. Moore says this means Microsoft is working on Halo beyond the movie, and Bungie is working on content beyond Halo 3. There will also be an all-new series based on stories from Jackson and Walsh.

360 HD-DVD for $200 in U.S.

Microsoft has confirmed what a lot of us suspected today, the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player will sell for $199.99 here in North America starting in "mid-November."

The HD-DVD player add-on will include a copy of King Kong in HD DVD for a limited time and a 360 Universal Media Remote. It will sell for €199.99/£129.99 in the UK, France and Germany.

"The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best high-definition movie experience and value on the market," Peter Moore said. "The reviews, the word of mouth and the consumer response have all been crystal clear -- HD DVD is the format of choice. We're not forcing movie technology on game players but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences. If they want HD DVD, there's no better value out there."

HD-DVD players deliver up to six times higher resolution than a standard DVD player and as part of the fall 2006 console update all Xbox 360 consoles will have the ability to output native resolution 1080p games and movies, according to Microsoft.

The company went on to say that more than 150 movies will be avilable by the holidays for the format.

Montage time. Doom split screen Lumines Live. UMK 3. Totem Ball. Defender. Assault Heroes from VU games. Sensible Soccer listed as early 07. Doom is available tonight for download.


Moore calls Epic's Cliffy B onstage to talk Gears of War. Cliffy picks up with the two main characters trapped in an open square with Locusts surrounding them. He says the crowd will be able to play the game today, single, versus, and co-op, drop-in and drop-out. The demo finds Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago dealing with some murderous locusts in a war torn square. Guns and bugs and action and chainsaws splattering blood on the game's "camera." Europe release date November 17, US still November 12.


Viva Pinata trailer playing now. The game is bizarre, but has a good sense of style. The theme song is catchy and the mating dances between the Pinatas are hilarious.

Moore presents a coming soon montage: Forza 2, Lost Planet, Lego Star Wars II, Gears Of War, FIFA 07, Crossfire, Blue Dragon, The Darkness, Viva Pinata, Alan Wake, Battlestations: Midway, Shadowrun, Fable 2, FEAR, Fuzion Frenzy 2, Splinter Cell:Double Agent, NBA 2K7, Halo 3, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Tiger Woods 07, DOA X2, WWE Smackdown vs.Raw 2007, Crackdown, Mass Effect, Winning Eleven 2007, Call Of Duty 3, Need For Speed Carbon, Stranglehold, Virtua Tennis 3, Rainbow Six Vegas, Sonic the Hedgehog, Team Fortress 2, and Shrek The Third. Moore says MS is excited about reaching out to casual players with titles like the new Banjo, and Blue Dragon. He talks about the Viva Pinata TV series, saying it's had 2 million viewers already after only a few weeks on the air. Then he turns to a Viva Pinata trailer.


Moore introduces Project Gotham Racing 4 with a trailer. A car revs up and tears through a desolate, almost futuristic sci-fi landscape. Lots of weird energy effects and a total eclipse as the car--and the teaser trailer--skids to a stop.

Moore's then talks about the next evolution of Xbox Live now, driven by Grand Theft Auto IV. He brings up the October 16, 2007, North American launch of GTA IV and says Rockstar will continue the GTA story with "two epic episodes" launched "within months" of the game's release. Each episode will be exclusive to the 360.

Switching gears, Moore turns to Assassin's Creed. "Now you'll see it for the first time right here on Xbox 360," Moore says, introducing Jade Raymond, the game's completely stunning producer. She says Assassin's Creed is "inspired by historical events," and the live demo, warning that there might be glitches and popping.

The demo finds Alteir the master assassin mounting a horse and rides into a town. His target is thought to be in the center of town. Alteir walks through crowded streets, turning sideways to shuggle away from people.

The next bit of the game to highlight is freedom Alteir shoves people around and pushes them down for no good reason, calling attention to himself from passersby. Alteir jumps up to grab the ledge of a nearby building and starts climbing up the entire thing using architectural details like window ledges. Raymond likens it to free-running, or parkour.

The demo now shows off the "intuition" view that lets you single out people who need killing. Once the target is sighted we see our boy engage in "social stealth" by blending into a pack of monks so he can get near his target and get his kill on.

Alteir deparates from the group right behind the target and jams a knife in his neck. Then it's time for the getaway. Raymond likens it to American football, saying the crowd is now a bunch of obstacles and if you run into them too fast you'll fall down. Alteir's escape route is cutoff and it's time for the fight. Raymond mentions that the fighting is realistic just in time to see Alteir cut down by a single blow from behind by an enemy.


The Bioshock trailer starts with a washed out voice talking about a utopian society he built, Rapture, far under the sea. Things have gone wrong in Rapture, and poses an ethical quandary to the viewer. "Would you kill an innocent to save yourself? We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us." The trailer then shows a first-person view of a player dragging a spooky little girl out of her hiding hole and menacing her before her giant robot guardian comes to the rescue. As for the little kid? The robot turns out to be friendly and they hold hands.


Moving to the West, he brings up Splinter Cell. He intros a video for Double Agent with "never-before-seen footage."

The video sets up the game's plot, with Fisher going undercover to infiltrat a terrorist cell. A Fisher voice over says "Killing thousands to save millions... No one should have to make these choices." Then the trailer takes a turn for the Hollywood, with fast-paced guitar music, quick cuts, and the movie voiceover guy talking about Fisher going farther than he's ever gone before. Moore says the "next installment" of Splinter Cell will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC--but he apparently doesn't mean Double Agent.

Games for Windows time is getting a big push with a bunch of sexy titles like: Halo 2, Company of Heroes, Alan Wake, Flight Simulator X, Crysis, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Rail Simulator, Hellgate London, Lego Star Wars II, Shadowrun, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, and Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Angmar.


It's Live Anywhere time now, with Moore talking about the service's easy-to-use interface being consistent across all platforms.