This generation’s consoles have had their lives lengthened by new software and hardware. In fact, Microsoft’s VP of Interactive Entertainment John Schappert told us, “We got a lotta life left in Xbox 360. I think we’re less than halfway done.”
One hands-on with Project Natal would make for a nice story, but it wouldn’t be complete. So we’re giving you two full sets of impressions on Microsoft’s motion-capturing E3 bombshell.
*UPDATE: The original video has been edited to take out the mention of the Beatles Rock Band offering all those albums. The above clip is the edited version… Whether that means that it’s an unconfirmed leak or David McLean just got confused is still unknown, but the official response from Microsoft is below.
Essentially a rundown of yesterday’s E3 announcements, this video from Microsoft’s new Xbox Australia blog InsiderX is noteworthy for two things:
The original Xbox launched in November 2001, with the Xbox 360 following just four years later, the shortest console cycle ever. The four-year anniversary of the 360 is five months away, but yesterday Microsoft proclaimed that “the future of home entertainment has a new name: Xbox 360.” Huh.
Finally a collector’s edition that isn’t complete fanboy exploitation: This “exclusive” controller is bundled in the $US99 collector’s edition of Halo 3 ODST, and it’s markedly less tacky than the original overly glossy Halo 3 pads. But um, wasn’t Microsoft busy killing the controller about an hour ago? [Kotaku]
GameTrailers somehow nabbed the actual video Microsoft played on the big screen at its E3 conference. Check it out, but turn down your volume, as audio got borked in the transfer.
Besides announcing full retail games on demand, meaning you’ll be able to download full retail games from the comfort of your own smelly dungeon instead of trekking to Gamestop’s smelly dungeon, Microsoft filled out details on some of the other new Xbox Live hotness.
As rumoured, Microsoft unveiled its newest control scheme today: full-body motion control that doesn’t require a controller of any kind called Project Natal. Forgive my excitement, but on first glance this thing looks amazing. Nintendo should watch out. Update: Video after jump.
For you social networking fiends who need to use Facebook or Twitter on every screen possible, Microsoft announced Facebook and Twitter integration will be arriving on Xbox Live this fall.
Last.fm, the popular online radio site/music tracker/recommendation engine, is set to bring its services to the Xbox. For Gold Xbox Live members, this means free streaming radio from your console. AU: Given that Last.fm pretty much pulled the plug on the Aussie market, I wouldn’t expect to see it on our Xboxes anytime soon.
