e3 2010
Latest
Kinect is in, 'Project Natal' is out
Update 2: Major Nelson confirms it: Project Natal is now officially called Kinect. Update: Oops! It looks like USA Today jumped the gun on the announcement and has since pulled the piece from its site. Stay tuned for Microsoft's official unveiling later. We've got either good or bad news depending on how you felt about the rumored name change for Microsoft's motion-sensing Project Natal. The new brand "Kinect" has just been confirmed by USA Today. The story, which includes no pricing or timing info, seems to have been slated to run tomorrow, though we imagine it might have been rushed out when the name started circulating after appearing in an Italian ad. There's even a list of games! [Huge thanks to Jake for the heads up.]
Xbox 360 Slim outed by Italian ad?
Of the rumored devices we've been looking forward to getting official at E3 this year, two of the biggest come from Microsoft -- both of which, sadly, seem to have escaped from their bag a little early. First is Kinect, the re-naming of "Project Natal," and now it's looking like the rumored Xbox 360 Slim has been leaked early as well. An Italian site, Console Tribe, ran an ad (embedded after the break) showing the above rather more angular looking console that's definitely an Xbox 360, but definitely not a current model. It mentions that this model is compatible with the Kinect and also invites you to "live today." We're thinking this model was not supposed to go live until tomorrow, but seizing an extra day doesn't sound so bad for us.
Microsoft Kinect revealed: Project Natal finally gets a name
USA Today just leaked the name of Microsoft's Project Natal motion control setup: Kinect. Microsoft was apparently planning on revealing these details tonight at a pre-E3 shindig, but the leaks got the better of them (including an Italian ad that also mentions the Kinect brand). There's still no word on price or release date, but hopefully we'll be hearing about that later this week. The USA Today writeup also mentions a few titles, including Kinectimals, Joyride, Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures, Dance Central, and properties based on Star Wars and Disney characters.
Rumor: Xbox 360 Slim and Kinect outed by Microsoft ad
An alleged Italian Microsoft ad, originally found on Console Tribe, seems to have revealed a slim Xbox 360 alongside a renamed Project Natal, touting a 250GB HDD, built-in WiFi (it's the future!), and compatibility with "Kinect" -- presumably the new name for Natal. The advertisement leads back to the Italian Microsoft site and the source of the page tells us that Atlas Solutions -- a Microsoft-owned ad company -- pushed the image automatically to the site. We've checked in with Microsoft to see if the news is legit, but we're not expecting much before tonight's Project Natal Cirque du Soleil "spectacular." In the meantime, you can check out the ad embedded after the break. Update: The ad we embedded after the break seems to have been pulled, so we've added a video in its place.
PlayStation Move demoed for 30 minutes, German-style
German publication GamersGlobal may not be familiar to you, but we expect you'll recognize those shiny orbs -- somehow, the website managed to pry a pair of PlayStation Move motion controllers and software away from Sony long enough to shoot an extensive video demo. While we're admittedly jealous of our distant neighbors, we wholeheartedly recommend watching their 30 minute hands-on with Disc Golf, Archery and more -- we've had a turn or two in PlayStation Move's multicolored spotlight already, and we suppose it's time to pass on the torch. Video after the break.
E3 2010: We've arrived!
Stop worrying! We're here in Los Angeles, corralled in the usual E3 Joystiq War Room, preparing fierce lines of questioning and sharpening our newswriting hands for a week sure to be full of sweltering hot scoops. Aside from tonight's Project Natal ... spectacle, we'll be live from Microsoft's other press conference tomorrow, as well as Nintendo, Sony, and the many, many other events being held over the next few days. Looking to filter out our normal, everyday news for just E3 stuffs? Head to the E3 2010 hub and go nuts! Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a week of madness to prepare for.
Project Natal game titles outed ahead of E3, 'about a dozen' available at launch
Looking for some last-minute Project Natal scoopage before we head into E3 2010? You've got it -- the LA Times has dished out details on the first four gesticulariffic games for the Xbox 360's new camera attachment this weekend, and says nearly a dozen other Natal titles will be available at launch. First up are "River Rush" and "Obstacle Course," the titles that inspired Parade Magazine to haphazardly flail appendages about last week, but there's also info on "Living Statue," which lets the social butterflies on Xbox 360 send video messages using singing, dancing avatars as a go-between. No video of this last quite yet, but on the off-chance you're not tired of watching humans slap dust mites silly (we kid) you'll find an unrelated Natal demo after the break.
En Masse teases TERA E3 trailer
E3 may not start for another couple of days, but En Masse Entertainment is getting a jump on the festivities by releasing a new teaser trailer for their forthcoming TERA action MMORPG. The clip, which clocks in at just under two minutes, features new in-game footage and what looks to be some pre-rendered cinematics, and it places heavy emphasis on the game's revolutionary combat mechanics. En Masse is clearly pulling out all the stops, as the video is slickly produced and compares favorably to a Hollywood action movie preview. All that's missing is the deep trailer-guy voice. View the video after the cut, or over at IGN.
Battlestar Galactica Online E3 trailer divides players... literally
"Human or Cylon... Man or Machine... who will you choose?" asks the maddeningly vague Battlestar Galactica Online trailer. More of a teaser than anything, this trailer will make the rounds at this month's E3, trying to tempt MMO gamers and Battlestar Galactica fans alike with intergalactic conflict. Based on the hit SyFy series, Battlestar Galactica Online pits the remnants of humanity against their created "children" -- robot and cyborg Cylons. The browser based game is set during the second season of the show and should be coming out early this fall on SyFy Games' portal. We took a look at this title back at GDC10, and hopefully we'll learn more about the details of BGO from Bigpoint developers at E3. In the meanwhile, hit the jump, check out the trailer and see if it doesn't get your blood pumping for outer space fighter combat!
Kojima's E3 2010 teaser site will whet your appetite
Kojima Productions can make some excellent games but its countdowns are transcendent. Continuing an annual tradition, Hideo and company have opened yet another mysterious E3 countdown, this time teasing images of various foods being chopped. Perhaps the imagery of foods is supposed to represent the hunger gamers have for exciting revelations from the trade show. Or maybe the use of knives is symbolic of the lighting bolt action waiting to be discovered in Metal Gear Solid Rising. Or maybe, just maybe, Kojima is set to unveil his next project: Cooking Mama 4: Mama's Revenge, the franchise's first M-rated entry. As usual, we welcome your conspiracy theories. However, let us warn you: you will be wrong.
Gran Turismo 5 releases a trailer
Sorry if the headline mislead you in any way No, the perpetually delayed Gran Turismo 5 still doesn't have a release date. Trust us, we looked! Unfortunately, it wasn't at the end of this new E3 trailer, either. Guess you'll have to make do with some incredibly gorgeous footage in the meantime.
New Force Unleashed 2 trailer shows Vader doing what he does best
Darn that Darth Vader -- sure, he's a Sith Lord who betrayed his master, will blow up a planet without a second thought, and even threatens to kill his own soldiers, but honestly, you just can't trust the guy. This brand new E3 trailer from LucasArts for Force Unleashed 2 shows the game's protagonist Starkiller getting betrayed by ol' helmethead yet again, and then lightsaber slicing and dicing his way out of a whole heap of space trouble. We already knew that Starkiller would be dual-wielding lightsabers in the game, and while this trailer is vague to say the least, it does hint at why we're seeing him whole and hale again, instead of the (spoiler) less-than-lively state we saw him in at the end of the last game. Looks like it's an Attack of the Clones all over again. At least that force power looks fun -- hopefully we'll see more at E3 next week. Watch the whole thing after the jump.
SOCOM 4 has a story ... trailer
SOCOM fans have been eagerly awaiting this: a story-driven PS3 game developed by franchise creators Zipper Interactive. In addition to adding PlayStation Move support, SOCOM 4 is promising a much more engaging and comprehensive story mode, evidenced by this new story trailer. Strangely, Shanghai comes under attack (yet again!), evoking -- for better or for worse -- an Army of Two vibe.
VATS what Fallout: New Vegas looks like!
Finally! Actual gameplay footage of Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas surfaced in the latest episode of GTTV, and unsurprisingly, it looks a lot like Fallout 3. If it weren't for the bright lights of the casinos, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. This E3 trailer is cut to make New Vegas look more like a FPS, but pay attention, and you'll see some VATS action as well.
Dead Space 2 gameplay trailer aims for our eyes
Minus the hardcore guitar music, this new trailer for Dead Space 2 reassures us that Visceral Games' horror follow-up won't stray too far from the original. Considering how beloved the first game was, that's not a bad thing at all.
Devil's Third is Itagaki's bloody, bullet-filled new game
Missed Tomonobu Itagaki? After a controversial departure from Tecmo, the producer of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden found himself with some free time ... and a job offer from THQ. Devil's Third is the debut game from his new studio, Valhalla Games -- and it features all the violence and gore that you'd want from an Itagaki game. Unlike many of his previous titles, this looks to be a multiplatfom release, gracing both the PS3 and Xbox 360. Check out the trailer, courtesy of GameTrailers, after the break.
Killzone 3 jet-packs into a winter wonderland
Sony continues to show more and more of its E3 goods before the annual gaming convention even starts. GameTrailers TV revealed the first gameplay trailer to Killzone 3. And as teased, it features jet-packs in a snowy, wintry world.
Rock Band 3's gear priced: keytar and Pro guitar sport MIDI out, adapter lets you use any keyboard / electronic drum set
Has your head cooled from all that rock news this morning? Nope? Well, we'd hate to rile you up again, but Mad Catz -- now the official provider of all Rock Band 3 equipment -- has priced its latest arsenal for the upcoming rhythm revival title. There's also a few new details on each instrument, so without further ado: Wireless Keyboard: That MIDI port many of you spotted is for output, letting you plug the two-octave (C3 to C5) velocity-sensitive keytar directly into MIDI sequencers for non-gaming use. It'll set you back $80, with an optional stand to be sold separately (no price given) alongside the game's launch. Buying the keyboard / game bundle will be $130, or about $10 off individual purchases. Oh, and if you want to feel a bit more techno, this puppy can be used as the guitar / bass input. MIDI PRO-Adapter: Want to use your own keyboard or electronic drum set? Here's the mediator you need, from MIDI to USB to console, and it sports the D-pad and other necessary gamepad buttons as well as velocity sensitivity adjustment controls. Asking price is $40. Pro Cymbals Expansion kit: three cymbals, apparently rejiggered from RB2's offerings for quieter play and a pre-defined 10 degree angle. It's $40 for this hi-hat, crash, and ride pack. Wireless Fender Mustang Pro Guitar Controller: Not the Squier hybrid we saw, this one actually sports a multitude of buttons for each string, spanning 17 frets (102 buttons in all). Actual strings are used for the plucking and strumming, and here's something interesting -- the axe has a MIDI output for software sequencers. This behemoth is $150, or approximately 1.5 Benjamins in your local currency. Pictures of each instrument -- and the yet-to-be-priced Squier -- in the gallery below, as well as a few screen caps of Pro mode so you can get an idea how exactly it'll "correct you" on proper Bohemian Rhapsody finger picking. %Gallery-94999%
E3 2010 Prediction Bingo: Nintendo
#bingochart { border: 0px solid #111; border-collapse: collapse; } #bingochart td { padding: 1px 0px 1px 0px; border: 0px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 90%; line-height: 100%; } #bingochart th { padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; } #bingochart a{ filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=100); -moz-opacity: 1;} #bingochart a:hover { filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=80); -moz-opacity: 0.80;} Pikmin 3 Detailed Wii Pulse True Wii Fit Sequel DSi Price Drop Wii Party Demoed Motion Plus X2 Handhelds on VC 3DS Dated Wii Zelda Info Overload Friend Collection US DS Virtual Console Mario Clash 3DS Port Have A Free One On Us! NSMB DS 2 Rabbids Invade 3DS Another Layton Quest 3DS Over $200 Farmville on Consoles Metroid Returns to 2D Star Fox 3DS Xenoblade Holiday Paper Mario Returns F-Zero Wii Wii HD Is A Thing Wii Online Modernized! We're days away from the industry's biggest event, making today the perfect time to launch Joystiq's (3rd Annual) E3 Bingo Extravaganza! This year, each card is developed to consider the entire event and not only the conferences. Originally, our plan was to utilize a series of super-computers specially designed to accurately predict the events of E3 2010; however, the "Joystiq Probability Index" (or JPI-3000) only delivered results as a string of "dingbat" characters. Development of an ultra-computer (JPI-4d3d3d3) to decipher the codes is expected to be complete in the year 2014. Stay Tuned. For day three in our three-part series, we take a look at Nintendo's E3 2010 offerings. Click on each of the squares above for more information (and the completely accurate but indecipherable rating). Nintendo's E3 press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15, at 9am PT (that's 12pm Joystiq Time / ET). As always, Joystiq will be on hand liveblogging the event. Download a copy (PNG file) and play along! (Remember, it's just for fun.) Also: Check out our Microsoft E3 2010 Bingo Card and Sony E3 2010 Bingo Card.
Dreamcast resurrection: classic Sega titles coming to XBLA and PSN later this year
The Dreamcast lives on! Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure are reviving Sega's final console, only this time on Microsoft and Sony's hardware. They are the two inaugural titles that will hit the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network later this year, to be followed by other classics from Sega's better days. As the now software-only company tells it, you'll basically be getting the original games, replete with (slightly) higher-res visuals, surround sound, online leaderboards, and Trophy and Achievement integration. We don't know what pricing will be like just yet, but Sonic Adventure will be coming at us in time for the 11th anniversary of the Dreamcast's original launch in the US (September 9, 1999).
