Live Anywhere Announced, Various 360 Titles

[bapenguin]

Microsoft announced their Live Anywhere program. Basically what this does is brings XBox Live games to Windows and Mobile platforms. It'll use your existing gamertag and continue to add to your gamerscore and achievements. It sounds like Windows Vista games will also contribute to this as being part of the Live network.

Also announced was Fable 2, Forza 2, Shadowrun for Windows and 360 and much more.

Full Press Release Inside. (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=270652#post270652)

Live Anywhere sounds incredible. It's the next logical step for the system. Being able to play games I bought on 360 on my phone or on my PC during lunch at work and such just rocks. Getting the Gamerscore for that stuff doesn't hurt either. But the games...it's just a whole bunch of sequels. From what I hear though Gears of War looks great.

[bapenguin]

May 9, 2006
Bill Gates Declares 10 Million-Unit Head Start for Xbox 360 and Outlines Future of Interactive Entertainment
Surprise appearance by Microsoft company founder wows gamers with unified platform vision and first look at “Halo 3.”

LOS ANGELES — May 9, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates today staked the claim that the Xbox 360™ system will have a 10 million-unit head start by the time the competition enters the market and more than 160 games by the end of the year. Gates went on to outline the company’s bold new vision to connect millions of Xbox 360 gamers with hundreds of millions of Microsoft® Windows®-based PC and mobile gamers from around the world through the Xbox Live® online entertainment network. Gates made the announcements at a press conference to open the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the largest annual confab for the interactive entertainment industry.
Dubbed “Live Anywhere,” the initiative puts gamers at the center of a ubiquitous always-on world where their digital identities, games, friends and digital entertainment are always accessible through the familiar Xbox Live interface, regardless of location or device. The plan also clears the way for groundbreaking cross-platform gameplay scenarios, with participants using Windows-based PCs, mobile phones and Xbox 360 consoles to play together simultaneously.
By this time next year, Microsoft expects more than 6 million gamers to be connected to the Xbox Live network. In addition, more than 25 million casual gamers are currently playing games on MSN® Messenger and MSN Games. Envisioning a forward look to more closely align these powerful communities, Gates outlined next steps to bring the Live Anywhere vision to fruition:
Xbox Live experiences come to Windows-based PCs. Gamers will have the ability to jack into the vibrant Xbox Live world from their Windows-based PCs early next year to play games with friends. Answering the call of millions of Windows gamers for a world that is always on, the Xbox Live experience on Windows will give gamers a consistent online game experience in which they have one identity, one friends list, one set of achievements and voice communications across all games on the network. These experiences will debut on Windows with the Windows Vista™ operating system and “Shadowrun™” this winter.
Microsoft’s mobile offering. Spanning Windows Mobile®, Java and BREW-based handsets, the world-class mobile games service will give gamers on-the-go access to cross-platform gaming communities at any time, from any location. By this time next year, users will be able to send messages, access friends lists, download the best of mobile game content, and sample, purchase and play favorites such as “Bejeweled,” “Zuma” and “Hexic®” as part of the integrated gaming world.

“By opening the Xbox Live entertainment network to the entire universe of Windows and mobile gamers, we’re creating unparalleled gameplay opportunities that will drive incredible growth of the online community,” said Gates. “Our vision is to deliver consistent, compelling experiences that make it easy for consumers to jump in and play, from any device at any time. It’s a vision that only Microsoft can deliver.”
Gates, making his first appearance at E3, joined Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division, on stage to announce a barrage of new game titles coming to the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista platforms.
Microsoft announced that it will have 160 Xbox 360 titles by end of 2006. The stunningly smooth high-definition graphics and sophisticated level of gameplay in these titles are proof positive that the development community is hitting its stride with the console’s powerful hardware and programming tools.
Gates and Moore dazzled the crowd with an initial look at “Halo® 3,” the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed “Halo” franchise. Enthusiasm for “Halo 3” has been building since its predecessor, “Halo 2” — launched by Microsoft Game Studios in 2004 — rewrote history books by becoming the biggest launch in U.S. entertainment retail history, with $125 million in sales and 2.4 million copies sold in the first 24 hours. In this third chapter of the “Halo” trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.
Microsoft Game Studios also showcased exclusive Xbox 360 titles “Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.), “Fable® 2” (Lionhead Studios) and “Forza Motorsport™ 2” (Turn 10). Ubisoft’s next-generation version of “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent™” will also debut on Xbox 360. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios showed “Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Inc.) and “Shadowrun™” (FASA Studio), both slated for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. Bringing the Microsoft vision of Live Anywhere to life, “Shadowrun” is the first cross-platform Xbox 360 and Windows Vista-based game featuring team-based combat that ushers gamers into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic.
For Windows gamers, the consumer launch of Windows Vista in January 2007 will continue the momentum and excitement for the Windows platform. With Windows Vista, Microsoft will introduce the DirectX® 10 API, showcasing astonishing new graphics as well as enhanced performance, better hardware integration and new ways for developers to make the most of the Windows game platform. Microsoft highlighted several games from major publishers that will support Windows Vista and DirectX 10 technologies: “Crysis™” (Electronic Arts Inc.), “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom) and “Flight Simulator X” (Microsoft Game Studios).
In addition to these blockbuster titles on Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, several new games are coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Gamers of all ages and levels of experience are flocking to these quick, fun (and often nostalgic), downloadable titles that take advantage of the unique high-definition and Xbox Live capabilities that only Xbox 360 can deliver. Microsoft and its partners announced a significant expansion of the Xbox Live Arcade catalog, adding classic favorites such as “Pac-Man,” “Galaga,” “Dig Dug” and “Rally-X” from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.; “Frogger,” “Track & Field,” and “Contra” and “Super Contra” from Konami; “Defender®,” “Paperboy®,” “Root Beer Tapper™” and “Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3” from Midway Games Inc.; “Sonic the Hedgehog™ High Speed” from SEGA®; and new titles such as “Lumines Live” from Q Entertainment Ltd.
As part of the Live Anywhere initiative, Microsoft has announced new cross-platform accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, which will enrich game experiences on Xbox 360 and Windows. The new Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow consumers to customize their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat with friends and family over Xbox Live.
The appetite for Xbox 360 gaming around the world continues to grow. Microsoft is excited to meet that demand in seven new countries in the coming year with launches in Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Poland, Slovakia and South Africa. Additional markets will continue the momentum of the largest next-generation installed base for any console after a second holiday season.

[GrinR]

This is no big surprise to me, after writing about their .. XLT? (cross platform tech) they were going for like 2 years ago.

It's going to be a GREAT year for gamers in 2007. Really f'n awesome.

[ÜberJumper]

I've already got the Live Messenger Beta installed, and I can already see Live! arcade games like Hexic and other games in it that I can play with friends.

[thecrazyd]

Do PC players have to pay for Live Anywhere? Cause I'm not having that shit.

[bapenguin]

Do PC players have to pay for Live Anywhere? Cause I'm not having that shit.

I'm guessing for multiplayer. But probably not for the other features.

[Franjo]

Forza 2......booooooyaaaaaa

[Neosho]

OMFG SHADOWRUN GAME!

Fucking sweet. Developed by fasa even.

Wow. My birthday just came like, a month and a half fucking early. I never thought i would say this...but damn, *** kicks ass sometimes.

[jakie_chon]

I still don't get how this play anywhere works. I mean, how the hell am I supposed to play Halo 3 in my cell phone?

[thecrazyd]

I'm guessing for multiplayer. But probably not for the other features.
Can you imagine PC players paying to play multiplayer? I know I won't, and I doubt severely others will.

[torrefaction]

Come on bap. Your not dissing a showing that had Gears of War and Shadowrun!?!?! :)

[Citizen Philip]

Can you imagine PC players paying to play multiplayer? I know I won't, and I doubt severely others will.

As already underscored and bolded, we play together for free, and quite frankly I'd rather have a generic service that offers all PC games, not MS stamped, marketed and approved games only.

[bapenguin]

Come on bap. Your not dissing a showing that had Gears of War and Shadowrun!?!?! :)

I'm watching the feed now. Gears of War looks pretty cool. Didn't see Shadowrun yet.

[chazio]

Here is where the Fable 2 teaser is located. The freshly launched Fable 2 site. (http://www.fable2.com/)

I was too lazy to submit a news article about this. :o

[Klade]

So I'm a bit confused here. There will still be xbox exclusive games. But when there are games that run on both pc and xbox that also have live capability, then you will be able to run them on xbox live for windows vista as well?

But here's where I'm really confused, is the only way to play these games in multiplayer to pay money for live? I mean PC users already have all this functionality, it sounds like they are just charging us for what we used to get for free.

[Serapth]

So I'm a bit confused here. There will still be xbox exclusive games. But when there are games that run on both pc and xbox that also have live capability, then you will be able to run them on xbox live for windows vista as well?

But here's where I'm really confused, is the only way to play these games in multiplayer to pay money for live? I mean PC users already have all this functionality, it sounds like they are just charging us for what we used to get for free.


As an avid Live Player on the 360, and formerly avid PC gamer online, trust me in saying you get what you pay for, you truly do. The Live experience is generally way beyond that which most PC games include.

As to the play anywhere, I think alot of that just applies to Live Arcade tunnels. For example, if you buy Bejewelled 2 for 360, then connect with your mobile phone you can download and play the mobile version of Bejewelled without paying any more. Plus your results will still go towards the same gamer score.

It they bring out a mobile version of GeoWars, im in serious trouble. Can we say 4 or 5 20 minute bathroom breaks a day?

[gzsfrk]

Man... quite a few new XBLA titles announced. They mentioned that some of the titles would have new online multiplayer added; here's hoping that they do some fun stuff with all that potential. They listed alot of classics that have some killer possibilities for multiplayer.

[snubber]

I just want multiplayer servers that aren't consoles. I'd be 100% on board Live if it didn't mean it had to be hosted by a limited console. 4v4 COD2 sucks, even though _everything_ else is enjoyable about the MP experience. I want companies to be able to host beefy rack-mount servers on huge pipes so that we can get some Live games with large numbers of players.

[Draft]

EVERYONE had a whole bunch of sequels. Sequels are a way of life. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can get back to having fun playing them.

[Watership]

As already underscored and bolded, we play together for free, and quite frankly I'd rather have a generic service that offers all PC games, not MS stamped, marketed and approved games only.

THey're already playing by Windows and Microsoft's rules. What do you think PC games run on?

Who's 3d API do you think they use?

[Stormwatcher]

Woo, Xbox360 and Live in BRAZIL! Hooray!

[devicelimit]

The Live Anywhere is a great plan. I can't wait to play games against or with my friends on my 360 and my friends pc.

As for the Shadowrun game. I'm a huge lover of the role-playing game and was really looking forward to it but from what I saw, which wasn't much mind you, it looked average to bad.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

it sounds like they are just charging us for what we used to get for free.


Welcome to Microsoft. ;) Oh, and hi Bethesda!


I just want multiplayer servers that aren't consoles. I'd be 100% on board Live if it didn't mean it had to be hosted by a limited console. 4v4 COD2 sucks, even though _everything_ else is enjoyable about the MP experience. I want companies to be able to host beefy rack-mount servers on huge pipes so that we can get some Live games with large numbers of players.


Yeah, you'd think that paying for multiplayer would result in dedicated servers. What exactly does that money go to?


Personally I don't really like this Live Anywhere idea. This and Vista just mean more controls on the PC platform, which is already quickly going the way of the dodo where gaming is concerned. I firmly blame MS for this.

[ruceree88]

Welcome to Microsoft. ;) Oh, and hi Bethesda!





Yeah, you'd think that paying for multiplayer would result in dedicated servers. What exactly does that money go to?


Personally I don't really like this Live Anywhere idea. This and Vista just mean more controls on the PC platform, which is already quickly going the way of the dodo where gaming is concerned. I firmly blame MS for this.

I agree. I can't see getting excited about a dumbed down online service for PC that they are trying to ask money for.

What works in the console world dosn't allways mean that it will translate over to this side of the fence.

[Paltry]

my predictions hold true

[bapenguin]

I agree. I can't see getting excited about a dumbed down online service for PC that they are trying to ask money for.

What works in the console world dosn't allways mean that it will translate over to this side of the fence.

It's anything but dumbed down. I don't think they are trying to bring the whole thing over though, they are merely extending the ideas of it to the PC platform. And as long as it doesn't cost anything for PC gamers...it's a very good thing.

[phantomhitman]

i need forza 2 info...the trailer was awesome