Tagged: microsoft game studios

Fable 3 combat shows massacre of wolves

This new Fable 3 video shows a fight against a pack of wolves who are looking to rip the throat off a little girl. The hero changes swiftly between sword, gun and magic combat – the same as in the previous game. This results in some sweet, sweet massacre.

Fable 3 is due out on PC and Xbox 360 on October 26.

[media id=113 width=560 height=325]

Marvel Veteran Working on Marvel MMO

Cryptic Studios has announced that they have hired a new Design Writer, John Layman, for working on the Marvel Universe Online, a MMO currently in development for PC and Xbox 360.

Layman is a twelve-year veteran of the comics industry, having worked on prominent series like Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness, House of M: Fantastic Four, Gambit and many others. He has also worked on several games, including Metroid: Hunters (DS) and Marvel Trading Card Game (PSP).

No information on the MMO itself was disclosed.

X06 Announcements: Halo Wars, New Halo Game, PGR4, HD-DVD Player Pricing

This year’s X06 saw a couple of big announcements from Microsoft. Very big announcements. Let’s check them out:

  • Peter Jackson, who is currently associated with the upcoming Halo movie, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh and Microsoft Game Studios have teamed up to create two new games exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first series will be a collaborative with Bungie to co-create the next game in the Halo universe, while the second series will be a completely new IP. Additionally, they have also partnered up to form Wingnut Interactive, the studio which will dedicate itself to bringing these series’ to the next-gen console.
  • Besides the Wingnut Halo game, Ensemble Studios is working on Halo Wars, a new real-time strategy game based on the legendary universe. Before you cry foul, keep in mind that these guys are behind the Age of Empires franchise, which has been a solid series so far. The game is entirely exclusive to Xbox 360.

    For more information, check out the game’s website which hosts a cinematic trailer, as well as these screen grabs from the trailer.

  • Hoping to make a dent in Sony’s future, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV will receive two exclusive downloadable, “epic” episodes via Xbox Live, each with many hours of entirely new gameplay. These episodes will be available just months after the game’s release next year.

    Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will ship at the same time in October 2007.

  • In a move that is very uncharacteristic of Ubisoft, the publisher confirmed that the next Splinter Cell title after Double Agent will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360. It will also be released on PC for those without the console.
  • Yes, BioShock is also exclusive to the console. It’s on PC as well.
  • Banjo-Kazooie is back, courtesy of Rare! Another exclusive to Xbox 360, the title will feature the much beloved characters, who, according to the press release, will thankfully retain their “sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.”
  • Another exclusive: Marvel Universe Online. In development at Cryptic Studios, the game will also be released for Windows Vista.
  • Everyone saw this coming, but not this soon: Project Gotham Racing 4. The game was unveiled at the show, though it is not expected until late next year, or 2008.
  • id Software’s DOOM and Codemasters’ Sensible World of Soccer are now available on Xbox Live Arcade.
  • And finally, the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player will be released in North America, UK, France and Germany this November. It will retail for $200 in North America and €200/£130 in U.K., France and Germany. The player will also come with a copy of King Kong on HD-DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

Gears of War Release Date

Remember the big announcement Epic Games was supposed to make? Well, it’s the Gears of War release date: the Yankees will get it on November 12, while the lads on the other side of the ocean will get it on November 17, the day Sony’s PS3 launches in the region.

Alike other games, Gears of War will also be released in both a standard and limited collector’s edition for $60 and $70, respectively. The limited edition will get oneself a “Destroyed Beauty” art book and a bonus DVD featuring behind-the-scenes material – all this in a metal box.

As for the possibility of a pre-release demo, stop dreaming. Epic Games’ Mark Rein’s forum post explicitly states that they are not working on any demo of any kind, whether it is pre or post-release. However, the studio does plan on supporting the game after release by offering additional downloadable content that’s all the rage on Xbox Live now. No details were offered though.

Halo 3 Update – UI Integrated Into Game

Development on Halo 3 is going along at a pretty good pace, or so it seems from the latest Bungie update, which err… updates us on the UI side of things. The user interface for the game has “come on in leaps and bounds” since it has been in development for a long time. It’s implied that the new UI will be very user-friendly and will let users change options from wherever they want. Here’s a sample:

UI gurus Dave Candland and Colm Nelson were kind enough to give me a guided tour today and I can honestly say that I finally “get it.” The problem with adapting to a new UI is the problem of familiarity. You expect things to behave the way they did in Halo 2 and when they don’t, it’s easy to think, “Oh, that’s broken,” when in fact, something has technically been fixed. And the sign of a good UI is that it only takes a couple of tries to get used to it, and that everything is found in its logical place.

Oh and there’s a picture of Master Chief intently looking on at a corn cob…

Fable 2 Tidbits

This year’s E3 saw a short, but sweet teaser trailer for Fable 2 on Xbox 360; no details were revealed, but a few new tidbits are now available through an update by Sam on Lionhead’s website.

The developer has apparently submitted a “milestone” build to Microsoft; it was well-received, though the author mentions modestly that they haven’t done “too badly.” It seems that the studio is avoiding the mistakes it made with the first Fable – talking too much about it – and has decided not to divulge any details, though the post mentions a motion capture session, among other things.

However, Sam does report that the final storyline has been set in stone and that they are hard at work on implementing it in the game. The story, as stated, will be mature and darker from the original Fable; it will be set 500 years after the original and will have some “rather cool” twists to it.

The studio will submit another milestone build next month, so another update can be expected then.

Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs Details

Details of the upcoming Age of Empires III expansion.

Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs

Title: “Age of Empires® III: The WarChiefs”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Format: CD-ROM for Microsoft® Windows®
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: Fall 2006

“Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs” is the new expansion pack for the best-selling real-time strategy (RTS) title of 2005*: “Age of Empires III” from Ensemble Studios and Microsoft Game Studios. “Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs” will engage gamers of all ages and types in epic warfare in the Americas, where they will lead proud, playable native civilizations to expand their empire and fight for control of the Americas.

“Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs” is the latest installment in the award-winning “Age of Empires” franchise and continues Ensemble’s stellar track record of delivering innovative RTS games experiences.

Features:

  • Playable Native American civilizations. Lead one of three proud Native American civilizations, including the Iroquois Confederacy and the Sioux Nation, to expand their empires and fight for control of the Americas. Each Native American civilization will have its own unique units, led by the powerful WarChief unit, buildings reflecting each culture’s architectural style, and a distinct approach to its Home City feature.
  • Gripping new single-player campaign. “Age of Empires: The WarChiefs” will introduce a new single-player campaign that continues the saga from “Age of Empires III.” Play through 15 new missions with a rich story and a cast of characters that interact with real historic figures and events.
  • Enhancements to European civilizations. The expansion pack will also provide exciting additions to existing European civilizations, with new Home City content, new units including new mercenaries, and new ways to look at your card deck.
  • Extended gameplay. Experience more of everything, including new random maps of unique locations in the Americas not featured in the original “Age of Empires III,” additional native allies and units, more statistics tracking, and new ways to play.

Vanguard Moves to SOE

Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment sent word that Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will be shifted from Microsoft Game Studios to SOE, who will co-publish it with Sigil. All three companies will be showcasing the game at E3; Vanguard is scheduled for release this Winter.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the next generation of massively multiplayer online games. The journey takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure. Facing the challenges of a war torn world, the diverse people here struggle to rebuild their once great civilizations. A fragile alliance has been struck, with the lands set upon by invading forces, the races must band together to survive.