Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

There's an offline mode so as long as you have it installed you can play any single player game offline....

I often buy hard copies because they are cheaper and then register them on STEAM so I can install them from wherever. The way I see it, STEAM can be the best of both worlds. And with deals like the Orange Box for 9.99...hard to dispute.

Don't see how any other online content system would be different or improved from STEAM. In fact I know STEAM is better than xbox360 because buying PC hard drive real estate doesn't cost ass raping amounts like the marked up 360 hard drives. (You can buy your own 120gig hard drive and format it for the 360 though).

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Hmmm, perhaps it's my own technological illiteracy. I tried to play Empire: TW offline one time and it wouldn't let me. I just don't like the idea of having to answer to someone every time I want to play a game, regardless if there is some setting that allows it.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Hmmm...that's strange. I'm not denying your claim, it is possible that the game needs some form of online verification. =/

One major drawback to online content distribution is what happens if the online company fades away. People who bought DRM-encrypted MP3s from Walmart had to recode all their MP3s when Walmart changed stores. This is one major drawback with DRM/online distribution. What happens if Valve goes under? Or decides they don't want to fund the servers distributing a 10-year old game. It does indeed suck that you have to answer to someone if you want to play your game.

I've always been a huge fan of physical media. Having a physical copy means A) you physically own it and no one can tell you otherwise or take that away from you, B) you can resell it.

I know with games like Half-Life STEAM lets you play in offline mode. However it might lock you out if game is not updated. This was one complaint people had with Half-Life 2.

You basically do need an active Internet connection to update or play a lot of the games, and a broadband one at that. So I think physical media trumps online media for sure.

But I'd check on the web anyway, just in case. Seems odd that STEAM would lock you out of your single player game like that. That is what the offline mode is supposed to resolve.

Online distribution has its pros and cons. =/

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Project Natal looks amazing. That guy on GameTrailers Bonus Round brought up a good point about the problem of no controller -- assuming the accuracy is there, you can then incorporate any real life item into the game. It may still need buttons, but maybe it's so accurate it can see you pulling a trigger? And maybe it's accurate enough to pull off the Red Steel 2 type sword fighting with any ol' stick you have laying around.

I think something with buttons will probably be needed for many games. But that's old tech and can be easily added.

It's still early, and I think this will be more of a next-gen thing for Microsoft. But I am damn glad someone is giving Nintendo a run for their money. It cements motion control as a real-deal for the future, and it creates competition.

How awesome would a combination of the Wiimote and Natal be? :D

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

A combination of all 3 technologies, that would be awesome.
Except Sony's is just an in-between mix of the 2 others. So yeah, you're right, a combo of Wiimote+ and Natal. :)

Oh and don't forget Nintendo's awesome finger scanner. Oh and the Virtual Boy. And power glove. :eek3:

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Tech as "advanced" as what MS had shown off is definitely in its infancy. There's alot of room to grow with what MS had shown off instead of just a PSeye or the current Live camera, this has potential.

There will be flaws for sure. Hey You Pikachu! was one of the first console games (off top of head) to really try a hand at voice activation and it was severely limited but now we have games that you can talk words without needing to enunciate it or "train" it. Even that has room to go to hold real conversations but this seems to at least advance further to holding real conversations and not spouting 1-5 words and hoping it works.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Yeah this is getting into sci fi shit, where I wake up in the morning and my computer makes my coffee and helps me get dressed. Well not really, but it's starting to get there haha.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Hello Dave... would you like to play a game?

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Hehe, I'm glad I saw 2001. Would you guys recommend 2010?

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Maybe. The movies are based off of books I believe. I saw 2001 because I'm a huge Kubrick fan. He's one of my favorite directors. He didn't direct 2010 so I had no interest in the film. Maybe fans of the books would appreciate the movie more. I don't really know.

It got nominated for a few Oscars so I'm sure it's tolerable cinema.

If you phrased your question, "should I watch 2010 or Dr. Strangelove"...well...I shouldn't even have to justify that hypothetical question with a response. :D

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

New article over at cnet: How Microsoft stole the show at E3.

Results of their poll:

Which company had the most impressive E3 2009 announcements?
Microsoft 52.1%
Sony 33.9%
None of them--they were all yawners. 8.4%
Nintendo 5.6%
Total votes: 10853

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

I can't believe Nintendo got such low votes. I know it's cool to hate Nintendo (I'm very critical of Nintendo myself), but I thought Sony's 2-hour long and drawn out conference was less exciting than Nintendo's and way more predictable. I agree though the Nintendo conference sucked. Just slightly less than Sony's.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

Here's an IGN poll with very similar results:

Who won this year's E3 press conference battle?

Microsoft - 1086
Sony - 485
NO ONE!! - 335
Nintendo - 109
Votes: 2015

Source: http://ve3d.ign.com/poll/257/E3-2009...ference-Winner

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

If so many people are unmoved by Nintendo why is the Wii destroying sales this generation. :ohreilly:

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

I don't think the people who are buying Wiis in droves are the same people who would watch an E3 press conference, let alone vote in an E3 poll. But, I could be wrong.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

That CNET guy is seriously drinking the Microsoft Kool-Aid.

Well, he's either ignorant or willfully ignoring what they presented. I agree Nintendo's conference wasn't as big as I'd like, but leaving out a Project Ninja (EDIT: Oops, Team Ninja that is, I'm running the names together..) Metroid game is leaving out a lot. And a tough year at E3? A slew of WM+ games releasing within a month, pretty much all exclusive (one of his criteria for Microsoft's good year)? And the new game announcements for wildly popular franchises is a tough year? I know they're not Halo or MGS, but they're still just as popular, perhaps for a different crowd. It wasn't Nintendo's best year, but I wouldn't call it a tough one by a long shot.

Game downloads are the present and have been for a few years for the PC, and I can tell you while it's the right step to be making, it's not like I feel like I'm in the future ("In the year, two thousaaaand!"). And much of the time getting a physical disc and manual for the same price is the better deal.

Wow, "made the competition look foolish"? What is Nintendo supposed to wake up to? I guess he's saying that they should wait two years and then release their motion control like Microsoft?

I agree Microsoft is doing a lot of things right, downloadable games being a minor one, and great games. And Project Natal looks it has great potential. But until the potential is reaped with solid games, it's nothing more than potential.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

I haven't read the full article, so I can't really say much, but I agree with manasecret here. Microsoft had one big winner and that was Project Natal. The rest was all in the line of expectation.

But Natal is years away. Nintendo has awesome motion control coming out this month. They had it first. That their competition is copying them is a huge compliment and shows that they took the right gamble. And 50,000,000 says enough.

I don't see how Sony's conf is 'defeating' Nintendo's. I watched it, it had some nice games, but their PSP and motion control parts were very weak.

If I want to give them grades, it's something like this:
MS - 8.5
Nintendo - 6.5
Sony - 5.5

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

I agree with the votes, if I was going based solely on the press conference there is no doubt MS won hands down.

But people are looking at e3 in a bubble, Nintendo had no new tech to show because they launched with motion controls almost 3 years ago, the other two are playing catch-up.

Though, I would put Nintendo ahead of Sony. Sony had such odd pacing issues, and very few surprises. And a motion control that has a huge fundamental flaw in the no movement at the moment.

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

I'd definitely put it too at Microsoft then Nintendo then Sony. Sony just...that damn "Anal Wand" demo felt like such a rushed effort to show a little "me too!". Ninty at least had a few decent surprises (2 mario games that I can't see doing bad considering how their predecessors were).

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

They just give the Beatles credit for technology developed in their age? WTF?

Re: Microsoft Press Conference: Stream & Discussion
 

The whole Beatles thing was........ stupid. Redundant. A fluke. I don't know what a fluke is, but I think this is it.

It's not a 360-exclusive. Why fill 15 minutes with it? And the 2 Beatles on stage were boring. They didn't even know what to say...

Oh and I wonder if Tony Hawk would have wanted to come on stage if he knew that MS was going to own his stupid board with the Natal skateboarding demo. It made him look quite silly.