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Well I've been to Stuff Live 2002 and although the Games Matrix area wasn't all that large overall, it still left me with plenty of anticipation for the future of the X-Box (both close and into next year).
Microsoft basically had a large stand to display the X-Box. Going up some steps, I made my way around the 4 rooms. One was a room where players could enjoy Splinter Cell. I won't go in the game just yet, I'll do that seperately. Another room had Quantum Redshift on display, complete with DJs. The 3rd was showing an X-Box Live network where players could try out Moto GP and the last room was a place where you could sit down and watch a DVD of upcoming X-Box releases as well as other bits and pieces.
I sat down in this room and watched movies of Halo 2 (the famous trailer), Splinter Cell, DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball, Mech Assault, Sega GT 2002, Toejam & Earl 3, Tao Feng, Blinx and Ninja Gaiden. All I can say is WOW. Maybe Sega GT still has something to prove, but the others should all be on every X-Box owners list of must haves !
The was also footage of things such as an interview regarding Fable (Project Ego and an advert for X-Box Live. The X-Box Live ad was so funny and gave you a taste of what its going to be like to play a part in it all. ;-)) And Microsoft showing their hospitality had free popcorn for you to eat as you sat back and watched (given to you by X-Box booth babes !)
There was something very nice about sitting back watching forthcoming releases while being tended to by a gorgeous blone asking me what I wanted to watch next while handing over popcorn. ;-))
Was tempted to say "your phone number ?" but I restrained myself from trying the cheesy line. The popcorn had been dyed a little green too - cute touch. ;-))
These girls (and some blokes as well - just to make sure its all equal), were giving out this DVD for free and being the nice bloke I am, I've grabbed extra copies if any X-Box owners want one. ;-)
Slight drawback though - my mate nabbed a bunch the sod so I only have 6 to give out. Seeing gamezfreak is going tomorrow though, maybe he can grab a few copies too. ;-)
Anyway, for the ones that couldn't get there - tell me if you want a DVD and I'll arrange with you about sending a copy on MSN or something. Its a brilliant DVD with plenty to watch. :-)
I mean, if my mate doesn't get rid of the bunch he grabbed, then I might be able to nab back a couple.
As for the games on show, it was a mixture of games already available and forthcoming releases. As was the case with all 3 consoles though, it wasn't a case of having 150 different games to play - more that there were 150 units with some displaying the same game. Heres the list of games I saw at the show..
Games Already Out...
Halo
Rallisport Challenge
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Amped
Transworld Surf
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Quantum Redshift
Jet Set Radio Future
Conflict: Desert Storm
Turok Evolution
Fifa World Cup 2002
Dead Or Alive 3
Project Gothem Racing
Crazy Taxi 3
Moto GP
Spiderman
WWE Raw Is War
Games Coming Soon...
Blinx The Timesweeper
Unreal Championship
Timesplitters 2
Tony Hawks 4
Splinter Cell
ATV Off Road 2
Brute Force
BMX XXX and Burnout 2 were at the show as well, but on the PS2 format. Obviously the list of forthcoming playable games isn't very big by a long shot, but this was the case for both Nintendo and Sony as well, afterall, this show was about technology as a whole and not just videogames.
Despite this though, Microsoft did put out a good stand which was very popular and with what little they had, they did a good job. A combination of playing the games and watching the DVD was enough to enjoy the time there. As for my view on the coming games...
Unreal Championship
Excellent fragfest game with some decent multiplayer modes ! It was great to use the big weapons to blast an opponent litterally to pieces with arms and legs going in all directions. This game probably doesn't need any introduction anyway as most have played an Unreal game at some point. ;-)
Superb game for X-Box Live.
Splinter Cell
The graphics are just so bloody stunning ! I happily walked around in the same room for awhile, just appreciating the effort on the lighting. I started playing the game seriously and I can really see it becoming an obsession. Everything is so detailed and great to play. I didn't play the game inside the room though so I had to try and listen to it through all the people going about their business, so obviously I didn't get a chance to get really deep into the game. But from what I did play - its a gorgeous game and I can't wait for November to arrive !
Timesplitters 2
All I can say is - Goldeneye. This game is basically the same as playing the old N64 title which is far from being a bad thing. Even the graphics, although much more advanced, have that Goldeneye look to them.
Managed to use the sniper rifle, silencer and an AK47 - all 3 were fun to use. I played through most of the Siberia level, shooting guards in various places and through the glass in certain doors. ;-)
I also took some shots at things like cans, boxes and melons that were on shelves - all were destructable. Exploding the melons was pretty fun. ;-)
Rather than try to get the computer functioning, I decided to go homicidal and took out the glass windows in the room, followed by the computer and all its monitors. To finish the job, I shot a grenade at thing and exploded what was left. Everything I destroyed met its end pretty realistically, so it can be fun to leave a big mess. ;-)
Overall, this game runs VERY smoothly and has definatly regained my faith in the Timesplitters series - well worth a purchase.
Blinx The Timesweeper
Very nice looking platform game and very playable. I carried on from someone else game so it took a moment to find which buttons did what. I went around sucking a few things up in the vacuum while collecting the lucky charm things and looking for bad guys. I came accross one, but couldn't find what I had to press to launch one of the items from my vacuum at him. This lead to me getting pasted, but on the plus side, it was cool how time rewound to a couple of seconds before I was hit so I could try the moment again. :-)
Blinx is definatly a pretty innovative game and it'll be great to play the full game when it comes out. Blinx is a cool looking little character too. ;-)
Brute Force
Any fans of Conflict: Desert Storm, add this to your list now. Again, people drowning the sound out wasn't helpful, but I still managed to enjoy the game and it plays very nicely. :-)
Unfortunatly, I didn't get to use the sniper Flint, which would have been nice, but the other 3 members of the squad are great to play as. Hawk definatly deserves a note with her predator style camoflague ability - very nice to watch. Plus its always fun to whip 2 guns out with Tex to mow down the enemy. ;-)
The graphics look great too. Definatly a must for fans of squad based games. :-)
Tony Hawks 4 + ATV Off Road 2
I didn't really play these games much, but both seem to be delivering more of the same. THPS4 in particular seems to be even better than the 3rd game. It looks better and the game seems smoother to play with some decent features such as the chance to choose which ramps you'd like in the level once you complete challenges. So if theres a ramp that you consider in the way, then more than likely, it can be taken out while you concentrate on the areas you want to try moves out. :-)
Both titles look pretty nice and will no doubt strongly appeal to fans on their predecesors.
Overall I had a nice time, but it makes me wish that someone would set up a decent videogames only show thats open to the public. I was hoping for a lot more games to be available to try, but unfortunatly as I already said, games only had a limited role at this show. With the space they had though, Microsoft did a very good job of giving people a taste of what the X-Box has to offer. Plus the DVD I brought home has some good content to go over a few times. ;-)
Also picked up a few leaflets and a free mini mag thing with another DVD. It covers all formats and I haven't watched it yet. Nice girls on the cover though. :-))
Anyway, thats my little report, if anyone has any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. :-)
Microsoft basically had a large stand to display the X-Box. Going up some steps, I made my way around the 4 rooms. One was a room where players could enjoy Splinter Cell. I won't go in the game just yet, I'll do that seperately. Another room had Quantum Redshift on display, complete with DJs. The 3rd was showing an X-Box Live network where players could try out Moto GP and the last room was a place where you could sit down and watch a DVD of upcoming X-Box releases as well as other bits and pieces.
I sat down in this room and watched movies of Halo 2 (the famous trailer), Splinter Cell, DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball, Mech Assault, Sega GT 2002, Toejam & Earl 3, Tao Feng, Blinx and Ninja Gaiden. All I can say is WOW. Maybe Sega GT still has something to prove, but the others should all be on every X-Box owners list of must haves !
The was also footage of things such as an interview regarding Fable (Project Ego and an advert for X-Box Live. The X-Box Live ad was so funny and gave you a taste of what its going to be like to play a part in it all. ;-)) And Microsoft showing their hospitality had free popcorn for you to eat as you sat back and watched (given to you by X-Box booth babes !)
There was something very nice about sitting back watching forthcoming releases while being tended to by a gorgeous blone asking me what I wanted to watch next while handing over popcorn. ;-))
Was tempted to say "your phone number ?" but I restrained myself from trying the cheesy line. The popcorn had been dyed a little green too - cute touch. ;-))
These girls (and some blokes as well - just to make sure its all equal), were giving out this DVD for free and being the nice bloke I am, I've grabbed extra copies if any X-Box owners want one. ;-)
Slight drawback though - my mate nabbed a bunch the sod so I only have 6 to give out. Seeing gamezfreak is going tomorrow though, maybe he can grab a few copies too. ;-)
Anyway, for the ones that couldn't get there - tell me if you want a DVD and I'll arrange with you about sending a copy on MSN or something. Its a brilliant DVD with plenty to watch. :-)
I mean, if my mate doesn't get rid of the bunch he grabbed, then I might be able to nab back a couple.
As for the games on show, it was a mixture of games already available and forthcoming releases. As was the case with all 3 consoles though, it wasn't a case of having 150 different games to play - more that there were 150 units with some displaying the same game. Heres the list of games I saw at the show..
Games Already Out...
Halo
Rallisport Challenge
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Amped
Transworld Surf
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Quantum Redshift
Jet Set Radio Future
Conflict: Desert Storm
Turok Evolution
Fifa World Cup 2002
Dead Or Alive 3
Project Gothem Racing
Crazy Taxi 3
Moto GP
Spiderman
WWE Raw Is War
Games Coming Soon...
Blinx The Timesweeper
Unreal Championship
Timesplitters 2
Tony Hawks 4
Splinter Cell
ATV Off Road 2
Brute Force
BMX XXX and Burnout 2 were at the show as well, but on the PS2 format. Obviously the list of forthcoming playable games isn't very big by a long shot, but this was the case for both Nintendo and Sony as well, afterall, this show was about technology as a whole and not just videogames.
Despite this though, Microsoft did put out a good stand which was very popular and with what little they had, they did a good job. A combination of playing the games and watching the DVD was enough to enjoy the time there. As for my view on the coming games...
Unreal Championship
Excellent fragfest game with some decent multiplayer modes ! It was great to use the big weapons to blast an opponent litterally to pieces with arms and legs going in all directions. This game probably doesn't need any introduction anyway as most have played an Unreal game at some point. ;-)
Superb game for X-Box Live.
Splinter Cell
The graphics are just so bloody stunning ! I happily walked around in the same room for awhile, just appreciating the effort on the lighting. I started playing the game seriously and I can really see it becoming an obsession. Everything is so detailed and great to play. I didn't play the game inside the room though so I had to try and listen to it through all the people going about their business, so obviously I didn't get a chance to get really deep into the game. But from what I did play - its a gorgeous game and I can't wait for November to arrive !
Timesplitters 2
All I can say is - Goldeneye. This game is basically the same as playing the old N64 title which is far from being a bad thing. Even the graphics, although much more advanced, have that Goldeneye look to them.
Managed to use the sniper rifle, silencer and an AK47 - all 3 were fun to use. I played through most of the Siberia level, shooting guards in various places and through the glass in certain doors. ;-)
I also took some shots at things like cans, boxes and melons that were on shelves - all were destructable. Exploding the melons was pretty fun. ;-)
Rather than try to get the computer functioning, I decided to go homicidal and took out the glass windows in the room, followed by the computer and all its monitors. To finish the job, I shot a grenade at thing and exploded what was left. Everything I destroyed met its end pretty realistically, so it can be fun to leave a big mess. ;-)
Overall, this game runs VERY smoothly and has definatly regained my faith in the Timesplitters series - well worth a purchase.
Blinx The Timesweeper
Very nice looking platform game and very playable. I carried on from someone else game so it took a moment to find which buttons did what. I went around sucking a few things up in the vacuum while collecting the lucky charm things and looking for bad guys. I came accross one, but couldn't find what I had to press to launch one of the items from my vacuum at him. This lead to me getting pasted, but on the plus side, it was cool how time rewound to a couple of seconds before I was hit so I could try the moment again. :-)
Blinx is definatly a pretty innovative game and it'll be great to play the full game when it comes out. Blinx is a cool looking little character too. ;-)
Brute Force
Any fans of Conflict: Desert Storm, add this to your list now. Again, people drowning the sound out wasn't helpful, but I still managed to enjoy the game and it plays very nicely. :-)
Unfortunatly, I didn't get to use the sniper Flint, which would have been nice, but the other 3 members of the squad are great to play as. Hawk definatly deserves a note with her predator style camoflague ability - very nice to watch. Plus its always fun to whip 2 guns out with Tex to mow down the enemy. ;-)
The graphics look great too. Definatly a must for fans of squad based games. :-)
Tony Hawks 4 + ATV Off Road 2
I didn't really play these games much, but both seem to be delivering more of the same. THPS4 in particular seems to be even better than the 3rd game. It looks better and the game seems smoother to play with some decent features such as the chance to choose which ramps you'd like in the level once you complete challenges. So if theres a ramp that you consider in the way, then more than likely, it can be taken out while you concentrate on the areas you want to try moves out. :-)
Both titles look pretty nice and will no doubt strongly appeal to fans on their predecesors.
Overall I had a nice time, but it makes me wish that someone would set up a decent videogames only show thats open to the public. I was hoping for a lot more games to be available to try, but unfortunatly as I already said, games only had a limited role at this show. With the space they had though, Microsoft did a very good job of giving people a taste of what the X-Box has to offer. Plus the DVD I brought home has some good content to go over a few times. ;-)
Also picked up a few leaflets and a free mini mag thing with another DVD. It covers all formats and I haven't watched it yet. Nice girls on the cover though. :-))
Anyway, thats my little report, if anyone has any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. :-)
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Yup, the X-Box was winning when I left on Saturday around 3pm. :-)
Microsoft had a great stand at Stuff Live. :-)
Microsoft had a great stand at Stuff Live. :-)
No problem. :P
I am starting to think that us Xboxers are more civilised and friendly than others.
I quote this from OXM letters page
"Xbox owners brought their machines because they are true gamers, Unimpressed with the sheer force of numbers approach of competitors and wanting something different. Their taste in games in sophisticated and they know they've already 'won' in choosing Xbox. Its not about sales, its all about the games"
Damn right! OXM have wise words!
Sav, Did you do the 'Stuff Console' Test at the stuff live stand? I did, I awarded: -
Xbox - 5/5
Gamecube - 3/5
PS2 - 2/5
And when they showed the results Xbox was winning with around 1256 points, Gamecube with 743 and PS2 with 245. That was at 2pm mind, Its most likely changed by then!
I am starting to think that us Xboxers are more civilised and friendly than others.
I quote this from OXM letters page
"Xbox owners brought their machines because they are true gamers, Unimpressed with the sheer force of numbers approach of competitors and wanting something different. Their taste in games in sophisticated and they know they've already 'won' in choosing Xbox. Its not about sales, its all about the games"
Damn right! OXM have wise words!
Sav, Did you do the 'Stuff Console' Test at the stuff live stand? I did, I awarded: -
Xbox - 5/5
Gamecube - 3/5
PS2 - 2/5
And when they showed the results Xbox was winning with around 1256 points, Gamecube with 743 and PS2 with 245. That was at 2pm mind, Its most likely changed by then!
gamezfreak wrote:
> On its way garbe, I posted it at 8:30 this morning, So you will
> hopefully get it tomorow or thursday.
Thanks mate! I can't wait to watch this DVD it sounds to have some really good things on it :) Thanks once again Gamezfreak!
> On its way garbe, I posted it at 8:30 this morning, So you will
> hopefully get it tomorow or thursday.
Thanks mate! I can't wait to watch this DVD it sounds to have some really good things on it :) Thanks once again Gamezfreak!
Better than being part of Shigsy's Playbus Playgroup. ;-)
garbe123 wrote:
Thanks for the offer though, you wouldn't see this sort of
> community spirit in other forums ;)
As i've said before, you're all members of the big gay Bill parade.
:D
Thanks for the offer though, you wouldn't see this sort of
> community spirit in other forums ;)
As i've said before, you're all members of the big gay Bill parade.
:D
YH has his on the way too. ;-) Have you watched the X-Box Live ad yet ? Steel Crumpets - gotta laugh at that name. ;-))
On its way garbe, I posted it at 8:30 this morning, So you will hopefully get it tomorow or thursday.
Ok no problems mate. And thanks to Gamezfreak for doing the job. ;-)
Yeah it is a pretty decent little community we have in here. ;-)
Yeah it is a pretty decent little community we have in here. ;-)
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