Aaaaaaand Microsoft Hits BIG!!!

Image from Kotaku

And just like that, Microsoft Press Conference has come and gone. (You can view the full video here.)

Thanks to the conference and ever so thankful live streaming services (especially IGN.com), today's productivity at work has been utterly pathetic--The whole thing was two-full-hours long!

The conference had Splinter Cell: Conviction, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Forza Motorsport 3, working demo of Final Fantasy XIII (and it's surprisingly early release window, Spring 2010), and... Hideo Kojima's appearance and the introduction of a brand new title, Metal Gear Rising! (If you thought Raiden looked awesome in MGS 4, you're gonna love this--it's a whole seperate title with him as the main character!)

There were many, many more announcements and videos and demos, and my head's just mesmerized with all those goodies right now. My response to the conference is basically written out at Gamasutra.

PS. Today isn't exactly E3; it's pre-E3 conferences with E3 starting on Wednesday. Still, I can already tell, it's going to be a hell of a fun week. Now, I have to make sure I do get some work done...

EDIT: Games shown at Microsoft Press Conference @ E3 2009 (that I care about):

• Modern Warfare 2
• Final Fantasy XIII
• Shadow Complex
• Crackdown 2
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Splinter Cell: Conviction (!!!)
• Forza Motorsport 3
• Halo 3: ODST
• Halo Reach
• Alan Wake
• Metal Gear Solid: Rising
• Possible future title by Steven Spielberg...?

Non-Game features shown at the conference that I care about:

• Project Natal (mo-cap feature add-on for Xbox360)
• Nilo (Lionhead's Virtual Intelligence boy)
• Last.fm
• Netflix sharing
• Facebook extension
• Tweeter(!)

E3 2009 Is Here!

E3 2009 has finally arrived at LA Convention Center, and in about 2 hours, the highly anticipated Microsoft Press Conference will begin. (You can watch web streaming via Gamespot HERE.)

With two years (or was it just one year?) of scaled-down, or rather, dumbed-down show, this year's E3 is said to be the return to the former, glorious show with large show floors, extravagant booths, and, of course, booth babes.

E3 is the time when big players in vido game industry make numerous announcements of coming products and services, it is an exciting event.

And as a Xbox360 owner, I am psyched about Microsoft's press conference and what they have up in their sleeve!

How about you? Are you excited??

Kudos To Microsoft. *Claps Half-Heartedly*

Microsoft Adjusts Contents & Pricing for Fable II Collector's Edition

Honestly speaking, I haven't been in the market for everything games for that long. My saying this may puzzle some of you, since I always was amazed and immersed in the wonderful world of games as long as you've known me. (This goes the same for me.)

But it is a fact; before I started working, and figured out what my spending ability is, I wasn't really out there buying games and console systems. I rarely got my hands on spare money, and so I spent it only on truely, truely epic and hallmark games, such as StarCraft. So, I think I can rightfully say Fable 2 Limited Edition is the first game I've pre-ordered before released date.

And so, the news of the adjustment Microsoft is making for the package is especially acerbic for me. For $10 less, I won't be receiving a "Hobbes" figurine, five "Fate" Cards, or the premium packaging box. Still included is the bonus downloadable contents and a bonus DVD with "Making-of" documentary, which is... still OK. Sort of.

I think this is a good chance to think about how valuable these special packages like "Collector's Edition", "Limited Edition", or even "ULTRA LIMITED EDITION" really are.

Just how valuable are these special editions? Is buying these more expensive variants meaningless and foolish? Am I being a victim of those companies' marketing strategies? I really don't know which side of the fence I am standing, or should stand.

Anyhow, I now need to find another way to fill up my bland and lifeless cubicle...