The Electronics Entertainment Expo also known to the world as E3 is getting closer and closer as we speak. If you haven’t read the previous article on the expectations of video game industry juggernaut Nintendo, then check out the article I posted up on May 22, 2010 at the following link. E3 Expectations: Nintendo.

Today is going to be the second-runner up when it comes to video game consoles as in sales on a worldwide level. I am writing about Microsoft, the company that has Master Chief as their mascot cheering with pom poms and sticky gernades. Anyways, Microsoft is actually showing their panel at E3 right after Sony thus this will be interesting. However, the biggest thing about Microsoft I found in general is there really isn’t much to be shown at E3 from this company. However, where they lack in quantity, they are making up in quality. Out of everything Microsoft-related that is coming to E3, there are four major projects that seem to catch the eye of everyone. I will start with the first one below.

Halo: Reach – This game is getting a lot of airtime and publicity as of late not because its another game in the Halo Series but of what it stands for when it comes to the developer behind the game, Bungie Entertainment. If you haven’t read my earlier article on what is going on with Bungie, it is that they are now in an agreement with huge publishing company Activision Blizzard who are notoriously known for publishing great titles and overworking them most notably the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Series, Hero Series, and of course the Call of Duty Series. Because of that, Halo: Reach may be at this moment the last game to be developed in the Halo Series or at least the last game to be developed by Bungie. I am unsure about the ownage rights of the Halo Franchise but if it is owned by Microsoft, then there may be another Halo game but most likely may not be done by Bungie.

Also, this game is another game that is getting a lot of high hopes as in people who are hardcore Halo fanatics are expecting something better than the previous two games being Halo 3 and Halo: OSDT. Even though both games were really good and a lot of fun to play, in a general video game community perspective, those two games were nowhere near as good as the best selling game in the series thus far, Halo 2. Why it is Halo 2 that holds records in both sales and fandom but mostly recognized for the best selling video game when it comes to a release. Halo 2 was known for having massively long lines outside of Gamestops and other video gaming vendors for the midnight release in which on its release day of November 9, 2004, 1.5 million copies had already been pre-ordered. As of 2007, it is the fifth best selling video game in the world in which the top four spots are taken by Nintendo products. Also, it was the best selling video game when it came to Microsoft’s consoles in which this game was surpassed by the first Gears of War. So a lot is riding on this game for a “last game” of the series. Fans and gamers are expecting a lot and there is a lot of attention given due to the beta online release of Halo: Reach on the X360.

Gears of War 3 – With the trailer of this game being shown on multiple video gaming websites, the supposed “conclusion” to the trilogy if it truly is a trilogy I mean, is about to come. I have played the first game Gears of War but never got to play Gears of War 2. I believe it has catered a lot of attention and is fun but there are other games that seem to catch my eye right now. The big thing about this game is that first off, it is the ending supposedly to the trilogy. This is another game in which people and gamers and of course hardcore fans are expecting a lot from the developers, Epic Games. The trailer itself shows many different things that can branch the story into different angles. If you haven’t seen the video, check it out on any video gaming website but you can view it on Youtube right here.

As you can see from the trailer, all four original chracters from the first game are back including the two characters gamers played, Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. However, there is now a female character in the game in which you can see she is beautiful but not overly sexualized like the Japanese like to do with their female video game characters (Bayonetta anyone?). If you don’t know who this character is, her name is Anya and she was first introduced in Gears of War 2. The possibility that she might be playable makes an added addition to the delivery of the plot within this supposed final game. Also, the events in this game are happening a significant amount of time from the events of Gears of War 2 thus why Dom is now sporting a beard. More about this game will be released of course as release comes closer being April 5, 2011, but there might be a lot of news about this game and quite possibly a playable demo at E3.

....

Project Natal – If there is one thing that Microsoft is putting all their eggs on, it is probably going to be the success of Project Natal. I am very impressed by the motion capture technology that is implemented in this game. There are two reasons why too but I’ll start with the video gaming industry reason. When it comes to motion technology in video gaming, Nintendo is well-known for innovating it with the creation of the Wii. However, motion technology in video games has always been around though archaic to some extent. Sony used to have motion games using the Sony Eyetoy for the PS2. Also, Nintendo has a lot of games that utilize motion but mostly with floor pads which was later innovated by Konami with their Dance Dance Revolution Series which in turn was the innovator of the music-based video games that started a whole line including the karaoke games and of course the Hero Series. However, Nintendo was the first and the big thing with Nintendo and Project Natal or the team behind it was that the developers of Project Natal first went to Nintendo. If Microsoft hits it big with this, then this will be a huge hit against Nintendo for turning down an innovator when it comes to technology. Also, this is the first attempt at true “controller-less” technology or true motion technology. Nintendo uses motion hardware and software usually based around oscillators and such and Sony is utilizing the MOCAP technology with the balls on controllers so making a game where there is no controller needed whatsoever is something worthwhile. How it will be adapted to video games is possible but there may be issues that come such as moving a character. There is limited space in a room so if Project Natal captures all motion and you move back to get more room to move your character forward, would Project Natal recognize you moving back as well thus the character is stuck in limbo? These issues may be answered at E3 but the big showcase of Project Natal has to do that Microsoft is using Project Natal with Cirque de Soleil which is a very popular French circus act with is both really uniqe and very entertaining. I know because I saw the show myself with family. This may show the power that Project Natal will utilize if it is to capture and replicate everything happening in a show by that one circus and if you haven’t seen a show by Cirque de Soleil, I’ll let you know that A LOT is going on during the show.

The second reason why Project Natal impresses me is the real-life implications it may have. Think of a robot that is fully functioned by the movements of a human being but not through a controller but through Project Natal. Think of how the motion capture capabilities will be able to truly replicate movement on a technological level. There are just so many different things I can think of on how this technology could better our lives and that is what impresses me the most about Project Natal. This is a major leap and bound in technological advancement and there hasn’t been many that really are noted except for this, ozone cleaning, and Apple products. Still though the technology is still “new” it is a start and for anything to happen, there has to be a beginning.

So all in all, I am thinking that Microsoft may be the company that takes E3 this year. Though I really love the video gaming industry in general, there are times when a company will just make something worthwhile or do something notorious that will live on in infamy. Sega comes to mind with the release of the Sega Saturn. Nevertheless, this E3 is looking like it will make Microsoft more unlike the last two E3 shows prior. I really hope that Microsoft does well because on an international level, they are losing sales and actually not doing so well so anything to keep them in the game as well as keep the industry diversified is something I truly would cheer for.

Go to Console Alliance for the Full Article!