New Xbox 360 info/media from X05 (including new franchise from Bioware and SC4)

X05 is an event held by Microsoft for the Xbox 360, and being the last event prior the launch of the system, there is plenty of new information and video game screens/trailers.

Highlights so far include the announcement of Splinter Cell 4 (with a trailer), Bioware's new RPG franchise Mass Effect, Too Human from Silicon Knights, a new Castle Wolfenstein game, and new screens/clips from many other Xbox 360 games (Gears of War, PDZ, PGR3, Alone in the Dark, Tomb Raider, Gun, etc).

Like at TGS, Amirox over at Gaming-Age forums has done all the hard work for us, putting all the links, info, etc., into one post that summarizes the day's news. You can check out that thread here:
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=65644

Remember that he'll be editing that post when new info comes along, so check it out from time to time.

Of course, the regular sites will keep you up-to-date as well, including IGN and Xboxyde. In fact, it looks like Xboxyde just put up a trailer mix of a bunch of Xbox 360 titles, including some NBA 2K6 footage, part of which looks new.

 

Only place I know offhand is RitzCamera:
http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wc...28755&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001 Core
http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wc...28756&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001 Premium


I think every other online retailer has sold out, except for maybe some of the insane Gamestop bundles.

 

Wow, Madden actually doesn't look too bad, IMO:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/maddennfl2006/media.html?mode=gameplay
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/742/742471/vids_1.html

I'd like some more footage, but it looks better than those Burger King trailers, IMO.

BTW, there's been numerous impressions at IGN, Gamespot, 1up, etc. Since I'm an Oblivion w****, I'll post links to that game here:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/655/655880p1.html
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/news.html?sid=6135011&mode=recent

Sounds like the game is shaping up nicely AND will make launch.

Speaking of launch games, here is what MS is saying about the launch list:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135026.html

 

Most of all the announcements were made yesterday, while today mostly consisted of hands-on impressions. I've been really busy today with school and stuff, so I haven't been able to keep up with all the impressions unfortunately. I did see some new Madden gameplay footage as well as NBA Live screens. It may just be me, but I think EA has done a great job with these two, at least from what I can tell:

Madden 06 gameplay footage from Gamespot (impressions are there as well):
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/maddennfl2006/media.html?mode=exclusive

NBA Live Screens:




IGN impressions here:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/656/656085p1.html

Give me another day or two and I might be able to post some of the other stuff. I know there have been some clips of Tomb Raider, Ghost Recon, King Kong, Chrome Hounds, Dead Rising, and more, but I don't usually like posting stuff I haven't had a chance to see myself. And as I said, I've been a little too busy to check that all out. If you want, you may be able to find some of that stuff from the usual sites.

Also, a list of games that are backwards compatible should be ready in about 2 weeks. I was hoping they would talk about that at X05, but guess not. Better than not mentioning it at all I guess.

 

I'm just going to post some gameplay clips of games that you guys might not have seen.

Here is a link to gameplay footage of NBA 2K6:
http://rapidshare.de/files/5942964/nba2k6x05gp1.wmv.html

The replays and "cutscenes" do indeed look just like the screens/clips earlier, but a combination of crappy video quality and camera angle makes it difficult to see if the quality is there when you're actually playing the game. It looks like the jerseys are still animating, and I think I saw some sweat on Shaq when he dunked, but it is much easier to see on the replay. I guess you guys can be the judge. BTW, if you guys didn't notice, IGN put up a gameplay clip of NBA Live as well, which looked pretty good as well, IMO (again, bad video quality and camera angle made it difficult to see if the visuals are as impressive as some of the screens).

There is also a clip of Oblivion here:
http://rmjv.net/vi/oblivionx05gp1.wmv

 

Don't have a clue from personal experience. In fact, I don't really know jack about retailer reliability in general (excluding EB Games, Gamestop, Wal-mart, Best Buy, etc.).

However, RitzCamera.com is listed as a merchant at pricegrabber.com and has had good reviews in the past 6 months or so. It sounds like some people had issues with them last year, but others seem to have gotten nice service:
http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getreview.php/retid=141

Plus, I originally got the link from CAG, so I'm assuming the guys there think the site is reputable enough to put in on their site.

 

I'm pretty sure it just means that the Xbox 360 can be used for wi-fi...if you get the adapter (IOW, it is capable of doing it). I mean, assuming it was included, then that would mean that Ritz Camera would be including a $100 accessory for $20-50 more than the regular retail price; doesn't sound likely.

I think that "Wi-Fi ready" part is from MS since the whole spec sheet for the Xbox 360 is the same at several other retailers. For example, check out these two bundles from Gamestop:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp...urceid=qIZmQ0cJl3qWAmk9yac2&siteid=0040451529
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp...urceid=qIZ6Q0cJqn48Amk9yWZh&siteid=0040451529

Notice that they both say "wi-fi ready" but only the second actually says (and shows) that the adapter is included.

 

New NBA Live trailer:
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/748/748506/vids_1.html

Looks really good, IMO, although I still give the edge to NBA 2K6. With the Rockets training camp and all these next-gen basketball game media, I'm getting really excited about next-gen basketball games. At this point, I'd be satisfied just watching some replays from these games.