Dude, the graphics won't be updated. All you're getting is a pack of content updates and a AI director that can change the weather. I don't know what you're thinking comparing it to SC2.

It looked very different to me, updated and a little more like TF2. There was a bit more color. The zombies had a traditional zombie movie look with all kinds of different color clothes and accessories. Body damage looked more detailed and model specific. Hey I could be wrong, just looked that way to me.

Also I wasn't comparing SC2 to L4D in any way, I was comparing wait times between games. It was one extreme compared with another.

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 06:00.

I thought Splinter Cell was pretty dumbed down too. But it looked pretty cool and you had alternative ways to play. It looks like they expanded on each mission being more of a sandbox. So all in all, I think it's a buy.

I just revisted some sites to get a better look at ODST. There is one feature that I didn't see or catch during the Xbox event... Jetpacks. That could change everything. Also the trailer seemed a lot better than what they showed (or having time to soak it up revealed some other things), it's not nearly as bad as my first impression, but still looks very wanting as far as environmental looks (Boxy and clean with perfect plants just doesn't cut it for me).

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 05:49.

But to defend the beast, and offer players some food for thought... Wouldn't you rather have that bad ass graphically updated version, with all the problems ironed out, before they start engineering a bunch of new content? Look at it this way, you are getting something like a Starcraft 2 in 6 months, as opposed to 10 years. Yeah it sucks the money and all, with broken promises. But ask yourself, is it better for everyone long term despite the set back?

I still think they should offer a pretty nice discount to people who paid for the first one.

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 02:26.

I think you are going to hear people blasting this game when it comes out because of the aiming mechanism (very much like the one in Resident Evil 5).

Yeah their E3 lineup looked real weak.

Glad we agree on something.

I thought Natal would be a huge joke.
And while the promo videos kind of are (the fashion part smells horribly of vaporware), watching people on stage doing it sold me.

Do we really know that a single consumer level 360 was running that app? I would agree with you on some games if I didn't see so many really good games get butchered by trying to implement these novelties. You end up with a couple uber titles like Wii sports that shine brighter than the sun, and the rest tend to fall flat on their face. Look at Lair, ow, that was a wonderful game ruined by Sixaxxis (the worst of all motion control). I don't trust MS on their hardware claims and performance after RROD, if you believe reports, is still plaguing users every day.

I feel wrong. Natal will replace Wario Ware and Wii Tennis as the game I play when in groups of 3-50.

Anything is possible. Get a gym mat for your living room, you will need it if you want to keep your joints healthy. That's a crap load of impact if you game at normal levels.

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 01:17.

What was one of the most telling things about the Xbox trade speech for me was what *wasn't* Xbox exclusive. What comes to mind for me is Mass Effect 2. I am sure there are many others if I sit down and sift through the older titles... I have a feeling we are going to see the original Mass Effect, and the rest of the trilogy on PS3.

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 01:05.

Owning all consoles pretty much means you choose your favorite one and get all cross platform for that specific console. Exclusives on the other console then become the only thing you care about. This is true if you favor Xbox and own a PS3, or vice a versa. Don't worry, I will be just as critical of PS3 and Wii.

Depending on release dates, I see 2 maybe 3 titles for the next year that are exclusive to Xbox worth getting.

While all these companies compete to become the gate keeper to all things entertainment, I prefer to look at wtf they are really suppose to be doing, making great games on a gaming console. To me. this year Xbox was thouroughly disappointing overall in that area. They will primarily be riding cross platform to maintain a title flow. I don't think 5 good strong first party titles a year, when you want to be console king, is too much to expect from either Xbox or Sony.

All that matters to me are what true exclusives for Xbox can we expect before next E3.

Shadow Complex is a downloadable title with 10 hours gameplay. It looked kind of cool but wasn't a big wow for me. Very Nintendo Metroid.

Joyride - Cutsey and silly little car game with you xbox mii's driving around. Painful to watch.

Crackdown 2 - Didn't show much of this, in fact this is probably going to be talked about at next years E3 (read: will be surprised if it's out before next E3).

L4D2 - Another L4D which has people either completely surprised or pissed. Looks like more of the same with updated graphics and animations.

Splinter Cell: Conviction - Wasn't a big fan of Splinter Cell. This game however looks kind of cool. They got rid of the green screen all the time (aren't wearing a night set). You pretty much premark targets, hit a button and watch the death. You can play in real time action based as well. This does look like it will hit this year so that's 1 title to me so far.

Forza - OW! This game looks like a 1990 racer. I honestly thought Grand Turismo on PS2 looked better. It does have 400 different real world cars, an amazing paint job and customization system, and the game play will have to be judged when it's out. If it's fun then that's what really matters. So that's 2.

Halo 3: ODST - Um, this game looks like crap (you need to really blow people away on a Halo title). Like some newbie designer made a bunch of hallways and boxes. The cut scenes are sweet, but when you actually see play footage, you get imho junior design team stuff (hopefully this changes by release). Maybe because they got all the big guns over on the next title. I do not hold high hopes for this game. I want to be wrong about this but I don't think I am. In a way, I think Damnation was a better game than what I saw.

Halo Reach - This years 360 rumorware. May be the big MAG type game they are trying to make, or something completely different. Another title we will probably be seeing next E3.

Alan Wake - To me a painful attempt at fun survival horror. Has really cool effects, but takes it's self so serious (good thing) but fails on delivering convincing dialog and acting (destructive thing). This one may slide to E3 next year as I recall it was promised in 2010 and seems to be the object of troubled development.

The social networking stuff, yadda yadda, not really my thing, Facebook and Twitter are good things too. But nothing I will use. Sky.tv would be useful to catch those european football matches. Last.fm is cool for those who want to get in touch with cutting edge music on a world wide scale. Impressive stuff to add to Xbox Live but "Dude, where's my game?".

Natal was cool but I don't see myself standing in my living room, acting like an ape to play a game. Milo was pretty sweet but I think heavily sscripted with trigger phrases. It will be ages before a really interactive AI is available to everyday people on a lifelike scale. But it was cool, if not creepy. I think this did some great thungs to help people conceptualize the kind of interactivity we can expect one day.

I will comment on Sony/Nintendo stuff when they have their turn on stage.

This comment was edited on Jun 2, 2009, 00:11.

I think people who feel Valve dropped support on their game have every right to complain loudly. I liked the game, I played it, I moved on (we have 3 copies here). My kids occassionally return to it. But some folsk play it like other valve games and expect the same level of service and support. I think that's a reasonable expectation. I see why Valve is doing a 2nd version, one to beef up Xbox's aweful exclusive line up and collecting a nice profit from Xbox while also releasing a better and more fleshed out modern L4D, as the other one was dated (but fun). This could all be somewhat solved with a discount to previous owners but don't hold your breath.

This comment was edited on Jun 1, 2009, 22:38.

I moved this post to Evening Consolidation.

This comment was edited on Jun 1, 2009, 22:47.

I will never buy another non UMD title. Those things take up crazy space too. 16 gig is like 8-12 good games. Monster Hunter is really good, but not good enough to make me adopt download only.

I pretty much quit supporting Valve in general after the first of the year. You guys will learn the machine cares not, it only consumes your money. Feeding a beast is bad.

These guys did Crackdown and some of them worked on the first GTA (One that was actually fun). This is however an MMO and not sure I am interested. I read that they mention this is for consoles too.

This comment was edited on Jun 1, 2009, 22:31.

Sadly this game was about the only decent thing shown besides Crackdown 2 and maybe Splinter Cell (exclusive wise). Very underwhelming Xbox showing. Natal was cool but I don't see myself standing in my living room, acting like an ape to play a game. Milo was pretty sweet but I think heavily sscripted with trigger phrases. It will be ages before a really interactive AI is available to everyday people on a lifelike scale. But it was cool, if not creepy.

Jerryk, do you even have a PSP? Define catching on. PSP has sold a ton of units. Is it at a level of the DS? No. That doesn't make it any less successful. I like my PSP in a lot of different ways compared to my DS. They are both good at different things and honestly the DS games are pretty crappy in most cases. DS scored big with all the casual Sodaku fans, recipe cooks, my pets stuff, and things like popcap games. It has it's moments with things like GTA China Town, but as a preferred gaming platform, not to me when I compare my libraries.

PSP games are far more elegant most the time, and content rich. They have great graphics, sound and no need to save on the game card (multiple saves). The games are much more traditional gamer oriented.

The reason they are testing the waters with download only models is they look at Iphone and DS downloads and drool on profit. But just as the digital only market is 10 years to soon on all other platforms, it's the same on PSP and I bet you will see a PSP 4000 with UMD at some point in the future. It works on Iphone because it's a phone, and it never had any other media method. Apps are functional and since people are already adopting the apps for needs, the games aren't that alien to download either. But there will be a marked decrease in PSP and title sales if they force downloadable only.

Well Jeryyk, sounds like this game just isn't your cup of tea from all perspectives. I hope it isn't cancelled and they do it right. After Hellgate London, this area of gaming is wide open.

Colonial Marines still shows release of 12/31/09 on Gamestop. Don't know any other details.

They should bundle DR1 and 2 on a PS3 release (make it a collectors edition or something). Would sell like crazy since PS3 doesn't have the first one yet.

The journey's end is signaled by the awarding of a trophy. Then you embark on another journey. Bottom line is that these trophies can be crafted to be wonderful additions to any game that add replay and purpose to any game, good or bad. The only gripes anyone should have is that it can cause trouble to multiplayer, or that some games don't support them and need to.

I think the game looks fine. What has my interest is random content, random loot especially, and near endless replay value. If they do these things right, this is going to be one heck of a game.