X10 Roundup: Part 1

Posted by Balaam in Gaming, Gaming News, Gaming Previews, Xbox 360 | 1 comment

Today Microsoft hosted their X10 event in San Francisco, revealing the news that I have conveniently summarised below.

Alan Wake was dated for May 18th, an announcement that was accompanied by this sweet trailer.

An $80 Alan Wake collector’s edition was also revealed, the box itself is hardbound in linen, made to resemble a hardcover book and will include:

• Game Disc in box with unique art
• Exclusive In-Game Audio Commentary and Hints by Remedy
• “The Alan Wake Files” – a 144pg book that includes a short story written by Alan Wake and compiles the FBI dossiers investigating the events in Bright Falls, WA
• Exclusive Audio Disc with Soundtrack and Score
• Game Add-on token redeemable on Xbox LIVE for the first Alan Wake add-on content pack
• Exclusive Xbox disc with special content: Alan Wake Xbox Live Theme and Alan Wake Avatar for Xbox LIVE

I am a big advocate of developer commentary in games and if it’s anything like Valve’s commentary then it alone will make the package worth the mark up.

Dead Rising 2 was dated for the 28th of August and Capcom announced a downloadable prologue chapter entitled “CASE ZERO” exclusively for the 360.  This announcement was also accompanied by a trailer demonstrating the player’s ability to combine weapons.  Watergun + gasoline = flamethrower, bike + chainsaw = erm… bikesaw?  Trailer below.

Halo Reach’s multiplayer beta was confirmed for May 3.  The now standard Halo setup of 4 player co-op, split-screen and screenshot and video capture suites are all confirmed.  The game has been described as “gritty”, but when applied to the Halo universe that probably equates to glitter rather than gravel.  The press release also claims “an all-new engine” although the screenshots suggest otherwise.  There looks to be a lot of in engine change, such as new animations and effects, but the core is unmistakably the same.  Think Modern Warfare 1 to 2 rather than a complete overhaul.  I guess all will be revealed when “the largest ever console beta” launches this May.  Oh yea and lame box-art confirmed.