David Ray Oct 16th 2008
Inquiring minds want to know, that’s the tag line for the national enquirer, but its also the reason I am bringing up the subject of the Xbox 720, or Xbox III launch titles. Whatever the name of the iteration of the next generation xbox we know for sure one is going to come down the line, in what form and with what specs no one knows. But this is where gander a guess at what the launch line up will be
.
Before we get into the games, there is a certain logic that Microsoft will use on their initial launch lineup. One of the most important things is that it will have to show off the system new capabilities. The obvious ones will be the superior online offering, the improved graphics and sound, the addition of a bluray player, and … of course the new motion controls. Yes they are going to rip off Nintendo.
All that said Microsoft will have some of their heavy hitters out there and one of the main points of emphasis will be covering all their bases, which means giving a wide variety of games that fill most genres. And expect a new emphasis on the casual gaming crowd. (which will be tough considering that the xbox is know as the hardcore gamers machine of choice.)
This list is based on no evidence at all, just my opinion of what is needed and what has launched previously with systems.
Project Gotham Racing V - this would fill the mandatory racing game slot all systems need to have, also the 360 launched with PGR III, you might say, hey bizarre creations was bought by Activision, well rumors point to the developer of Forza coming in and taking over the title.
Why is it important, well nothing really shows off a system better than a racing game, racing games are basically full featured tech demos on the processing power of the system, expect the game to be full of online features and maybe use a unique control system.
Madden NFL XX – of course this is going to launch with the system and of course its going to be just a supped up high end version of the PS3 one, but still people want their madden.
Its important because its Madden, and as EA pointed out to the Sega dreamcast, without EA on board the you will fail. So having Madden is mandatory. Plus EA has experience working motion controls with the Wii, they should have a pretty good grasp on how to move the gameplay over.
Some kind of WWII FPS - yes WWII has been overdone, we all know this, but hey we still buy the games, why? Because WWII was the perfect mix and balance of technology and brutal anti-personal force on the battlefield. Tanks, artillery, bombers, and still close enough to put a baonet in some Nazis gullet.
Why its important, well for sure the next xbox will try its best, to get the casual market, it will market it towards the casual market, it will make games for the casual market but I feel it will still try to retain the hardcore gamer and nothing says that than a WWII FPS.
One or two Rare games, maybe a new Viva Pinata game or a Banjo and Kazooie game, its been widely rumored that not only have Rare been in the process of making games for the new system but they have been integral in designing the new ‘motion control’ peripherals. Recently it was rumored that Microsoft was going to release a motion controller for the 360, but that might have just been a mix up with the new upcoming system. I would love to see a Perfect Dark game or a Killer Instinct game at launch but with MS going for the broader more casual game market I can’t see that launching with the system.
Its important because out of all the developers that MS has in their stable, Rare is probably the one with the best ability to recreate that Nintedo mass appeal magic.
Fight Night XX, nothing says motion control better than a boxing game, one of the early games that really knocked people off their feet (no boxing pun intended) was EA’s Fight Night for the next gen consoles, that showed what the difference between next gen and last gen was. I expect a similar release as well because of the new motion controls.
Why its important, if you have a new motion control scheme, than you need to show it off somehow, and boxing is the easiest way to do so.
NBA game – the system will probally launch sometime in the Sep-Nov time frame of next year, if so the NBA season will soon be starting and a new NBA game,
The nba game is important because there is no other team sport game that has such a personal varied feel to it, from individual faces, body types, and tattoos, to their signature moves, nothing shows this off better than the new system.
Here are my surprise games. I have no reason to think so, just a feeling
Half Life something or other – Valve has been a huge fan of the xbox, or maybe just a hater of the ps3, but either way I imagine the folks at valve or cooking up new graphic and game engines that will be optimized for the next xbox.
Crimson Skies – there is no hard evidence its in development, but you know what, if the next xbox is going to have motion controls than I think a flying game seems like a good fit.
Games we probably won’t see at launch,
Halo game, Halo games are notortious for being late to the party, always has been, always will be, plus MS likes to hold it back as an ace in their hole, something to drive the second wave of sales. So I don’t expect a Halo game at launch.
RPG games, RPG games are notoriously long to develop for and it may not pay to have a launch game with the early small install base.
So what games do you think I missed , what games am I totally off on, and what games do you wish would show up for launch, oh… and most importantly what game if released on launch date would make the next xbox an instant purchase!
Inquiring minds want to know, that’s the tag line for the national enquirer, but its also the reason I am bringing up the subject of the Xbox 720, or Xbox III launch titles. Whatever the name of the iteration of the next generation xbox we know for sure one is going to come down the line, in what form and with what specs no one knows. But this is where gander a guess at what the launch line up will be
.
Before we get into the games, there is a certain logic that Microsoft will use on their initial launch lineup. One of the most important things is that it will have to show off the system new capabilities. The obvious ones will be the superior online offering, the improved graphics and sound, the addition of a bluray player, and … of course the new motion controls. Yes they are going to rip off Nintendo.
All that said Microsoft will have some of their heavy hitters out there and one of the main points of emphasis will be covering all their bases, which means giving a wide variety of games that fill most genres. And expect a new emphasis on the casual gaming crowd. (which will be tough considering that the xbox is know as the hardcore gamers machine of choice.)
This list is based on no evidence at all, just my opinion of what is needed and what has launched previously with systems.
Project Gotham Racing V - this would fill the mandatory racing game slot all systems need to have, also the 360 launched with PGR III, you might say, hey bizarre creations was bought by Activision, well rumors point to the developer of Forza coming in and taking over the title.
Why is it important, well nothing really shows off a system better than a racing game, racing games are basically full featured tech demos on the processing power of the system, expect the game to be full of online features and maybe use a unique control system.
Madden NFL XX – of course this is going to launch with the system and of course its going to be just a supped up high end version of the PS3 one, but still people want their madden.
Its important because its Madden, and as EA pointed out to the Sega dreamcast, without EA on board the you will fail. So having Madden is mandatory. Plus EA has experience working motion controls with the Wii, they should have a pretty good grasp on how to move the gameplay over.
Some kind of WWII FPS - yes WWII has been overdone, we all know this, but hey we still buy the games, why? Because WWII was the perfect mix and balance of technology and brutal anti-personal force on the battlefield. Tanks, artillery, bombers, and still close enough to put a baonet in some Nazis gullet.
Why its important, well for sure the next xbox will try its best, to get the casual market, it will market it towards the casual market, it will make games for the casual market but I feel it will still try to retain the hardcore gamer and nothing says that than a WWII FPS.
One or two Rare games, maybe a new Viva Pinata game or a Banjo and Kazooie game, its been widely rumored that not only have Rare been in the process of making games for the new system but they have been integral in designing the new ‘motion control’ peripherals. Recently it was rumored that Microsoft was going to release a motion controller for the 360, but that might have just been a mix up with the new upcoming system. I would love to see a Perfect Dark game or a Killer Instinct game at launch but with MS going for the broader more casual game market I can’t see that launching with the system.
Its important because out of all the developers that MS has in their stable, Rare is probably the one with the best ability to recreate that Nintedo mass appeal magic.
Fight Night XX, nothing says motion control better than a boxing game, one of the early games that really knocked people off their feet (no boxing pun intended) was EA’s Fight Night for the next gen consoles, that showed what the difference between next gen and last gen was. I expect a similar release as well because of the new motion controls.
Why its important, if you have a new motion control scheme, than you need to show it off somehow, and boxing is the easiest way to do so.
NBA game – the system will probally launch sometime in the Sep-Nov time frame of next year, if so the NBA season will soon be starting and a new NBA game,
The nba game is important because there is no other team sport game that has such a personal varied feel to it, from individual faces, body types, and tattoos, to their signature moves, nothing shows this off better than the new system.
Here are my surprise games. I have no reason to think so, just a feeling
Half Life something or other – Valve has been a huge fan of the xbox, or maybe just a hater of the ps3, but either way I imagine the folks at valve or cooking up new graphic and game engines that will be optimized for the next xbox.
Crimson Skies – there is no hard evidence its in development, but you know what, if the next xbox is going to have motion controls than I think a flying game seems like a good fit.
Games we probably won’t see at launch,
Halo game, Halo games are notortious for being late to the party, always has been, always will be, plus MS likes to hold it back as an ace in their hole, something to drive the second wave of sales. So I don’t expect a Halo game at launch.
RPG games, RPG games are notoriously long to develop for and it may not pay to have a launch game with the early small install base.
So what games do you think I missed , what games am I totally off on, and what games do you wish would show up for launch, oh… and most importantly what game if released on launch date would make the next xbox an instant purchase!
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