Tony Hawk unveils skateboard controller for Tony Hawk: Ride

Tony Hawk did bring a skateboard to today’s Microsoft E3 2009 conference, but this one is a game controller.

The controller, shaped like a skateboard but a little shorter, can sense movement and acts like a real life skateboard.

“It’s a little bit shorter, but this thing is full of technology” states Tony Hawk. Tony’s not lying when he stated “full of technology”, this controller is packed with infrared sensors and an accelerometer. “It knows where your feet are, it knows where your hands are, and you can come in and actually go for grabs.”

Players can battle for skate supremacy in time and trick based supremacy no matter the player’s skill level. For beginners, players can just use a turning motion in which the game will guide you to and through the obstacles.

Found on the games new official website, www.thride.com, there are many new features to the new skateboard controller:

—-Grab Tricks: “Reach out your hands over a sensor(On side of board) for amazing grab tricks”
—-Kick Push: “Move your foot past either side sensor to accelerate with a kick push”
—-Motion Sensing Technology: Move the board, do the trick. Complete motion sensing technology captures every board movement, creating the truest skateboard videogame experience ever. Rotate, tilt, and lift the board to pull off a number of tricks and ride like a pro.”
—-Huge Jumps: “Place your feet over the end sensor for more powerful ollies.”
—-Board Texture: Get on and stay on. Gritty surface for maximum control – similar to grip tape on a real skateboard.”
—-Contoured Base: Limitless Movement. Specially designed curved bottom allows players to experience both stability and a full range of motions. Discover the freedom and creativity that only this board provides.”
—- ALSO STATES: “Additional Board Info – Coming soon…”

E3 09:Microsoft E3 Press Conference reveals Modern Warfare 2 Gameplay

With almost everyone expecting to see Infinity Ward’s hot title Modern Warfare 2, its no surprise that Microsoft debuted Modern Warfare 2’s first gameplay at their E3 2009 conference today.

After Jason West of Infinity Ward appeared on-stage it was down to business, starting up Modern Warfare 2, and showing the first ever gameplay to the public. Starting off on the side of a cliff with a familiar face, “Soap” McTavish guides you across a thin ledge. Soap digs his picks into the side of the mountain and starts to climb, signaling for you to follow. Once at the top, McTavish nearly slips when a plane flies overhead but manages to pull himself over the edge.

Gamespot UK’s Guy Cocker states “The level of detail was incredible: The ice cracks under pressure as you plunge in your hook, and your clothing blows in the vicious mountain winds.”

The game skips to a snowy naval base in which the player has an interesting weapon new to the series. With an attached radar to seek out enemies, the player can use his gun to navigate and seek out enemies in an already minimal-visibility setting.

McTavish instructs you to plant C4 on the fueling station and let it blow. As soon as the explosion is seen, enemies chase you and McTavish out with snowmobiles. McTavish makes a great move and uses a knife to steal an oncoming enemy on a snowmobile, with which both of you grab a snowmobile a head down the hill. While on the snowmobile, you have the option to use a semiautomatic pistol to shoot enemies while driving.

With Modern Warfare 2 looking very impressive so far, what can we expect the final product to look and play like?

Microsoft also announced that two Modern Warfare 2 map packs will arrive first for a time-exclusive on Xbox Live, and the Playstation 3 and PC(maybe) will have to wait for their share.

[VIA: Gamespot]

Here is the first trailer debuted a few weeks ago:

Microsoft getting the Community involved in E3 this year; Microsoft’s E3 2009 booth is HUGE

While listening to Major Nelson’s (Microsoft’s own Director of Programming for Xbox Live, Larry Hryb) podcast for today, Major Nelson announced some very interesting news.

Major Nelson stated:

“I can’t say much but I will say this; part of the Xbox Experience is Xbox Live, and part of Xbox Live is the community. The community will definitely play a role in this.”

In response to Major Nelson, “e” stated:

“We’re gonna try and get the community involved in E3 this year.”

So what is this “Community getting involved in E3”? Unveiled at E3 2008, Microsoft introduced its Xbox Live expansion named Xbox Live Primetime. Featured in Xbox Live Primetime was a game based off the hit TV game show 1 vs. 100. Will Microsoft invite the community to play 1 vs. 100 with them at their E3 press conference? Will we see new games that will be released for Primetime?

Also stated in Major Nelson’s Podcast, Major Nelson talked about Microsoft’s booth:

“I’ve seen that picture of our booth, its gonna be HUGE.”

So with Microsoft’s booth will be plentiful of games, and with the introduction of the fans participating in Microsoft’s E3 2009 press conference, it looks like we can certainly look forward to E3 this year.

[AKA: Major Nelson Podcast #312]

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Microsoft Opening New Line of Stores [UPDATE:] What items can you find?

To take on the success of its competitors, Microsoft last week announced it will open its own line of stores.

Of course, Microsoft has not made specific what exactly will be sold or featured in the store, but we can predict a couple of items such as Windows, Xbox items, Windows applications, and video games.

One thing that Microsoft did announce however is David Porter, a former executive at Dreamworks will be taking the head position of the division. David Porter has also worked for 17 years as President of the Wal-Mart entertainment division.

Microsoft has already opened one private facility titled the “Microsoft Retail Experience Center” in January 2009 to fulfill the goal to test innovative retail technology. Check the video below for a detailed view and interview of Microsofts new exciting retail chain.

[UPDATE:]

In the video above, Microsoft gives a view of the Microsoft retail facility. I have taken some still shots of items that I saw in the video:

Laptops anyone?

Choose between a million different SKU's of Windows!

Xbox 360's ready for your living room

Need a new Monitor?

Can you find the items in the background?:

What I have found:

1. Xbox 360 games
2. Platinum Hits
3. Zune
4. Windows Software
5. Latops
6. Games for Windows

Can you find anything else?

Microsoft has implemented some solid sale features such as the Television to help you find a specific item, to the Shopping Cart to help you shop with a virtual shopping list and prices very similar to those that you would find online:

Xbox 360 Slim Likely?

Let’s go back to the good old days of the last generation consoles. Dominating the gaming industry was the Playstation 2 with its wide variety of games and superior support from 1st and 3rd party game developers. The PS2 sold almost one million consoles within the first day of availability in Japan. It’s no surprise that Sony and their Playstation 2 were headed down the right track.

One day in September, Sony announced a new version of its Playstation 2 line at an event in Tokyo, Japan. The new version was noticeably smaller and thinner than the original PS2. It included an upgrade that many Sony followers were waiting for: Built-In Ethernet.

Could this be a plan that Microsoft has taken under its wing? Many rumors of a slim version of the 360 have been debated over. While many believe it can’t happen, Microsoft has a big history. Microsoft tends to create and enhance anything that will sell. For example, it’s different versions of the Xbox 360. Microsoft is selling its Xbox 360 in three different versions, called the Arcade, Pro and Elite. The reason why they chose to put three versions of the console for sale was not to confuse customers, but to instead give consumers a choice to buy the lesser version if they don’t want to spend the money, or to buy the expensive version to get the most features and usability. This was indeed a selling plan because if they had one console that was expensive, some consumers would turn away for the reason of it being too expensive for their personal needs.

So why would Microsoft release a slim version? The slim version would sell like hotcakes, and would be cheaper to manufacture. Consumers these days strive for deals, the way to get something cheaper but with the same experience and enjoyment. Manufacturers and businesses strive for more money in these hard economic times. Company’s these days would like some extra money floating in their pockets, we all know it.

Now you may be asking “Gee Shadow I already know about money, but what I want to know is when it will be released and what features it will have?” The honest answer to both of those questions is simply I don’t know. None of us know except for the big corporal jockeys in Microsoft sitting around their huge conference room debating on whether Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks has better coffee. All I can give is my predictions. See, Microsoft is laying off jobs left and right, mainly because of insufficient funds to keep their salaries. Microsoft needs the money to roll in, and this would be a good way to get a new product into the market and watch it make money. When will it be released? I would dare to say sometime later this year. As I said, companies need money, and a slim could certainly help Microsoft.