Xbox 360 at X05: The Full Verdict
Not only does Xbox 360 actually exist, it also has games to die for. The real theme of X05 was tangibility, as our hugely detailed verdict report explains.
Following our initial report from this year's stunning Xbox event in Amsterdam, X05, we think it's about time we offer our closing thoughts on the event that was Microsoft's final war cry in the unstoppable next-generation of videogames.
Welcome to Amsterdam
Referred to by Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis as "one of Europe's greatest and finest cities", Amsterdam in fact lacked the finesse and outright class of previous X event host cities, such as Cannes and Seville (with X02's Isla Magica theme park in Seville being by far the most memorable venue for us), but the overwhelmingly laid-back atmosphere throughout Amsterdam's streets could almost have mirrored Microsoft's own assuredness in debuting so much of what 360 will finally be at the event.
After rounding a few hundred questionably coffee-enthusing journalists onto some boats, those lucky enough to be in attendance at this year's infamously exclusive outing were whisked along to the secret venue - essentially a gigantic (but pretty) warehouse sort of place, accompanied by an even bigger dome-like building, where the party would later take place.
Secret Venue
Upon arrival, photographers could savour the delights of a series of custom-decorated Xbox 360s - very arty and very European, but ultimately a little pointless. Still, for some, it was better than having to socialise with anyone for any longer than absolutely necessary. And it means you can check out the complete range in the accompanying pictures which we've thown later into this article. We quite like the "standard retail model" look, to be quite honest.
Pressing Conference Issues
Anyway. A bit of waiting around later, and it was time for the conference to begin. Previous press conferences at X events had seen picturesque backdrops of lakes, laser displays and images projected onto explosions of water. This year's press conference was a little more familiar, as Microsoft's guests were ushered via a green tunnel into a very large, long room that was so high at the back you could nearly touch the ceiling. It was "E3" in style, and arguably "E3" in terms of announcements - but just without some of the subtle E3 bullshit.
It's not that British and European attendees are boring or less appreciative of the ensuing on-stage events than E3 conferences full of Americans. But for a couple of American speakers, it was apparently too much to research previous X conferences when the likes of Jay Wilbur had attempted to rally supporting whoops and cheers by yelling to the audience, "do you want some?" and faced an embarrassing silence.
For any American X06 speakers, please remember, it just doesn't work like that in Europe. We don't answer questions and interact with you en masse like we do at E3. Show us the demo or the trailer, and if we like it, you might get a clap at the end!
Aaaanyway... as Lewis pointed out towards the start of the presentation, the company is now a "powerful youth and entertainment brand in this region, after starting completely from scratch." And if anyone was in any doubt that Microsoft was taking X05 very seriously as a way to further its launch message to the region, it flew in all three of its top US brass to take part in the conference and do interviews the next day.
The Big Guns
But before the US execs hit the stage, and once a quick demo reel for Xbox 1 software including Half-Life 2, Prince of Perisa 3, Hitman Blood Money, Far Cry Instincts and Timeshift was out of the way, it was time to get the most anticipated showing done first: Lewis introduced Perfect Dark Zero in the form of a nice, but entirely real-life (as in, human actors) trailer. Fortunately, they followed up with a live gameplay demonstration on the Hong Kong Rooftops stage, which was also playable on the event showfloor afterwards. On the whole, the demo was impressive, but somehow did not seem as fulfilling as seeing and playing it afterwards (see later in this report).
X05: Related Articles & Features
Additional direct feed videos, plus huge video inerview/feature specials for Perfect Dark Zero, PGR3 and Ninety Nine Nights.
Xbox 360: X05 Video Coverage Wrap-Up
Dead or Alive 4: Hi-Res Gameplay Vids
Project Gotham 3: Hi-Res Gameplay Vids
Perfect Dark Zero: Hi-Res Gameplay Vids
Xbox 360 Xplodes at X05 in Amsterdam:
Allard on the Xbox 360 Hard Drive
Dead Rising Shuffles Onto 360
Outfit Dresses Up for 360 Debut
Id Builds Castle Wolfenstein on 360
Lara Steps Closer to Original Vision
Bach Defends Xbox 360 Strategy |
Video Coverage (Latest Videos & Video FAQ) | |||
PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT LINK TO ANY MEDIA FILE ON KIKIZO | |||
Description | Dur. | Size | Details |
Dead or Alive 4 Gameplay video blowout! |
10 vids | N/A | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Project Gotham Racing 3 Gameplay video blowout! |
10 vids | N/A | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Perfect Dark Zero Gameplay video blowout! |
4 vids | N/A | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Splinter Cell 4 Teaser trailer (hi quality) |
0.54m | 21MB | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Gears of War Gameplay video X05 (hi quality) |
3.05m | 68MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Gears of War New trailer (hi quality) |
1.01m | 24MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Too Human (Silicon Knights) New trailer (hi quality) |
1.24m | 30MB | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Mass Effect (BioWare) Teaser trailer (hi quality) |
1.09m | 27MB | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Crackdown Announcement trailer (hi quality) |
1.46m | 38MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
King Kong Xbox 360 trailer (hi quality) |
1.32m | 33MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Kameo Newest trailer (hi quality) |
1.32m | 33MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Call of Duty 2 Gameplay video (hi quality) |
3.51m | 96MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
FIFA 06 Newest trailer (hi quality) |
0.58m | 20MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Tomb Raider Legend Xbox 360 teaser trailer (hi quality) |
0.39m | 13MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Wolfenstein Next-Gen Announcement video (hi quality) |
1.34m | 34MB | HD, 30, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
GUN Law and Order trailer (normal quality) |
2.32m | 20MB | SD, 30, DF 640x360 1Mbps |
EA: Xbox 360 Line-Up Line-up videos (hi quality) |
1.11m | 28MB | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Xbox 360: The Complete Line-Up Line-up videos (hi quality) |
3.22m | 84MB | HD, 60, CAM 800x448 3.5Mbps |
Normal (Lower-Quality) Versions: | |||
Dead or Alive 4 Gameplay video blowout! |
10 vids | N/A | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Project Gotham Racing 3 Gameplay video blowout! |
10 vids | N/A | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Perfect Dark Zero Gameplay video blowout! |
4 vids | N/A | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Splinter Cell 4 Teaser trailer (normal quality) |
0.54m | 11MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Gears of War Gameplay video X05 (normal quality) |
3.05m | 38MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Gears of War New trailer (normal quality) |
1.01m | 14MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Too Human (Silicon Knights) New trailer (normal quality) |
1.24m | 17MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Mass Effect (BioWare) Teaser trailer (normal quality) |
1.09m | 17MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Crackdown Announcement trailer (normal quality) |
1.46m | 22MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
King Kong Xbox 360 trailer (normal quality) |
1.32m | 16MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Kameo Newest trailer (normal quality) |
1.32m | 20MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Call of Duty 2 Gameplay video (normal quality) |
3.51m | 60MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
FIFA 06 Newest trailer (normal quality) |
0.58m | 10MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Tomb Raider Legend Xbox 360 teaser trailer (normal quality) |
0.39m | 8MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Wolfenstein Next-Gen Announcement video (normal quality) |
1.34m | 20MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
EA: Xbox 360 Line-Up Line-up videos (normal quality) |
1.11m | 17MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
Xbox 360: The Complete Line-Up Line-up videos (normal quality) |
3.22m | 44MB | SD, 30, CAM 640x360 1.5Mbps |
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Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
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