We know the titles that are coming out for both systems between now and the end of the fourth quarter. We know the updates are here from Microsoft with Facebook and etc., but I am not writing about 2009, no way, let’s look at 2010. Now, it took me awhile to write this article, more like four days. Lol.
2010 will be a new year for the Redmond Giant. A new calendar you think, not at all. In 2009, Sony dominated Microsoft with every first party game launched. What is in store for us you ask?
- Microsoft will be watching even more to see who is playing burnt games and modded 360s. The release of a fake copy of Forza 3 was just the start of what is yet to come. (The fake copy was released to catch all you pirates out there.)
- A brand new development tool codenamed “X-Engine” is due to hit around the same time as Splinter Cell: Conviction. This new engine will take advantage of the memory inside the 360 and give developers more room to utilize.
- Avatars are also due for a new update to go up against Sony’s “Home”. According to one source, Avatars will be able to play in a playground. Avatars will be able to do simple activities, such as, drive around in cars in the Avatar world.
- Digital distribution will be the forefront for Microsoft next year. We’ve been getting 360 games to download directly to our XBOXs. All of the games have been past or platinum titles, but they are still full 360 games.
Now, let’s not forget about the games we know about. Everybody pushed their respective game back to next year and made way for Modern Warfare 2. Microsoft has a few games in store for us to replace all the games that were pushed back. Halo Reach will hit number one on everybody’s list, but it is not the only game in the lineup to compete with Sony’s offers. God of War 3 will be a beast, but can Microsoft answer back with a God of War killer? Maybe they can, but we not sure about that yet.
It seems Microsoft has a couple of options to put into battle. One of Microsoft’s answers is Project Natal; at least that is the code name for it. Microsoft has something special up its sleeves and they know it. It has received mixed reviews, but in my opinion, you can’t talk about the new technology until you really play a game for it. Yes, all the demos we see look great, but they don’t mean a thing until we get an actual game to try out. The new update this month puts the ability to streamline full 1080p HD movies at your fingertips, for your viewing pleasure. You also can buy HD movies from the Zune Marketplace.
Rare, one of Microsoft’s main development teams has announced they will being doing a FPS on Project Natal. Why does everybody think Rare has fallen off? They have done all kinds of projects behind the scenes from the NXE update in 2008 to adding things for the Avatars on a consistence basis. Let’s not forget to mention Rare reinvented the FPS genre with Golden Eye 007(I know that was in 1998 and it is now 2009).
Yes, Sony has made its comeback, but Microsoft will show you why they are always number one by taking the top spot in 2010.
