Official Xbox 360 Launch Day Titles

[TheTwist]

Announced earlier today.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6139695.html

Title (Publisher)

Amped 3 (2K Sports)
Call of Duty 2 (Activision)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (Sega)
FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup (Electronic Arts)
Gun (Activision)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA 2K6 (2K Sports)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
NHL 2K6 (2K Sports)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Peter Jackson's King Kong (Ubisoft)
Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Quake 4 (Activision)
Ridge Racer 6 (Namco)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 (Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision)

[Jacob Singer]

I'll be getting CoD2, Perfect Dark Zero, Condemned, and probably Kameo. I'll be renting Madden, NHL2k6, Kong, and Gun. I'm just dying to see what some of these look like on my new hdtv (which is a big reason I'm even getting a 360).

All in all, I think it's a pretty decent launch. Nothing earth-shattering, but Oblivion's around the corner, and more to come. I'm sold.

[Eid Nilbog]

Here's (http://www.halomovienews.com/xbox360.php) the first impressions of the Xbox 360 by a Canadian who won his in a contest and received it early. He discusses the networking, Neon visualizer, pre-loaded content, Halo/Halo 2's (out of the box) compatibility and Kameo.

[TheTwist]

I'm definitely picking up PDZ and Kameo. Condemned has been getting a lot of love, and it does look like a winner, but I'm undecided still. Doesn't seem like the time of year for a grim horror game.

[Greg David]

This has to be the weakest launch lineup in console history. Of course, I don't remember what was available the day the Atari 2600 came out, so maybe I'm wrong. I think this is the first time I've ever wanted a console based more on what the machine itself can do than what the launch games are. Until Mass Effect comes out, nothing's really screaming in my ear.

[TheTwist]

That's far from true.

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3145578

[Jacob Singer]

Not being personally interested in the launch titles is one thing -- taste is subjective, obviously (I couldn't care less about racing games, for instance) -- but saying this is the weakest launch lineup in console history is just being ignorant of the gaming facts.

[Slater]

This has to be the weakest launch lineup in console history.

Insane.

Perfect Dark, CoD2, Kameo, Kong, Quake IV, Project Gotham 3, Condemned, and Gun all look worth playing, if not buying. Sure, there's no killer app, but there's also no AZURIK or FUZION FRENZYs in that batch either.

I'm not buying anything until the reviews start pouring in, but right now, I've got zero complaints with that line-up.

[Greg David]

Hey, I'm not saying it's a botched system launch, just that I don't personally dig any of the launch games. I probably should have prefaced my comment by saying that. The only game I was really interested in was Oblivion, and now we're waiting until 2006 for that. I'm sick of first-person shooters and racing games, and I've never been into sports games, so that really doesn't leave much.

[Domingo]

Anyone remember the N64 and it's fantastic 2 game launch?

[The Alexor]

Hey, I'm not saying it's a botched system launch, just that I don't personally dig any of the launch games.

This has to be the weakest launch lineup in console history.

It sure sound like that's what you were saying.

There's no Halo in that lineup but as a whole. there seems to be alot of good games.

[Fazer]

I have to say there are a lot of quality games in that lineup. Granted a lot of them are EA hack job ports...has anyone seen the gameplay footage of Madden 06 for the 360...they seemingly did nothing to the gameplay. Just added a bunch of fancy playcalling screens and camera angles.

Its a pretty formidable lineup, but true there are no AAA titles. But how long has it been since a console launched with a AAA title? I think the last one was mario 64 with the n64.

[Slater]

Well, there's Halo and Soul Caliber, but even those were brand new, untested properties.

[Justin Clark]

Halo, yes. Soul Calibur had at least something of a fanbase thanks to Soul Edge on PS1. Also, let's not forget that, at the time, Sonic Adventure's release was kind of a big deal.

Anyway...yeah....those were the last time we got some truly huge titles at launch.

The 360's lineup? Eh.

I'm still holding on to the last glimmer of hope that Rare performed a miracle with Perfect Dark Zero, and Condemned looks pretty amazing. But, again, there's nothing on that list that's $400 worth of amazing.

[ShaolinMK]

I had forgotten just how good the Dreamcast launch lineup was. Truly the best so far.

[Overlord]

I had forgotten just how good the Dreamcast launch lineup was. Truly the best so far.

Don't forget the 3do and Jaguar launches: truly epic.

[ShaolinMK]

Do I detect a slight hint of sarcasm in the above post?

[Overlord]

Yes. *wink*

I was being a bit tongue in cheek.

I actually only played the DreamCast a few times, and remember being impressed by the speed and smoothness of the system. Why'd the Dreamcast fail, anyway?

[The LD]

People were still so damn attached to their 32X systems that they refused to upgrade.

I mean, with games like Cosmic Carnage and That Dirtbike Game With The Title That I Can't Remember, the 32X was actually TOO good and ultimately ensured Sega's death.

[Justin Clark]

I actually only played the DreamCast a few times, and remember being impressed by the speed and smoothness of the system. Why'd the Dreamcast fail, anyway?

The hype around the PS2, primarily, but also general public distrust of Sega after the Saturn and the 32X went belly up.

People were still so damn attached to their 32X systems that they refused to upgrade.

I mean, with games like Cosmic Carnage and That Dirtbike Game With The Title That I Can't Remember, the 32X was actually TOO good and ultimately ensured Sega's death.

.........um.......huh?

[The LD]

The hype around the PS2, primarily, but also general public distrust of Sega after the Saturn and the 32X went belly up.



.........um.......huh?

Was that not sarcastic enough? I thought I was laying it on pretty thick...

[The Sphinx]

Dreamcast failed because the game development process was excruciatingly diffficult. It involved, among other things, sacrificing a five-year-old child every morning at sunrise.

Because of this EA and several other major developers stopped supporting the system.

[Overlord]

Dreamcast failed because the game development process was excruciatingly diffficult. It involved, among other things, sacrificing a five-year-old child every morning at sunrise.

Because of this EA and several other major developers stopped supporting the system.

This thread has been remarkably amusing.

So...what should I get, a Playstation 3 or an XBOX2?

I don't want to choose poorly and have my new system join my Playstation, Nintendo, Turbografx 16 cd, turbografx portable, and myriad other failed/obsolete systems in my garage.

[Justin Clark]

I don't suppose joining me and many others in the "wait-and-see" boat is too much to ask, is it?

[Overlord]

I don't suppose joining me and many others in the "wait-and-see" boat is too much to ask, is it?

Yes, it is.

[TheTwist]

I actually only played the DreamCast a few times, and remember being impressed by the speed and smoothness of the system. Why'd the Dreamcast fail, anyway?


A combination of things. The Dreamcast had a great launch lineup, but I understand soon afterwards there was a dearth of games for it. And Sega wasn't in the best of shape after failing badly with the Saturn.

PS2 hype was a huge part of it also, as previously mentioned.

[otisthecat]

IGN has reviews up for Kameo, PGR3, Madden and a couple others.

***edit***

Mostly in the 8ish range so far, although Condemned (no review up yet) sounds like it may be the SSX of the 360.

No surprise in the sports games, pretty, really pretty, but all had features available in current gen games cut to make the launch deadline. Glad I don't give a shit about sports games.

[TheTwist]

So...what should I get, a Playstation 3 or an XBOX2?

I don't want to choose poorly and have my new system join my Playstation, Nintendo, Turbografx 16 cd, turbografx portable, and myriad other failed/obsolete systems in my garage.


If your choice rests upon which is more likely to be around for the standard 5 year lifecycle, you probably can pick either one. Neither company is going to back down during this next-gen, I'm sure.

If you live in the states, PS3 probably won't be here until Christmas '06. So, it's not like you have to choose one or the other really.


Anyway, here's a quick rundown:

-The PS3 has a next-gen DVD drive (BluRay)

-The Xbox360 has a great online service.


That's about it for substantial differences. It comes down to what games you want.

There are rumors that the PS3 will cost more than the Xbox360. Whether the PS3 will launch higher than $400, or if that reflects the expected 360 price cut next year, no idea.

[Overlord]

That's about it for substantial differences. It comes down to what games you want.

There are rumors that the PS3 will cost more than the Xbox360. Whether the PS3 will launch higher than $400, or if that reflects the expected 360 price cut next year, no idea.

The deal breakers may be KOTOR and Oblivion. Any reason to think they won't be ported to the PS3?

[TheTwist]

The developers of either series aren't tied to Microsoft in any way, afaik. Your guess is as good as mine.

[Brian Wehman]

I played some Kong the other day at Best Buy on one of the big HD tv's and.. I was a little disapointed in the graphics. I know it's an early game, and I love my current XBOX, but I think I'll be waiting a bit to pick this up.

[otisthecat]

Call of Duty 2 gets a 9 from IGN.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/667/667388p2.html

I wasn't that impressed when I tried it out at Wal-Mart last week, but playing it today at EB, by myself, with a TV in front of me not four feet above my head, it was pretty damn amazing looking.

[Jacktorrance1]

I was at EB today, saw some kids playing Call of Duty on the 360. Looked fun, but not amazing. But when I got my turn to play, damn.. it was fun. Wasn't earth-shattering, but i definitely wanted the demo to continue.

on a separate note, anyone know if the 360 will burn tracks to the hard drive faster than the xbox? the burn times were a massive pain in the ass on the original.

[thalasi]

Played Kameo at Walmart the otherday and while it certainly looked nice in HD, it didnt look much different from something I might see on my own XBox. As for the gameplay, their was an eight year old kid screaming his head off for his turn even though Id barely played two minutes so I cant make any judgement on that. I certainly didnt expect a bunch of photorealistic games but I was really hoping to be able to tell the difference other than it just being in high def. After all those years in development, heres hoping Perfect Dark Zero makes up for my lack of excitement about Kameo, or Gears of War down the line.

[Jonathan Parker]

I know it's not related to the release schedule but here's a cool article on the innards of a 360.

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2610

[otisthecat]

Mostly in the 8ish range so far, although Condemned (no review up yet) sounds like it may be the SSX of the 360.Or not, 8.7. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/667/667802p1.html

[Malliabu: Honkin' On Bobo]

That's an 8.7 for a game with ZERO replay value. Pretty good I say but definately a renter.

[otisthecat]

Perfect Dark Zero gets a 9 from Gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/perfectdarkzero/review.html

[ShaolinMK]

Just saw that review before even coming here. PDZ looks good. It looks really good. I can't wait to play it. That's the 2nd game on the 360 that has wowed me with 1st impressions.

[Gist]

Played through the first level of PDZ a couple of times, and man, is it cool. Although my jaw remained attached firmly to my skull, it definitely feels like a next-gen game. It's so...slick. There's a really subtle and awesome blur effect that I noticed most when using the melee attack...I've never seen anything quite like it before and it utterly rocks. The only console game I've ever seen that approaches the level of the textures and stuff is Halo 2.

Can't wait to get online with this sucker for some co-op.