Microsoft and E3.

What a monumental day for Xbox 360 Owners. There was definitely some landmark stuff at the Microsoft E3 press conference today, and it was by far better than last year. I'm not going to go in depth about everything they shown at the event, there are enough sites about that out there already. I do want to hit a few points, though, that made my day.

Fist off, we have the "Milo" project from Lionhead Studios, makers of the Fable series. Using the Microsoft "Project Natal" interactive camera system and software, Lionhead creates a tech demo of a child that reacts to everything you do. Take a look, and tell me that you aren't intrigued.


Source: IGN

The reason this project interests me so much is simple, and complex at the same time. The next evolution of a Tamagatchi pet is what first pops into my mind. Been there, done that, and so on. Then you start really paying attention. As Peter Molyneux points out, Clair instinctively reaches for the goggles she's thrown. Imagine throwing yourself into an experience like that. Sure, my girlfriend leans when she plays racing games, but rarely do the hardcore gamers show such a reaction to a game. Crazy!

As the demo progresses they also show Clair drawing Milo a fish. Glimpsing it to the camera for a split second, Milo can recognize colors, and the shape of the drawing. I had some hands on with Sony's Playstation Eye when it first came out, and it was never nearly that accurate.

The next piece of impressive media I wanted to share with you is the "Forza 3" tech demo. In it the developers show what videos can be made using the game when in the hands of the public. The video consists of multiple expensive race cars spinning and dodging, narrowly missing each other time and time again. The whole thing would make stunt drivers weep. The most bizarre thing is, I was so captivated by the whole thing, I cringed every time the cars came inches from each other. The thought kept rushing to my head, "Those are beautiful, expensive cars that are going to slam into each other!" It then occurred to me that I was talking about a game.

The video below is the entire "Forza 3" presentation. The demo I'm speaking of is the last few minutes of the clip.


Source: IGN

We are truly entering an interactive age like nothing we've seen before. We're this far into it already, and we haven't even made the controller obsolete yet. Imagine what this will mean for our future. Not just the future of the game industry, but all industries.

For more in depth information on the 2009 Microsoft E3 press conference, check out Gizmodo's Liveblog.

For a complete replay of the event, visit IGN's E3 2009 LIVE coverage.