E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is an event held once a year in Los Angeles where all the major gaming companies present their newest games and their plans for the coming year. This year’s E3 conference is one of the most important, with both Microsoft and Sony releasing details on their new consoles, the Xbox One and the Playstation 4.
Microsoft began the presentations, showing off a set of new games both for the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One. A surprising addition to the presentation was Microsoft releasing a new Xbox 360 – that’s right, an Xbox 360. In the midst of the new games and the new console, Microsoft took a moment and presented a new 360, which they stated was slimmer, sleeker and quieter than previous models. The games were varied, with many attracting more attention than others.
One of the most innovative was Forza 5, which took an entirely new approach to racing AI, while also attracting attention by showing one of the two Mclaren F1s in existence. As you play the game, the computer learns from your driving style, and when you aren’t playing, uses what it has learned from you to play against other players around the world. According to Turn 10, this system will offer all users a more realistic driving experience, while also rewarding players for their “AI’s” successes by giving them credits for wins that their AI earns.
Other games that attracted attention included Metal Gear Solid V, which has been claimed to offer an improved play style. In the trailer for the game, the traditional emphasis on stealth of the Metal Gear series was seen, earning great approval from the watching crowd. Many other sequels came out as well, including Dark Souls II and The Witcher 3. Microsoft continued its commitment to multiplayer games with an adaptation of World of Tanks for both the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.
Numerous features of the Xbox One concerned many gamers, with the emphasis on DRM, or the control that Microsoft will be exerting over the rights users have for their gamer, being one of the biggest worries for Xbox One usage. Though the details have yet to come clear, right now Microsoft seems to be pushing towards more control over all your games. Should you want to share a game with a friend, you will not be able to just give them the disk, as the game will be tied to your account. This “feature” led Sony to issue a video in response, demonstrating the contrast of that system to sharing games on the PS4.