This morning at 04:30 UK time Microsoft will take to the stage in the Santa Monica High School amphitheatre to deliver its E3 2007 Media Briefing.
It will be the first of the big three platform holders to be let loose on the press, and Tom will be bringing us Live Text commentary of all of it as it happens. Just sit back and watch the updates thunder in. There's no need to refresh or anything.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
We're in. It's a big round bowl of an auditorium with little round squishy Xbox pads under every bum.
– Robert Purchese
Core, Premium and Elite Xbox 360s sit on little green barstools next to the screen. A fourth stool sits in line. It's unoccupied. New SKU?
– Robert Purchese
They're repeating the trick of having attendees' Gamertags crawl across the screen. Ellie's "Mrs Tom Selleck" floats past in massive letters.
– Robert Purchese
We're making predictions. Mine: Peter Moore roars on-stage to expose a Prince Albert with Solid Snake swinging merrily below.
– Robert Purchese
Ellie suggests something unprintable about green hair. She's sat behind another girl, so there's a 480 per cent chance they'll pick her out of the crowd.
– Robert Purchese
There's a round area next to the big screen with a speech podium. In front of it something pointy about a metre cubed is covered in black sheet.
– Robert Purchese
Johnny's recording me doing a Live Text. I think I should send this one home just so you have that degree of authenticity.
– Robert Purchese
"I think Microsoft's determined to make everyone look like vomit." EGTV's Johnny Minkley weighs in on the ambiance.
– Robert Purchese
Smoke rolls onto the stage ominously. We're ten minutes away according to a Tannoy announcement. I mean PA.
– Robert Purchese
Five minutes. The sky's gone dark in preparation. We're outside, so let's hope it rains. Seriously, I'd laugh.
– Robert Purchese
Right. Very little space left. Only a couple of dozen people still standing. E3 may have changed, but the scale and expense of Microsoft's conference hasn't.
– Robert Purchese
Peter Moore has told us in the past that he reads these backstage. Peter, cross your arms in an X to show you love us.
– Robert Purchese
"Please welcome five Halo fans from Libertyville, Illinois." It's a band. Halo tune, with a starry sky on-screen.
– Robert Purchese
They're not bad actually. On-screen, screenshots float through the cosmos.
– Robert Purchese
The violinist goes for a stroll down by the pond in the middle. She's loving it.
– Robert Purchese
Peter Moore arrives. "Woo," he says, and says he found them on the net. "Thanks again Corporeal."
– Robert Purchese
"This will be the first E3 briefing in which every demo you see will be coming this year." Promises "the greatest holiday line-up in videogame history".
– Robert Purchese
They whip the black wrap off and it's Rock Band's stuff. Peter picks up a guitar. "This is Harmonix, and this is Rock Band." "Let's pump it up to 11."
– Robert Purchese
Peter's on bass. They're doing Main Offender by The Hives. Peter gets the first Game Over!
– Robert Purchese
Peter pauses the game by accident. Brilliant. "Bring it back up!"
– Robert Purchese
And he's paused it again during the conclusion. Oh Peter. m/
– Robert Purchese
Peter plays tribute to Rock Band, saying more bands will be announced later this week. Oh my God and it's a new Viva Piata!!!
– Robert Purchese
"Become the ultimate party animal." It looks like a party game, then. They're smashing stuff in gardens, racing around a town, belching boats down a stream.
– Robert Purchese
Viva Piñ: Party Animals. JUMP IN EVERYONE. It's not Rare though. Krome Studios. Over 50 mini-games. Now onto Mass Effect.
– Robert Purchese
A nasty alien with an army is going to wipe humanity from the galaxy, apparently. Best shoot him then, which we do, with third-person gunnery.
– Robert Purchese
Lots of space battles, epic in scale. Looks a bit Battlestar Galactica. The in-game sections were as nice as anything else on 360's been. Due out in November.
– Robert Purchese
Peter shifts chat to growth. It's about total consumer spending not hardware sales, apparently. They've got those too. NPD: 5.6m in US, 2.8m Wii, 1.4m PS3.
– Robert Purchese
Since the other launches: "We're in a tight race with Wii, and outselling PS3 two to one," he says. "Xbox 360 is selling more games than anyone else."
– Robert Purchese
Shows a chart for the number of third party games that broke the top ten on Xbox 360. 18. Adds the numbers for PS3 and Wii: "Nil, for the Brits in the audience."
– Robert Purchese
"Xbox 360 is driving this industry." Last generation's top 5. "These came from two franchises - and I've got them both tattooed on my arm."
– Robert Purchese
GTA, Vice City, San Andreas, Halo, Halo 2. The top five of the last generation, he says. "Three years later, this same perfect storm will touch down for holiday."
– Robert Purchese
GTA IV, Madden 08 and Halo 3. "This holiday will be unlike anything that's come before it." Trailer reel kicks off.
– Robert Purchese
PGR4. Dynasty Warriors Gundam. Call of Duty 4. Stranglehold. Guitar Hero III. Beautiful Katamari. Lost Odyssey. NBA Live 08.
– Robert Purchese
Mass Effect again. Fatal Inertia. Medal of Honor Airborne. Tiger Woods 08. Ace Combat 6. NHL 08. Assassin's Creed.
– Robert Purchese
Spider-Man Friend or Foe. Simpsons. Splinter Cell Conviction. We're being shown very little we've not seen yet. NASCAR 08. Everything's a snapshot.
– Robert Purchese
Eternal Sonata. BioShock. Madden. Tony Hawk. Crash of the Titans. Harry Potter 5. The Orange Box - woo TF2. Bee Movie Game.
– Robert Purchese
Rock Band again. Naruto. JUMP IN. God. That was the first I'd seen of Spider-Man, and it looked a bit ropey to be honest. Jeff Bell's up now.
– Robert Purchese
He's going to talk family. New one: "Scene it?" made by Screen Life. Based on the boardgame. New trivia questions, puzzles and HD movie clips.
– Robert Purchese
New controller. Handheld with a Buzz-style button on the top, and the face buttons positioned in a line below. Four bundled with Scene It for usual game price.
– Robert Purchese
"I think we have seen it," says Johnny. It does look VERY similar to Buzz's controller. Now they're demoing Naruto. Number one for young boys, apparently.
– Robert Purchese
Naruto's running around a big city, jumping and prancing like a pubescent ninja. The combat has that Zelda pause on impact. It's very slick; looks like a cartoon.
– Robert Purchese
Bell recalls the EA commitment to Live a few years ago. "Tonight I'm proud to announce that this incredible line up of EA Sports games ... will run twice as fast than last year's." "In sport, speed is everything." Some US sportsman called Reggie Bush is up.
– Robert Purchese
He makes a crack about Microsoft guys cheating as they play Madden. I think I've got you stopped buddy, you haven't been to training camp yet have you."
– Robert Purchese
Bell turns to Xbox Live. "Last year we said Xbox Live would grow to six million members. I'm happy to announce we've eclipsed the seven million mark."
– Robert Purchese
"Before next year's E3, we're forecasting that we will cross the 10 million mark." Turns to Live Arcade. Says it attracts new users. 45 million game downloads to date.
– Robert Purchese
Over 100 games total by year end. Shows some. Bomberman Live. Undertow. Hexic 2 (wow - looks more like Tetris). Sonic. Sensible World of Soccer. War World.
– Robert Purchese
Reggie is utterly failing to use the prompter. It's quite funny, because we can see his lines. "Lets get it on." Is what he would have said. "I'm not even watching Jeff. I'm not even watching." I'm not sure he's playing, either. That was odd. And scripted.
– Robert Purchese
Every Extend. Geon. Wing Commander Arena. Feeding Frenzy 2. Track & Field. Spyglass Board Games. Golden Axe. Space Giraffe. Super Puzzle Fighter. World Puzzle.
– Robert Purchese
Marathon. Poker Smash. Tetris Smash. Boku Sudoku. Two being added tonight: Sonic and Golden Axe.
– Robert Purchese
Now he's going to talk about the Video Marketplace. The only place to offer this, he points out. Over 2000 hours, from 28 networks and studios. Twice the size of the nearest cable provider, he says. In the US, anyway. USD 125m spent on DLC so far.
– Robert Purchese
They've announced a partnership with Disney to bring their films to live. They show a reel of classics - Tarzan, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Atlantis, Hercules, Emperor's New Groove, Armageddon, Sky High, Waterboy, Bad Company, Unbreakable...
– Robert Purchese
On and on it goes. Coyote Ugly. Deja Vu. Primeval. The Queen. Venus. All in high definition. All available tonight. All Disney films from now to follow.
– Robert Purchese
High definition video to go global in autumn. Canada and Europe this year. "We're committed to bringing Xbox 360 to the world." August 24th: X360 Elite in Euro.
– Robert Purchese
They're bring out Shane Kim. "As Jeff said, everything starts with the games, which is why with all due respect to Mr Gates I have the best job in Microsoft."
– Robert Purchese
Pays tribute to Sakaguchi, BioWare, Bungie, and says their "masterpieces" will join a great run of first-party titles.
– Robert Purchese
Says PGR4 will follow Forza 2 in "a one-two punch". He welcomes Brian Woodhouse and Craig Howard from Bizarre Creations.
– Robert Purchese
They're showing the bikes racing through a rain-swept New York. The frame-rate's about 30. Doing wheelies and stoppies. Kudos galore.
– Robert Purchese
Oops, Shanghai, not New York. Not sure what that says about me. Or the game. A tropical storm promises to affect gameplay.
– Robert Purchese
"PGR On Demand" will allow you to share videos and photos. It's coming in September. They go off to a new trailer.
– Robert Purchese
The snow looks great. The reflections are epic. The raindrops on the car race along as the wind strikes them and a car duels with a bike on various terrain.
– Robert Purchese
He points to Alan Wake, Too Human, Fable 2, Halo Wars and Banjo as examples of X360's aceness. Peter Jackson's Halo story partnership is referenced.
– Robert Purchese
There's now new info though, it seems. Sakaguchi's Lost Odyssey is about to be shown.
– Robert Purchese
The cinematics are ludicrously epic, as the player character wonders about the cost of his immortality. Sounds like Planescape: Torment.
– Robert Purchese
"If you are an RPG fan, Xbox 360 is simply the best console to own this holiday," says Kim, thanks to Blue Dragon, Mass Effect and Lost Odyssey.
– Robert Purchese
PC news time. Viva Piñata for Windows!!11 And Gears of War. "Surprise." Laughter.
– Robert Purchese
With "completely new content, a game editor and a couple of other surprises". CliffyB takes the stage.
– Robert Purchese
He talks about how things have changed since he showed it last year. "Gears was celebrated for its integrated co-op... and we're bringing that to Windows".
– Robert Purchese
They're using Games for Windows Live, of course. Five new single-player chapters, new multiplayer mode and arenas, plus new achievements.
– Robert Purchese
We're going to get to fight the Brumack (sp?) that we saw in the trailers. Marcus and Dom go for it as it fires stuff off its head cannon.
– Robert Purchese
They're using big concrete pipes to hide. "Target those arm guns." BOOM. "One down." The guns are gone, but not the one on its head.
– Robert Purchese
"Unfortunately I don't want to spoil how this battle ends," he says, before walking off. PC version's out this Christmas.
– Robert Purchese
Moore's back. SEGA, Eidos and THQ have adopted Games for Windows Live, he says. More than a dozen Live-enabled PC titles this year.
– Robert Purchese
Games for Windows will now be built into Unreal Engine 3. "That's right, it's a big deal," he says as a few applaud.
– Robert Purchese
Moore says the "unified brand presence" in 10,000 stores worldwide has helped to... do... something. Make money, presumably. I wasn't listening.
– Robert Purchese
He's showing a Games for Windows reel. Flight Sim X: Acceleration. Thrillville: Off the Rails. Bee Movie Game. (They love that one, innit).
– Robert Purchese
Hellgate. Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasty. Stranglehold again. Gears, of course. BioShock. Crysis. Universe at War. Blacksite.
– Robert Purchese
World in Conflict. Age of Conan. Lost Planet. Kane & Lynch. Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts. Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals. Juiced 2.
– Robert Purchese
Viva Piñata. Spider-Man. End of reel. Clappety clap.
– Robert Purchese
Call of Duty 4 to be shown next, having been lined up for 360 and PC. Not clear if he's about to announce it's exclusive, but we'll see.
– Robert Purchese
Promises "an intense and cinematic campaign" as we slip into a trailer. My arse really hurts, by the way. I hope he finishes soon.
– Robert Purchese
In the future, people fight with guns. In Prypyatt. An explosion levels an entire city, and looks a bit in-game. Could be anyway. Won't be fooled again.
– Robert Purchese
Grant Collier and Jason West come on-stage to give us a "deeper look". How about a deeper cushion?
– Robert Purchese
"We're making a more sophisticated, deeper Call of Duty experience." Promises variety. "We're going deep, and we're going hard." Moore shakes his head.
– Robert Purchese
Moore is sulking next to a TV as they play the game. A sniper comes out of the low, greyed grass, bleeding out of the scenery to expose his perfect camouflage.
– Robert Purchese
This looks properly amazing. The limited palette and detailed, grassy camo coupled with brilliant animation give it an incredibly coherent look.
– Robert Purchese
They skip a couple of cinematics. Inside a building, bazookas lie against the wall. The use of foliage is extensive and varied as they sneak past a chopper.
– Robert Purchese
Enemies slowly sweep the area as you lie in the grass. Exclusive to X360 is a multiplayer online beta. CharlieOscarDelta.com for details.
– Robert Purchese
Now they're going to show Splinter Cell, with the next version this Christmas, of course. Exclusive to Xbox 360.
– Robert Purchese
We knew that at X06, of course. They're going to show the second GTA IV trailer on our big screen, claiming the footage was captured on a 360.
– Robert Purchese
"Where the GTA IV experience stops on other platforms, it continues on Xbox 360." Two new exclusive episodes by spring, he re-confirms.
– Robert Purchese
Moving away from GTA onto Japanese partnerships. He says all publishers are committed to 360. They show emblems for all sorts including Beautiful Katamari.
– Robert Purchese
"The only game that won't launch this year" is being shown. Resident Evil 5. Bleeding eyes in hot, dusty slums.
– Robert Purchese
The full trailer to be shown on Live on 26th July.
– Robert Purchese
And it's Jade Raymond. And Patrice Desilets. They're going to play Assassin's Creed for us, which is sexy of them.
– Robert Purchese
They're showing the Jerusalem demo we'll play at the show. Altair walks through crowds and kicks up a fuss with the locals, which Raymond advises against.
– Robert Purchese
We'll need to get to know the people as well as the city, says Jade. Having shown us the monks last year, they're going for a new approach.
– Robert Purchese
Altair distracts by throwing someone off a building, and free-runs over arches and up walls. Jade giggles weirdly at the killing that ensues.
– Robert Purchese
Altair's caught in a trap. Talal, the level's badguy, emerges and taunts the assassin. "I cannot allow my work to be threatened, " he says, as his goons attack.
– Robert Purchese
Combat will be based on timing rather than lots of landed blows. Timing counters allows you to take people down elegantly and effectively.
– Robert Purchese
Talal legs it up a ladder, and now we're to see the chase AI. "No two chases will be the same." Altair bounds over beams, ramps, stairs, barging people aside.
– Robert Purchese
Free-running helps Altair catch up over beams and hanging planks. When he gets to him, he leaps onto him and knifes him ferociously. And they're off.
– Robert Purchese
Moore's back, and starts talking about stories that revolutionised entertainment, like Star Wars.
– Robert Purchese
"30 years later a new generation is claiming a new story and a new hero." It's time for Halo, then.
– Robert Purchese
Nope. We're being shown a live action short created in concert between Neill Blomkamp (the abandoned film's director) and Bungie.
– Robert Purchese
A red sun burns through an industrial background, as we close in on machines whirring and smelting. Familiar helmets and vehicles are being made.
– Robert Purchese
Marines pick from racks of familiar handguns and rifles. A dropship emerges from a trapdoor. That's it. Hrm. A sort of fancy trailer, then. "Finish the fight."
– Robert Purchese
"We're announcing a new console for Halo nation." It's brown. "The Halo 3 Special Edition console." In September.
– Robert Purchese
Green or brown, Ellie reckons. "So there you have it - the greatest holiday line-up in videogame history," says Moore.
– Robert Purchese
"Tonight, we let the games talk." Lines them up to illustrate his point. He's not wrong - I'd buy Viva Piñata again.
– Robert Purchese
"We're adding even more family and social blockbusters" like Rock Band, Dance Dance, Simpsons and Beautiful Katamari. "This is who we are and what we'll deliver to you this holiday." He's wishing us all a wonderful week. And now, Halo 3 trailer.
– Robert Purchese
"You are in the dirt... thinking what? That you might escape the coming fire. Your world will burn until its surface is but glass."
– Robert Purchese
All your favourites - Cortana. Chief, Covenant, Warthogs, dropships, gigantic-scale gun battles. There's an enemy that fills the whole screen.
– Robert Purchese
And the lights come up, and we're off. Good night. See you for Nintendo and Sony later today.