We managed to get up close and personal with art director Christian Bedard and his new baby Far Cry: Instincts for Xbox. The recently released Far Cry is a top class PC first-person shooter miles ahead of what you could hope to see running on Xbox. Yet, seeing Instincts doing its thing on Xbox, even at this early code stage, is a real treat.Two facts underscore that this isn't a quickly knocked-out Far Cry mark II. For one, it's not a straight port (memory constraints wouldn't allow for that,
ON: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC - OUT: Autumn
THE PITCH:
North Korea is the acceptable face that most developers appear to be using now as home to world-threatening bad guys and Ghost Recon 2 falls in line with that philosophy. It's a squad-based military shooter and Ubi Soft are using the buzzword 'immersion' as the hook to their latest in the Ghost Recon franchise. 'Being there' is the in-place to be and we're promised the chaos of war in the intense battle sequences.
KEY FEATURES
Intense
On: Xbox - OUT: Autumn
THE PITCH:
Squad-based first-person shooting is back to put a halt to a bunch of dodgy military officers bent on creating war in oil-rich regions. Apart from the new campaign and setting, there are a number of multiplayer upgrades.
KEY FEATURES
New single-player campaign with diversified objectives, new weapons and equipment, set in Mediterranean and Eastern European environments.
Improved enemy AI.
Objective-Based Game Modes - capture the point and capture the flag
On: Xbox - OUT: Autumn
THE PITCH:
A reworked version of the PC game comes to Xbox and includes Xbox Live multiplayer war games. Command and control soldiers of various ranks in cold war simulations where land, air and sea vehicles can be called into action. The variety in gameplay ranges from taking control of individual grunts to controlling squads, and that's not to mention riding shotgun in the vehicles.
KEY FEATURES
The original PC mission-based campaign is the main game but Xbox
On: Xbox - OUT: September 2004
THE PITCH: Finally nearing completion, Fable was one of the titles paraded at the Xbox's launch. In developers Big Blue Box's defence, this is an ambitious project - a free-roaming world where each and every one of your actions affects your characters moral and physical development.
KEY FEATURES
Action-based character development: What you do directly changes your character. Too much skulking in dark rooms will make you pale, while a strong right arm may result
On: Xbox - OUT: Late 2004
THE PITCH:
Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict introduces new elements to the Unreal universe, most notably the opportunity to play in both first and third-person perspectives. Other tweaks include improved player agility and ability boosting adrenaline powers. The honourable pastime of fragging your mates with no quarter is accommodated via Xbox Live.
KEY FEATURES
Hand-to-hand weapon combat is a first for the series, as is playing in first and
On: Xbox - OUT: March 2005
THE PITCH: Set in a semi-mythical ancient China, Jade Empire sets you on a martial arts learning curve under the watchful tutelage of your wise master. Travel through exotic locations like the gardens of the Imperial City or the mountains of the Land of Howling Spirits and, basically, get into fights.
KEY FEATURES
Upgradeable fighting system: Progression is rewarded with up to 30 different fighting syles, ranging from martial arts idioms (Legendary Fist, Storm
On: Xbox - OUT: March 2005
THE PITCH: "Notoriously naughty" squirrel Conker makes his ultra-cheeky debut on Xbox in an all-new Xbox Live friendly team-based shooter. Keeping its tongue firmly in its (butt) cheek, Conker Live and Reloaded aims to deliver frenzied action and gratuitous toilet humour by the bucketload.
KEY FEATURES
Two unique campaigns - Old World and Future War.
Campaign storylines, including a series of multiple missions.
Players can choose from six character classes,
On: Xbox - OUT: Winter 2005
THE PITCH: A racing game built around revolutionary "Drivatar" technology and extensive car customisation, designed and built with Xbox Live in mind.
KEY FEATURES
"Drivatar" technology allows you to train your own AI Drivatars (Driving Avatar, you see) to mimic your own distinctive driving style. They can then represent you in races or, bizarrely, train further Drivatars in the mysteries of your oh-so-special techniques.
Models from over 60 manufactures,
Microsoft have well and truly kicked off E3 with a stunning live multiplayer demo of Halo 2 at their and we have the latest hi-res shots for your droolatory delight.Beta testing has been successful with up to 16 players on Xbox Live 3.0, and the pre-show conference demo blew attendess away with massively impressive in-game physics and the sheer gut-churning pace at which melees can develop.Halo 2 has been confirmed for a 9 November release, and is playable on the show floor - we'll have much
