Was it really eight years ago?
Yesterday, Microsoft introduced the world to the Xbox One, the companys next generation console. Many gamers were impressed, but a vocal group of players were wholly unenthused with the TV-centric message, the lack of games, and confused messaging. However, when you compare it to the Xbox 360 reveal from almost exactly eight years ago, youll appreciate just how much things have changed.
In 2005, it began with
The show starts with an international collection of young people, all ready to be connected to one another. If only there was some console that could actually do it. In retrospect, this was just the first step in Microsofts messaging of the interconnectedness of Xbox Live on the soon to be revealed 360. Youre then immediately hit with the MTV logo, a disturbing indicator of things to come.
But in 2013
After a brief introduction from Tina Summerford and Larry Hryb, the introductory video was a strange mix of Microsoft employees, game designers, and Steven Spielberg talking about how awesome the 360 was, and how much more awesomer this next generation system will be. Finally, were going to stop watching and start living our entertainment! Like in the 360 reveal, its meant to feel global, but its also oddly personal thanks to the subjects addressing the camera (and the viewer) directly.
In 2005, your host was
Elijah Wood! After simply walking into Mordor, Frodo was Microsofts go to, geek friendly celebrity, hired to shepherd gamers into a whole new world. Unfortunately, since this is an MTV show, he has to detail everything that will happen in the next half hour before you can even see the system or any games. And then he immediately passes hosting duties to an MTV VJ. If you arent 80 years old, a VJ hosted music videos back when those werent seen exclusively on YouTube.
But in 2013
Instead of hiring Aziz Ansari or Zach Galifianakis to tell us all about the Xbox One, Microsoft kept it simple with Don Mattrick, MSs President of Interactive Entertainment that normally hosts the E3 press conference. In general, MS seemed less interested than ever on using celebs to spice up their presentation. No professional wrestlers, B-list comedians, or C-list singers necessary when you have Mattricks winning smile.
In 2005, the system was revealed via
A model surrounded by excited people that surely werent hired to act excited. The young girl carries a handbag onto a circular stage. She then pulls a 360 out said bag, implying a portability that the 360 was never going to embrace. After she turns it on the crowd explodes in applause that must be genuine, followed by a 25 second video featuring the logo and little else.
But in 2013
Mattrick playfully takes his time to introduce the machine, and the lack of rushed MTV editing means he can take a second to breathe before he names the console. Once he finally does, you get much longer sizzle reel showing off the console before getting a good look at it in real life. Plus, they bothered to show the controller immediately, something the 360 held back on.
In 2005, immediately following the system reveal
The show cuts to a live performance by The Killers. Yes, you may have a million questions about the 360, but sit on those as you listen to a chart-topping hit. Look, eight years ago we liked The Killers as much as the next poser, but we didnt favor their music over learning literally anything about the 360 beyond its name. And once the four minute song is over, its time for commercials! Well, were sure well learn more about the 360 after the break.
But in 2013
Mattrick quickly passes the mic (not literally) to Yusef Mehdi. Mehdi talks for a long time about the new dashboard and its ability to watch The Price Is Right live (Xbox, Plinko). Yusef then showed off how to have a stilted Skype conversation while watching ESPN. Yusefs 10 minutes of talk was painfully game-free, but it also wasnt, say, a Maroon 5 performance, which really puts things into perspective.
In 2005, when its time to finally show games
Sandwiched between talks with Little Jon and MTV footnote Sway, its finally time for gameplay footage, all 40 seconds of it. First Tony Hawk presents the briefest of looks at his next game, then EA trots out footage of Need For Speed and Madden that eventually cause the creation of the term bullshot. Thankfully, this quasi-gameplay ends so we can check in with the cast of Pimp My Ride.
But in 2013
After another ten minutes of talk--this time an interesting, but ultimately uninformative conversation about Xbox Live and Kinect--its time for gameplay at the 28 minute mark. And funnily enough, EA gets to show the first games for Xbox One as well, and once again the footage isnt all that convincing as actual gameplay. At least this time EA was open that it was pre-rendered using in-game assets.
In 2005, Microsoft talks about hardware
After a loooooooong segment with the cast of Pimp My Ride, a show thats mainly famous for an Xzibit meme , and hes not even on this special. Following that, VJ Sway meets with J. Allard to learn about the 360s design, including its wireless controllers and interchangeable faceplates. Allard closes with the Xbox Live Marketplace, which is just a shadow of what it would become. Then its time for another commercial break.
But in 2013
Again, MS had the luxury of time, meaning that the presenters could give at least a few more details about about the hardware and the evolution of Xbox Live when on stage. And they were able to get way more specific about Ones controller, while the 360s still hadnt been seen more than halfway into the MTV special. Plus, there had yet to be a commercial break.
In 2005, Call of Duty appeared
For three seconds in the middle of a game montage. After almost 20 minutes, MTV is ready to show the following games for half a minute: Kameo, Gears, Ghost Recon 3, PGR3, NBA 2K6. Quake 4, The Darkness, Saints Row. Call of Duty 2 was sandwiched in there, but there wasnt much time for it, because Microsoft had to move on to the real system seller--Perfect Dark Zero.
But in 2013
Call of Duty: Ghosts isnt forced to share the spotlight with any other games, instead taking up the last 10 minutes of the event. Outside of the EA montage and CoD, Microsoft shows two Xbox One exclusive, only one of which is a launch game, and then its back to talking about TV shows. Looking at the pure numbers, the 360 reveal showed way more games, so maybe not everything has improved over the last eight years.
In 2005, the big system seller seemed to be
Perfect Dark Zero. Its easy now to mock PDZ for being a disappointment that basically killed the franchise, but at the time it was a pretty major exclusive. Where the presentation screwed up was making the PDZ reveal way more about three pro gamers playing the game. The three kids go to the UK to meet Rare, then they play the game live in L.A., but viewers see under a minute of actual footage all told. Fortunately, we do get to see Wilmer Valderrama play the game.
But in 2013
Perfect Dark is dead and developer Rare is pretty much a totally different studio. Instead, CoD took the spotlight, and were doubting Ghosts will be the franchise killer that PDZ was. Also, the CoD presentation had a derpy looking dog, which is statistically 70 times better than Wilmer Valderrama.
