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7th October 2005:
X05 Wrap-Up
We take a look at the best of Microsoft's X05 show in one of the most colourful and vibrant cities in the world, Amsterdam.
Posted by John Grothier - Xbox - UK and Europe

A true highlight of the gaming calendar, Xbox enjoys this opportunity to bring together gamers from around the world and create a unique and immersive experience for their guests. X05 was held on October 4th and 5th this year and offered global industry leaders the chance to fully experience Xbox 360; including the first opportunity to play the next generation of games.

First off some of the eagerly-awaited Xbox 360 launch line-up titles were announced:

Kameo: Elements of Power
This mystical action-adventure game available exclusively on Xbox 360, in which the ability to morph into unique and incredible warriors allows Kameo to search out and battle ever-present evil. Boasting impeccable next-generation graphics and innovative gameplay, 'Kameo' shines as a giant leap in game development.

Perfect Dark Zero
Joanna Dark returns in the Xbox 360-exclusive the prequel to the first-person shooter 'Perfect Dark' from famed game developer Rare. A secret war has begun between shadowy corporations bent on world domination. Joanna Dark and her father, Jack, are caught up in the fight for the planet's future. A routine bounty-hunting mission rips open a global conspiracy that will change Joanna's destiny, forever.

Project Gotham Racing 3
The popular 'PGR' franchise zooms onto the Xbox 360, expanding many of the features that gamers have grown to love. PGR 3 creates the ultimate roster of the hottest supercars in existence, introduces them to the high-definition era, and drops them into a completely new gaming world, where style rules the road.

Other great games announced or shown at X05 included these:

Crackdown
This title pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with the introduction of the first truly 3-D persistent playground, highly innovative cooperative gameplay, and an extensive prop interaction system all while taking place in a massive and highly stylised urban centre. All strategies and tactics are acceptable provided players clean up the streets and roam a virtual city.

Gears of War
Blending the best of tactical action games with the best of survival horror titles, this game thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet.

Too Human
Players are treated to a non-stop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and ranged firearms combat and fuelled by breathtaking visuals previously not possible thanks to a powerful combination of Xbox 360 and the Unreal Engine 3. Battles unfold in awesome scale as players engage with vast numbers of enemies.

Mass Effect
Set 200 years in the future in an epic universe, this title places gamers in a vast galactic community in danger of being conquered by a legendary agent gone rogue. A spectacular new vision from legendary developers BioWare, Mass Effect challenges players to lead a squad of freedom fighters as they struggle against threatening armies to restore peace in the land. "

FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup
Utilising the power of the Xbox 360, fans will be able to revel in the world's most sophisticated representation of football ever. Experience a newly enhanced gameplay engine that delivers extremely responsive controls and greater level of depth. New physics and animations mean that players will now react more realistically to every tackle, shot or pass of the ball.

Saint's Row
Under threat from rival gangs and corrupt officials, the 3rd Street Saints must conquer the city of Stilwater or face destruction. From the spectacular opening battle to regain control of the local hood, this title offers an unparallel level of freedom to explore this living, breathing city. Players are free to engage in the multitude of different activates at their leisure, all while building up respect in a gameplay-rich world.

Full Auto
Combine fully-automatic, weapon-equipped vehicles with highly detailed and interactive urban environments and you have Full Auto, which allows players to choose from a wide selection of unique vehicle designs and arm them with any combination of machine guns, cannons and other deadly weapons. The rules of the road don't apply in this high-octane, no-holds-barred competition.

Condemned: Criminal Origins
This title allows players to experience a heightened level of psychological tension as they use their instincts, forensic tools, and melee and firearms combat to track serial killers and bring them to justice. Gamers will play as Agent Thomas, a detective in the FBI's Serial Crimes Unit, whose pursuit of relentless serial killers leads him through gritty, life-like environments filled with sociopaths lurking on the brink of humanity.

Other franchise titles for the Xbox 360 were also announced, including these:

Superman Returns: The Videogame
This title combines strong creative vision and compelling new technology to deliver a powerful and emotional gaming experience to consumers. Gamers will experience a real sense of flying while mastering Superman's unrivalled superhero powers to save Metropolis.

Call of Duty 2
The sequel to Infinity Ward's 2003 Game of the Year, Call of Duty 2 delivers an unparalleled portrayal of the cinematic intensity and chaos of battle as seen through the eyes of ordinary soldiers fighting together in epic WWII conflicts. The sequel offers more immense, more intense and more realistic battles than ever and features stunningly lifelike graphics, advanced AI technology and dynamic sound effects.

Castle Wolfenstein
id Software's newest chapter in the legendary 'Wolfenstein' series will deliver players deep behind the enemy lines of a war-torn Germany, where Nazi experiments with technology and the supernatural threaten to turn the tide of World War II. Utilising a revolutionary new graphics technology targeted specifically at next-generation hardware, this new FPS experience will draw players into a world of unmatched exploration, action and espionage.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Bethesda Softwork's Oblivion is the quintessential role-playing game for the next generation and another leap forward in gaming. Step inside the most richly detailed and vibrant game world ever created and is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful 'Elder Scrolls' saga and feature a powerful combination of free-form gameplay and unprecedented graphics, as players can unravel the main quest at their own pace or explore the vast world and find their own challenges.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4
This title will thrust players into a new breed of gameplay that promises to innovate and revolutionise the 'Splinter Cell' franchise. Ubisoft is taking the saga of Sam Fisher into entirely new territory, expanding the story and depth of his character.

Quake 4
This is the sequel to the award-winning and historic 'Quake II.' In a war for Earth's survival, against an unrelenting enemy, the only way to defeat them is to become one of them. Built on id Software's revolutionary 'Doom 3' technology, 'Quake 4' also features fast-paced multiplayer competition modelled after the speed, feel and style of 'Quake III Arena.'

MotoGP Ultimate Racing Technology
This racer is developed by the same team behind the award-winning 'MotoGP URT 3' and created exclusively for the Xbox 360, MotoGP URT 2006 looks set to create a new definition of high speed for racing fans looking for the fastest thrills on the fastest console.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend
For both the Xbox and Xbox 360, in this new adventure the developers promise that Lara will truly come to life - the dual-pistol, wielding adventurer's polygon count and animation set has been increased significantly, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity seen to date. Although the main story is still under wraps we know that Lara will be going back to her roots with a triumphant return to the Tombs that made her famous.

Commenting on the announcements made at X05, Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Xbox at Microsoft, said: "The biggest and the best names in publishing are committed to the success of Xbox 360, and looking at the titles we have announced tonight we are very excited. From exclusive titles to debuting the next instalment of some of the world's best-loved franchises, Xbox 360 will redefine gaming and entertainment. The high-definition era of gaming starts now."

So the future for Microsoft's consoles looks very bright indeed basking in the glory that was X05, and Silicon Fusion will keep you up to date will all of the above titles as well as many more to come...

John Grothier

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