pre-X06 MEGATON precognition chronicle

Laa-Yosh said:
It's a modified Doom3 engine. I'd expect them to have replaced the stencil shadows with some other solution, for example.
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As long as Carmack is personally tuning the code for the 360 HW, I'm satisfied with him using (a variant of) the D3 engine. Carmack is very good at that sort of thing.
 
Hmm... not any prediction but I have the following checklist in my mind.

(A) Games -- We should be hearing about their second wave success stories. This would be the focus for X06.

* Latest round up of games (spearheaded by GoW and possibly unannounced exclusive games).

* Heads up to upcoming games (anchored by Halo 3) ...including any previous Playstation exclusive franchises.


(B) Xbox 360 Platform -- Mainly to summarize recent developments, to counter PS3 vision so that Xbox 360 comes out a winner by price/value.

* Improvements to Xbox Live to remind people of MS's key differentiator (Negate PS3's free online game)

* Expanded Xbox 360 platform to support homebrew development: The Express SDK for Xbox 360 should be here by end of the year (Negate PS3's Linux and homebrew development support rumors)

* Update on MS's media strategy i.e., HD DVD player, 1080p, DLNA compliance, ... (Negate PS3's built-in media capability)

* New peripherals (Negate EyeToy)

* Any other improvements to Xbox 360 design (65nm should be around the corner based on earlier rumors)


Wild card -- Depends on how confident MS is...

* Announcements of MS portable game console (PS3 is no longer the latest kid on the block)
 
I'm sure MS has lots to show that they really couldn't show at TGS. Gears was there only because of how important Gears is. But the rest? Japan would not be interested.

MS should:
  • Show updates to every 1st and 2nd party game that showed at E3 (Gears, Pinata, Too Human, Mass Effect, Alan Wake, Shadowrun, Fable 2, Marvel MMO).
  • Reveal 1-3 new 1st or 2nd party games (PGR4, Raresomethingorother, etc.).
  • Show plans for improving on Live in the next 6 months (pricing, feature set, DLC viewing in-game, etc.).
  • Show previously announced key third party titles (SC: DA, Assassin's Creed, DOAX2, etc.).
  • Detail any hardware/accessory improvements they have planned between now and E3 (HD-DVD, wheel, etc.).
  • Show off games for Vista (i.e., Crysis).

MS could:
  • Announce ports of games not currently on the 360 (Mercenaries 2, DMC4, etc.).
  • Have first unveilings of multiconsole 3rd party games (Madden, GTA4, etc.).
  • Have first unveilings of 3rd party exclusives (i.e., ________).
  • Update the backwards compatibility list.
  • Announce a developer buyout.
  • New section added to XBLA for (large quantities of) direct ports of old games.


If I've learned anything about the industry, it's that the most probable outcome is the most boring one. It's quite unlikely that MS has anything truly exceptional to announce or show. But then, they really don't need to. If they just have a strong showing of the titles we know about and a smattering of good news elsewhere, the event will be a definite win for them.
 
Actually information about the Wolfenstein title is even more rare then id's own next project.
We know about that game that it'll have alot of people, thus presumably some kind of interaction with them as well; it'll have advanced megatexture and large outdoor areas; and it'll have a new shadowing system, probably with some complex form of shadow buffers to cover large areas. We also know, based on the new concept artist id has hired, that it'll probably have a sci-fi setting.

On the other hand all we have about the new Wolf game are some concept images and a few blury character renders from some feature. And Raven probably has their best team working on it, including this guy. Everything else is kept under wraps for years by now... surprising.

I'd assume that the reason it hasn't been presented at Quakecon was that it'll be published by Microsoft Game Studios and they've been intentionally holding it back for X06. We'll soon now if I'm right ;)
 
Is the next project a joint one with other developers, as with most recent id games?

No, this is just our core title. At work right now, we have Splash Damage on Enemy Territory and Raven working on a Wolfenstein sequel that’s just under way, and this project is going to be a brand-new title. We don’t currently have anyone working on a Doom follow-on – I’m sure there will be one at some point, but it’s not in production right now. We are hoping to diversify a bit more. We have our Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake franchises, which are all very successful, but we’re trying to make a new high-end franchise. We’ve also got the cellphone work that I’m doing, which is a new franchise also.
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http://spong.com/detail/editorial.jsp?eid=10109375&cid=&tid=&pid=&plid=&page=2

This Carmack Interview is from 24 May 2006.

Raven released Quake 4 towards the end of 2005. Quake 4 was based on Doom 3.

Splash Damage with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is based on a modified Doom 3 engine.



By the time Raven finished Quake 4, ID was deep into their next-gen engine technology.
 
Brimstone said:
http://spong.com/detail/editorial.jsp?eid=10109375&cid=&tid=&pid=&plid=&page=2

This Carmack Interview is from 24 May 2006.

Raven released Quake 4 towards the end of 2005. Quake 4 was based on Doom 3.

Splash Damage with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is based on a modified Doom 3 engine.



By the time Raven finished Quake 4, ID was deep into their next-gen engine technology.
Click to expand...

Raven started on Wolfenstein 2 in 2004 (remember, Raven develops multiple games at the same time). We've seen some stuff from Wolfenstein 2 rendered in real-time (Nazi flame thrower guy line up looked like it was in real-time, and there were a couple shots of the editor with real-time render turned on), and traditionally the first in-game stuff from an id Software engine is in id Software's title (plus Carmack said at QuakeCon 2006 that they had yet to show anything from his next engine).

It was mentioned that the tech for Wolfenstein was co-developed by id Software and Raven in 2004 (apparently in the same way as id Software and Splash Damage co-developed the tech for Quake Wars). I would guess that it uses a slightly newer version of MegaTexture than Quake Wars (since Quake Wars' MegaTexture tech came about in early 2004), and that it's used to achieve the "one huge world without load points" thing they've mentioned several times.

And of course, Wolfenstein 2 has been officially announced, whereas id Software's next title hasn't even been shown to publishers. This indicates Wolfenstein 2 is coming first, which means it can't be using id Software's next engine.
 
talk about new games hd and other stuff

and some more halo 3 blah blah blah.


hopfully killer instincts 3
and a new street fighter/mortal kombat games for arcade.

i beleive they will talk about a january/march release of Halo3 which will cause a bunch of people to buy a 360 during the christmas season, giving GOW the spotlight for the december november buyout drought. since ps3 and wii will be sold out (got my WII/zelda money ready)

buddy of mine is a game tester and on his schedual is a halo3 80% build multi play
 
MS doesn't need and couldn't use a price drop now. It would just eat into profits. E3 is more the time to expect that to happen.
 
I'm not sure they'll be supply limited this holiday season, but I doubt a price drop would significantly up their sales right now. They'll bundle games and that will be a significant value boost for consumers.
 
Laa-Yosh said:
I'd assume that the reason it hasn't been presented at Quakecon was that it'll be published by Microsoft Game Studios and they've been intentionally holding it back for X06. We'll soon now if I'm right ;)
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Activision is publishing the new Raven Wolfenstein game.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- id Software(TM) and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI - News) confirmed at Microsoft's X05 event in Amsterdam that the newest installment in the legendary Wolfenstein® series is being developed for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC. The companies also confirmed that Activision, Inc. will be the worldwide licensed distributor of Wolfenstein, currently in development by Raven Software and executive produced by id Software.
id Software's newest chapter in the legendary Wolfenstein series delivers 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. Utilizing a revolutionary new graphics technology targeted specifically at next generation hardware, the new Wolfenstein experience will draw players into a world of unmatched exploration, action, and espionage.
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http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=8722


Here is the X05 Wolfenstein presentation. Almost all the footage shown is from previous Wolfenstein games. Almost everything next-gen Wolfenstein shown is concept art.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=8011&type=wmv
 
I just heard that a friend of mine will perform on X06 (she's a singer).

So that's my 'prediction' for this thread in the pocket. :p
 
previously unannounced/not shown games : ( bungie xbla project, carmack 360 title, new rare title(s) ,new lionhead prject(s), pgr 4, 5-6 new ips from 1st/3rd party, tons of upcoming xbla titles)

trailers/playable demos of already announced 1st party titles : (too human, halo 3, gears of war, viva pinata, alan wake,kingdom of fire, blue dragon)

showcasing high profile 3rd party games : (ninja gaiden2, assasin's creed, splinter cell: double agent,etc)

hardware/services announcements : (announcement of bronze account (free online play option with ads), expanding functionality of digital camera, upcoming bundles for the holiday seasons (graw pack, pgr 3 pack, memory card standart in core pack ,etc), hddvd showcasing (price/release date for western markets, details of functionality), updates to dashboard, anoouncement of new media center/360 functionalities, latest updates to backward compatibility
 
Gabrobot said:
Raven started on Wolfenstein 2 in 2004 (remember, Raven develops multiple games at the same time). We've seen some stuff from Wolfenstein 2 rendered in real-time (Nazi flame thrower guy line up looked like it was in real-time, and there were a couple shots of the editor with real-time render turned on), and traditionally the first in-game stuff from an id Software engine is in id Software's title (plus Carmack said at QuakeCon 2006 that they had yet to show anything from his next engine).

It was mentioned that the tech for Wolfenstein was co-developed by id Software and Raven in 2004 (apparently in the same way as id Software and Splash Damage co-developed the tech for Quake Wars). I would guess that it uses a slightly newer version of MegaTexture than Quake Wars (since Quake Wars' MegaTexture tech came about in early 2004), and that it's used to achieve the "one huge world without load points" thing they've mentioned several times.

And of course, Wolfenstein 2 has been officially announced, whereas id Software's next title hasn't even been shown to publishers. This indicates Wolfenstein 2 is coming first, which means it can't be using id Software's next engine.
Click to expand...


Raven is about to ship Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

For Wolfenstein to be in production back in 2004/2005 Raven would have had Quake 4, X-Men Legends 2, and Wolfenstein all being worked on the same time. And somewhere Marvel: Ultimate Alliance would need to fit in.

I don't think Raven Software has enough resources to handle so many games at once. I'm pretty sure as soon as Quake 4 shipped, Wolfenstein went into full production which would have been at the end of 2005.
 
Would love to see what MGS eurpoe is up to... I honestly leave it up to the Europeans to take this generations game design, production values, new concepts to the next level!
 
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