E3 2004: EA joins the Live party as MS dates Halo and more

News - MS conferencing news from LA

Microsoft upped the online tempo in LA late yesterday after announcing further Xbox Live plans to a crowded arena at the Shrine Auditorium, at which Muhammad Ali, St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk and Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony turned-out in support of Microsoft's online sports brands. Not a bad PR stunt, eh?

Xbox head Robbie Bach was joined on stage at the showcase by EA chief Don Mattrick, and between them they revealed the long rumoured news that EA games will be heading to Xbox Live en masse in the future - marking the end of ongoing deliberations over financials and policies between the two industry giants. Needless to say, Sony won't be pleased.

Fifteen EA games are scheduled to go online with the Xbox thus far, with Madden, NBA, FIFA, Need for Speed Underground 2, Burnout 3, TimeSplitters Future Perfect, and DiCE's Battlefield games all mooted. "EA has always been a great publisher for Xbox," beamed Bach. "We're strengthening our alliance by bringing EA's world-class games to Xbox Live, the undisputed leader in online console gaming."

Several non-EA Xbox Live titles were also demonstrated to the crowd, and the evening's second most important news has to be that Halo 2 will launch on November 9th this year.

Doom 3, Jade Empire and Fable were all demonstrated, whilst Dead or Alive Ultimate was also shown (a remake of the original two DoA's with Xbox Live support). Picking up on the popularity of Project Gotham 2 online, Forza Motorsport was also revealed boasting sixty top sports cars and more lovely Xbox Live support.

Penultimately, the Xbox Live Arcade was shown, demonstrating 'casual' games like poker, hearts and bridge as well as more traditional 'retro' titles like Dig Dug. MS are partnering with firms like Atari, GarageGames and PopCap to deliver further titles to this area of the service for the Autumn.

The XNA development platform also played a part in the proceedings, with the confirmation that Sigil's PC MMORPG Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will use voice and other communications technology from Xbox Live. MSN Messenger will also be integrated, along with mobile phones and more - meaning that players can be contacted 'offline' if their online comrades are in trouble. Impressive stuff indeed. More soon.