Microsoft Game Studios Unveils Gears of War 2 Gameplay and Showcases 2008 Blockbuster Lineup

May 13, 2008

Microsoft Game Studios Unveils Gears of War 2
Gameplay and Showcases 2008 Blockbuster Lineup

“Viva Piata: Trouble in Paradise” Set to
Burst Onto Store Shelves This Fall

Today Microsoft Game Studios (MGS) and industry
luminaries from the world’s top development studios will be on hand to show off
the latest features of the year’s most in-demand titles; present will be Epic
Games’ Cliff Bleszinski, Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux, TECMO/Team NINJA’s Tomonobu
Itagaki and Silicon Knights’ Denis Dyack. This year, the visage of Marcus Fenix
joins the likes of Ryu Hayabusa, Banjo, vivacious piatas, cybernetic gods and a
hero with a loyal dog sidekick in the all-star 2008 MGS lineup that promises to
make Xbox 360 the console of choice for players everywhere.

Attendees of the MGS San Francisco showcase event
will witness the first extended taste of “Gears of War 2,” the sequel to the
blockbuster third-person tactical action game that sold nearly 5 million units.
Epic Games Design Director, Cliff Bleszinski, will demonstrate dramatic new
gameplay elements and stunning visual effects in a campaign sequence from early
in the game – where Marcus Fenix and COG forces engage in pulse-pounding
firefights between two Derrick transports, fend off vicious Reaver fly-by
attacks and rabid Brumaks – all in the same rollercoaster ride of a level. As
the most anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive title of the 2008 holiday season, “Gears
of War 2” offers an unforgettable gameplay experience that blends a gripping
story with visceral combat on a grand scale.

MGS will also crack open “Viva Piata: Trouble in
Paradise,” set to appear on store shelves this September. Developed by the
creative masterminds at Rare, this sequel to the colorful, sleeper hit builds
upon the gameplay of the original and adds innovative twists to the mix. In an
effort to help Piata Central rebuild their computer database of piatas,
players will send piatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world
while using their creativity and imagination to attract, capture, protect, train
and manage more than 100 newly discovered and existing piata species. An
exciting, new “Just for Fun” setting makes getting into the game fast and easy.
For the first time, players will be able to collaborate together on a garden
through a rich co-op experience, connect and play with others online via Xbox
LIVE as well as instantly introduce new piata species to their garden through
an innovative new feature utilizing the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera.

MGS will also pull back the curtain on another
beloved franchise with the triumphant return of Banjo, one of Rare’s most
successful characters, in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” Defying the laws of
nature, a bear, a bird and a backpack team up to embark on another incredible
adventure this November. MGS is breaking the rules of traditional platformer
games by putting the power to invent new abilities for Banjo directly into the
players’ hands. By using their ingenuity to build imaginative vehicles that can
be combined with infinite variations, gamers help Banjo successfully complete
missions through multiple terrains. Through exploration, discovering hidden
secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players will continually find
increasing ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an
unprecedented level of user-generated content and emergent play for a 3-D
adventure game.

These instantly recognizable franchises join the
enviable company of “Fable 2,” “Too Human” and “Ninja Gaiden II” from Team
NINJA/TECMO, making Xbox 360 the home of the best blockbuster game experiences
this year.

Other news and features of 2008 Xbox 360
blockbusters:

  • “Fable 2”: The wait is almost over for the
    sequel to THE biggest action role-playing game in Xbox history. Swords, guns
    and now the newly unveiled magical power round out the combat in this action
    RPG from acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios. Players will
    have even more choices to continuously shape who their characters become in a
    world 10 times the size of the iconic Xbox game. “Fable 2” introduces a host
    of exciting new features for gamers, including a first-of-its-kind Xbox LIVE
    Arcade experience, and a genre-stretching multiplayer experience, allowing
    gamers easily play “Fable 2” with friends and family side-by-side from the
    comfort of a living room couch. Players can immerse themselves in this vibrant
    world that only Lionhead and Molyneux could create, beginning this holiday.
  • “Too Human”: Today, MGS and Silicon Knights
    will confirm that the wait is almost over – “Too Human” will be available on
    August 19 in North America and August 29 in Europe. “Too Human” is an epic,
    highly anticipated action game with integrated RPG elements and features a
    rich storyline with deep character development, both hallmarks of Silicon
    Knights’ legendary tradition of video game development. Additionally, Silicon
    Knights is showcasing for the first time, the title’s online cooperative play
    via Xbox LIVE; allowing gamers to experience “Too Human” with friends in a
    multiplayer setting.
  • “Ninja Gaiden II”: Team NINJA/TEMCO will
    reveal today that gamers can get a head start on expanding and customizing
    their “Ninja Gaiden II” experience with the release of Gamerpics and Themes,
    available as PDLC on Xbox LIVE beginning today. The Gamerpics packs include
    five new images each, at 100 points per pack; and the Themes, which focus on
    heroes and bosses, are 150 points per pack. Soon gamers everywhere will follow
    Ryu Hayabusa’s entire blood-drenched mission – through cities like Venice, New
    York and Tokyo – to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human
    race. “Ninja Gaiden II” slashes its way onto store shelves on June 3 in North
    America and June 6 in Europe. Additional “Ninja Gaiden II” PDLC will be
    available for download on May 20, with subsequent releases throughout the
    summer.
  • “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick
    Precipice of Darkness, Episode One” on Xbox LIVE Arcade provides a
    first-of-its-kind RPG-Adventure experience based on the popular Web comic. The
    creative collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike ‘Gabe’ Krahulik and
    Jerry ‘Tycho’ Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and producers at
    Hothead Games results in a 100-percent authentic Penny Arcade experience that
    pushes bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor to the precipice
    of darkness. “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of
    Darkness, Episode One” will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade May 21, 2008.

Microsoft Game Studios is the home to many of the
industry’s biggest franchises and continues to set the bar for top-quality
entertainment experiences for players of all types. Characters from the game
universes of “Gears of War,” “Fable,” “Banjo-Kazooie,” and “Viva Piata” have
enthralled gamers young and old all over the world. In 2007, MGS made history
with some of the biggest video game launches ever, including Halo 3,” “PGR4” and
“Mass Effect.”