Xbox.ca Brings the Fans What They Want – FanExpo 2011

Posted September 6th 2011 by Keadin
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Every year FanExpo in Toronto is host to thousands of geeks and gamers, all celebrating everything related to comics, sci-fi, anime, fantasy, horror, and of course gaming. This year Xbox Canada was on-site to give fans their first taste of Gears of War 3 and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition with playable hands-on demos showing off all the games have to offer.

Halo fans got their first sample of the newly renovated multiplayer with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, playing deathmatches in the remastered Battle Canyon (formerly Beaver Creek) and Penance (formerly Damnation). Lines wrapped around the booth with gamers anxious to get back in their Mjolnir Armour and they did not leave disappointed.

In addition to being a complete graphical overhaul, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition carries forward all the great multiplayer features of Halo: Reach. You may think you've sufficiently prepared yourself by playing the classic maps over and over again, but adding jetpacks, bubble shields and all the new weapons make this a completely new experience. It's like getting the best parts of the old game mixed with the best parts of the new!

Gears of War fans were similarly excited to try their hand at the new Horde mode, which mixes classic tower defense gameplay with the genre-defining Horde mode we've all come to love. As players face off against waves of enemies they have the opportunity to purchase new weapons and fortifications on the battlefield, greatly increasing their chance of survival. But, like any good Gears of War game teamwork is of the utmost importance as combining your efforts is necessary to building good fortifications; scatter too far or don't co-operate with your team and you'll be overrun in minutes.

Now just because the COGs can build a few turrets doesn't mean this will be a cakewalk. In all the sessions I watched, only one group managed to survive the onslaught of Reavers. It looks like the Gears of War 3 Horde mode is going to be a real test of might for long-time fans, and will offer a great opportunity to test the mettle of your best team.

In addition to Gears of War 3 and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, LG was on hand in a partnership with Xbox to host a massive Call of Duty: Black Ops tournament free for all show attendees. Played on their massive 55" LG Cinema 3D TVs, players got to rock out in a full high-definition, 3D experience. Talking with long-time Call of Duty fans in the tournament, they were delighted to see the game running in 3D on the Xbox 360 and hoped they could take home the first prize – a complete LG Cinema 3D TV package worth $5,000 – so they could repeat the experience at home.

FanExpo's got something for everyone, no matter what sort of fan you are. Gamers were definitely satisfied getting to rock the best games coming to Xbox 360 this holiday, and after seeing them in action, I can't wait to get online myself. If you've got a fun story of your FanExpo experience, feel free to share it with us on Twitter using the #XboxCanada hashtag. Let us know what you thought of the games, and we'll see you on Xbox Live when they release!