Xbox 360 Preview Event

Early looks at great games and hands on time with a next-gen console well prior to launch not withstanding, living the life of a freelance writer and Xbox.com columnist is not without its merits. While attempting to power through a righteous case of writer's block the other day, I heard the tell-tale "ding" of my email inbox. It was my boss asking me to stand in for him at a press event previewing Xbox 360™ and its potential launch lineup.

It's best on Xbox Live. Go Gotham TV go!

Naturally, I obliged his request and showed up at an ominous white-washed Microsoft® building the next day with notepad in hand and an eager outlook. A minor miscue at the receptionist's desk notwithstanding, the event was an utter success.

The Games
On display and fully playable at the event were:

• Dead or Alive® 4: Not even high-definition screenshots do this game justice—drop-dead gorgeous, with environments that are oodles more interactive than previous efforts.
• Call of Duty® 2: Battles this real should come with a first aid kit. The game is breathtaking, but so intense it can become a blur. Multiple play-throughs of just the demo level are needed to gain a full appreciation of title's capabilities.
• Need for Speed™ Most Wanted: Accessible and beautiful, this racer showed its next-gen abilities admirably (it needs to be seen in motion to be fully appreciated), and also reinforced the fusion its bringing between the Hot Pursuit and Underground franchises.
• Kameo™: Elements of Power™: Let me put it this way: Kameo may be the best looking game at launch, hands down. The effects in place married to some stunning art design make for breathtaking visuals. Add to that the standard Rare® polish and excellent action/platform design, and you've got yourself a launch title to salivate for.
• Perfect Dark Zero™: After extended single-player, co-op, and a touch of multiplayer, I can only hope that the Halo® 2 servers will appreciate the lighter load, for PDZ is set to take the crown for most popular first-person shooter (FPS) on Xbox Live®. That's my official opinion, and I'm sticking to it.
• Project Gotham Racing® 3: If PDZ is the FPS darling, PGR™ 3 is the best example I've seen yet of what Xbox Live is capable of all around. With Gotham TV in effect on top of everything else, this is the game to demo Xbox Live to friends and relatives.

Pick your jaw up.

Reactions
Aside from Dead or Alive 4 (the PR guy had to beat me with a wireless controller to give someone else a turn), I had been fortunate enough to already have seen and played all the games at the event. This afforded me a rare opportunity to watch other members of the press at work, and I found particular glee in seeing a hapless fellow from a major publication gaze with uncomprehending eyes as he squinted at his screen and plied the buttons at random for some result in PGR 3.

A quick tip or two from a PR rep though and he was off and racing. Such is the beauty of accessible game design, but even more rewarding was the sudden change in his eyes that told me he "got it." A new gamer has been born. Rejoice and be glad!

Celebrity Sighting
I spent a great deal of time at the buffet table: Bagels, cream cheese, and coffee are a lethally tempting combination for me, and while I was slugging down a fourth cup of that blessed brew, I saw a couple of folks slip into the conference room. I noticed one was sporting a Penny Arcade T-shirt, and as I opened my mouth to compliment him on his choice of outerwear, I realized the pair was Tycho and Gabe from Penny Arcade.

Others may gush at a movie celebrity sighting, but I apparently turn into a mumbling mess at the sight of one of the gaming industries most beloved dynamic duos. If you're not familiar with their adventures, I strongly urge you to take a strong hold on the site and consume all you can. You will be rewarded generously for your efforts.

I think this game gave me a heart murmur.

I did pull myself together long enough to have a nice conversation with Tycho, and even managed (I think) to express my appreciation for their collective talent and efforts without betraying my inner geek too much.

With some bonus hands-on time with Xbox 360 games, an interesting look at the non-gaming media at work with a controller in their hands, a lot of good food, friendly PR reps eager to please, and a chance meeting with Gabe and Tycho, I would say my inner geek was well sated indeed. This job is always a pleasure, but it's days like these that make me remember why I wouldn't want to work in any other industry.