E3 2013 went off with a bang on day “zero” with Microsoft starting off the day with their Media Press Conference. The conference started with a gameplay showing of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. MGS V will be a free roaming game that will bring new stealth tactics to the famous franchise. It will also allow the player to choose how they want to play the game, rather then having something or someone pointing out where it is you need to go 

            Microsoft also announced that they have revamped the X-Box 360 giving it a slimmer and more stylish look. This new 360 was released on June 10^th just after they announced the revamping. Also it was said that they gave it a little bit of a power boost as well. Microsoft will be releasing over 100 new titles for the X-box 360. They will also give current and new Gold Members a chance to get two free titles starting July 1^st through the Microsoft On-Demand Store. This is said to go until the release of the X-box One. The first two games are said to be Assassin’s Creed II and Halo 3. Another thing that Microsoft announced was the end of Microsoft points. Instead Microsoft will use your local currency. 

            The one thing about Microsoft’s conference is that they stayed true to their word and kept it about the games for the 360 and the X-box One. Not once did they mention anything about how they would handle use games. However, they did show a little bit more on how their DRM will work for the X-Box One. Microsoft also announced their partnership with Twitch. Now players can stream live their game play by using Twitch T.V.

            Another announcement that Microsoft made was that the X-Box One will be coming out sometime in the fall and will have the starting price of $499. This announcement came with some shock. As Sony had yet announced what their plans were for the Playstation 4. Also what came to be a shock was that earlier in the week Microsoft announced their plan for used game. This was sort of a shock as well because so many people were still in the dark as to what Sony was going to do with used games.

            According to ign.com Microsoft Studio games will be abled to be traded or lent to friends. Players can also sell Microsoft Studio games to retailers who have agreed to Microsoft’s used game policy, which includes those retailers to have some type of cloud programing updated to their already current software. However, Microsoft goes on to say that third party publisher will have free rang on rather or not they will allow their games to be able to be up for resale and if there will be some type of used game fee. Also Microsoft says that third party publishers will have the option for gamers to be able to gift one of their games. 

            Microsoft is quoted in saying, “ X-Box One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc base game to your friends. There are no fee charges to these transfers.” However Microsoft continues to say, “ There are two requirements: You can gift games only to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days, and you can only gift a game once.” According to Microsoft friends will not be able to borrow games. In fact, renting and loaning games will not be allowed to happen on the X-Box One when it is first launched. Microsoft isn’t clear on rather or not that will change after X-Box One launched.

            Another announcement that Microsoft made was more on the “Always on” details. Players will able to play the X-Box One off online for 24 hour before having to connect to the Internet to get the proper update, or if you are on a different system and trying to access your account one hour. However, the Blu-ray player and they DVD player will still work offline. Microsoft goes on in a different interview and says that for those who cannot get on-line constantly every 24 hours there is a solution for you. That solution is to stick with the 360. So if you are in the Military or a low-income family Microsoft is telling you to stick with the 360.

            Don Mattrick has been quoted in saying, “ Fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity; it’s call the 360.”