In this chapter, we will be unfolding a new reason known as the Ally. This reason will reveal all the support that Microsoft will be receiving, this year, from their partners including Square-Enix, Namco Bandai, Ubisoft, Bethesda, Epic Games, Valve, and Capcom.

Before we begin this chapter, I must urge you to read the previous articles if you have not done so already. My reason for insisting is that we are on a journey to reach a certain outcome. If you choose not to read the previous articles, you will not have a solid foundation for the main concept that will be presented later on. As a result, neither will you be able to comprehend all the important aspects of this argument, nor will you enjoy this experience at the level you truly deserve. Therefore, I will provide you with the proper tools to journey back in time, if you ever choose to do so; the links to the past are as follow:

(Chapter One: The Beginning):http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=8866

(Chapter Two: The MMO):http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9583

(Chapter Three: The Newcomer):http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9642

Back to the topic at hand, let us begin the next chapter, in our journey, that will reveal to you yet another reason for Microsoft’s domination in 2009.

13 ) Expected Support:

Microsoft has had tremendous third party support in the last three years. With the level of success that the Xbox 360 has brought most third party publishers, the mere thought of that support ceasing would be preposterous. Make no mistake, the third party support for the Xbox 360 will continue to grow, year after year, and there is absolutely nothing that Sony can do to stop that. The following publishers are an example of the kind of support gamers can expect for the Xbox 360 in 2009; they are as follow:

Square-Enix:

This publisher has managed to release three full blown JRPG titles exclusively on the Xbox 360 in under six months! My question to you is this: why would Square ever stop releasing exclusive JRPG titles on the Xbox 360? From a business standpoint, that would not make any sense, especially if we recall the main reason for Square bonding with Microsoft in the first place, which was to break into the Western gaming market. With titles like Front Mission Evolved on the way, we will continue to see exclusive titles for Microsoft’s machine in 2009. Mark my words, Star Ocean 4 will not be the last Xbox 360 exclusive to come out from Square this year.

Namco Bandai:

This is another game publisher that has diligently supported the Xbox 360 throughout its lifespan. With exclusive offerings such as Tales of Vesperia, Eternal Sonata, Ace Combat 6, and Beautiful Katamari, it would not make any sense for this publisher to stop their support now. With Magna Carta 2 coming out this year, Namco Bandai will be, once again, honoring their annual trend, of releasing a JRPG title exclusively on the Xbox 360. However, that title will not be the only offering, from Namco, for Microsotf’s console this year.

Ubisoft:

Ubisoft is one of Microsoft’s strongest supporters in the gaming arena. By releasing Splinter Cell: Conviction, a sequel to one of their biggest franchises, exclusively, on the Xbox 360, they will be continuing to prove their everlasting loyalty to the Xbox 360 creator. However, since 2007, they have been releasing an Xbox 360-exclusive Naruto title every year. For anyone that has not played both Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja and Naruto: The Broken Bond, I would like to inform you that you are missing out on two great Naruto titles. More importantly, as long as these titles are selling well on Microsoft’s console, it would be logical to expect a third installment of this franchise to hit the Xbox 360, exclusively, in 2009.

Small Development Studios:

There are many small development studios that only have the budget to develop for one console. Naturally, they would choose the one with the largest installed base. Given the fact that the Wii is not a healthy environment for third party developers in general, the Xbox 360 would be their number one pick. After all, if there ever were a time for developers to feel safe developing for the Microsoft creation, it would have to be now. More importantly, the studios that I am referring to specifically are the small Japanese development studios. Imagine what that kind of support would do for the Xbox 360 in Japan.

14 ) DLC:

Microsoft invented the DLC strategy to minimize the cost of exclusivity, while delivering a tempting gaming experience that would pull gamers towards the Xbox 360 version of certain high profile games. In other words, their aim was to have the ultimate gaming experience of a particular high profile game on their console instead of the competition’s. However, that does not mean that only multiplatform games get DLC. After all, delivering the ultimate gaming experience on their console is not the only purpose that DLC serves; it also adds value to any game on the console, including exclusive titles, and increases replay value by providing new content to experience in that game’s universe, or new characters, weapons, abilities, and costumes to experience the same game in a different way.

By the way things are going, Microsoft will not be halting DLC support anytime soon. The following DLC is an example of what they have provided so far in the first five months of this year, and what they will be providing in the next few months; the games are as follow:

Fable 2:

Lionhead Studios has already released two DLC packs this year; they are as follow:

1. Knothole Island:
This pack was released on the 13th of January 2009. It features three new quests set in three new dungeons, a new range of outfits, six new weapons, dozens of new potions and new weapon customization.

2. See the Future:
This pack was released on the 12th of May 2009. It features new quests and items including a quest based around three cursed items from Murgo the Trader. It also features a new area and  the ability to change the breed of the dog. Lastly, it is supposed to bridge the story between Fable I and II.

Fallout 3:

Bethesda has already released three DLC packs this year, exclusively for the Xbox 360; they are as follow:

1. Operation: Anchorage:
This pack was released on the 27th of January 2009. It features a virtual reality “military simulation” in the main game where you are stripped of your equipment and are forced to use the ones provided for you. The content focuses on a pivotal event in the Fallout timeline before the Great War took place. It also features several new quests, new items, new enemies, and new areas.

2. The Pitt:
This pack was released on the 24th of March 2009, but was quickly removed due to glitches in the gameplay which made the expansion unplayable. A new version was available on Xbox Live on the 2nd of April 2009, fixing freezing issues many players had encountered with the previous content of The Pitt.

It allows the player to journey to the industrial raider town known as The Pitt, located in the remains of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It features several new weapons, new armor, and new clothing items. It also features around 4–5 hours of gameplay.

3. Broken Steel:
This pack was released on the 5th of May 2009. It allows players to join the ranks of the Brotherhood of Steel and rid the Capital Wasteland of the Enclave remnants once and for all. It continues the story of Fallout 3 beyond the original ending and raises the game’s level cap from 20 to 30. It features new quests, new enemies, and new items. It also features around 5-6 hours of gameplay.

It would be essential at this point to mention that after having these DLC packs as timed-exclusives for several months, as announced by Bethesda, the Xbox 360 will no longer be the only console to have them as the PS3 will be receiving all three packs in the next few months.

Tomb Raider Underworld:

After an agreement with Microsoft, Eidos announced they will be releasing two new chapters of Tomb Raider: Underworld as exclusive DLC packs on the Xbox Live Marketplace. These two DLC packs have already been released; they are as follow:

1. Beneath the Ashes:
This pack was released on the 24th of February 2009. It sends Lara back to the remains of Croft Manor where she uncovers a massive series of never-before-seen caverns and old crypts that were used to protect and hide a deadly source of power; it also features six new costumes.

2. Lara’s Shadow:
This pack was released on the 10th of March 2009. In it, you play as the Doppelganger who first appeared in Tomb Raider: Underworld; the game revolves around her relationship to both Natla and Lara. In addition to the new playable character, the pack also features new gameplay mechanics and a unique level design.

Left For Dead:

The “Survival Pack” was released on the 21st of April 2009. It features a versus mode for the Dead Air and Death Toll campaigns, and a new game mode called “Survival Mode”, in which the four players try to survive as long as possible against waves of infected. The levels in Survival Mode are based on recycled content from the four campaigns, with the exception of a new level called Lighthouse that is actually the toughest level of them all.

Gears of War 2:

According to Destructoid, this blockbuster title will have a new DLC pack called “Dark Corners” that will be hitting Xbox Live on the 28th of July 2009. It will include seven new maps and a deleted campaign chapter called “Road To Ruin”. Moreover, there will also be a retail package called Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection that will be available in stores on the 28th of July 2009 as well; it will contain the “Dark Corners” pack, in addition to all the previous DLC packs: “Snowblind”, “Combustible”, and “Flashback”. Interestingly enough, this retail package will also include a premium theme, an introductory video, a poster, and a strategy guide.

The most intriguing aspect of the new chapter is that it will feature a stealth mode option. When Marcus Fenix dresses up as a Theron Guard, you know that something very special is about to take place. However, there is something very interesting that I have recently come to realize, about this new chapter, that many gamers might have missed. If your curiosity is at a high enough level, then click on the following link to discover the hidden truth behind this “deleted” mission:

http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9448

Dead Rising 2 and Lost Planet 2:

In January of 2009, Capcom revealed to Famitsu that both Dead Rising 2 and Lost Planet 2 will be multiplatform titles. However, they also made a very interesting announcement,which was that the Xbox 360 version of both titles will have exclusive content. In fact, in February of 2009 Keiji Inafune, Dead Rising 2’s Producer, revealed, in the official Capcom podcast, that the Xbox 360 version might be a little different than the PS3 version; he said: “Please expect new Dead Rising and Lost Planet titles. While they will be on multiple platforms, we are thinking about having the 360 version play out differently”. This statement was obviously made before Capcom finally decided to announce Lost Planet 2 only for Xbox 360.

As we complete the first half of our journey, we begin to see the final chapter appearing in the distance. Unable to clearly see it, we decide to rest for the night. Little did we know that as soon as darkness falls, our next reason will manifest; he will be there, watching over us, waiting for the morning to come for only then, can he share with us the alteration that is about to take place. Our next reason is known as………..The Paradigm.

God Bless You All

Master Samo