Shawn
11-07-2006, 11:09 PM
http://www.theurbanwire.com/stories/images/stories/gaming/x06.jpg
Everyone’s a Gamer at X06.
From kindergarten kids to 50-something aunties who nearly fought over lucky draw prizes, a diverse crowd of Singaporeans were largely satisfied with X06 (http://www.x06.com.sg/), touted by Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/) as the biggest gaming event of the year in Singapore, despite some minor hiccups.
“By offering something for everyone – From the professional game developer to the casual gamer, this event contributes to the growth of the local games industry,” said Ms Pam Hu, Director of Community and International Relations of the Media Development Authority (MDA) (http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/index_flash.aspx) at a press conference of the event held at Raffles City Convention Centre. “We want to inspire professionals, students, teachers and hobbyists, beyond playing games, to develop games for education and learning,” she added.
X06, which happened on the Oct 28 and 29 on the corner between Carlton Hotel (http://www.carlton.com.sg/) and Odeon Towers, showcased the latest games from Microsoft for its Xbox 360 console.
4 interlinked domes were designed and built by Oracle Projects International (http://www.oracle-projects.com/) to house the game fest. The white dome shaped structures proved to be the perfect 360 degree screen on which competitions for Totem Ball, FIFA 07 and videos were projected on, giving the visuals a full and immersive effect. Music, gaming sound effects and luminous displays were blasted throughout the 4 domes and visitors had lots of hands-on opportunities given that there were over 80 Xbox 360s and 16 computers around the area for gamers to try their hands at.
After registering for free at the event booth, visitors had to enter the secure domes through a rotating door to maintain the pressure within the structures for fear of the dome shaped buildings deflating.
Once inside the introduction area, 20 plus Xbox 360s were set up along the perimeter with Dead or Alive 4 and other games they could download off Xbox Live Arcade (XLA). This was also the area that garnered the most complaints, due to the air conditioning break down during the media showing as well as on the first day of the event, which saw the event ending prematurely for the media.
http://www.theurbanwire.com/stories/images/stories/gaming/x061.jpg
The second arena was blocked off from the first by canvas sheets which could be pulled apart for entry, and such a contrast the areas were! The first dome was bright as the sunlight came through the walls during the day, but the second arena was dark and mysterious, with only the brightly lit LCD screens lighting up the 2nd and 3rd domes that held the main arena.
The last arena was where all purchases for the special bundles and plans which Xbox offered specially for the event could be made.
Some of the highly anticipated games of the event included Gears of War, Blue Dragon and Viva Pinata, which was developed by Microsoft Game Studios and Rare, a UK-based developer. Expectedly, at the booths with the demos, the crowds were especially large and there were always people queuing up to get their hands on the Xbox 360 to play these games. Gears of War, is arguably the most anticipated game of 2006, and is a third-person shooter game much along the lines of Halo. The action/horror game, which pits humans against hordes of terrifying creatures, has garnered many industry awards and accolades during the E3 convention this year in Los Angeles, and will be launched in Singapore on Nov 12.
To attract more attention to certain games, competitions were held for prizes which ranged from miniature figurines to Xbox 360 mugs and even big aluminium cases to carry any Xbox accessories that one might purchase.
Apart from its upcoming games, Microsoft also showcased its next generation Operating System (OS), Windows Vista, which attracted gaming and computer enthusiasts alike.
Popular radio DJs Glenn Ong, Justin Ang and Rod Monteiro, were invited to emcee at different sessions as part of the daily stage programme. The DJs also hosted lucky draws allowing visitors a chance to walk away with Xbox 360 holiday bundles containing an Xbox 360 as well as Dead or Alive 4.
http://www.theurbanwire.com/stories/images/stories/gaming/x062.jpg
A slight oversight of the organisers allowed anyone (including staff) to take part in the lucky draw as many times as they could fill up the forms. This led to 2 typically Singaporean aunties getting into a scuffle because each of them had filled in over a hundred forms!
The event ended off with a final showdown between FIFA 07 winners on day 1 and 2 of the Tiger Beer FC Challenge, which had consisted of the first 32 teams-of-two competing against one another in the game. Tiger Beer (http://www.tigerbeer.com/) will be sponsoring the winning team’s trip to London to catch Arsenal Football Club (http://www.arsenal.com/) in the flesh.
Perhaps the future of gaming is like what Ms Hu said, “Games are becoming a dynamic paradigm… games with a purpose.”
Everyone’s a Gamer at X06.
From kindergarten kids to 50-something aunties who nearly fought over lucky draw prizes, a diverse crowd of Singaporeans were largely satisfied with X06 (http://www.x06.com.sg/), touted by Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/) as the biggest gaming event of the year in Singapore, despite some minor hiccups.
“By offering something for everyone – From the professional game developer to the casual gamer, this event contributes to the growth of the local games industry,” said Ms Pam Hu, Director of Community and International Relations of the Media Development Authority (MDA) (http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/index_flash.aspx) at a press conference of the event held at Raffles City Convention Centre. “We want to inspire professionals, students, teachers and hobbyists, beyond playing games, to develop games for education and learning,” she added.
X06, which happened on the Oct 28 and 29 on the corner between Carlton Hotel (http://www.carlton.com.sg/) and Odeon Towers, showcased the latest games from Microsoft for its Xbox 360 console.
4 interlinked domes were designed and built by Oracle Projects International (http://www.oracle-projects.com/) to house the game fest. The white dome shaped structures proved to be the perfect 360 degree screen on which competitions for Totem Ball, FIFA 07 and videos were projected on, giving the visuals a full and immersive effect. Music, gaming sound effects and luminous displays were blasted throughout the 4 domes and visitors had lots of hands-on opportunities given that there were over 80 Xbox 360s and 16 computers around the area for gamers to try their hands at.
After registering for free at the event booth, visitors had to enter the secure domes through a rotating door to maintain the pressure within the structures for fear of the dome shaped buildings deflating.
Once inside the introduction area, 20 plus Xbox 360s were set up along the perimeter with Dead or Alive 4 and other games they could download off Xbox Live Arcade (XLA). This was also the area that garnered the most complaints, due to the air conditioning break down during the media showing as well as on the first day of the event, which saw the event ending prematurely for the media.
http://www.theurbanwire.com/stories/images/stories/gaming/x061.jpg
The second arena was blocked off from the first by canvas sheets which could be pulled apart for entry, and such a contrast the areas were! The first dome was bright as the sunlight came through the walls during the day, but the second arena was dark and mysterious, with only the brightly lit LCD screens lighting up the 2nd and 3rd domes that held the main arena.
The last arena was where all purchases for the special bundles and plans which Xbox offered specially for the event could be made.
Some of the highly anticipated games of the event included Gears of War, Blue Dragon and Viva Pinata, which was developed by Microsoft Game Studios and Rare, a UK-based developer. Expectedly, at the booths with the demos, the crowds were especially large and there were always people queuing up to get their hands on the Xbox 360 to play these games. Gears of War, is arguably the most anticipated game of 2006, and is a third-person shooter game much along the lines of Halo. The action/horror game, which pits humans against hordes of terrifying creatures, has garnered many industry awards and accolades during the E3 convention this year in Los Angeles, and will be launched in Singapore on Nov 12.
To attract more attention to certain games, competitions were held for prizes which ranged from miniature figurines to Xbox 360 mugs and even big aluminium cases to carry any Xbox accessories that one might purchase.
Apart from its upcoming games, Microsoft also showcased its next generation Operating System (OS), Windows Vista, which attracted gaming and computer enthusiasts alike.
Popular radio DJs Glenn Ong, Justin Ang and Rod Monteiro, were invited to emcee at different sessions as part of the daily stage programme. The DJs also hosted lucky draws allowing visitors a chance to walk away with Xbox 360 holiday bundles containing an Xbox 360 as well as Dead or Alive 4.
http://www.theurbanwire.com/stories/images/stories/gaming/x062.jpg
A slight oversight of the organisers allowed anyone (including staff) to take part in the lucky draw as many times as they could fill up the forms. This led to 2 typically Singaporean aunties getting into a scuffle because each of them had filled in over a hundred forms!
The event ended off with a final showdown between FIFA 07 winners on day 1 and 2 of the Tiger Beer FC Challenge, which had consisted of the first 32 teams-of-two competing against one another in the game. Tiger Beer (http://www.tigerbeer.com/) will be sponsoring the winning team’s trip to London to catch Arsenal Football Club (http://www.arsenal.com/) in the flesh.
Perhaps the future of gaming is like what Ms Hu said, “Games are becoming a dynamic paradigm… games with a purpose.”