HardwareGeeks.com - The Most Awesome Day Ever

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Posted by: Rob Liu on Tue, Apr 01st, 2008

Gamers around the world rejoiced today at the amazing series of announcements that rocked the industry and promise endless hours of entertainment in the coming year. Microsoft, Blizzard, and Capcom were among a few of the companies that unveiled new products and characters to the gaming masses, setting bars the rest of the industry will surely be scrambling to top in the coming days. Read on for more details on these stunning revelations!

Microsoft was out the door with an early-morning email to all Xbox Live subscribers containing a link to new merchandise for their Spring lineup. Among these droolworthy items is the Xbox 360 Wireless Helmet, featuring Airflow Temperature Control, 5.1 Digital Surround Sound, a Flex-Plasma In-Sight Display, and “Temple Pressure” rumble settings. Microsoft also appealed to the family demographic with the debut of “Xbox Live The Board Game,” with exclusive Xbox game pieces, Xbox 360 orb dice, and the opportunity to unlock 78 new achievements with up to 7 other players. Two new models of Xbox 360 consoles were also announced, the fashionably retro “Vintage Edition” with real hardwood paneling and the travel-hardened “Recon Edition” for the extreme gamer, featuring rubber weather-proof recon casing, low-energy 1TB hard drive, and built-in projector and screen.

Blizzard was not about to be beaten, releasing a torrent of information about the newest additions to all their popular franchises. First up is the release of the Diablo Loot Pinata, soon available for all your party needs. The Loot Pinata is not stuffed with mere candy, no, but with fully functional replicas of Diablo weapons, items, and artifacts! For the RTS fanatics, Blizzard released all-new footage of a new unit - the Tauren Marine. Armed with 88mm Impact Gauss Rifles, these lumbering bovine warriors are capable of unleashing untold devastation upon enemy forces, as seen in the action moovie. World of Warcraft players were not neglected, as Blizzard stepped up with a double-whammy promising a console release of the popular MMORPG with the Molten Core spinoff and a new class for Wrath of the Lich King players, the unspeakably awesome Bard (spoony individuals need not apply).

Capcom’s announcement was a little more modest, but of the greatest import to Street Fighter fans, who learned that Ryu and Ken’s master Sheng Long will finally be a playable character in Street Fighter IV. Apparently, he will be an unlockable character available only to the most savvy Ryu players, as they will have to “win every round with a perfect until the last boss fight” and then perform a particular type of uppercut during that fight. Stay tuned to the Capcom blog for more details!

Oh, and....Happy April Fool’s day