Microsoft Kicks Off E3

Highlights from Tuesday night's Microsoft event included Gears of War for PC and upcoming family-friendly games, but no Xbox 360 price cuts.

Microsoft began the Electronic Entertainment Expo Tuesday night by announcing several new games that would be finding their way to Microsoft systems within the next year. Here are some highlights from the company’s lengthy show.

First up, the company demonstrated Rock Band, and Guitar-Hero-like musical game that is set to be one of the star’s of this year’s E3. Despite the appearance, no new information came from Microsoft on the game, which is being developed by Harmonix.

Microsoft later introduced two new titles with a family slant, which will apparently be a major theme in its releases this year. Party Animals will be a sequel to Viva Pinata, a laid-back kids game with open-ended game play and colorful visuals that came out in 2006. The DVD game Scene it? will also be leaping to the Xbox 360 platform, complete with a custom controller. The total package will retail for $59.99.

In another major announcement, Microsoft’s vice president told audiences that Gears of War would be coming to PC, and not as a simple port. The PC version will include five new chapters for the single-player game and as well as a level editor.

And finally, one thing that Microsoft did not announce has also caught some attention: There will be no Xbox 360 price break. Despite rumors following Sony’s cuts, Microsoft will not be following suit.