The big video game companies typically save their biggest announcements of the year for E3. So the leaks, if true, could be very damaging for the companies, giving their rivals plenty of time to react to the supposed announcements. The rumors are unconfirmed and Microsoft said in a statement that it periodically uses marketing research companies to test ideas. These leaks “may or may not be real products.”
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":93803,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,social,","session":"B"}']Among the provocative ideas leaked is a plan to create Xbox Live Avatars. These are digital personae for Xbox Live users. The avatars resemble the “Miis” that have become extremely popular on the Nintendo Wii console. Another is a game dubbed “Lips,” which is Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s popular SingStar karaoke sing-along games.
Big games being announced, according to the leaks, are Microsoft’s “Forza Motorsport 3” and Activision’s “Call of Duty: World at War.” Microsoft is also reportedly working on a social gaming channel for Xbox Live in an attempt to snare the casual gaming crowd. Activision is also reportedly developing Spider-Man games for the Wii that use the Wii Fit’s Balance Board.
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Nintendo is also affected by the leaks. Disney is reportedly working on a game dubbed “Ultimate Band,” a music title that is being developed for the Wii by the end of the year. The rumors go on and on. Kotaku has assembled links of the rest of the leaked announcements.
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