Nintendo apparently won’t be the only one representing the gaming industry when Comic-Con 2011 kicks off later this week.  Microsoft recently revealed an extensive showcase of their own, and they plan on offering fans the first hands-on experience with the Gears of War 3 Horde mode.  Fans can also visit the Xbox Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel and taste of quite a few upcoming Kinect and Xbox 360 titles. Here’s what Microsoft has in store for Xbox 360 fans attending this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Xbox 360 Booth
Booth #5252, San Diego Convention Center
Show Hours: Thursday, July 21 – Friday, July 22, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Gears fans will have the opportunity to get familiar with the new Horde mode that we were given a small glimpse of at this year’s E3. With groundbreaking innovations like boss battles, upgradeable fortifications, more diverse waves and enemies, and a deeper player progression system, this mode will keep fans of the franchise busy long after they’ve finished the series’ final campaign.
Kinect Star Wars in the LucasArts Booth
Booth # 2913-L in the Star Wars Pavilion
Show Hours: Thursday, July 21 – Friday, July 22, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Everything that we’ve seen from this game so far has been plagued by laggy controls and what looks like a heavily “on-rails” experience. If any of our readers manage to make it to the LucasArts Booth, let us know how long it takes for your virtual counterpart to mimic a simple jumping motion.
Gears of War 3 Panel
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Thursday, July 21, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Cliffy B as well as executive producer Rod Fergusson, and special guest contributors to the Gears universe will be on-hand to offer a look ahead at one of the most anticipated games of 2011. Moderated by X-Play (G4) co-host, Adam Sessler, the discussion will feature key announcements and a live game demo.
Also, the Xbox Booth will be giving fans opportunities to win some cool Gears merch throughout the week.
Halo Universe Panel
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Friday, July 22, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Frank O’Connor, Kevin Grace, and others from 343 Industries, as well as special guests Greg Bear and Karen Traviss, will discuss the first 10 years of the legendary FPS franchise and offer a sneak peek into what’s next for the series.
Xbox Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel
Edge Room – Hard Rock Hotel
Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 24, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Gamers looking for the hottest action off of the show floor can get early hands-on experiences with an array of the hottest upcoming titles for the 360 including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Batman: Arkham City. If public embarrassment is more your style, fear not, there will be plenty of Kinect titles available for you. Kinect Sports: Season Two, Dance Central 2, and The Gunstringer will all be able to aid you in making an ass of yourself.
