E3 winner: Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo?
With E3 returning to its old, bigger-is-better format, there seemed to be more at stake at this year's show. Could Nintendo provide enough compelling news to hold onto its lead? Would Microsoft trot out something to create new enthusiasm for its Xbox 360 platform? And could Sony reveal anything that might give it some much-needed momentum?
Alas, as it goes most of the time at E3, none of the companies truly hit it out of the park and a lot of what was announced was already leaked to greater or lesser degrees before the show started. However, that doesn't mean we can't try to objectively determine which companies did themselves some good--and which companies may not have.
Here's a quick recap of the news conferences from each camp and my quick assessments. But nevermind what I say, feel free to add your own comments--and try to be objective.
CNET Poll
- What's new: Expanded XBox Live audio/video offerings, Facebook and Twitter integration, full game downloads, and a strong selection of XBox 360 exclusives, including Halo: ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, Left4Dead2, Splinter Cell Conviction, and Metal Gear Solid Rising (this isn't an XBox 360 exclusive but it's the first MGS title to appear on the platform).
- Big tease: You are the controller (Project Natal).
- Biggest letdown: I was kind of hoping for a Zune portable gaming device, but all we got was the Zune brand added to XBox Live.
- Overall message: We're rounding out our already formidable XBox Live offering, serving up solid and sometimes innovative exclusives, and we have some cool motion-controller stuff that will be available for the platform--including existing systems--in the future.
- What's new: Fresh Super Mario Brothers title and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid Other M, Wii Fit Plus, Wii Motion Plus, Wii Vitality sensor.
- Big tease: Nada (sorry, that isn't a code name for a new technology).
- Biggest letdown: No big tease.
- Overall message: We've expanded the gaming audience--and we're going to continue to expand it by doing just what we've been doing, improving our revolutionary motion controller, and adding the word "Plus" to some accessories and games.
- What's new: PSP Go, expanded roster of PSP games and downloadable content, and impressive line-up of PS3 exclusive titles, including Uncharted 2, Gran Turismo 5, Modnation Racers, God of War 3 (March 2010), and the briefly mentioned Rockstar Games' Agent.
- Big tease: Impressive new motion controller that uses the existing PlayStation Eye to rival or beat the Wii's motion controller (it's due out in spring 2010).
- Biggest letdown: No new hardware configuration or price drop for the PS3; PSP should have been priced at $199.99.
- Overall message: We're revamping and reinvigorating the PSP platform and feeding the PS3 with a bigger selection of triple-A exclusive titles that will make you want to buy the system, even if it costs $400.
As for Nintendo, its whole presentation once again came across as more of a dud than a bang. But that hasn't hurt the company in the past, so Nintendo fans shouldn't be too worried, right?
Update: Added Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Other M to the "what's new" section of Nintendo. Both titles are slated for release next year.
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
The Xbox motion control system has no true precision. It's more of fluff and not for true gaming. Imagine how long it will take to flip thorugh a list of movies with your hand! That will take forever.
Playstation's motion controls will be way more precice because it has the actual controller, and that looked awesome and practical.
Oh, and author, you have to correct the article, because Metal Gear Solid Rising isn't an Xbox 360 exclusive. That is false information, since it isn't known if it will be an exclusive yet. Get your info right, then write it. Thanks!
And I have to laugh at people making the same comments like "not for true gaming" and "more of fluff" when talking about Project Nato. Guess what? Microsoft isn't getting rid of the controller. If you want to play Call of Duty 4 with your controller go ahead and do it but if you want to play a badass fighting game where you control every aspect of the fighter go ahead and do that too.
Nothing was exciting about the Sony press conference. Take a Wii, upgrade the graphics, and slightly improve the motion capabilities and you have in a nutshell what Sony announced today. Nothing exciting or fancy in any way at all.
In order
Microsoft
Sony
Nintendo
Not even close.
You clearly either didn't watch the press conferences or didn't pay attention. It's Project Natel, not Project Nato.
I will agree Sony's motion controller isn't ask different as Microsofts, but neither are innovative. Nintendo holds that right.
When it comes down to game though (thats what E3's about am I right?) Sony had the most to show.
And 1080p streaming? I would assume they say it's better then blu ray. I'll believe it when I see it.
First off, Project Natal not Project NATO; know what your trying to support at least.
Second, your one track mind (die hard Xbox Fan) is clearly clouding your vision, because Nintendo already took the innovation of motion sensed gaming.
Third, we don't need to guess about if Xbox was gonna keep the controller or not, it's a given. People we're merely concerned as to how Project Natal would integrate First Person Shooting.
And let's face it, you didn't watch the conference, it's clear that you just glanced at it and judge it right away.
Hmm, motion activated sensors attributed to Nintendo? Think again. Sega came out with the Activator in 1994. That's almost a decade before the Wii. And, before you go all Power Pad on me, the Activator used Infrared Sensors to activate controls and could also judge distance to perform X, Y, and Z functions on fighting games, all with out have to hit any more than the power button.
And you, sir, forgot about the Power Glove. While it could only handle one motion, it still was MOTION. Sony, once again, is just trying to improve on innovation (not that there's anything wrong with that). I'd still give the win to Nintendo for first to introduce motion sensing controls to the home console market.
(yawn) So far nothing's changed. The PSP Go seems as if it's what the PSP should've been to begin with; I suppose Sony should get SOME props for finally turning the PSP format into a something better (but then again, why couldn't they have gotten it right TO BEGIN WITH???)
Gran Turismo 5? You mean Sony's FINALLY going to tie themselves down on when they'll go gold on this title? In any case, I'll play it safe and won't hold my breath...in case it slips yet again.
What is a xbox 360?
I'm skeptical at the moment but will wait to see what it is like when released before passing judgement.
Source:
http://e3.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/696050/Metal-Gear-Solid-Rising-Not-Exclusive-To-360.html
@RedArmySLDR
ok I'm pretty sure the writer of this article mentioned that. !! read before complaining fanboy!
Source:
http://e3.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/696050/Metal-Gear-Solid-Rising-Not-Exclusive-To-360.html
So much for WiiMote innovation. 2+ years have passed and we are still where we were in the beginning.
Nintendo is becoming crappier as the years go by.
Comparing Eye Toy to Natal is like comparing the Sega Activator to the Wii motion controller.
My GOODNESS, read up on what Project Natal is. It's not the super-fail that eye-toy was, because it uses 3 cameras as a method of triangulating where objects are in space, not one.
Judging from Sony's project, it's good at detecting the remote... and the remote. See with Natal's technology, its far more ambitious, to be able to detect whatever is determined to be detected, not limited to tracking the Sony PS3mote. Hell it can detect bone structure and the gender of the person playing. you could probably have the camera detect a plethora of objects to be used in game.
Has Sony's project shown me anything by excellent following of a controller? No it hasn't.
I'm not saying Sony's is no good, it's got great precision and potential. I just see Microsoft's project as a much better ambition, and if it is solved by the software developer's circle (who have just received the development kits for Natal) then we're in for some amazing stuff.
I guess we'll just have to see, but I think their technology is going to be equally matched when it comes to the final result.
I previously owned 3 xbox 360's (only because they ALL broke because MS cannot make hardware). While they are ahead in the social networking arena, they are light years behind in making hardware (ie. xbox 360 failure issues, HDDVD failure, Controller failures, charging kit failures) and games. So basically if you want a high priced cell phone buy a 360. If you are a serious gamer you buy a PS3.
E3 winner.......Sony BY A MILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The games that are coming for ps3 as exclusives look amazing. I will be buying a ps3 and getting god of war 3, Gran turismo 5, and uncharted 2. I see much more that I would enjoy there than with the 360.
I also feel that the red and blue love toy from sony is further along than natal. natal is a fantastic idea but the technology is not something that can be consistent just yet. My only disappointment is that they won't be lowering the price of the ps3 anytime soon.
As for the psp go......add a touchscreen and a phone I would pay double the price.
What happend to Rare?
If MS focused on their first party games like Sony then MS could have slayed all doubters. MS make more first party stuff! I was wrong about MS camera motion tracker needing a single hand controller. Sony's motion setup is going to cost allot of $$$s for few games.
This MS camera should be less and more future focused. They can make a single hand controller for the XBOX 1080.
Major Nelson just announced PD HD 1080P from Rare:
Perfect Dark on XBLA running 1080p. It is coming to XBLA this winter. Free theme coming tomorrow!
http://twitter.com/majornelson/status/2008690137
The question is though, does it really matter who won E3? No one was particularly enthused by Nintendo's performance, especially with the announcement of the Wii heart rate monitor, but like it or not Wiifit Plus, Wii Resort, Both new Mario Games, Metroid project M, and the DSi will all sell gangbusters, and the Wii's target audience, casual and non gamers frankly don't care much about E3 anyway. And while sony has been trumpeting the 10 year plan since launch and Microsoft has taken an inkling towards the idea, Nintendo has to make no real effort towards keeping the 10 year plan since minimal efforts in aiding the system seems to send Nintendo profits to record heights year after year.
No it won't!
It's coming out for the PC then the PS3 and next the 360. XBOX Live is going to slow down the dev.
FF14, aka Online 2, is junk. The MMO world is a cesspool of wasted meaningless and story-less hours. I watched the trailer and was excited til I saw "Online" and growled in disappointment.
Plus it's a mistake to be PS3 only when the PC is clearly the best platform for a game such as this.
-
by simon222333
June 2, 2009 5:15 PM PDT
- Why would Sony announce a price drop? That dosen't make sense, if people knew there was an upcoming price drop, then no one would purchase a PS3 until then. Plus, I don't understand what $100 price drop is gonna make a difference. If you can't afford an extra $100, then how are you gonna be able to afford $60 games?
-
Reply to this comment
-
-
-
by lm_nyc
June 2, 2009 5:37 PM PDT
- It matters for gifting. If a parent is getting little Junior a Christmas gift, $100 makes a difference. That's why Microsoft decided to have their entry-level priced as low as possible, even if it means that those owners almost certainly have to buy more add-ons. So for example someone could get an XBox Arcade as a gift because $200 was within the gift-giver's budget (whereas $400 might not be), and then the person who received the gift would get whatever add-ons they felt they needed.
-
-
-
by viper396
June 3, 2009 1:33 PM PDT
- simon222333, given the way you throw away money and your inability to understand that many people have budgets, mortgages, kids to feed, etc., I wouldn't be suprised if you still lived with your parents. One day you'll grow up.
-
-
-
by roachbrain
June 4, 2009 6:23 AM PDT
- Nice attack Viper396 way to judge with no proof or valid reasoning. For my kids I would get a Wii simply because you have to worry less about M-rated titles and more games that support them playing together. For me and my spouse the PS3 gives us all we need out the box, with awesome exclusives and a great blu ray player for my set up. Sorry but seems that you're being a little hard on simon222333 considering the PS3 is a great value already. Maybe you're just that type of person that sees quality as an unnecessary expense.
-
-
Showing 1 of 5 pages (146 Comments)What's next you're going to complain that a BMW should cost as much as your Geo.