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Hardware Highlights

The next-generation console announcements from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo dominated the hardware news coming out of E3 2005, but none of the console manufacturers actually had complete systems ready for demonstration. This year we're highlighting, in alphabetical order, the most important technology present at E3 2005. This is the hardware you need to know about.

Ageia PhysX Processor

Ageia Tech Demo

Take a look at PhysX technology in action.

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Epic Games' Mark Rein thinks the Ageia PhysX processor will help keep the PC within striking distance of the next-gen consoles. The increased processing power of the multicore next-gen console CPUs will allow developers to create games with more interactive environments, as well as realistic physics effects. While normal Intel Pentium 4 or Athlon 64 desktop processors can only handle a couple hundred physical objects, the dedicated physics chip can keep tens of thousands of rigid bodies onscreen without a problem. That's the kind of technology the PC will need to keep up with the PlayStation 3.

Creative X-Fi Audio Processor

It's been quite a while since we've seen major innovation in sound technology. With more and more motherboards offering built-in surround- sound capabilities, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before people stopped buying add-in sound cards altogether. Creative's new X-Fi audio processor will give users plenty of reasons to buy sound cards again. The X-Fi chip can bring 16-bit sounds back up to 24-bit studio quality by filling in data lost during the compression process. The chip will also be able to simulate a surround-sound experience from a pair of basic headphones. It's truly amazing to hear stereo headphones that sound like 5.1 speakers, and we look forward to seeing a new Sound Blaster line of cards based on the X-Fi audio processor technology.

Microsoft Xbox 360

X360 Inside and Out

GameSpot editors and Microsoft developers share their thoughts about the history, the unveiling, and the potential of the Xbox 360.

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It's got interchangeable faceplates, a removable 20GB hard drive, wireless controllers that can turn the system on and off, a multicore PowerPC processor, a 48-pipeline ATI graphics chip with 10MB of eDRAM, and the best online service around. In addition to supporting the usual gamepad controller, you can also connect a video camera and microphone to the system for extra audiovisual interaction. All Xbox 360 games will support 720p HDTV, 5.1 surround sound, and the full 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Games will still play fine on a standard 4:3 TV with stereo sound, but it's nice knowing that the 360 will support the latest technology. Microsoft has also overhauled its Xbox Live service to increase personalization, improve community interaction, and offer microtransactions.

Microsoft disclosed most of the Xbox 360 information the week before E3, but managed to save some information for the show. The system will be backward compatible with almost all Xbox games. Microsoft originally stated that the 360 would be backward compatible with "top-selling Xbox games," but a company representative later clarified, "Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360." Microsoft also revealed that Square Enix has signed on as an Xbox 360 developer. The first Square Enix game will be an HD, Xbox Live-enabled version of Final Fantasy XI.

Nintendo Game Boy Micro

Nintendo Conference

The Revolution is revealed during Nintendo's full E3 press conference.

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Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime showed off the new Game Boy Micro at Nintendo's E3 press conference. The new handheld system is a redesigned Game Boy Advance, shrunken down to be more attractive to "image-conscious" gamers. Measuring a mere 4x2x0.7 inches, the cell phone-sized device will be able to play all your standard Game Boy Advance games, but it won't be able to play older Game Boy or Game Boy Color games. Screen size has gone down from 2.9 inches to 2 inches, but the graphics will be sharper on the smaller display. The unit will also have interchangeable faceplates for extra customization.

Nintendo Revolution

At the Nintendo E3 press conference, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata gave us precious few details about Nintendo's next system, code-named Revolution. He reiterated that the final Revolution console will be about the size of three DVD cases stacked on top of each other, and that the system will be able to read DVDs as well as GameCube games. We did find out that the system will be two to three times more powerful as the GameCube, and that online will be a major component. Revolution owners will also be able to download games from Nintendo's entire game library, including all titles from the NES, SNES, N64, and up to the current GameCube system. Nintendo will also bring all of its most popular game franchises to the system, so expect Mario, Samus, and Link to take part in the Revolution.

Sony PlayStation 3

Sony Conference

Sony offered a wealth of information on the PS3 in its press conference

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It's surprising what a bathtub full of rubber ducks and a controversial game demo can do to turn the momentum in the next-gen console battle. Microsoft entered E3 riding high on its successful Xbox 360 announcement from the previous week, but Sony delivered a great comeback at its E3 press conference with the PlayStation 3's unveiling. The new console announcement included just the right mix of hardware-specification numbers and the all-important tech demos. The PS3 will feature the Cell processor, an Nvidia RSX graphics more powerful than two GeForce 6800 Ultras, and a new "PlayStation World" online network. Other features include wireless Bluetooth controllers, Blu-ray BD-ROM support, PSP Wi-Fi connectivity, and video output that can power up to two 1080p HDTV displays.

The PS3 tech demos included a next-gen rubber duck demo we first saw for the PS2, as well as numerous game demos like Epic's Unreal Tournament 2007 and a Final Fantasy VII Cloud sequence redone for the new hardware. The most talked about PS3 game demo had to be Killzone 2, which was so stunning that many were convinced that the movie was prerendered, CG animation. Even after a Sony representative reassured GameSpot that the movie was rendered in real time, many still weren't and aren't convinced.