Surprisingly uninspired looking console, at least from an aesthetic perspective. Perhaps Microsoft is focusing on function over form, which is not a bad thing.

Still, it would be nice to have both a slick and interesting looking system to complement its powerful and versatile capabilities. When a company crafts a new system just once every 5-7 years, having both should not be a pipe dream.

@Rafficus_III

I have the same sentiment. I feel like today's presentation was the first half of the console's unveiling, while the second half will take place during E3.

I think Microsoft figured that everyone knows the machine will play games, so they decided to spend the majority of their time talking about the less expected capabilities of the new system. Doing so allows Microsoft to differentiate their system from their competitors.

It's during E3 that they will (at least I hope they will), show off the thing people want to see the most; games! Hopefully, Microsoft will provide substantial information and actual gameplay from their 15 exclusive titles.

@magicalclick

These guys are not asking for Nintendo to make mature rated games.

They're longing for Nintendo to spend more time and energy making new characters to fall in love with and exciting new gaming worlds to be immerse in. The interesting new characters or worlds can still be made to appeal to both kids and adults.

There once was a time when Nintendo spent time and energy creating the epic world of Hyrule, the whimsical Mushroom Kingdom, and the mysterious Planet Zebes. What if they kept creating something new every 4 or 5 years?

Nintendo's approach to making games is similar to Martin Scorsese's approach to making films: Both rely on the same characters/actors in their works!

Nintendo relies on Mario and Link, while Scorsese loves working with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

For some people, the approach can be off putting. But, if you look beyond the repeat usage of characters/actors, both Nintendo and Scorsese's works are different from one another.

Gameplay has always been Nintendo's greatest strength and their games continually showcase some innovation, whether it's game design or technology. There's no platformer quite like Super Mario Galaxy (released 2007) or an action-adventure like the motion control heavy, Skyward Sword (released 2011).

Personally, I would love Nintendo to spend more time on characters, story and unique worlds. As it stands, they're sticking with their approach and it's still good enough to make a lot of people happy.

@pezzott1 It has to be CG.

Otherwise, the developers would not miss the chance to make it perfectly clear to people that they're using in-game assets.

Nintendo have really kept the Mario and Zelda franchises close to the chest. However,with Metroid, they've already allowed Retro Studios and Team Ninja to make games in the series, with varying degrees of critical and commercial success.

I wonder if Nintendo will ever give other developers a chance to make a game for the Mario or Zelda franchises? It would allow Nintendo more time to make new IPs.

@Frequenxy

Nintendo R&D is a really talented group of people and it would be interesting if they took more chances with the games they make.

Think about this: Smash Bros.,Mario Kart, and Pikmin were once completely new experiences. Imagine if Nintendo spent more time on creating new experiences to add to the staple of franchises under their name. Owning a Nintendo console would be more special if the must own games went beyond Mario or Zelda franchises.

For Wind Waker HD, I hope Nintendo does something new with the boat. Maybe introduce customization options such as the ability to add a motor.

Sailing in Wind Waker was fun, but using the wand to change the wind's direction on a regular basis was tiresome. Adding a motor would solve this issue. Furthermore, an option to upgrade the motor could increase travelling speeds! This would provide a nice sense of progression throughout the lengthy adventure.

@LordAbyssion @Chronolp27GS I think it's difficult for developers to measure the pulse of their fanbase once they're making the 4th or 5th installment of a series.

Based on data from vgchartz.com, DMC 4 sold around 2.7 million copies in total sales (PS3 and X360 version). Comparatively, DMC 3 and its special edition sold 4.3 million copies (Only PS2 platform).

Clearly, sales dropped off which indicates a drop off in gamer's interest level. This data may have influence Capcom to go another direction with the series. Yet, once Capcom and Ninja Theory unveiled the new DmC to the public, there was a lot of fan outcry.

A lot of mix messages for Capcom to sort through. Is the outcry from a small, but vocal minority, or is it representative of the fanbase at large?

Some gamers bash the Call of Duty series for being too similar year after year, while another segment of gamers bash the latest DmC for being too different from previous installments!

In a strange way, these vocal outcries could curb the amount of sequels that are being made.

I think three or four similar games in any given series might be the right amount of content that would keep both sides of gamers happy. Beyond two or three sequels, some people will be angry if the series doesn't evolve, while some will be angry if the series changes too much.