• 11Jun 09

  My opinion on E309

  E3 finished a week ago but the buzz is still flying around... So quickly, I just want to share my thoughts on this years E3.

  Putting last years behind us and doing our best to forget, E3 opened with Microsoft's conference. And they showed us what a conference should be about... Game after game after game after game, shock announcment, more games, cheesy scripted announcment of MGS:Risingand then Netal. No mindless babberling about sale figures, just show the people what they want to see, and what they didn't know they wanted to see.

  Then Nintendo... well... they're trying to sell a football to basketball fans. While it was an obvious let down Ninty have shown they are listening to what has become known as 'core' gamers. Showing off numerous 'mature' games from third party developers, Nintendo is at least trying to win back some of they're former audience. However with that said I think it was 4 new Mario games announced... This is not catering to that audience. Annoyingly Nintendo are sitting on some hot IP's and only Golden Sun seemed to be utitlied. Even Link was a bit of a shyguy, only showing up with no game footage for Spirit Tracks. And saving the new Wii Zelda for Miyamoto to announce at his round table was a bad move. Still the main selling point for the Nintendo conference was Metroid M. A new joint project with the Don's of action, Team Ninja. Never been a Metorid fan in all honesty but that trailer and the news that Team Ninja will be working on it was enough to grab my attention. The gameplay looked fast and frantic with a heavy focus on combat. Just the way I like it. How this will work with Nintendos 'wag-a-stick' controller set-up which also, I may add, has limited buttons, remains to be seen. Regardless its a title I'm looking into.

  Lastof the big 3 was Sony who put on a much stronger show this year. If you look at it from just the amount and quality of the games, Sony won hands down. Some top rate first party games where on display. Now I need to get this out now, and get it over with... GRAN TURISMO PSP HAS A RELEASE DATE.... FINALLY!!! As you can probably guess, I've been waiting for this one for some time. I was hoping for some news on it, and got exactly what I wanted. Even better,after years of waiting it turns out it will be out in a matter of months. Praise Jesus. Moving on... GoW3, MAG, Heavy Rain... there was plenty on show. In typical Sony, 'Anything you can do we can do better' style, the motion controller for PS3 was demoed. It was a surprsingly humourous,if abit of a sloppy demo. While it did show off how accurate the motion sensoring technology is, it showed nothing that the Wii and Motion+ can't already do. Microsoft sadly had already stolen the thunder at that point anyway.

  One final point on Sony's show... It was nice to see a bit of GT5. However Forza 3 looked stunning, has sensational damage and plenty of cars. Not to mention that the customisation is limitless and the great community feeling from F2 is being brought over to 3. I'm a little worried that, as a long term GT fan, lack of progression for this franchise is going to kill it. We need to see improved AI, damage on the cars and adding more customisation if GT is to compete with Forza.

  It's hard to pick a winner for best of show. All 3 had surprises and some good games to demo. All had new tech to show off. (At this point let me say there is a reason I haven't made mention to Nintendos 'Vitality monitor...thing'). All 3 shows where on the most part entertaining... And acouple of grumbles aside, there's no denying it was a strong E3 this year.

  Lets just ignore EA's Charm Girls Club and Ubisoft's blah blah blah of a press conference...

  • Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:30 pm PT
  • Category: Business
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