e3logo For the second year in a row, I’m posting my views on this year’s E3 for your reading and trolling pleasure.

As with last year, I could care less about portable devices and so will only mention any console related info that got my attention. If I left anything out, it’s because I don’t care about it, and you shouldn’t either. This year promised to be a better show but honestly ended up being almost as lackluster as last year’s. Don’t these companies realize all that gamers really want are great new games? Please, no more gimmicks!

Microsoft

l4d2 For the second year in a row, Microsoft was “best in show” among the 3 big companies and mostly for 1 reason, Left 4 Dead 2. This game was a complete surprise and propelled itself to my #1 most wanted game of 2009 seconds after I saw the words on my screen (took me a while to register the info and pick my jaw off the ground). Also, Forza Motorsport 3, Crackdown 2, and a new Halo game rounded up the new, never leaked or announced before game list. I have to admit, I only really care about Left 4 Dead 2 from that list, but I care about it so much that it could have been a list on it’s own!

Microsoft also made a big deal about Natal, a full body motion sensing technology they think will revolutionize the way games are going to be played. It does look impressive in theory, but I bet this is more of a WiiMote 2.0 than anything else. In the end, sure, some games will be the better for it. It might even help herald new game mechanics and genres, but the majority of gamers out there will continue to prefer controllers … and so the majority of games out there will be designed with them in mind. I feel far more comfortable sitting on my couch lazily pressing some buttons than standing up and looking the fool waving my arms at my television.

Oh, I mention the Facebook and Twitter integration as well but I couldn’t care less about that. It took me all of 5 minutes before I disabled MSN Messenger from my X-Box Live account so I won’t even be trying these when they’re launched. I would have loved to try the new radio station they’re integrating, but since I live in Canada, this is a feature I will not be able to enjoy … just like Netflix … and I’m still bitter about that one.

Not a perfect presentation by Microsoft and they probably only did so well in my eyes because of how poorly their competition did (and because of Left 4 Dead 2, did I mention that?) but 1st place is 1st place.

Nintendo

samus As much as I would have loved to further hate on Nintendo, they did way better this year than last. Admittedly, that doesn’t really say much, but a step in the right direction should be encouraged and so I’ll abstain from ridiculing them as much as I can.

Metroid Other M not only got my attention because it’s Metroid, but also because it has such a strange name. Seriously, best news of the day by far from Nintendo! Nintendo is finally listening (a little) to their hardcore audience. Mario Galaxy 2 and a new Super Mario for the Wii that features 4 player co-op a-la Little Big Planet round up the top 3 new announcements from the Nintendo camp!

There were some interesting DS games announced side-by-side with Wii Fit 2 and other useless gimmicks. A step up Nintendo, one that puts you in second place, but you still have a long way to go.

Sony

ff14 Yup, that’s right, Nintendo coming in second only means that Sony is coming in dead last this year. Not that Sony didn’t have anything good to present, but we’ve seen most everything before with the exception of Final Fantasy 14 and I haven’t cared about a Final Fantasy since 7 … not to mention this is supposed to be an online one.

Great games are coming from Sony such as MAG, Uncharted 2, God of War 3 and the Last Guardian but we’ve known about these for some time through official announcements or leaks, and new footage just doesn’t cut it. Also, Sony unveiled a motion sensing hardware similar to Microsoft’s Natal but even less impressive. Their PSP line-up might have seemed impressive to anyone who cares and the PSPGo itself would have been interesting if it didn’t cost more than a Wii. All in all, Sony misses the point once more…

So once again there you have it. Do you disagree with any of these points? If so, please do share!

Seve

Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 23:13

I’ll agree with you with Microsoft, I think they knocked it out of the park. But i’d switch Sony with Nintendo (and I don’t even own any sony systems other then my ps2)

Other then New Metroid (I hope it’s not as hard as Ninja Gaiden) and the 2 new mario games (very exited about that, the wife will love New super mario bros and I love galaxy + Yoshi) I was mortified watching that press conference.

Nintendo invited the industry and video game press and showed them nothing they wanted to see (which was proven by how little applause and fanfar they got). Nintendo isn’t making games for Gamers anymore. They are making “experiences” for everyone else. And with that I commend them, because they are rolling in money. But if nintendo wanted to get a good response from the audience they should have invited soccer moms, teenage girls and senior citizens. I mean what the fuck is the Biometric finger thing. It’s like they’re making a heart monitor for old people so they don’t work to hard at wii bowling and have a heart attack.

Also, where’s Zelda? Where’s Pikmin? Where’s Starfox (PLEASE GIVE ME ONLINE STARFOX)? Where’s F-Zero? How Come we now have 3 Wii Mario Games (if you don’t count the sports or party games) 2 Wii Metroid Games, 2 Excite(blank) games, a Punchout game but no F-Zero, Pikmin, Starfox and (Let’s be honest here) no REAL Zelda Wii game. If you don’t have the internal teams to handle those games, then let 3rd party handle them. Sega Made F-Zero gamecube and it was fantastic. Metroid games have been handled by a 2nd party and now 3rd party developer and they look great. Capcom made the GBC zelda games and CREATED the four swords gamestyle. There was barelly anything announced for “US” and that’s why I’m so down.

Sony on the other hand, to me, did a great job CONSIDERING how much news got leaked.

-PSP Go would have been huge had it not been leaked, and not just the device, but the fact that all games from this point on will be Download and Disc, that’s a huge step to me.

-GOW3 was manadatory

-MAG has a terrible name but the demo was impresive

-Trico, again, would have been huge, had it not been leaked

-Metal Gear Solid: 4 Swords looks pretty cool

Just in the shear number of games announced I’m much more impressed with Sony’s showing then nintendo, and I bought a wii launch day and sat over night to get it.

To be honest the only thing that made me REALLY happy about this years E3 was that not only is there an HD remake with Voice actors of the Original Monkey Island Game, bu that Telltale has partenered with Lucasarts to make 5 Episodic chapters in the story of Monkey Island.

I was grinning ear to ear when I heard the news. Sam and Max, Now Monkey Island, maybe the possibility of a new Manic Mansion?!

Blink

Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 23:17

How can you call yourself a gamer and not play portable games? That’s bullshit man.

Osama

Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 08:49

@ Seve:

You’re not wrong but I just see E3 in a different way. To me, E3 is a place and an excuse to build up hype for the industry. You build up hype but unveiling new things, not by revealing more about something that’s already announced. To me, Sony had a way better showing last year than this year with that in mind.

And Nintendo had a way better year this year than last. Granted, it’s far from ideal, but at least they announced a handful of relevant and exciting games unlike last year’s Wii Sport Resort and Wii Music.

Microsoft announced the most new material, and I haven’t heard anyone disagree with them having the best showing this E3.

Oh, and New Monkey Island is the SHIZNIT

Khris

Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 13:36

@ Posted by Blink: “How can you call yourself a gamer and not play portable games? That’s bullshit man.”

??? – I never heard of a definition that says: “To be a Gamer you must play portable games.”

I agree with you Osama, it wasn’t an impressive show. However, I’m not to excited about Left 4 Dead or any other games this year, but I can’t wait to get my hands on:

- Shadow Complex (XBLA)

- Alan Wake

- Halo: ODST – 4 player coop with my friends

- Halo: Reac – maybe the Halo I’ve always been waiting for.

- Splinter Cell: Conviction – I hope Mark and Spot isn’t too bad

At the top of that, what is Epic Games doing? What about Deus Ex 3 from Eidos Montreal? A few deceptions for so much expectations of the “most important E3 yet”.

hugo

Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:51

well, i think sony had a pretty good show, like, to ps3 fans, true it`s hard to impress anyone with already leaked news, but what could they do? just come up with some new stuff out of nowhere? but i think they had a pretty good “why you should keep your ps3″ presentation, as they showed, yes, finally after 3 years, ps3 is going to get some games (not limited by xbox 360)

BUT microsoft ruled E3, im not saying i buy it, but they had such a spielbergian minority reportish(as in futuristic blockbuster movies) way of promoting their new stuff that i believe it`s gonna get all those casuals to freak out and buy a 360 right now and it`s going to become the family entertainment system. Besides Natal, I`m sure everyone thinks it`s the most amazing and groundbreaking of news the possibility to watch television on your own…television!

Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 17:26

Khris: I agree that I left out Alan Wake and Splinter Cell but that was because they’ve already been announced. Granted, it’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about AW and SC doesn’t look anything like it used to, but still they’re not “new announcements”

Hugo: True, PS3 has a big line-up coming, and it’s not their fault some games got leaked, but it’s not my fault either and the end result is the same: their presentation really wasn’t all that impressive.

Kmuzu

Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 01:04

I remember seeing the Famicom in 1985 at CES Las Vegas and being totally geeked out at
Duck Hunt… so you whipper snappers should shut yer corn holes and be glad ya got more than you got more than 256 colors … and stay off the lawn!

Hytham