First of all, let me say I have recently joined the holy ranks of the PC gamer, so I from the start I wasn't too invested in what the 3 console manufacturers had to say. I am by no means a Nintendo fan boy as I sold my Wii years ago. However, I was most curious about Nintendo's keynote at this year's E3 from the beginning and after seeing their competetors' shows I must say I think they have the upper hand. First lets take a look at what we've already seen.
The general consensus is that Microsoft's presser sucked. they were too focused on kinect, which I personally don't know anyone who owns one. Though I didn't watch this keynote (I was sleeping, har!) everything I read was kinect. Everyone is saying the biggest surprise was minecraft (which was also kinect-enabled) but didn't mojang announce this months ago the same time they mentioned the android version? Maybe it wasn't definite then, but i'm pretty sure it's been brought up before. So with that in mind, the best thing in Microsoft's event was tomb raider. One last note on Microsoft's presentation: the new new Xbox experience, it's oozing metro UI, which is gorgeous, but nobody really bought WP7, why is Microsoft so adamant about this new look on EVERYTHING they make? (I'm looking at you windows 8)
Onward to Sony. they're still pushing 3d, and I still say it's just a fad, but at least they are a little more subtle about it, and honestly that PlayStation branded TV looked pretty cool, if they offered a 40"+ sized version I would be really tempted to buy it, since the price isn't unreasonable for the current 24 incher. The real spotlight here was of course the NGP, or PlayStation Vita as it's now known. That name is awful (though we'll get used to it like with the wii) and the decision to partner with AT&T is just plain stupid. I am currently on Verizon for my cell phone and the only time I've ever lost 3g signal is in someone's basement, on the other hand my friends with AT&T (which actually just recently got started in my area, so I am willing to cut them a little slack here) sometimes have no data at all, much less 3g. I'm not saying Sony should have exclusively went to Verizon, but having more that one partner would have been wise (even if it was t-mo so they wouldn't have to have 2 different radios in it.) Another problem I have with the vita is it really has too much going on. A touch screen, touch pad, 2 cameras, tons of buttons, a mic (?), 3g and wifi radios, it opens up a lot of opportunities for devs, but at what point is enough enough? I may still buy one, simply because I've been meaning to pick up a psp over the years and just never did, and the vita will be able to play older downloadable games, though it would be nice if it played umd's. When all is said and done i'm left a little confused on Sony's new handheld.
So what will tomorrow's Nintendo keynote bring? well they already said they would have working units of their new console. Overall, the other two keynotes were underwhelming (to put it lightly in Microsoft's case), and sony's biggest announcement was a handheld system. I tend to think console systems are more of a big deal, and if half the rumors are true this "project cafe" is going to be insane (though harking back to my little vita rant, when is enough enough? I mean a 6" touch screen? really?). To be honest I kind of want Reggie and/or Shigeru to walk out on a barren stage with a single light bulb hanging on a wire above their new console, speak it's name once, and walk of the stage, turning out the light and leaving a room full of confused reporters. Be honest: how amazing would that be. But more realistically, Nintendo are masters of marketing and will put on a fantastic show, they will of course announce their new console, and show of launch titles for it, another big ticket item will be LoZ: skyward sword. (which BTW, if this takes place before the original link in OoT, who is the hero - food for thought). I'm personally willing to bet they will release the new Zelda on both consoles. They'll have to hype up the 3DS as well since nobody seems to be buying it. Of course if we know Nintendo, they've got some surprises in store too. I'm hoping for the wii vitality sensor, mainly because I think it's hilarious.
Like I said, I think a new console announcement is always a huge deal at E3, the greatest expo in years that I can think of was the year all 3 companies announced their newest (now current) generation of consoles.
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