Microsoft and the 180 on the 360

It's been fascinating to watch Microsoft fall under Nintendo's spell and trudge behind it, mindlessly, in its quest to perfect Gaming For Babies. It began a few years ago, with the pedophilia simulator, Milo, as well as some party-based trashware like 'You're in the Movies!'







We've still gotten a handful of real games during the show from them, but it seems to decrease every year, and no, I don't count the annual showing of yet another iteration on the already-tired Call of Duty series. That's multi-platform and about as surprising as a bowel movement.

This year, I am glad that we're all but certainly seeing Gears of War 3 and Forza Motorsport 4, but I'm a little concerned that the show will go like past years, which is like this:

 - Don Mattrick comes out, nervously says some shit, and then we all remember when Peter Moore used to do this, only WAAAY better
 - Obligatory Call of Duty snorefest; generic dumbfucks get very excited
 - Gaming for Babies, round one
 - Forza of Gears
 - Gaming for Babies, round two
 - Forza or Gears
 - new expensive non-gaming peripheral
 - free expensive bribe to gaming press, again

Bear in mind, too, that Microsoft just got done reassuring us that the XBox brand is NOT a gaming brand. This year's Microsoft presser is going to make Nintendo look like a hardcore gamer's champion.

Microsoft can't flee the gamer's clutches fast enough. Once this is done, it'll have wriggled out of PC gaming to go to console gaming, only to have dropped that jilted lover, as well.

Microsoft wants the XBox to be the set-top box that we all talked about 10 years ago. They don't love you anymore. You can ask the fat 35-year old virgins who still cry for a new Kid Icarus how this process goes.

I actually like Microsoft and hope they blow our minds, but the 'rebranding' announcement, combined with the way their shows have trended the last few years tells me everything I need to know.










So, what do you think? Are you okay with Microsoft shunning gamers in favor of a set-top box?

What do you hope to see?

Either way, you can watch the show from 1130-1300 on 6/6 here.

-Blaine

Believe It or Not

It is time ...










That ad still makes me smile, even after breaking it out year after for E3.

I've done quite a bit of posting and podcasting surrounding E3 these past few years, though I never quite produced as much content as I would've liked. I always kinda ran outta steam at the end, and really, it was always due to the fact that I was working the whole time.

This year, though, that all changes. I've taken the week off from work, so I can fully bask in the spectacle without any real responsibility.

My intention, for this particular post, is to give you a 'Guide to E3 For Those Not Going to E3.'

First, a viewing guide. Please note that all the pressers are also on gamepro.com, gamespot.com, g4tv.com, and gametrailers.com.

This Past Thursday

Tags: GameTrailers.com, E3 2011: Press Conference HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Monday (all times normal time)
1100 - SpikeTV - Pre-Microsoft Show
1130 - SpikeTV - Microsoft Presser
1300 - SpikeTV - Post-Microsoft
1400 - G4TV - Pre-EA Show
1430 - SpikeTV - EA Presser
1600 - G4TV - Pre-Ubisoft Show
1630 - G4TV - Ubisoft Presser
1800 - G4TV - Post-Ubisoft
1830 - G4TV - Pre-Sony Presser
1900 - G4TV - Sony Presser
2030 - G4TV - Post-Sony
Tuesday
1000 - G4TV - Pre-Nintendo Show
1100 - G4TV - Nintendo Presser
1300 - G4TV - Post-Nintendo
1500 - G4TV - E3 Live
Wednesday
1600 - G4TV - E3 Live
Thursday
1600 - G4TV - E3 Live

You can also check out the full online offerings from  GamePro, GameSpot, G4TV, and GameTrailers. There's more coverage then ever this year, so dig in!

So, there's all that. I'm glad there's going to be a lot of access this year, because this is going to be the most interesting E3 since the beginning of the 'E3 on TV era' (2005-now). This is the beginning of a new console hardware generation. While my interest in console gaming has flattened, due to my ability to enjoy PC games, I still own and play my PS360, and my son loves the Wii. Rumblings of a WiiHD, a Wii2, or that mythical Nintendo console that is not intended for babies has me stoked. While I'm certain Nintendo will fail in currying interest from responsible, employed, adult males that have had sex with other adult humans, the tantalizing prospect of new hardware is irresistible.

That, and having a five-year old son doubles my interest. What will he think of the latest droppings from Big N? Certainly, a five-year could forgive Luigi's Mansion 2. Right? Given that most hardcore Nintendo fans have all the intellectual sophistication of a five-year old, it should be a hit no matter what, right?

We'll see.

There's also the prospect that the NGP will not be a stillborn, as well as some rumors circulating about Microsoft showing some new hardware.

All that aside, it's gotta be about the games, something Nintendo has never grasped, something that Microsoft is slowly forgetting, and something that Sony is actually doing better year after year.

Of course, if you play PC games, all you have is the games, since there is no hardware standard. But you don't care about that. You're one of them.

After this, I'll be posting previews and predictions for each of the big three, followed by a roundup of games you should keep an eye on.


Then, each day next week, I'll post pics, video, and some written reactions to whatever is worth reacting to.

So, what about you? Are you excited to see what Nintendo has in store? What else has you excited?

=Blaine