Sony Review

I know that I need to wait and see what Nintendo's got in store before I degenerate into one of 'them' and start waving my arms around screaming 'Sony won the show,' but Microsoft lowered the bar enough to make that wait difficult.

Sony offered more games with fewer gimmicks that MS did. Period. Sure, there was some silliness about the PS Move, but we got to see Uncharted and all those other games that I'm not terribly interested in.

We got to see the PS Vita, which is, dare I say it, the best gaming handheld I've ever seen. No gimmicks. It plays games in as straightforward a fashion as you could ever want. And it's $249. Fucking great.

That being said, the Move should be the platform for that Kinect Lightsaber game. It's more natural to hold something in your hands. I play Tiger using the Move on my PS3, and having something to hold while golfing is way better than pretending to hold something.

Also, I thought that Jack Tretton had his best personal show ever. He handled the PSN debacle well, and he seemed more relaxed than ever before.

I can't say enough about how impressed I was with both Uncharted games, and can't wait to get my hands on either one. I'm looking forward to the MP beta later this month.

Game Trailers - E3 2011

G'nite!

-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