SaikoSakura

[10 May 2006 | Wednesday]

Afterthoughts of E3 Day 1
Current mood: ecstatic

Console Wars:
There seems to be many misconceptions running around. Most of my friends are blogging away, speaking their minds about the next-gen. Though I welcome opinions, many of it is irrational and leads to fights. There is absolutely no need for all this negativity. As gamers we should embrace eveything with open eyes and ears. This is the beginning of a new era for gaming. I am looking forward to see where the future will take us.

The Games:
I plan on getting all of the next-gen systems within the next year. I'm sure that there will be plenty of fun titles within the three systems. Xbox 360 will be going into their second year so I expect to see many top titles. I cannot wait to try DDR,  F.E.A.R. and Lumines Live on 360. Halo 3 and GTA4 was announced for you fans. Nintendo has confirmed to release Zelda and Smash Bros. at Wii's launch. Super Mario Galaxy looks exciting. It's been awhile since I have cared for a 3D Mario. Sony has been quiet with their launch, but games such as MGS4 and FF13 look promising. 8 Days look crazy. I am convinced that video was taken from a movie. Untill I see someone play it, I won't believe it's gameplay. I hope it is gameplay, but I won't hold my breath.

Nintedo Wii:
-The System:
Alright enough with the Wii jokes they're old.
Nintendo Wii Final Specs
Where is this phantom system? When will they show it? I'm not sure what is keeping Nintendo but they had better show something soon.

-The Controller:
This is Nintendo's Revolution. In their conference they showed the controller in action. Some people wonder if it's feasible to have multiplayer with this controller. If people can play DDR with eye toy in a small apartment then I don't see why people couldn't play Wii.

Some people say that the Wii controller shell looks like a PS2. To me, it's nowhere near a PS2 Dual Shock. It's more like a SNES controller with nipples. If anything we can say that Sony stole analog, but we won't go there.


Wii controller redesigned. A speaker is now built-in to the controller to use in tandem with the rumble feature during gameplay. Several of the button placements and design were changed as well. Here is the final controller:


-The price: TBA.. one day... It will however be less then the Xbox 360.

Wii presentation..>

Sony PS3:
-The System:
PS3 Final Specs
The core ($500) system will have no memorystick/SD/compact flash port, no Wi Fi, and no HDMI output. The premium ($600) will contain the above, a 60 GIG HDD and an alternate design.

-The Controller:
Six degrees of tilt fucntionality. Interestingly enough the Wii's controller is able to incorporate rumble features. Not sure why Sony couldn't do the same. It's no big deal to me actually... I personally don't see a need to have tilt function on the PS3. It means absolutely nothing to have that feature. I wonder if they will acutally use it... The person demonstrating the controller seemed to have some difficulty. I am happy that they stuck with the PS2 controller design though. Oh and by the way, the tilt was not stolen from Nintendo They actually stole it from Microsoft (and Logitech). They took the idea from motion sensoring controllers that Logitech and Microsoft manufactured for the PC in 1999. Yes, 1999 as in more then seven years ago. There was even an Xbox style button in the middle of the pad.

-The Price:
Core system $500
Premium system $600
Before you scream I'd just like to say that PS3 is not the most expensive console to launch. To me this price is not surprising.
NeoGeo launched in 1990 for $699.99 (That's equal to $1041.12 in 2005)
NeoGeo games were over $100 each.
3DO Interactive Multiplayer launched in 1993 for $699.95 (Equal to $920.30 in 2005)

To put it in an even better light, think about this. You can spend $400 on an iPod that only plays music or a Blackberry for $300. The PS3 at $600 will be a bargin. The biggest selling points of the PS3 are the blu-ray capabilities. The PS3 will be the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market costing $300 less then stand alone units. It's almost like getting a video console for free! If that doesn't justify it's price then nothing will...

Start saving up. Good luck getting one. Bring a knife, it'll make you run faster.

PS3 Controller Demo..>
Sony PSP:
While everyone's still reeling from the PS3 price announcement, UK gamers who want some shiny new Sony hardware before the PS3 launches are in luck. Sony has announced that the Ceramic White PSP will finally be released in Europe next Monday (May 15), with an expected retail price of 179.99 Pounds in the UK ($249). Can we please have that in the US as well?


There will also be a greatest hits series coming to PSP.
Look forward to Silent Hill Origins, MGS: Portable Ops, FF: Crisis Core

Square-Enix
Final Fantasy XIII was coming and coming to the PlayStation 3. Twice on the PlayStation 3. Oh, and once for "next-generation" mobile phones.

Showing a trailer that consisted of amazing real-time and pre-rendered footage, which wowed the crowd, the S-E execs then went on to show off the two other Final Fantasy XIII games, Final Fantasy Agito XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. The former is for phones, the latter for PS3.

FFVXIII is an "extreme action" title, shown only in pre-rendered video form with just concept artwork shown for FFAXIII. No dates were provided for either title.

I know I didn't write much about 360. It is very late, so I will update this again soon.. There's still much more ahead so expect more posts!