So two out of the big three have had their conferences. Microsoft and Nintendo both presented two very different press conferences then from the past. Microsoft this time around put more on a focus too the casual side of things with Kinect while Nintendo decided to bring it out full force this year by giving people basically just what they wanted.
Easily enough the best place to start off at is the games
Microsoft: -decided to start off big and show Call of Duty: Blackops. Suffice enough to say its hopefully going to be a redemption for the what-I-call unfinished Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. At least it starts off in new territory at least taking place in the world of deniable ops.
-They showed off the super impressive Metal Gear Solid: Rising which hopefully will create good memories of Raiden other then Metal Gear Solid 4. Just being able to cut anything on a whim in game makes it seem worthwhile. No word on cut scenes but obviously expect ones where you'll want some popcorn.
-Gears of War 3 still follows the highly successful gameplay with added colour and the new lambent enemies. The four player co-op also is a great addition and the series was just asking for it.
-Halo: Reach really only mattered in my opinion if you already like the series in the first place though the campaign did look at least decent. Though it will always seem more of the same.
-Fable 3 looks more of the same while approaching the promises of the first game but will it be longer then 6 hours? While we found out info on all of the above there is absolutely no info on
-Crytek's game Codename: Kingdoms doesn't have any information other then you'll kill people in melee combat. The live action debut trailer makes it seem like a gladiatorial game of some sort.
That's it on the Microsoft side of things for what I actually call games. Needless to say it focused only one the blockbusters and no new ip's other then Codename: Kingdoms. They had a lack of originality is easy to say
Nintendo: -starting off with the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was probably the smartest move they could do at this point. One could honestly go on about this one forever so just to boil it down to the main points: Movement specific enemies, new items (control a beetle and a whip were just a couple), graphically a mix between Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, free and natural movement (so they say), and brand new ways to use items (such as rolling bombs instead of throwing them). It also requires motion plus making it the first game you'll want to buy the attachment for.
-an exclusive version of NBA Jam. Probably the greatest of all arcade basketball games. No info on it during the press conference but hopefully its more the just tweaked controls.
-Mario Sports Mix which is basketball, volleyball and hockey with the usual suspects participating.
-a new party game called Wii Party. So far it seems to be the Wii Music of the show not looking too appealing. One interesting part is that any mii in the world can join in. But more or less its just a bunch of party game modes and minigames.
-Just Dance 2...you can dance again. Oh ya they added in the feature that 8 people can embarrass themselves at one time now.
-Golden Sun now has a subtitle called Dark Dawn. Features full 3d environments, made the psy powers touch and still has it's epic djinn summons. Other then the new Zelda game this is probably the one I'm personally looking most forward too.
-A redone Goldeneye! It's Goldeneye that is all.
-Epic Mickey is probably the most interesting considering there hasn't been a good Mickey game since the Super Nintendo. Warren Spector wants to change that and from the look of it so far will. The ability to erase and create the game world on a whim is reason enough alone just to check it out.
-The new Kirby game seems interesting with the ability to change stages such as unraveling them and shifting them. The usual transformations are there but it still is the ability to change levels that's probably the main focus. Also it's charming as hell just to even look at.
-Dragon Quest IX will seem to be multiplayer focused with random dungeons. Hopefully it will create the same amount of craziness over here as in Japan. In other words people will meet up at subway stations just to trade treasure maps.
-Metroid: Other M seems to be a mix of old school Metroid, Metroid Prime's first person and Ninja Gaiden. Hopefully the results will be as impressive as any of the three.
-Big Surprise this year was a brand new Donkey Kong Country Game. It looks old school and it probably plays old school making it what seems to end up being one of the best platformer the Wii will ever get.
This is just all the games that aren't even coming to the 3DS. Nintendo definitely pulled out all the stops with what I call it's attempt to bring the hardcore audience back to the Wii. If the new Zelda and Metroid can't do it then nothing will.
Games Winner: Nintendo. Why? With the new Zelda, Metroid and Donkey Kong coming out it brings not only new memories too the table but brings back old ones as well. Sure Microsoft showed us Call of Duty: Black Ops, Halo: Reach and Gears of War 3 but that's relying on the tried and true formula of those series. While you can say the same for Nintendo in the Zelda arena you can't argue that there is innovation in every single one. Something like Call of Duty is starting to severely lack in. There's also the fact that Microsoft only showed it's blockbusters. There wasn't anything new other then it's focus on Kinect but more on that later.
This is just all the games that aren't even coming to the 3DS. Nintendo definitely pulled out all the stops with what I call it's attempt to bring the hardcore audience back to the Wii. If the new Zelda and Metroid can't do it then nothing will.
Games Winner: Nintendo. Why? With the new Zelda, Metroid and Donkey Kong coming out it brings not only new memories too the table but brings back old ones as well. Sure Microsoft showed us Call of Duty: Black Ops, Halo: Reach and Gears of War 3 but that's relying on the tried and true formula of those series. While you can say the same for Nintendo in the Zelda arena you can't argue that there is innovation in every single one. Something like Call of Duty is starting to severely lack in. There's also the fact that Microsoft only showed it's blockbusters. There wasn't anything new other then it's focus on Kinect but more on that later.
In fact right now!
Tech: It's the redesigned 360 and Kinect vs the 3DS. Three enter but only one (or two) will be crowned champion. They're extremely different from one another with one being the new hopeful portable addiction and the other hoping to bring the casual market to the 360.
First up once again is Kinect (I actually prefer Natal to this name) and the new version of the 360. Natal brings full body control by using a camera to watch your body movements. It's actually is focused on the skeleton of the human body to analyze movements. Not only that but it has voice recognition as well. You can yell at your Xbox all you want now. Command it if you will. There is even video voicechat making it seem pointless to even have msn messenger on a 360 anymore (that is if you even used it). Being able to see anyone that also has a Kinect and a 360 is a really nice addition. Making Kinect more then just something for gaming. But when it comes down to games Kinect just seems to fail miserably. There's a sports game amazingly titled Kinect Sports that doesn't seem impressive in fact the only section they demoed was a hurdles race. Isn't really the most exciting thing out there. Then Kinectamals which lets you take care of virtual pets such a tiger. Thinking of cost of both Kinect and the game wouldn't it be cheaper to say just adopt one? Next up is Kinect Joyride which is a cart racer that you control like you would a car it also looks extremely hard as well. Kinect Adventure is just a reflex game where you just dodge things while collecting tokens. Ubisoft made a fitness game which mainly looked like it was yoga. Harmonix's Dance Central seems like a better version of Just Dance. Lastly a new racing game from the people behind Forza lets you interact with the cars. Think about it though you'll only be able to play this game as long as you can keep your arms up.
Now the Nintendo 3DS adds in a bunch of new features. Analog control, two cameras with the ability to take 3d pictures, a gyro and motion sensor but most importantly the 3d technology that does not require glasses probably the most impressive of all. Theres also an option where you can control the amount of 3d that the system puts out. They also increased the graphic capability of the machine which is always helpful. Another cool thing is that the 3DS has the ability to watch 3d movies on the system making it more then just a gaming system. With games though there hasn't really been anything announced other then which series will make the jump. You got Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed just to name a few. But the most important was what Project Sora turned out to be: a brand new Kid Icarus game! People have been dying for one of these for years and to show it was the main title for the 3DS this early shows how much confidence they have. So far it's like a DS but with way more features then just games.
Tech Winner: Microsoft
In the end the Kinect loses in the game department to the 3DS even though nothing was really shown. Even the Kid Icarus game beat out everything Kinect had to show. But Kinect wins in the end. Why? The technology it presented has alot more uses then just 3D without the glasses. It just does so much more. The full body motion is just alot more impressive along with the voice reconigtion.
Extra Awesome: Microsoft gave out the new redesigned 360 for free while Nintendo had Reggie Fils-Aime and the invasion of booth babes with the 3DS. Who wins? Well it just comes down to fanboyism right then and there. So both are winners in their own right. Microsoft gave everyone something awesome and Nintendo had an invasion with technology and Reggie.
Overall Winner: Nintendo
Why? It comes down to the games which is the main reason why we're here in the first place. Sure Microsoft unveiled all of their blockbusters...in the first half hour and then it was just fail for the rest of the show with Kinect. In the end it looked like just another Wii just with shovelware being the only software existing. Nintendo had just game after game and was never ending. That's just what it comes down too. This was Nintendo's year to get back the hardcore audience and for the most part it succeeded but if they can do the same next year is the best question of all.
-Ryan P.
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