Which Video Game Console Will Rule This Year?
We have just limped back from E3, the video game "Media & Business Summit". This conference, held in Santa Monica, CA, was an intense four days of seeing and playing all the video games that will come out for the next year. Sounds horrible, right?
We took some time to digest what the major players -- Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft -- had to say, and our verdicts are in. Some of the results are surprising.
Tim Stevens: Nintendo Wii
Each year the "big three," Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, try to out-do one another with major announcements that make the E3 crowds go "ooh" and "aah." Each year someone is crowned a winner. When compared to years previous it's hard to pick a winner, with nobody really clearly out-doing the others. However, of the three, Nintendo's Wii had the best showing, with a selection of great games due out before the end of the year like 'Super Mario Galaxy,' 'Metroid Prime: Corruption,' and 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl.' Sony's PS3 and Microsoft 's Xbox 360 dazzled with visually amazing games, but Nintendo's got the gameplay squared away.
Sure, the Zapper isn't too enticing and the Balance Board is perhaps a bit niche (Yoga gamers??), but if nothing else these are signs that Nintendo is still taking risks, even if they're still relying on their core franchises like Mario and Zelda. With any luck, some third-party producers will get in on the party by next year's show.
We took some time to digest what the major players -- Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft -- had to say, and our verdicts are in. Some of the results are surprising.
Tim Stevens: Nintendo Wii
Each year the "big three," Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, try to out-do one another with major announcements that make the E3 crowds go "ooh" and "aah." Each year someone is crowned a winner. When compared to years previous it's hard to pick a winner, with nobody really clearly out-doing the others. However, of the three, Nintendo's Wii had the best showing, with a selection of great games due out before the end of the year like 'Super Mario Galaxy,' 'Metroid Prime: Corruption,' and 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl.' Sony's PS3 and Microsoft 's Xbox 360 dazzled with visually amazing games, but Nintendo's got the gameplay squared away.
Sure, the Zapper isn't too enticing and the Balance Board is perhaps a bit niche (Yoga gamers??), but if nothing else these are signs that Nintendo is still taking risks, even if they're still relying on their core franchises like Mario and Zelda. With any luck, some third-party producers will get in on the party by next year's show.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mithun D @ Jul 18th 2007 3:59AM
After having watched all 3, I can agree with the statement - "there is no big news at this year's E3". It's true. I liked Sony's press conference the most because of what they showed but this is only when making a comparison. I expected Sony to show off Killzone 2 (& I was impressed !) but I was also eager to see more of 'Eight Days', 'Getaway 3' & some new titles. The only new game that impressed me at Sony's E3 conference was 'Echocrome'. I loved the aesthetics of that game & I can't wait to play it.
Microsoft's press conference was a mixed bag (the crappy-Disney collection is all they could get ? Really ? Atlantis ?!) & Nintendo - well, lets just say, the only time I was awake when watching the press conference was when they demoed Wii Fit. I know the Wii isn't a graphical powerhouse but I loved the visual style of Mario Galaxy. So when they showed Mario Kart Wii, all I kept thinking was -"Why are developers so lazy with the visuals ?" Yes, casual games are what the Wii is renowned for but the "hard core games" they showed off just left me thinking that the PS2 still has a lot more to offer for gamers out there.
I also think the dearth of new announcements has something to do with what's happening next 2-3 months. Come August is the euro-centric Leipzig Games Convention, September is Tokyo Games show & after that, Microsoft has it's X07 event. I'm sure we'll hear announcements to games we were actually expecting to know about at this E3.
seanbouker @ Jul 21st 2007 11:00PM
hell ya ps3 all the way XD