It's that time again. E3 is back and all that great video game news is flowing. I'll summarize the keynote addresses and we can talk about them if you want.

Microsoft (June 1st, 10:30 PST)

- Rock Band Beatles demonstration. Introduced by McCartney and Ringo Starr.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 demonstrated.
- Final Fantasy 13 footage from the Xbox360 version.
- Shadow Complex (a 2.5D game inspired by Metroid/Castlevania) was shown by Cliff Bleszinski.
- Alan Wake was explained and played a little bit.
- Forza Motorsport 3. Now, cars can have custom paint jobs, videos can be shared.
- Crackdown 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 announced.
- Halo ODST and Halo Reach talked about. ODST is a Halo 3 prequel, Reach is vague and unexplained.
- Last.FM for XboxLive. Users will be able to listen to music or something.
- Xbox Live becoming integrated with Facebook and Twitter.
- Xbox Live's video marketplace is becoming the Zune video marketplace.
- Metal Gear Solid Rising coming to Xbox360 (new game, starring Raiden)
- Microsoft's new motion controller is not a controller at all. Project Natal is a camera bar thing that senses body motion in 3D, has face recognition, and voice recognition. Body actions translate to gameplay, like the PS2 Eyetoy. Several short game clips and interactive motion painting demos are shown.
- Peter Molyneux demonstrates some kind of "game" featuring advanced interactive AI using Project Natal. It's a boy you can talk to by a lake.


Nintendo (June 2, 9:00 PST)

- Four players came on stage to play New Super Mario Bros. Wii simultaneously.
- Wii Fit Plus, a more customizable version of the original Wii Fit.
- Reggie talks about Wii Motion Plus. We get a video montage featuring Wii Sports Resort and demonstrating precise motion recognition.
- Bill Trinen demonstrates new games in Wii Sports Resort. Challenged Reggie to Basketball.
- A few sports games reported to be Wii Motion Plus compatible.
- Trailers shown for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearer and DS Kingdom Hearts.
- Mario And Luigi RPG (DS) trailer shown. It'll be out this fall.
- Trailer for a 3D Golden Sun DS game.
- Some author named Patterson is making a suspense/mystery game for DS. "Women's Murder Club"
- Trailer for Ubisoft's DS racing game C.O.P.: The Recruit.
- Sega's DS Girl's Mode is coming to America as Style Savvy.
- Japan's Moving Memo app coming stateside for DSi. Also, WarioWare Do It Yourself and Mario Vs. Donkey Kong.
- Share DSi photos with Facebook users.
- Iwata shows Wii vitalty sensor. It's some kind of Wiimote hookup that checks your heart rate.
- Cammie Dunnaway announces Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Wii and shows a video.
- Reggie talks about 3rd Party stuff, each with a trailer: The Conduit, Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, and Dead Space Extraction.
- Nintendo working with Team Ninja on a new 3rd-person Metroid called "Metroid: Other M", due out in 2010. Trailer featuring FMVs and gameplay shown.


Sony (June 2, 11:00 PST)

- Jack Tretton mentions upcoming titles (FF13, Heavy Rain, Modern Warfare 2, etc.)
- PS2 continues to be a viable family console, getting 100 new titles this year.
- Uncharted 2 demonstrated live.
- MAG demonstrated live on stage with 256 players. It's a FPS tactical wargame featuring a TON of players online.
- Tretton discusses new PSP bundles, including Rock Band and Assassin's Creed. Hannah Montana pink PSP!
- Patapon 2, LocoRoco 2, Rock Band Unplugged mentioned.
- Kaz Hirai "announces" the PSP Go. It loses the UMD drive, going for digital download instead. 50% smaller, 40% lighter. 16gb internal memory, uses a new kind of Memory Stick called M2.
- Media Go allow you to access the Playstation store from your PC.
- Video and gaming content downloadable natively to your PSP. More content available, too.
- Kazunori Yamauchi announced Gran Turismo for PSP.
- Kojima announced Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for PSP. It's a "main" MGS game, not a spinoff. A trailer was shown. This was what the countdown was about.
- Tretton announced Resident Evil, Jak and Daxter, Little Big Planet, Socom, Motorstorm, Hannah Montana, and Harry Potter for the PSP. A following trailer showed even more games coming to the system.
- FF7 hits the PSN today.
- Playstaion Home continues to grow. A video is shown to demonstrate that it's still going with new content.
- Trailer for PS3 games: Uncharted 2, Infamouse, Madden 10, FF13, MAG, Arkham Asylum, some racing game, Ghostbusters, Ninja Gaiden, Click, King of Fighters 12, Tekken Something, Tiger Woods, G-Force, Heavy Rain, Several PSN games, Katamari, that Eyetoy pet, Lips, Bioshock 2, God of War 3, some we've been playing for a year already and several I couldn't recognize.
- Rockstar North announced PS3-exclusive game Agent.
- A guy from Ubisoft showed Assassin's Creed 2. A video shows another ancestor of the main character, this one in the Italian Renaissance.
- FF13 video shown.
- FF14 Online footage shown. It is PS3 exclusive.
- PS3's motion controller revealed. It works with the PS3 Eye. It has 1:1 tracking. Two guys got on stage to demonstrate it realtime, swinging around various weapons and objects. Two controllers can work in tandem. Several tech demos were shown.
- Little Big Planet discussed, as well as the upcoming PSP version.
- ...which transitioned to ModNation Racers, a hyper-customizable and cute racing game built for user content. Easy to build tracks, racers, and cars.
- Trailer shown for Team Ico's new game The Last Guardian for PS3.
- Trailer for Gran Turismo 5 for PS3.
- First few minutes of God of War 3 played live.

Microsoft's presentation was impressive. I gotta hand it to them, I was bored at first but the last half was CRAZY. I dunno if Nintendo or Sony can top it.

MGS Rising eh... I doubt it would be a 360 exclusive and once again I feel like punching Cliff Bleszinski in his face!

xbl with facebook? now we have our e penis on our facebook profiles too?

i'm looking forward to odst and modern warfare 2.

Ubisoft's presser was such a fucking turd...

I like the MS camera but I don't think it'll make for good games... Wii waggle hasn't really shown that motion control can bring any depth. As shitty as six axis is, being part of a traditional controller lets act as an add on when needed (worked real well in Heavenly Sword) and not the prime focus of the gameplay. So yeah, if the camera adds some little stuff, like playing some Zelda-esque game and yelling, "FIRE!" and having your character cast it (other controls being typical), that'd be pretty sweet.

Sorry if that sounded overly ranty, I was distracted while writing that.

The trailer video for the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic was amazing. It looks more real than anything from the Prequels.

mlai
The trailer video for the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic was amazing. It looks more real than anything from the Prequels.

Just saw that video myself. I was genuinely impressed. A darn shame it's an MMO though. I vowed never to touch a game like that since they have this horrible tendency of swallowing all life that you own.

All of these live services that Microsoft is offering is fine and all but darn it if they could bother to extend their service to where I live.

I mean the only way for me to use X-box live is via dodgy services. I'd be more than happy to legally subscribe to them if they'd offered me the chance.

My responses in bold:

Hawk
Microsoft (June 1st, 10:30 PST)

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 demonstrated.
I dearly hope that it's as good as modern warfare one and not at all like CoD5.
- Crackdown 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 announced.
Left 4 Dead 2 is what I am looking forward to here. I'll actually try crackdown 2, though.

Nintendo (June 2, 9:00 PST)

- Mario And Luigi RPG (DS) trailer shown. It'll be out this fall.
I'll try this when it comes out.
- Nintendo working with Team Ninja on a new 3rd-person Metroid called "Metroid: Other M", due out in 2010. Trailer featuring FMVs and gameplay shown.
FINALLY.

EDIT: Actually, after watching the trailer for the new metroid game I'm left thinking... WHAT THE HELL HAVE THEY DONE?! They've butchered it up and turned it into kingdom hearts meets soul caliber! And Samus doesn't even look like Samus. Just a vague look-alike.

I have now lost all faith in nintendo and now hate them for what they've done to a good series.

Or maybe I should hate Team ninja? I'll hate them for being associated with this mess.

Puff_Of_Smoke
My responses in bold:

Hawk
Microsoft (June 1st, 10:30 PST)

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 demonstrated.
I dearly hope that it's as good as modern warfare one and not at all like CoD5.
- Crackdown 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 announced.
Left 4 Dead 2 is what I am looking forward to here. I'll actually try crackdown 2, though.

Nintendo (June 2, 9:00 PST)

- Mario And Luigi RPG (DS) trailer shown. It'll be out this fall.
I'll try this when it comes out.
- Nintendo working with Team Ninja on a new 3rd-person Metroid called "Metroid: Other M", due out in 2010. Trailer featuring FMVs and gameplay shown.
FINALLY.

EDIT: Actually, after watching the trailer for the new metroid game I'm left thinking... WHAT THE HELL HAVE THEY DONE?! They've butchered it up and turned it into kingdom hearts meets soul caliber! And Samus doesn't even look like Samus. Just a vague look-alike.

I have now lost all faith in nintendo and now hate them for what they've done to a good series.

Or maybe I should hate Team ninja? I'll hate them for being associated with this mess.

CoD4 and CoD5 were made by two different teams. Infinity Ward, which made CoD4 is making Modern Warfare 2. So I'm guessing they won't mess up since they got it down the first time.

edit: new ps2 games!?

I liked the Microsoft press conference the best. Sony was a close second. Nintendo's was thankfully better than last year, but still a distant third.

I'm a little bit upset that they're making Left 4 Dead 2. I bought the first one at its original price of $50, think it was a little light on content, but under the impression that it would get new content like Team Fortress 2 has. But not even a year later they want me to just buy a new full-priced game with only slightly more content. I loved Left 4 Dead 1, but I think I may wait for a sale before I buy the sequel.

Looking forward to Crackdown 2. I liked the first one, having got it used for $12.

Project Natal was pretty interesting looking. If it comes out at a low price (no more than $60) and there are some compelling games for it, I'll probably get it. But I remain very skeptical about Molyneux's project.

Nintendo had a really boring event. I can't believe Iwata spent ten minutes talking just to build us up to an accessory that monitors your heartbeat. New Super Mario Bros. for Wii looks like a fun diversion, but I'm more excited for the Mario Galaxy sequel. The first one was a lot of fun. It's also where the presentation finally picked up.

I'm actually looking forward to this new Metroid. I felt like they've exhausted the other angles they've tried and it's ready for a fresh direction.

Why wasn't Sin and Punishment 2 in the presentation? I'm eagerly anticipating it. At least people are playing it on the E3 floor.

I'll probably get a PSP Go, and I'm sure I'll get Little Big Planet for it. I'm sure that dropping the UMD drive will help its battery life.

I didn't see a lot I wanted for PS3 that I can't get for PC or 360. But Last Guardian looks good, and maybe Mod Nation Racers. I love making user-generated content.

JoeL_CQB

Puff_Of_Smoke
A lot of stuff

CoD4 and CoD5 were made by two different teams. Infinity Ward, which made CoD4 is making Modern Warfare 2. So I'm guessing they won't mess up since they got it down the first time.

I meant that I hoped that Infinity Ward wouldn't use some of the same things that Treyarch used.

Hey guys, remember me?

Uh... Ubisoft was the clear press conference winner.

Nintendo's conference was extremely lackluster. A Wii Vitality Sensor. Really, Nintendo? I honestly thought that they'll address the hardcore market this year, but nearly all of the games they mention for that were already known. The new Metroid and Galaxy are something to look forward to though.

But I am so super excited for Ubisoft's new Imagine installments.

This E3 has just entirely convinced me that Nintendo is trying to kill gaming. Vitality Sensor? Kind Code? So now you don't even actually have to play the games, and they're going to know how fast your heart is beating? What's even going on? How is this supposed to benefit anyone ever, besides money-grubbing executives busy masturbating to the yelps of burning puppies?

While the new Metroid looks cool, and if Golden Sun DS is as awesome as I'm hoping it'll be it would finally give me a reason to get a DS, I'm seriously disgusted now.

On the plus side, I'm very excited about MGS Rising and Peace Walker. Finally seeing some gameplay of God of War 3 was pretty awesome too. And I'd somehow missed the guy with the afro and the suit in FFXIII, so that was pretty awesome to see. And FFXIV? Was not at all expecting that man. The Uncharted 2 trailer was awesome, Kratos in the PSP Soul Calibur also looks awesome, announcement of a PSP Resident Evil sounds awesome, Modnation Racers seems awesome, Last Guardian looked awesome (If odd) all kinds of stuff was awesome.

MAG was also entirely off my radar before this, and it's seeming like a must-buy now.

Oh, and I was pretty skeptical about the new art style for Borderlands, but having seen some screens of it it looks like they're not going to be overly cartoony with their cel-shading, so that's good. Still wish they'd stayed with what they had before, but eh.

Where's my PS3 Slim?

fern
Where's my PS3 Slim?

Heh, I'm perfectly fine with my 60GB fatty. I do hope that when they unveil the PS3 slim "officially" they add the PS2 backwards compatibility back in. I feel sorry for everyone who got a PS3 after I did because of that.

It's also starting to look like there might be enough worthwhile 360 games coming out to warrant me getting one soon (If I had money). Might be easier just to get a nice PC tho, since I've wanted a better one of those forever anyways and most of the games that are setting off my radar are 360/PC.

Lord Shplane
I do hope that when they unveil the PS3 slim "officially" they add the PS2 backwards compatibility back in.

I know it would be the nice thing to do for consumers, but I'd be so ticked off if they did. That's one of the features I wanted and hoped they'd put back before I got mine.

Hawk

Lord Shplane
I do hope that when they unveil the PS3 slim "officially" they add the PS2 backwards compatibility back in.

I know it would be the nice thing to do for consumers, but I'd be so ticked off if they did. That's one of the features I wanted and hoped they'd put back before I got mine.

XD

Sorry man.

This is why I'm glad I got my 60GB model back when I did tho. Lots of fun little hardware thingies that they took out of the later models.

It turns out I already own a PS2, so I was never really bothered by the lack of one in my PS3.

A point I must mention: The Beatles: Rock Band's intro is one of the best I've seen.

AQua_ng
A point I must mention: The Beatles: Rock Band's intro is one of the best I've seen.

I'd like to mention that this is another game that disgusts me, though on a far more subjective level. I don't like rhythm games, and I DESPISE the Beatles. But my mom and sister love it, so they'll probably be getting it, and I'll have to hear the fucking BEATLES blare through my house. At least my dad has his own PS3 (For playing blu-rays mostly), so they don't be trying to commandeer mine to play this abomination.

Inkmonkey
It turns out I already own a PS2, so I was never really bothered by the lack of one in my PS3.

Yeah, but I don't have to unplug my PS3 and plug in my PS2 when I want to play a game, or worry about switching out memory cards or anything like that. I can understand what you're saying I suppose, but it's a lot more convenient to have one console instead of two.

Also I was able to get enough $$ out of my PS2 to buy another PS3 game, so that was cool.

Lord Shplane
I'd like to mention that this is another game that disgusts me, though on a far more subjective level. I don't like rhythm games, and I DESPISE the Beatles. But my mom and sister love it, so they'll probably be getting it, and I'll have to hear the fucking BEATLES blare through my house. At least my dad has his own PS3 (For playing blu-rays mostly), so they don't be trying to commandeer mine to play this abomination.

The days when the video game console is the private toy of the boy in the house is gone. Boy.

Lord Shplane
Yeah, but I don't have to unplug my PS3 and plug in my PS2 when I want to play a game, or worry about switching out memory cards or anything like that. I can understand what you're saying I suppose, but it's a lot more convenient to have one console instead of two.

Oh, we just have a TV with multiple inputs; it's just a matter of changing which input is displayed.




Anyway, I feel a bit odd these days because I'm starting to suspect that I'm not as much of a videogame enthusiast as I used to be. Back in the day I would be excited and put effort into playing or owning every game that just looked GOOD, but these days I've found that my tastes have really started to narrow. In particuar I don't like first person shooters, racing games, or sports games. Mostly I just like Platformers, which is probably why I got so in to LittleBigPlanet, and why for me the biggest announcement from the show is New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I love platformers, I love co-op, and I trust Nintendo. This is the game I've been waiting for! It's also probably horribly underwhelming to everyone but me.

I dunno... does anyone else have a game they're really excited for a niche game like that?

I would say that Capcom vs Tatsunoko is a rather niche game, and I am incredibly pumped to see its release here in Europe. I'm still impressed that Capcom were able to handle the licensing issues.

Inkmonkey
Anyway, I feel a bit odd these days because I'm starting to suspect that I'm not as much of a videogame enthusiast as I used to be.
I dunno... does anyone else have a game they're really excited for a niche game like that?

Heh, you getting old, boy. As you get older, you become a more discerning gamer.

I get excited for RTS games, specifically the Dawn of War series over the past few years. That franchise has deteriorated nowadays, unfortunately. Starcraft 2 is just too outdated in its gameplay to interest me. My other interest would be TBS games, such as Heroes of Might & Magic 5 franchise.

AQua_ng
"Beatles video"

Wow! That video captured the feel of the Beatles, perfectly!

From their early carrier to what the were like later on. You need some serious mind tripping to come up with that ending.

Product Placement

mlai
The trailer video for the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic was amazing. It looks more real than anything from the Prequels.

Just saw that video myself. I was genuinely impressed. A darn shame it's an MMO though. I vowed never to touch a game like that since they have this horrible tendency of swallowing all life that you own.

That trailer convinced a friend of mine to buy DSL.

Come to the dark side, PP. We have cake.

All in all, a lot of games coming out that I'm excited about. Metal Gear, COD, Left for Dead, Dead Rising, Bioshock... it's gonna be a great season for gamers.

AQua_ng
I would say that Capcom vs Tatsunoko is a rather niche game, and I am incredibly pumped to see its release here in Europe. I'm still impressed that Capcom were able to handle the licensing issues.

I'm looking forward to it as well.

They say they had to drop one character on the Tatsunoko side, but in turn they're adding five characters and online play. I couldn't care less for online play, but I'm rather interested in who those five new characters will be.

Someone
I'd like to mention that this is another game that disgusts me, though on a far more subjective level. I don't like rhythm games, and I DESPISE the Beatles.

You are the worst kind of person.

Although I am rather annoyed with the amount of Guitar Hero games coming out. Not that I dont like them, but I can see myself getting sick of them pretty soon.