E3 2008

[Jeff]

Seeing as we didn't have an E3 thread, I thought I'd start one.

So, some interesting news comming out of Microsoft's press conferance: It looks like they've copied Sony, by copying Nintendo. Blades in the XBox 360 interface will now be known as "channels" and, the much-rumored avatar system has been revealed, and the avatars bear a disturbingly familiar appearance. That's not to say all of Microsoft's new ideas came from Nintendo, they're also copying the EyeToy. I must say though, I do like the greater customization options for the wannabiis (or whatever cute name the Internet has come up with for them already). This is what Nintendo should have done with the Miis since the beginning.

On the Nintendo side of things, it looks like there's going to be a new attachment for the Wiimote that will improve the pointer functionality. I find it odd that they'd release an attachment just to improve existing functionality; they could just build the improved pointer function into new Wiimotes, so there must be something more to it. I guess we'll find out more tomorrow.

[firepokemon]

Hey cool idea for the thread. I don't really have much to say at the moment. But what is a good website that captures most E3 news without the retardation that is IGN or anything like that?

Hmm maybe I should add something, so are we going to get a new DS variant being announced or not?

[ssj4supernerd]

Is it true that Final Fantasy XIII is being released on X360? o_O


If so lol, that series have been on each...thing.(NES and SNES, PS and PS2, and now X360)

[PNT510]

Microsoft isn't really copying the eye toy. They already did, the Xbox vision camera has been out for more than a year now. Also the new Xbox channels seem to be a rip off of the PS3 interface than Wii's channels. I'm kinda excited for Xbox Avatars, yeah they're a pretty obvious rip off of Mii's but it's not like Nintendo invited Avatars in the first place.

FP - I personally like 1up.com for a lot of my gaming news. They should be doing some extensive E3 coverage.

SSJ4 - Yeah, Final Fantasy is coming to Xbox.

[Roy Karrde]

So Nintendo's conference just ended, I gotta say it sucked very very badly. But then again companies get into first place and they get pretty cocky.

[PNT510]

Well Nintendo's conference always kinda sucks. It has nothing to do with them being in first place. Do you remember the year where they showed off Pac Man Vs?

There was some nice stuff to come out of the conference. New details on animal crossing, Wii Sports 2, and Wii music looks pretty fun.

[Roy Karrde]

True true, anyway I really don't see why Nintendo keeps releasing these stupid attachments. Game Developers as a whole wont make a game that focuses on the new Wii Detail Attachment or what ever its called, becuase they don't know how many people have it. Anyway onward to Sony in 1 hour. Hope I have enough time to grab some Whataburger.

[Duo_Washu_III]

I'm really confused on the FXIII on 360 thing. I heard that in 2007 with that Ctrl Alt Del comic, and everyone else is acting like it's inanity!

[classy_cat18]

I'm really confused on the FXIII on 360 thing. I heard that in 2007 with that Ctrl Alt Del comic, and everyone else is acting like it's inanity!

Maybe because they didn't think it would actually happen. But it's a big relief to me; it means that I still won't have to worry about getting a PS3 just to play the next FF game. Heh, maybe they'll put Kingdom Hearts 3 on the Wii.

...No offense to the Sony fans.

EDIT: Nice avatar, Washu. Burn Notice fan?

[Roy Karrde]

Maybe because they didn't think it would actually happen. But it's a big relief to me; it means that I still won't have to worry about getting a PS3 just to play the next FF game. Heh, maybe they'll put Kingdom Hearts 3 on the Wii.

...No offense to the Sony fans.

EDIT: Nice avatar, Washu. Burn Notice fan?

I wouldn't count on it, Final Fantasy Versus 13 is still on the PS3 as a exclusive and that is the system the KH team has worked on.

Anyway the Sony Conference just ended, it was better than the Nintendo one, although that isn't saying much. There was nothing jaw dropping like FF13 losing it's exclusivity, but it had nice trinkets, like DC Universe, the PS3 Movie store debuting tonight, God of War 3, and MAG.

Edit: How could I forget Sackboy doing the financials presentation. Best.Financials.Presentation.EVAR!

[classy_cat18]

I wouldn't count on it, Final Fantasy Versus 13 is still on the PS3 as a exclusive and that is the system the KH team has worked on.

It was a lighthearted joke. I doubt that it'll be on the Wii so don't get wound up about it. Besides, they put CoM on the GBA so there's a slight, very slight, very slim chance that they'll reconsider where they'll put the next major KH.

[Jeff]

Other than Animal Crossing, I was kind of disappointed with Nintendo's presentation, but then again some of the little things, such as the Mario and Zelda bombs being dropped, were good. It's just like Nintendo said it would be "one major franchise" (Animal Crossing), "nothing major, just little announcements", and "something that will please hardcore gamers". I'm guessing the last one is voice chat, which hardcore gamers have been wanting. Well, anyway, it looks like news is still coming out of E3, with Miyamoto's mention of a new Pikmin title. Finally, after months (years?) of speculation it's confirmed.

[Drago]

Wow. Didn't think I'd be underwhelmed by an Animal Crossing presentation (because jeez, you don't expect them to blow you away, just come up with cool stuff), but at this point, it really does look just like the same thing. Again. Meh, early days, I'm not too worried.

[PNT510]

Well Animal Crossing is Animal Crossing is not like there is tons of stuff to add. They added voice chat, the city, and the abilities to play as Miis. I'm sure there will end up being some other stuff as well.

[firepokemon]

Seems to me that E3 is just an excuse for people to get their hopes up and then be highly disappointed by the results.So many times people on the internet are curiously optimistic and yet every single year they are disappointed. Oh well there's always next year ^_^.

[PNT510]

One of the big problems with E3 now is it's so late in the year that a lot of companies had already made big announcements.

[Toxicity]

You ever read one of those articles that manages to make you laugh and cry in the same moment? This is one of those articles.

I have no idea why I even feel abandoned following this. I mean, the Wii has drawn in primarily a crowd focused on what I've started to call "good-time games"; I guess it was merely a matter of time before they said it themselves...

[firepokemon]

Nice article Toxicity and lol at your signature. It makes sense really, that they're going for less hardcore users because E3 has been targetting the more regular users. But at the same time, one shouldn't ignore the hardcore gamers because they're the type of people who play the so-so games that receive no advertising etc.

[Heald]

To be honest, lets have a look at Nintendo's best selling games. Things like Brain Training, Wii Fit and all that jazz. No 'core gamers' have these in their collections. The thing is, core gamers make up a small percentage of people who actually buy the consoles, and let's face it: the video game industry, while lucrative, is incredibly high risk. If you invest too much into something that doesn't sell, then you're going to lose billions. Sony and Microsoft can afford these as their other departments supplement their video game departments. Nintendo is pure video games and has a lot less money to throw around than the other two. If they need to start making money by targeting the majority rather than the minority, then that seems like a sound business plan. If they make billions in the end, then I'd imagine they'd reinvest some of it into what are considered 'core games'. At the same time, look at their recent games such as Super Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Galaxy. These are all considered to be targeting the core Nintendo fan and have sold really well both among core and non-core players alike.

[PNT510]

I would disagree with you in saying that hardcore gamers don't have games like Brain Age or Wii Fit in their collections. I know a lot of people who have Brain Age. Also a few people I know want Wii Fit(its sold out so no one I know has it) because even if they don't want the game they wanna try the balance board for other games.

I would disagree in saying hardcore games are selling to the casual audience. Out of the 3 core games you listed only Mario Kart Wii is owned by any of my friends who are just casual gamers.

The way I see it hardcore games sell to hardcore gamers, which can sell a ton of copies right away and builds a lot of hype around the Nintendo and Wii brands.

Casual games sell to the casual and hardcore crowd and while they don't sell a ton of copies right away they end up staying on the sales charts for a very long time and make more money over time.

It's pretty obvious that Nintendo needs a mix of the two to stay on top. They need hardcore fans to spreed positive word of mouth and they need casual fans for sustained growth. I do think that hardcore fans to who feel Nintendo is leaving them behind need to remember that it's always taken Nintendo a long time to put out there big franchises. It's one of the big reasons behind the failures of N64 and gamecube. Hardcore games seem to come out faster on Wii than they did on gamecube. Nintendo now just has a lot of casual games that come out in the interm.

Zelda, Paper Mario, Metroid, Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros, and Mario Kart have all come out on the system and it's not even 2 years old yet.

[Heald]

Brain Training is shit. Please tell me your friends are, like, 60 year old menopausal women, because as far as know they're the only sort of people who would buy it.

[PNT510]

No, but it was only $20 so people wanted to check out what the big deal with it is.