E3 2010

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, the biggest trade show in the games industry calendar, is over for another year.  While E3 has never been about arcade games, I do work in the industry, so it only seems right that I should comment on this annual extravaganza.

The big three, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, all had new technology to announce this year, most of which was based on either motion-controlled gaming or 3D.  As a result, it felt as though there was not as many actual games announced this year compared to previous years, although there were still over 800 games at the show in some capacity or another.  Let's have a look at what Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo had to show us all.

Microsoft
Where as Nintendo and Sony offer very similar kinds of motion control, Microsoft have headed off in their own direction with Kinect.  This is basically a very clever camera system that allows you to play games by moving your arms, legs and in some cases, your whole body without actually holding anything.  As Microsoft's press release says, you are the controller.  And this isn't just technology for playing virtual volleyball, Kinect also works with the Xbox 360's user interface and even allows users to control movies with hand gestures.

Will Kinect for Xbox 360 be the next evolution in gaming?

To go hand-in-hand with the Kinect, Microsoft unveiled their new, smaller version of the Xbox 360, which features a special connector on the back for powering the camera.  People with original 360s will have to find space on their extension leads to connect the Kinect to the mains.

After being on the market for five years, the Xbox 360 gets a facelift.

As for games, there were plenty of Kinect games announced, most of which harped existing Nintendo Wii games, including such obvious clones as Kinect Sports and Kinect Party.  If you're one of those old fashioned sorts who likes to hold on to a controller while you play, Microsoft haven't forgotten about you.  Among the upcoming core games were Gears of War 3, Fable 3, Halo: Reach, Crackdown 2 and Mass Effect 3.

Sony
Sony had the most new tech to show off this year, with both a motion controller and 3D.  Their motion controller is called the Move and as I mentioned at the beginning, it closely resembles a Wii remote.  It even has its own version of a Nunchuk, called a Navigation Controller.  What the Move has over the Wii Remote is direct positional tracking, with the aid of the PlayStation Eye camera and a glowing, rubber ball at the end of the controller.  Sources say it is significantly more accurate than either Kinect or Wii Motion Plus, but it's still difficult to shrug off feeling it's just a copy cat.

Montion control and motion capture combine with the PlayStation Move

As for 3D, Sony are pushing this technology hard, with both their 3D TVs and 3D games and 3D movies on the PS3.   Some games they showed in 3D included Gran Turismo 5 and Killzone 3, both of which should be first class titles.  However, for a family to enjoy this admittedly impressive technology in their home, everyone will need a set of polarised 3D glasses.  Combined with the cost of the TVs, the initial investment to enjoy this technology runs into the thousands.

3D TV is coming, whether we like it or not.

Nintendo
In recent years, Nintendo have been accused of abandoning core gamers.  However, at this year's E3 they seemed keen to prove this attitude is wrong.  They showed some interesting new Wii titles, including a new Zelda game that uses Motion Plus, Sin & Punishment 2, NBA Jam, Epic Mickey, a new version of GoldenEye, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Mario Sports Mix, Conduit 2,  a new Donkey Kong Country game and loads more.

Kirby's Epix Yarn has a brilliant art style, where everything is made of bits of wool.

The biggest news coming out of Nintendo, if not the whole show, was the unveiling of the 3DS.  This is their first new handheld since the original DS back in 2004 and it's packing quite a punch.  It now has an analogue stick, the power of a GameCube and glasses-free 3D.  It's also backwards compatible with the current range of DSs.  The press all seemed really impressed with this technology, which I find interesting, because so many of them are against other forms of 3D.  As far as Arcade Throwback is concerned, we wish this technology had been available back in the heyday of coin-op gaming, because it is precisely this kind of experience that used to make those old games so different from home gaming.

Despite looking similar to the DSi, the 3DS is a very different beast underneath

Consoles live or die by their games and Nintendo have already announced Metal Gear Solid, Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil, Splinter Cell, Assassin's Creed, Dead or Alive, Ghost Recon, Ninja Gaiden, Ridge Racer, Saint's Row, Pilot Wings and the long awaited return of Kid Icarus.  I reckon that lot will stand the 3DS in good stead.

Summary
Overall it was an exciting show and proof games still have a lot to offer.  I think the new slim Xbox looks great, although I'm not yet convinced about Kinect.  As far as motion-controlled gaming goes, I think Sony has the best idea by combining everything the Wii remote can do with most of what Kinect can do.  It's worth clarifying that the glowing ball at the end of the Move controller gives the system something clear and definite to track.  Kinect, on the other hand, will always have to guess where your hand is in relation to the rest of your arm and the surrounding environment.  As for games, I think Nintendo has really cranked things up this year.  I can't quite believe how many core titles are on the way for the Wii, but at the same time I can't help feeling they should have done this three years ago; I know far too many gamers who have abandoned the Wii because of the vast number of shallow party games and bogus fitness games there are on the system.  Let's hope some of them can be tempted back with this crop of "proper" games.

So what was my pick of the show?  Easy, the 3DS.  The idea of playing 3D games without having another pair of glasses on top of my prescription lens is very appealing, but I need to see one in the flesh before I'll believe the 3D is as good as everyone says.

For more information on the show, see http://www.e3expo.com

MTW