E3 2009: Things I’m excited about even tho I didn’t go
Another year, another E3 I didn’t attend. Been busy at work too, so I didn’t watch any of the conferences from the Big 3 this year. I did read up on announcements tho, so here’s what I’m looking forward to:
1. The Last Guardian (PS3) – My favorite game for PS2 is Shadow of the Colossus, so I’ve been dying for a new game from the same team. The game’s existence has been rumored for a while as Project Trico, but it was finally confirmed and given an official name at the Sony press conference. I WANT THIS. I don’t care if the doggy/kitty/bird/dragon is freaky looking.
2. Modern Warfare 2 (multiplatform, but I want it for 360) – I don’t know if I should count stuff I knew about before E3… I’ll count it anyway. CoD4 was my 2nd favorite game on 360 (second to Fallout), so I’m really looking forward to the sequel.
3. The Beatles: Rock Band (multiplatform, but I want it for 360) – When I first heard about the bundle, I scoffed at the idea. A ridiculous $250 price tag for more stupid instruments, and it’s only for one band’s music? Must be lame! Then I saw the intro to the game:
Okay, the intro doesn’t really have much to do with the actual game, but damn, it’s so freaking awesome. Watching the gameplay footage, I was reminded of how great and catchy Beatles songs are again. I think I may be sold on this game, stupid price or not.
4. Metroid: Other M (Wii) – I’m not a Metroid fan, but I thought the footage they showed was pretty interesting and exciting. I also think it was kind of a surprise. With Team Ninja developing the game, however, I am slightly worried for Samus’ boobies.
5. Metal Gear Solid: Rising (multiplatform, but I want it for PS3) and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) – It’s MGS games with Kojima’s help and seal of approval… of course I’m interested!
What I’m not interested in:
1. Project Natal, or the PS3 Motion Controller – Nintendo already beat you guys to it, give it up. And that Natal video was a joke. Maybe these things have potential, but I’m really not buying it at the moment. I’m all gimmicked out.
2. Facebook and Twitter on 360 – Why are people excited about this? I’m not going to look at Facebook and Twitter on my 360 when 80% of my life is spent in front of a computer. And I’m so friggin’ sick of hearing about microblogging… especially Twitter!
3. Left 4 Dead 2 – It’s just too soon.
I tried to find my E3 post from last year, but as it turns out… I never posted it! I even still have the draft of it: “E3 2008 – Highlights and conclusions of the Big 3″. I was doing a rundown of all the conferences, but I only made it through the Microsoft one. I guess I was busy. I have 11 drafts of posts sitting here. I’ll figure out what to do with them eventually.
New thing I learned today: “Taxman” and “Here Comes the Sun” were written by George Harrison.
I’m not familiar with a lot of Beatles songs, but I liked all of the Beatles songs I heard in the trailers with the exception of those two. I guess George Harrison’s stuff isn’t my thing.
Related posts:
I’m pretty sure The Beatles game can be purchased on its own without the instruments. But yeah, it does look pretty cool, but only 45 songs? And they’ve already announced the entire Abbey Road album as DLC. Ka-ching!
I was very impressed with the trailer for Uncharted 2, but then I remembered I still can’t beat the demo for the first game. I’m happy they’re finally releasing an add-on for WipEout HD. I like the PSP Go in concept, but I’m not sure I’d drop $250 for it.
1You’re right. I think I keep thinking of the The Beatles: Rock Band bundle because that’s how I usually hear about it. The new peripherals looks sweet, but I’m always in sticker shock every time I hear about it.
Speaking of ka-ching, the PSP Go will be incompatible with most of its previous accessories. Very typical of Sony. It’s too bad, because I liked their push towards only using downloadable media (even tho I still have doubts whether I can get used to something like that).
2Honestly, I don’t even consider the Wii to be a true motion capture system. The wii controller is a nintendo light gun with an accelerometer built in. Wii games are just a slightly fancier version of duck hunt.
Nintendo just showed off that you can have an accelerometer-based control scheme. Look at Wii Sports (which is essentially the Nintendo Wii tech demo). Other than selecting options, it’s all accelerometer-based action. You can play the game more effectively by not using the correct motions and just whipping the wiimote around. Look at how I play baseball or tennis on Wii Sports and you’ll see how very un-MoCap the Wii really is.
Eye toy and those police arcade games really showed off the start for a true motion capture game system (one that tracks a players’ full body movements and translates them into game movements)
I’m eager to see what the future of MoCap is, so I am intrigued by Natal. Only time will tell what developers will do with newer, fancier technology.
3what’s beatles rock band without the beatles instruments?!?! I’m super excited for it but that’s probably because i don’t own any rock band yet so i need to buy peripherals no matter what. i’m only slightly deterred by the price. yay beatles!
4> Honestly, I don’t even consider the Wii to be a true motion capture system. The wii controller is a nintendo light gun with an accelerometer built in. Wii games are just a slightly fancier version of duck hunt.
Totally disagree. Accelerometers capture motion, so the Wii is a true motion capture system. Cameras aren’t necessary to capture motion. Natal and whatever the PS3 thing is going to call itself are more advanced, I agree. I also felt Wii Sports is probably the best implementation of the Wii’s gimmick, so I feel that example is poor. Kelvin can best most people at Wii boxing, and his motions are not random at all.
I’m more annoyed at Microsoft and Sony’s attempt to mimic Wii’s gimmick. You’re totally right in that Nintendo’s motion scheme isn’t very accurate (hence the need for something like Wii Motion Plus… who knows how well that will work). After blowing off the Wii and Wii Fit controls, it’s just obvious how desperate they’re trying to cash in on the casual gaming crowd. The Natal video particularly irked me because how bogus it was; it’s very reminiscent of the early Wii videos. I know it’s conceptual, just like the Wii ones were. I don’t get how the same people who thought Nintendo’s Wii concepts were a joke can turn around now and say that Natal is the best thing ever (and Microsoft “won” E3, whatever that means).
btw, I’m all for new game tech, so I’m all for seeing what Natal and PS3′s motion capture can do and what games they bring. I’m just tired of the hype machine. I’m still waiting on Nintendo to deliver good Balance Board games!
5“Totally disagree. Accelerometers capture motion, so the Wii is a true motion capture system. Cameras aren’t necessary to capture motion. Natal and whatever the PS3 thing is going to call itself are more advanced, I agree. I also felt Wii Sports is probably the best implementation of the Wii’s gimmick, so I feel that example is poor. Kelvin can best most people at Wii boxing, and his motions are not random at all. ”
Accelerometers are a mechanical device that capture movement in the same way that a joystick or button capture an action. An external force is applied which causes a mass to move on a plane. While I know that Kelvin is a skilled Wii boxer, he’s just learned to operate the accelerometers to produce a result. It’s no different than a Halo player controlling a thumbstick or a Starcraft player clicking the mouse to zerg rush.
The Wii gives the illusion of motion capture. If I were to take an xbox 360 controller and punch and kick it to cause Ryu to perform combos, would that be considered motion capture? I don’t think so. That’s really all you’re doing with the Wiimote. You do the motions because it’s more fun that way, but it’s really just a 3-axis joystick. Users are not required to perform any specific motions to get the desired result. I brought up my Wii Sports playing to outline that you can “trick” the wiimote so your character performs a motion.
What Nintendo and the Wii did do is create new types of games that let you flail around. They brought games to the casual audience by allowing them to press the buttons in a less intimidating way. Pressing Forward + B to do a forehand swing in tennis can be difficult, but tell them to flick your wrist and it makes sense. The technology behind an xbox 360 controller and a Wiimote is not that different.
6i have nothing worthwhile to contribute except to say “skilled Wii boxer” seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?
7in light of virtual yelling, i completely rescind my comment. i was wrong. *frowny face*
8Point taken on the mocap. However advanced the tech or whatever tech they’re using, they’re all just trying to get people moving more than just moving a joystick. Still too conceptual and gimmicky, tho. Even more so without developer support or deliverables.
lol, Chris, I don’t mean to be so aggressive with my “virtual yelling”. Maybe this weekend you can come over, and Kelvin can show you how Wii boxing works.
9What if Kelvin loses?
10Then he loses?
11Ali, bomaye! Ali, bomaye!
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