Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

[RobotPoop]

So don't know how many hardcore console gamers are on here but E3 has been going on the past couple days and Microsoft absolutely destroyed everyone. They introduced this new hardware/software combo called Natal. It basically surrounds you in a 3D environment that the console senses through the sensor bar and all your body movements are seamlessly inserted into the gaming experience. No more controllers. And remember these demonstrations are simply the tip of the iceberg... These videos are awesome and are worth a watch whether you're into gaming or not and they're each only a couple minutes long. First one is the coolest in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40E3oq5DGxQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-0pfCbqt4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03thQvGRVvQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7nLv6V_tNU

[Ollie]

I've been following this E3 like a hawk, and you know what? All of the fucking pressers sucked balls. Sony's was a clone of M$'s. Nintendo's was a joke. I feel like we're scraping the bottom of the barrel, actually. Do you remember the eyetoy? x360 vision cam? I think the PS3 motion wand was slightly more entertaining, but how far out is this shit? You think its coming out this Christmas?

L4D2 is the only worthwhile thing to come out, and unfortunately, its Valve saying "we lied to you about the DLC, come buy this shit instead."

[RobotPoop]

Yeah outside of Project Natal this has been a complete joke of an E3. Sony's was an absolute pile of shit. They spent the first fucking hour and a half on the fucking PSP. Seriously? Give it up. They spent the rest of the time announcing follow ups to a bunch of games that we knew were going to get one anyway. God of War 4???!!??? L4D2??!??!? No way! God damn what an embarassment.

I'm an Xbox man myself but not a fanboy, I don't hate on the PS3 at all its an amazing machine. But for Sony to collectively put their asses up to the camera and take shits on my den rug by spending all that time on the PSP makes me want to kill a kitten. The PS3 is such an extraordinary machine and instead of focusing on evolving their bread and butter they spent all that time on something that the DS has owned and simply isn't looking back (although the iPhone will have the last and final laugh in portable gaming I believe...). And even the WORDS Playstation 2 coming out of your mouth at E3 in 2000 and fucking 9? Do you have the ability to ban them from next year's E3?? But that video of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was some hot shit.

Nintendo was lackluster for me as well. I hope they're not getting complacent as they suckle from the teat that is the Wii. Wii Active looks pretty cool though.

Glad to hear I'm not the only complete fucking nerd around here, haha. Only thing better than E3 is the Super Bowl.

EDIT: Don't know when the Natal is supposed to be released but it looks pretty fuckin cool. Christmas might be a bit of a stretch... How awesome was Milo??

[Ollie]

Milo was the most awesome thing since Seaman. I've got to admit though, I think I'd rather the man-fish have video access to me than some 14 year old kid. The livechat along the broadcast I was watching was filled with "lol pedo wut?" comments. I'd much rather the evolving fish than trying to figure out whether or not I was trying to raise a kid.

You knew L4D2 was coming? First I had heard about it. You should see the Steam forums, the community is fucking pissed *off*.

I think there were a few cool things in the PS3 presser, but nothing to write home about. I don't think there was much in the 360 presser either...but the Splinter Cell looked like it might be promising if they kept in multiplayer. Natal looks like as big of a joke as the PS3 monstrosity if they don't come up with something cooler than Natal. I play games because I don't like to move, not because I've been seeking out some form of exercise my entire life.

I liked the UC2 trailer, but whatever. I admit to not owning a PS3, and saw absolutely nothing that said "go out and buy a PS3."

For the record, ODST looks like it's gonna suck ass and Halo: Reach didn't show us anything that suggested that losing Bungie's entire creative team was salvageable. Just gut one of the mediocre books and you've got a game? Awesome!

This E3 is about milking the fucking shit out of any IP you currently own, because you can't afford to develop a new one. Things are looking grim indeed.

[RobotPoop]

Natal looks like as big of a joke as the PS3 monstrosity if they don't come up with something cooler than Natal. I play games because I don't like to move, not because I've been seeking out some form of exercise my entire life.

I fully agree but imagine integrating it into parts of the game? It also broadens the appeal and scope of console gaming. It could have some awesome applications if developed correctly... But I agree, playing Call of Duty running in place in front of my TV for 3 hours like a jerk off? No thank you. But I could see it bringing a completely new element to interactive gaming like the facial recognition software, the ability to "give" and "receive" info, and being able to manipulate the environment with your own 2 hands/feet and body.

And regarding L4D2 I didn't "know" for sure that it was going to come out but it was an fairly obvious assumption I think. All these fuckin developers and consoles play these smoke and mirrors games when it comes to announcing whether they're going to make any more of a certain game. Did you sincerely believe that Bungie/Microsoft were done with the Halo FPS Franchise after Halo 3? If you did I got this guy named Bernie Madoff I want you to meet... All it does is stir up fanboys of the series into a frenzy of petitions etc. then give them a collective orgasm when they announce that YES we WILL be making Halo 23!! Allowing them to think that they had even one iota of input in the decision.

Like you said, all it seems to come down to these days is milking IP. The only developer with any sack is Rare. Yeah they have some hits and they have some misses, but they refuse to stagnate. Always pushing the envelope. We could be on Banjo-Kazooie 15: Hunt for the Dragon's Asshole by this point but they refuse to simply regurgitate. Although I am officially starting a petition to get a second ALL NEW Conker's Bad Fur Day.

And I deduced from your last post that you are a proud 360 owner and don't know how big of a Halo fan you are but... I think ODST sounds cool, a return to the halcyon days... I fully sported a boner when I heard they're bringin the sniper pistol back, haha. We used to do system link back in the day with the first Halo and to this day have never had the battles like we did on Sidewinder back then. I just hope some classic maps come back with it... Thanks for helpin me scratch my nerd itch.

[Falc]

This makes my wii look like a child's toy.

This is insane. I can't believe it. The interactive little boy seems a bit lackluster at the time, because they didn't show his verbal reactions (if he had any) to about half of the woman's commands/whatever.

I would play the skating game and fighting game all fuckin' day long.

[RobotPoop]

Yeah pretty cool right? Milo was indeed a bit creepy. I kept thinking of The Ring, haha.

[Falc]

No it isn't creepy, I think the concept is amazing, but I think it needs a lot of improvement.

[GimmeFiction]

Milo's fucking creepy.
Robots will rule the world.

[Falc]

I am clueless to what e3 is entirely but I just looked up left for dead 2 and I don't understand. Is it the same thing as Natal where it senses you moving, or is it just a new game title based off an original game?

[GimmeFiction]

I would never play left for dead in natal. That would be scary as fuck.

[RobotPoop]

A sequel to the first Left 4 Dead. It's for PS3. Natal is for Xbox 360 and isn't necessarily a game I dont think but rather a hardware/software combo to be utilized by upcoming games.

E3's main purpose is a propaganda machine for the three main console developers: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. They make a bunch of announcements regarding the upcoming year and hope to induce boners.

[RobotPoop]

Milo's fucking creepy.
Robots will rule the world.

Check out this new movie called Surrogates. It was a coming attraction for Drag Me To Hell (UNREAL if you're a Raimi horror fan, I left the theater with approximately 13 loads in my pants). Draws some slight parallels to I, Robot but it looks sick. Bruce Willis owns Hollywood.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0986263/

[DiverDan]

I almost never even hook up my PS3 now that I've got my tower back. In my humbe opinion, PC Gaming > Console Gaming.

[Ukera]

Fuck E3. I am not following it because I'm too excited.

I'm going to Tokyo for a week to visit the games festival, and other gaming facilities.

I love learning game development!

[realagne]

Left 4 Dead was a good game, i used to play on pc..I love horror games.. These days some of the best games are available on consoles,which sucks...If they are re-release for pc the system requirements are crazy high.Let's take GTA IV for instance.

[DiverDan]

Hence why I have a PS3. However, GTA IV becomes incredibly boring after a while. You can only kill everyone in the world so many times before it gets old.

Besides a new console game that actually looks like something worth spending $60 on comes out once, maybe twice a year. Whereas I can easily torrent all the great PC games for free.

[Metameme]

Exactly the same for me DiverDan88. Not only can I get nearly any game easily, they generally look better on a high end PC vs. a console. I primarily play shooters which are meant to be played on a PC anyways aside from that anything else I wanna play I can easily hook up a USB Xbox 360 controller and ta-da!

[LeslieNielsen]

kudos to Microsoft for this years E3 natal wow, finally some console creativity from someone other than nintendo. Assassins creed 2 cant wait, and left for dead 2 is going to be great. valve always makes good games.

[Illadelphian]

Playing on a PC has a plenty of disadvantages though, especially for someone who is used to consoles.

[kroll]

I used to be a hardcore PC gamer, I made a couple (read: 2) g's playing with my UT2004 clan. We were super, super competative (we practiced many hours a day... pretty sure I have the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome, as my mouse sensitivity was 2 inches/360 degrees, but it allowed for those oh-so-sweet snap headshots). However I've moved on to the 360 now, just doesn't seem as fun, though.

I also torrent games from time to time for my PC, but to me PC games are all about the multiplayer. Sure, some good single player games come out for PC but most of them are multiplatform and I'd rather play a single player game on a console. The problem with torrenting is you can't play games online, so I've kind of lost interest in PC gaming with the lackluster selection of competative FPS's released in the previous few years.

More on-topic: Natal looks pretty cool. Does it look cool enough at this point to warrant a purchase? Not for me. Seems to me like just another gimmick that will get old after a few months and everybody will realize, just like they did with the Wii, that it's not as cool as once perceived. My prediction is it will get old fast.

I certainly can't blame M$ for this, though. Microsoft and Sony are getting their butts kicked up and down the alley by Nintendo's sales. This is just an attempt at stealing away some of those casual gamers who are attracted to gimmicks like the Wii. Not a lot of direct good for the hardcore gamers, but if it's successful I can see the hardcore gamers reaping the benefits in the long run. More casual gamers on the 360 will lead to more 3rd party support and hopefully more quality games being developed.