Sony Wins E3, Microsoft Has A Sad

Let's count the ways that Sony just pantsed Microsoft in front of everyone at E3.
1) Microsoft is offering the XBox One at $499.

Is that a crazy price? First of all, while it's a high price, it's not a historically high price. The way I check to see if a console price is reasonable is by comparing it to the NES (one of the most successful consoles of all time) and adjusting for inflation.

In 1985, Nintendo sold the NES for $199. That would be approximately $417 in today's money.

The XBox One works out to about $237 in 1985 money. Still a little high, but not excessive. Sony is offering the PS4 at $399. That's $189 in 1985 money. I know, I know, "Wow, $399 is less than $499? Who would have thought!"

That's not the point, though. My point is that the X1 isn't as outrageously priced as it would appear on the surface.

That being said, Sony wins this battle emphatically. Getting consumers to pay $100 more for a system that appears similar is going to be a tough sell.

2) Sony's games look better.

Sony's development studios are just plain better than Microsoft's. Microsoft took great pains to point out the first-party games they were releasing on the X1, and they even pointed out that they made overtures to other smaller developers. Project Spark is certainly an interesting concept, and Halo 5 will sell piles of copies. Titanfall will also be a hit.

Once again, though, Sony's development studios have demonstrated time and again that they beat Microsoft's on quality and consistency. Their games are more plentiful and, in my opinion, just plain better. Your mileage may vary.

3) Used games are allowed on the PS4.

This is the key that's sending lots of goodwill in Sony's direction. Now Microsoft has to explain a convoluted used game process, along with family plans, accounts and activation fees. Sony just has to say, "Buy the game. It'll worked, used or not."

This is a big, big deal. All it takes are a few misinformed customers who try and resell their X1 games to Gamestop to make them swear off of Microsoft forever.

Microsoft's response is that it's up to each publisher to decide if they want to allow used games, and that's even worse. So, if EA allows reselling but Activision doesn't, now the consumer has to know that up front. If they don't, they're in for a rude awakening. Confusion is never, ever, ever a good thing.

Sony learned this lesson with the PSPGo. They learned that if a DRM system is not in the consumer's best interests, the consumer will reject it. Wisely, they jettisoned it and never went back. Microsoft watched the PSPGo happening and said, "We want in on that."

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So now we have to revise the ceiling for the PS4. The sky is absolutely the limit. It has the price, the simplicity and the games to soundly defeat the X1. The basement is PS1-level, which is still mighty good.

Microsoft's ceiling is probably the same as the original XBox: A system that has a dedicated following, but wasn't as successful as it could have been. It's basement? PSPGo-level failure with a hasty redesign and price drop.

Microsoft @ E3 2012: All That Needs To Be Said

Nintendo @ E3 2012: The 3DS Software Showcase, Or How To Disappoint an Audience Without Really Trying

Nintendo did their 3DS presentation yesterday, demonstrating upcoming games for the handheld. If you watched the comments alongside the stream last night, the comments were overwhelmingly negative.

"Show us something new!" "Where's Zelda?" "This is boring!" "We already know about these games!"

I too, left the presentation a little cold. I was really hoping for something new. When they cut to Reggie Fils-Amie at the end, I was hoping for some big reveal, and instead he just told the presenter that he did a great job. I was incredibly disappointed as I walked away.

However, as I chewed it over, though, I realized something: We're incredibly spoiled.

Listen: We're getting two new Mario games, one of which is an RPG that looks very promising and another a side-scrolling Mario game. We're getting Kingdom Hearts, Castlevania, Scribblenauts, Luigi's Mansion, and Lego Batman 2.

Yet we're still whining! Why is that?

It's actually pretty simple: When you announce a separate presentation to showcase your software, there are certain expectations. I tuned in expecting to hear an announcement of a new game, not a rehash of what was already announced, and I suspect a lot of other people felt the same way. It's only natural to have that sort of reaction. After all, that's what companies do at E3, and Nintendo made a point of setting aside extra time to show off their software. It felt a little misleading.

That doesn't mean that it was a bad presentation. After all, I know a lot more about Paper Mario than I did before, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 makes a little more sense to me now (but just a little). But we all expected a little something extra, frankly.

I think that's why Nintendo made a brief announcement after the show that Fire Emblem: Awakening was making it to Western shores. They must have picked up on the hostility and decided to drop that little nugget to defuse it.

But to be perfectly honest, what more could we really ask from the 3DS in the coming months? There are going to be more than enough games to play for a while of all different types. We really shouldn't be whining as much as we are.

Nintendo @ E3 2012: Snap Judgments

After seeing the hardware demonstration from Nintendo, here are some quick takes on it.


1) Nintendo did everything they needed to in the hardware portion of their conference.

The problem among most gamers was "How will the tablet work well with games? Am I going to have to swing it around?" Those questions have been answered. The Wii U has been demonstrated clearly and openly, so it should totally make sense now.

2) You can use two tablet controllers.

Finally, the question everyone wanted answered has been answered. Frankly, if it would have been one tablet, I would have been mad.

3) Still no price or release date.

Sigh.

4) Will Nintendo filter comments on New Super Mario Bros U?

If I'm playing New Super Mario Bros U and I see comments pop up about the game, will I see profanity? Crudely drawn penises using ASCII text? Or will Nintendo filter those for content? Sounds like a huge job for them.

5) Scribblenauts Unlimited is a great idea for the Wii U.

Scribblenauts is the kind of game that would be great for collaboration, and the Wii U is just the perfect place for it. The tablet controller will make it easy to use too. Maybe we'll see a Drawn to Life too.

6) The "theme park" game is so-so.

It's called NintendoLand, and I'm not so sure about it. Maybe once more people try it out they'll be able to say if it's any good.

That's all for now.

It's E3 Time! How Will Nintendo Do?

E3 is upon us, and it's like Christmas in June for gamers. For Nintendo fans, we have extra reason to be excited.

Nintendo is slowly pulling back the curtain on the Wii U, and what's out there so far looks interesting. Nintendo is primed to have a great E3 if we get answers to a few pressing questions.

• What will Nintendo price the Wii U at?

If it's priced at $399, it's going to be in trouble. If it's $299, that's great, but will it be enough for Nintendo to turn a profit?

• What's Retro working on?

Retro is apparently working on a big new project for the Wii U. There were rumors of it being a StarFox/Metroid mashup, but those seem to be quashed. So what are they doing over there?

• What games will the Wii U launch with?

Will it be an awful launch library like the 3DS? That nearly killed the 3DS in the cradle, and Nintendo can't afford another near-miss like that.

Hey, speaking of the 3DS:

• What games are on the horizon?

We know that Smash Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. 2 are certain, but what else is on the way? A new Zelda? A new Pokemon (besides Black & White 2)? A totally new IP?

• What's up with the redesign?

There are rumors about a 3DS redesign. It's not a smaller version, but a bigger one, like the DSiXL. Um... why? Anything else this thing does, or is it just bigger? Because if it's just bigger, that's weird.

• What's happening to the Wii and DS?

They're obviously going to send the Wii and DS to the big spike pit in the sky, but are Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story set to be the last great games for the Wii? Is Pokemon Black & White 2 set to be the DS' last hurrah, or is there more coming?

How Nintendo does this E3 will depend entirely on the answers to these questions. For my money, here are my answers:

1. $299
2. StarFox for Wii U
3. A LOT, including Pikmin 3 and New Super Mario Bros. Mii
4. A new Zelda and a new Metroid, as well as a new IP
5. It's stupid
6. One more big game for the DS, nothing more for the Wii

We'll see if I'm right in a few days.

E3 2010: Nintendo Reaches Out

Your reaction to 2010's E3 was probably one of two options:

1. Nintendo Ruled!
2. Meh.

Judging by a lot of magazines and online writers, the first reaction was the most common one.  This E3 was viewed as Nintendo's call to the core, where it came back to the games that "we" wanted to play and cool new tech to play with.  No Vitality Sensor, no Wii Fit Extra Plus, no Little Slinky Kitty Goes To Happytown.  Most everyone was happy with this.


The select few that weren't okay with what Nintendo did were left more unimpressed than anything.  Reaction to Kinect was fair to middling and Microsoft seemed more interested in showing that the 360 could do anything but games. Sony's press conference wasn't anything special.  Sure, they showed off some Move titles, but they looked like upgraded Wii titles that we've already played before.  There was no amazing new showstopping game that brought the house down, and nothing really jumped out at most gamers from them.

However, if Nintendo stole the show, why are some unimpressed?  There's a very good reason.

When we discuss "Core" audiences, who are we talking about?  Are we discussing males 18-35 who've played video games for 10 years?  There are certainly loyal female gamers as well.  Are they included in this group?  What about people who've played for five years?  What about preteens and teens who have more buying power than ever?  What about-

Et cetera, et cetera.

See, for most gamers, a "Core" gamer specifically means "Me."  Try reading blog posts and comments from disaffected "Core Gamers" and replace their words with personal pronouns.  It's eye-opening.

"Nintendo has to work to get core gamers back" becomes "Nintendo has to work to get me back."  "Sony and Microsoft's strategy to go after casual gaming will disenfranchise core gamers" becomes "Sony and Microsoft's strategy to go after casual gaming will disenfranchise me" and so on.

There's this odd sense of entitlement in gaming culture.  For instance, we demand a sequel to Beyond Good & Evil, but it sold very poorly.  Why do they absolutely need to make one?  We demand that Nintendo return to their roots, but Nintendo is making more money than ever.  We demand that Sony and Microsoft stick to making games that please us, but they're both hemorrhaging money from their gaming divisions.  Why should they work to please us?

Nintendo made overtures to their longest-running audience, which is people who grew up playing Nintendo games.  Some of those people fell away in time and started playing other systems, while other people stayed on as die-hards and gritted their teeth through the Gamecube years only to be ignored during the Wii years.  Others still stand by Nintendo and keep on playing regardless.

Nintendo reached out to all of those audiences by offering games for everyone.  "You want the little-known and little-played Kid Icarus series back?  Here you go.  You want more of Donkey Kong Country?  Enjoy.  Hey, a new Metroid game is out in a month, even though no one buys Metroid games."

There are many who still aren't satisfied by this.  Even though Nintendo is specifically saying, "Hey, we made ourselves some money and created some new fans by making ourselves more family-friendly.  Come on back," many gamers now sniff at Nintendo's offerings like spurned lovers.

Lighten up, guys!  Nintendo is a company.  They're not your buddies, they're not your parents, and they only exist to make money.  However, the fact that they're even trying to reach out to you should tell you something about how important you are to them.

If I spent a lot of time talking about Nintendo in this review, it's because Nintendo was clearly the winner in this E3.  There's now a buzz about Nintendo's products that didn't exist beforehand, while Microsoft and Sony look a little lost, like they're trying to co-opt Nintendo's ideas about three years too late.  We'll cover more of their problems in a later article.

Wait, So....

If Infinity Ward makes a new Call of Duty game every year, it's awesome.  If Microsoft puts out a new Halo FPS, it's a great announcement.  If Konami keeps milking the Metal Gear franchise, it's phenomenal.  If Square Enix puts out fourteen Final Fantasy games, they're amazing.  If Nintendo makes ONE new game based on one of the best games ever, they're spinning their wheels and sounding their death knell.  Gotcha.

I can understand cinephiles and audiophiles.  Their appreciation is for tender French movies based on childhood experiences, or for Charlie Parker jazz solos.  But I can't understand the snobbishness of hardcore gamers.  You like games about gore, tits and explosions.  You don't have the right to look down your noses at other fare.

(E3) Why Nintendo's Conference Was Good

I'm surprised by the reaction of gaming journalists to the three major E3 conferences.  Between Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, most say that Nintendo's presentation was the weakest.  This strikes me as odd.  Nintendo is in an entirely different position than the other two companies, so their conference was different as well.

Microsoft and Sony are still fighting to get people to buy their equipment.  For instance, Microsoft has now announced that they're planning a ten-year console cycle, the same as Sony.  Why would they do this?  It's because they want developers to know that this new tech that they're demoing will be around for a while so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start developing for it.  They're letting consumers know that they won't have to replace their systems so soon so BUY OURS PLEASE.

Nintendo doesn't have to fight for gaming space anymore.  They have their base of fifty million systems that are out in the wild.  They now have to get people to buy more games for the Wii.  That was the focus of their presentation, and they handled it well.  They simply had a different objective than the other companies.

People are pointing to the new motion controls on other systems as Nintendo's undoing.  Some now sneer at Nintendo's MotionPlus, saying that Nintendo now has the most expensive and least elegant motion solution.  That's not really the case.  Nintendo has already sold those Wiis.  They only need to convince people to drop $50 for two MotionPluses.  Microsoft and Sony have to convince people to buy the whole system yet, and we still don't know how much Natal or Sony's motion controls will cost.

Besides, who do motion controls appeal the most to?  Hardcore gamers?  Listen to them complain every time the Wii makes them move.  The people who are most enamored with motion controls are the casual gamers.  They're the ones who want to pretend that they're really swinging a tennis racket or rolling a bowling ball.  Here's the dirty little secret:  They've done it already.  ON THE WII.

Now, I'm not knocking any of the new motion solutions.  The Natal tech is amazing, and Sony's controls work better than Nintendo's.  They would be fantastic if and only if they were first to market.  As it is, Nintendo beat them to it, so they didn't have to push hardware revisions at E3 or new tech.  They just have to convince those that have their console to buy more things with the console.  They handled that objective admirably.

(E3) Curb Your Enthusiasm: Nintendo Edition

Nintendo's press conference yesterday made me all kinds of giddy.  As you can see by my previous posts, I was practically ready to call this generation for Nintendo and move on.  However, I thought it would be a good idea to temper this unbridled enthusiasm with some dark truths.  Anyone who doesn't like cynicism should look the other way for a bit.

Metroid: Other M

The new Metroid trailer looks awesome, right?  Did you see where Samus holds down the monster and shoots him in the head?  AWESOME!  Still, a few things are sticking in my craw.

Samus has been slowly moving from internal character to external character.  That's okay.  We learned a little about Adam Malkovich in Fusion, and we know that the Galactic Empire is mad at her.  We get that there's more to the Space Pirates and Mother Brain that we haven't been told yet, and we want to know that.  Here's the thing:  This is a pretty jarring transition from all appearances.  We're learning waaaay more about Samus than we ever have.

We're also running a major risk in introducing new characters.  The key with Metroid games has always been isolation.  You're all alone on an alien planet, and you must get stronger, defeat your enemies, and make it out alive.  If you add in a wisecracking buddy or chatty enemies, it ruins that feeling of solitude.

Now, I'm not saying that Team Ninja is going to ruin that feeling.  They're working pretty closely with R&D1, so they shouldn't.  Still, it's a major concern.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Sidescrolling Mario games are awesome, right?  So it stands to reason that four-player Mario would be awesome too, right?

Here's the problem:  New Super Mario Bros. for the DS wasn't made by Nintendo's A-team, and it shows.  The level design was never as clever as it pretended to be.  There were lots of neat ideas, but it wasn't very cohesive as a total.  The bosses were too easy.  The new Koopa Troopa suit was frustrating to use.

It very well could be that this new game is made by Nintendo's A-team.  It certainly seems that way, and we can hope.  Still, these games live and die on their level design, and the DS version didn't give me enough to believe that they can pull something great out of their hat.

Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Zelda games are always great, right?

Well, the last one, Phantom Hourglass, is much-loved.  It's also home to the Temple of the Ocean King, the single worst thing to happen to Zelda games since EVER.  It was like Nintendo forgot everything they ever learned about game design in one brief, blundering moment of stupidity.

Will they repeat the same mistake?  Or will Nintendo learn from their mistakes and continue making excellent games?

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy was the best Mario game since the 16-bit era.  A sequel HAS to be good, right?

Maybe.  Galaxy 2 will hopefully be full of cool new things to do and see.  At least 90% new.  That, right there, is what has me worried.  Do they mean that 90% of the levels are new?  If that's the case, why aren't 100% new?  I don't want to play a rehash of Galaxy's Greatest Hits.  If they reuse levels, they better have a darn good reason for it.

Instead, do they mean that 90% of the gameplay techniques are new?  Okay, that sounds a little better, but Galaxy was brilliant.  Does it really need that much changing?  To put it another way, how much of Galaxy have they changed?  Too much or not enough?

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To be fair, most of this doomsaying probably won't come true, but I'm finding that it's a good idea to temper expectations instead of getting too excited.  I'll be first in line for most of these, but there always needs to be the little voice in the back of your head telling you that the game is going to suck so that it can (hopefully) be quieted.

(E3) Console Conference Rundown

Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all made their pitches to the gaming public within the last couple of days.  How did each one fare?

Microsoft's show was an intriguing one.  They demonstrated what's possible with Project Natal: controller-less gaming in HD.  I mention the HD part of it because whatever Nintendo does going forward, that's still the trump card for both major competitors.  I suspect that once Project Natal starts getting demoed, it'll gain traction among the casual crowd.  It's just too cool not to, frankly.

While Halo isn't really my thing, Halo: ODST looks good, Alan Wake was demoed, Metal Gear Solid was showed off, and Final Fantasy XIII has a firmer release date.  All-around, some good things shown off.  While the games weren't revolutionary, I would give Microsoft's show an B, if only for Natal.  It has the potential to revolutionize gaming or to be a giant flop, but at least they're trying for something new instead of mimicking the wand technology.

Nintendo's show was all about the games, and they delivered.  After a lackluster 2008, Nintendo came roaring back with several big reveals for the Wii.  New Super Mario Bros. this year, Metroid: Another M, Sin & Punishment 2, and, above all, Super Mario Galaxy 2.  That alone made me wet my pants.  I don't know about you, but when I saw that the "big Mario reveal" was New Super Mario Bros., I was a little disappointed.  I liked NSMB all right, but it wasn't what I was hoping for.  Galaxy 2 made my day.

That was just the Wii side.  The DS has more great stuff coming out this year yet, like Spirit Tracks and Mario & Luigi.  If games are what make a system, the Wii and DS are ready to go.  I will admit to disappointment at not seeing a new Kid Icarus or Kirby game, but what they gave us was more than enough.  Definitely an A.

That brings us to Sony.  I was expecting to be thoroughly bored during the Sony conference and not to see a lot of exciting new stuff.  I was wrong.  ModNation Racers has a cool, LittleBigPlanet vibe to it.  Assassin's Creed II looks awesome.  God of War III looks nice.  Sony had a lot of leaks before the show, so things like the PSP Go! and the new Metal Gear Solid game were already out there.  Of course they demoed Final Fantasy XIII, but the shocker was the announcement of the online-only, PS3 exclusive Final Fantasy XIV.  Didn't see that coming.

Of course, Sony has its own attempt at motion controls as well.  I thought that they would try and ape the success that Nintendo has had with the Wii, and the tech looks good.  The problem comes down to price, once again.  How can Sony compete when they're telling customers to shell out upwards of $500 for the system, these wands and games as well?  It's crazy talk.

Still, Sony's conference deserves kudos for acknowledging the leaks and providing things that we didn't expect.  As much as it pains me to say it, Sony's conference was as good as Nintendo's.  The only thing missing was a price drop. Grade A stuff.

(E3) SWOON

So we have New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii, we have a new Metroid game, Golden Sun DS, AND Super Mario Galaxy 2?  Nintendo's back, baby!

I can't help but feel a little snobbish after this presentation.  I mean, how much more can they do?  They're giving everyone exactly what they want.  This year is going to be STACKED.  I'll break it down a different day.  Now, to gloat.

(E3) WANT

Beatles Rock Band trailer.

(E3) Project Natal Looks Cool

With E3 upon us, I thought I'd give my thoughts on what we're seeing so far.

First, if I were Nintendo, I would be a little nervous about Project Natal.  It's a cool new platform for games.  No controller?  Sounds neat.

However, it's important to remember specifically why Nintendo is ahead.  Let's say you get a 360, then you get Natal.  How much money are you spending?  We don't know yet, but let's guess that it's about $350.  Let's say you buy a Wii and get the Wii Play bundle.  You're sitting at $300 AND you can play every game in the Nintendo library with the equipment you have.  Not so with Natal.  Not every game is Natal-ready.  Heck, pick up two MotionPlus addons and you're at about $350 WITH a pile of extra games.  I really wish Microsoft the best, and I'm excited to see what Natal will bring to the table.  Still, I don't see it supplanting the Wii anytime soon.

However, let's chew on these numbers for a moment.  In the last generation, the PS2 was the clear winner with 140 million units sold, with the XBox sitting at 30 mil and the Gamecube pulling up the rear with 20.  (To put that in perspective, the PS3, which is widely considered a misttep by Sony, has ALREADY sold more units than the Gamecube did.)  In other words, the PS2 sold over 4.5 times the units of its nearest competitor, and 2.8 times the units of both other consoles combined.

The Wii has so far sold 50 million units, but the 360 is sitting at about 30 mil and the PS3 at 20 million.  The Wii has a strong lead, but it's not insurmountable.  I think Nintendo knows it, so we'll see what they bring to the table tomorrow.  I'll be watching.

It better not be Wii Music 2, or me and Nintendo are done professionally.

Nintendo Talks E3

Via Kotaku:

Here’s Ms. Dunaway addressing why Nintendo fans should be excited about E3:

“Well, because, I’m going to be up on stage presenting, something that your fans ought to love. But I’m not gonna snowboard, I’m not gonna show my mother’s day card. I’m just going to talk about the games.”

One of the rumors about last year's awful, awful E3 show is that Factor 5 was supposed to be showing off a new Kid Icarus game. Budget cuts forced Factor 5 to cut back on the project, meaning they didn't have much to show at E3. If that's the case, I hope we see it this year.

Here's a brief list of what I'd like to see for E3:

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 (PLEASE)
• Kid Icarus
• Final Fantasy 7, 8 or 9 remade for a next-gen console (You could even put 7 on the Wii as-is. I'm not picky.)
• Some more Pikmin 3 details
• A new Nintendo property that introduces a new character
• A pony and a villa in the south of France