So, What Did We Get and What’s Next?

Poof…… E3 came and went, but did anyone really notice? It is usually a time of excitement, when gamers everywhere shriek at announcements, like we are 10 yr olds on Christmas morning. You know, before we got jaded by the myth that was Santa Clause and credit card bills. About a month before E3 I started giving my girlfriend a daily countdown “we are 30 days away,” I would say. Then it started happening.

Sony, the console maker of my choice started leaking announcement after announcement of major titles. Assuring us, that they still had many titles under their belt. So, what did we get? A GT5 release date(will it stick?), a MOVE price and date, 1 new IP titled Sorcery, a new PS3 Twisted Metal(which we all knew was coming)and ,one huge announcement by Valve . Everyone had their own thoughts and speculations. If Sony was announcing all these titles ahead of time what did they have in the works, E3 for Sony would be amazing……. I think someone put some salt peter in my dinner.

I am not an Xbox player but I watched as Microsoft opened E3 with baited breath. Last year they opened the show with Paul and Ringo, in support of Beatles Rockband. With a new Rockband coming this year with a whole new feature set, I was hoping they would open up again with a band from their setlist to play an unannounced track. Imagine a G’n'R reunion playing November Rain on the new pro instruments, and MS i am sure has the money to pull it off. Since the XBOX’s E3 are spent mostly with 3rd party announcements, I watched intently, hoping they would announce some new amazing titles that would be slightly less polished because they are ported over. So… what did we get. Call of Duty DLC exclusivity agreement, a bunch a kid friendly KINECT titles announced via a bad pre-recorded game play with actors playing along(along those same lines of the bad oscar videos when someone can’t be there), and 1 exclusive title from crytek that we know nothing about except it is set in ancient roman times. I feel MS set the mood and pace for a very uneventful E3, and they had me yawning.

Nintendo I feel had the best showing of the big 3, they had a very nice response to their 3DS(their new handheld that does 3D without the need for glasses) and a few other titles. The fans have been shouting for a better Zelda, a new Kirby, Icarus, and Star Fox, so what did we get? We got a better Zelda(we are not sure the demo went off with many hitches), a new Kirby game for the wii, a new Icarus, and Star Fox. The fans got everything they wanted right? Kinda.. the new Icarus and StarFox are for the new 3DS, so if you want to play them you have to adopt a new handheld console. The interesting thing though, are the titles announced for the 3DS. The lineup is comparable to the PS360. With familiar titles as Saints Row, Resident Evil, Metal Gear, and Assasins’ Creed. How will this play out I am not sure,but color me intrigued. Saint’s Row on a Nintendo product, for some reason is the thing that shocked me the most. It says to me that Nintendo is finally ready to come and play, they already have the sales ,but will people adopt?

This was the whole E3 in a nutshell. where is the WOW factor? I rarely heard the crowd gasp or cheer loudly, except when MS bribed the media in attendance with the new XBOX. Everything was played very safe, a lot of sequels were on hand and to be announced. Hoping a familiar face relates to sales like the new found love of Betty White. Seriously, how many new IPs were announced at E3. Besides the rush of the Kinect titles, I say there was probably less 5 new IPs announced. That really sucks for the hardcore gamer, but all hope is not lost. THERE IS ANOTHER SKYWALKER(I mumble under my breath in my best attempt at a Yoda impersonation).

Were you as disappointed as I, at the lack of some certain titles? You know the rumors of this, screenshot of that, billboard over there, and they will announce it then. Analysts spout rumors and numbers, gamer sites spread any inkling of an announcement to get page views, and the fanboys hit up forums spreading love and hate but it came and went with a fizzle. There are still 2 conventions to be had by the end of the Summer. We have Gamescon in Germany, and the Tokyo Game Show in Japan and I am sure there has to be some new announcements….right? We here at the farm are building our prediction list for what is still to come, but we will not share it yet. We need your help compiling a list of what is to be expected by the end of summer so we can see where the top thoughts line up. Yes you read my words correctly….